Ernst Talks Child Care Access, Farm Bill, Rural Health Care, and More on River to River Tour

RED OAK, Iowa - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) recently visited 18 counties on her annual River to River Tour-part of her ongoing commitment to hear from Iowans in every corner of the state. In addition to talking with farmers, students, health care providers, and small business owners, this month she also hosted her Entrepreneur Expo in Ames and spent time at the Iowa State Fair.

Click HERE to download photos from Ernst's visits.

Southeast Iowa Union featured Ernst's Jefferson County stop in Fairfield, where she visited the Cambridge Little Achievers Center to talk with child care providers and center leadership about the challenges facing rural families and child care facilities. These issues also took center stage during her visit to the Mahaska YMCA's Early Childhood Center as reported by The Oskaloosa Herald.

In Benton County, Ernst spoke at an AmeriCorps graduation ceremony for Class 30B, a group that spent six weeks training and working on projects around the country. NE Iowa News and KGAN both attended the event.

As reported by KILJ, Ernst stopped by the Fellowship Cup in Mount Pleasant where she served a free lunch alongside community volunteers and saw the impact of the group's work to provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in need.

Passing an updated Farm Bill was top of mind as Ernst visited with folks from the Jones County Farm Bureau and stopped by an organic farm in Van Buren County for an educational tour. Both The Monticello Express and the Journal Eureka highlighted Ernst's meeting in Jones County. KTVO joined the organic farm stop.

Rural health care access was another hot topic as Ernst stopped at the Ottumwa Regional Health Center where she was joined by Ottumwa Radio Group. She also presented her Small Business of the Week Award to Wells Hometown Drug which was featured by both Bloomfield Democrat and KTVO.

Ernst held three town hall meetings for community members to voice concerns and ask questions about everything from veterans' benefits to the Farm Bill. Maquoketa Sentinel-Press covered the Jackson County meeting and The Gazette featured her town hall in Marengo.

In both Lee and Clinton Counties, Ernst saw the science behind the products at Climax Molybdenum Chemical Company and LyondellBasell respectively. WHBF covered the tour in Clinton County and both WGEM and The Fort Madison Daily Democrat joined Ernst in Lee County.

Ernst also got creative in Washington County where she paid a visit to the public library's brand new MakeIT Place which offers library patrons the chance to sew, craft, 3D print, make pottery, and more. The Kalona News, Southeast Iowa Union, and KCII Radio all joined in on the fun.

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