From Field to Family: A Town Hall on Tariffs, Affordability, & the Health of Our CommunitiesFrom Field to Family: A Town Hall on Tariffs, Affordability, & the Health of Our Communities

Community members gathered Wednesday evening at DMACC's Newton Campus for a town hall hosted by Fairness for Iowa, where farmers, food systems advocates, a state lawmaker and a rural nurse practitioner discussed the rising costs squeezing rural Iowans from all directions. 

Tariffs, the war with Iran and the Republican Tax Law are all driving up costs for hardworking Iowans. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted multiple times for all three.

Laurie, a Newton resident and Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, described how rising costs are forcing her patients to make impossible trade-offs.

"I see what rising prices mean for my patients every day," Laurie said. "When groceries cost more, when the drive to the nearest clinic costs more, when a child's prescription costs more — people delay care they can't afford to put off. Rural communities aren't asking for special treatment. We're asking for policies that let working families afford to live and stay healthy. Right now, that's getting harder every day."

State Representative Adam Zabner of Iowa City said: 

“Rising diesel and gas costs, trade uncertainty, and grocery prices are putting Iowa families and farmers under growing financial pressure,” said State Rep. Adam Zabner of Iowa City. “These are the direct impacts of policy choices. Families are paying more while access to essential health care is disappearing. As elected leaders, it's our job to hear these stories and work to lower costs and restore access to health care.”