url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-shares-2024-policy-oversight-achievements,"Grassley Shares 2024 Policy, Oversight Achievements",2024-12-27,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released an overview of his 2024 legislative and oversight work for Iowans. “Serving the people of Iowa is an honor I take very seriously. My constant mission is to advocate for our great state, while making the government more accountable and transparent. “In the New Year, I’ll hit the ground running to advance legislative efforts to secure the border, lower the price of prescription drugs, pass a five-year Farm Bill and curb wasteful spending. Congress has a long to-do list. I encourage Iowans to keep in touch and share their views with me while I work on your behalf,” Grassley said. Read Grassley's 2024 Year in Review: Download PDF Contents: Welcome HIStory Keeping in Touch with Iowans Farm Bill Priorities Keeping Foreign Adversaries Off U.S. Farmland Expanding Overseas Markets Iowa Leads the Way Year Round E15 Wind Energy Iowa Ethanol Sky-High Possibilities Investing in Iowa Airports Railroads Roads and Bridges Clean Water Budget and the Economy A Costly Cover-Up “Transparency Brings Accountability” It’s the Budget Committee, Not the Climate Committee Health Care A Dose of Sunshine Pro-Family, Pro-Mother, Pro-Life Supporting Rural Pharmacies Fighting the Opioid Epidemic Grassley Backs the Blue Bad Actors and U.S. Planes The History of the Juvenile Justice Program Protecting Kids Online Grassley Holds Big Tech’s Feet to the Fire Immigration The First Job of Government Leading the Charge to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Kids Peace Through Strength Watchdog for Veterans A Record Year Protecting Patients Supporting Crime Victims Defending Whistleblowers Cleaning Up Government Waste and Abuse Did You Know?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-nominates-34-iowa-students-to-us-military-academies,Grassley Nominates 34 Iowa Students to U.S. Military Academies,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is announcing his support for 34 Iowa students seeking acceptance to U.S. military academies. “I’m honored to nominate these 34 extraordinary Iowans to our nation’s prestigious military academies,” Grassley said. “These young men and women represent Iowa’s best and brightest. Their accomplishments, leadership and desire to serve are commendable. I look forward to seeing all they accomplish going forward.” Each year, Grassley nominates Iowa high school seniors for placements at the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. All service academies select at least one of Grassley’s nominees. Learn more about service academy nominations HERE. Grassley’s nominees for entrance during the 2025-2026 academic year follow: United States Air Force Academy Trenton Abel, Toddville Emmett Bartels, Runnells Sean Bendinger, West Des Moines Alexis Bogardus, Granger Brayden Bohnsack, La Porte City Grant Dunn, Johnston Benjamin Green, West Des Moines Eliana Hansen, Cedar Rapids Shae Magley, Cedar Falls Amelia Porisch, St. Ansgar Ky Wilkens, Dallas Center United States Military Academy at West Point Eric Ding, Davenport MacKenzie Fah, Bettendorf Theodore Hartwig, Marion MacKenzie McClelland, Grinnell Aiden Price, Davenport Abigail Sander, Polk City Naomi Templeman, Dallas Center Jonah Zimmer, Sperry United States Naval Academy Madison Andrews, Maysville Ava Blankenship, Ankeny Ella Goodrich, Adel Ellie Hance, Palo Evan Kohlsdorf, Des Moines Riley Kramer, Riverdale Solene MacLean, Polk City Brigid McGowan, Sioux City Quentin Moore, Des Moines Owen Powell, Blue Grass Connor Rash, Ames Tyler Tingley, Council Bluffs Ryan Traynor, Urbandale Conrad Yates, West Des Moines United States Merchant Marine Academy Sean Bendinger, West Des Moines Ella Goodrich, Adel Gage Holub, Mt. Vernon Conrad Yates, West Des Moines -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/video-grassley-applauds-as-us-comes-out-on-top-in-mexico-corn-dispute,VIDEO: Grassley Applauds as U.S. Comes Out on Top in Mexico Corn Dispute,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today welcomed a dispute panel’s ruling under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to allow genetically-modified U.S. corn exports to Mexico. The panel sided with the U.S., confirming Mexico’s restrictions on genetically-modified corn exports are not based in science and violate the USMCA. Mexico now has 45 days to bring its trade policies into compliance. Download Grassley’s video statement HERE. Excerpts from Grassley’s statement follow: “Today, the good news is this: the United States won the decision, before an independent board, that Mexico was violating the USMCA. “This is a tremendous victory for Iowa corn growers, and it’s a tremendous victory for what we call decisions on international trade based on sound science, as opposed to political science.” Background: In 2020, then-Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a decree to phase out Mexico’s use of genetically-modified corn by 2024. Following Grassley’s urging, the U.S. Trade Representative in 2023 officially challenged Mexico’s proposed ban. Today’s decision is the result of that challenge. Iowa, the number one corn producer in the U.S., exports 16 million tons of corn to Mexico annually. Over 90 percent of all corn acreage in the U.S. is planted with genetically-engineered seeds.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-cantwell-bill-to-fight-opioid-epidemic-through-data-collection-passes-senate,"Grassley, Cantwell Bill to Fight Opioid Epidemic Through Data Collection Passes Senate",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) secured Senate passage of their bipartisan Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act, which provides federal grants to communities that operate overdose data collection programs, including the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP). “By expanding access to overdose data collection programs, Congress empowers local communities to face drug abuse trends head on and prevent future fatalities,” Grassley said. “I’m proud to see the Senate unanimously pass our bipartisan legislation to identify and quickly respond to overdoses, and I urge the House to swiftly follow suit.” “When responding to fentanyl overdoses, an extra minute can save a life,” Cantwell said. “Tracking fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses will help our first responders, law enforcement, and public health professionals better target and prevent OD spikes and surge resources to communities that need them the most.” Additional cosponsors include Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). Download bill text HERE. Background: ODMAP is a free, web-based platform that reports suspected fatal and non-fatal overdose events in near-real time. Local agencies can use ODMAP to identify spikes and clusters of overdoses in their communities, neighboring communities and nationwide. While ODMAP is the favored platform, the Justice Department would retain discretion in determining which data collection program is best suited for each applicant when administering grants.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-real-id,Q&A: REAL ID,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: What is REAL ID? A: Two decades ago, the 9/11 Commission issued recommendations to enhance ID verification systems following the horrific attacks in 2001 that killed thousands of Americans on U.S. soil. Its report underscored why Congress beefed up national standards, “For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons.” The terrorists used multiple state-forms of identification to take flying lessons, board and hijack commercial aircraft used to fly into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Congress passed the REAL ID Act to protect Americans and prevent wrongdoers from exploiting weak identification systems. President George W. Bush signed the legislation into law on May 11, 2005, establishing minimum national standards for state-issued identification cards, including driver’s licenses. The law prohibits federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), from accepting state-issued identification cards that don’t satisfy REAL ID requirements. Iowa’s authenticated IDs will have a gold star in the upper right corner for verification. To access certain federal government facilities, nuclear power plants and board commercial flights in the United States, individuals will need to show REAL ID-compliant forms of identification. Applicants must provide certain identification documents to the state or territory issuing the driver’s license or ID card, including an identity document; Social Security document; residency documents; and, current driver’s license or ID. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for air travelers to have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification was postponed from Oct. 1, 2020 to May 7, 2025. Q: What do Iowans need to know about REAL ID? A: As we approach the end of the year, many people look forward to a fresh start in the New Year. Before tax season kicks into high gear, now is a good time to take care of other housekeeping items on your to-do list, especially if you have travel plans in 2025. International travelers ought to check the expiration of their passports. Find tips on passport renewals here. Next, check to make sure your driver’s license or state-issued ID is REAL ID compliant. This December is the final holiday traveling season before the REAL ID deadline in 2025. If you plan to fly commercially after May 7, 2025, you need to make sure your state-issued ID or driver’s license is REAL ID compliant for screening at TSA security checkpoints, unless you show a valid passport. Keep in mind, the Iowa Department of Transportation advises it can take up to 30 days to receive your REAL ID in the mail. Iowans do not need a REAL ID to drive, vote, visit the post office, access federal courts or apply for federal benefits. It’s advised to make an appointment in advance at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to avoid long wait times. Iowans can book an appointment online. If your license expires on or after May 7, 2025, you can schedule to obtain a replacement license or ID that’s marked REAL ID compliant. Follow a checklist created by the Iowa Department of Transportation to help assemble necessary source documents to bring with you to the DMV, such as an unexpired U.S. passport, certified copy of a birth certificate or certificate of naturalization; pay stub or W-2 containing your name and Social Security Number; two documents listing current address, such as utility bill or bank statement; and, current license or ID. In the long run, it could simplify travel plans to go ahead and get REAL ID compliant the next time you renew your driver’s license. It may seem like a hassle, but remember why the law was passed in the first place. REAL ID helps verify the identification of every person who boards a commercial aircraft to better protect the flying public. The federal law also enabled states to share data across state lines to thwart fraud from one jurisdiction to the next and prevent people from obtaining multiple licenses using different identities. TSA will require REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses or other approved identification, such as a U.S. Passport or U.S. Military ID, to get through its security checkpoints, starting May 7, 2025.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/senate-advances-grassley-backed-bill-to-invest-in-local-law-enforcement,Senate Advances Grassley-Backed Bill to Invest in Local Law Enforcement,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of their bipartisan Invest to Protect Act to boost local police departments’ access to training, mental health support, recruitment and retention resources. “Many Iowans have told me they’re concerned about the low recruitment and retention rates of police officers in their communities,” Grassley said. “The Senate’s unanimous support for this bill will bring us one step closer to unlocking local law enforcement’s access to critical resources to strengthen and grow their forces. As always, I’m proud to back the blue and I’ll work to protect our state’s courageous officers.” “The funding from this bill will help the vast majority of police departments across the country make meaningful investments in their officers and their communities,” Cortez Masto said. “Our police officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe – and for law enforcement in small suburbs, Tribes and rural areas, that stress is compounded by a lack of funding and few full-time officers. It’s time we gave them a leg up and delivered them the critical resources they need.” Additional cosponsors include Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). The bill is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations and the National Sheriffs’ Association. Bill text is available HERE. Background: Most police departments in the U.S. employ fewer than 200 full-time officers. In Iowa and across the country, these departments struggle to compete with larger law enforcement agencies for access to critical resources. The Invest to Protect Act establishes a grant program through Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), setting aside $250 million to help local law enforcement agencies make meaningful investments in their officers and communities. The bill also simplifies the grant application process, reducing the application time to less than two hours so that small agencies without dedicated grant-writing staff can more easily access funding.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-secures-iowa-priorities-in-major-water-resources-package,Grassley Secures Iowa Priorities in Major Water Resources Package,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today welcomed the Senate’s overwhelmingly bipartisan passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), a legislative package that reauthorizes key infrastructure projects to improve ports and harbors, inland waterways navigation and flood and storm protection in Iowa and across the country. The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. “Iowa is blessed with mighty waterways that help move our world-class goods to market and feed the world. It’s vital that we protect our natural water resources while ensuring sound infrastructure to keep Iowans safe from inclement weather and flooding,” Grassley said. “Passing WRDA is one of the best ways Congress can do this. This authorization will deliver regional and national economic benefits, strengthen Iowa’s global competitiveness and supply chains, and directly benefit local communities.” Grassley secured the following water resources for Iowa: Updates to the Cedar River flood risk management project to protect Cedar Rapids from future flooding. Expanded protections for levee districts and navigators on the Missouri River to safeguard flood control measures and ease navigation. Authorization of an Upper Mississippi River Flood Risk and Resiliency Study to improve community flood protection. Improvements to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting process to ensure project efficiency. This year’s WRDA also included the Economic Development Reauthorization Act, which marks the first reauthorization of Economic Development Act (EDA) programs in twenty years. EDA programs in 2024 provided federal funding to several Iowa communities, including: $175,000 to drive local economic recovery efforts following severe storms in Southern Iowa; $681,000 to bolster regional manufacturing in Story City; $1.3 million to support infrastructure improvements and workforce growth in Cedar Rapids.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-supports-fiscal-year-2025-defense-authorization-bill,Grassley Supports Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Authorization Bill,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today applauded Senate passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support our military and fund critical national security priorities. The legislation, which includes several Grassley-backed provisions, now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. “National security is the number one responsibility of the federal government,” Grassley said. “From investing in Iowa’s military installations, to ensuring U.S. dominance on the world stage, this bill prioritizes our country’s ability to keep Americans safe.” Download video of Grassley discussing the NDAA HERE. Grassley secured the following priorities in the FY25 NDAA: The Grassley-led Destruction Initiative for Stored Precursors Overseas and Safe Enforcement (DISPOSE) Act to boost precursor chemical destruction efforts and prevent illicit opioid manufacturing. The Grassley-led Administrative False Claims Act to strengthen efforts to target smaller, and potentially more frequent, instances of fraud against the government. The Grassley-backed Law Enforcement and Victim Support Act to protect victims and empower law enforcements’ prosecution of child abusers. A provision to require the DOD identify parts for reverse engineering, which will save taxpayer dollars, boost competition in the defense industrial base and benefit small businesses around the country. Additional NDAA highlights include: Authorization of federal funds to support Iowa’s military installations through: Construction of a new field maintenance shop for the Sioux City Armory; Support for the Rock Island Arsenal’s Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program project to provide secure, self-sufficient energy. A 4.5 percent pay raise for all service members, 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted members and a 2 percent pay raise for civilian employees. Full funding for joint U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs, including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow. Grassley is a firm supporter of Israel’s right to self-defense. A provision prohibiting universities with Chinese Communist Party-ties from receiving DOD funding. Grassley this Congress introduced similar legislation to ban federal funding for universities hosting CCP-backed Confucius Institutes.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-12-16-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 12-16-24",2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: Lame duck priorities, Farm Bill extension, used cooking oil imports, Senate Judiciary hearing on sports betting, drones and Jim Leach.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-press-epa-on-used-cooking-oil-imports,"Grassley, Ernst Press EPA on Used Cooking Oil Imports",2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Finance and Agriculture Committees, joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and bipartisan colleagues in demanding answers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding its process for verifying the authenticity of used cooking oil (UCO) imports. Grassley and colleagues in June first probed EPA, along with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), about the validity of UCO imports in light of a massive year-over-year imports increase. In response to Congress, Senior CBP official Troy Miller admitted CBP considers UCO as “pure” even when commingled with virgin vegetable oil, such as palm oil. Based on this admission, the senators are slamming EPA’s existing verification process as “meaningless.” “Without a robust verification process, the credibility of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is at risk, and American farmers are likely missing out on key market opportunities. For example, through August, the U.S. has imported a historic 3.2 billion pounds of UCO in 2024 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This is enough product to displace approximately 270 million bushels of soybeans,” the senators wrote. “American farmers should not continue paying the price of an inadequate and incomplete foreign feedstock verification system,” they concluded. The letter was cosigned by Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). Read the senators’ letter HERE. Background: As a longtime advocate of homegrown energy, Grassley is spearheading several additional initiatives to support U.S. biofuel feedstock producers, including:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-federal-disaster-tax-relief,Q&A: Federal Disaster Tax Relief,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: What tax relief measures will help Iowans impacted by natural disasters get back on their feet? A: Congress recently passed disaster tax relief legislation that will give eligible taxpayers a break on their federal tax bill. It allows for individuals impacted by a natural disaster in an area that received a major presidential disaster declaration – from December 2020 up to 60 days after enactment, as long as the disaster occurred on or before the date of enactment – to deduct personal casualty losses, to the extent they exceed $500 per casualty. The deduction is available to those who don’t itemize their taxes and may be claimed in addition to the standard federal deduction. Impacted Iowans should consult their tax advisors about whether they qualify to take advantage of this relief. As a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, I was glad to support this tax relief proposal to help Iowans who suffered financial hardship through no fault of their own. In addition to visiting impacted communities, I keep in touch with residents, farmers, business owners and civic leaders as local communities across our state have worked hard to recover and rebuild from natural disasters. Q: Which impacted counties in Iowa qualify for the federal disaster tax relief credit? A: Iowans living in a county that received a major presidential disaster declaration from December 2020 up through 60 days after enactment, as long as the disaster occurred on or before the date of enactment of the law, will qualify for the federal disaster relief tax credit. To date, Iowa has received five major presidential disaster declarations during this time frame, including the following: • Winter 2021. The first-ever derecho in December anywhere in the U.S. delivered severe thunderstorms and the most EF-2/F-2 or stronger tornadoes in a single day in Iowa since 1950. The following counties were included in a qualified disaster area: Appanoose, Audubon, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cass, Cherokee, Davis, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt, Mills, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Van Buren, Webster, Worth, and Wright. • Spring 2023. Major to moderate flooding impacted much of the Upper Mississippi River Valley from April 24 to May 13, 2023. The following counties were in a qualified disaster area: Allamakee, Clayton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Lee and Scott. • Spring 2024. April 26-27, 2024. At least 19 tornadoes swept across several counties, damaging homes and business across the region. The following counties were in a qualified disaster area: Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Union. • May 20-31, 2024. Torrential rainfall, damaging winds and hail leading to widespread tree damage and power outages; EF-4 tornado damage in Greenfield; EF-3 damage in Adams County; EF-2 damage in Polk and Story Counties. The following counties were in a qualified disaster area: Adair, Adams, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Cedar, Cherokee, Clay, Dallas, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Humboldt, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscatine, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Shelby, Story, Tama, Wright.