Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to proudly honor Bernie Wagoner as Iowan of the Week. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to serving her community. As the co-founder and Clinical Director for Southwest Iowa Families in Clarinda, Iowa, Bernie has served countless people in need of assistance throughout my district,

Bernie has a clear track record of serving others. While in junior high, Bernie's grandmother was hospitalized with a psychiatric condition, and that experience motivated Bernie to pursue a degree in Psychology from the University of Nebraska. Moving to Iowa after that, she was employed in intellectual disability and mental health services before founding Southwest Iowa Families as a non-profit in 1993. Bernie saw a need for a non-profit that could provide permanency and benefit the community more than a traditional private practice.

Over almost 30 years, Southwest Iowa Families has strived to ensure that community needs were being met. Bernie has always stressed the importance of available and affordable rural mental health services. Outpatient mental health care and counseling have been a staple of Southwest Iowa Families since its inception. Over the years, Bernie has helped ensure that the mission evolved to meet the needs of the Southwest Iowa community. Seeing a need for the development of services for vulnerable 0- to 5-year-old children, in 2010 the Agency achieved Healthy Families of America accreditation for Southwest Iowa Families-- which was an intense process and qualified the organization to interact with and directly assist parents and children at risk of abuse and neglect. Thanks to the constancy of Southwest Iowa Families, Bernie has started to see young parents visit who the organization first met as young children. The organization also accepts and distributes various donations of clothing and furniture to then distribute to in need families and

continues to be willing to evolve based on community needs.

Bernie, along with her fellow staff at Southwest Iowa Families, has been leading the way for the construction of a new base of operations for the non-profit. The new center in Clarinda is in the final stages of planning and will increase the number of available counseling rooms as well as provide a larger waiting room to effectively manage adult clients and their children. With this development, Bernie looks forward to being able to expand their staff and providing more services needed in the community.

Bernie tells us that 1 in 5 individuals will have a mental health issue that needs professional attention at some point in their lives. Reliable mental health services in rural areas are critical to ensure that anyone who needs help has access to treatment. Mental health services such as Southwest Iowa Families ensure that rural communities remain great places to live and work. Bernie Wagoner's extensive work for the Southwest Iowa community has been incredibly valuable, and I am proud to name her Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jaclyn Wulfekuhle a tireless advocate for women, and the Director of Women United as Iowan of the Week. March is Women's History Month, so it is important to highlight the great work women are doing across the country to make the United States a better place to Live.

Women United is a diverse, vibrant group bound together by the mission to improve the future of our youngest Central Iowans. They use their voices to represent the children in our community. Their mission is to roll up their sleeves to give the community's youngest learners the best start and leave a legacy of change that makes central Iowa better for everyone. Jaclyn has been with United Way for 8 years, most recently as director of Women United and previously as the director of Leadership and giving at LINC, a young professionals' donor group of United Way that she created, which has grown to 200 members in its first two years. She also has helped lead the annual United Way campaign, managing large company relationships.

Women United--formerly known as Women's Leadership Connection--is an organization for any woman who believes that all children deserve quality early care and learning opportunities from birth. Each year, they invest more than $1.6 million in research-based strategies and programs that create a lasting impact on the next generation. Since 2002, Women United has raised more than $21 million to improve the network of care and learning that ensures young children are ready to succeed in school. More than 700 of central Iowa's most generous and influential women give their time, voice, and resources to support quality early learning and provide opportunities for those who need it most.

Women are the backbone of so many communities throughout our country. It is critical to not only recognize them but to also support women even outside the parameters of women's history month. It is my honor to recognize Jaclyn Wulfekuhle as Iowan of the week. I will always fight in congress to support women as well promote and push for legislation that protects women's rights.

Madam Speaker, as we begin celebrating Pride Month, I rise today to honor Jordan Mix as Iowan of the Week. Jordan Mix, an advocate for transgender and non-binary kids in Iowa, works with educators, families, businesses, and organizations to create LGBTQIA+ inclusive environments across the state. Jordan serves as the Director of Educational Programming at Iowa Safe Schools, where they work with educators to create inclusive curriculum and lead training sessions for community members to better support transgender and non-binary kids.

