Friend,
It was great to be back in IA-01 this week traveling around the district and hearing about issues that matter to Iowans. I had visits and meetings in Dubuque, Marshalltown, Grinnell, and South Amana.
In Dubuque, I had the opportunity to tour the Dupaco Voices Building in the Historic Millwork District. It was great to see how positive of an impact this investment has had in our community.
We were also able to tour the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque. They have tons of great exhibits, as well as an expansive wildlife conservation program that I got to experience firsthand. The museum is not only promoting hands on learning for kids, but is also working to bring more visitors to the community which bolsters our tourism economy. They are gearing up for a busy summer and I can't wait to go back with Max and Jax!
I also had the opportunity to donate food at the Dubuque Community School District’s Alta Vista Campus. I recently saw a story in the news about Jennifer Erickson, the counselor at Alta Vista, having kids come to her saying they didn’t have access to food. She then started a food pantry at the school and it has been a tremendous help for those in need. I am inspired by Jennifer and the whole team at Alta Vista who have rallied together to help students and families in our community.
Today, I headed to Marshalltown to visit Asparations Salon and Day Spa, a great small business in our community. I met with the owner, Tasha, who discussed the challenges she faced with reopening the salon. I also visited Brownells, Inc. in Grinnell, a firearms supplier and major employer in our district. We had a great discussion about policies that will support small businesses as well as my support for our Second Amendment rights. We ended the day in South Amana with a tour of a Poweshiek Water Association site. I learned more about the critical role they play in providing rural communities access to safe drinking water.
I am looking forward to brining the stories and feedback I received throughout our district today back to D.C.
Best,