Dear Iowa Representative Josh Turek,
We write to you today as Independents, Republicans, and Democrats. We are former educators from the Council Bluffs area, the school districts where you were raised and received an excellent education. We have spent our careers teaching our students various disciplines so they can develop the knowledge, skills, and character to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We taught our students to be decent, upstanding people; to be proud Iowans; to be kind; to value education; to promote peace; and to be fair and just.
We want you to know how impressed we are with you as a member of the Iowa General Assembly. Your votes, allegiances, and beliefs respect common decency, the heart of what we wanted you to learn here. We believe it is the time for you to graduate to the United States Senate and to continue to represent not only Iowans, but all Americans.
As a member of the Iowa General Assembly, you sponsored 99 House bills during your two terms. We believe your broader legislative record - including bills you sponsored, supported, and championed - demonstrates the following values:
Promoting Strong Iowa Communities:
Championed bipartisan legalization that led to HF 2793, creating a statewide grant program to improve railroad crossing safety and help communities across Iowa address dangerous blocked crossings. (HF 2793; 91st General Assembly)
Proposed a neighborhood housing grant program to expand access to affordable housing in Iowa (HF 693; 90th General Assembly)
Introduced legislation supporting cleaner water through encouraging conservation practices with edge-of-field tax incentives (HF 2732; 91st General Assembly)
Defending Students, Educators & Public Schools
Defended Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEA’s) and the vital services they provide to students with disabilities, educators, and local school districts by opposing legislation restricting the AEA system. (HF 2612; 90th General Assembly)
Promoted safer and more inclusive schools through disability awareness education and stronger anti-bullying protections (HF 513; 90th General Assembly)
Expanded opportunities for student success by pro posing greater access to brain health professionals in school (HF 692; 90th General Assembly)
Focusing on Iowans with Disabilities & Health Needs
Led the Work without Worry initiative so employed Iowans with disabilities can continue working with out risking their Medicaid eligibility (introduced as HF 403; 90th General Assembly & HF 424; 91st General Assembly)
Championed affordable insulin by introducing legislation expanding insurance coverage (HF 502; 90th General Assembly & HF 405; 91st General Assembly)
Supported families facing pediatric cancer by proposing permanent funding for research at the University of Iowa (HF 2192; 90th General Assembly & HF 489; 91st General Assembly)
Helping Veterans and Their Families
Supported Iowa Veterans through legislation increasing resources for the Veterans Trust Fund (HF 445; 90th General Assembly)
Expanded home ownership opportunities for eligible service members (HF 105; 90th General Assembly)
Addressed homelessness among veterans by proposing additional housing options (HF 371; 90th General Assembly)
Expanding Opportunity for Every Iowa
Introduced legislation in both General Assemblies to gradually increase Iowa’s state minimum hourly wag es so families could better support themselves (HF 404; 90th General Assembly & HF 349; 91st General Assembly)
Proposed making Election Day a legal holiday to remove barriers to voting for Iowans (HF 407; 90th General Assembly)
Supported working families through childcare grants, tax credits, and childcare assistance initiatives (HF 695; 90th General Assembly)
Supporting Your Vision and Actions with Your Unique Strength of Experience
Built your platform and goals based on continued conversations with Iowans
Supported all Iowans by working across party lines where it benefited the good of all
Championed the underdog by applying the lessons of grit and determination you learned by overcoming obstacles and chasing the Olympic dream
We are encouraged by your leadership, your integrity, and your willingness to stand up for what you believe is right - even when doing so is difficult. Therefore, we urge you, as a former student and a Council Bluffs native, to continue displaying the attributes of decency as Iowa’s next United States Senator.
As educators, citizens, and Iowans, we thank you for your work as an Iowa legislator and therefore, strongly support your candidacy for the United States Senate.
Sincerely, Council Bluffs area educators
