Public Policy Committee Meetings
Begin Monday, August 9
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Next week three public policy committee meetings will take place. The Environment Committee will meet Monday, the Employment and Workforce Committee convenes Tuesday and the Workplace and Product Safety Committee will gather Wednesday. The meetings will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the ABI office. Lunch will be served, a guest speaker will present and then committee members will review policies. There is still time to register to ensure your company’s voice is heard as ABI forms its 2022 policies. If you would like to participate, but are unable to join in person because of a travel restriction due to COVID-19, please contact Brad Hartkopf.
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Iowa House District 37 Special Election
to Take Place in September
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This week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds set September 14, 2021 as the date for a special election to fill the seat now vacant following the death of State Rep. John Landon (R-Ankeny). Mr. Landon, who passed away on July 26th, was serving his fifth term in the Iowa House. Both parties will hold special nominating conventions to put forward candidates who will then face each other on the 14th. The winner will serve the rest of Mr. Landon’s term and face re-election in 2022. ABI would like to extend our condolences to Mr. Landon’s family. |
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Delta Variant Drives Vaccine and Mask Decisions |
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As COVID-19 cases continue to rise with the Delta variant, some Iowa employers are starting to require employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Some employers are also implementing mask mandates.
The Health Action Alliance (HAA) has built a Decision Tool for employers as they try to navigate health, legal and other considerations on matters such as vaccination mandates, COVID-19 testing, mask mandates, and employee travel. Studies have shown that receiving the vaccine is the best and most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus and avoid the most harmful effects of it.
Legislation, Senate File 555, was introduced last spring to eliminate the right of employers to require vaccination of employees, but it did not advance. ABI argued successfully that ABI supported the right of any Iowan not to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, but that such decisions could have consequences, including in the workplace. Some state legislators in Iowa are increasingly talking about stopping employers from choosing to require the vaccine as a condition of employment and eroding the state’s at-will employment policies. The bill is available for consideration in the upcoming special legislative session related to redistricting and in the 2022 regular session. ABI continues to advocate for the right of our member companies to make these difficult but critical decisions to manage their workplaces.
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Governor Announces 2021 Future Ready Iowa Summit |
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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week that the 2021 Future Ready Iowa Summit will be focused on “Transforming Education for the Workforce.” The event will be held on Thursday, September 16 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. This event will explore ways to connect Iowa educators and employers to expand work-based learning and computer science as critical aspects of STEM education. ABI is proud to be a private sector partner of the event. It will be held from 9:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m and is free and open to the public. View the agenda HERE.
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U.S. Senate Democratic Primary in Iowa –
Candidates Three and Four Emerge
Axne Makes News With An Endorsement
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Until this past week, there were only two Democratic Party primary candidates that had declared their intentions to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.
They were Dave Muhlbauer, a western Iowa farmer and former Crawford County Supervisor and Abby Finkenauer, a former state legislator from Dubuque and a one-term member of the U.S. House who was defeated by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson in 2020.
Candidate three is Dr. Glen Hurst, a rural physician from western Iowa and a Minden city council member. You can learn more about his announcement here.
Candidate four is Retired Adm. Michael Franken of Sioux City. Franken sought, but was unsuccessful in securing the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2020. See his announcement in the Carroll Times Herald.
Perhaps the biggest news this week in the 2022 U.S. Senate race was not who entered the race, but rather Congresswoman Cindy Axne's endorsement of Finkenauer. Finkenauer is seen as the front-runner amongst the declared candidates and this endorsement changes up predictions political watchers had for Axne. Political watchers had Axne on a list of potential candidates against Sen. Grassley. This endorsement means Axne will not challenge Grassley, but will instead seek re-election to the U.S. House or potentially run against Governor Reynolds in 2022.
