Rob Sand Has a Plan to Tackle Iowa’s Cancer Crisis and Improve Water Quality

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Tonight on the debate stage, nominee for governor Rob Sand is demonstrating how he’ll tackle Iowa’s cancer crisis and clean up our water. 

Iowa has one of the highest cancer rates in the country and the fastest-growing rate of new cancer diagnoses, yet government insiders have failed to take meaningful action to address this growing crisis. Across Iowa, families are worried about the water they drink, the health of their loved ones, and what the future holds for their children. After a decade of one-party rule, Iowans deserve more than insiders who ignore these warning signs and protect corporate interests. Rob Sand is the only candidate in this race who has laid out a comprehensive plan to confront the cancer crisis head-on, improve water quality, and make Iowa a healthier place to live for generations to come.

“Too many Iowa families have been impacted by cancer, and they’re tired of watching their elected leaders ignore a crisis that’s happening right in front of us,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Emma O’Brien. “Rob Sand knows we can’t afford to keep kicking the can down the road while more Iowans get sick. That’s why he has a real plan to invest in cancer prevention and research, clean up our water, and hold polluters accountable. Meanwhile, Zach Lahn supports cutting cancer research and banning promising treatments that could save lives. Iowa families deserve a governor who will fight for their health and their future, and that’s exactly what Rob Sand will do.”

Rob is the only candidate in this race who has proposed a comprehensive policy plan to get to work tackling Iowa’s cancer crisis on day one as governor. Through Rob’s “Healthier Iowa for All” plan, he will:

• Deny immunity for chemical companies and let courts and juries — not politicians — determine when companies should be held responsible for harm caused by pesticides that pollute Iowa’s air and water.
• Invest in – not defund – water quality monitoring so Iowans know what’s in their water, while expanding farmer-led efforts to improve water quality.
• Expand radon testing and mitigation, including stronger radon disclosures during home sales and training more radon mitigation professionals.
• Make manure management plans transparent and accessible so Iowans can see how, when, and where manure is being applied and verify that existing plans are being followed.
• Invest in digester technology to capture methane, produce domestic fertilizer, create jobs, provide additional income opportunities for farmers, and help keep nutrients out of Iowa’s waterways.
• Help more farmers participate in conservation programs through expanded funding and tax credits that offset the cost of proven conservation practices.
• Create a dirty water notification system to alert Iowans when nitrate levels in drinking water approach unsafe levels or E. coli makes recreational waters unsafe.
• Create a Cabinet-level Cancer Task Force to bring experts together, identify best practices, and coordinate state and local efforts to confront Iowa’s cancer crisis.
• Expand wetlands and working-lands conservation to naturally filter pollutants before they reach Iowa’s waterways while creating more habitat and recreational opportunities.