Meeting Public Comments

Jennifer Leonhard

I am in favor of this bill. Our religious rights and medical complications are not suspected during a pandemic. I lost my job due to forced pandemic protocols in the fall of 2021, after having worked all through the pandemic up to that point without issues. My husband was laid off in early 2020 just as the shut downs were starting and hard an extremely hard time getting interviews for jobs because the lock downs went on and on for months. When looking at other job options in early 2022 (when laid off again due to the economy) he was not able to apply for many *remote/work from home jobs* because they required the vaccine. He would not have encountered any coworkers in person for many of these positions. My best friend lost her life in 2020 because of an ectopic pregnancy that she needed care for, but as she hadn't established care with an OB previously she could not get in to one until her tubes burst and her situation became emergent. Further complications led to the loss of her life at age 37. Religion and matters of conscience (the 1st amendment) are not suspended and do not alter for pandemics. The right to one's own person and the ability to refuse forced medical proceedures (the 4th amendment) does not change during a pandemic. We must limit the emergency powers so that this can never happen again.

Kevin Hendress

I support SF91! Medical issues and religious beliefs are not null and void during an epidemic. The interference from National board associations with how our medical providers were allowed to practice medicine needs to be addressed as countless lives could have been saved. The 1st amendment to the constitution protects a persons freedom to exercise their religious beliefs as they see fit, regardless if it is an emergency. The 4th amendment to the constitution protects a persons right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. This applies to a persons bodily integrity and prevents medical products being forced onto people. A Governor or Director of HHS should NOT be able to force a test/vaccine/quarantine to anyone or force us to not be able to assemble. This needs to be changed to ensure all Iowan's have our freedoms!

Kim Rasler

The reformation of emergency powers is not a partisan issue, but a practical resolution.I support Senate File 91 as written. It provides avenues for emergency related governance by the Executive Branch, while integrating Legislative duties that allow for representation for the citizens of Iowa. The bill comprehensively addresses restrictions, surveillance, citizen exemptions, and government transparency. It also provides safeguards for medical professionals to serve their patients without interference and requires that patients receive the information needed to make informed decisions. The changes listed in SF91 transcend the line between the aisles and plainly addresses the governments care of Iowa citizens while not infringing on, but encouraging, their citizenship.Please vote yes on SF91.

Lindsay Maher

Support sf91.These laws were put in place over 15 years ago by a different administration who received them from the CDC when they failed to pass congress in 2001. It is time to reform these to better align with our state and national Constitutions. Never again should a church be told to limit their attendance. Never again should businesses be told they arent essential. And with this bill iowa will never have to worry about an unelected state agency official or Governor being allowed to force a citizen of the state to get tested, treated, vaccinated, or quarantined depriving them of their natural rights! Please, Pass sf91.

Karen Dugan

I am in favor of this bill. It is vital that our rights are protected. Please make sure this bill is supported.

Amanda Porter

I am in favor of this bill. Our rights must be protected. Please make sure this bill is supported.

Anna Wolvers

I am in favor of this bill and not allowing Government to force illegal and unconstitutional "mandates" of which they have no authority to back or enforce. I was denied access to shopping and medicalfacilities, threatened to be arrested for not wearing suffocation devices, denied 12 jobs all of which I was over qualified for, and also not able to attend friends and families members funerals (after they were denied care for Covid because they refused to be mandatory vaxxed.)Not to mention battling severe depression from lack of income to support myself, extreme isolation, and seriously considering suicide 5 times during the lockdowns and mandates. Or the Long term effects on our youth socially, emotionally, physically,developmentally and academically from masks and school closing and social distance and lack of education. And like it or not, the facts of sudden deaths are increasing every day, because the "vax" didn't work, neither are the boosters!! My body, my choice, I will never comply, and shouldn't have to in "Free America." And I've survived the last 3 years free faced, pure blooded, helping others, living life, and not once been sick with the virus!! Yet my jabbed,boosted and masked friends and family who banned me from functions can't say the same!! Not to mention being denied access to visit grandparents in care facilities with these constraints. As John Adams is quoted "Liberty once lost, is lost forever." Please learn from this catastrophic event and never let this horrible history repeat itself ever again!! Follow the constitution and our God given rights. P.S. there's over 10 hours of recorded evidence from subcommittee meeting last year on this topic!!

Julie Fuller [Constitutional Action Network ]

Constitutional Action Network supports SF 91. Emergency powers should never be limited to any Governor. Our churches, businesses, and schools should never be shut down again. Our medical freedom should never be infringed upon. The length of time in this bill of 60 days before the legislature is called upon to extend or end this law is too long. The amount of time should be at the most 30 days. We have seen the destruction that comes from lock downs. Please consider changing this length of time to 30 days. Thank you.

Carrie Wright

I am in support of this bill, however, Id like to see the emergency declaration limited 30 days not 60 days, before it needs to be extended. A big issue is on page 9 of this bill. I feel there is too much authority given to quarantining the unvaccinated. One item Ill point out is the provision that if an affidavit is signed by a physician, registered nurse, or physicians assistant, that an unvaccinated person would not be isolated. This needs to be reworked or deleted entirely. The medical community has shown themselves to be easily coerced and pressured to go along with the edicts of either their corporate owners, license boards, or medical associations and we saw this during the pandemic. For example, I called several different pharmacies to try and get a valid prescription for Ivermectin from a doctor filled and was turned down. One pharmacist told me he couldnt fill it because he had just received an email from the Pharmacy Board that morning, stating if he filled certain prescriptions his license would be jeopardy. I have read that similar threatening correspondence was sent from medical and hospital associations to medical personnel warning them not go against the approved narratives or protocols regarding treatment. The autonomy to ones body and decisions regarding it cannot be given to any professional, medical or otherwise. Im positive that if an emergency situation arose, such as this bill addresses, and the authorities wanted to be able to quarantine the unvaccinated, you would be hard pressed to find a doctor that would write an affidavit in opposition. So while that provision might seem like a safeguard or a protection for the unvaccinated, it unfortunately isnt.

BJ James-McLaughlin [at home mom]

Inalienable natural rights endowed by God not by government not medical protocols. Medical protocols that murdered my husband and left my three sons and I devestated!Our state is finally moving in the right direction, with Educational Savings, Accounts, ProLife issues, Reigning in top heavy administrative educators salaries.We have the opportunity to set the stage for our nation and be a role model!LETS KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM!!!

Courtney Collier

I support this bill. Our unalienable rights and our constitutionally protected rights are not paused during an emergency of any kind.We see clearly now, the corruption of the alphabet agencies at the state and federal level. Individuals must always be able to make their own personal decision about what is safe or beneficial. We are a free people and that must be protected. We were kept out of the hospital when our father was diagnosed with a sudden and aggressive cancer in November 2020. If it had not been for our signing him out AMA, we would not have been able to share his last hours with him. During times of emergency, there should still always remain individual choice without threats, coercion, or any other duress.

Anthony Oliver

I support this bill.

Christina Crew

SUPPORT Nursing home residents should never again be cutoff from their loved ones and advocates for any reason.

Amber Williams

For the initial 6 weeks of covid, the small fitness studio I worked for was forced to shut down. We were not allowed to open our doors nor charge membership dues so our paychecks came to a halt. My boss, at the time, filed for covid relief and received it but my paycheck was greatly reduced and I lost my monthly bonus which had a profound impact on my monthly income. Our small studio never fully recovered and I ended up having to leave the studio and find another source of income. The decisions that were made had an altering impact on my life and career. It is terrifying to think of the control that was so swiftly taken from myself and so many others. Please vote yes to reform emergency powers!