Recognizing Bras for A Cause

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As a physician, and also as a member of our society and country and the female gender, we are all familiar with the amazing work the Komen Foundation and Komen Race for the Cure have done to raise awareness, education, and research in breast cancer.

I would like to take the time to recognize an extraordinary group in my district that has found a creative way to help underserved women in the Ottumwa community receive annual mammogram screenings and breast ultrasounds.

Founded in 2011 by two-time breast cancer survivor and River Hills Community Health Center nurse Laurie Hornback, Bras for a Cause is an annual fundraising event held in Hedrick, Iowa, where donated and decorated bras are modeled by local firefighters and auctioned off. Over the past 10 years, the event has raised a total of $174,000 to help women receive breast cancer screenings or treatment.

This year, Bras for a Cause raised a total of $27,000, and they will be donating $15,000 to help Ottumwa women receive breast cancer screenings at River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa. Additionally, a portion of the remaining funds was donated to the Mahaska Health Partnership, while the rest is being saved to help women currently diagnosed with breast cancer undergo treatment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Laurie and Bras for a Cause for coming together to put on this fantastic event and for their service to our community. Recognizing Sara Russell, Iowa Teacher of the Year

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a teacher from my district who recently received a prestigious Iowa award for her work to inspire the next generation.

Last week, Sara Russell, who has been teaching social studies for nearly 20 years at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, was awarded the Department of Education's 2022 Teacher of the Year Award by Governor Kim Reynolds.

The Iowa Teacher of the Year Award was established in 1958 to recognize educators who go above and beyond to motivate and inspire students to achieve at their highest levels.

Sara was selected for this award for her leadership in helping students build life skills while also being a mentor for new teachers in the Pleasant Valley School District.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Sara and all educators who work to inspire the next generation of American leaders and make Iowa the best place to learn, live, work, and raise a family. Recognizing Eric Vander Velden

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to share a story about educators in my district literally going the extra mile to ensure their students' success.

For the last few months, the Newton School District in Jasper County has reported a shortage of bus drivers, leaving many parents and students uncertain about how they would be able to make it to school each morning. In a rural area, our bus transportation to school is extremely important.

With the importance of education and safety in mind, Eric Vander Velden, a physical education teacher in the Newton School District, answered the call for help by driving a school bus when needed. This is part of a larger effort by the Newton staff, in concert with parents, to do whatever they can to help their students succeed.

It is stories like these that remind us that our teachers are the backbone of this country, and I couldn't be more confident in our future, knowing that the next generation is in their capable hands.

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