Holly Brink Update From the House for District 80 – March 28, 2019
Holly Brink (District 80) signs her Oath of Office on Monday, January 14, 2019.
by Rep. Holly Brink
Hello Friends,
Over the last few days, the House chamber has had a different tone from the bustle and excitement that usually rings through it. Throughout this week, we have welcome and remember past members of the Iowa House, acknowledging their accomplishments and their work in guiding the state to where it is today.
On Wednesday, the House and Senate chambers came together and held in joint convention the Sixty-Fifth Biennial session of the Pioneer Lawmakers. The Pioneer Lawmakers is a time-honored tradition in the Iowa Legislature, going as far back as 1892. The organization is a fellowship of legislators and legislative state officers who gave their time and energy to create legislation that protects and benefit their constituency. To qualify as a Pioneer Lawmaker, one had to have served within the past twenty years of the previous biennial session. This session, the Pioneer Lawmakers welcomed twenty-five individuals from the 1999 legislative session into the fellowship.
During this ceremony, we also recognized the service and lives of the legislators who committed themselves to the service of their fellow Iowans and who have passed in recent years. As we reflected over the impact of their service, it reminds us of the importance of our station and the duty we have been assigned to by our constituency. As a student of history, I am encouraged and inspired by the work of these honorable men and women and will remember them as we continue our work in the House.
Through this week of remembrance, there have been two important bills that I believe are in District 80’s best interest: House File 637 and House File 658. HF 637 establishes a timeline of 30 days that a school must report any disciplinary action against a teacher to the board of educational examiners. This bill is greatly important to the wellbeing of our state’s youth and integrity of our educational system as it enforces administrative functions to report and prevent a teacher who has had misconduct from obtaining another position before the report from their previous employer is complete. I am happy to have led the bill on the floor and to have worked with Representative Hinson who introduced it. It is a good bill and one that will ensure our children’s safety.
Where HF 637 seeks to improve the safety of our children, HF 658 seeks to improve the safety of our roadways. The bill, if enacted, will increase speeding fines while allocating the new proceeds to local emergency health care responders. While I certainly hope no one pays the fine because of their actions, I believe the mechanism for proceed collection will better supply our emergency medical providers with the resources needed from reckless driving.
As always, it’s a pleasure serving District 80 and I appreciate all of your support. If you would have any questions or concerns about what’s happening in the Iowa House, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Holly Brink
State Representative, Iowa District 80
(641)295-7111
Holly.brink@legis.iowa.gov