Jordan Mix was born in the Chicago area and now lives with their wife and cat in Des Moines. Growing up, Jordan's family was very supportive when they came out in 2010 as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. This love and support was especially poignant to Jordan in the face of the enactment of anti-LGBTQ+ policies and has remained a very important part of their story. It's why Jordan enjoys working with families of LGBTQIA+ youth and empowering parents and families to support their children.

To pursue their passion for advocating for transgender and non binary young people, Jordan attended Drake University and graduated in 2016 with degrees in Law, Politics and Society; Sociology; and Women and Gender Studies. While at Drake, they were chosen to be the President of Rainbow Union, which is Drake's LGBTQ+ organization. In this role, they helped establish the first all-gender bathroom on campus. Additionally, Jordan collaborated in writing Drake's Transgender Inclusion Statement. To further their education, Jordan attended the University of North Carolina Charlotte and earned their graduate degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies.

One project that Jordan is especially proud of is called Breathe, Learn, Act. This project is the first virtual care package for families of transgender and non-binary kids. The purpose of the care package is to learn about gender, your child who has come out, talking with your family and friends, and how to be a supportive parent. The project is part of My Kid Is Gay, an organization that helps parents of LGBTQ+ kids.

Jordan's favorite part of their job at Iowa Safe Schools is the kids. They enjoy helping empower youth to rise to the occasion and advocate for themselves. They also love teaching and helping and having conversations with people who want to be supportive, but just need extra time to process and learn. In taking the time to help Iowans learn about and support one another, Jordan is helping our families and communities grow stronger.

Besides being passionate about advocating for transgender and non- binary kids, Jordan loves spending time with their wife and cat, hiking, watching women's soccer, and practicing their professional barista skills.

Jordan Mix is a tremendous example of someone who goes above and beyond. They promote community and inclusion, empower parents and loved ones, create innovative ways to connect with others and to educate, and provide a safe space for those who need support. Jordan's work is crucial to Iowans and makes our communities a better place for everyone. I am so proud to honor Jordan Mix as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing brothers Souriyno Chen and Kevin Chen as Iowans of the Week. Young entrepreneurs Souriyno and Kevin co-own Lucky Lotus, a successful, Southeast Asian eatery in Des Moines. Since opening their doors in October 2019, the Chens have leveraged their restaurant to serve up more than just delicious local eats. While working through significant challenges as new restaurant owners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they've consistently stepped up during difficult times to further causes they care about.

Souriyno and Kevin were no strangers to the restaurant business prior to opening Lucky Lotus. As the sons of refugees Seng and Dala Chen, who owned and operated Cafe Fuzion on Des Moines' east side for 15 years, they grew up in the industry. The two brothers saw an opportunity to share their family's passion for good food with greater Des Moines, a place they saw as full of possibilities. They wanted to be part of this growing community as it moved in a positive direction and contribute to its momentum.

With so much heart in its premise, it's no surprise that Lucky Lotus has been an engine for charitable giving since its inception. As Souriyno and Kevin saw the growing success of their restaurant, it was important to them to leverage this new platform and build on the community. They began engaging in efforts like raising funds for certain causes and doing food drives, always looking for different opportunities to affect positive change where and when they could.

Through Lucky Lotus, the Chen brothers donated a percentage of their proceeds to the Des Moines Chapter of the NAACP during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement to help eliminate race-based discrimination in our state. As hostility and hate crimes against Asian Americans were on the rise, they used the trending #StopAsianHate outcry to not only call for an end to racism and xenophobia in Iowa, but also donated a large share of their proceeds for a week to the Iowa Asian Alliance. They raised funds to create the Lucky Lotus Scholarship in partnership with the Iowa Asian Alliance, which was awarded to several local students for the first time last year. It was originally meant to be one award for one student, but the brothers raised enough funds to offer three scholarships instead. The Chens have found a way to make the Lucky Lotus Scholarship an annual award that will now go to three young Iowans of Asian descent and help them pay for higher education.

