Federal Government

Republican Iowa U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has introduced legislation to fund federal food assistance that is scheduled to dry up next month if the government shutdown continues.

The law, which remains blocked, would make it a state crime for an individual to enter or be found in Iowa if that individual has previously been denied admission to or been deported from the United States.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered Iowa HHS to work with food banks as federal officials warn that SNAP benefits may not go out Nov. 1. Food pantries say they’re already seeing higher demand and they’re bracing for a surge if payments are disrupted.

Iowa Republican senator’s comments come after president proposes beef purchases from Argentina

A federal probe of Medicare and Medicaid plans run by private insurance companies found that the plan operators often overstated how many mental health providers were available in their networks. In some cases, investigators found providers had never had contracts with plans they were listed on.

Iowa’s all-Republican U.S. House delegation is urging Senate Democrats to back a bipartisan plan to reopen the government, warning that the 20-day shutdown is hurting families, farmers and veterans across the state. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans are refusing to negotiate over what he called a looming health care crisis at the center of the government shutdown stalemate.

Nationwide, states are racing to win their share of a new $50 billion rural health fund. But helping rural hospitals, as originally envisioned, is quickly becoming a quaint idea.

The federal government shutdown is quickly approaching the second longest on record with no end in sight.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is warning Iowans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that November funds may not be issued onto SNAP cards as the federal government shutdown approaches its third week with no end in sight.

‘I can reach vastly more people in this format,’ Republican congresswoman says while answering questions about government shutdown, health care premiums and more.

President Donald Trump’s decision to redirect Pentagon research funds will keep Iowa National Guard troops paid during the government shutdown, but about 700 civilian employees remain without pay as the budget impasse drags into its third week.

The decision follows similar moves at airports across the country, who are broadly citing a desire to remain out of partisan politics.