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REYNOLDS IS TAKING THE PODIUM TO DELIVER HER CONDITION OF THE STATE ADDRESS. OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THAT SPEECH BEGINS RIGHT NOW. LET’S LISTEN TO THE GOVERNOR. A FEELING OF PRIDE, A FEELING THAT COMES FROM STANDING BEFORE YOU AND BEING ABLE TO DECLARE ONCE AGAIN THE CONDITION OF OUR STATE IS STRONG. THROUGH NATURAL DISASTERS, A PANDEMIC, A NATIONWIDE RECESSION, AND MORE. I WAS STATUS AS A BEACON FOR FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY HAS ENDURED. WE’VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE STATE IN THE COUNTRY. WE’RE RANKED IN THE TOP TEN STATES TO LIVE IN AMERICA, AND WE CONTINUE TO BE RANKED THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR OPPORTUNITY. AND IN A WORLD INCREASING ONLY MARKED BY CHAOS. IOWA’S STRENGTH AND STABILITY STAND OUT. OUR GOAL TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THIS LEGISLATE SESSION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYS THAT WAY. WHICH BRINGS ME TO WHAT’S NEW OR RATHER, WHO’S NEW. YESTERDAY, 53 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE SWORN INTO OFFICE FOR THEIR FIRST TERM. THAT’S MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW FACES IN THE CHAMBER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. BUT THIS YEAR, WE HAVE MORE NEW MEMBERS THAN ANY TIME IN RECENT MEMORY. SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXTEND MY WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE FOR PUTTING IN THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GET HERE. FOR MAKING THE SACRIFICE CHOICES THAT YOU’VE MADE AND WILL MAKE. AND THE SAME GOES, OF COURSE, FOR THOSE WHO ARE RETURNING, YOU KNOW, FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT MAY SEEM LIKE OUR STATE’S SUCCESS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED, THAT WE WENT FROM A DEFICIT TO A SURPLUS BY CHANCE, THAT OUR ECONOMY REBOUND DID BECAUSE, WELL, THAT’S JUST WHAT ECONOMIES DO. BUT THERE’S SO MUCH HARD WORK THAT’S GONE INTO IT FROM MANY OF YOU SITTING IN THIS. NONE OF OUR SEX SUCCESS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. HARD WORKING, RESILIENT, INNOVATIVE. THEY TRULY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR STATE. BUT THE CHANGES THAT WE’VE MADE IN THIS BUILDING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE HELPED LAY A FOUNDATION FOR IOWA TO RISE TO BECOME THAT NUMBER ONE STATE FOR OPPORTUNITY. IT WASN’T EASY. WE’VE BEEN TOLD TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT OUR BOLD AGENDA WOULD WRECK OUR ECONOMY, DEMOLISH OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND LEAD TO THE COLLAPSE OF STATE GOVERNMENT. WE’VE HEARD THESE ACCUSATIONS FROM POLITICAL OPPONENTS, AS EXPECTED. BUT WE’VE ALSO HEARD THEM FROM MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AND EVEN SO-CALLED EXPERTS. IN 2017, WHEN REPUBLICANS TOOK CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE, WE PASSED BADLY NEEDED COLLECTIVE BARGAINING REFORM. WE WERE ACCUSED OF MARGINALIZING AND INSULTING PUBLIC WORKERS AND TOLD THAT WE WERE, QUOTE, BLOWING UP THE SYSTEM OF REASON AND COMPROMISE THAT OUR STATE GOVERNMENT WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME. WELL, THEY WERE RIGHT ABOUT THE LAST PART, BUT NOT IN THE WAY THEY EXPECTED. AND THEY WERE WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. SIX YEARS AFTER THESE REFORMS WERE IMPLEMENTED, WE’VE SEEN WHAT’S POSSIBLE WHEN TAXPAYERS HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND WE’VE SEEN EMPLOYEE RELATIONS IMPROVE. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES NOW GET REWARDED FOR THEIR WORK, NOT JUST FOR THEIR SENIORITY. AND RATHER THAN SEEING EACH OTHER AS ADVERSARIES OR MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING TOGETHER. AT THE IOWA VETERANS HOME, FOR EXAMPLE, THE NUMBER OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF, AND THE NUMBER OF TERMINATIONS HAVE SHRUNK BY MORE THAN 50%. WE IGNORED THE HYSTERIA. AND IOWANS ARE BETTER FOR IT. A YEAR AFTER COLLECTING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING REFORM IN 2018, WE BEGAN TO OVERHAUL THE OVERHAUL OF IOWA’S TAX CODE. IT WAS LONG OVERDUE. YET SO CALLED EXPERTS SAID WE WERE DELUSIONAL THAT WE WOULD CRIPPLE THE STATE BUDGET. ONE STATE SENATOR SAID THAT OUR