Senate Resolution 22 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY CONNOLLY and REHBERG 1 3 A Resolution relating to support of Best Buddies Iowa 1 4 and urging continued federal funding of the program. 1 5 WHEREAS, there are more than 7.5 million people 1 6 with intellectual disabilities in the United States 1 7 and as many as 250 million worldwide; and 1 8 WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual disabilities 1 9 often experience isolation and exclusion from 1 10 community activities because of limited opportunities 1 11 to associate with persons other than their immediate 1 12 family and paid workers; and 1 13 WHEREAS, Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization 1 14 dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with 1 15 intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities 1 16 for one=to=one friendships and integrated employment; 1 17 and 1 18 WHEREAS, Best Buddies has grown from one chapter on 1 19 one college campus to a vibrant, international 1 20 organization involving participants annually on more 1 21 than 750 middle school, high school, and college 1 22 campuses in the United States, Canada, Cuba, Egypt, 1 23 Greece, Ireland, and Sweden; and 1 24 WHEREAS, Best Buddies has touched the lives of over 1 25 175,000 individuals in its 13=year existence; and 1 26 WHEREAS, Best Buddies Iowa currently serves nine 1 27 college chapters and nine high school chapters within 1 28 our state and has a long=term goal of involving all 1 29 schools within Iowa in its mission to bring 1 30 friendships to individuals with intellectual 2 1 disabilities; NOW THEREFORE, 2 2 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Iowa Senate 2 3 appreciates the work that Best Buddies Iowa performs 2 4 and urges the federal government to continue to fund 2 5 this program; and 2 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa Senate 2 7 encourages state agencies, county central points of 2 8 coordination, education providers, and area education 2 9 agencies to work with Best Buddies Iowa to find 2 10 additional funding for a middle school program and to 2 11 further expand its current programs into additional 2 12 communities; and 2 13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this 2 14 Resolution be sent by the Secretary of the Senate to 2 15 the President of the United States, the President of 2 16 the Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the 2 17 United States House of Representatives; the majority 2 18 and minority leaders of the United States Senate, the 2 19 majority and minority leaders of the United States 2 20 House of Representatives, and each member of Iowa's 2 21 congressional delegation. 2 22 LSB 2674SS 80 2 23 dea/cf/24