Rep. Derek Wulf (R-Hudson),

The low House Chamber has quickly moved into week four of session and we remain on course in taking the steps needed to ensure low remains strong and viable for families to live and businesses to thrive. During my first term in the low House, l’ve witnessed all the good change that government can provide and just how important it is that we not let government bureaucracy get in the way of getting good policy done in a timely fashion. Last week brought the much-discussed Students First Act to both the House and Senate floors. On Monday, the House passed the bill and on Tuesday, Governor Reynolds signed the bill into law. After careful consideration, studying, and hearing the concerns of both public school and private school administrators and parents in our district, I along with the House voted in favor of HF 68. I voted yes on HF 68 because I believe every parent deserves the option to send their child to the school they think is best for their students’ success, and parents should have the control over their freedom to do so. Whether you agree or disagree on this piece of legislation, opponents of this bill are quick to glaze over the benefits it brings to public schools as well. Benefits like: 1) Increasing the investment by the state in the area of K-12 education (to both public and private schools) through FY 2027. 2) Allowing school districts the flexibility to use unspent and ongoing categorical funding specifically for teacher salary and/or bonuses with the ever growing balances almost all school districts in low are accumulating, some at a very significant amount. The public school my girls attend has over $233,000 of unspent funds that can now be freed up to use specifically for teacher raises and bonuses. 3) Creates a new funding stream that pays approximately $1205 per student for EVERY student who resides in the district, retained by the public school should the student decide to choose a non-public option. l’ve heard from some who think this bill comes at the cost of public education, but after actually studying the details of this bill, I disagree. We can support our great public schools, and provide choice to parents. I believe this bill does both.

The Agriculture Committee will always remain one of my favorites because it’s a passion I share among lowa farmers, serving as a caretaker for the land and livestock devoted to secure our food supply. In the Agriculture Committee last week, we heard from leaders at the lowa State University Veterinary Diagnostics lab about the world leading services they provide in keeping our livestock industry and food supply safe, in addition to what that will take going forward to make sure we can respond to emerging issues like high-path Avian Influenza. This week we will continue shepherding bills through subcommittees and committee relating to water quality and environmental stewardship.

I had the privilege last week, only three weeks into session, to gavel in and lead the lowa House by serving as interim Speaker of the House as we conducted business on Tuesday. The people and places are what energize me in serving as the lowa House Representative for District 76. Every day during session we join together, as did the first Territory Legislative Session in humble, heartful prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, before swiftly and purposefully moving into the business that comes before us. It was an honor to be trusted to lead the House and I look forward to stepping up to the challenge in the future when asked.

Wrapping up the session for the week, the House conducted subcommittee discussions on HF 3. This bill’s intent is to assure the sustainability of low’s welfare programs and to make sure it remains available to those Iowans who truly need it by authenticating the identity of applicants and verifying information prior to enrollment. I have heard some concerns about the list of foods available to be purchased using SNAP benefits in the original bill. I have been assured that the list in the original bill was only meant as a starting point and after bringing forward the concerns I have been hearing that list will be amended, just as the subcommittee and committee process is intended to work.

Rep. Wulf’s district, Iowa House District 76, includes the communities of Traer, Dysart, and Buckingham in Tama County. He can be reached via email: DEREK.WULF@LEGIS.IOWA.GOV