House Journal: Page 43: Tuesday, January 11, 2000
Last year, the Lieutenant Governor convened a group of talented Iowans and
challenged them to provide solutions to skilled workforce shortages. I appreciate her
efforts and the efforts of the 21st Century Workforce Council. Our budget reflects their
work. The council confirmed that Iowa’s skilled workforce shortages derive from our
stagnant population, but pointed out that our full employment statistics are deceiving.
Even with record low unemployment levels across the state, there are Iowa populations
experiencing high rates of unemployment. African-Americans are unemployed at
double-digit rates. People with disabilities are unemployed at double-digit rates.
We propose the creation of an opportunities fund that would provide resources to
remove the barriers existing to full employment for those Iowans.
At the start of the new millennium, let us bring Iowa’s promise to all of its people.
But, there is another group of Iowans that we should pay attention to in our quest
for skilled workers-Iowa’s at-risk students. No child should be allowed to fall through
the cracks by becoming a high-school dropout or failing to develop needed job skills.
Our budget provides $9.8 million for alternative schools funding for at-risk students.
We also propose the expansion of a public-private partnership started last year called
jobs for America’s graduates. This program, currently thriving in 22 other states,
focuses attention and resources on young people who are in the bottom 20 percent of
their class. It has been successful in keeping teenagers in school to graduate, and then
following through for a year after graduation to ensure their continued success at work
or at the next level of education.
There is more to do. We have to complete the good work you did last year in
creating opportunities for enhanced skills for Iowa’s workers at our community
colleges. There needs to be greater flexibility given to the community colleges in
spending the resources provided for infrastructure on equipment. Financial assistance
must be extended to those interested in upgrading their skills. Any individual willing
to work hard enough to obtain new skills and to stay in Iowa and use those skills
should not be shut out by the cost of tuition. The core program, which stands for career
opportunities and resources for education, proposed in this budget will add the
flexibility and financial assistance needed to make a good program even better.
Our skilled worker shortage also can be eased by making Iowa an inviting place for
those coming to America, drawn by its hopes and dreams. Had it not been for
newcomers from other countries, Iowa would have experienced an out-migration of
citizens in the last decade. We must make sure that Iowa lives up to its history of a
welcoming state. Too often, difficulties exist for immigrants coming to our state and for
the communities in which they settle. Many Iowa communities, such as Storm Lake
and West Liberty, are working hard on these challenges. All of Iowa should learn from
their experiences. We propose developing a number of centers for new Iowans, run by
Iowa Workforce Development, to families and communities to seize the opportunity of
diversity. Let freedom’s beacon of inclusion shine brightest here in the heartland. At
the start of the new millenium, let us bring Iowa’s promise to all of its people.
Can improving the quality of life for new immigrants and being a leader in the new
economy lead to more Iowans, younger Iowans, and better paid Iowans?
© 2000 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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