COMMUNITY LETTER Iowa needs mandatory rules on water quality

I have lived in Johnson County for nearly 50 years, and I have seen how it has changed. Our urban communities continue to grow, while our rural populations have dwindled. Small to medium- sized farms have been replaced by factory hog farms and row crops polluting our waters and contributing to many health issues, including skyrocketing cancer rates in Iowa.

As a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, I’m glad to be part of an organization focusing on water quality and the health outcomes of Iowans.

Everyday Iowans know we should be able to enjoy our lakes and streams and be able to turn on the tap without fear of contamination.

Iowa needs a mandatory nutrient reduction strategy.

We know all too well that voluntary doesn’t work. Iowa adopted a voluntary nutrient reduction program in 2013 allowing farmers to opt in to conservation practices through their local Farm Service Agency. In the 13 years since then, we have only seen our water quality worsen along with our health outcomes. Putting more money into these programs is like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom. Iowans are ready for clear, common-sense, mandatory programs that protect our health and water and rein in extractive industrial agriculture.

If we want to correct our course to a better Iowa for future generations, we have to start in our communities by talking to friends and neighbors about leaving behind what hasn’t served us and advocating real solutions.

Helene Hembreiker

Iowa City

Israel gets unprecedented privileges in draft defense bill

Congress is preparing to give Israel unprecedented privileges via the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. Section 219 of the draft NDAA directs the secretary of defense to expand integration of the U.S. and Israeli military sectors. If Section 219 becomes law, U.S. and Israeli militaries will be joined at the hip. The measure directs the Department of Defense to appoint a senior “executive agent” to integrate Israeli defense technology directly into sensitive U.S. weapons systems, including artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, autonomous systems and quantum computing.

Nothing like this has ever been done in U.S. history. No other nation has ever been given the access to U.S. military resources that Section 219 proposes to give to Israel. It is an affront to U.S. sovereignty, and is frankly absurd.

The U.S. and Israel are allies, but it has been a contentious relationship, with that contentiousness amplified right now.

There are so many reasons to oppose the draft 2027 NDAA effort (e.g., an over 40% increase in an already bloated, unaudited military budget), but the inclusion of Section 219 is uniquely egregious. Please study this for yourself, and make your opinion known to your employees in D.C. The Armed Services Committees of both the House and Senate have approved the NDAA draft, including Section 219.

The House was expected to begin voting on the NDAA before the Fourth of July. The Senate will be taking a twoweek vacation, so no action there before July 13.

Ed Flaherty

Iowa City

Even Iowa has Revolutionary War veterans buried in our state (41)! Two are buried in Linn County.

Nathan Brown, born July 22, 1761, in Westchester County, New York, fought off and on in 1778, 1779 and 1782. He later moved his family to Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and finally to Iowa in 1839 soon after Iowa became a territory. He died in 1842 near Springville. His youngest son erected a zinc monument to his father and family, which was repaired by DAR and SAR chapters a few years ago in the Springville Cemetery. It is the tallest monument in the cemetery.

John Osborn was born on April 16,1763, in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and served as a private with Virginia troops from 1780-82. He and his family lived in North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois before coming to Iowa in 1851. He died in 1854 at his son’s home near Center Point. He is buried in the Center Point Cemetery. He still has descendants in Linn C ou nt y.

Remember to honor these and all the other Revolutionary War participants, (men, women, Black, Spanish, French, indigenous and others) as you celebrate this 250th year of the United States.

Marilyn Lodge

Cedar Rapids