TAX REFORM BILL WAS, QUOTE, THE MOST FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN IOWA’S HISTORY. SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? STATE REVENUES SOARED, EXCEEDING EXPECTED NATIONS. AND THREE YEARS LATER, THE LEGISLATURE VOTED TO REMOVE THE REVENUE TRIGGERS GUARANTEEING FUTURE TAX CUTS. AND NOT A SINGLE SENATOR VOTED AGAINST IT. BECAUSE WE IGNORED THE HYSTERIA. IOWANS GET TO KEEP MORE OF THEIR MONEY. AND BECAUSE WE PUSHED FORWARD, WE’RE NOW ON A PATH TO THE FOURTH LOWEST INCOME TAX RATE IN THE COUNTRY, A FLAT 3.9%. AND IOWA CAN NO LONGER PAY TAX ON THEIR RETIREMENT INCOME. SOME OF OUR TOUGHEST DECISIONS, THE ONE THAT SPARKED THE ONES THAT SPARKED THE ANGRIEST ATTACKS, CAME DURING THE PANDEMIC. YOU KNOW, IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY, TO BE SURE. AT TIMES, IT FELT LIKE THERE WERE NO GOOD CHOICES. BUT EARLY ON, WE COULD ALREADY SEE THAT KEEPING SCHOOLS CLOSED HAD TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND SO WE WERE THE FIRST STATE TO REQUIRE AND ENFORCE IN-PERSON AND LEARNING. AGAIN, WE WERE ATTACKED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN A NEWS ARTICLE, NOT AN OPINION PIECE SAID THAT MY AGGRESSIVE PUSH TO REOPEN SCHOOLS HAD, QUOTE, DESCENDED INTO CHAOS, CREATE A TENSION BETWEEN SCIENCE AND POLITICS. IN OTHER WORDS, ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S OLDEST NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH SAYS IT’S DEDICATED TO FACTUAL REPORTING, SAID THAT KEEPING SCHOOLS CLOSED WAS JUST GOOD SCIENCE. WHILE REOPENING THEM WAS JUST POLITICS. WELL, THAT WAS LATE AUGUST OF 2020. FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS TO OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. THE AP PUBLISHED ANOTHER ARTICLE THIS ONE TITLED ONLINE SCHOOL PUT U.S. KIDS BEHIND. SOME ADULTS HAVE REGRETS. THE AUTHORS TOLD THE CHILDREN THE STORY OF CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND BECOME DEPRESSED AND MAY NEVER FULLY RECOVER. THEY TALKED TO TEACHERS WHO WERE ANGRY. THEY WERE KEPT OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. THE ARTICLE GAVE THIS SUMMARY SOME THIRD GRADERS STRUGGLE TO SOUND OUT WORDS. SOME NINTH GRADERS HAVE GIVEN UP ON SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY FEEL SO BEHIND. THEY CAN’T CATCH UP. THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN CHILDREN HANGS IN THE BALANCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN STATES THAT KEPT KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, READING AND MATH SCORES PLUMMETED. NOT IN IOWA. NOW, THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT WE DON’T HAVE MORE WORK TO DO BECAUSE WE DO. BUT WE IGNORE THE HYSTERIA AND ARE KIDS ARE BETTER FOR IT. WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON THE LAST SIX YEARS, A TIME WHEN IOWANS ELECTED REPUBLICANS TO A MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO REFLECT ON WHAT OUR OPPONENTS SAID ABOUT OUR AGENDA AND TO LOOK BACK ON HOW WELL THOSE ACCUSATIONS AGED. THE PUNDITS SAID WE WERE WRONG. THE EXPERTS CONDEMNED US AND THEY UNDERESTIMATED OUR RESOLVE. BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS. IT DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF IOWA WERE WITH US. THEY WANTED US TO STAND OUR GROUND. THEY EXPECTED US TO BE STRONG AND WE STOOD THE STRONGEST WHEN IT MATTERED MOST. WHEN WHEN IT WAS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND HERE’S THE THING. I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. AND WHAT I’VE COME HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU IS THAT I WILL DO IT AGAIN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE WILL DO IT AGAIN. IF WE’RE NOT PROVIDING IF WE’RE NOT PROVIDING A FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN, THEN WE’RE FAILING. AND WHEN I SAY OUR CHILDREN, I MEAN EVERY CHILD IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY. AND THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WHAT I WILL BE FOCUSING ON OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS PROVIDED WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT FITS THEIR NEEDS. THIS IS NO SMALL FEAT, AND IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US. AND IT WILL INVOLVE MULTIPLE EFFORTS. BUT IF YOUR ONLY IDEA IS MORE FUNDING, THEN YOU’RE NOT PUTTING IN THE WORK AND