House Concurrent Resolution 8 - Introduced HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8 BY BROWN-POWERS A Concurrent Resolution calling upon the President of 1 the United States, the United States Congress, the 2 Governor, the executive branch of Iowa, and the Iowa 3 General Assembly to work to improve communities by 4 bolstering the care workforce. 5 WHEREAS, Iowans value care and caregiving and 6 recognize that the ability to care for one another 7 is the connective tissue of society, forming and 8 strengthening familial and community relationships, and 9 enabling people to participate to their fullest extent 10 in growing the economy; and 11 WHEREAS, social and economic forces, including the 12 ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, have irreversibly changed 13 how our families live, work, and provide care; and 14 WHEREAS, Iowa, with its large senior population 15 and number of families where both parents are in the 16 workforce, has a particular need for a strong care 17 infrastructure to enable all Iowans to live in dignity 18 and contribute to their communities and economy; and 19 WHEREAS, the needs of people with disabilities 20 have long been overlooked or marginalized in policy 21 solutions, often resulting in the inability to access 22 vital services and support necessary for maintaining 23 independence and dignity; and 24 WHEREAS, the need for a care workforce, including 25 child care, home and community care, and long-term 26 care, will only grow over time and represents a source 27 of employment at a time when many current jobs are 28 -1- LSB 2589YH (2) 89 dg/rn 1/ 4

H.C.R. 8 subject to automation; and 1 WHEREAS, the care workforce requires public sector 2 recognition, support, and investment to fulfill its 3 roles, but for too long has been taken for granted 4 and seriously under-resourced, under-invested, and 5 under-compensated; and 6 WHEREAS, investing in the care workforce can be a 7 key community-building strategy in both urban and rural 8 communities for women and people of color, groups who 9 are currently most likely to serve care workforce roles 10 and are most subject to economic disadvantage and the 11 impacts of COVID-19; and 12 WHEREAS, the care workforce undergirds our economy 13 and is the work that makes all other work possible; NOW 14 THEREFORE, 15 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE 16 SENATE CONCURRING, That the General Assembly of the 17 State of Iowa calls upon the President of the United 18 States and the United States Congress to place the 19 strengthening of the care workforce as a high priority 20 in response to COVID-19 and as a first step in building 21 this workforce for the 21st century; and 22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the General Assembly 23 of the State of Iowa calls upon the President of 24 the United States and the United States Congress to 25 establish an essential worker bill of rights which 26 gives particular recognition to the ongoing and 27 post-pandemic needs of workers deemed essential to the 28 economy; and 29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the General Assembly 30 -2- LSB 2589YH (2) 89 dg/rn 2/ 4

H.C.R. 8 of the State of Iowa calls upon the President of 1 the United States and the United States Congress 2 to work to enact a 21st century caregiving and 3 education plan which explicitly addresses the need 4 for expanding access to a broad array of long-term 5 services and support in local settings, ensures 6 access to high-quality, affordable child care, treats 7 professional caregivers and early childhood caregivers 8 with respect and dignity, gives care workforce 9 personnel pay and benefits they deserve, and provides 10 for training and career ladders to higher-paying 11 jobs; and 12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the General Assembly 13 of the State of Iowa calls upon the Governor and 14 the executive branch to collaborate with the General 15 Assembly to develop a state structure for effective 16 implementation of federal acts called for in this 17 resolution, and ensure strong oversight, transparency, 18 accountability, and guarantee the participation and 19 representation of those in the care workforce and the 20 people they serve; and 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the General Assembly 22 of the State of Iowa calls upon the Governor and 23 the executive branch to collaborate with the General 24 Assembly to ensure that the implementation of federal 25 acts called for in this resolution coordinate with, and 26 provide information to, Iowa Workforce Development, 27 the Department of Education, the Department of Public 28 Health, the Department of Inspections and Appeals, 29 the Department of Human Services, and the Department 30 -3- LSB 2589YH (2) 89 dg/rn 3/ 4

H.C.R. 8 on Aging, including Future Ready Iowa, in order to 1 ensure access to affordable, quality care and support 2 services for all who need it, including children, older 3 adults, and people with disabilities; expand support 4 services and respite for family caregivers while making 5 professional care more affordable and accessible; and 6 improve the wages of care workforce jobs for early 7 childhood educators, child care workers, and direct 8 care workers, including home care; and 9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That upon passage of 10 this resolution, the Chief Clerk of the House of 11 Representatives shall transmit copies of this 12 resolution to the President of the United States, the 13 President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 14 the United States House of Representatives, and each 15 member of Iowa’s congressional delegation. 16 -4- LSB 2589YH (2) 89 dg/rn 4/ 4