[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF IOWA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID LOEBSACK

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2016

  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Young and I rise today to recognize 
and congratulate the community colleges of Iowa for 50 years of 
outstanding service to the state. The community colleges of Iowa have 
expanded to become our largest provider of postsecondary education.
   On June 7, 1965, Iowa Governor Harold Hughes signed the first bill 
into law allowing for the opening and operation of community colleges 
in the state of Iowa. The following institutions were officially 
designated the next year: Northeast Iowa, North Iowa Area, Iowa Lakes, 
Northwest Iowa, Iowa Central, Iowa Valley, Hawkeye, Eastern Iowa, 
Kirkwood, Des Moines Area, Western Iowa Tech, Iowa Western, 
Southwestern, Indian Hills, and Southeast Iowa.
   These fine institutions now provide accessible and affordable 
education, not only to Iowans, but to students across the country and 
the world. Their offerings include a wide-ranging, diverse curriculum 
that serves Iowa's specific workforce needs, including Iowa businesses 
competing in a global market. Iowa businesses in need of highly 
trained, specialized workers turn to our community colleges to fill the 
new, high-paying, high-skilled positions of tomorrow.
   Mr. Speaker, it is our honor to represent Iowa's community colleges 
in the United States Congress and it is with great pride that we 
recognize them today. We ask that our colleagues in the United States 
House of Representatives join us in congratulating Iowa's community 
colleges on celebrating their 50th year and for providing a high 
quality, affordable education for all Iowans. We wish them nothing but 
continued success in the years to come.

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