House Journal: Page 103: Friday, January 15, 1999

Whether we provide quality health care for our most vulnerable populations - our 

young children, our frail elderly, and those with disabilities will determine the level of 
our dedication to community. Every day tens of thousands of our children go without 
basic health care because their working parents can not afford the cost of health 
insurance. Countless times I have seen communities respond when a child was in need. 
Why - because we are a people - a community with a tradition of helping those in 
need. Let us strengthen our community by extending access to quality health care to all 
of our children. At the same time let us recognize the same responsibility to reach out 
to protect our frail elderly and to assist those with disabilities. 
With a real commitment from all of us today's dream of a drug free Iowa where our 
most vulnerable have access to basic and quality health care will build stronger 
communities for tomorrow's Iowa.
Today in Iowa, hundreds of Iowa's best farmers and Iowa's best workers face a 
tomorrow of real uncertainty. Let us promise today that we will not forget their 
struggle. Let us pledge today that we will act swiftly and decisively to help when and 
where help is needed most.
Changes in agriculture and expanding opportunities in our commercial centers 
creates an economic development challenge and opportunity. 
We often speak as if there were two Iowans - one rural and one urban. If we are to 
thrive we must do so as one and we will do so as one. Combining our rich soil, our 
strong work ethic, and quality education system we can unleash the economic power of 
every kernel of corn and every soybean grown in our fields.
As the food capital of the world we can add real value to our crops and open up new 
markets in the state giving hope to our farmers. At the same time with each new 
product comes the need for research and development, for processing and 
manufacturing, and for marketing that creates the opportunity for high tech - high 
paying jobs in commercial centers and surrounding communities. 
With a real commitment from all of us today's dream of Iowa as the food capital will 
build a brighter economic future in tomorrow's Iowa.
With a sense of hope and excitement we enter a new century with the development 
of a new economy not built solely on the strength of our bodies but more on the power 
of our intellect. Iowa is poised to take real advantage of that new economy and to offer 
businesses and industries that locate here the promise of long-term profitability built 
on the quality of our workers and our long term investment in their continued 
education. 
Our population is stable but to realize the promise of the future we must be able to 
retain and to attract young people to our state. Let me start by inviting my own sons to 
make Iowa their lifetime home and to encourage you to invite the children of our state 
to be a part of its future. To Jess and Doug and to all the young people of this state, I 
say we need you. Our state's future depends upon your intellect, your creativity, your 
energy. 
I realize that if young people are to stay or come back home, we must do our part 
before we ask them to do their part. We must invest in schools.  We must support the 

© 1999 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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