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 invited legislators from across the state to visit the outstanding nursing program at Iowa Lakes Community College to learn more about what Iowa is doing to increase the number of nurses while providing Iowans with good job opportunities. We 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 at www.iowacollegeaid.gov/commissioncentral/
 loanforgiveness/nursing.html. 

Pictured from left: Berni Wise, director of nursing, Jane Palmer, practical nursing coordinator, Tara Rochleau, assistant professor of nursing, State Senator Daryl Beall of Fort Dodge, I and State Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque.

Congratulations to 13-year-old Dakota Mullen of Armstrong. He was awarded a 2009 Governor's Lifesaving Award at the Iowa State Fair for helping an elderly man who’d slipped on the ice in 10-degree weather and had been unable to get back up for at least 45 minutes.

The Governor's Lifesaving Award recognize Iowans who have performed a courageous act in an attempt to save someone's life or who have unselfishly assisted in an emergency situation.

John Scuffham of Scuffham Brothers, Inc. in Algona donated 128 acres to expand the Hurlburt Wildlife Area. The donated land adds to the East Fork of the Des Moines River Greenbelt, creating a 315-acre contiguous stretch of public protected land. It contains river bottom timber, and its brome hay area will be restored to prairie.

Also recognized during "Gift to Iowa's Future Day" were Janet and Victor Lothe of New Auburn, Wisconsin, who donated 15 acres of Henderson Farm woodland in Humboldt County to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The donated land was part of Janet’s childhood farm and will protect oak-hickory woodlands and rare oak savanna along the west fork of the Des Moines River. The high ground provides wildlife habitat and a unique forest ecosystem, which development threatened to destroy. The now-protected parcel buffers land owned by the Humboldt County Conservation Board. More information is at http://www.inhf.org/lothe.htm.

In 2008, the Iowa Legislature made donating or making a conservation easement much more affordable and doable in Iowa. The “Iowa Tax Credit for Charitable Contributions of Conservation Lands” offers significant tax savings. Donors can receive a tax credit of up to 50 percent of the fair market value, with a maximum tax credit of $100,000 per donation. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation helps landowners consider their options and make generous donations possible. More information is available at www.inhf.org/landowner. 

Members of the Rural Iowa Independent Telephone Association also met with Senator Kibbie in his Senate office.

Three students learning to build and maintain wind turbines in Estherville visited the Iowa Statehouse on February 4 to thank lawmakers who supported Iowa’s wind energy expansion efforts. The trio talked with lawmakers and appeared at a news conference with Governor Chet Culver and Senate President Jack Kibbie.

Pictured, from left: students Grant Erickson of Cedar Rapids and Kary Haglan of Des Moines, Representative Donavon Olson of Boone, Senator Jack Kibbie and Governor Chet Culver.

Students from Iowa Lakes Community College were at the Capitol January 29 to talk with lawmakers about the crucial role community colleges play in educating and training Iowans for the workforce.  They met with Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg in his office to discuss the importance of supporting community colleges and making sure Iowa maintains its status as a leader in education.

It's always great to have our Iowa veterans at the Statehouse. On January 22, veterans from across my district came to my Senate office to discuss veterans issues.

I am proud of the steps we've taken in the Legislature to honor our veterans and meet their needs. The Iowa Veterans Council reported that the 2008 Legislative session was “the most successful year for veterans in the Legislature since the 1950s.” The council includes several organizations, including the Marine Corps League, Vietnam Veterans of America, the VFW, and Disabled American Veterans.  

Shortly after President Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, I helped hang his portrait in the Senate Chamber. This is a tradition in the Legislature when a new President takes office.

Iowans played a key role in making Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States, and thousands from around the state headed to Washington, D.C. for the inaugural festivities.

Among them were members of the Iowa National Guard.  In fact, of the 7,000 Guard members activated nationwide for inauguration duty, 1,000 were from Iowa. They assisted with security, transportation, traffic control and other activities.  Thank you to our men and women in uniform for always answering the call of their Commander in Chief.

I was sworn in as Senate President by Iowa Chief Justice Marsha Ternus.  I expect the session will focus on managing a tight state budget while continuing to expand Iowa’s energy economy and rebuild flood damaged communities.  

Pictured, from left: Representative Paul Bell of Newton, Senator Daryl Beall of Fort Dodge, James Larew, Pat Hendricks, I and Kay. Commissioner Jim Larew is Governor Culver’s counsel, and Pat Hendricks is a locomotive engineer and represents the United Transportation Union.