House Journal: Page 37: Tuesday, January 15, 2002
The HAWK-I, or Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa, program ensures that children of
working families who are struggling to make ends meet have health coverage. Over the
past three years, we have expanded HAWK-I and other healthcare coverage for
children. As a result, more than 30,000 previously uninsured Iowa children have
access to quality health care today.
That is far more than a mere statistic. Through insurance from standard Medicaid,
expanded Medicaid, and HAWK-I, 30,000 individual children in Iowa today have a
brighter future and better chance to fulfill their God-given potential. It means
thousands of parents across our state are free from the terrible fear that they may not
be able to help when their children are suffering - or that one illness or accident will
mean financial ruin for their family.
Expanding HAWK-I to those children has been a signal achievement of the past
three years. Again, I congratulate the members of the state legislature for making this
important investment in Iowa’s future.
We are also wholly committed to ensuring that every Iowa senior is secure in the
knowledge that he or she can live in good health and dignity. Those Iowans lived
through the Great Depression, won a World War, and built the United States into the
great country it is today. They should not have to choose between buying the
prescription drugs they need and eating - or heating their homes.
That is why Senator Harkin and I started the "Iowa Priority Prescription Savings
Program," which will help make prescription drugs more affordable and provide
greater health security for seniors.
Already, 15,000 Iowa seniors have signed up, in hopes of cutting their punishing
prescription costs. But even as we get this program up and running, we must continue
to add to its roster every Iowa senior who is eligible and interested in participating.
Independence and dignity are also the ideals behind the Senior Living Trust that
we established together two years ago. The Senior Living Trust provides more
comprehensive long term care to Iowa seniors and people with disabilities. Some funds
in this trust have been used to expand assisted living opportunities, develop home-
delivered meal programs, adult day centers and respite care sites, and create greater
access to needed care.
Today, nearly 12,000 Iowa seniors get the help they need while maintaining their
independence. We will continue working to provide this option to more seniors and
their families so that, eventually, every Iowan can live independently as long as they
are able. This will not only save tax dollars; it will lift spirits and improve lives.
While we ensure the dignity and independence of those whose hard work built
today’s Iowa, we must ensure opportunity for those who will build tomorrow’s Iowa.
For the sake of Iowa’s future, we must continue to promote good paying jobs and
business opportunities for Iowans.
I am proud of the work we have done together to build quality job opportunities in
Iowa. When I came into office three years ago, businesses that received state grants to
create new, high-skilled jobs paid their employees an average wage of $13.53 an hour.
Today, the businesses awarded these state grants pay their employees an average
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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