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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E404-E405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING IOWA'S HEALTH CARE WORKERS AS IOWANS OF THE WEEK
______
HON. CYNTHIA AXNE
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, each week, I honor an Iowan who has done
something outstanding that deserves to be recognized. I started my
`Iowan Of The Week' because I want to honor our unsung heroes, our
everyday Iowans who leave a positive impact on their community not for
reward, but because that is who they are. I've found parents, teachers,
and farmers to celebrate each week.
This week, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring
Iowans a little differently. I ask you to join me in honoring all our
health care workers. Our doctors, our nurses, our PAs, our RNs, our
medical residents, our hospital administration staff and so many more
have gone into work each day, working tirelessly as this outbreak of
COVID-19 has spread across this country. They are working extra shifts
and additional hours, leaving their families at home. They know they
must work to contain this outbreak while taking extra precautions to
keep themselves and their families safe.
As schools, small businesses, restaurants, and more close down to
minimize the spread, our health care workers know that they will never
be shut down. They are our first and last lines of defense against this
outbreak, and I know they will see us through it. I've spoken with many
in the health care field this week, and I've heard how they are being
asked to cover longer shifts, to conserve medical supplies, and to care
for and comfort patients. At a time when many Americans are working
from home and engaging in social distancing,
[[Page E405]]
our health care workers are doing even more with less.
We must remember that no one is born a superhero. Our health care
workers are ordinary people called upon to do extraordinary things. The
work they are doing reminds me of President Roosevelt's quote, which
goes ``Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment
that something else is more important than fear.'' Our health care
workforce is putting the health and wellbeing of their communities
first.
Madam Speaker, Iowans are humble and we rarely brag or boast, so
please allow me to boast on their behalf. Our health care workers
across Iowa are among the best in the nation, and they are at work
protecting the health of our communities. When I speak with our health
care workers, they tell me they are ``just doing their job,'' but that
is exactly what makes them special.
I ask the House to join me in honoring Iowa's health care workers as
my Iowans of the Week. I couldn't be more proud of these men and women
for their selfless service during this time.
____________________