The more Souriyno and Kevin learned about the growing conflict in Ukraine in recent weeks, they jumped into action. Lucky Lotus publicly announced earlier this week that they are donating proceeds of various dishes to World Central Kitchen, an organization working on the frontlines in Ukraine to provide hot meals to Ukrainian refugees and neighboring countries. Iowans interested in learning about how they can help the crisis in Ukraine can visit the U.S. Department of State's ``United with Ukraine'' website for more information.

Souriyno and Kevin understand how powerful food can be. It's a necessary thing for our survival and basic comfort, but regardless of our different backgrounds or experiences, food offers a way to stay better connected and to show our care for one another. The Chen brothers are telling a story through Southeast Asian food, sharing the love of what they grew up eating, and making a positive impact on issues that matter in the process. They'll tell you Lucky Lotus would not exist without all the love and support of the people across the Des Moines metro, and I am inspired by how they've leveraged that support to give back in Iowa and beyond. Souriyno and Kevin are working every day to make the community a better place, whether by donating to causes supporting folks from all walks of life or by bringing people together over a shared meal. I am proud to name them our Iowans of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary Chapman, a tireless advocate for economic, social, and racial justice who is working to close the opportunity gap for youth between the ages of 16 to 24.

Dr. Chapman serves on various community and civic boards including Bankers Trust Advisory Board, Iowa Corrections Board, Des Moines Branch NAACP Executive Committee (Women in NAACP Chair), Des Moines Public Arts Foundation, Des Moines Art Festival, Hoyt Sherman Foundation, and Urban Dreams Board. She also is a member of Des Moines Chapter of The Links, Inc. and a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Among the many awards she has received, Dr. Chapman is an Iowa African American Hall of Fame inductee, a 2013 inductee in the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame, and a Des Moines Business Record Woman of Influence awardee. The Iowa Department of Corrections has also named the Mary Chapman Computer Lab in the education center at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in honor of her.

Community leaders like Dr. Chapman make Iowa a great place to live, and I share her goal of making Iowa a more equitable and just place to live. I will continue that fight in Congress and always support advocates like Dr. Chapman and organizations like the NAACP. It is my pleasure to name Dr. Mary Chapman as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Tobi Parks, the founder of xBk and the Board Vice President for the National Independent Venue Association Foundation, as Iowan of the Week.

Surrounded by music her entire life, Tobi describes herself as a musician and creator at heart. Growing up with an understanding of what it takes to be successful in the music industry, Tobi was conscious that her unwavering passion for music could lead to a viable and fulfilling career path. Studying media communications and audio production at Webster University, Tobi was able to foster her interests academically. While at first, Tobi was scared to put herself out there, those concerns never stopped her from pursuing her dreams in the music industry whether it was completing gigs or hosting shows on the radio. After university, Tobi moved to New York, where she worked for Sony focusing on copyright and licensing work. However, in 2015, Tobi moved to Des Moines and in the same year, she established an artist- development nonprofit label called Station One Records. Station One Records was created with the objective of granting artists the development that she wishes she could have had. In the end, the nonprofit promotes that finding and cultivating talent is the priority rather than the financial benefits and end results.

As a woman of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, moving to Des Moines with her family was a considerable change from her life in New York City. The decision was made based on the fact that they had family in the area, and she could still be legally married in Iowa. Additionally, at the time, a member of the Des Moines Social Club advised her that one can do whatever they wish to do and find support anywhere in Des Moines. With that advice in mind, Tobi sought to build upon the live music ecosystem in Des Moines since she already had experience with running venues, booking artists, and touring. These experiences led to her founding xBk, which is a live entertainment venue in Des Moines in the Drake neighborhood. With the creation of xBk, there was an opportunity to increase the outreach of Station One, create a space to foster an artist community, and diversify the genres of music seen in Des Moines through the venue. Furthermore, with the COVID-19 pandemic, her work as the Board Vice President for the National Independent Venue Association Foundation has pushed for xBk and other businesses to obtain necessary aid through emergency relief programs and additional grants.

Tobi's involvement in the music industry and Des Moines community encourages both the development of those she helps and the diversity of the industry in general. Her determination and inclusive mindset have propelled her to success and make her truly worthy of being nominated for this award. Tobi serves as an inspiration and role model to all, and it is my honor to name her Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Michael Hardat, a financial coach and youth advocate at the Financial Empowerment Center's Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families, as Iowan of the Week.

