DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has presented the prestigious National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award to Iowa State Representative Dean Fisher for his work on Iowa’s Safe at Home program and to recognize the 10-year anniversary of the program’s launch.
Just over ten years ago, Representative Fisher introduced and championed the important legislation that would officially establish Iowa’s Safe at Home. The bill received unanimous support in both chambers and was signed into law by Governor Terry Branstad in May 2015. Safe at Home, an address confidentiality program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, assault, trafficking, and stalking, officially launched to the public in 2016.
The program provides a legal substitute address and mail forwarding services, allowing participants to safely register to vote and keep their address off the public record.
Since the launch of Safe at Home a decade ago, more than 3,000 Iowans have participated in the program – 882 participants cited domestic violence, 302 cited sexual assault, 449 cited stalking, 198 cited trafficking, 52 cited assault and other crimes, and 331 participated in Protect our Protectors, an extension of Safe at Home.
“Every Iowan deserves to be safe at home, and with this program, we are able to provide Iowans with that peace of mind,” said Secretary Pate. “Representative Fisher is a huge part of why this program now exists in Iowa – he fought tirelessly to advocate for the program and encourage his colleagues to support it. Thanks to his efforts, the bill passed with unanimous support, and thousands of Iowans have benefited. It is my immense honor to recognize him for these efforts with the Medallion Award.”
Secretary Pate presented the NASS Medallion Award to Representative Fisher on Tuesday alongside Representative Fisher’s friends, colleagues, and representatives from a number of Safe at Home partner organizations.
“It was my pleasure and honor to sponsor the Safe at Home legislation in 2015,” said Representative Fisher. “It warms my heart to know it has helped so many people over the last decade, and I was very honored to receive this award. I’m especially thankful that many who helped work on this bill showed up to help us celebrate the award and anniversary, and I thank Secretary Pate for recognizing our work with this award.”
Established by the National Association of Secretaries of State, the NASS Medallion Award honors individuals, groups, or organizations for outstanding service and dedication in civic engagement. Individuals who have an exemplary record of excellence in service to their communities, philanthropic contributions that improve quality of life, and dedication to voter and civic education.
A photo of Secretary Pate and Representative Fisher is available here.
A photo of Representative Fisher providing remarks at the ceremony is available here.
A group photo is available for your use.(L to R Collin Brecher, Michael Ross, Dean Fisher, Carol Olson, Paul Pate, and Dawn Williams. Brecher served as Fisher’s clerk when the legislation was passed; Ross, Olson, Pate, and Williams worked for the Secretary of State’s Office and helped champion the bill.)