Unemployment down for July! – Daily High Five

1. BIDEN EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS : According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country added 528,000 jobs in July and the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, far exceeding expectations. The unemployment rate is now back to its pre-pandemic level. This is more proof that President Biden is working for Iowa families. Help us spread the good news by sharing our tweet here.

Plus, take a look at the other stories we're watching:

2. GAS PRICES TUMBLE: As the Biden Administration creates thousands of jobs, the cost for a gallon of gasoline has dropped 65 cents in the last month. Iowa is seeing some of the cheapest gas prices in the country, with the statewide average price at $3.73 per gallon. That price is even lower in the Des Moines metro!

3. LESSONS FROM KANSAS: Earlier this week, hundreds of thousands of Kansas voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution that would have eliminated the right to an abortion. Now, many are wondering if the same thing could happen here in Iowa. The short answer: yes! The article linked above lays out how volunteers and advocates worked to protect reproductive rights and how we can do the same here in Iowa.

4. NO MORE BOOK BANS: The Iowa Board of Education says it will not reconsider a decision by the West Des Moines School District to keep the book, "Gender Queer: A Memoir", on library shelves. The Board agreed that parents can decide if they want their child to read the book or not without banning other students from reading it. We know books help keep us informed, engaged, and expand our perspectives. Censoring books with diverse perspectives will only do more harm than good.

5. RURAL BROADBAND EXPANSION: The USDA is now offering more funds to expand rural broadband access with the ReConnect Program. This will be the fourth round of grants; Iowa has already received $50 million from rounds one and two and currently awaits the announcement of awards from round three. (And let's not forget, Iowa Reps. Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Randy Feenstra voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that funds these grants!)

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Thanks for reading, and we'll get back with you Monday for another High Five!

- The Progress Iowa Team

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