After preschool pick-up today, I went and fought to protect Iowa’s air, land, and water. I didn’t change out of my “mama gear,” and I didn’t leave my survivor story at the door. I walked into the State Capitol because the health of our children shouldn’t be a “future” problem—it’s a right-now crisis. As I sat in that subcommittee room for HF 2173, I realized that being a mother and being an advocate are the exact same thing: they both require a refusal to stay quiet when something isn’t right.​

The Capitol Download​

Today was about transparency. HF 2173 is a bill aimed at regulating and reporting intentional atmospheric emissions—essentially, making sure we KNOW what is being put into the skies above us.

• A Personal Connection: I had a deeply moving interaction with Representative Craig Johnson, who shared that a member of his own family also faced blood cancer as a child. It was a sobering reminder that cancer doesn’t check your voter registration. It hits us all.
• The Air We Breathe: Representative Mary Madison focused her comments heavily on our soil and water contamination. She is absolutely right—we should be worried about what we drink and what we grow. But she failed to mention, we all breathe the same air. While we can choose a different drinking water source, we have no choice but to breathe the air in front of us. To protect Iowans, we have to protect them from the sky down and the ground up.

People Over Party​

For a long time, I felt like a Political Orphan, never quite fitting into the boxes the system tried to put me in. But my journey as a two-time cancer survivor taught me that the most important “party” is the one happening in our own backyards and around our dinner tables.​

I’m choosing People over Party. We need to move past the noise & focus on real life results that keep our neighbors alive and our children healthy. This is why local elections matter. Your representatives are the ones sitting across from you in these rooms; they are the ones who need to hear your voice. Knowing who represents you isn’t just a civic duty—it’s a survival strategy.​

Turning Pain into Purpose​

Iowa currently has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation and the fastest-rising incidence. At 35 years old, I’ve seen enough hospital rooms and doctor’s offices to last three lifetimes. I am done looking for excuses; I am looking for leaders who prioritize our health over political talking points.​

Thank you to Representative Jeff Shipley for leading the way on this vital piece of legislation. Today was just the beginning of a new chapter for Midwest Millennial Mama. We are taking the pain of the past and forging it into a purpose for Iowa’s future.​​ 👊🏻🇺🇸

Who’s ready to protect Iowa’s air, land, and water with me? Comment ME below if you’re on board! 👋🏻

The engagement is super helpful in letting these Representatives know we see what they’re doing. 👁️ Share this with your friends to make them aware of what is happening with your elected officials in Des Moines. This is a coalition I’m ready to lead. We must fight for our children and this is a great first step! 🌬🌾💦

Stumbled upon Governor Kim Reynolds giving a speech while looking for the subcommittee meeting. (Talk about feeling out of place) but someone who helped me find my way made a GREAT point; the Capitol is the People’s House.