By Tom Chapman
For The Catholic Messenger

With the beginning of the legislative session comes a flurry of new bills. A subcommittee hearing has been scheduled for next week about House Study Bill (HSB) 15, which would create a new state crime of the “smuggling of persons.” HSB 15 is similar to legislation that passed the House last year but did not come to a vote in the Senate.
Iowa’s bishops are concerned the bill could be interpreted to criminalize the act of providing basic charity to immigrants, although clarifying language in the bill would lessen that possibility. The bill is duplicative in the sense that it is already against federal and state law to traffic in humans.
Also planned is a subcommittee hearing on Senate Study Bill (SSB) 1012. The Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC) supports the bill, which would allocate $1 million to support “Double Up Food Bucks.” This would provide matching funds for SNAP (food stamp) benefits spent on fruits and vegetables.
A Zoom webinar from the ICC, “Advocating for Justice 2025,” will feature ICC and diocesan staff updating participants on current issues of interest. The event takes place Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. Register at iowacatholicconference.org.
Governor outlines priorities
Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered the Condition of the State message last week. On some issues of interest, the governor:
- Proposes grants to support collaborations between preschools and childcare programs, enabling them to enhance the ability to provide transportation and other essential services.
- Will propose legislation to ensure that children struggling in math will receive the personalized help they need.
- Announced that nearly 28,000 students are receiving an Education Savings Account (ESA) scholarship this year to help pay for nonpublic school tuition and that more than 43,000 students are using the “open enrollment” option to attend a public school outside of their home district. Lots of opportunities for parents!
- Said that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will apply for a waiver from the federal government to institute work requirements for able-bodied adults to receive Medicaid.
- Proposed a $9.4 billion budget that would use about $700 million from the state’s surplus and Taxpayer Relief Fund.
Debate continues on immigration issues
As the discussion about immigration continues in Congress and the state legislature, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has published a resource called “Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform.” The bishops say that safeguarding American communities and upholding the rule of law are laudable goals. At the same time, a country’s rights to regulate its borders and enforce its immigration laws must be balanced with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the God-given dignity of all persons and enact policies that further the common good.
The USCCB document on immigration reform, grounded in Catholic social teaching, includes six elements:
- Enforcement efforts should be targeted, proportional and humane.
- Humanitarian protections and due process should be ensured.
- Long-time residents should have an earned pathway to citizenship.
- Family unity should remain a cornerstone of the U.S. system.
- Legal pathways should be expanded, reliable and efficient.
- The root causes of forced migration should be addressed.
Take time to pray for life
Catholics across the country are invited to observe a nationwide prayer vigil today, Jan. 23, and on Friday, Jan. 24, to pray for an end to abortion and for a greater respect for all human life.
Rev. King’s message impacts our lives today
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” These words remind us that we are connected and responsible for each other as we seek to fulfill the dream and build a more just society for all God’s children, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB, said.
He referenced the words of the late civil rights leader as the nation commemorated King’s life and legacy Jan. 20. Archbishop Broglio also said, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. challenged all to live out the principle of solidarity and human dignity. As we commemorate what would have been his 96th birthday, Dr. King’s message continues to have an impact on our lives today. … In reflecting on the continuing realities of racial injustice, immigrant families seeking welcome, and economic disparity, (King’s) words remind us that we are connected and responsible for each other as we seek to fulfill the dream.”
(Tom Chapman is the executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, the official public policy voice of Iowa’s bishops.)