Michael is a Lifelong resident of the Des Moines metro area and a recent Iowa State University graduate. From a young age, Michael recognized that he and his family lacked the financial resources that others had. As a result, Michael began going to the Children and Family Urban Movement's programs. These programs made all the difference for Michael and helped him embrace the spirit of community support and betterment. Knowing he wanted to give back to the community, Michael began working with the Financial Empowerment Center. In his role, he has a direct hand in helping families make informed financial decisions and plan for a brighter future. During the pandemic when many families faced even greater struggles, he spoke out about how Iowans receiving the Child Tax Credit could most effectively use those funds to create positive outcomes.

Michael has been with the Financial Empowerment Center at Evelyn K. Davis since 2018. The organization helps connect people to career goals as well as achieve financial stability through job development, career coaching, workforce training, and financial education. Many of these free services have made all the difference for our neighbors in Des Moines. Michael is also still active with the Children and Family Urban Movement (CFUM) as an adult advocate. The non-profit strives to support the potential of Des Moines youth and families through educational success, healthy Living, and community engagement. Michael firmly believes in CFUM's ability to lift up the community. He began publicly advocating for the program when he was still in high school and remains passionate about how individuals can come together to help one another, regardless of where they come from.

As we celebrate Black History Month, it is my honor to recognize Michael Hardat for the amazing work he is doing for families in greater Des Moines. Michael's selfless approach and dedication to helping others succeed are some of the many reasons he is a shining example of what it means to be an Iowan and a good neighbor. I will continue to fight in Congress to ensure every American has access to quality financial education and quality community programs. It is my pleasure to name Mr. Hardat Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Diane Horn, a Volunteer Income Tax Assistant with Lutheran Services of Iowa, as our Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dave Lentell as Iowan of the Week. Dave is the Lead Lender Relations Specialist at the Small Business Administration (SBA) Iowa District office. Dave lives in Waukee, and through his almost 29 years with the Iowa SBA he held countless conversations connecting with small business owners throughout Iowa and across the 3rd District. I'm glad to take this opportunity to recognize Dave for his dedicated public service for Iowa's small businesses over the course of his career.

Dave first joined the Iowa SBA in 1993 for an internship while studying at Drake University. Quickly after starting his work, the Great Flood of 1993 happened, and Dave stepped up and took an outsized role in facilitating disaster relief information. Dave was offered full-time work after graduating college and has remained with the Iowa SBA since then. Over that period, Dave has helped other businesses and homeowners through periodic disaster events--while also offering technical support and advice to businesses seeking to breakthrough. Dave most appreciates the ability to connect with business owners and lenders to identify paths forward for Iowa's small business economy-- which includes over 273,000 small businesses.

Since COVID-19 began, Dave has once again stepped up as he did in 1993--but in this case, the pandemic affected every small business in Iowa. With SBA charged to administer disaster relief programs such as Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Dave's engagement with the business and lending community increased. Through collaboration with businesses directly, and associated organizations and groups, Dave worked hard to ensure that information was distributed throughout the Iowa community and has earned the respect of his SBA colleagues, who nominated him to my office for recognition.

While we all seek a general return to normalcy, Dave relates that business models have changed during the pandemic--and in many cases that change is here to stay. While the role of SBA may see changes in the future, Dave's service over the past 28 years has certainly been welcome help for our District. I am glad to honor Dave Lentell as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Kyla Claussen, disability rights advocate and caregiver, as Iowan of the Week.

Kyla is a tireless advocate and clear voice not just for herself, but for the thousands of Iowans who find themselves waiting for assistance through a Medicaid HCBS waiver. Although Kyla lives with an unknown progressive neuromuscular disease that has impacted her lung capacity, mobility, and speech, that has not sapped an ounce of her compassion and dedication.

Kyla is one of over 17,000 Iowans waiting for a waiver to receive home and community-based care through Medicaid. She brings a unique perspective to an all-too-common problem for Iowans living with a disability. Before requiring assistance herself, Kyla had in fact been a caregiver for over a decade. While Kyla is no longer able to work as a caregiver, I know this hasn't taken away her compassion and drive to make sure everyone--no matter who--can live in their home, their community, and achieve their fullest. Her unending commitment to others and service to her community, whether as a caregiver or fighter for disability rights, embody the values that make me proud to be an Iowan.

