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Wulf’s Weekly Roundup: Edition 7

Rep. Derek Wulf (R-Hudson),

Last week brought a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill during funnel week as we sorted out what bills would survive the process through committees. I am confident this week’s discussions and debates on the House floor going forward into this session will help low flourish and I will continue to work to make sure that the people of District 76 are well represented in the State House.

The week ended with some long evenings as the press was on to get bills moved through the “funnel” deadline. At 1:00 p.m. Thursday, we were prepared to discuss and debate our streamline bill in the State Government committee I serve on to save the taxpayers of lowa $200 million. House Democrats chose to play political games and partake in legislative obstruction by not showing up to debate the bill until 11:00 p.m. Finally, shortly after midnight, we were able to pass the bill to advance it onto the House floor for debate. I continue to stress that it is time for a smaller, more efficient government, and it starts right here in lowa.

Last week, the Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to ban transgender surgeries and harmful hormonal therapy from being used on lowa children. These gender transition services are permanent, life-altering decisions with serious risks and side effects including sterilization. Children are just too young to understand the full impact of these decisions. In many ways, we limit children and their parents from making choices they are too young to make. A child can’t consume alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or gamble, even with parental consent. These kids are struggling and they deserve support and care, not harmful, experimental treatments.

The only way to solve problems is to ask the questions that aren’t being answered. When talking with teachers in lowa, it is shocking to hear the behavioral issues of students that they are asked to deal with on a daily basis. Too often, these teachers are not getting the support they need from their administration. And in many ways, they are hindered in their ability to discipline students that are disruptive and protect themselves against students that are violent. HSB 206 came about after receiving feedback from teachers about their experiences in the classroom. It has passed the Education committee. This bill includes many parts but ultimately offers a number of teacher protection and reporting mechanisms, as well as enforces consequences for students who become repeat offenders of violent behaviors. It is likely not in its final form and we are continuing to work with folks in education to make it the best bill possible.

I am excited for lowa’s Agricultural industry to continue to shine as an example for surrounding Midwestern states. The Ag Committee passed five bills last week that will move to the floor for debate. The following bills have passed the committee (HSB 139, HSB 155, HSB 157, HF 388 and HF 389). I have been working on HF 388, a bill that will benefit lowa’s farmers to limit unauthorized operations of remotely piloted aircrafts (RPA) flying over a homestead or that part of a secured farmstead area where agriculture animals are kept. The goal of this bill is to protect private property owners from unwanted surveillance and trespassing.

There is never a dull moment on the Capitol grounds when greeting students to the House Chamber floor and explain how they can make a difference in the discussions that happens on a daily basis. This week was no exception as I welcomed Hawkeye Community College. It was also great to talk with representatives from our own Northeast lowa Food Bank as they shared their story and talked about priorities at the Capitol last week.

Be sure to check out next week’s edition of “Wulf’s Weekly Roundup From Capitol Hill” as I highlight activity as floor debate heats up on bills that survived the first funnel last week.

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.