From the Desk of Senator Blake

The week before the end of session is usually chaos, with last-minute bills getting jammed through. But this week was different, Republican infighting brought things to a standstill. Aside from the Governor’s childcare bill, SF 445, which strips local control from our early education system and hands it over to the Governor, not much else has been done.

Right now, the Republican majority in the Iowa Senate is, to put it mildly, a bit dysfunctional. They’ve failed to move several of their priority bills because they can’t get on the same page, which may be to Iowa’s benefit. For example, their leadership has stalled action on the carbon pipeline and eminent domain. The issue hasn’t even been brought to the floor for a vote. Internal disagreements have spilled out publicly, with Republican members standing up and calling on leadership to move the bill forward.

Despite having a supermajority, they can’t seem to agree on what should even make it to the floor.

To be clear, I’ve been one of the leading voices in the Senate Democrats pushing to end the use of eminent domain for private corporations. Taking land from Iowa landowners to benefit corporate shareholders is something I will not stand for.

A Caucus United in Defense of Iowans

In these first few months under a new Administration in Washington, D.C., my constituents have reached out with a growing list of concerns about troubling developments and proposals from officials within the federal government.

I’ve responded to worries about tariffs and their ongoing effect on the American economy; I’ve spoken about the shuttering of the Department of Education and how our Iowa students will be affected; and I’ve answered questions about the reckless actions of the world’s richest man, among many, many others.

But, without question, the most consistent fear I hear from my constituents is about cuts to critical programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP. These programs provide monthly benefits to hundreds of thousands of Iowans and have far-reaching effects that extend beyond the immediate recipients. Medicaid, for instance, is a key factor in keeping many of our rural hospitals and healthcare facilities afloat. These programs help us care for children, the elderly, the vulnerable, and the hungry. They’re lifelines preventing Iowans from falling through the cracks.

In the past week, my colleagues and I sent a series of letters to each member of Iowa’s federal delegation (our two U.S. senators and four members of Congress) urging them to defend Iowans’ access to these critical programs and to push back against cuts to their funding and operation. We believe our elected officials in Washington have a responsibility to stand up for Iowans and the essential services on which they rely.

You can see each of those letters at the links below.

A Childcare Shell Game

Childcare represents one of the largest ongoing expenses Iowa families face each month. The monthly cost can rival a family’s mortgage payment. This financial burden presents a significant barrier for parents trying to re-enter the workforce AND for Iowa businesses trying to recruit and retain top talent.

Taking meaningful action to address Iowa’s childcare crisis would positively impact thousands of working families and children in need of care while also helping to grow Iowa’s economy.

That’s why access to quality, affordable, reliable childcare is such a gamechanger, and why my colleagues and I are fighting so hard to expand childcare accessibility and affordability around the state. This week, the Iowa Senate had an opportunity to address some of Iowa’s persistent childcare deficiencies by improving on a proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The governor’s bill, SF 445, began with the intent of expanding wrap-around childcare services wherein a child could attend half-day preschool in the morning and move to after-school childcare in the afternoon.

But instead of proposing new funding for the expanded programming, the governor’s bill amounted to little more than a shell game. Rather than investing in new programs and increased access, SF 445 would move around existing money – forcing effective community-based childcare programs to try to do more with less and actually cutting existing childcare slots. My colleagues and I find flaw with that approach, especially considering the state is sitting on nearly $100 million specifically earmarked for childcare.

So, Senate Democrats offered a series of amendments to try to improve the governor’s bill and provide greater access to early childhood education and affordable childcare options around the state. Our proposals would have done the following:

Allowed communities to institute full-day preschool, expanding early childhood education opportunities for Iowa kids.
Created a working group to study existing Early Childhood Iowa service areas and determine whether or not they should be consolidated – as the governor’s bill proposed – and what effect consolidation may have on children, families, and communities.
Expand the eligibility limits for state assistance for childcare to thousands more working families and automatically qualify children for state childcare assistance if they have a parent under 18 or have a sibling already receiving assistance.
Increase wages for childcare workers by building on the success of the Child Care Solutions Fund pilot program, by appropriating $6 million in new state funding to expand the program that offered state matching dollars for local fundraising.

Senate Republicans unanimously voted against each of our proposals, and SF 445 was passed along party lines. Instead of expanding access to quality, reliable, affordable childcare and expanding early childhood education opportunities, the Republican-led Legislature is just moving money around in the hopes that Iowans won’t notice.

Quick Updates

Safe Disposal Options for Prescription Drugs: Iowa’s Office of Drug Control Policy is encouraging all Iowans to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26, 2025. This biannual event is an opportunity for Iowans to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications safely and anonymously. Find your nearest disposal site here, and for year round options, check out this map.
National Fentanyl Awareness Day is April 29th. Check out their webpage for events, resources, and toolkits. While we’ve made progress, fentanyl still presents a danger to our communities. I’m hopeful this is the year the legislature finally acts on Iowa’s opioid settlement fund.
Awards for Excellence: Five Iowa educators have been named as finalists for the 2025 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This year’s list of finalists includes mathematics educators Catherine Leipold (Waterloo West High School), Curtis Martinek (Gilbert High School) and Adam Paulson (Waukee High School) and science educators Gregory Barord (Central Campus Regional Academy, Des Moines) and Matt Harding (Iowa City Liberty High School). The awards are the highest recognition that a K-12 teacher may receive in the United States for science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.
Workers Memorial Day: Celebrated annually on April 28, Workers Memorial Day is an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, or injured on the job. Instituted in 1989 by the AFL-CIO, it marks the anniversary of the date the Occupational Health and Safety Act went into effect, guaranteeing all workers the right to a safe work environment. Here’s where you can join in an event locally:
- Des Moines: Monday, April 28; 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Union Labor Park 4640 NW Morningstar Dr Des Moines, IA 50313
Celebrate and Explore Apprenticeships in Iowa: April 30 is National Apprenticeship Day! National Apprenticeship Day promotes and highlights the importance of apprenticeships across the country, showcases the benefits of on-the-job training where workers earn while they learn, and emphasizes the importance of Registered Apprenticeship programs in strengthening our economy, developing a highly skilled workforce to that meets industry needs, and creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into in-demand jobs. Find an open house near you to explore what Iowa’s apprentices are learning:
- Des Moines Electrical Apprenticeship Training Facility Open House & Guided Tours; April 30, 10700 Justin Drive, Urbandale, Iowa 50322; Tour IBEW 347 training facility and speak with instructors and apprentices.
  - Guided Facility Tours: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM (Registration required);
  - Open House: 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM (No registration required)
- Iowa Pipe Trades and HVAC Institute: April 30, 10 am-4 p.m., 2501 Bell Ave. Des Moines Tour the training center and gain hands-on experience in plumbing, welding and HVAC!
Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition: Youth teams can now register for the 2025 Youth Crop Scouting Competition, hosted by Iowa 4-H and the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management program. The event will be held July 24 at Wyffels Hybrids in Ames. Middle and high school students in grades 7-12 are invited to put their crop scouting skills to the test, competing against other youth teams across the state.
Urban Agriculture Field Days: The Urban Agriculture team with Iowa State University is offering four Urban Agriculture Field Days in 2025, partnering with area urban farms. Urban farms are essential to providing food security, sustainability, access to nutritious food, and economic strength to urban communities. Register online.
- May 9, Sweet Tooth Farms, Des Moines: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

This Week in the Capitol

Thursday, I met with members of the Kosovar government visiting the Iowa Army National Guard.

Contact Senator Matt Blake at [email protected] or follow him on social media.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Subscribe here.