YOU’RE NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON OUR CHILDREN. TODAY WE SPEND. $3.6 BILLION ON PRE-K, 12 EDUCATION, A BILLION MORE THAN WE DID IN 2020 12. THAT’S A 37% INCREASE. THERE ARE STATES THAT SPEND MUCH LESS WITH BATTERIES, ADULTS. FLORIDA SPENDS 12 SPEND LESS PER STUDENT AND OUTPERFORMS US IN MATH AND READING. OTHER STATES SPEND LESS WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THIS ISN’T ABOUT MONEY. IT’S ALSO NOT ABOUT PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE SCHOOLS. IF THAT’S HOW YOU WANT TO FRAME IT, IF YOU WANT TO PRETEND THAT THIS IS A WAR BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THEN YOU’RE NOT FOCUSED ON OUR CHILDREN. I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WHO HAS BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 25 YEARS. SHE LOVES HER JOB AND AS BOTH A MOTHER AND A TEACHER, SHE LOVES THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. HER OLDER DAUGHTER EXCEL IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. BUT WHEN HER YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS STRUGGLING, STRUGGLING WITH FRIENDS, STRUGGLING TO STAY FOCUSED, STRUGGLING JUST TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING, SHE AND HER HUSBAND MADE THE CHOICE TO SEND HER TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL. THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. THEIR DAUGHTER ABSOLUTELY BLOSSOMED AND THAT’S A QUOTE. SHE ENJOYED THE ADDED STRUCTURE OF THE NEW SCHOOL. SHE EVEN ENJOYED WEARING UNIFORMS. WE’RE ALL THE SAME. SHE TOLD HER MOM. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT BRAND OUR JEANS ARE OR WHAT SHOES WE WHERE WE ALL GET ALONG. THIS YOUNG WOMAN WENT ON TO GRADUATE WITH HONORS AND IS NOW A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH A DOCTORATE DEGREE HANGING ON HER WALL. SO THAT’S THE GOOD PART OF THE STORY. HERE’S THE SAD PART. WHEN THIS TEACHER AND MOTHER OF TWO MADE THE PERSONAL DECISION TO SEND ONE OF HER DAUGHTERS TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL, SOME OF HER COLLEAGUES TURNED THEIR BACKS ON HER TO THE POINT WHERE IT AFFECTED HER CAREER. THIS LIFE TIME PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER WHO LOVES THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHO HAD DEVOTED HER LIFE TO TEACHING, WAS OSTRACIZED BECAUSE SHE MADE A DECISION THAT WAS BEST FOR HER DAUGHTER. IF WE’RE REALLY GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A QUALITY EDUCATION, THEN WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE THIS US VERSUS THEM MENTALITY BECAUSE IT’S NOT ABOUT WHOSE TEAM YOU’RE ON. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOUR POLITICS. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. AND IT’S CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT ME. IT’S ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. WE EITHER WANT TO GIVE EVERY CHILD A CHANCE TO SUCCEED OR WE DON’T. SO TONIGHT, I’M ANNOUNCING A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION REFORM PACKAGE THAT WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN. IT STARTS BY MAKING SURE THAT EVERY FAMILY CAN MAKE THE CHOICE THAT THIS TEACHER AND MOTHER MADE TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO THE SCHOOL THAT BEST FITS THEIR NEEDS. WE HAVE IN CREDIBLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FILLED WITH AMAZING AND DEDICATED TEACHERS. MY DAUGHTER IS ONE OF THEM. BUT EVERY CHILD IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DESERVES AN EDUCATION TAILORED TO THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. AND PARENTS ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. YOU KNOW, SOME FAMILIES MAY WANT AN EDUCATION THAT CONFORMS TO THEIR FAITH AND MORAL CONVCTIONS. SOME KIDS HAVE AMBITIONS AND ABILITIES THAT REQUIRE A UNIQUE EDUCATOR SETTING. OTHERS MAY EXPERIENCE BULLYING OR HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS REGARDLESS OF THE REASON. EVERY PARENT SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE OF WHERE TO SEND THEIR CHILD, AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO FAMILIES WHO CAN AFFORD IT. MY SCHOOL CHOICE BILL WILL CREATE CREATE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR FAMILIES WHO CHOOSE TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL. THE STATE WILL CONTRIBUTE $7,598 TO THAT ACCOUNT, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THE STATE PROVIDES FOR EACH CHILD WHO ATTENDS A PUBLIC SCHOOL. FOR STUDENTS CURRENTLY ATTENDING A PRIVATE SCHOOL, THE PLAN WILL BE PHASED IN, FOCUSING FIRST ON THE FAMILIES WITH THE LOWEST INCOME LEVELS AND IN THREE YEARS, EVERY FAMILY WILL HAVE A CHOICE IN EDUCATION AND NO WILL BE LIMITED BY INCOME OR ZIP CODE. MY EDUCATION PLAN STARTS WITH SCHOOL CHOICE, BUT IT DOESN’T END THERE. AS I SAID, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD RECEIVES A QUALITY EDUCATION REGARDLESS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEY’RE IN. OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVEN’T SHIED AWAY FROM MAKING SYSTEMIC CHANGES TO OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. WE RECOGNIZE THAT AN EXCLUSIVE FOCUS ON A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE WASN’T WORKING FOR MANY STUDENTS AND INVESTED IN ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS THAT ALLOW FOR OPTIONS. THEIR RESULTS HAVE BEEN EXTRA ORDINARY. WE’RE A LEADER AND WORK BASED LEARNING AT ALL AGE LEVELS. AND IOWA HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF NEW APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY THIS PAST YEAR, WITH EVEN MORE GROWTH RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. LAST YEAR, WE, THE NATION’S FIRST TEACHER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. AND I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN AMAZING ADDING THAT PROGRAM IS ON TRACK TO HAVE A THOUSAND APPRENTICES BY NEXT YEAR. AND INTEREST CONTINUES TO GROW AS WE CELEBRATE THIS PROGRESS. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE THANKS TO A STRONG FOUNDATION IN READING, WRITING AND MATH. AND WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT FOUNDATION IS STRONG IN EVERY SCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF IOWA SCHOOLS. THAT ISN’T A PROBLEM. BUT THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT CONSISTENTLY TEST IN THE BOTTOM 5% THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY NEED MORE HELP. TO THAT END, I’VE DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE TAILORED SUPPORT TO THESE SCHOOLS TO COME ALONGSIDE THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED. A KEY PART OF THAT EFFORT WILL BE TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY. THE FOUNDERS NATION, FOR ALL LEARNING, WILL PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO TEACHERS ON THE SCIENCE OF READING, USING A PROGRAM THAT HAS A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS. AND IF THEY DON’T ALREADY HAVE, IT WILL, ARM THESE SCHOOLS WITH A CURRICULUM HAS PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE. WE’LL ALSO HAVE ON THE GROUND TALKING TO TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND OBSERVING CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. THEN THE INTERACTION WILL RESULT IN RECOMMENDATIONS THAT EACH SCHOOL CAN USE TO FORMULATE AN ACTION PLAN FOR APPROVAL. THROUGH THIS MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. IN. IMPROVING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM ISN’T JUST ABOUT PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES. SOMETIMES IT IS ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE WAY. IOWA CODE CONTAINS A LONG LIST OF REQUIREMENT THAT SCHOOLS MUST FOLLOW. MANY THEM ARE BENEFICIAL. SOME ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, LIKE THAT. PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS. BUT OTHER REQUIREMENTS ARE TOO BURDENSOME. I’VE FROM TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT IT’S TOO MUCH. I HEAR YOU AND I AGREE. THIS YEAR WE’RE ELIMINATED. REDUNDANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. WE’RE GIVING SCHOOLS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DUAL ENROLLMENT AND WE’RE PROVIDING MORE FLEX THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR CORE MISSION. WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SCHOOLS TO USE THE RESOURCES THAT WE GIVE THEM. TODAY, WE’RE TOO PRESCRIPTIVE ON HOW SOME OF THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED TO THE POINT THAT THEY’RE NOT BEING USED. RIGHT NOW, ALMOST 100 MILLION SPECIFIC EXCUSE ME, EARMARKED FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS REMAIN UNSPENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS IOWA. SO MY PROPOSAL WILL GIVE SCHOOLS THE FREEDOM TO USE THESE FUNDS TO INCREASE TEACHERS SALARIES. LET’S FOCUS ON MAKING SURE WE REWARD, THOSE TEACHERS WHO WORK SO HARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CHILDREN’S LIVES. SO AS YOU CAN ALREADY TELL, MUCH OF THE FOCUS OF TONIGHT’S SPEECH IS ON CHILDREN, ON HOW WE SET THEM UP FOR A FULFILLING AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE. BUT THAT TASK DOESN’T START WHEN THEY’RE IN GRADE SCHOOL. IT BEGINS WHEN LIFE DOES. BEFORE THE CHILD IS EVEN BORN. THAT’S WHY I FOUGHT SO HARD IN THE COURTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY CAN DO WHAT IT SO CLEARLY HAS THE POWER TO DO PROTECT THE UNBORN. IT’S ALSO WHY WE CREATED THE MOMS PROGRAM LAST YEAR WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL THIS STATEWIDE NAD NETWORK OF NONPROFITS WILL CONNECT WOMEN WITH PREGNANCY SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING SAFETY NET RESOURCES, HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND RECOVERY AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. IT SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT A PRO-LIFE STATE IS ONE THAT SURROUNDS EVERY PERSON INVOLVED IN A PREGNANCY BORN AND UNBORN MOTHER AND FATHER WITH LOVE AND SUPPORT. EVERY WOMAN FACING AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY DESERVES TO KNOW SHE IS WORTHY OF THIS AND THAT SHE IS NOT ALONE. JUST ASK SARAH HER. WHEN WAS 26 AND A SINGLE MOTHER TO THREE? SARAH FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH NUMBER FOUR. HER FIRST REACTION WAS TO BREAK DOWN IN TEARS UNDER THE STRESS. HOW SHE EVER MAKE THIS WORK? WHAT WOULD PEOPLE SAY? LOOKING FOR HELP. SHE CALLED THE FATHER WHO TOLD HER THEY NEEDED TO BE, QUOTE, RESPONSIBLE ADULTS. TO HIM, THAT MEANT ABORTION, FEELING LIKE SHE NO CHOICE. SHE SKETCHED ON APPOINTMENT WHERE SHE TOOK THE FIRST PILL TO INDUCE A CHEMICAL ABORTION. A IMMEDIATELY SHE WAS FILLED WITH REGRET. SHE HAD HEARD THE BABY’S HEARTBEAT AND THE SOUND REPLAYED IN MIND. IT WEIGHED ON HER WHEN SHE PICKED UP HER CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL. HOW IS THIS LIFE DIFFERENT FROM THERE? SHE WONDERED. AND IT WEIGHED ON HER WHEN SHE WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING, SHE CALLED THE ABORTION PILL REVERSAL HOTLINE WHERE HELP IS AVAILABLE 24 SEVEN. AND THANKFULLY, IT WAS THE STAFF IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED HER WITH A LOCAL DOCTOR WHO ADMINISTERED A REVERSAL THAT SAVED HER BABY’S LIFE. TODAY, SARAH VOLUNTEERS AT A PREGNANCY CLINIC THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO WOMEN FACING UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES. SHE SHARES HER STORY AND HER COMPASSION WITH MOTHERS WHO ARE FACING THE SAME DECISION WAS. SHE HELPS GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT THAT WAS MISSING FOR HER SUPPORT THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO EVERY EXPECTANT MOTHER. SARAH AND HER CHILDREN, INCLUDING HER SON ISAIAH, WHO IS CELEBRATING HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY TOMORROW, ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. PLEASE, STAN, SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR COURAGE TO FIGHT FOR EVERY LIFE. THERE’S ONE ASPECT OF SARAH STORY I DON’T WANT YOU TO MISS. THE FATHER OF HER SON WAS NOT THERE TO SUPPORT HER. IN FACT, HE DID THE OPPOSITE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN ALIKE. ONE PREGNANCY SUPPORT CENTER ESTIMATED THAT 85% OF THEIR CLIENTS WOULD CARRY THEIR CHILD TO TERM IF THEY HAD A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER. STUDIES SHOW THAT WITHOUT A FATHER PRESIDENT, A CHILD IS MORE LIKELY HAVE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. LIVE IN POVERTY AND DIE IN INFANCY WITH HIM. THOSE INDICATORS AND OTHERS ARE REVERSED. MOTHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE PRENATAL CARE. HAVE A HEALTHY BIRTH AND EXPERIENCE LESS STRESS AS A PARENT. SO TONIGHT, I’M CALLING ON THE LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND THE MOMS PROGRAM TO PROMOTE PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF FATHERS. THIS NEW FUNDING WOULD ALLOW US TO PROVIDE NONPROFIT GRANTS TO ASSIST AT RISK AT RISK DADS AS WELL AS MENTORSHIPS FOR SCHOOL AGE MALES. THIS