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-hassan-seek-to-shine-light-on-opioid-makers-financial-conflicts-of-interest,"Grassley, Hassan Seek to Shine Light on Opioid Makers’ Financial Conflicts of Interest",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to make public pharmaceutical and device manufacturers’ financial relationships with tax-exempt patient advocacy groups. The Open Payments Expansion Act builds on Grassley’s 2020 investigative report, which found opioid and medical device manufacturers paid $65 million to tax-exempt entities that drove up sales and downplayed risks of addiction. “Patient advocacy is a noble cause, but pharmaceutical donors can manipulate well-intentioned organizations into Trojan horses for bad policy and dishonest marketing. By requiring opioid manufacturers to disclose their payments to nonprofit organizations, our legislation provides much-needed accountability and transparency,” said Grassley. “One of the many ways that Big Pharma fueled the opioid crisis was through secretly funneling money to nonprofit advocacy groups – and then those groups at times promoted the use of opioids, despite the increasingly clear risks of addiction,” said Hassan. “At the very least, the American people deserve to know when Big Pharma tries to wield its influence through others. Passing our bipartisan bill would significantly improve transparency, and I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.” Download bill text HERE. Background: As then-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) recommended expanding CMS’s Open Payments database after exposing a decades-long trend of massive payments from opioid manufactures to nonprofit advocacy organizations. Grassley has also led legislation to require drug and medical device companies to disclose payments to nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other health care professionals, which was added in the 2018 SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-on-wray-resignation,Grassley Statement on Wray Resignation,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement regarding Christopher Wray’s stated intention to resign as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), just two days after Grassley publicly urged Wray to “move on” for the good of the country. “Wray’s departure is an opportunity for a new era of transparency and accountability at the FBI. Future FBI Directors ought to learn a lesson from Wray’s mistakes. Stonewalling Congress, breaking promises, applying double standards and turning your back on whistleblowers is no longer going to cut it.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-on-ig-review-of-doj-congressional-records-collection,Grassley on IG Review of DOJ Congressional Records Collection,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), today issued a statement on the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (DOJ OIG) report regarding DOJ’s covert collection of congressional members and staffers’ communications records, including former members of his own investigative staff. Grassley last year urged DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz to “leave no stone unturned” in his review of DOJ congressional surveillance. “Here we go again. As I warned years ago with DOJ’s rampant FISA abuses during Crossfire Hurricane, DOJ’s snooping has the real potential to chill congressional oversight and violate civil liberties. Today’s OIG report proves my point and paints a clearer picture of DOJ’s bad faith conduct. The report demonstrates how DOJ withheld information from individuals impacted by agency surveillance, without legitimate basis for doing so. It also demonstrates how DOJ used boilerplate language to renew these gag orders and, in one case, even after they had already determined the subject likely had nothing to do with the leaks in question. Lastly, it shows DOJ secured broad authorizations for records collections – allowing it to scoop up information from a wide range of bipartisan members, staffers and news media, while failing to comply with all internal policy. “It’s plain to see DOJ overstepped its authority here. The Justice Department ought to learn from its mistakes and accept accountability, because Congress won’t accept any less. The incoming Trump administration must take steps to ensure these problems, which were driven by career attorneys at the Justice Department, are fixed.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-12-09-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 12-09-24",2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: FBI’s failures, presidential spending, nominee meetings, government appropriations, Farm Bill and the Senate calendar.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-expresses-vote-of-no-confidence-in-director-wray-deputy-director-abbates-continued-leadership-at-fbi,"Grassley Expresses ‘Vote of No Confidence’ in Director Wray, Deputy Director Abbate’s Continued Leadership at FBI",2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is calling on FBI Director Christopher Wray, as well as Deputy Director Paul Abbate, to accept accountability for their failed leadership at the Bureau. In a letter sent today to Director Wray, Grassley detailed how Wray has “failed in [the] fundamental duties as director.” These failures include: “These failures,” Grassley wrote, “are serious enough and their pattern widespread enough to have shattered my confidence in your leadership and the confidence and hope many others in Congress placed in you.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-on-meeting-with-kash-patel,Grassley Statement on Meeting with Kash Patel,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement regarding his meeting today with Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The meeting follows Grassley’s letter this morning expressing his ‘vote of no confidence’ in current FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Transparency ought to be the North Star of government. Over the past several years, that principle has been thrown out the window of the J. Edgar Hoover Building’s seventh floor. Today I reminded Kash that transparency brings accountability, and it’s badly needed at the FBI. As a former congressional investigator himself, Kash understands that cooperation with Congress is not optional and whistleblower protection is essential. Once formally nominated, I’d look forward to holding a hearing on Kash’s nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee.” Download photo HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-presidential-nominations,Q&A: Presidential Nominations,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: How does the nominations process work following a presidential election? A: Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the president the power to nominate individuals to certain positions outlined in the Constitution or created by federal law. During the time between a presidential election in November and inauguration in January, a president-elect makes consequential decisions to assemble a team of advisors and high-level government officials. While a president can hire White House advisors on his own, key roles charged with implementing laws passed by Congress generally require Senate confirmation. Thousands of positions spanning federal departments and independent agencies are submitted to the U.S. Senate for its constitutional authority of Advice and Consent, a vital lever in our system of checks and balances. During the Eisenhower administration, a first-ever list of presidentially appointed positions was created to inform President-elect Eisenhower which positions he would be responsible for filling. While officially called the “United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions,” the directory is more commonly known as the Plum Book, so-called for the color of its book jacket. Since 1960, the book has been published after every presidential election. Beginning in 2012, the U.S. Government Publishing Office made the publication available online. Legislative updates designed to improve transparency and add search-friendly tools to the online federal directory were enacted in 2022 and maintained by the Office of Personnel Management. When the presidency changes political hands, the transition team has its work cut out to assemble and vet a lengthy list of nominees, starting with key Cabinet assignments across the executive branch; ambassadors; U.S. Attorneys; and, top jobs leading independent agencies, such as NASA; as well as regulatory entities, such as the Federal Trade Commission and Securities Exchange Commission. Presidential appointments that require the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate take extra elbow grease to thoroughly vet and prepare nominees for the confirmation process. The nominee must be able to withstand intense public scrutiny by the media and answer questions by committee members during confirmation hearings. Being asked to serve the American people on behalf of the president is among the nation’s highest honors. It requires personal sacrifice, often earning less pay than in the private sector and setting privacy aside for public service. Having a top-notch team of citizen-leaders in place enables the president to enact his agenda and keep promises made to the American people. In the first days of his presidency, Thomas Jefferson observed how the nominations process could make or break his administration: “There is nothing I am so anxious about as good nominations…conscious that the merit as well as reputation of an administration depends as much on [nominations] as on its measures.” In The Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton warned against the feeble execution of the government, “...a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.” The Founding Fathers appreciated the importance of having a talented team of highly qualified citizen-leaders to carry out the mission of the chief executive the American people elected. This practice stands the test of time, from the first to the 47th president in our nation’s history. Q: What is your approach to the confirmation process? A: President-elect Trump and his transition team have been hard at work preparing to take office on Jan. 20, 2025. As one of 100 U.S. Senators, I’ll roll up my sleeves to consider the slate of nominees he sends to the Senate for advice and consent. As incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will lead confirmation hearings for nominees who fall under the jurisdiction of this committee, such as the U.S. Attorney General. Being nominated by the president, particularly for a high-profile Cabinet position, requires nominees do their homework. Nominees often meet one-on-one with senators to become acquainted with individual members. Those meetings give me a chance to speak personally with them about their priorities while I advocate for our state and the needs of Iowans. Nominees also must fill out lengthy questionnaires and can expect tough questions at their confirmation hearings. I take the confirmation process one step at a time. Whether a Republican or Democrat administration, my policy is to withhold final judgment on nominees until after the confirmation hearings. Our constitutional process helps foster public confidence in government to help ensure top government positions are filled by qualified citizen-leaders. In 1883, Congress passed the Pendleton Act to end political patronage and establish a merit-based system for federal workers. More than eight decades later, federal anti-nepotism laws were passed during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration to strengthen public confidence that top jobs are based on merit, not blood lines. Ultimately, presidential nominees must prove they’re ready, able and willing to faithfully execute laws passed by Congress and effectively carry out government services on behalf of the American people.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-12-04-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 12-04-24",2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Department of Government Efficiency, Farm Bill extension, Director of FBI, U.S. corn exports to Colombia and 2025 legislative goals.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-on-meeting-with-attorney-general-nominee-pam-bondi,Grassley Statement on Meeting with Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding his meeting today with Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next Attorney General. “Pam Bondi is a well-qualified nominee with an impressive legal career, including eight years as Attorney General of the State of Florida and nearly two decades spent as a prosecutor. Bondi is prepared to refocus the Justice Department (DOJ)’s attention where it ought to be: on enforcing the law and protecting Americans’ safety. “In my years conducting oversight of government weaponization and abuse, I’ve found that the Justice Department is often the first to stand in Congress’ way when it’s seeking answers. It’s time the DOJ prioritize transparency and recommit itself to blind justice, unlike what we’ve seen over the last four years. To achieve this, Bondi will need to show unfailing support for whistleblowers, demonstrate respect for the DOJ Office of Inspector General’s independent oversight and commit to working with Congress to shed light on the Biden administration’s weaponization of the DOJ. “The Judiciary Committee will move swiftly to consider her nomination when the 119th Congress convenes in January.” Download photos HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-lame-duck-session,Q&A: Lame-Duck Session,2024-11-08,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: What is a lame-duck session of Congress? A: Each congressional term has two, one-year legislative sessions. A lame-duck session refers to a period of time when Congress meets after an election is held – prior to the end of its constitutional term – and before freshly elected lawmakers are sworn into office. The 20th amendment to the Constitution effectively narrowed the lame-duck window to the two months between an election and the beginning of the new Congress. It moved the start of each Congress from March to January. Ratified in 1933, the terms of members of Congress begin and end on Jan. 3 of odd-numbered years. Since its implementation in the 74th Congress, federal lawmakers have met in lame-duck session 24 times to wrap up unfinished business. When Congress adjourns sine die, a Latin phrase that translates “without a day” to convene, lawmakers typically won’t meet until Jan. 3 at the start of a new legislative session. However, Congress may decide to enter a conditional sine die adjournment to give either the upper or lower chamber the flexibility to reconvene to override a presidential veto. Since 2000, both the Senate and House of Representatives have reconvened after every federal election. This year, Congress will wrap up the second session of the 118th Congress in a lame-duck session. Q: What issues will Congress take up in the lame duck? A: In the last decade or so, Congress has returned post-election to tackle spending and revenue measures to keep the government open for business. With increasing frequency, Congress meets in lame-duck sessions right up to the new session that starts in January. For example, the most recent lame-duck session following the mid-term elections in 2022, Congress considered appropriations bills and disaster relief. Despite my efforts to rein in Washington’s Wild West Ways and hold lawmakers to a timeline to complete the dozen annual appropriations bill by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, Congress once again is perched atop a fiscal cliff and operating under a continuing resolution that expires on Dec. 20. I’d like to see Congress complete government funding bills and enter the New Year on a clean slate with a new Trump administration. At the very least, I expect Congress to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, extend certain rural health care programs, including telehealth flexibilities, and replenish disaster assistance funding.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-11-05-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 11-05-24",2024-11-05,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: appropriations, USCIS citizen voter data requests, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, inflation, tariffs and priorities for the next president-elect.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-slam-uscis-failure-to-comply-with-federal-and-state-requests-forcitizenshipvoter-data,"Grassley, Ernst Slam USCIS Failure to Comply with Federal and State Requests for Citizenship Voter Data",2024-11-02,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) released the below joint statement regarding the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) failure to release citizenship information on 2,176 potential non-citizen Iowa voters. USCIS confirmed receipt of the senators’ October 31 letter supporting Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s request for the data, writing, “A fulsome response to Secretary Pate’s request is forthcoming.” The agency neither provided the information Grassley and Ernst asked for by November 1, nor specified when or if it would do so. “Anything short of the information Secretary Pate requested is unacceptable. Iowa has worked in good faith to secure its electoral process and safeguard Americans’ cherished right to vote. Unfortunately, USCIS’ stonewalling has led to more questions than answers. The Iowa Secretary of State has assured us protections are in place to ensure all legally registered voters’ ballots are counted. It is paramount the federal government provide Iowa election officials the requested information so they can accurately discern which individuals ought to be casting provisional ballots. ""We reiterate our demand for USCIS to immediately release the requested information, to ensure all eligible citizens can participate in our elections. With Election Day right around the corner, there’s no time for federal officials to waste.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-announces-cedar-rapids-veterans-history-project-event,Grassley Announces Cedar Rapids Veterans History Project Event,2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – In honor of Veterans Day, the office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with students from Kirkwood Community College, will host its eighth annual Veterans History Project event to chronicle firsthand accounts of Iowa veterans. “The past informs the present and shapes the future. That’s why the Veterans History Project is so valuable – it preserves our service members’ stories for future generations to learn about their experiences and the sacrifices they made for our great nation,” Grassley said. “I want to offer my deepest gratitude to all the veterans in Iowa for their selflessness, and many thanks to those participating in this year’s event.” Event details follow: WHAT: Veterans History Project WHEN: Friday, November 8, 2024, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT WHERE: Veterans Memorial Building, 51 1st Avenue Bridge, Cedar Rapids While the event will run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT, local media is encouraged to attend from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT. Members of the media who wish to attend must RSVP directly to Hannah_Akey@grassley.senate.gov. ***Grassley participated in a question-and-answer (Q&A) session for Iowans about the Veterans History Project. The Q&A is for publication*** Q&A: Veterans History Project With U.S Senator Chuck Grassley Q: What is the Veterans History Project? A: Approved unanimously by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project came about through a grassroots effort to preserve the oral histories of America’s brave service men and women. The Library of Congress serves as the permanent repository for recorded veterans’ interviews submitted from local communities across the United States. The project honors those who have served in uniform and helps ensure future generations understand military service and the realities of war. In addition to audio and video recordings, the mission to preserve the memories and memorabilia from America’s veterans also includes letters, diaries, artwork and photographs. In 2016, Congress expanded the collection to include oral histories from family members memorializing loved ones who died as a result of their military service during war. To date, the collection includes firsthand narratives of U.S. military veterans from World War I through present day. The stories of more than 100,000 veterans are now part of the collection. As a history enthusiast and U.S. Senator, I wanted to help preserve the stories of Iowa’s brave heroes who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 2018, my office launched an annual event to interview hometown heroes for the Veterans History Project. Typically held the Friday before Veterans Day, my office invites local veterans to share their stories in a 30- to 60-minute interview. To date, my office has submitted 83 interviews from Iowa veterans at events held across the state, including those recorded at the Iowa Gold Star Museum in Johnston (2018); the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown (2019); the Veterans Post in Waverly (2020); 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City (2021); the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo (2022); and, the Rock Island Arsenal Museum (2023). It is my honor to provide a platform for Iowa veterans and their loved ones, so that their stories aren’t lost to history. Listening to the voices of veterans sharing first-hand accounts of their military service and experiences during wartime is powerful testimony. Q: Where will your office hold interviews this year for the Veterans History Project? A: On Friday, Nov. 8, my office will host our eighth annual Veterans History Project in Cedar Rapids. I’m pleased to have students from Kirkwood Community College joining us this year to help facilitate the recordings and provide technical support. Interviews will take place at the Veterans Memorial Building, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., located at 51 1st Ave. Bridge, in Cedar Rapids. Iowans interested in participating should contact my office in Cedar Rapids, (319) 363-6832 to schedule their interview. According to the U.S. Census, veterans make up 6.5 percent of Iowa’s population; the Department of Veterans Affairs calculates 193,861 Iowans are among approximately 18 million living veterans in the United States today. Of wartime veterans, Iowa is home to 3,716 World War II veterans; 16,246 from the Korean conflict; 64,900 during Vietnam era; and 65,926 from the Gulf War. Census Bureau data show a shrinking share of U.S. adults are veterans, from about 18 percent of the population in 1980 to six percent in 2022. As fewer people have a direct connection to an active duty service member, or serve in uniform themselves, it’s important to preserve the stories of those who have served in the Armed Forces to ensure their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation is honored and remembered for generations to come. God bless our veterans and service members currently serving who have answered the call to protect and defend our cherished blessings of freedom.