House Journal: Page 100: Friday, January 17, 2003
never cease to be impressed by the landscape and awed by the people, the young and
the old. We have talked with farmers and teachers and doctors and truck drivers, and,
as often as not, they ask us: "What can we do for you? What can we do for Iowa?"
I’ve thought about that, and there is an answer.
You can dream of a better Iowa.
You can act by embracing change for a better Iowa.
Dream your dreams. Plan on how to turn them into reality. Then work to do it.
The next twelve months for this state are the most critical twelve months the state
has faced for as long as I’ve lived here. Reforming the tax system. Redesigning the
education system. Re-examining the issues involving health care. Reworking the
whole theory of economic development. These all must be explored. These things are
all huge undertakings.
But if all of us - farmer and factory worker, teacher and student, firefighter and
chief executive, governor and legislator - if all of us dream and plan and work, if all of
us are willing to take bold steps, to risk failure, to build on our strengths, to love our
past and embrace our future - if we’re all willing to do that, we’ll have a New Iowa
where all of us thrive and prosper, where we can have jobs and have fun, where we can
learn and lead, where we can live and love.
By seizing the opportunities of a new transformed economy and by embracing
change, we can preserve and maintain the values we cherish for generations to come.
This is our challenge. This shall be our legacy.
You don’t always have to cross a bridge at Burlington to get to a new land.
Sometimes, you can make a new land right where you are.
God bless you, our great state, and our nation.
The Capitol View Elementary Children's Chorus of Des Moines
sang "Iowa" by Meredith Wilson.
The benediction was offered by Cantor Laura Berkson of the
Temple B'Nai Jeshurun in Des Moines.
Speaker pro tempore Carroll moved that the joint convention be
now dissolved.
The motion prevailed.
The House reconvened at 10:53 a.m., Speaker Rants in the chair.
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Wed Jul 2 15:40:00 CDT 2003
URL: /DOCS/GA/80GA/Session.1/HJournal/00100/00100.html
jhf