You can find evidence of Kyla's commitment wherever you look. If you ask her friends and fellow advocates at Iowa Upgrade Medicaid, she's been called ``the researcher'' for her ability to dig into and digest disability laws in Iowa and around the Midwest. And just this past fall, Kyla was able to use her story to call attention to the need for better home and community-based services as part of a roundtable discussion with the White House. I am incredibly proud to see Iowa so well-represented in Kyla, and I am glad that more folks had a chance to hear her story.

But Kyla's story doesn't stop there. Kyla lives in Avoca, Iowa with the kittens she's fostering--she has four right now, but it's been more in the past--and her service dog in training, Ed. Whenever Ed notices that Kyla's breathing has flagged, he's trained to start barking. Then, according to Kyla, her mission becomes getting him to stop. That's a good boy.

I know that our laws have failed in protecting and providing for our disability community. I have heard so many personal stories of how our existing programs are woefully inadequate, unable to address the most basic needs for those who are not able-bodied. Gaps in our local, state, and federal system have mired the disability community with red tape and bureaucracy to receive the most basic level of assistance. The issues facing our friends, family, and neighbors with a disability are profound, and the current systems are antiquated. I am proud to have supported legislation to address these problems, however much of this legislation remains stalled. I will not stop supporting and advocating to ensure we treat those with a disability with respect, humanity, and kindness.

I am humbled by Kyla's ability to use her diagnosis as a springboard for change and her genuine concern for her friends, community, and fellow Iowans always shines through. I am grateful to be able to share her story here in Washington, and I am privileged to be able to celebrate her as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Lund, the City Administrator for Atlantic, as Iowan of the Week. John's dedication to the residents of Atlantic and securing federal grants to meet the needs of Atlantic residents is the type of hard work that deserves recognition.

City administrators are not someone most folks spend a lot of time thinking about--who is the person paying the bills, focusing on margins and distributions, and submitting grant applications? But that's what John does for residents of Atlantic. He says he loves the budgeting process and getting to see his community grow day by day.

John is a lifelong Iowan; he was born in Johnston, attended Cornell College in Mount

Vernon for his Bachelors, then got his Masters degree from Drake in Des Moines. After graduating, he began his public service career in the Iowa State Legislature, working as assistant to State Senator Pat Grassley.

John's been hard at work in the last eight years. He's helped respond to flooding in his community, solve budget needs, and meet the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic head-on. He knows that Atlantic faces the same obstacles that rural communities across the country are facing. The landscape of business is changing, he says, and he knows we need to ensure that communities like his have a fair, fighting chance.

Currently, John is helping Atlantic receive new federal money for projects across Iowa. He is helping bring taxpayer dollars back to his community, helping Atlantic apply for critical funds to repair roads and bridges, receive COVID-19 relief, develop high-speed internet, and much more. John says that getting the funds will make a significant difference for everyone, from improving their ability to do business, preserving habitats for generations to come, and increasing property values.

John has been instrumental in advocating for repairs to Atlantic's water supply. Fixing pipes and updating systems isn't front-page news, but it is incredibly important. Not only will getting these fixes help to ensure the health and safety of Atlantic residents, but it will create jobs and keep Atlantic as a great place to raise family, run a business, and live the American dream. John also helped the city secure USDA funding to build a new animal shelter opening this spring.

I'm proud to have voted for the legislation that creates these grants programs and invests tax dollars back into our communities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will bring more than $5 billion dollars to Iowa. John, and city administrators around Iowa, have the important task of applying for these grants.

John wants to make sure that he can help as many folks solve their problems as he can. He's grateful for the dedication of Mayor Grace Garrett and the Atlantic City Council, whose leadership and vision makes his work possible. And John is proud to work alongside so many dedicated public servants who can ``breathe life back into a project'' when things are stuck, like Parks Director Bryant Rasmussen.

John's work is vital to bringing new federal funds to our communities, and that is why I'm honored to name John Lund as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Anne Bacon, Chief Executive Officer of IMPACT Community Action Partnership.