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-cardin-lead-call-for-potus-to-engage-on-stalled-us-china-adoptions,"Grassley, Cardin Lead Call for POTUS to Engage on Stalled U.S.-China Adoptions",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Longtime adoption advocate Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today urged President Biden to stand up for families navigating the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) decision to end intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties. Reps. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) are co-leading the bipartisan effort, which garnered a total of 103 bicameral signatories, in the House of Representatives. “We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made,” the lawmakers wrote, noting approximately 300 children in the PRC – some with various health conditions – are already paired with families in the United States. “The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” they continued. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.” Grassley and his colleagues also acknowledged the PRC may complete adoptions for families in some countries, per a State Department notice last week. They called on President Biden to ensure such an action would pertain to the United States, too. Read the full letter HERE. Cosigners include Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. Background: The PRC terminated its intercountry adoption program on August 28, 2024. Shortly after, Grassley wrote the State Department and the Chinese Ambassador for information. He emphasized the uncertainty the PRC’s announcement cast on Chinese children and American parents, including parents in Iowa. Some families have been stuck in the final stages of the adoption process for years. When China suspended its intercountry adoption program following the COVID-19 pandemic, despite opening its borders for business and other activities, Grassley shined light on the inconsistency. He pushed for stalled adoptions to resume, so children and families could finally unite.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-shaheen-and-bipartisan-colleagues-call-on-meta-to-stop-peddling-illicit-drugs,"Grassley, Shaheen and Bipartisan Colleagues Call on Meta to Stop Peddling Illicit Drugs",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) are calling on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to remove and prevent illicit drugs advertisements from Facebook and Instagram. “The United States is in the midst of a drug epidemic, with more than 100,000 Americans dying from overdoses last year, and an alarming amount of these drugs are sold online. It is crucial that everyone work to ensure these illegal drugs are found and taken off the streets. Therefore, we call on Meta to improve its human and automated advertising review and content moderation to address these failures that are placing lives at risk,” the senators wrote. Per a recent Wall Street Journal report, Meta ran and collected revenue from hundreds of advertisements marketing illicit drugs, including opioids, ecstasy and cocaine. “When presented with these disturbing findings, Meta took down some advertisements off its platforms. However, Meta’s refusal to prevent illicit drug advertisements, while accepting advertisement payments that are harming families and in clear violation of Meta’s policies, is particularly alarming,” they continued. The lawmakers are urging Zuckerberg to support their bipartisan Cooper Davis Act- requiring social media companies report illicit drug activities on their platforms. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bill in July. Read the full letter HERE. Grassley’s Related Work: Grassley in February participated in a question-and-answer session after executives from Meta, Discord, Snap Inc., TikTok and X testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to the Cooper Davis Act, the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced three Grassley-backed bills to strengthen federal online safety statues, including the Project Safe Childhood Act, the EARN It Act and the STOP CSAM Act. The Senate in July passed the Grassley co-backed Kids Online Safety Act to enhance tools for families to protect their children online and increase algorithmic transparency.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-and-ernst-advocate-for-election-integrity-demand-uscis-respond-to-iowas-data-request-on-potential-non-citizen-voters,"Grassley and Ernst Advocate for Election Integrity, Demand USCIS Respond to Iowa’s Data Request on Potential Non-Citizen Voters",2024-10-31,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) are calling on United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately respond to Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s request for information regarding the citizenship status of 2,176 registered Iowa voters who self-identified as non-citizens. USCIS’ Des Moines Field Office has already completed a review of the 2,176 names at issue, yet USCIS headquarters refuses to make the information available to state officials. The Iowa senators’ push follows Pate’s urgent request for federal intervention after USCIS “refus[ed] to release this key information.” “Time is of the essence, as voting in Iowa has been underway since October 16 and Iowa election law requires absentee ballots be separated from their carrier envelopes on Monday, November 4,” Grassley and Ernst noted in their letter to USCIS. “We expect a response to this letter and for the information to be released to Iowa's Secretary of State by end of day Friday, November 1. If that doesn't happen, you will be playing into the very serious concerns of Iowans that the Biden-Harris administration is not following federal law and not taking reasonable measures to ensure only citizens are voting in our federal elections.” Read the Iowa senators’ full letter HERE and below. Ms. Ur M. Jaddou Director U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 20 Massachusetts Avenue, 4th Floor Washington, DC 20529 Director Jaddou: It's come to our attention that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has instructed USCIS' Des Moines, Iowa field office to withhold information regarding citizenship of voter roll data requested by Iowa's Secretary of State Paul Pate. The USCIS Iowa office has already manually reviewed every name that was provided to them. They have looked up and determined if the resident has naturalized or is a non-citizen. This data has been compiled since Monday, October 28. There is no excuse for withholding this information from the Secretary of State's office when non-citizens are ineligible to vote in federal elections in accordance with longstanding federal law (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 611). Time is of the essence, as voting in Iowa has been underway since October 16 and Iowa election law requires absentee ballots be separated from their carrier envelopes on Monday, November 4. We expect a response to this letter and for the information to be released to Iowa's Secretary of State by end of day Friday, November 1. If that doesn't happen, you will be playing into the very serious concerns of Iowans that the Biden-Harris administration is not following federal law and not taking reasonable measures to ensure only citizens are voting in our federal elections. Let us be very clear, all votes lawfully cast ought to be counted. The Secretary of State has outlined how measures and safeguards would be in place to ensure this fundamental right is preserved. It's imperative for the federal government to provide this critical information to ensure Iowa can uphold this commitment to our citizens. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/iowa-bridges-will-benefit-from-44-million-grassley-backed-federal-investment,Iowa Bridges Will Benefit from $44 Million Grassley-Backed Federal Investment,2024-10-31,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today announced Iowa will receive $44,640,000 to replace eight bridges across seven counties, including Cedar Rapids’ Arc of Justice bridge. The U.S. Department of Transportation will administer the resources through its Bridge Investment Program, which was established in the Grassley-backed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). “Iowans consistently raise concerns about the safety of our bridges, and rightfully so – our bridges need upgrades. That’s one of the reasons I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law,” Grassley said. “These grants will improve commuter safety and flood resilience, and strengthen our regional supply chain to help get Iowa products to market.” Award Details: Washington County will receive $38,640,000 to remove and replace seven bridges in Washington, Hamilton, Buchanan, Jones, Cedar and Monroe counties. The City of Cedar Rapids will receive $6,000,000 to replace the 86-year-old Arc of Justice bridge with a new, cable-stayed design. This will help raise the bridge above potential flood waters and improve hydraulic flow, reducing the height of Cedar Rapids’ upstream floodwall.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-10-29-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 10-29-24",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: U.S. military aid, Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, Farm Bill, election security, former President Trump's proposed policies and lead line replacement.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-celebrates-decades-long-initiative-bringing-clean-water-to-iowa,Grassley Celebrates Decades-Long Initiative Bringing Clean Water to Iowa,2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today delivered remarks in Sibley at a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating its connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. Grassley discussed his longtime support of the clean water initiative and thanked local leaders for their hard work and dedication to the project. “Over 30 years ago, community leaders began dreaming of a way to provide safe, clean water to hundreds of thousands of Iowans and Midwesterners. After decades of perseverance, we’re seeing that dream come to fruition,” Grassley said. “While today marks the final connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, you can be sure of my continued support through future construction and expansion projects.” Download photos HERE. Grassley’s prepared remarks follow. Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Ribbon Cutting Sibley Meter Building, Sibley Monday, October 28, 2024 Good morning, it’s a pleasure to join you for this occasion. You’ve come a long way to bring reliable drinking water to rural communities in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. I’ve enjoyed witnessing your accomplishments and helping on the federal level. Let’s talk about the beginning for a minute. With a mission dedicated to bringing safe drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people, I recall working with a group of senators on the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System Act of 1999. This bill came about to support the local efforts to ensure that folks had access to clean water. Shallow wells and contamination were very real concerns for the water resources in this part of the state and country. Murray Hulstein of Sioux Center, Red Arndt of Minnesota, Troy and others may recall some of these early efforts and conversations. As you know from my standing here today, the passage of that bill came in 2000. Now that’s not to say that since 2000 the path to get towns connected to the water system was easy. However, the perseverance and dedication of many has led to this ribbon cutting to celebrate Sibley as the most recent town to get connected. It has also provided hundreds of thousands of people access to clean and safe drinking water. Since the 2000s, I’ve viewed my support for this initiative as an investment in our communities. This investment was made possible because of the hard work of [those] here today and [those] who were champions for this effort in the past. So, I’d like to close with a comment of gratitude. Thank you to those with Lewis and Clark that have been tirelessly committed to improving their communities. Your work has made a real impact. God bless you.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-finstad-question-usda-grant-oversight-amid-pure-prairie-poultry-closure,"Grassley, Finstad Question USDA Grant Oversight amid Pure Prairie Poultry Closure",2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.) are leading a letter scrutinizing the Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s loan and grant oversight practices after a recent awardee, Pure Prairie Poultry, shut down. Grassley and Finstad serve on the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, respectively. “USDA is responsible for keeping tabs on the taxpayer-funded grants it administers, but it clearly dropped the ball with Pure Prairie. Iowans and others across America’s Heartland have lost their jobs and their poultry market as a result of Pure Prairie’s closure. USDA must explain to Congress and the public what went wrong to help prevent a repeat scenario,” Grassley said of the bicameral effort. “USDA has provided millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded loans and grants to meat and poultry processors across the country, which is why my colleagues and I are calling on USDA to provide answers,” Finstad added. “While expanding livestock markets and processing capacity is critical for farm country, the lack of oversight of these dollars by USDA harmed producers and caused a significant disruption to our nation’s food supply chain.” Minnesota-based Pure Prairie Poultry received over $45 million in USDA funding to help smaller processors start or expand capacity. The company ceased operations earlier this month and shuttered its plant in Charles City, Iowa. As a result, up to 50 farmers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin were left without processing capacity or feed for more than 2 million chickens, and roughly 100 more Iowans lost their jobs. Grassley and Finstad are asking USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack about the agency’s considerations for approving Pure Prairie Poultry’s funding, its insights into the company’s financial standing and the steps it took to assist stakeholders following the Charles City plant closure. Additional signatories include Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), along with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) and Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.). Read the full letter HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-cybersecurity-is-national-security,Q&A: Cybersecurity is National Security,2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: Is the federal government doing enough to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks? A: Cybersecurity may not be top of mind for Iowans struggling to buy groceries, recover from historic flooding and storm damage or finish the fall harvest. However, as your senator, I’m working to prevent serious disruption to daily life and protect national security from malicious cyberattacks. Cybercriminals pose risk to Americans’ financial security, from identity theft to drained bank accounts siphoned by digital thieves. Malicious cyberattacks from terrorists and foreign adversaries also pose tremendous disruptions to utilities, transportation and communications that would bring daily life to a “screeching halt,” according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). In June, the GAO issued a comprehensive analysis that exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the federal government’s cybersecurity preparedness. Its report calls for urgent action to address cybersecurity gaps facing critical infrastructure systems that impact life as we know it. Even before the recent GAO report, I called upon seven of nine federal agencies charged with shielding the U.S. from cyberattacks. The Departments of Treasury, Transportation, Homeland Security, Energy, Defense, Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency have been dragging their feet to implement recommendations to tighten up cybersecurity protocols and beef up risk management strategies. Keeping Americans safe is job number one for the federal government. If these federal agencies are asleep behind the wheel, the U.S. economy and critical corridors of American life are at serious risk of compromise. Q: Which specific concerns have you flagged to federal agencies? A: Let’s start with energy. Safeguarding our energy grid is vital to daily life and national security. Energy powers our homes, businesses and farms. A cyberattack on the nation’s energy grid would have catastrophic consequences to health care systems, financial services, transportation networks, municipal utilities and more. I’ve pressed the Department of Interior to explain its cybersecurity strategies to safeguard our nation’s offshore energy network on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. I’ve also pressed federal agencies to strengthen frameworks in our food supply chains. A few years ago, an Iowa grain co-op was the target of a Russian cybercrime attack. The co-op narrowly managed to avert a crash in grain prices without paying the $5.9 million ransom. This attack and others reflect the serious risk to our nation’s food security and farm economy. That’s why I pushed to hold a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee to examine how to prevent and respond to ransomware attacks. These kinds of crimes are surging, and as cybercriminals pocket ransomware payments from companies desperate to get access back to their operations, they are emboldened to continue more attacks and disrupt more businesses. The federal government must step up its preparedness to prevent, curb and respond to cyberattacks, across the board. Earlier this year, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to examine cybersecurity defenses in the U.S. health care industry. I pressed for answers on how the private sector is collaborating with the federal government to protect patient data and thwart ransomware. More recently, I launched an inquiry into the sweeping AT&T hack in April that compromised customers’ call and text history between May 1 and October 31, 2022. The massive data breach impacted 90 million Americans’ data, including federal agencies. I demanded answers from 17 federal agencies to find out what government materials may have been stolen and what the agencies are doing to mitigate future risks. What’s more, I’ve repeatedly sounded the alarm with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) – our nation’s top cyber defense agency – to ensure it is doing its job to protect critical infrastructure from bad actors. In August, I wrote CISA to learn more about a massive data breach at National Public Data, a data broker company that provides background checks and fraud prevention services. In that case, the hacker allegedly leaked personal data on the dark web for up to 170 million people. Through my oversight and legislative work, I’m pushing to ensure private entities and the federal government are taking necessary steps to protect national security and prevent the personal information of the American people from falling into the wrong hands. In June, I joined bipartisan legislation to protect Americans’ online presence from bad actors, by requiring websites and apps to disclose to users if their business operations are subject to the control of China, North Korea, Russia or Iran.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-risch-and-colleagues-back-israel-stand-up-to-un-antisemitism,"Grassley, Risch and Colleagues Back Israel, Stand Up to UN Antisemitism",2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and 26 Senate Republican colleagues will introduce legislation to support Israel’s membership status in the United Nations (UN). The Stand with Israel Act would cut off U.S. funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend or otherwise restrict Israel’s participation in the international organization. The senators will introduce the bill when Congress reconvenes in November. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “As the historic homeland of the Jewish people, the only democracy in the Middle East and a cherished ally of the United States, Israel’s membership status in the UN shouldn’t be up for debate,” said Grassley. “The United States is the UN’s largest financial backer; any antisemitic attempt to downgrade Israel’s status ought to be met with severe and immediate consequences by cutting off U.S. funding.” “Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic,” said Risch. “That said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the U.S. must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all I can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences.” Grassley and Risch are joined by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). Download bill text HERE. Background: Recent reports indicate the Palestinian Authority (PA) will attempt to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN. The effort comes after the UN upgraded the PA’s status in May, granting them enhanced rights and privileges. Grassley has additionally condemned the UN for its inaction regarding Hamas’ sexual violence against Israeli women and its consideration of a PA resolution to strip Israel’s right to self defense. Learn more about Grassley’s work to support Israel HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/icymi-grassley-joins-tony-perkins-to-discuss-biden-harris-endangerment-of-unaccompanied-migrant-children,ICYMI: Grassley Joins Tony Perkins to Discuss Biden-Harris Endangerment of Unaccompanied Migrant Children,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss his work to reform the Biden-Harris administration’s Unaccompanied Children program, which has lost track of tens-of-thousands of migrant kids and placed countless others in potentially dangerous homes. Grassley last week pressed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s Office of Refugee Resettlement regarding its failure to report to Congress on any of its immigration-related expenditures, policies or data since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office. Grassley said, in part: “Federal law requires the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement to annually report. In these four years of the Biden-Harris administration, there’s been no reports to Congress, and they’re supposed to tell us how much money has been spent, how many kids are involved, the location of these kids and the status of them. “We’ve got bad actors that are capitalizing on the Biden-Harris open border policy and using kids as pawns. Once the kids are here, the Biden-Harris administration’s not looking out for their welfare or safety.” Watch the interview HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-10-22-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 10-22-24",2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley’s weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: Pure Prairie Poultry’s closure, farm profitability under the Biden-Harris admin, housing affordability, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, early voting and priorities for the remainder of the 118th Congress.