Message from the Iowa Catholic Conference

 

The bishops of Iowa visited the State Capitol last week for the Iowa Catholic Conference Legislative Breakfast and meetings with legislative leadership. Among the topics discussed were migration, education, black market abortion pills, and conscience rights for medical professionals.

Last week’s committee action:

SSB 1028 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously. It would provide $1 million to the “Double Up Food Bucks” program, which provides matching funds for SNAP (food stamp) benefits spent on fruits and vegetables. The match would be up to $10 a day. Healthy food is more expensive so this should help promote healthy eating habits. Since the bill contains an appropriation, it moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House File 248 passed the State Government Committee by a unanimous vote. The legislation requires employers to treat employees who adopt a child under 6 years of age in the same manner as a biological parent. The ICC supports the bill because adoption helps to build and strengthen families, providing a loving and supportive environment for children to grow and thrive. Bonding with children is very important as there can be issues with identity with adoptive children even as adults.

Several bills of interest to the ICC were introduced last week, including:

• HSB 140. It’s identical to the bill the ICC supported the last couple of years to shorten probation time for offenders who are employed or pursuing education. This bill would help reintegrate offenders into the community when it’s safe. The 2023 bill passed the House but we could not get it through the Senate.
• HSB 139 and SF 220. The “Med Act” would provide needed conscience protections for medical professionals. Federal law does not protect rights of conscience for healthcare workers in some contexts such as assisted suicide and prescribing unnecessary opiates to patients requesting them. We believe the freedom to follow one’s conscience is foundational. SF 220 is set to be considered by a subcommittee on Tuesday.
• There is a subcommittee hearing scheduled today (Monday) for SF 207, which is the Senate’s version of the proposal requiring age verification for adult websites. We believe this policy would help protect children. 

Federal assistance programs reviewed

If you’re following the news you’ve heard there are many changes being implemented in federal programs by the Administration. 

For example, the federal refugee resettlement program has been put on pause pending a review. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) was established when Congress passed the bipartisan Refugee Act of 1980. This is a formal process by which people are legally resettled in the United States as refugees.

Resettlement through this program is distinct from the U.S. asylum process. Any person resettled through USRAP is first screened, vetted, and approved by the U.S. government while outside of the United States. They also receive medical evaluations, a cultural orientation, and other services that maximize their ability to integrate successfully into, and contribute productively to, American communities.

Even though funding has been halted for the program, several agencies in Iowa, including Catholic Charities of Des Moines, are still responsible for 839 people who are still in the so-called “service period,” that first 90 days after arrival. Under normal circumstances those agencies would receive $2.25 million from the federal government to do this work. There are ongoing contacts with legislators and the governor’s office to see if any emergency assistance can be provided at the state level.

Senate File 223 was introduced last week to provide $2.5 million in state funding for the agencies, but because the bill came from Democrats, it seems unlikely to advance.

The Administration has stopped almost all U.S. foreign assistance programs pending a review. The Secretary of State has issued an exception for lifesaving humanitarian assistance, but as of this writing no funding has moved. 

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the bishops’ overseas development and humanitarian agency and an important provider of this assistance. While CRS can fill in with some money from Church and other private fundraising, the loss of the federal money is very impactful to millions of people around the world who need the help.

You are encouraged to go to support.crs.org/act/foreign-aid-operations to urge your members of Congress to engage with the Administration to allow foreign assistance programs to operate during the review process. If you happen to be in Rep. Ashley Hinson’s district in northeast Iowa, your message is especially important as she serves on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Please customize the message as much as possible.