Anne Bacon and her team at IMPACT have been essential in helping Iowans keep a roof over their heads throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting Iowans in need. So much of what we do here in Congress relies on the work of public servants and communities to implement. and their work has been especially critical over the last two years. IMPACT has been serving Iowans for years. but they took on new challenges during the pandemic.

Recognizing the importance of keeping Iowans housed during the pandemic, IMPACT helped more than 1,000 families with direct housing assistance during 2020, using funding from the CARES Act. This year, working with Polk County and Des Moines, Anne's team has kept more than 6,500 households from facing eviction and homelessness, committing more than $35 million from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program Congress passed in the last year. That includes families with nearly 7,000 children who were able to keep the homes they knew thanks to the efforts of Anne and IMPACT. Their work also received praise from the Treasury Department as a high-performing program for making their program easy to use and working directly to help renters facing eviction.

Anne grew up in Toledo, Iowa, and after living in California for four years moved back to Iowa to commit her life to making sure that our social safety net would work for people going through tough times. That goal--making sure people could access services and leave feeling better than when they started--has driven her in getting her degree in Social Work from the University of Iowa and a Masters in Public Administration from Drake University, and continues to drive her work to reduce the barriers that people in poverty face. Anne's work at IMPACT includes both direct service to Iowans and looking at the systemic issues that create this kind of need in the US, and focuses on making sure that programs to help people need to recognize that the people they're helping are their most important stakeholders.

Anne now lives in Ankeny and is happily married with three adult children and one grandson.

Anne's dedication to helping others sets an example all of us can look to, and the work of Iowans like her is critical to making sure the work we do here in Congress reaches our constituents. My work on the Financial Services Committee to secure rental assistance to help Iowans recover from the impacts of the pandemic relies on dedicated public servants like Anne. I'm forever grateful for her work during this difficult time, and I will continue to work in Congress, as I did at the State of Iowa, to make sure that government truly works for the people. It is my privilege to recognize Anne Bacon as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Lewis Central's 3rd-grade teacher Brooke Curtis as Iowan of the Week.

Inspired by the teachers she had growing up in Griswold, Brooke always wanted to teach. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Iowa and got her

master's from Concordia in early education. She began teaching a unique program to the Council Bluffs school district known as Transitional Kindergarten, or T-K as she calls it.

Transitional Kindergarten is an amazing program that accepts 4 years and older who might not be ready for kindergarten. T-K is a wonderful opportunity to give children structured learning and development before entering kindergarten. Brooke says for many parents, they face a difficult choice when they have a child who isn't quite ready for school. As a T-K teacher, she worked with our youngest students to prepare them with the social, emotional, and educational skills.

Teaching T-K is how Brooke met Stacey Kuehn, who nominated Brooke to be Iowan of the week. Stacey was in the Harley-Davidson showroom, ready to buy her retirement motorcycle when her phone rang--she needed to become the caregiver of her two granddaughters.

Brooke met Stacey and her granddaughters when they enrolled in her class. Brooke told Stacey she could call her and that Brooke would do anything to help. She kept that promise. Brooke began helping out with childcare and offering support, and helping these two girls grow. And that's why I wanted to honor Brooke Curtis as Iowan of the Week.

Even though Brooke assures us that all her fellow teachers and school administrators would do the same, I know that Brooke puts everything into being a teacher and helping her kids. ``Teachers are givers,'' she said, ``and while I know we can't pour from an empty cup, sometimes I still try.'' She means there are days, especially over the last year, where she gives everything she has to her students. It was hard on her, and her family.

Brooke and her fellow teachers in the Council Bluff school district have been teaching A&B schedules during the pandemic, where half their students were online and half in the classroom. ``It's not a skill I wanted to learn,'' she joked.

It has never been harder to be a teacher than right now. That is why I am proud to support legislation that invests in teacher retention, teacher mental health, more funding for our schools, and supporting our K-12 families. Teachers like Brooke should remind us all that investing in our teachers is really an investment in our children.

Madam Speaker, Brooke's dedication to her students and commitment to teaching future educators ensures our kids in Iowa are in excellent hands. It is my honor to name Brooke my Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Robyn Dobernecker as Iowan of the Week.