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Members Chosen for Carbon Sequestration
Task Force Working Groups
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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced which members will serve on the Agriculture and Energy Workgroups on July 30. Both workgroups will support the Carbon Sequestration Task Force. This task force launched in late June after Governor Reynolds signed an executive order in response to the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board’s recommendation to form a state task force. The advisory board also recommended increasing renewable fuels infrastructure investments and supporting long-term water quality funding.
According to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), this task force will explore carbon sequestration and what opportunities might be available for more economic development in the state. The workgroups will support the task force by reviewing data and policy assessments and working on strategies.
You can find the members of the two workgroups below:
State Reps. Kenan Judge and John Wills, as well as State Sens. Kevin Kinney and Annette Sweeney are members of the Ex Officio Workgroup.
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House Passes Legislation to Regulate PFAs Chemicals |
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The U.S. House recently passed the PFAs Action Act of 2021 241-183. The bill, H.R. 2467, was approved with bipartisan support as 23 Republicans crossed party lines to back the regulatory measure. The legislation mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate the many common types of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFOA and PFOS) within two years of the law being enacted. The bill would also require that the compounds be designated as “hazardous substances”. The bill heads to the Senate where its fate is unknown. Governments and regulatory agencies across the country have been ramping up efforts and are beginning to take a serious look at how or if PFAs should be regulated and to what extent that might occur. Read more from The Hill.
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Connecting Statewide Leaders - August 11 |
Join us for a Connecting Statewide Leaders event focusing on “The New Normal." Discuss how business weathered the pandemic and what operations look like 18 months later.
Connect with fellow industry leaders and members of the new Leadership Iowa University class!
Learn more and register HERE.
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The 2021 Program for Leadership Iowa University (LIU)
Will Take Place August 8 - 12.
Leadership Iowa University (LIU) is designed to bridge the gap between college and career, and assist emerging professionals and leaders along their path to personal and professional success. Students will connect with Iowa professionals and will get to experience the diverse array of experiences they can gain here in the state. The five-day session allows students to rediscover what makes Iowa an ideal place to live and work.
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Taking Advantage of ABI Opportunities |
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By Mike Ralston, ABI President
Later this month, I will complete visits with newly-elected members of the ABI Board of Directors. As a group, the women and men that comprise the ABI board are terrific. They are some of our state's best business leaders.
What strikes me most about these visits every year is how passionate ABI members are about their businesses. They care about their people, they care about their customers, and they care about the future of their business.
However, the point of this column is not about this wonderful opportunity I and others have at ABI each year (the opportunity to interact with our state's best leaders). Rather, the point is that you and your company have that opportunity, too.
CLICK HERE to read more and learn how to take advantage of this opportunity.
WATCH: ABI President Mike Ralston joins ABI Executive Vice President Nicole Crain in the latest Weekly Business Report for a wrap up of the Okoboji CEO Forum
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Click on the headlines to learn about the latest ABI member news
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Made In Iowa Ad Space Deadline - Aug. 13 |
ABI and the Business Record are partnering to celebrate Iowa’s manufacturing industry this October. The groundbreaking “Made In Iowa” campaign offers a special Business Record issue, Made In Iowa website and a social media campaign devoted to highlighting the industry as a whole!
CLICK HERE for more information and package options.
ACT FAST! AD SPACE DEADLINE IS AUGUST 13!
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John Deere to Host Two-Day Hiring Event |
August 25 & 26
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center, Ankeny
Join John Deere for a two-day hiring event for those interested in a career in assembly or welding. Company representatives will be available to answer questions, help with the application process, and host same-day interviews. No RSVP necessary.
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Iowa Summit on Disability Employment - Aug. 19 |
The Iowa Summit on Disability Employment is an opportunity to learn how your business can tap into this robust and qualified talent pipeline, build an inclusive workplace culture, and accelerate inclusive leadership to realize organization value. Attend on August 19th online or in-person at the FFA Enrichment Center at the DMACC Campus in Ankeny. CLICK HERE to register.
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TOP SUPPORTERS - GOVERNOR |
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