By Ashley Hinson Many of us have heard the news about Washington's historic stimulus package for individuals and businesses affected by the current health crisis. The CARES Act passed in March included over $350 billion in relief to small businesses, direct payments to individuals and over $100 billion in funding for vital resources and lifesaving equipment for our hospitals. But recent reports have shown that one group has been slow to get the help they need. Our veterans are heroes and we must ensure they are not left behind. Our state's 203,000 veterans are at substantial risk. As outbreaks continue to plague Iowa's veteran facilities, we must work together and ensure our VAs and rural hospitals continue to have access to vital resources. I'm grateful that the stimulus bill provided $60 million for The Department of Veterans Affairs, including critical funds to purchase testing kits, personal protective equipment and to send veterans outside the VA for emergency care. I commend Sen. Joni Ernst for her leadership in calling on the Senate to ensure publicly-owned hospitals like many rural, county-owned hospitals throughout Iowa, are eligible for relief provided in the Paycheck Protection Program. These hospitals are not only important health care providers who help serve veterans during this time, they are large employers in rural communities throughout Northeast Iowa. While health care is critically important, we must recognize that veterans' jobs are also at risk. According to research by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, about one in every seven veterans employed in America today works in an industry currently considered high-risk for layoffs. Skyrocketing unemployment means veterans are in serious need of financial support, yet we're now seeing reports that as many as 2 million veterans and their survivors could miss out on the federal stimulus payments. That is because many veterans who rely solely on government benefits, including disability payments from Veterans Affairs, are not typically required to submit a return, and the IRS is requiring eligible households to file a tax return in order to receive their money. We cannot allow our nations heroes to fall through the cracks of government's red tape. That's why Iowa needs to step up to fund payments to veterans who are financially impacted by COVID-19 and do not receive aid from the federal stimulus package.

By Ashley Hinson Legislation stemming from allegations of a middle school teacher's sexual abuse of a Linn County student was unanimously approved by the Iowa House on Tuesday. "This was the No. 1 issue I heard from constituents at the door" while campaigning last year, said Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Marion, about the case that happened in the Linn-Mar Community School District school, which is in the district she represents. Voters were upset about allegations that there were three years of complaints and disciplinary action against the teacher, who eventually was allowed to resign and keep his teaching license. Although school administrators were aware of the allegations against the teacher, his conduct was not reported to the state Board of Educational Examiners. Current law does not set a deadline for school districts to report allegations of sexual misconduct to the state licensing board. House File 637 would establish a timeline for reporting misconduct by certified school employees, according to bill manager Rep. Holly Brink, R-Oskaloosa. It would require schools to report actual misconduct or allegations of soliciting or consummating a sexual relationship with a student, falsifying grades or test scores, use of public property for personal use, and being at school or school events under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill would require school districts to make a report within 30 days of taking disciplinary action. "The last thing we want is for these cases to go on in perpetuity," Hinson said. "We definitely do need to set some stronger parameters around this," agreed Rep. Tracy Ehlert, D-Cedar Rapids, an early childhood educator. In the Linn-Mar case, a lawsuit filed by the parents of a student alleges the school district received multiple complaints from students and community members beginning in 2014 that the teacher inappropriately touched students and engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior, including posting sexual content on his social media profile. A lawsuit filed in 2018 alleges the student was sexually assaulted by the teacher. HF 637 was approved 96-0 and now goes to the Senate. In other action, the House approved HF 599 to allow Iowans younger than 16 to hunt small game without a license if accompanied by their parent, guardian or other competent adult. It passed 86-11. Licenses would be required for hunters younger than 16 to hunt deer and turkey. In another vote, the House unanimously approved SF 304, which allows state licensed professionals to keep their credentials if they fall into default on their student loans. "It just doesn't make sense," said Rep. Ray Sorenson, R-Greenfield. "Why would you take away their ability to earn a living when they are trying to repay their loans?" The bill, which requires state licensing boards to adopt rules to prohibit the suspension or revocation of a license issued to a person in default or delinquent on repayment on federal student loans, was previously passed 46-0 in the Senate and now goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds for approval.