An Iowa native, Robyn has had a passion for animals for as Long as she could remember. She got her start as a kennel attendant at age 18, working with animals who needed to be adopted. She rose up through the ranks and became a senior animal control officer, where she humanely took animals off the streets, got them fed and cleaned, and ready for adoption. She decided to broaden her horizons and work at a vet clinic to better understand animal medicine. Through this, she finally got into the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Iowa, where she is now the intervention coordinator and is responsible for confiscating animals abused at facilities in the state of Iowa. She is also the official point of contact for the rescue efforts for over 500 dogs that were confiscated by a puppy mill breeder, who received one of the harshest penalties for animal welfare violations in USDA history.

After getting three complaints about dog abuse in the summer of 2021, Robyn decided to investigate. What she found was appalling--animals left alone, abused, and neglected. Finding these dogs had little to no water, no food, and inadequate shelter, she immediately called the Iowa attorney general, whose authorization was required to get into the facility and confiscate the animals. With no response, she decided to go to the breeder's hearing, where the USDA and DOJ were prosecuting. Hearing that the breeder's trial will be delayed, Robyn barged into a room of the courthouse full of federal prosecutors for DOJ and said, ``My name is Robyn, my job is to help animals get out of abusive homes. But to do what I do, I need your authorization and for you to get on board, and I need a restraining order so I can get ahold of these dogs.'' This was on a Friday. On that next Monday, DOJ reached out to her and asked if they could work with her to get these dogs out of the facility.

After coordinating with government agencies and other animal rescue organizations, she was able to rescue the first round of dogs on October 13th. Once the breeder officially surrendered on November 1st, Robyn went in with her team and was able to confiscate the rest of the 414 dogs--she got all of them out over the next two days. This difficult feat was catalyzed by Robyn's desire to make a difference for communities. To see those dogs' tails wag for the first time and being able to hug and kiss the puppies once they were all clean made the process of rescuing them worth it. While there is always more work to do to counter animal abuse, we can revel in the admirable work it takes to rescue those who are in harm's way.

I am honored to designate Robyn Dobernecker as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Jose Alvarado as Iowan of the Week. Jose has lived in Iowa for over two decades and over this time he has shown a clear commitment to improving the Latino community and Iowa as a whole. With a clear understanding of the issues facing the Latino community in Iowa, Jose has successfully implemented community-oriented solutions.

Jose founded the LatinX Immigrants of Iowa organization in 2016 to help people. With the Latino population of Iowa continuing to grow, organizations such as Jose's have taken on increased importance. LatinX Immigrants of Iowa has been able to provide legal, financial, and civic programs. Lawsuits and mortgages/leases can be quite technical ordeals, and any language barrier only makes for a more complicated situation. Jose recognized this issue, and the organization he founded ensures that no Latino individual is left behind.

Over the past 2 years, the organization has been on the front lines in COVID-19 response. Jose and his organization recognized the need for more Spanish-specific COVID-19 information and community vaccination clinics. Leveraging the organization's resources and connections, LatinX Immigrants of Iowa was able to vaccinate approximately 1,600 individuals in the Des Moines area from COVID-19 in a comfortable and familiar setting. While this is already an impressive accomplishment, Jose plans to put on another vaccine clinic event in January as well. Ensuring that COVID-19 information is shared with all people is a crucial part of how we can effectively curtail COVID-19 transmission, and I'm thankful for Jose and LatinX Immigrants of Iowa's efforts to cover the Latino community in this critical time.

Jose and LatinX Immigrants of Iowa also organize large community gathering events. These events promote Latino heritage and community- building in Central Iowa. This year, the organization put on a successful Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in Des Moines with the goal to make it as authentic as possible. As Jose turns towards 2022, they will kick off the new year with a Dia de los Reyes Magos (3 King's Day) celebration, which is a popular holiday for the Latino community. These events, in addition to regularly scheduled education classes, help ensure that Latinos know that there is a place for them in Iowa.

Jose strengthens Iowa's community through his dedicated public service. I look forward to following him and his organization as they continue to move forward serving the community, and I am proud to name Jose Alvarado as Iowan of the Week.