The Sinclair Report

Week two of the legislative session was shortened due to the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday. However, our committee and subcommittee chairs filled the working days with meetings to deliberate on bills and bring them to the full Senate for consideration.

Some of the topics worked on this week include the hands-free bill discussed by Governor Kim Reynolds, judicial issues, reforming county supervisor districts, and excusing those 75-years-old and older from jury service. I will highlight these issues in future newsletters as the committees narrow their focus and present the bills to the full Senate for consideration.

Law Enforcement Protections Pass Senate Subcommittee

Senate Republicans have a record of passing laws supporting law enforcement by ensuring they have the tools they need to do their jobs successfully. Senate Study Bill 1010 is a bill to reform the disciplinary process for city employees and ban citizen review boards for law enforcement. This bill takes politics out of the process, removes conflicts of interest, and provides more clarification for civil service commissions to ensure a fairer process.

Healthcare Careers for Rural Youth

Iowa Workforce Development Board and Pathfinders RC&D have collaborated to empower the University of Iowa College of Nursing graduate students to provide an analysis of the gaps in healthcare career training and awareness among high school and college-aged students in Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Keokuk, Poweshiek, and Tama counties.

Iowa Workforce Development hopes the UI students can identify what information and training is already available and what still needs to be developed to build a robust pipeline of talent, support, and critical health resources in our rural communities.

This semester the students will complete practicums in the seven counties. These placements will span various settings, including local county hospitals, public health offices, and schools. The goal of the practicum is to provide students with hands-on experience in the diverse healthcare environments of rural communities, helping them better understand these settings and explore ways to contribute to improving rural healthcare.

We look forward to the results from this project as we work to help Governor Kim Reynolds grow the state’s healthcare workforce.

Visitors to the Capitol

Wednesday was Veterans Day at the Capitol. We ceremoniously honored and remembered the men and women who have bravely served this country. We want to thank all our veterans who have served in the United States military for their unwavering dedication and selfless acts of courage to protect those of us at home.

Future Farmers of America (FFA) students visited with leaders in agriculture, spoke with their legislators about agricultural issues, and learned about the legislative process.

Staying in touch

I rely on your input because everything we do as a General Assembly affects you personally. You can email me at amy.sinclair@legis.iowa.gov or call me at 515-725-4122 to voice your support or concerns on upcoming legislation. Visit the legislative website for information about bills important to you or to follow the work of the legislature: www.Legis.Iowa.Gov.

Also, meet with me in your area to talk about issues important to you:

• Revelton Distilling Company, Osceola, at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 3.