SESSION AND EVERY THING WE DO, LET’S PROMOTE STRONG AND HEALTHY FAMILY. TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES. WE NEED A STRONG HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN EVERY PART OF THE STATE. WHILE OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS IN TOP TEN NATIONALLY. WE STILL FACE CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL IOWA. THAT’S WHY IN 2021 WE FUNDED TWO CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE, ONE IN CARROLL AT ST ANTHONY REGIONAL HOSPITAL AND ONE IN THE GRINNELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. THESE SPECIALTY HOSPITALS USE LOCAL PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS CHICKEN PACKED RURAL PATIENTS WITH OB-GYN AND SERVICES. THEY’VE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL, I’M ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO FUND TO ADDITIONAL CENTERS. I’M ALSO ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND FOUR OB FELLOWSHIPS FOR PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS, WHICH WILL HELP ADDRESS THE CRITICAL DEMAND FOR SERVICES IN RURAL IOWA. AND TONIGHT, I’M ANNOUNCING THAT WE’RE INCREASING FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH CARE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT WE CREATED LAST YEAR, TAKING IT FROM 3 TO 15 MILLION. IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSING PATHWAYS. WE’LL BE ADDING APPRENTICESHIPS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. FINALLY, THIS IS THE YEAR THAT MUST ENACT COMMON SENSE TORT REFORM TO. STOP THE OUT OF CONTROL VERDICTS THAT ARE DRIVING OUR O’BAGY AND CLINICS OUT OF BUSINESS AND MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES OUT OF OUR STATE. IOWA IS IN THE MINORITY OF STATES THAT DON’T PROTECT THEIR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS BY, PLACING REASONABLE CAPS ON NONECONOMIC DAMAGES. ONE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR SAID THAT IT’S GOTTEN SO BAD, HE’S OFTEN ASKED ABOUT IOWA’S LARGE JURY VERDICTS DURING RECRUITING TRIPS. AND TWO YEARS AGO, THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED. THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING AND LAWS NEED TO KEEP UP. WE CANNOT PUT OFF ANOTHER YEAR. WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE. THE OPIOID CRISIS IS A HUMAN TRAGEDY TAKING PLACE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND FENTANYL HAS TAKEN CENTER STAGE. WHILE IOWA MAINTAINS ONE OF THE LOWEST OVERDOSE DEATH RATES IN THE COUNTRY WE’RE STILL EXPERIENCING UNACCEPTABLE DOUBLE TRENDS. OVERDOSES ARE UP BY MORE THAN 34%. AND FOR IOWANS UNDER 25, THEY’RE MORE THAN DOUBLE. IN 2021, ILLICIT FENTANYL WAS IMPLICATED IN 83% OF ALL IOWA’S OPIOID RELATED DEATHS. COMPARED TO JUST 31% FIVE YEARS AGO. AND THESE AREN’T JUST NUMBERS. THEY’RE MISSING SIBLINGS, PARENTS AND FRIENDS. THEY’RE SHATTERED FAMILIES AND GRIEF STRICKEN PARENTS. JUST ASK DEREK AND KATHY. KID THEIR SON SEBASTIAN, A NORMAL HIGH SCHOOLER, WAS HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING. SO HE TOOK A HALF A PILL OF WHAT HE WAS A PERCOCET. BUT THAT PILL WAS LACED WITH FENTANYL. AND DEREK FOUND HIM THE NEXT MORNING SLUMPED OVER IN HIS BED. HE DESCRIBES IT AS AN IMAGE THAT WILL HAUNT HIM FOREVER. TODAY, DEREK AND KATHY ARE WORKING TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT ONE PILL CAN KILL. IF THEIR EFFORTS HAVE HELPED SPARE EVEN ONE FAMILY FROM THIS AGONIZING LOSS, THEN THEY CAN TAKE COMFORT KNOWING THAT THEIR SON DID NOT DIE IN VAIN. AND WITH THE HELP OF DEREK, KATHY AND SEBASTIAN’S STORY, I’M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT TOMORROW THE STATE IS LAUNCHING A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO HELP PARENTS UNDERSTAND THE THREAT OF FENTANYL AND HOW TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS FROM IT. DEREK AND KATHY ARE HERE TONIGHT. PLEASE RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR COURAGE IN BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT. I DON’T HAVE. MUCH OF THE FENANYL THAT’S KILLING OUR CITIZENS AND DESTROYING OUR FAMILIES COME THROUGH OUR COUNTRY’S SOUTHERN BORDER. AND WHILE IOWA CAN NEITHER PLUG THE HOLES IN THAT BORDER NOR COMPEL THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CARE, WE CAN TAKE A STAND BY TREATING FENTANYL CRIMES AS THE ATROCITIES