Advocacy

infoNET and the entire ID Action network have the resources you need to be an effective advocate on the issues you care about. We will help you keep on top of the issues being discussed in the Iowa Legislature and in the US Congress, learn more about the issues so you can be an informed and confident advocate, and find ways to become effective advocates.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR ISSUE.

• Click here to learn more about various policy issues.
• Click here to review issues being discussed in our Bill Tracker.

TAKE ACTION & ADVOCATE.

• Click here for the most recent update of our Guide to the Iowa Legislature to find out more about the process (updated 1/5/22).
• Click here for our new 2022 Advocacy Toolkit.
• Click here to use our Action Center to connect with your elected officials through phone or email.
• Click here to find a town hall meeting or candidate forum near you.

KEEP UP TO DATE & TRACK PROGRESS.

• Click here to read our current issue of infoNET.
• Click here to track the progress of bills that impact Iowans with disabilities.

Listen to our January Capitol Chat and learn more about the Governor's policy priorities and budget, and some of the bills that have been introduced in the first weeks of the Iowa Legislative Session.

State Resources

Find Your Legislators.

• Find out who represents you in Iowa's State Capitol.
• Find out more about your legislators and the legislative process in our most recently updated Guide to the Iowa Legislature.

Learn more about your Legislators.

• Representative Profiles - (Democrats) & (Republicans)
• Senator Profiles - (Democrats) & (Republicans)
• Committees by Representative
• Committees by Senator
• Maps & District Information (current)
• New Maps (redistricting changed legislative and Congressional maps, but your district does not change until after the November 2022 election)
• Legislative Leadership

Contact Your Legislators

• Use our Action Center to contact your legislators.
• Email your Senator.
• Email your Representative.

Committee Listings (2022)

• House & Senate Committees
• House & Senate Budget Subcommittees
  
• Permanent Statutory Committees (meet year round)
• Interim Committees (meet when legislators not in session)

Other Information

• Iowa Code (laws)
• Iowa Administrative Code (state agency rules)
• Iowa Constitution
• Lobbyist Information
• Subscribe to legislative email publications
• Click here for Capitol meeting room maps.
• Contact for various legislative agencies

Learn more about the Iowa DD Council's legislative priorities - and the stories that inspired them - in this short (30 minute) presentation to legislators at their "2022 Virtual Open House."  You can watch the ASL version of this video here.

Federal Resources

Every Iowan is represented in Washington DC in the US Congress by one US Representative and two US Senators. Senator Charles Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst represent you in the US Senate. You are represented in the US House of Representatives by one of Iowa's four US Representatives (Representative Cindy Axne, Representative Ashley Hinson, Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, Representative Randy Feenstra). To find out which one, click here. 

You can check Congressional schedules, watch what's going on in Congress, track bills you care about, and contact your elected officials representing you in Washington DC using the following links.

Track Action in the US Congress

• Congressional legislation search
• Congressional schedules
• On the Floor Now (US House)
• U.S. Congress
• U.S. Senate
• Legislative Process (Congress)
• Planning a Visit to U.S. Capitol
• CSPAN Congressional Resources

Track Action in the White House

• Connect with the White House.
• Check in on the White House Briefing Room.
• Learn more about the President, Vice President and their Administration.
• Read the President's stand on issues.
• Sign up for email from the White House.

Check in on your representatives in Congress:

• Map of Iowa's current Congressional districts
• Sen. Joni Ernst
• Sen. Charles Grassley
• Rep. Cindy Axne (3rd Congressional District)
• Rep. Ashley Hinson (1st Congressional District)
• Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (2nd Congressional District)
• Rep. Randy Feenstra (4th Congressional District)

Learn how a constituent's story inspired Rep. Ann Meyer to take action to make Iowa more accessible to individuals with disabilities.  

Policy & Issues

Home & Community Based Services (HCBS)

• The Arc's Medicaid Can't Wait campaign (lots of info here, including video options)
• Find out how it impacts Iowa - and download a one-pager on it.
• Contact your Congressperson about this in just a few clicks.

Current Year Budgets

The Iowa Legislature usually passes eleven budget bills each year to fund parts of state government. The state budget year (called a "fiscal year") starts on July 1. The 2021 Legislature approved fiscal year 2022 budgets, which funds state government from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Click on the links below for the nonpartisan staff review of the FY 2022 budgets passed by the Legislature and now law.  (Updated 5/12/21)

• Administration/Regulation (Final)
• Agriculture/Natural Resources (Final)
• Economic Development (Final)
• Education(Final)
• Federal Block Grant (Final)
• Health/Human Services (Final)
• Infrastructure (also called RIIF for Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund) (Final)
• Judicial Branch (the courts) (Final)Judicial Branch (the courts) (Final)
• Justice Systems (Final)
• Standings (Final)=Standings (Final)
• Transportation (Final)

Livable Homes Coalition

Many Iowans with a disability cannot live safely in their homes, and may be forced to move into residential long-term care facilities rather than stay at home. There are a few local programs to help pay for needed home modifications, but these programs do not currently serve the whole state. There is funding for home modifications available through the Medicaid program, but it is only available to Medicaid members.

Organizations that support older Iowans, individuals with disabilities, and those with serious health conditions have been working together to advocate for a statewide home modfication grant program to help fill this gap. They have formed the Livable Homes Coalition.

The Coalition supports the creation of an infrastructure program to help low income Iowans living with a disability caused by age, chronic disease, or injury to modify their homes to increase accessibility, safety, and to remain independent. The Coalition is asking for $1 million to fund grants of up to $5,000 to help offset the costs of modifying homes of persons who are over the age of 65 or living with a disability. To be eligible, the person must own their home and must not earn more than 300% of the federal poverty level.

• Click here for a fact sheet on Home Modification.
• Click here for more background information on thie issue.
• Click here to contact your legislators in support of this program

Learn how to be your own best advocate with the Iowa DD Council's public policy manager Bill Kallestad.  If you would like to see the ASL version of this video, click here.

Insider Look at How A Bill Becomes A Law

Learn how to use our Action Center to send messages to the people elected to represent you at the State Capitol and in Congress. It's super easy and all you need to know is your name, address, and what you want to say! 

Listen to our December Capitol Chat and learn more about what's ahead in the 2022 Iowa legislative session.

Checking in with self-advocates and friends to see how advocacy is going, talk about redistricting, and more.  

Watch our June 4, 2021 Capitol Chat.  Check it out for a review of the 2021 state legislative session.

Watch our April 30, 2021 Capitol Chat.  We cover the state budget and issues hanging on in the final days of the 2021 legislative sesison.

Watch our March 26, 2021 Capitol Chat.  Learn more about what is still alive after the last legislative deadline - and what issues are done for the year.

Watch our February 26, 2021 Capitol Chat and see how things are going as the Iowa Legislature starts its second full month of the legislative session.

Watch our January 29, 2021 Capitol Chat and learn more about the Governor's and legislator priorities for the session.

Every year, the Iowa DD Council will be asking stakeholders what they think about the tools, resources, and information provided by its public policy project, infoNET.  Check out what stakeholders had to say in 2021.

Listen to advocate strories and hear how legislators respond to those stories in our first Virtual Legislative Town Hall held on February 26, 2021.

Legislative Panel (Fall 2020)

Governor Reynolds Message on Disability Employment