Friend, 

This week, the Pentagon confirmed the names of the six fallen servicemembers amid Operation Epic Fury—including 20-year-old Sgt. Declan J. Coady of West Des Moines, lowa—a member of the 103rd Sustainment Command Army Reserve—and Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45-years-old from Waukee, also assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines. 

My heart is shattered for our state and the families who received a call no parent should ever have to receive. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Matt and I are praying for the loved ones grieving unimaginable loss and for every servicemember defending our freedoms far from home. We are also praying hard for the military families carrying the quiet weight of worry while their loved ones serve.

The threats our troops confront often feel a world away from our daily lives here at home, but the work they do, and the sacrifices they make, keep those dangers from ever reaching our shores. The reality is that if threats like these were allowed to take root here, the consequences would be catastrophic—costing countless innocent lives and making us all less safe. Our servicemembers step forward to confront those dangers long before most Americans ever see them, standing guard so families back home can live in peace. While the success of their hard work may go unseen, the safety they provide is invaluable.

Because of their courage and sacrifice, we can raise our children safely. As a mom, I often think about the country I hope my kids will inherit, and I think about them potentially one day stepping up to serve. It fills me with deep pride in America and in the men and women who stand watch—often far from home and out of the spotlight—to protect the future we all want for the next generation.



May God wrap His arms around our Gold Star families and give strength, protection, and peace to our troops carrying out this mission.



Sincerely,

Connecting with Iowans in Washington

Always a pleasure having the Cedar Valley Coalition in our nation’s capital! So grateful for their efforts to advocate for Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and all the surrounding rural communities in the Cedar Valley. Together, we’ll keep telling Iowans' stories and making real progress so Iowa remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

I appreciated the chance to sit down with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs this week. Hearing directly from the people working with our veterans every day helps keep the focus where it should be—making sure they get the benefits they’ve earned.

This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming the Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars to Washington, too! 

I’m honored to join my colleagues in pushing forward bipartisan legislation that would ensure the VA regularly reviews its mental health programs, identifies gaps in care, and fixes problems so veterans can actually access the resources they need. Our nation’s heroes deserve the highest standard of care and maximum convenience! 🇺🇸

Team Hinson in IA-02

My team had a great time meeting with students and leaders from across the state at the Community Colleges for Iowa Student Legislative Seminar! We enjoyed hearing firsthand how Iowa’s community colleges open doors for students and help prepare the next generation of workers. 

The team also stopped by the weekly meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors and the Independence City Council. It’s crucial to hear directly from our communities and local governments on the issues that matter most to Iowans!

Casework Wins for Iowans

Serving my constituents is my top priority. Iowans sent me to Congress to deliver results and make government run more efficiently. My team works every day to help folks across the district. Here are a few recent cases where we were able to assist:

State Benefits Issue: Resolved!

A constituent reached out after running into problems managing benefits for her disabled brother. My team contacted the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to help sort it out. The agency fixed the mistake and gave her a direct contact in case the issue happens again.

Insurance Dispute: Resolved!

A constituent contacted us about a dispute with her health insurer over a medical procedure for her son. After previous attempts to resolve the matter had stalled, my team worked with officials at the Labor Department to review the case.

Military Pay Problem: Fixed!

A constituent transitioning from the Army Reserves and into the Iowa National Guard contacted our office after an administrative issue prevented him from receiving pay and health insurance coverage. My team worked with the appropriate military offices to help resolve the problem. The issue was corrected, including coverage for medical expenses related to the birth of his child, and he received the pay and benefits he had been missing.

Savings Bonds: Paid Out!

A constituent reached out to our office after running into difficulties claiming Treasury bonds his mother had purchased before her passing. My team worked with Treasury Direct to help facilitate the process and move things along. The bonds were paid out several weeks later.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our team here if you need assistance.