November YP Connector

Recapping last month’s Lunch
Jack Mescher
Government Relations & Assistant Director
Hills and Dales
Jack Mecsher: “Sen. Ernst, thank you for introducing
the “Front Line Act” which address supporting
Frontline Workforce, who were largely left out of
the initial COVID relief packages. At Hills and Dales,
we work to build meaningful lives for individuals
with disabilities—many of our services are 24/7
and very much essential. Shutting down or going
virtual was not an option. Through-out this
pandemic, it has been our 465 employees who
proved themselves as true heroes. They have
reported to work in-person, complied with extensive
new regulations, and faced school shutdowns
and daycare closings like many other families. But
in many cases they received the least support from
the federal government. What are the conversations
you are having in the Senate to pass your
Front Line Act, what needs to happen for your
legislation to pass? Our workforce is feeling it!”
ANSWER: Senator Joni Ernst
thanked all for their essential
service on the font line of Child
Care. The Front Line Act will benefit
essential works with a pay roll
tax and income tax holiday.
There is also a proposal
for all Americans to have a
tax holiday. The best way
to get the Front Line Act
passed is to please
promote with various
legislators, reach out to
them, and encourage
support of the front line
act.
Samantha Bruck
Insurance Services Representative
Dupaco Community Credit Union
Samantha Bruck: “How/when did you decide that
you wanted to join the Marines?”
ANSWER: On an Agriculture exchange to the
Ukraine in 1989 between her freshman and sophomore
year of college she went to their collective
farm for 2 weeks. At this farm they were still using
horses and wagons to do farming. It was a very
different in a socialist country compared to home
(Iowa) were they had tractors and combines. In the
evenings they would get together in a community
center and many did not care about Iowa agriculture
but asked more about what American Government
was like and what it is like to be free? At
that point she knew she wanted to be able to
contribute to her country, to wear the uniform and
uphold the values of the United States. She was
apart of the United States Army and Iowa National
Guard for 23 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel,
she served with the best men and women.
Samantha Bruck: “Who do you look up to for
inspiration or mentorship?”
ANSWER: Senator Chuck Grassley in Iowa because
he is bottom line through and through. An Iowan
and has been through 40 years of state senate but
he is always state centric. He visits all 99 counties,
for 40 years in a row. She looks to him and his
model of supporting constituents. Her Mother and
family are also her mentors. Her other grew up in
a humble family and learned to be extremely
thrifty. She learned farm traits that carried women
through younger years sewing, canning ,cooking,
and being a farm hand. All these taught to Senator
Joni Ernst and her sibling, teaching work values
that were really important. Her mom inspires her
because she was not college educated until kids
were older she got an associates degree, she has
been through hard times and challenges but
always encouraged Senator Joni to keep doing
what she loved.