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-demands-explanation-from-biden-harris-admin-on-failure-to-vet-afghan-terrorist-requests-watchdog-review,"Grassley Demands Explanation from Biden-Harris Admin on Failure to Vet Afghan Terrorist, Requests Watchdog Review",2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is pressing the Justice Department (DOJ), FBI and Homeland Security Department (DHS) for details on its vetting of an Afghan national arrested for plotting an Election Day terrorist attack. Grassley, who for years has raised concerns regarding Afghan vetting procedures, obtained and is following up on an unclassified I-94 immigration document revealing that derogatory information on the Afghan national, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, was referred for further assessment. Grassley is calling on DOJ, FBI and DHS to explain what actions were taken to investigate this derogatory information, and when. Grassley additionally wrote the DOJ Office of Inspector General (OIG) requesting it review the DOJ and FBI’s assessment, investigation and tracking of Afghan evacuees allowed entry into the United States as part of Operation Allies Refuge and Operations Allies Welcome. Grassley this morning discussed his oversight push, saying: “I hope you know I won’t stop fighting to protect Americans and to pursue accountability.” Listen to audio of Grassley HERE and read his letters below: Grassley to DOJ and FBI Grassley to DHS Grassley to DOJ OIG",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/major-iowa-airports-to-receive-over-87-million-in-grassley-backed-federal-funding,Major Iowa Airports to Receive Over $8.7 Million in Grassley-Backed Federal Funding,2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – Three Iowa airports will receive a total of more than $8.7 million to modernize and expand terminal areas and infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Transportation will administer the awards through its Airport Terminal Program, which was established by the Grassley-backed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). “Iowa’s airports facilitate high volume passenger travel and move our world-class products to market. Keeping our airports in top shape ensures travelers’ safety and strengthens our local economy,” Grassley said. “I supported the bipartisan infrastructure law with Iowans in mind, and I’m glad our state continues to see significant returns on that investment.” Federal awards will be disbursed as follows: Des Moines International Airport will receive $3,600,000 for the construction of four new terminal gates and holdrooms. Eastern Iowa Airport will receive $3,600,000 for the construction of a new baggage handling control system for the expanded airport terminal. Sioux Gateway Airport will receive $1,564,466 for the acquisition and installation of a new passenger boarding bridge.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/biden-harris-hhs-cant-account-to-congress-for-status-of-thousands-of-unaccompanied-minors,Biden-Harris HHS Can’t Account to Congress for Status of Thousands of Unaccompanied Minors,2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is pressing the Biden-Harris administration to provide overdue reports to Congress regarding its Unaccompanied Children program and other refugee resettlement programs. The current administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) hasn’t completed a single annual report on its immigration-related expenditures, policies or statistics since taking office. “President Biden and Vice President Harris have left Congress in the dark for the entirety of their administration and lost track of tens of thousands of vulnerable migrant children in the process,” Grassley said. “How can President Biden or Border Czar Harris claim to be addressing this crisis when they can’t, or won’t, provide Congress statutorily required information on their efforts to do so? I’ve proposed reforms to address the glaring errors in this administration’s Unaccompanied Children program. It’s high time the Biden-Harris HHS let the sunshine in and show its work so that Congress can continue hammering out solutions based on the facts at hand.” Read Grassley’s full letter HERE. Background: The Biden-Harris administration is failing to comply with Title 8, Section 1523 of the United States Code, which directs ORR to provide Congress annual reports on its refugee resettlement programs, including the location and status of unaccompanied migrant children in ORR’s Unaccompanied Children program. Section 1523 additionally requires ORR report to Congress on: Refugee employment and labor force statistics; The geographic location of refugees; The activities, expenditures and policies of ORR; Descriptions of taxpayer-funded refugee assistance. Grassley has exposed the administration for losing and endangering thousands of unaccompanied migrant children and is seeking to address the dangerous policies in its Unaccompanied Children program that allow kids to be exploited.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-and-bipartisan-senators-advocate-for-veterans-by-pushing-for-candp-exam-improvements,Grassley and Bipartisan Senators Advocate for Veterans by Pushing for C&P Exam Improvements,2024-10-17,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today led a bipartisan letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) demanding answers on the steps it is taking to ensure veterans’ access to quality, timely compensation and pension examinations (C&P exams) amid allegations contracted services and insufficient federal oversight have negatively impacted veterans. Joining Grassley are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). “[T]he overall management and oversight of VA vendors that provide C&P exams must improve. As the department relies more on contracted examiners, it should also remain committed to ensuring that veterans are properly looked after,” the senators wrote. “The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, requires the department to provide oversight of C&P exams and to apply standards of timeliness and quality performance for [Veterans Health Administration] examiners and your contracted vendors. It also requires a mechanism for veterans, such as the ones described in this correspondence, to lodge complaints with the [Veterans Benefits Administration] to provide for a resolution to the unnecessary barriers put in front of our veterans. As we await the report from the department, our concerns for veterans persist,” they concluded. Grassley and his colleagues cited the following reported issues riddling C&P exam processes: VHA examiners are operating under limited capacity. A Jasper County, Iowa veteran said the VA expected him to travel 97 miles one way for a C&P exam rather than see a provider in nearby Des Moines. Contracted vendors are mismanaging appointments. A contractor assigned a Rindge, New Hampshire veteran to an appointment in Maine. When the veteran explained he couldn’t attend appointments there, the contractor suspended his claim. Contracted vendors are not maintaining their facilities. The VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found some contractor facilities are noncompliant with the Americans Disabilities Act, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. The VA is not conducting proper oversight of contracted employees. The VBA said it cannot verify subcontracts into which exam vendors enter. While the VA must at minimum verify the contractors, the VA OIG found the department has not complied with contractor vetting requirements. Read the full letter HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-joins-iowans-to-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-landmark-juvenile-justice-law,Grassley Joins Iowans to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Landmark Juvenile Justice Law,2024-10-17,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"POLK COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, recognized the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) in remarks to Iowa advocates. Grassley was honored by Iowa youth for his work to champion the Charles Grassley Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program. The Coalition for Family and Children’s Services in Iowa hosted the event at Drake University amid Youth Justice Action Month. “JJDPA for 50 years has brightened futures for youth who’ve entered our justice system. By empowering local stakeholders and bolstering federal protections for minors, this program ensures better outcomes and gives kids the opportunities they need to get their lives back on track,” Grassley said. “I welcome the chance to speak with grassroots advocates in Iowa. Today’s event served as a reminder of this law’s impact in local communities across Iowa, and how together we can continue building on its successes.” ""We were deeply honored to have Senator Grassley join us in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) during Youth Justice Action Month. His steadfast leadership in reauthorizing this landmark legislation has had a profound and lasting impact on Iowa's youth and families. Through his advocacy, Senator Grassley has championed reforms that prioritize prevention, accountability, and the wellbeing of young people in our justice system. The power of this law goes beyond policy; it changes lives,” Kristie Oliver, Executive Director of the Coalition for Family & Children’s Services in Iowa, said. “As we heard from youth affected by the system, the JJDPA not only provided the youth with critical services at a turning point in their lives, but it also created opportunities for youth to have a voice in shaping the very systems that serve them. The reauthorization of the JJDPA continues to open new doors for youth across Iowa, offering them the support and resources necessary to build brighter futures. We look forward to continuing this critical work together, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive."" ""As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, we are reminded of the critical importance of advocating for the rights and futures of our youth. This landmark legislation has had a profound impact on youth justice reform, ensuring that young people are given opportunities for rehabilitation, not just punishment. It was an honor to have Senator Grassley with us, whose leadership on youth justice issues has been instrumental in shaping policies that support and protect our youth. At Drake Law, through our Middleton Center for Children's Rights, we are committed to continuing this vital work, educating the next generation of lawyers and leaders to advocate for fairness, justice, and equity for all our young people,"" said Drake University Law School Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. Download photos HERE. Read Grassley’s prepared remarks HERE. Background: Grassley is a leading advocate for juvenile justice reform. In 2018 as U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, he championed the first reauthorization of the JJDPA in nearly 16 years, including measures to expand program oversight, promote screening for mental illness and substance abuse, prohibit the shackling of pregnant youth in juvenile detention, ensure the separation of juvenile and adult offenders and provide detained minors access to adequate legal representation. Grassley, this year, introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and reauthorize the program through 2029.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-breast-cancer_1-in-8-women-will-be-diagnosed-in-her-lifetime,Q&A: Breast Cancer – 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in her lifetime,2024-10-17,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: Is early detection and treatment for breast cancer moving in the right direction? A: As a lead sponsor of the bipartisan Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act of 2000, I’m glad to see measurable strides indicating early detection and breast screenings are helping to lower female death rates from breast cancer. The 24-year-old federal law expanded on earlier legislation that directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Our bill allowed states to offer patients diagnosed with cancer under this federal program to access treatment services through Medicaid. It provides a lifeline of hope for tens of thousands of patients who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford timely access to cancer screening, diagnostics and treatment. In 2023, the federal program provided cancer screening and diagnostic services to 273,989 women, diagnosing 1,761 invasive breast cancers. Although we’ve made progress in the battle against breast cancer, more work remains. The National Cancer Institute estimates 310,720 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 and 42,250 people will lose their battle to the disease. The CDC says breast cancer is still the second most common cancer among women in the United States, following skin cancer diagnoses. Breast cancer also is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, following only lung cancer. Raising public awareness is central to advancing strides for life-saving prevention, detection and treatment. Losing a beloved mother, wife, aunt or sister to breast cancer is a devastating loss to families in communities across the country. I encourage Iowans to check in with their loved ones. Take advantage of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to prompt a friend or family member to make their screening appointment. Non-invasive mammography screenings can alert health care providers long before symptoms arise. A recent FDA rule requires mammography facilities to include a breast density assessment as part of a patient’s medical report. Having this information can help lead to better patient outcomes. My wife Barbara is a 37-year breast cancer survivor. She credits early detection for putting her on the road to healing and recovery. Q: What efforts have you led to help cancer patients survive and thrive? A: From my consistent support for breast cancer research, including the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, I also steered bipartisan legislation across the finish line to enact the Lymphedema Treatment Act that closes a coverage gap for Medicare patients for physician-prescribed compression therapy items, including for breast cancer survivors. I’m a vocal champion for rural health care initiatives to ensure patients in Rural America aren’t left behind, such as expanded medical residency positions to grow Iowa’s health care workforce and efforts to strengthen stability and security for rural hospitals and clinics that are the safety net providers for millions of Americans. From the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal health care programs, I champion policies to help ensure rural hospitals, local pharmacies and health care clinics keep their doors open for the community. I also keep the spotlight shining on market-driven solutions to reduce drug costs and lower barriers to care, such as expanding telehealth services and cutting red tape for kids with complex medical needs. Oncology patients can avoid the expense and tiring experience of a long road trip by seeing health care providers via the convenience and flexibility provided by a telehealth appointment. The bipartisan infrastructure law I supported is helping expand internet access needed for rural health clinics to provide telehealth services, including diagnosis and prescribing medicine. I’ve also joined a bipartisan effort to push for an expansion of Medicare coverage for telehealth services and make permanent pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities. I’ll continue pushing to lower barriers to care and raise awareness so that the one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer survives and thrives to enjoy a high quality of life for years to come.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-emphasizes-value-esops-bring-local-economies-at-ia-ceo-conference,Grassley Emphasizes Value ESOPs Bring Local Economies at IA-CEO Conference,2024-10-16,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"POLK COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today delivered a keynote address at the 2024 Iowa CEO Employee Ownership Conference in Ankeny. Grassley discussed the future of our nation’s business landscape as the baby boomer generation enters retirement, as well as his longstanding support for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs): “[…T]his tax-advantaged tool has helped boost productivity, create wealth among the workforce, expand prosperity and grow civic roots in communities across the country,” he said. Download photos HERE. Grassley’s prepared remarks follow. Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) Employee Ownership Conference FFA Enrichment Center/DMACC Campus, Ankeny Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Good morning. It’s good to be here with all of you. Thank you, Randy, for your work with the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), a school near and dear to my heart. And thank you for the invitation to speak about another subject near and dear to my heart: building prosperity for Iowans across our state. Now, typically, I wouldn’t be able to join you in person on a weekday in the middle of October. But since we’re in the thick of a presidential election year, Congress is out of session until after November 5th. As you know, we’re also in the thick of harvest season. This week, my son and grandson are on our family farm in New Hartford running the combine and hauling grain from the fields. I’m the second generation of our fourth-generation family farm, so I understand what weighs on the minds of Iowans looking to pass on the reins of a farm or small business. Although, a farmer never really retires. Like most family farms in Iowa, a lion’s share of our small- and medium-sized businesses are owned by baby boomers. These operations are expected to change ownership in the next five to 10 years. Finding the future stewards of these farms and businesses is top of mind for communities across Iowa. It will have tremendous impact on the tax base, population, school enrollment, jobs, economic vitality and social capital of the local and regional community. This year, I completed my 44th year holding question-and-answer sessions with Iowans in all 99 counties in our state. Two issues that regularly come up at my meetings with small businesses and manufacturers are workforce shortages and employee retention. The workforce and succession planning are top of mind for so many small businesses in Iowa, including those of you here in this room. As the baby boom generation prepares to pass the torch, a sizeable segment of our state’s economy will hinge on the strategic transition of farms and businesses. Changing ownership of a business the same family has owned and operated for decades is complicated. Potential buyers and sellers need to navigate a maze of issues, including complex family dynamics, taxes, financing and more. A decade or so ago, the impending demographic shift was often referred to as the Silver Tsunami. Since 2011, roughly 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day. I would suggest the so-called tsunami has delivered rolling waves of changes, instead of catastrophic disruptions to health care, housing, transportation and community services. I attribute that to forward-thinkers, like those of you attending today’s conference. We’ve seen across many sectors of the economy that not all of the demographic disruptions hit the fan at once. That’s partially because people are staying in the workforce longer, by choice or financial necessity. Like I said earlier, a farmer never really retires. The same often goes for a family-run business, perhaps due to the fact owners don’t always have a viable succession plan or buyer. Having a succession plan can give families, landowners and small businesses much-needed peace of mind. After putting years of sweat and investments into their farm or business, many Iowans are what we call cash-poor and asset-rich. As we look ahead to this era of transition in business ownership, it’s important for leaders in government, business and academia to collaborate. Together, we can anticipate the challenges and embrace the economic opportunities this demographic shift will present. From that standpoint, I applaud the efforts of your organization, in partnership with my alma mater, UNI. I want to commend you for taking a proactive approach. You’re grabbing the bull by the horns to identify the obstacles and possibilities that lie ahead. By engaging stakeholders and raising public awareness, your efforts can help expand local economic vitality and prosperity for generations to come. You understand that a majority of the businesses owned by baby boomers will close for good if a viable buyer isn’t found. Usually, a viable buyer is restricted by the sale price, or there simply isn’t a buyer available at all. Let’s not underestimate the benefits your efforts will bring workers and the community. Day in and day out, workers help build and grow a company. When workers are able to capture financial equity in their employing business, it fosters an ownership culture that strengthens morale and reinforces roots in the community. These dynamics sow the seeds for broader advantages for nearby schools, civic clubs, volunteer fire departments, places of worship, and more. If you think about it, your mission kills two birds with one stone. On the one hand, you provide an off-ramp for business owners to pull wealth from their business, monetizing the retirement nest egg they’ve feathered for decades. On the other hand, you’re expanding ownership opportunity and offering a piece of the financial pie to the workforce, empowering employees to share in the fruits of their own labor. As a former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, fostering economic growth is central to my philosophy on tax policy. That includes my support for federal tax advantages for Employee Stock Ownership Plans. Everything these days goes by an acronym, but “ESOPs” have been around for decades. A century ago, big corporations like Proctor & Gamble, J.C. Penney and Sears Roebuck provided stock ownership through a tax vehicle Congress added to the federal tax code in 1921. The iteration we have today sprang up in the 1950s, for the purpose of transitioning ownership of a company to its employees. ESOPs were formally recognized in law in 1974 thanks to the efforts of Senator Russell Long - one of my predecessors at the helm of the Senate Finance Committee. An ESOP allows companies to use IRS tax-qualified plans as a tool for business succession, and as a workplace empowerment tool to foster an ownership culture. They provide the seller better options to manage tax liabilities from the sale of the business rather than what many consider tax confiscation at the point of sale. Senator Long once declared ESOPs would be the perfect elixir to the economy. In fact, he used the term “Geritol,” if anyone here remembers that once-popular vitamin supplement. The good news is ESOPs have outlasted Geritol. For decades, this tax-advantaged tool has helped boost productivity, create wealth among the workforce, expand prosperity and grow civic roots in communities across the country. When Congress passed the Tax Reform Act of 1984 that included tax-free, roll-over treatment, Washington cleared the path for privately held businesses to transfer ownership, unlocking a burst of economic activity and new ownership to the next generation of employees. A decade later, the Small Business and Jobs Protection Act of 1996 primed the pump for another wave of growth for employee ownership. In the act, Congress amended S corporation laws to permit ESOPs as eligible shareholders. To this day, ESOPs are a preferred tool for business succession in America. From my platform on the Senate Finance Committee, once again, I will have a front row seat at the tax policymaking table in the new Congress. With 2025 will come a major tipping point for the U.S. economy, as lawmakers and a newly elected president confront a tax cliff. