Week 4 of the session was marked with sorrow and reflection as we mourned the loss of one of our House colleagues, Rep. Martin Graber. Rep. Graber was not only a beloved husband and father, but also a 32-year veteran of the Iowa National Guard, retiring as a Brigadier General. He was elected to the Iowa House in 2020. The House canceled session on Tuesday so that members could attend his funeral in Fort Madison. Rep. Graber was a strong Christian man, the church where the funeral was held started out in the Graber’s home many years ago and the Graber’s were instrumental in building the beautiful church the congregation occupies today.

On Wednesday, the Iowa House’s new Higher Education committee passed a bill, House Study Bill 53, to prohibit the Regent institutions in Iowa from requiring students to enroll in courses related to DEI or critical race theory. The bill does not eliminate the existence of some of these courses, and there are exemptions if the program is directly related to racial, ethnic or gender studies. However, it eliminates the requirement for these courses if the degree the student is in pursuit of is completely unrelated. For example, right now all Iowa State University undergraduate students are required to take a course in “U.S. Cultures and Communities,” a seemingly innocuous title. However, ISU’s website states that the students in this course will be inculcated into discredited “Woke” concepts dealing with race, gender identity, etc. These concepts are dogmatic Liberal social beliefs that are contrary to the common sense and decency that most Iowans support. These concepts have nothing to do with preparing our college students for the real world. The Regents were registered in favor of the bill, but that didn’t stop the Democrats in committee from voting against this common-sense legislation.

For several sessions, Iowa House Republicans have been interested in taking action to protect our local pharmacies facing unfair practices from Pharmacy Benefit Managers, the middlemen known as PBMs. House Study Bill 99 is aimed at further protecting our local pharmacies. We are seeing rural pharmacies close at an alarming rate, 29 Iowa pharmacies closed in 2024 and more than 150 Iowa pharmacies have closed over the past decade. Without local pharmacies, Iowa families and older Iowans have a harder time accessing the care they deserve. This bill includes several regulations on PBMs in Iowa, including requiring the PBMs to reimburse pharmacies based on acquisition cost instead of an amount set by the PBM. This bill passed subcommittee in the Iowa House this week. It is likely not in its final form and we will continue to seek input as this bill makes its way through the legislative process.

As always, I look forward to seeing you at the capitol, or in the district.