[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING KYLA CLAUSSEN AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 7, 2022

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Kyla Claussen, disability 
rights advocate and caregiver, as Iowan of the Week.
  Kyla is a tireless advocate and clear voice not just for herself, but 
for the thousands of Iowans who find themselves waiting for assistance 
through a Medicaid HCBS waiver. Although Kyla lives with an unknown 
progressive neuromuscular disease that has impacted her lung capacity, 
mobility, and speech, that has not sapped an ounce of her compassion 
and dedication.
  Kyla is one of over 17,000 Iowans waiting for a waiver to receive 
home and community-based care through Medicaid. She brings a unique 
perspective to an all-too-common problem for Iowans living with a 
disability. Before requiring assistance herself, Kyla had in fact been 
a caregiver for over a decade. While Kyla is no longer able to work as 
a caregiver, I know this hasn't taken away her compassion and drive to 
make sure everyone--no matter who--can live in their home, their 
community, and achieve their fullest. Her unending commitment to others 
and service to her community, whether as a caregiver or fighter for 
disability rights, embody the values that make me proud to be an Iowan.
  You can find evidence of Kyla's commitment wherever you look. If you 
ask her friends and fellow advocates at Iowa Upgrade Medicaid, she's 
been called ``the researcher'' for her ability to dig into and digest 
disability laws in Iowa and around the Midwest. And just this past 
fall, Kyla was able to use her story to call attention to the need for 
better home and community-based services as part of a roundtable 
discussion with the White House. I am incredibly proud to see Iowa so 
well-represented in Kyla, and I am glad that more folks had a chance to 
hear her story.
  But Kyla's story doesn't stop there. Kyla lives in Avoca, Iowa with 
the kittens she's fostering--she has four right now, but it's been more 
in the past--and her service dog in training, Ed. Whenever Ed notices 
that Kyla's breathing has flagged, he's trained to start barking. Then, 
according to Kyla, her mission becomes getting him to stop. That's a 
good boy.
  I know that our laws have failed in protecting and providing for our 
disability community. I have heard so many personal stories of how our 
existing programs are woefully inadequate, unable to address the most 
basic needs for those who are not able-bodied. Gaps in our local, 
state, and federal system have mired the disability community with red 
tape and bureaucracy to receive the most basic level of assistance. The 
issues facing our friends, family, and neighbors with a disability are 
profound, and the current systems are antiquated. I am proud to have 
supported legislation to address these problems, however much of this 
legislation remains stalled. I will not stop supporting and advocating 
to ensure we treat those with a disability with respect, humanity, and 
kindness.
  I am humbled by Kyla's ability to use her diagnosis as a springboard 
for change and her genuine concern for her friends, community, and 
fellow Iowans always shines through. I am grateful to be able to share 
her story here in Washington, and I am privileged to be able to 
celebrate her as Iowan of the Week.

                          ____________________