Mark your calendars! Several of our members will be in Indianola on October 8 to host a listening session and hear directly from Iowans about the issues that matter to you most. Come out and see us!

Iowa's rural communities face ongoing population decline as factors like shrinking Medicaid reimbursements, low public school funding and school consolidation, and aging demographics weigh heavily on communities’ ability to maintain residents.

Legislative cuts to Iowa's AEAs have forced smaller school districts into difficult budgetary decisions, stripping students and faculty alike of services and resources that were previously available.

State revenues are set to take another large hit as effects of a tariff-impacted ag economy and the OBBBA filter down. We already face a $900+ million budget hole and these new impacts will only see that number grow, making our state budgeting process that much more difficult.

There's still time to take our back-to-school survey! Click the link and lets us know what's new and different, what works and what doesn't at your local school this year: actionnetwork.org/forms/back-t...

The nearly 100-year-old Burlington company cited uncertainty and inconsistency in federal grant formulas as one of the reasons for its decision.

Workers have the right to collectively bargain and deserve to vote for themselves on the best way forward, but recent reports show UnityPoint has brought in outside firms to combat the nurses’ unionization effort. Details: bit.ly/42DVXzu

Organizations like Food Bank of Siouxland in northwest Iowa are working hard to combat food insecurity, despite a rising number of Iowans in need of assistance.

The funding allows Hawkeye Community College to resume the program, which provided critical support and companionship to nearly 100 Waterloo seniors prior to its June pause.

As harvest begins, federal tariff policies are fueling farm stress across Iowa not seen since the 1980s. bit.ly/46jW7OQ

Shana Tova to all Iowans celebrating Rosh Hashanah!

Many rural healthcare facilities rely on Medicaid reimbursements to provide the services patients need, but federal cuts could force some facilities to close their doors. Read more here: bit.ly/48i2bc0

Budget cuts in Des Moines could weaken scientists' ability to accurately monitor Iowa's water quality, impacting Iowans all across the state.

Another round of layoffs will impact John Deere employees in Waterloo and Des Moines, bringing the total up to nearly 2,200 Iowa workers laid off in less than 18 months.

Unemployment in Iowa ticked up again last month. There are now nearly 15,000 more unemployed Iowans than jobs available.

What does the new school year look like for you and your family? Click the link to take our annual Back-to-School survey: actionnetwork.org/forms/back-t...

Iowa needs teachers, but a new report shows our state ranks among the least friendly places to grow as an educator. While several of our Midwestern neighbors rank in the top 10, Iowa ranks 43rd.

Correctional workers protested in Fort Madison yesterday against a proposed effort to privatize prison medical personnel. You can read the full report here: bit.ly/421lK4x

Constitution Day is good reminder for Iowans to get involved. Call your elected officials, talk to your neighbors, voice your opinion. Let yourselves be heard. The responsibility for fulfilling the Constitution’s goals and forming a more perfect Union falls to us, We the People.

Many rural healthcare facilities rely on Medicaid reimbursements to provide the services patients need. Federal cuts could force some facilities to close their doors. Read more here: bit.ly/48i2bc0

Today, Legislators visited the IMCC facility. Among the topics discussed was the effort to privatize the medical personnel in Iowa’s prisons – an effort Senate Democrats oppose. Correctional workers do hard and dangerous work and deserve our full support.

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Have you registered to vote yet? Visit nationalvoterregistrationday.org to learn more!

The Iowa DOGE Task Force met again this afternoon. Their reports will be compiled and submitted to Gov. Reynolds by September 29. You can watch a recording of today's meeting here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nuvz...

Senator Catelin Drey was in Des Moines this morning to take her oath of office, officially becoming the newest member of the Iowa Senate!

Iowa Head Start programs have had to reduce operations or close classrooms thanks to stagnant or reduced federal funding. These funding gaps mean the program can’t match enrollment needs. Read the story: bit.ly/462q99O

Iowa is a national leader in clean, renewable energy, but changes in the federal budget bill could threaten our leadership position and send Iowa backwards.

Healthy Kids Iowa failed to match Summer EBT on several fronts. The program fed fewer children, was more difficult to locally administer, and was less economically beneficial to our communities. Read more here: bit.ly/3I91dEs

Today and always, America will never forget. Visit 911day.org to learn how you can participate in a national day of service and remembrance and help do some good on the anniversary of our national tragedy.

Wage theft is a persistent issue that costs Iowa workers nearly $1 billion each year. Wage theft creates an uneven playing field that punishes good companies for following the law.

Creighton University has released their monthly Mid-American Economy survey and Iowa continues to lag behind our neighbors. The survey looks at a number of metrics including employment, wholesale prices, confidence, inventories, and trade.

When the Trump Administration cut $11 billion in CDC grant funding, states with Democratic leadership sued and were able to maintain a large percentage of their grant awards. States with Republican leadership that fell in line – like Iowa – lost out. bit.ly/4na7rCA

Iowa’s childcare crisis has wide-ranging effects, stressing families, workplaces, and providers alike. We have to act to improve childcare access around the state. Our legislative proposals are here: iowasenatedemocrats.com/our-agenda/

For the fifth consecutive year, Gallup reports that nearly 7 in 10 Americans approve of organized labor, the highest level reached since the early 1960s. #ThankAUnion

Interested in the legislative process? Clerking is a great way to get involved. Come work directly with one of our senators throughout the 2026 legislative session. Reach out for more information!

After decades of continuous operation, Fox River Mills in Osage is being shuttered, its workforce laid off, and its assets moved out of state. It's a heavy blow to the Osage community.

A new study published in Health Affairs shows access to maternal healthcare declining nationwide, with Iowa among the hardest states hit. One-third of ALL Iowa hospitals and 39.7% of our rural hospitals lost access to obstetric care. Read the study here: bit.ly/4lZvxPF

It's Labor Union Appreciation Month and Senate Democrats want to #ThankAUnion for consistently showing up in solidarity with working Iowans! We'll be talking about our Labor friends throughout September, so be sure to visit thankaunion.com to find ways you can support!

Happy Labor Day to all working Iowans! Thank you for being the engine that powers our state!

It was the summer everything began. ✨

There are Labor Day events taking place all over the state over the next few days. Find one near you and show Iowa's workers some much-deserved support!

For small and rural schools, AEA cuts mean the services and resources on which students, families, and school personnel have come to rely could be lost.

We're looking for interns for the 2026 legislative session! For application information and details about the internship, follow this link: bit.ly/ISD-intern

Reminder! If you know a high school junior or senior interested in working as a Page in the Iowa Senate during the 2026 legislative session, the details and application can be found here: bit.ly/LegisPages

Please help us welcome the newest member of the Iowa Senate, Senator-elect Catelin Drey!

On August 26, 1920, after decades of tireless effort, women in the United States were finally granted the right to vote. Today, we celebrate the anniversary of that accomplishment as Women's Equality Day.

As the 2025-26 school year kicks off, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the teachers and staff working in Iowa's schools. Your time and effort is so appreciated. Have a great school year!

Be sure to be on the lookout for buses as the school year starts back up. Use this handy information from Iowa's Department of Transportation to stay safe during drop off and pick up this year: bit.ly/41fUkrd

Early projections for the 2025-26 school year show private school vouchers could cost taxpayers more than $35 million more than original estimates.

Public education is open to all students, accountable to taxpayers, and has strict teacher accreditation and licensure requirements. Iowa’s public dollars belong in Iowa’s public schools.

All working Iowans deserve fair treatment and safe working conditions. We stand in solidarity with Iowa's nurses as they strive for a healthier, more mutually beneficial workplace.