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that I helped shepherd into law in 2017 is set to expire at the end of next year. This package enacted across-the-board tax cuts for every American taxpayer. As a result, businesses and families kept more of their hard-earned money in their pockets. That means Iowans got to save, spend and invest more of their own money. If the 2017 Trump tax cuts expire, we will say good-bye to trillions of dollars in tax breaks. The 2017 tax law also unlocked opportunities for small business across our state – the engines of the nation’s economy. Whether a business was structured as a “C” corporation or subchapter “S,” the law lowered tax rates on their income. This tax cut applies to ESOPs with partial employee-ownership. The law lowered the maximum corporate tax rate from 35 percent to a single marginal rate of 21 percent, empowering businesses to expand, hire more people or raise wages. Just as importantly, for pass-through businesses the law lowered tax rates across the board and created a new 20 percent business income deduction. Together, those reforms shrunk the top federal income tax rate from 39.6 percent to 29.6 percent. Farmers and small businesses operate on tight margins. These tax breaks make a tremendous difference on the bottom line. I’m always on the lookout for ways to continue to build on the success of ESOPs. A provision I’ve long cosponsored to make ESOPs a more attractive option for S corporations was incorporated into the SECURE 2.0 Act, which Congress passed at the end of 2022. I’ve written tax policy in the U.S. Senate for more than four decades and counting. I’ll let you in on a secret: When you tax something – anything – you get less of it. Tax laws influence purchase decisions on items ranging from cars and clothes to farm machinery and investments. Just consider back-to-school tax-free shopping weekends. Or how states with no state income tax attract people from high-tax states. On the flip side, high taxes on cigarettes, gambling and alcohol aim to limit those behaviors. Tax incentives operate the same way, informing research and development, college savings and homeownership. I’m sure many of you want to know what’s going to happen on those expiring tax cuts in 2025. That crystal ball will get some clarity after November 5th. In closing, I want you to know I agree ESOPs are a key instrument for communities to foster economic prosperity across our state. Ownership is a core principle in America’s promise of prosperity -- and freedom itself -- that our nation’s Founders enshrined in our Constitution. In my 99 county meetings, I’ve seen good things happening and economic vitality thriving in communities with ESOP-structured businesses. ESOPs can provide that pathway to prosperity. Business owners preparing to retire can get tax-advantaged cash in their pockets, after many years of building their business. Employees can build equity in the company and find greater satisfaction on the job. With your advocacy, communities can realize more opportunities to keep valued businesses thriving and tap into the ownership culture that attracts a dynamic workforce. Thank you again for inviting me to speak to you today. I look forward to continuing this conversation and welcome your feedback. I’m happy now to open up the floor to questions. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/icymi-grassley-recognized-for-work-to-combat-sex-trafficking-crisis-the-only-person-in-a-position-of-power-who-cares,ICYMI: Grassley Recognized for Work to Combat Sex-Trafficking Crisis: ‘The Only Person in a Position of Power Who Cares’,2024-10-16,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Inside America’s Fastest-Growing Criminal Enterprise: Sex Trafficking ‘Washington’s lack of interest in the sex-trafficking crisis is stunning. Sometimes it seems as though the only person in a position of power who cares about the issue is 91-year-old Senator Grassley.’ By Madeleine Rowley October 14, 2024 There is no question that the border crisis is the primary reason for the increase in the sex trafficking of migrants… In July, Republican senator Chuck Grassley hosted a roundtable on the trafficking crisis at the border. Tara Rodas, 55, a federal employee who in 2021 worked at an emergency intake shelter in California, testified that while she was there, a 13-year-old girl from El Salvador was released to a sponsor in Ohio who was affiliated with the MS-13 gang. … Washington’s lack of interest in the sex-trafficking crisis is stunning. Sometimes it seems as though the only person in a position of power who cares about the issue is 91-year-old Senator Grassley… “I’ve been trying to protect unaccompanied children that are put in dangerous environments,” he told me in an interview. “These are the most vulnerable people, and somebody’s got to look out for them, and that’s me.” As far back as 2014, when “just” 57,000 unaccompanied children crossed the border—less than half the current number—Grassley sounded the alarm that the Office of Refugee Resettlement was having trouble accommodating so many migrant children. The next year, he wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, saying that up to 3,400 unaccompanied children’s sponsors had criminal histories. Two years later, he urged the ORR to take responsibility for unaccompanied children who had ties to the gang. “Your agencies repeatedly pass the buck to each other. As a result, children are allowed to disappear. When these children disappear without any supervision, they are vulnerable to join dangerous gangs like MS-13,” he said. Grassley reached across the aisle in 2019 and 2021, working with Democratic senators Dianne Feinstein and Ron Wyden, respectively, regarding allegations of sexual abuse and employee misconduct at ORR-funded shelters. Grassley and Wyden’s investigation found that between 2016 and 2020, ORR received nearly 7,500 reports of sexual misconduct involving an unaccompanied child staying at a shelter… With the election of Joe Biden—and the border crisis that ensued—other Republicans have jumped on the trafficking bandwagon, but Grassley has continued to lead the charge, using his staff to conduct significant investigations. In January, for instance, he sent a detailed letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray, detailing evidence his staff had uncovered of unaccompanied children who were suspected of being in the hands of traffickers. Democrats have been shamefully silent on the trafficking issue. At the roundtable Grassley held in July, not a single Democrat attended. Neither did Mayorkas. “Democrats didn’t come because they’re just too embarrassed to talk about the shortcomings of this administration on immigration,” Grassley told me. “Especially when you have HHS sending kids to MS-13 gang-related sponsors in Ohio. It’s hard to explain that.” As for the Office of Refugee Resettlement… It has yet to do anything to reduce the sex trafficking that is taking place under its nose. On the contrary, it has lately been pushing through rules that will minimize the vetting of sponsors…This, of course, will allow the NGOs to push migrant children through the system even faster. But it will also make it easier for gangs and criminals to “sponsor” migrant girls after they’ve crossed the border. Grassley is trying to stop that from happening… Read the full piece HERE. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-10-15-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 10-15-24",2024-10-15,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: the Farm Bill, the Congressional Budget Office's estimate of the Fiscal Year 2024 deficit, election integrity and security and the consequences of a Harris presidency.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-demands-vp-harris-own-up-for-failures-as-border-czar,Grassley Demands VP Harris Own Up for Failures as Border Czar,2024-10-15,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote Vice President Kamala Harris asking questions about the policy decisions she has made in her role overseeing border issues for the Biden administration, as well as the dangerous consequences and crimes that have ensued as a result. “Every community is a border community because the Biden-Harris administration has refused to enforce our immigration laws,” Grassley today said of his letter. “The federal government’s number one job is to keep its citizens safe. By reversing the effective border security policies of the Trump administration, the Biden-Harris administration has done the very opposite of protecting American citizens.” Grassley on a radio call this morning cited the following actions, among others, the Biden-Harris administration has taken that have weakened U.S. national security and made innocent Americans targets of otherwise preventable crimes: Ordering the Defense Department to stop building the southern border wall; Blocking $2 billion previously allocated for barrier construction; and Ending the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” program. Click HERE for audio of Grassley discussing his letter to Vice President Harris. The full letter is available HERE and below. Vice President Kamala D. Harris The White House Office of the Vice President 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Vice President Harris: In one of your first official public appearances, you joined President Biden in the Oval Office when he opined on the Trump administration’s immigration and border policies. President Biden dismissed the previous administration’s policies as “counterproductive to our security,” “harmful,” and a “moral and national shame.” Since your first day in office, you and President Biden have worked to dismantle the Trump-era border policies and halted further construction of the border wall. The presidential proclamation terminating construction read, in part: “It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall.” This initiated a so-called “careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall.” By April 2021, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced the cancellation of border barrier projects. In June of the same year, the Biden-Harris administration returned $2 billion to the DOD previously allocated for the purpose of border wall construction. Your administration also initiated a review of the Remain in Mexico policy, which Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas subsequently ended in June 2021. Meanwhile, every fiscal year throughout your engagements, crossings from Mexico and the Northern Triangle markedly exceeded any year of the Trump administration. Despite the stark increase from those nations and many others, deportations and returns overall have decreased as a share of crossings. Now, you are engaging in a numbers racket, telling Americans modest decreases in encounters from soaring, record highs is somehow proof that what your administration has been doing all along is working. It is not. President Biden’s executive order—more than three years after your administration’s reckless reversal of key policies—is an implicit admission that he and you bear ultimate responsibility for this crisis and this disastrous approach. As a result of these slow-walked changes, our national security has been undermined and the safety of our communities has been threatened all across the country. Due to the Biden-Harris administration’s failure to achieve adequate border security, illegal immigrants, including those entering from Mexico and the Northern Triangle, have been able to perpetrate heinous acts against innocent American citizens. For example: On May 14, 2024, an 18-year-old Honduran national, who purportedly entered the United States illegally in April 2022, pled guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in Waterloo, Iowa. On April 2, 2024, a Honduran national, who was previously convicted of sexual assaulting a woman in Connecticut and deported, was charged for failing to register as a sex offender. He was reportedly able to re-enter the United States undetected by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and subsequently was arrested twice before being charged. On February 25, 2024, a 19-year-old Honduran national was arrested for the alleged rape and aggravated assault of a 14-year-old girl at knifepoint in Louisiana. He entered the United States illegally in October 2023. On May 4, 2024, a Guatemalan national was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in a van in Palm Beach County, Florida. He reportedly entered the United States illegally in January 2024, was given an immigration hearing date in 2027, and was released by DHS. On June 26, 2024, a Guatemalan national was charged with alleged sexually battery of a 14-year-old girl in Okaloosa County, Florida. He was deported on February 9, 2024, before this incident, but was able to re-enter the United States untraced days later. On May 8, 2024, an El Salvadoran migrant was arrested for allegedly murdering a woman and the malicious assault of two homeless individuals with a baseball bat in West Virginia. He had an extensive criminal history and was in prison in El Salvador for over twenty years for “DUI [driving under the influence], sexual assault/murder, aggravated robbery, and narcotics related crimes.” Law enforcement believes he illegally entered the United States shortly after his release from prison. This is just a snapshot from this year alone of the sorts of preventable tragedies, which have become all too common across the United States. The Biden-Harris administration’s policies—pulling resources, reversing Remain in Mexico, and stopping wall construction—are largely to blame for our open and unsafe border over the last three-and-a-half years. Because of your actions and inactions, every state is now a border state and every community is a border community. Given your role as the leader of engagement with this region, which the media has colloquially dubbed as “Border Czar” or “Root Causes Czar,” I ask that you provide answers to the following immigration and border policy questions by October 24, 2024. Have you engaged with your international counterparts regarding violence perpetrated against innocent Americans by citizens of their countries? Have you raised this concern with any counterpart(s)? If so, what concerns were raised and when? What was their response? In light of the Biden-Harris administration’s ending of Remain in Mexico in 2021, what data can you provide suggesting migration from Mexico has been “stemmed” as you were tasked with accomplishing prior to 2024? In February 2024, the Biden-Harris administration endorsed a proposal that, among other provisions, included a requirement that a few hundred million dollars in unspent funds be used specifically for border wall construction. As noted above, the Biden-Harris administration previously returned $2 billion allocated for the purpose of building a border wall. Did the Biden-Harris administration ever consider reversing course regarding this funding? If not, why not? If so, why has no discernable action been taken to that end? The Biden-Harris administration has auctioned off some $300 million worth of unused border wall materials for mere pennies on the dollar. Why did the Biden-Harris administration endorse a proposal asking Congress to require them to use hundreds of millions of unspent dollars for border wall construction after deciding to sit on hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of unused supplies instead of building the wall?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-stands-up-for-iowa-farmers-calls-out-biden-harris-ag-failures,"Grassley Stands Up for Iowa Farmers, Calls Out Biden-Harris Ag Failures",2024-10-15,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a lifelong family farmer and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is sharing Iowa farmers’ concerns regarding the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to agriculture, energy and trade. “Farmers are struggling to stay afloat thanks to falling profitability, sky high input costs and burdensome regulations,” Grassley said of his letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris. “In order to forge a better future for farmers, Washington needs to listen to the real-world experience of those with dirt under their fingernails. I’m demanding the Biden-Harris administration wake up to the challenges our farmers are facing.” Grassley’s letter shines light on President Biden and Vice President Harris’ harmful ag and trade policies, including: Excessive and unconstitutional regulations, such as the failed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule; The Biden-Harris Treasury Department’s restrictive 40B Sustainable Aviation Fuel tax credit guidelines; and Failure to establish a comprehensive trade strategy. Grassley is urging President Biden and Vice President Harris to prioritize agricultural issues and lend farmers a helping hand by issuing timely, science-backed guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuels tax credit and expanding market access. Download audio of Grassley discussing his letter HERE. Read the full letter HERE and below. Monday, October 14, 2024 The Honorable Joseph R. Biden President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the impact of your administration's policies on the agricultural community. As a lifelong family farmer, I know first-hand the decisions made at the federal level have far-reaching consequences. It is critical that these decisions support, rather than hinder, our farmers. Many aspects of farming have changed over the last four years of your administration. Unfortunately, the most important aspect of farming, profitability, has declined. In 2021, net farm cash income for the United States was around $176 billion. This year, 2024, net farm cash income is estimated to be down to $154 billion. As any farmer could tell you, if you aren't profitable, you won't be farming for long. I would like to take this opportunity to address areas where I believe your administration has fallen short in supporting the agriculture sector. First, under your administration the regulatory environment has become increasingly burdensome. Farmers and businesses alike have faced a host of new regulations that complicate their operations and drive up costs. For example, your changes to the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, would have covered over 90 percent or the State of lowa and made the government involved in any land management decision for farmers, developers, and businesses such as golf courses. Thankfully, all nine Supreme Court justices agreed that the Environmental Protection Agency's expansive regulatory efforts violated the Clean Water Act. From electric vehicle mandates to overly complicated strategies for herbicides and insecticides, farmers are concerned that these regulations will impose additional compliance costs and restrictions on their ability to manage their land effectively. This is also seen clearly in the Department of Treasury's guidance for the 40B sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. Instead of enabling farmers to benefit from science-backed farming practices that work for them, your administration's guidance restricted American farmers and benefitted foreign feedstocks. While I understand the need for sustainable practices, pushing farmers to specific farming practices can undermine the autonomy of farmers to make decisions that best suit their unique circumstances, and edge them out of new markets. Trade policy is another area where your administration has missed the mark. The lack of new trade agreements and uncertainty around tariffs has left the United States agriculture sector with a record estimated $30.5 billion trade deficit this year. In March, I joined 21 of my Senate colleagues in a letter to Ambassador Tai and Secretary Vilsack to ask if your administration intended to pursue any new free trade agreements. As my colleagues and I expressed at that time, the increased deficit is, ""exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade."" Though your administration has acted in trade disputes and other areas, it has been based on previous trade agreements established before your administration. The lack of a comprehensive strategy to expand market access for American agricultural products has been frustrating for farmers who rely on exporting their products to sustain their livelihoods. Lastly, I urge your administration to prioritize these important issues in the agricultural community. There are still important steps that you can take to support farmers. Issuing timely guidance on the 45Z clean fuels tax credit would help provide certainty to farmers looking to market the grain they are currently harvesting. Allowing farmers a seat at the table for 45Z guidance and reducing the complicated and unworkable structure from 40B would go a long way in ensuring farmers maintain their autonomy in farming practices. Thank you for your attention to these important issues. I look forward to your response and hope that in the coming months you work to support our farmers who continue to contribute to the nation's food security, fuel independence, and economic stability.