THEY ARE. I’M CALLING THE LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTING FENTANYL IN ANY AMOUNT. THAT MEANS LONGER SENTENCES AND HIGHER FINES, EVEN WHEN THE QUANTITY IS SMALL AND WHEN AND WHEN AN OVERDOSE LEADS TO DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY, THE SENTENCES WILL BE EVEN STEEPER. WE MUST ALSO MAKE SURE THAT LIFE SAVING TREATMENT IS READILY AVAILABLE. TODAY, ONLY PHARMACIES CAN DISTRIBUTE NALOXONE. THE DRUG THAT REVERSES THE EFFECTS OF AN OVERDOSE. SO LET’S CHANGE THAT. LET’S GIVE OUR FIRST RESPONDER THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO SAVE LIVES AND ALLOW THEM TO GET IN THE LOCK ZONE INTO THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUAL THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. WE SHOULD NEVER AN OCCASION LIKE THIS GO BY WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US. THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HEROES WHO PATROL OUR STREETS AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK AND SACRIFICE AS THE MEDICAL RESPONDERS WHO BRING HEALING TO THE INJURED, THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO RUN TOWARD THE FLAMES RATHER THAN AWAY THE SOLDIERS WHO SERVE OUR NATION AT HOME AND ABROAD. THEY ARE THE BEST AMONG US, AND SOMETIMES THOSE WHO GIVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. THIS YEAR, WE LOST TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE LINE OF DUTY. FREMONT COUNTY DEPUTY MELVIN RICHARDSON AND CORALVILLE SERGEANT JOHN WILLIAMS. PLEASE STAND TO HONOR THESE BRAVE MEN AND ALL THOSE WHO PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM’S WAY ON OUR BEHALF. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS PUT OUR CITIZENS FIRST EVERY DAY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REST OF OUR GOVERNMENT DOES THE SAME. STATE GOVERNMENT CUSTOMERS ARE ITS CITIZENS. THEIR TAX DOLLARS ALSO MAKE THEM AS SHAREHOLDERS. THAT MEANS MEETING THEIR NEEDS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR JOB. BUT LIKE ANY LARGE ORGANIZATION, GOVERNMENT, IT IS MARKED BY BUREAUCRACIES, NATURAL TENDENCIES TO GROW. AND IF THAT GROWTH ISN’T CONSTANTLY CHECKED AND RECHANNEL TOWARDS ITS CORE FUNCTION, IT QUICKLY TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. A LONG STANDING PRIORITY OF MINE HAS BEEN TO STEWARD IOWANS TAX DOLLARS RESPONSIBLY, ENSURE THEY GET THE VALUE FROM THE MANY SERVICES THAT STATE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES, AND TO MINIMIZE THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF REGULATION. LAST YEAR WE MERGED THE DEPARTMENTS OF HUMAN SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH TO CREATE THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THAT CHANGE PAID OFF. NO EMPLOYEES LOST THEIR JOBS, NOR WAS ANY SERVICE DOWNGRADED IN IMPORTANCE. IN FACT, JUST THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED. THE STREAMLINED ORGANIZATION ALLOWED PARTIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCALE AND INTEGRATION RELATED FUNCTIONS AND WERE KNIT MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER. AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN IMPROVED. WE SAW SIMILAR RESULTS WHEN WE MERGED OUR TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF ADMINISTER OF LAW JUDGES. ONE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE OTHER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS. WITHIN THREE MONTHS, A BACKLOG OF OVER 5400 CASES WAS GONE AND IOWANS GOT THE DECISIONS THEY DESERVED IN A TIMELY MANNER. BOTH OF THESE CHANGES RESULTED IN A BETTER, SMOOTHER EXPERIENCE FOR IOWANS. THEY DESERVE THE SAME ACROSS ALL STATE GOVERNMENT. IT’S BEEN NEARLY 40 YEARS SINCE WE’VE UNDERTAKEN A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT OPERATION AND STRUCTURE. AND FRANKLY, IT SHOWS. IOWA HAS 37 EXECUTIVE BRANCH CABINET MEMBERS, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN BOTH OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEST PRACTICE. ARKANSAS. MISSISSIPPI AND OKLAHOMA ALL HAVE POPULATIONS AND BUDGET BUDGETS SIMILAR TO IOWA. BUT JUST 15 CABINET MEMBERS IN THE RESULT IS UNNECESSARY FRICTION FOR IOWANS WITH SERVICES SPREAD AND UNPREDICTABLE AND PREDICTABLY ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT. 11 AGENCIES CURRENTLY OPERATE SOME KIND OF WORKFORCE PROGRAM AND MORE THAN 