Senate Journal: Page 62: Tuesday, January 9, 2001

  abuse.  These 11 children join seven adults who died from domestic abuse
  last year.
  They join the 65 children and adults who have died from abuse in the last
  five years-a
  number that would grow if we had accurate figures of elder abuse.  A number
  that
  would grow by tens of thousands if we added those physically and
  psychologically hurt
  by abuse.

  Shelby Duis' bruised and battered body put a name, a face, and a story to
  abuse in
  Iowa.  Tragically, before her death and after her death, there were many
  others.

  How many have to be injured or die before we get serious about abuse?  How
  many
  have to be injured or die before we increase the protection services and
  improve
  training?  How many have to be injured or die before we recognize the link
  between
  substance abuse, mental illness, and violence, and support strategies that
  work to
  break the cycle-like insurance parity and treatment?

  Leadership in a new economy will mean little if our hearts are hardened to
  the cries
  of the most vulnerable.  We will honor and bring meaning to all those who
  have lost
  their lives to senseless violence by fully and comprehensively dealing with
  abuse in this
  state.  Today, let us pledge not with our words, but our actions to do what
  is required to
  protect the most vulnerable among us.  Let us not be satisfied with half
  measures.  Let
  us commit the full measure of devotion to the task of stopping abuse-of
  stopping
  abuse in Iowa, now.

  I began this morning by talking about our state's history.  It was built by
  hard work
  and with a strong sense of community.  And it was built by people who came
  here from
  all over the world.  From the beginning, immigrants have come to our state
  and helped
  it to prosper.  As they became new Iowans, and added to our economic wealth,
  their
  diversity also brought strength and cultural richness to our state.

  Historian Stephen Ambrose has said that the story of Lewis and Clark is
  America's
  story.  It is the story of a diverse group of people, working for a common
  goal, who came
  together.  They could not have succeeded in or survived their journey of
  exploration
  had they not done so.  They proved that there is nothing that men and women
  cannot
  do if they act as a team dedicated to a common purpose.

  The challenges that lie ahead of us are large and many.  The opportunities
  that lie
  ahead are greater and more numerous.  And if we can come together, work
  together
  toward a common purpose, we will create an Iowa high tech enough to lead a
  new
  economy and high touch enough to protect its most vulnerable.

  The Iowa of today, like the America of 200 years ago, is a land of unlimited
  potential.  Two centuries ago, our nation turned to two men to chart the
  course to new
  opportunities.  Iowa today will turn to literally thousands of
  well-educated, productive
  citizens to chart new territory.  With our collective work here, now we will
  decide if
  children's dreams will come true in Iowa, if a small-business owner in the
  smallest of
  our communities can have access to the world here in Iowa, if the
  bio-revolution will
  find a home in Iowa, or if our compassion is strong enough to break a cycle
  of violence
  and abuse or stop prejudice.

  In 1805, a couple of years into their journey, Meriwether Lewis wrote in his
  journal,
  "The party are in excellent health and spirits, zealously attached to the
  enterprise, and

© 2001 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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