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-afghan-national-charged-with-election-day-terror-plot,Q&A: Afghan National Charged With Election Day Terror Plot,2024-10-11,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: What concerns did you raise immediately after the Biden-Harris administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan? A: The Biden-Harris administration’s disorganized and disastrous exit from Afghanistan three years ago resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members by a suicide bombing. The images of Afghan civilians jumping onto and falling from a departing U.S. military aircraft underscored sheer chaos at the airport in Kabul. Like many Americans, it reminded me of the desperate 1975 retreat in Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. The botched departure in Afghanistan left behind American citizens and sophisticated American military equipment. It left millions of Afghan women and girls under the thumb of a murderous, suppressive Taliban regime and left a stain on American leadership, sowing seeds of doubt among our allies and partners, and sending a message of weakness to aggressive dictators like Vladimir Putin. Then, the Biden-Harris administration made matters even worse by failing to take the time to thoroughly vet Afghans applying to come to the United States. This put more American lives at risk. The Biden-Harris administration was green-lighting evacuees in a matter of hours or days. While the U.S. has an obligation to protect thousands of Afghans who helped American forces, there are serious questions how those who were evacuated were selected. The screening process exists for a reason: to protect Americans from bad actors seeking to enter the United States. Within a day of the U.S. leaving Afghanistan, I wrote the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security to demand answers. For years, I’ve pressed the Biden-Harris administration to do its job and come clean about deficient vetting of tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated by U.S. forces. According to a pair of internal watchdog reports from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, the administration’s failure to sufficiently screen Afghan evacuees raises serious public safety concerns. That’s why I’ve tirelessly pushed the Biden-Harris administration to tighten up the evacuee resettlement process and answer to independent congressional oversight inquiries, the linchpin of our system of checks and balances, on behalf of the American people. For the last three years, I’ve sounded alarms that individuals who may pose serious threats to national security are setting up shop on American soil. Q: Who did the FBI arrest just one month before Election Day? A: According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal complaint, the FBI recently arrested an Afghan national who had secured a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) to enter the United States during the same time as the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and is currently on parole status pending his immigration proceedings. Now in federal custody, the individual allegedly planned an Election Day terrorist attack in the United States on behalf of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS). According to the DOJ’s complaint, the FBI found pro-ISIS propaganda on the individual’s devices and communications saying, “[a]fter that we will begin our duty, God willing, with the help of God, we will get ready for the election day.” The good news is the FBI stopped this terrorist plot; the bad news is it exposes the clear and present danger created by the Biden-Harris administration’s failure to follow proper screening processes that are in place to prevent terrorists from getting to America in the first place. Since the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, more than 97,000 evacuees have been admitted into the United States. According to the Defense Department Inspector General, at least 50 Afghan evacuees paroled into the United States were later identified as having potentially significant security concerns that would disqualify them for parole or admission onto U.S. military bases used as temporary housing for evacuees. When I questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray about whether the FBI knows where these evacuees are located, he admitted the FBI doesn’t know where all of them are located at any given time. The Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies also have made communities across the country vulnerable to a terrorist attack. During this administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has encountered 382 individuals from the terror watch list. In fact, eight illegal immigrants from Tajikistan with alleged ties to terrorism are in the process of deportation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-investigation-into-fbi-sexual-misconduct-reveals-fox-is-guarding-the-hen-house,Grassley Investigation into FBI Sexual Misconduct Reveals ‘Fox is Guarding the Hen House’,2024-10-10,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is shining new light on the prevalence of sexual misconduct at the FBI, amid continued agency stonewalling and empty assurances from Director Christopher Wray that he would “follow up” on Grassley’s inquiries. Despite FBI’s lack of cooperation, Grassley’s ongoing oversight reveals the FBI is still not protecting its own employees from sexual harassment and is treating child sex abuse cases as a non-priority. Grassley today sent a pointed letter to the FBI and Justice Department (DOJ). In it, he urged the FBI to own up to its failures and provide the data he’s requested for years. The information Grassley recently received via protected whistleblower disclosures suggests his oversight dating back to October 2022 is as timely as ever. Sexual Misconduct Persists among FBI Employees: Latest records show the assistant director who requested a review of disciplinary patterns at the FBI – which found hundreds of senior officials voluntarily retired or resigned to evade accountability for sexual misconduct allegations – left the FBI while he, himself, was under investigation. “Apparently, one of the reasons DOJ and its component agencies can’t straighten out their problems of workplace harassment is that the fox is guarding the hen house,” Grassley wrote. “The supreme irony of [then-Executive Assistant Director of the Human Resources Branch, Jeffrey] Sallet requesting the [Office of Disciplinary Appeals] review of senior officials retiring or resigning to avoid disciplinary action is that ‘Sallet left the FBI and federal service while this investigation was ongoing.’” FBI Moves Agents off Child Sex Abuse Cases, onto January 6 Cases: Per protected whistleblower disclosures, the FBI has reassigned personnel from high-volume child exploitation cases to January 6 cases. Grassley notes FBI’s failure to dedicate adequate resources to child sex abuse cases is a decades-old problem politicization at the bureau is exacerbating. One reassigned whistleblower said they sat “essentially idle for eight to nine months” on January 6 cases while child sex abuse cases piled up. An Assistant Special Agent in Charge reportedly told that whistleblower, “Child sexual abuse material investigations were no longer an FBI priority […].” “One thing is certain,” Grassley wrote, “The FBI will not be able to remedy its many failings in this area if it treats sexual abuse against children as a non-priority.” Background: DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and Congress have long pushed FBI to address sexual harassment across the bureau. In 2021, DOJ OIG issued the FBI two recommendations on its demonstrated failures to hold employees responsible for wrongdoing after they separate from the agency, particularly when they do so while under investigation. As of today, approximately three years later, the FBI has not closed either of those recommendations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ossoff-laud-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-prison-contraband-bill,"Grassley, Ossoff Laud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Prison Contraband Bill",2024-10-10,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of their Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act. The bipartisan bill aims to increase the penalty for smuggling or possessing a contraband cellphone in federal prisons from a misdemeanor to a felony. It now awaits passage in the House of Representatives. “Contraband cellphones allow prisoners to coordinate illegal activity from behind bars. That’s an obvious security risk to prison staff, other inmates and the public,” Grassley said. “I’m glad the Senate passed our bipartisan legislation to stiffen penalties for cellphone smuggling, and the House ought to follow suit.” “My bipartisan investigations of corruption, abuse, and misconduct in the Federal prison system have revealed systemic challenges that allow for the dangerous flow of contraband, which is a threat to safety and security,” Ossoff said. “Bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we’ve passed our bipartisan bill to strengthen penalties for smuggling contraband into Federal prisons.” “A cell phone in a prison is a deadly weapon. Yet, as our investigative work continues to demonstrate, contraband cell phones have proven to be pervasive inside many federal prisons—a reality that undermines the safety and security of these institutions for BOP staff, inmates, and the public,” said Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz. “Lieutenant Albarati was a true hero, selflessly dedicated to making his community and MDC Guaynabo safer by preventing criminal activity inside the facility. I commend Senators Ossoff, Grassley, and Booker for honoring his memory by sponsoring this public safety reform and for recognizing the severity of this problem. By making the introduction of a cell phone into a prison a felony, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act will allow investigators and prosecutors to more effectively bring to justice those introducing cell phones into prisons, curb the flow of illicit cell phones into prisons, make our communities and prisons safer, and help to save lives. We look forward to working with the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis, as it considers this critical public safety reform.” Additional cosponsors include Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Bill text is available HERE. Letters of support from the National Council of Prison Locals, Voices of Joe and the American Federation of Government Employees are available HERE. Background: The Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act builds on the Grassley-Feinstein Cell Phone Contraband Act, which became law in 2010, designating cellphones as contraband in federal prison. Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati, a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer, was murdered in 2013 after completing his shift at a federal prison in Puerto Rico. Five men who plead guilty to the crime admitted they targeted Albarati as a direct result of continuous seizures of contraband, including cellphones. The inmate who placed the hit on Albarati did so using a contraband cellphone. A recent DOJ report from Inspector General Horowitz found nearly a third of deaths in BOP custody have occurred as a result of contraband, drugs or weapons.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-colleagues-push-doj-to-investigate-requirements-for-hamas-linked-campus-orgs-to-register-as-foreign-agents,"Grassley, Colleagues Push DOJ to Investigate Requirements for Hamas-Linked Campus Orgs to Register as Foreign Agents",2024-10-09,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI regarding Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) enforcement, raising concerns Hamas-linked entities are escaping FARA scrutiny as they seek to shape U.S. public opinion and policy outcomes through partnerships with campus organizations. Joining Grassley on the effort are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.). The senators’ inquiry hones in on the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) – which received backing from an organization whose associated entities the U.S. government has implicated for financing Hamas – and the hundreds of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters NSJP claims to support across the U.S. Their letter reads, in part: “It is incumbent upon all of us crack down on hidden foreign influence. […] The introduction of hostile foreign adversaries into domestic political discussion is especially of issue when it is fueling an alarming rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. The public reporting appears to indicate that NSJP and related chapters may fit into the FARA definition of ‘publicity agent,’ at minimum, and its conduct, among other activity, may constitute a public relations effort designed to impact U.S. public opinion in favor of a foreign principal, which would meet FARA’s definition of political activities. “Taken as a whole, these actions require further investigation from DOJ and the FBI to fully determine whether NSJP and SJP chapters should register as foreign agents under FARA and the extent of Hamas and Iran’s potential involvement.” Grassley and his colleagues cite numerous examples that signal NSJP and SJP chapters may have an obligation to register as agents under FARA. Several follow. Federal court filings from state Attorneys General assert NSJP’s material support to Hamas. Dozens of SJP chapters echoed NSJP’s social media messages lauding Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023, attack on Israel; some “[praised] the creativity” of Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israeli civilians. NSJP urged SJP chapters in the U.S. to publicly facilitate and join “armed struggles, general strikes and popular demonstrations.” NSJP launched a campaign against U.S. college administrators, pushing for divestments in Israel-connected assets. NSJP held a summer 2024 program for SJP participants to “deepen our understanding of our current political moment […] with the aim entrenching the frameworks necessary to sustain and grow the Student Intifada.” NSJP has stated it “aim[s] to develop a student movement that is connected, disciplined, and equipped” with tools toward fulfilling its mission. Considering this evidence and more, the senators are asking DOJ and FBI pointed questions about the steps they have taken to assess NSJP and SJP’s potential requirement to register as foreign agents. Read the full letter HERE. Background: Congress passed FARA in 1938 to identify Nazi propaganda and other foreign efforts to sway U.S. policy and public opinion. The content-neutral law was designed not to prohibit activity, but rather, to ensure certain individuals who act as agents of a foreign government or enterprise register with DOJ. Grassley previously pressed for FARA enforcement as Confucius Institutes cropped up on college campuses, working to combat Chinese Communist Party influence in the U.S. education system. He has probed potential FARA violations in recent Congresses, including by Qatari media network Al Jazeera, a Ukrainian operative who consulted for the Democrat National Committee and a Russian lobbyist who attended a meeting with Donald Trump, Jr. Grassley questioned the Biden family’s FARA compliance amid business dealings with a Chinese energy company and sought answers upon learning the top lobbying firm for Ukrainian energy company Burisma filed incomplete disclosures. A longtime advocate of enforcing FARA to the fullest extent, he is leading congressional oversight and legislative reforms to further strengthen the law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-condemns-biden-harris-admin-for-ignoring-alarms-about-afghan-evacuee-vetting-resettlement-procedures,"Grassley Condemns Biden-Harris Admin for Ignoring Alarms about Afghan Evacuee Vetting, Resettlement Procedures",2024-10-09,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today issued the below statement on the FBI arresting an Afghan native who secured a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) to enter the U.S. following the Biden-Harris administration’s botched troop withdrawal from the region in 2021. The individual, now in federal custody, was plotting an ISIS-fueled terrorist attack on American soil in the coming weeks. “I was highly vocal about the need to thoroughly vet SIV applicants during – and in the weeks, months and years following – the Biden-Harris administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. But the White House, executive agencies and many of my Democratic colleagues in Congress were quick to dismiss those glaring alarms,” Grassley said. “The number one job of our government is to protect its citizens. By hiding behind clerical excuses, refusing to take accountability and neglecting to address known vulnerabilities in vetting and resettlement processes, the Biden-Harris administration failed to prioritize Americans’ safety and, once again, projected weakness on the global stage.” Grassley’s Related Oversight, Legislative Work July 1, 2024: Watchdog Report Corroborates Grassley Oversight of DHS, FBI Failures to Properly Vet Afghan Evacuees July 21, 2023: Grassley & Judiciary Committee Colleagues Introduce Bill To Protect Afghan Allies May 12, 2023: Grassley Joins Thune, Risch, Colleagues To Introduce Bill To Release Afghanistan Dissent Cable September 21, 2022: Grassley: Americans Deserve To Know How FBI Is Addressing Afghan Evacuee Vetting Failures September 7, 2022: Grassley Statement On DHS Inspector General Finding Deficiencies With Vetting Of Afghan Parolees August 22, 2022: Senators Seek Transparency On Flagged Afghan Evacuees Amid Ongoing Concerns Of Vetting, Security Failures August 4, 2022: Grassley Statement At FBI Oversight Hearing May 27, 2022: Grassley, Portman, Inhofe Demand Update From FBI On Afghan Evacuees Flagged For Security Concerns, Denounce DHS’ Continued Failure To Use All Vetting Tools February 17, 2022: Grassley Statement On Watchdog Warnings About Deficient Vetting Of Afghan Evacuees December 22, 2021: Portman, Grassley, Shelby, Risch, Inhofe & Capito Request Biden Administration Provide Overdue Report On Composition & Vetting Of Afghan Evacuees October 28, 2021: State Dept. AWOL As Americans, Allies Remain Stranded In Afghanistan September 27, 2021: Grassley On Afghanistan Collapse Through The Lens Of The Inspector General September 27, 2021: Grassley Presses Justice Dept., FBI On Terrorist Travel After Afghanistan Withdrawal September 15, 2021: Grassley On President Biden's Afghanistan Failures August 31, 2021: Grassley To Biden Admin: Don’t Let Bad Actors Take Advantage Of Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal August 26, 2021: Grassley Statement on Afghanistan",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/cbo-estimate-2024-deficit-reaches-18-trillion-under-biden-harris-spending,CBO Estimate: 2024 Deficit Reaches $1.8 Trillion under Biden-Harris Spending,2024-10-08,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today estimated the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 deficit was $1.8 trillion, double what the agency projected when the Biden-Harris administration took office. Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement on the need to reverse course. “President Biden and Vice President Harris have ignored resounding messages from Iowans and Americans nationwide, as well as alarms from global credit ratings companies. By consistently choosing a spendthrift agenda over fiscal sanity, this administration has hamstrung our economy for generations to come,” Grassley said. “Our nation needs a change of pace from the one this administration has set. Vice President Harris’ recent proposals, however, signal an unwillingness to meaningfully address Americans’ concerns and a readiness to double down on policies that have caused major consequences, like prices rising over 20 percent in less than four years.” Per CBO’s report, in FY 2024: The deficit totaled $1.8 trillion, up $139 billion from FY 2023 and double what CBO estimated when the Biden-Harris administration took office. Spending increased $617 billion (10 percent) from FY 2023, driven in part by costly executive actions and soaring interest payments. Net interest payments on the national debt totaled $950 billion, up $240 billion (34 percent) from FY 2023. Background on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Irresponsible Economic Record: Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the U.S. credit outlook last year, citing the deficit as a key factor in its decision. Independent experts, such as the Federal Reserve Chairman and CBO Director, have warned that our nation is on an “unsustainable fiscal path.” Even so, the Biden-Harris administration plowed full steam ahead with trillion-dollar student loan bailout schemes and a $21 billion Medicare cost-shifting plan – an attempt to cover up negative effects the so-called Inflation “Reduction” Act is having on seniors, including hiking premiums and reducing plan options. Further, high borrowing costs and mounting federal debt have increased spending on net interest payments, which now exceed discretionary outlays for national defense. In early 2021, when interest rates sat at a record low, White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young claimed it would be a “historic missed opportunity” to forego borrowing trillions of dollars. Grassley last week called out OMB for neglecting to provide CBO with enough information to fully analyze the fiscal impacts of the Biden-Harris administration’s 2025 budget, despite committing to doing so.