100 PROFESSIONAL LICENSING FUNCTIONS ARE SPREAD ACROSS 11 AGENCIES. AND THESE ARE JUST TWO OF THE MOST GLARING EXAMPLES. I HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF DIRECTORS WHO ARE SERVED BY THOSE DOZENS OF CAPABLE, HARDWORKING PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT DELIVERING FOR IOWANS. I WOULD PUT THEM UP AGAINST ANY STATE IN AMERICA, BUT THAT TALENT CAN’T MEET ITS FULL POTENTIAL WHEN HAMPERED BY A FRACTURED STRUCTURE THAT’S RUN ON AUTOPILOT FOR DECADES. WE CAN DO BETTER FOR IOWA, AND I’LL BE INTRODUCING A BILL THAT WILL IMPROVE THE SERVICE AS WE DELIVER AND STREAMLINE OUR OPERATIONS BY TAKING US FROM 37 CABINET AGENCIES TO 16. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING IT INTO LAW AND STATE GOVERNMENT WITH THE ONLY REASON IT EXIST SERVING IOWANS. GOVERNMENTS. INTERNAL STRUCTURE ISN’T THE ONLY THING THAT NEEDS A MAKEOVER. SO DOES OUR COMPLEX SYSTEM OF RED TAPE AND REGULATIONS. OVER TIME, IOWA’S ADMINISTRATIVE CODE HAS BALLOONED TO MORE THAN 20,000 PAGES AND 190,000 RESTRICTIVE TERMS. MANY OF THESE RULES ARE UNNECESSARY. SOME ACTUALLY SOME ARE ACTUALLY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. SHORT CIRCUITING LEGITIMATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND MAKING OUR STATE LESS COMPETITIVE. TODAY I SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF LIFTING THIS DEADWEIGHT FROM OUR ECONOMY OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. IT PUTS A MORATORIUM ON NEW RULE MAKING WHILE DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES TO ASSESS WHETHER THEIR EXISTING RULES, EACH AND EVERY ONE ARE WORTH THE ECONOMIC COST. ONLY THOSE THAT MEET THIS STANDARD WILL BE REISSUED. THE REST WILL BE REPEALED. AND WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE, IOWA WILL HAVE A SMALL, CLEAR, CLEARER AND MORE GROWTH FRIENDLY REGULATORY SYSTEM. WHEN I WAS SWORN IN ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO NOW, I TOLD THIS STORY ABOUT ONE OF MY FIRST ACTS AS AN ELECTED LEADER. THE CLARK COUNTY VOTERS HAD JUST MADE ME THEIR COUNTY TREASURER AT THAT POINT. AT THAT POINT, I HAD NO PLANS BEYOND THAT. IT WAS AN OFFICE I HAD WORKED IN FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS, AN EMPLOYEE, AND IT WAS AN OFFICE. I WAS HAPPY TO RETIRE IN. MY ONLY PURPOSE WAS TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS. BUT THAT COMMITMENT WAS HAMPERED BY A WALL THAT RAN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE OFFICE, AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL WALL. SO I TORE IT DOWN ALONG WITH KEVIN AND A FEW FRIENDS. WE REMOVED IT PIECE BY PIECE, AND THE OFFICE WORKED BETTER FOR IT. I TELL THAT STORY BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, IT SHOWS THE COMMITMENT OF OUR FIRST GENTLEMAN, NOT ONLY CAN THIS GUY TAKE DOWN A WALL, BUT HE CAN COLOR HAIR. HE IS THE BEST FIRST GENTLEMAN IN THE COUNTRY. AND WE SHOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE HIM. NOW, YOU. ARE SO SURE THAT STORY BECAUSE IT’S A NOT SUBTLE WAY OF TELLING YOU MY PHILOSOPHY OF DEMONSTRATING WHAT I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE OF IOWA ELECTED US TO DO. WE’RE NOT HERE FOR THIS CEREMONY. WE’RE NOT HERE BECAUSE WE’RE IMPORTANT AND WE’RE NOT HERE TO SIMPLY PRESERVE THE STATUS QUO. WE’RE HERE TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND IF BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IS NECESSARY, WE WILL. I BEGAN THIS SPEECH BY LOOKING BACK AT THE TIMES THAT WE’VE DONE JUST THAT IOWA NEEDS LASTING BENEFIT. TOGETHER, WE’VE BUILT A STRONG FOUNDATION UPON WHICH IOWA CAN CONTINUE TO RISE. A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES THRIVE. BUSINESSES GROW AND GOVERN. MENT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE. NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT AGAIN TO ENACT POLICIES THAT PUT IOWANS ABOVE SYSTEMS AND SPECIAL INTEREST THAT THINKS BIG AIMS HIGH AND MAKES IOWA A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE FREEDOM TO FLOURISH. THIS IS WHAT IOWANS EXPECT. IT’S WHAT THEY DESERVE. AND I’M CONFIDENT IT’S WHAT WE WILL DO. THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR TO SERVE AS THE GOVERNOR OF THIS AMAZING STATE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. AND GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF IOWA. THAN