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Iowa’s nurses are an essential part of our health
care system. Experts say there are good reasons to be concerned
about a shortage of nurses in our rural communities.
On September 1, I visited the outstanding nursing program at
Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg to learn more about
what Iowa is doing to increase the number of nurses while
providing Iowans with good job opportunities. I talked with
nursing students and faculty about their desire to work in a
field where they really make a difference in the health of
Iowans.
At the state level, we are encouraging more Iowans to go into
nursing by improving and expanding student loan forgiveness
programs. You can learn more about state, federal and private
loan forgiveness programs for nurses by
clicking here. |
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Senator Wally Horn and
Governor Chet Culver discuss Senate File 364 on April 9. The
bill unanimously passed the Senate and was signed into law by
the Governor, providing mortgage reforms that give homeowners
a better chance of avoiding foreclosure. |
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Senator Swati Dandekar and I met with fifth- and
sixth-grade students from Weber Elementary School in Iowa City
on March 30 to answer questions and provide a little insight
into Iowa government. |
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Senator Swati Dandekar, Senator Rob Hogg and I
had the opportunity to meet with 2 extraordinary students from
the Cedar Rapids area in the Senate chamber on Thursday morning.
They were being honored for essays they wrote as part of the
"Write Women Back into History" presentation.
The group included Senator Horn, Brenden Farr and his dad, their
teacher, Katrina Brown, Senator Dandekar, Morgan Exline and her
parents, and Senator Hogg. |
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I talked recently with former Iowa Governor Bob Ray at the Iowa
Statehouse. Ray was at the Capitol in support of the Iowa
Natural Heritage Foundation. The organization is celebrating its
30th anniversary as a member-supported, nonprofit group. During
that time, it has helped protect more than 100,000 acres of
Iowa's prairies, wetlands, woodlands, greenways, trails and
river corridors. |
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On Tuesday, March 24, Timothy Orr was unanimously confirmed by
the Iowa Senate as the new Adjutant General of the State of
Iowa. |
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I met with Karmin McShane of Cedar Rapids during the Iowa
Society of Solid Waste Operations legislative breakfast at the
State House Wednesday morning. The ISOSWO is a statewide
organization whose members are directly involved in solid waste
management issues. |
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The Iowa chapter of the American Association of Retired People
held a legislative breakfast at the Capitol on Wednesday to
advocate for a variety of issues affecting Iowa's seniors,
including healthcare and financial security.
Senator Swati Dandekar, Senator Rob Hogg, and I met with AARP
volunteers from the Cedar Rapids area. |
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I met with Barbi Martin and Bethany Parker at the Association of
Iowa Workforce Partners legislative breakfast at the Capitol on
Wednesday morning. |
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I had the opportunity to talk with Brad Buck of Waukee and Mike
Harter of East Greene at the School Administrators legislative
breakfast on February 24. |
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Senator Rob Hogg and I met with a government class from Jefferson
High School in Cedar Rapids when they visited the Capitol on
February 18. The students toured the Statehouse, met with their
legislators, and got a firsthand look at the legislative
process. |
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When I met with Cedar Rapids Jefferson students
and their teacher, Tara Brokovich, I talked with student Steve
Pahl (standing). He told me about his experience losing his
home during the 2008 floods. |
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Chris Garrett of Cedar Rapids, a March of Dimes
volunteer, was at the Statehouse to ask for continued support
for their positive work for Iowa families. |
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On February
2, Governor Chet Culver signed a bill recently approved by
the Legislature to provide $56 million for disaster relief.
The money will come from the state’s Economic Emergency
Fund.
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Wally Horn and Phyllis Peterson on the floor of the Senate
Chamber. |
