While the first week of the legislative session was full of speeches and reports, week two is where we start the real business.

During the second week I met with the committees I am assigned: Labor, Education, Veterans Affairs, Administration and Rules, and Education Appropriations. We gathered as full committees and the chair assigns bills to subcommittees. These subcommittees meet to discuss the merits of the bills and then report back to the committee as a whole for the vote on the bill. A bill must be voted out of committee before it is considered for floor debate by the Speaker of the House.

This process was familiar to me from last year. But several other things are very different! Last year, there were very few gatherings in the Capitol Rotunda due to COVID. This year there are no protocols preventing these gatherings, and there have been many groups sharing their information and legislative priorities.

I was very honored to speak at the Vets Day on the Hill. I have been assigned as the ranking member (from the minority party) of the Veterans Affairs Committee. This gathering was a beautiful celebration honoring those who have served our state and nation and those who currently serve.

I spoke about my two reasons for serving on this committee. First, I can think of no better way to honor my constituents who live at the Iowa Veterans Home. I have met and will continue to meet with Commandant Peterson to provide what the residents need from the State level.

Secondly, after the tornado in 2018, I met a Navy veteran whose home was deemed uninhabitable. Due to the damage. She did not have insurance. I worked with her and tried to find the best systems to help her repair her home. I even introduced her to our Congressional Representative, Rod Blum, during his visit to the community seeking federal help. This proud veteran was unable to keep her home. There were many barriers. She sold her home to a neighbor and moved to live with her son in Missouri. I was very sad as I helped her load up her belongings. She deserved better.

This is a main reason I work on this committee, to provide systems to help those who have given of themselves in military service to honor them through our laws and provisions we make from the Statehouse.

Thank you to all who serve and protect our freedoms. It is an honor to now serve you.

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Sue Cahill is representative for the Iowa House Distict 71. She can be reached at

Sue.Cahill@legis.iowa.gov.