Press Releases

“Expanded testing and contact tracing is the only strategy that allows Iowa to safely reopen while still rooting out outbreaks of COVID-19 in our communities and keeping our families healthy,” said Rep. Axne. “This investment was a key provision of legislation I helped advance earlier this month, and I am glad to see the money coming quickly back to Iowa to enable our state labs to increase their capabilities.”

“We are concerned that Test Iowa still has not yielded 3,000 tests per day several weeks after its launch nor are there Test Iowa locations in ‘hotspot’ areas,” the members wrote. “As our economy has begun to reopen, we know that Iowans will feel safer if they can access a test quickly and within in their communities. We need to ensure that essential workers, nursing homes, and those who believe they have been exposed can get tests right away.”

Axne: “It is essential that we know why it took the public nearly one month to learn of a COVID-19 outbreak after a report was filed”

“While this legislation includes critical assistance for Iowa’s hospitals, schools, homeowners and renters, state and local governments, and families who are still feeling the burdens of this public health crisis – I am deeply troubled by numerous provisions in this bill that could see large amounts of taxpayer dollars allocated to helping those who are not hurting at all,” said Rep. Axne. “I could not in good conscience vote to accept this Washington gamesmanship, or vote to approve unrelated wastes of taxpayer dollars, while Iowa sees its COVID-19 case rates climbing and parts of my district become a national hotspot. I will always stand up to anyone – even my own party – when it comes to doing what’s right for Iowa.”