Iowa Should not Relax Child Labor Laws

I urge you to oppose the proposal to reduce fines for violating child labor laws in Iowa. These laws are essential to protecting children’s safety and ensuring they can focus on their education. Weakening them invites exploitation and undermines our state’s values. Recent reports of minors working in hazardous environments, like meatpacking plants, show how critical it is to hold violators accountable. Reducing penalties sends the wrong message—it puts children at risk and damages Iowa’s reputation. It also reinforces criticisms from figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who claim Americans are “too stupid.” This policy only worsens such perceptions and hurts our children’s chance to succeed. Please take a stand against this harmful policy and show that Iowa values its youth and their potential.