[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 141 (Friday, August 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE IOWA MASK BRIGADE AS IOWANS OF THE WEEK

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                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 7, 2020

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, as millions of individuals, families, and 
essential workers struggle to obtain the proper personal protective 
equipment (PPE) required to keep them safe during these difficult 
times, volunteer organizations like the Iowa Mask Brigade have stepped 
up to provide these critical items to keep our citizens and communities 
safe. That is why today, I rise to ask the House of Representatives to 
join me in recognizing the Iowa Mask Brigade as this week's Iowan of 
the Week.
  The Iowa Mask Brigade was founded earlier this year by Connie Klug 
after she received a distressed call from her niece, an emergency room 
doctor in desperate need of PPE. Connie immediately got to work 
researching protective masks and found that filters were the most 
important feature that made them effective. Although commercial face 
mask filters were not available, Connie used her problem-solving skills 
to create her own. She began cutting furnace filters from the company 
3M, the same company that produces the coveted N95 masks. Sandwiching 
this filter in between two layers of high-quality cotton fabric, Connie 
produced her first mask in a process the New York Times would later 
consider the best method of making homemade masks. Connie, a quilter, 
enlisted the help of two of her seamstress friends, who enlisted the 
help of their friends, and an organization instantly formed as 
volunteers coalesced around one simple idea: to provide masks to those 
who need them.
  In their first month of operation, the Iowa Mask Brigade used over 75 
furnace filters. Today, the Iowa Mask Brigade consists of 35 volunteers 
who have collectively produced almost 8,000 masks since its inception 
in March.
  One of those volunteers is Ray Getting, who handles much of the 
logistics within the Brigade. In a recent conversation, he mentioned 
everyone who has received a mask is so incredibly appreciative. The 
group maintains extremely high standards for quality, and if a mask 
wasn't perfect, it wasn't sent out. He's been able to send high quality 
masks to people he cares about in places he knows it's going to make a 
difference.
  As the organization has grown, their mask-making has become more 
innovative. When the Brigade ran out of elastic bands for ear loops, 
they turned to hairbands. Today, they have purchased over 25,000 
hairbands for their masks, and they have shared this technique, as well 
as many others they have developed, with other mask-making 
organizations.
  The Iowa Mask Brigade has sent masks to people in need all over the 
United States. From the Iowa's Dallas County Hospital to San Antonio to 
the Navajo Nation in Arizona, for whom they have created a custom 
design to fit their preferences. Now, the Brigade mostly serves low 
income housing, hospitals, and nursing homes, such as the APEHA senior 
living apartments in Johnston, Iowa.
  In honoring the Iowa Mask Brigade today, I want to underscore the 
values of hard work, dedication, persistence, and problem-solving that 
Iowans demonstrate in spades during this difficult time. As Connie Klug 
said, ``A unique characteristic of Iowans is that we don't get defeated 
easily. We just went to work and overcame it. That to me is Iowans: we 
don't get discouraged; we just get to work. We're not helpless. We 
rolled up our sleeves and said, there are not problems that we can't 
figure out.''
  I am so proud to recognize the Iowa Mask Brigade for their 
outstanding work and their unwavering willingness to help all those in 
need. It is my hope that other individuals and organizations are 
inspired to take action of their own. The volunteers powering the Iowa 
Mask Brigade have not only given protective gear to people in need, but 
also instilled hope when we need it most. It is my honor to share the 
Iowa Mask Brigade's story and recognize the group as our Iowan of the 
Week.

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