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-and-gop-colleagues-stand-with-israel-condemn-iran-backed-hamas-one-year-after-terror-attacks,"Grassley, Ernst & GOP Colleagues Stand with Israel, Condemn Iran-Backed Hamas One Year After Terror Attacks",2024-10-07,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, one year since terrorist group Hamas invaded Israel, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and all Senate Republicans in fully condemning Hamas, calling for American hostages’ safe return home and reaffirming U.S. support for an enduring, prosperous Israel. “For the past 12 months, the Israeli military has taken necessary actions to preserve its homeland and neutralize the threat of horrific Iran-backed, Hamas terrorism. In the face of ongoing Iranian aggression and rising antisemitism, the United States remains unwavering in our resolve to stand with Israel – our strongest ally in the Middle East,” Grassley said. “This time last year, I woke up in the Middle East to the unbearable news that Israel was under attack by Iran-backed terrorists and Americans were being killed and taken hostage,” Ernst said. “I immediately traveled into Israel to show that our nation’s friendship is unwavering, in good times and bad. Regardless of whether I have been in Jerusalem, Washington or Iowa, I have worked around the clock to hold the White House accountable to its ‘ironclad’ commitment, bring our hostages home, and cut off the source of terrorism in Tehran. One year since that day, as Israel remains under attack on all fronts, Senate Republicans stand united with our greatest ally in the Middle East.” Read the resolution HERE. Grassley Stands with Israel: Grassley has long worked to maintain and fortify the United States’ partnership with Israel. Since October 7, 2023, Grassley has led legislative efforts to reaffirm Israel’s right to self-defense, counter Iran’s terrorist regime and seek justice for victims of antisemitism. Learn more HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-biden-harris-stonewalling-prevents-cbo-from-conducting-complete-analysis-of-presidents-2025-budget,Grassley: Biden-Harris Stonewalling Prevents CBO from Conducting Complete Analysis of President’s 2025 Budget,2024-10-04,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today issued the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)’s report, “An Analysis of the President’s 2025 Budget.” “Biden-Harris pie-in-the-sky policy proposals are so unrealistic CBO can’t even calculate their budget impact. This administration's unprecedented lack of transparency and fiscal discipline is insulting to Congress and the taxpayer,” Grassley said. “President Biden and Vice President Harris shouldn’t count on Congress to go along with their plan to stick Americans with the bill for a bunch of unclear initiatives – especially today, when households are facing 20 percent higher prices than they were four years ago.” The nonpartisan CBO has analyzed presidents’ budget proposals since the 1970s. Due to limited detail in many Biden-Harris policies, CBO hasn’t been able to estimate their budgetary effects as promptly or precisely as past administrations. Grassley in March asked White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young if she would give CBO all the information it needs for this year’s report to Congress. In response, Director Young committed, “We will provide CBO what they need to do this independent assessment.” Despite this promise, CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) did not have enough information from OMB to produce independent estimates for more than 60 Biden-Harris budget proposals. Notably: CBO could not determine the total spending, revenues, deficits and debt under the Biden-Harris budget. For the tax and mandatory spending policies CBO and JCT could assess, they found the administration overstated expected savings by over $1 trillion. CBO projects Biden-Harris’ base nondefense funding request exceeded the spending cap enacted in the Fiscal Responsibility Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/cbo-confirms-biden-harris-medicare-cost-shifting-policy-will-cost-taxpayers-billions,CBO Confirms: Biden-Harris Medicare Cost-Shifting Policy Will Cost Taxpayers Billions,2024-10-03,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued its fiscal analysis of the Biden-Harris administration’s Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration Program. Among other findings, CBO estimates the program – which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched to artificially lower seniors’ premiums that have surged due to Democrat policymaking – could cost taxpayers more than $21 billion over three years if implemented as planned. CBO conducted its analysis at the request of Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), along with Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.). “When Democrats unilaterally enacted major changes to Medicare two years ago, they set seniors up for new expenses and fewer options. This nonpartisan CBO analysis confirms CMS’s cost-shifting plan is a dishonest election year gimmick to cover up those consequences,” Grassley said. “Rather than coming to the table and legitimately addressing its partisan mistakes, the Biden-Harris administration threw taxpayer dollars at the problems it created, putting Americans on the hook for tens of billions more dollars.” “As predicted, the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act not only quelled investment for new cures, but caused Medicare prescription drug plan premiums to skyrocket, and Democrats are scrambling to cover it up before the election. In July, the Biden-Harris CMS scrambled to create a new federal program that will send billions of tax dollars to large health insurance companies to cover up a massive flaw in their so-called Inflation Reduction Act,” Arrington said. “Today, CBO confirmed that the administration’s election year Hail Mary will cost taxpayers an astounding $7 billion next year alone, and $21 billion over the planned three-year demo, adding to the more than $2 trillion in Biden-Harris executive spending.” CBO findingsof note: Background: Congressional Democrats in the Inflation Reduction Act significantly redesigned the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit at an estimated cost of nearly $30 billion over 10 years. PDP sponsors then moved to increase their plan bids and base beneficiary premiums, while reducing plan offerings for 2025. As a reaction, CMS announced its Premium Stabilization Demonstration. This cost-shifting program artificially lowered the cost of seniors’ Part D premiums by sending federal funds to large health insurance companies. It applies a uniform reduction of $15 to the base beneficiary premium, establishing a year-over-year limit of $35 on how much a plan’s total Part D premium can increase. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board called the demonstration a “Medicare election bribe for seniors.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-hyde-smith-targeted-program-offers-rural-hospitals-financial-shot-in-the-arm-but-cms-isnt-maximizing-it,"Grassley, Hyde-Smith: Targeted Program Offers Rural Hospitals Financial ‘Shot in the Arm,’ but CMS Isn’t Maximizing It",2024-10-03,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) are pressing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on its refusal to use the budget-neutral Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD), despite the program’s proven efficacy for participating rural hospitals and qualifying facilities’ interest in joining. “CMS last solicited program applications in 2017 and has communicated to us that the agency is not planning any further solicitations. Current law allows up to 30 hospitals to participate in the RCHD, but for the past several years CMS has underutilized the program, leaving as many as eight spots vacant,” the senators wrote CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure. “A 2022 evaluation report found that new hospitals participating in the RCHD program saw their finances stabilize. The evaluation noted that hospitals joining the program saw a ‘large, positive, and statistically significant increases in their Medicare inpatient and combined margins.’ Rural stakeholders have called the RCHD a ‘lifeline’ and that has enabled struggling hospitals to expand health care services to seniors,” they continued. “The RCHD program is supporting rural hospitals and it should be fully utilized. If CMS has the tools to help one rural hospital, then you should be doing something about it.” Read Grassley and Hyde-Smith’s full letter HERE. Background: The RCHD program improves financial viability for hospitals that are too large to be Critical Access Hospitals and too small to succeed under Medicare’s hospital inpatient prospective payment system. Congress established the RCHD in 2003 and has reauthorized it three times since. Grassley’s RCHD Efforts: Grassley is a lifelong resident of rural Iowa who, through his membership and leadership on the Senate Finance Committee, consistently works to improve patients’ access to care and ensure their hospitals stay open, regardless of where they’re located. Last year, Grassley secured a commitment from Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra that his agency would “do more” to support rural hospitals in need. Grassley followed up shortly after, urging CMS to open RCHD spots. At Grassley’s request, CMS spoke with Iowa facilities looking to participate in the RCHD program. However, after months sans action, Grassley at a March hearing questioned Secretary Becerra about his failure to fill program openings, asserting the agency should be wielding every tool in the toolbox to help rural hospitals.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-one-year-since-october-7-attacks,Q&A: One Year Since October 7 Attacks,2024-10-03,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: Are you surprised the conflict in the Middle East is escalating? A: It’s been one year since the horrific terrorist attack in Israel, when the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched its brutal assault killing 1,200 people, systematically raping women and taking 250 people hostage, including Americans. Among those taken hostage were elderly people and infants. At least ninety-seven hostages are still believed to be alive in captivity, including two children. Throughout the last year, I’ve worked to keep up the public pressure for their safe return home. Tragically, a month ago, Hamas murdered six Israeli hostages, including an American with dual citizenship. In July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a historic fourth appearance before a joint session of Congress. He spoke about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and underscored the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel, the only democracy and our most trusted ally in the Middle East. For 12 months, Israel has been fighting Hamas in the Gaza strip, where the terrorist group has embedded itself among the civilian population, urging Gazans not to comply with evacuation warnings, using schools and hospitals as military bases and a United Nations headquarters to provide power to its network of terror tunnels. In response to 11 months of constant missile attacks that have forced 68,000 Israelis to flee their homes, Israel recently launched military strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both fronts underscore the danger of appeasement pushed by the Obama and Biden administrations. Iran’s military and financial support for terrorist groups has one goal: to wipe the Jewish people and the State of Israel off the face of the Earth. Israel must be able to defend itself against attacks from Iran and its proxies and I have supported military aid to uphold U.S. leadership for peace in the world. Earlier this year, I condemned action by the Biden administration to block or restrict the supply of U.S. ammunition and weapons to Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security and long-term prosperity must be upheld. Terrorism has no place at home or abroad. That’s also why I’ve called upon the Biden-Harris administration to secure our southern border. The open border policies of this administration are putting national security at risk. Hamas and Hezbollah fighters could take advantage of the lax enforcement at our southern border to plan an attack on U.S. soil. The number one responsibility of the federal government is national security. Complacency is not an option. Peace through strength works. The United States must not bow to our adversaries, such as approving reckless nuclear agreements with Iran. Most recently, I joined dozens of my Senate colleagues to condemn proposals that would strip Israel’s right to self defense. As we observe the one-year anniversary of the barbaric attacks against Jewish civilians, America and the community of nations must stand shoulder to shoulder to support Israel’s sovereignty and unite against terrorists plotting to destroy the historic homeland of the Jewish people. Q: How are you working to stop antisemitism surging on college campuses? A: As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I shined a bright light on the rise of antisemitism in the United States during a congressional hearing convened in September. The hearing examined the rising tide of hate crimes in America. Shortly after the attacks last year, I called upon the Biden administration to enforce anti-discrimination laws and protect Jewish students on our college campuses. Since the Oct. 7 attacks, antisemitic threats have spiked, including violent protests, campus encampments and barricades inside of school buildings. Some schools canceled commencement ceremonies to protect public safety. Reports of antisemitic incidents on U.S. college campuses surged 700 percent in the last year. Enough is enough.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-and-colleagues-outline-stark-consequences-of-biden-harris-failure-to-follow-border-laws-protect-whistleblowers,"Grassley and Colleagues Outline Stark Consequences of Biden-Harris Failure to Follow Border Laws, Protect Whistleblowers",2024-10-02,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led 32 Senate and House colleagues in demanding President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris collect DNA samples from every immigrant the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) encounters, per the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005. Legally protected whistleblowers to Grassley’s office have exposed how DHS’s failure to collect DNA hampers law enforcement efforts to stop violent crime. Notably, DHS missed three separate opportunities to gather DNA from the illegal immigrant who murdered Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five. “It is beyond heartbreaking to know that my daughter’s brutal death could have been prevented. This isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight; it’s a deadly failure that turned a protective measure into a hollow promise,” said Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin. “President Biden and Vice President Harris’ reckless disregard for border security puts every American family in imminent danger. How many more precious lives have to be lost before they decide to protect the people they were elected to serve?” “Following the law, protecting whistleblowers and ensuring the safety of American citizens like Rachel Morin shouldn’t be controversial,” Grassley and colleagues wrote to President Biden and Vice President Harris. “The Biden-Harris administration’s DHS must follow the law—the consequences are stark when they don’t.” Read the full letter HERE. Background: The DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 requires federal law enforcement to collect DNA from every individual Customs and Border Protections (CBP) arrests, charges, convicts or detains. Yet, per whistleblower disclosures to Grassley’s office, DHS has collected DNA samples from fewer than approximately 40 percent of the more than 10 million known illegal immigrants who have entered the country during the Biden-Harris administration. Whistleblowers additionally revealed to Grassley that a CBP official who recently visited major border facilities in Arizona and California did not observe any DNA collection taking place. As a result of disclosing DHS’s failures to Congress, whistleblowers have suffered long-term, severe retaliation. Joining Grassley on the letter are House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), as well as Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). Additional House co-signers include Reps. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) and Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-introduce-bill-to-deport-illegal-migrants-convicted-of-sex-crimes,"Grassley, Ernst Introduce Bill to Deport Illegal Migrants Convicted of Sex Crimes",2024-10-02,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in reintroducing bipartisan legislation to deport illegal immigrants convicted of sexual offenses. The legislation follows recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data revealing more than 15,000 illegal immigrants convicted of sexual assault currently reside in the U.S. outside of ICE custody. “Sexual violence has no place in America,” Grassley said. “The Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies have allowed criminals to enter our country and threaten the safety of our communities. I’m fighting to uphold the law and protect American citizens.” “These violent criminals never would have entered America in the first place if we had real border security, but now that they’re in our communities, they need to BE GONE,” Ernst said. “Since Border Czar Kamala Harris won’t protect this country, then I will. My legislation will combat sexual violence by ensuring predators are identified, stopped and deported.” Download bill text HERE. Background: The Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by Unnaturalized Emigrants (BE GONE) Act would classify sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as “aggravated felonies” under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Migrants convicted of “aggravated felonies” are subject to immediate deportation and barred from reentering the U.S. Grassley continues to push back against the Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies. He is cosponsoring legislation requiring ICE to arrest, detain and deport criminal migrants, and has also worked to root out abuse of the immigration parole program and reform the Biden-Harris program endangering migrant children. Further, he’s sounded the alarm on the Department of Homeland Security’s unlawful failures to collect DNA from illegal immigrants at the border.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-warren-colleagues-lead-legislation-to-limit-waste-and-paperwork-at-the-pentagon,"Grassley, Warren, Colleagues Lead Legislation to Limit Waste & Paperwork at the Pentagon",2024-10-01,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce wasteful reporting burdens at the Department of Defense (DOD) and enhance congressional oversight of taxpayer dollars. Specifically, the Streamline Pentagon Spending Act would repeal a 2016 statute that requires military chiefs of staff and commandants to provide Congress a list of unfunded priorities on top of annual budget submissions. “Strengthening national security ought to be our strict focus, and I’m always working to support robust military capabilities. But my longtime oversight shows the Pentagon can’t even balance its books, so why do our laws demand the Defense Department seek even more taxpayer dollars?” Grassley said. “Our bill strikes down the unfunded priorities mandate to help cut back on paperwork and wasteful spending.” “The budget process is all about making tough decisions and setting clear priorities – requesting billions of dollars in vague ‘unfunded priorities’ undermines that process. We need to get rid of the requirement to provide these wish lists in order to cut down on wasteful spending,” Warren said. “Our crushing national debt is a national security threat. Defense is the most important thing we do, and if we’re going to get our service members the best equipment, we need a stable budgeting process. Unfunded priority lists may have started with good intentions, but as Congress’s budget dysfunction has gotten worse it has morphed into another budgeting gimmick with negative results such as non-necessities being included in the budget and critical necessities ended up on a wish list. The nation and our military deserve a stable budgeting process, which this legislation will be a step toward,” Braun said. Download bill text HERE. Background: The Streamline Pentagon Spending Act would repeal the unfunded priorities list requirement for: top military officers; combatant commanders; the Missile Defense Agency; the National Nuclear Security Administration; and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Unlike agencies’ annual budget submissions, unfunded priorities lists often fail to consider the long-term costs of these investments over the future years defense plan. DOD in 2023 supported getting rid of the lists, saying they have “no necessary connection to the [Defense] Secretary’s global priorities.” Grassley’s Work to Address DOD’s Troubling Financial History: DOD is the only federal agency to have never passed a financial audit. Grassley has conducted oversight and led bipartisan legislation to improve the agency’s controls. He has additionally spearheaded multi-year investigations into price gouging practices by DOD contractors. The Streamline the Pentagon Act complements Grassley’s longstanding efforts to cut waste and abuse across DOD’s financial systems.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/icymi-grassley-discusses-bipartisanship-and-bringing-iowans-messages-to-washington,ICYMI: Grassley Discusses Bipartisanship & Bringing Iowans’ Messages to Washington,2024-09-30,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined the 13th and Park podcast to discuss bipartisanship, food security and more. Watch the full episode HERE. Subject-specific excerpts follow. On the Top Concerns Iowans Raised at This Year’s 99 County Meetings: “In two-thirds of the 99 counties, the Farm Bill came up – ‘Why aren’t we passing a five-year Farm Bill?’ Beyond that, the irritation that Iowans have, and I think in the entire country, with Biden deciding to do different than Trump was doing, have an open border – having 10 million people illegally enter our country because, you know, you can’t enter America without our permission, that’s what the law says, but the president doesn’t enforce the law. Then beyond that, and maybe even more so, is the high cost of living. For a family of four in Iowa, that’s $7,500 more a year that they’re spending, and that’s burned into their budget for the rest of their life.” On Bipartisanship: “Partisanship is greater now than it’s ever been in the 44 years I’ve been in the Senate, but I think people get the view that it’s really bad – and so bad that Democrats don’t talk to Republicans and vice versa. I like to explain to my constituents: to get to finality on an issue, you have to have bipartisanship.” “You get an awkward view of it from the media, because they like to always talk about the fighting that’s going on in Washington. So when people get together and get something done, you never read about it, because it isn’t fighting. You’ve got to have credibility. Journalism always emphasizing disagreement hurts the credibility of Congress.” On Amplifying Farmers’ Voices in Washington: “It’s important that the two percent of people that are actually family farmers speak up, so people know that food grows on farms and not in grocery stores, or milk comes out of a cow instead of out of a bottle. I think 98 percent of the people don’t really realize that. So, speak up for it. In the United States Senate, those of us who are crop farmers have to speak up in the same way.” ""I’m not the only one that knows something about agriculture, but I think I’m one of the few that have dirt under our fingernails, and that’s what’s so important – to get the word out. Because food security is a part of national security.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-whitehouse-seek-reauthorization-of-critical-juvenile-justice-program,"Grassley, Whitehouse Seek Reauthorization of Critical Juvenile Justice Program",2024-09-27,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) this week introduced the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDPA) Reauthorization Act, renewing a yearslong bipartisan effort to protect and improve outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system. The bill reauthorizes key delinquency prevention programs, empowers community stakeholders and bolsters federal protections for incarcerated minors. Grassley is a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Whitehouse also serves as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. “Kids in our juvenile justice system ought to receive safe, fair treatment that encourages respect for the law and, ultimately, smooths transitions back to their communities,” Grassley said. “The federal juvenile justice program ensures minors receive adequate protections from these centers operating on the taxpayer’s dime. Our bipartisan bill builds off decades of work to strengthen the core tenets of this critical program, and I thank Senator Whitehouse for his continued partnership.” “Senator Grassley has been my stalwart partner over the years in strengthening protections for kids in the justice system. I’m very pleased to launch our latest effort together to ensure that young people receive age-appropriate, community-centered support to stay out of the juvenile justice system and have a better chance to get their lives back on track after getting out,” Whitehouse said. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act: Reauthorizes through 2029 the Charles Grassley Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program. This program empowers local stakeholders to better meet the needs of their communities, improves the effectiveness of State Juvenile Justice Advisory Groups, and bolsters federal protections for kids in the justice system. Renews the Youth PROMISE Grants and the Tribal Youth Program to support at-risk or delinquent youth at the local level. Download bill text HERE. Background: Grassley and Whitehouse in 2018 championed the first reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in nearly 16 years. Their landmark legislation made significant updates to the 1974 law, including measures to expand program oversight, promote screening for mental illness and substance abuse, prohibit the shackling of pregnant youth in juvenile detention, ensure the separation of juvenile and adult offenders and provide detained children access to adequate legal representation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-named-clean-energy-champion,Grassley Named Clean Energy Champion,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) named Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) a 2024 Clean Energy Champion. Grassley delivered remarks upon receiving the award at a reception celebrating the eighth annual National Clean Energy Week. Grassley accepts 2024 Clean Energy Champion award from CRES President Heather Reams. Download photos from the reception. “Energy security demands an all-the-above approach that taps innovators right here at home. Not to mention, diversifying our renewable energy portfolio supports good jobs and eases the pocketbook pinch for consumers,” Grassley said. “I’ve long championed legislation to build out our wind energy infrastructure, and I continue to be a fierce advocate for biofuels producers. It’s an honor to receive this recognition – while the award acknowledges past efforts, you can bet it’ll help fuel my future work, too.” ""As a vocal advocate for wind energy, biofuels and innovation, Senator Grassley has been a trailblazer for clean energy in Iowa and across the country – recognizing that American-made energy not only reduces global emissions but strengthens our economy,” said CRES President Heather Reams. “His work to promote clean energy is why CRES is proud to honor Senator Grassley as a 2024 CRES Clean Energy Champion.” Background: Iowa’s renewable energy industry directly employs over 13,000 Iowans and has garnered roughly $25 billion in private investment. Grassley’s work to connect Iowa’s rural and agricultural communities with clean energy opportunities spans decades. Wind: Grassley in 1993 shepherded into law the first-ever wind energy tax credit. His leadership served as a catalyst for farmers to harvest wind, creating new revenue streams for Iowans and expanding energy sources. Today, wind energy powers approximately 62 percent of Iowa’s net electricity generation, the highest of any state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently announced the industry is driving job growth nationwide. Biofuels: Grassley spearheaded key portions of the 2003 Energy Bill, which contained nearly $15.5 billion in tax incentives for Iowa energy. Two years later, he helped establish the Renewable Fuel Standard through the Energy Policy Act of 2005; he frequently conducts oversight to ensure the executive branch implements the law as intended. As a lifelong corn and soybean farmer, Grassley is quick to tout the geopolitical, economic and environmental benefits of embracing grain feedstocks. Learn more about his actions this Congress to expand markets for producers HERE. Solar: Grassley has sought solutions to ensure the U.S. continues to develop solar energy infrastructure, while simultaneously preserving land stewardship.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-risch-biden-harris-admin-should-work-with-western-hemisphere-partners-to-arrest-and-extradite-maduro,"Grassley, Risch: Biden-Harris Admin Should Work with Western Hemisphere Partners to Arrest and Extradite Maduro",2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on reports that Nicolás Maduro has been invited to Mexico’s presidential inauguration next week: “For nearly four years, the Biden-Harris administration has failed to do the bare minimum to hold indicted narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro accountable. We are encouraged to see Argentina and Ecuador join in the call to arrest Maduro. The Biden-Harris administration should follow suit and work with our democratic partners in the Western Hemisphere to seek the arrest and extradition of Maduro if he visits Mexico in the next few days.” Background: Grassley and Risch wrote Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in November requesting an explanation of what, if any, legal actions the Department of Justice and State Department have taken since 2021 to seek the arrest and extradition of Nicolás Maduro.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-welcomes-witness-insights-on-business-tax-considerations-in-a-post-wayfair-world,Grassley Welcomes Witness Insights on Business Tax Considerations in a ‘Post-Wayfair’ World,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, participated in a hearing titled “Providing Small Business Relief from Remote Sales Tax Collection.” Grassley in his opening remarks acknowledged challenges small online retailers have faced since South Dakota v. Wayfair. He additionally discussed Iowa’s membership in the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement and its associated reforms to facilitate compliance with state tax laws. Click the corresponding links for: Transcript of Grassley’s opening statement Video of Grassley’s opening statement Video of Grassley’s witnesses questioning Excerpts from Grassley's exchange with hearing witnesses follow. Lowering Burdens in Non-Streamline States Grassley: ""Since the Wayfair decision, have states that aren’t Streamlined members enacted reforms to limit burdens on interstate commerce or taken steps to join Streamlined?"" Craig Johnson, Executive Director, Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board: “Most states have not done anything specifically, that I am aware of, to remove those undue burdens. Now, they have done what the Supreme Court noted in Wayfair: they did the no retroactive applications, they put in a small seller threshold. But the question is, did they do the third thing, which is, remove the undue burdens or join the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board? I think that’s the question that still remains, and that’s a question the Supreme Court did not answer.” Impact of Simplification Requirements on Retailers Compliance with Sales Taxes Grassley: “Mr. Johnson, you note that more than 30,000 sellers have registered with Streamlined to collect and remit taxes to members. [... Another witness,] Mr. Bishop-Henchman, notes it is estimated that nearly 50,000 businesses are ignoring their obligation to collect and remit sales taxes and risking getting caught. In your view, would greater adoption of the simplification requirements implemented by Streamlined members increase the compliance rate of retailers with sales tax obligations – in other words, getting at those 50,000?” Johnson: “As far as whether or not [greater adoption of Streamlined simplification requirements] would improve the compliance, I think the answer is yes, absolutely it would. I think our member states have recognized the simpler you make the laws for sellers to comply with, the greater the voluntary compliance. And you’re going to recognize the revenues that are going to come along with it because you’re going to make it easy for business to be able to calculate collect and remit the tax.” States Enforcing Pre-Wayfair Laws Grassley: ""Mr. Bishop-Henchman, you noted that multiple states have tried or are attempting to enforce pre-Wayfair laws. They are effectively seeking to retroactively collect sales taxes from retailers that had no legal obligation to collect such taxes at that time. Are individual states generally observing the Supreme Court’s recognition of the need for simplification to avoid imposing an 'undue burden' on interstate commerce?"" Joseph Bishop-Henchman, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union Foundation: “Unfortunately, not enough.” Mr. Bishop-Henchman cited litigation as a potential tool in the toolbox to prevent one state from imposing burdens on the rest of the country but said the Supreme Court’s National Pork Producers Council v. Ross decision “undercut” that possibility by punting to Congress for a fix. Grassley: Do you see more states voluntarily adopting simplification measures or becoming Streamlined members as more time passes after the Wayfair decision? Bishop-Henchman: “At this point, my answer would be no, I don’t see states joining unless there’s some incentive for them to do so.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-passport-renewals,Q&A: Passport Renewals,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: What new option do Americans have to renew their passports? A: The U.S. Department of State announced in September a new service, enabling Americans to renew passports online. This is good news. Americans have enjoyed a robust return to international travel that contributed to a post-pandemic backlog for passport applications and renewals. More Americans have passports than at any time in U.S. history: 46 percent in 2023 compared to 30 percent a generation ago. Whether applying online or through postal mail, my advice for Iowans is to apply early. Double check the date your passport expires and get a head start on the renewal process. Also be aware certain countries will not allow entry if a traveler’s passport is set to expire within six months of entering the country. Learn more about specific entry requirements for countries on your travel itinerary at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html I’m glad the State Department is taking steps to provide better, more efficient service to the American people. After all, government is a service to the people. That’s why I work to hold federal agencies accountable to help ensure they provide the most effective service for the taxpayer. Now, instead of printing a paper application and mailing in a check, eligible U.S. citizens may renew their passports online using a secure process through the State Department. To renew online go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html. Applications through postal mail are still available and must be used for those seeking expedited services, children under age 16, and citizens applying for a passport for the first time. Travelers with urgent, life-or-death emergencies, traveling in 14 days or less, or who need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days must make an in-person appointment at a passport agency. Call (877) 487-2778 to schedule an emergency appointment. Q: Who is eligible to renew passports online? A: The online renewal service is open to U.S. citizens age 25 or older who are renewing a passport that is or was valid for 10 years. Specifically, passports that were issued over 9 years ago, but less than 15 years from the date you submit your online application. Online renewal isn’t available for applicants changing a name, gender, date of birth or place of birth. Keep in mind the online portal is not for expedited service, this is for routine processing times that are the same as renewing by mail. You don’t need to mail in your most recent passport and can upload a current digital passport photo. Payment is made with a credit or debit card. Be aware infants also require a valid passport to travel abroad. Passports for those 16 and younger are valid for only five years and require parents and guardians to accompany the minor in person when making application at a passport acceptance facility, located at designated local government offices, post offices or libraries. Find a local passport acceptance facility here. (https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/) If both parents have custody, but only one can appear in person, you will need to show more documentation and submit a statement of consent. Learn more here. Q: What if a passport is needed sooner than the estimated 6-8 week processing period? A: The State Department offers expedited service requests for an extra $60, as well as a 1-2 day delivery of the completed passport for an additional $21.36. Mailing times are not included in the processing times. The expedited service turnaround is between 2-3 weeks and is not available online. The State Department offers an online fee calculator to help you figure out the cost and delivery of your passport at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html. As always, Iowans having difficulty navigating the process or getting answers may contact my Senate office for assistance. To assist you, a consent form is required to look into your case. Fill out, sign and submit the online form. Go to Help With Federal Agencies | Senator Chuck Grassley (senate.gov). September is National Passport Month.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-leverage-newly-obtained-records-on-atfs-unlawful-misclassification-scandal-to-seek-answers-accountability,"Grassley, Ernst Leverage Newly Obtained Records on ATF’s Unlawful Misclassification Scandal to Seek Answers & Accountability",2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Upon obtaining an unreleased report via protected whistleblower disclosures, Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are raising additional questions about the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)’s decision to reinstate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF)’s position classification authority. The Office of Special Counsel previously substantiated whistleblower claims ATF repeatedly and illegally labeled administrative positions as “law enforcement,” costing the taxpayer at least $20 million. The new records show the Justice Department (DOJ) Justice Management Division (JMD), which is supposed to determine whether DOJ is properly classifying law enforcement positions, requested the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) assess the agency’s practices. The resulting report reveals far-reaching failures across DOJ and raises flags about findings in an ATF Human Capital Management Evaluation (HCME) audit OPM conducted but has yet to publish. “[OPM] must fully explain, in detail, the actions taken by ATF, the Justice Department, and JMD to come into full compliance with the law, as well as the oversight mechanisms put in place to prevent millions of taxpayer dollars from being subjected to further ‘substantial waste’ due to the ATF’s illegal misconduct,” Grassley and Ernst wrote. “Further, the Justice Department must provide answers to the taxpayers about how those who were involved in or allowed ATF’s illegal misclassification scheme to continue have been held accountable. The American public deserves transparency from the OPM.” Notable excerpts from the NAPA report:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-hassan-introduce-bill-targeting-counterfeit-imports,"Grassley, Hassan Introduce Bill Targeting Counterfeit Imports",2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to detect and halt counterfeit imports. Specifically, the bipartisan bill authorizes Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to share suspected counterfeits’ packaging and shipping information with intellectual property rights holders, e-commerce platforms and transportation carriers. The text of their legislation has been included as an amendment in the “manager’s package” of the committee-passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. “Counterfeits are an affront to consumers’ well-being, economic vitality and common decency,” Grassley said. “Our bipartisan bill establishes a straightforward approach to cut back on counterfeits by boosting information sharing between CBP, rights holders and commerce professionals.” “This bipartisan bill gives Customs and Border Protection the tools that they need to more effectively stop counterfeit goods from crossing our borders,” Hassan said. “By strengthening law enforcement efforts to identify and interdict counterfeit imports, we can better protect American businesses and create jobs.” Background Grassley is the co-chair of the Congressional Trademark Caucus and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Grassley’s 2019 “Fight Against Fakes” report, released during his time as Finance Chairman, detailed bad actors’ efforts to exploit the marketplace at the expense of consumers’ pocketbooks and personal safety. Building on the report, Grassley first introduced legislation in 2021 to enhance information sharing between CBP and private sector partners. The Grassley-Hassan bill (S.5160) is supported by the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global), American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council (A2C2), International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM), The Toy Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Download bill text HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-hassan-move-to-extend-fentanyl-analogue-scheduling-order,"Grassley, Hassan Move to Extend Fentanyl Analogue Scheduling Order",2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senate Drug Caucus Co-Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and caucus member Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) are seeking to extend through December 31, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s temporary order classifying fentanyl-related drugs as Schedule I. Congress has passed this extension multiple times since 2018; the current order is set to expire on December 31 of this year. “Prior to 2018, it was near impossible to combat fentanyl look-a-likes. The DEA’s emergency restrictions have helped law enforcement identify these deadly drugs and prevent them from reaching our communities. We can’t afford to let our guard down by allowing these critical restrictions to sunset. Meanwhile, lawmakers, researchers and others will keep working towards permanent solutions,” Grassley said. “New Hampshire knows all too well the devastating effects of the fentanyl crisis on our communities,” Hassan said. “This commonsense bipartisan bill will extend prohibitions against fentanyl-related substances so that law enforcement can continue to investigate and interdict these harmful substances as we continue to combat the fentanyl epidemic on all fronts.” Grassley and Hassan are joined by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Kennedy (R-La.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Background: Fentanyl is a controlled substance, meaning U.S. statute prohibits its use. However, illicit drug manufacturers and traffickers, often in China and Mexico, are sidestepping the law by producing fentanyl analogues – drugs that are substantially similar to fentanyl, but tweaked ever so slightly – to push potent substances that can slip into the U.S. on a technicality. To keep pace with rapidly evolving drugs and combat opioid-related deaths, DEA in 2018 temporarily restricted all fentanyl analogues. This legislation would extend that 2018 restriction. Grassley and Hassan also teamed up on the SIMSA Act, a long-term solution that would stiffen criminal penalties against those who manufacture, export and import fentanyl analogues and equip law enforcement with effective tools to crack down on cartels and other drug threats.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/one-month-remaining-for-iowa-students-to-submit-academy-nominations,One Month Remaining for Iowa Students to Submit Academy Nominations,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is accepting applications from Iowa high school students who wish to be considered for appointments to U.S. service academies. Students must submit their applications to Grassley’s office by Friday, October 25. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Nominations will be finalized by December 31, 2024. “U.S. service academies offer students the opportunity to receive a world-class education while serving our great nation,” Grassley said. “It’s a privilege to nominate Iowa’s best and brightest to these prestigious academies. I encourage any interested student to apply.” Grassley’s academy nomination application can be found HERE. Students may hand-deliver their applications to any of Grassley’s Iowa offices, or mail them to the following address: U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Attn: Nominations Coordinator 721 Federal Building 210 Walnut Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309 NOTE: Applicants must also submit preliminary applications to the academies of their choice and ask that a pre-candidate file be opened on their behalf. Additional Information: The U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point and U.S. Naval Academy each select at least one student from Grassley’s nominations every year. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy makes selections in proportion to states’ representation in Congress. Students are encouraged to apply to more than one service academy and seek additional recommendations from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and their federal representative in the House of Representatives. For more information, please contact Grassley’s Des Moines office at (515) 288-1145 or academy_nominations@grassley.senate.gov.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/video-grassley-presses-usda-to-act-now-to-protect-us-farmland,VIDEO: Grassley Presses USDA to Act Now to Protect U.S. Farmland,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a lifelong family farmer and a Senate Agriculture Committee member, is urging the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to share with key national security agencies its data on foreign-owned farmland. “USDA is sitting on a treasure trove of data that federal partners could use to help protect American farmers.” Download video HERE. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Grassley notes the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 – which he cosponsored as a member of the House of Representatives – requires USDA to “collect, track and report reliable data on foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land.” To enhance transparency and curtail malign foreign investments, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a January 2024 report recommending USDA share this data with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in a more timely fashion. While USDA agreed with GAO’s recommendations, it has yet to take the necessary steps to address GAO’s guidance and improve its data sharing standards. “It is crucial that USDA continue to improve its processes for collecting, tracking, and reporting data on foreign ownership and investment in U.S. agricultural land. Further, it is essential that USDA provide CFIUS and its member agencies with access to timely and detailed information on these transactions to ensure that all potential national security risks receive a thorough review,” Grassley wrote to Vilsack. Read Grassley’s full letter HERE. Learn more about Grassley’s work to protect American farmland through his: Legislation to permanently add the Secretaries of USDA and Health and Human Services to CFIUS. Legislation to require shell companies to report their farmland assets. Bipartisan push to address longstanding inaccuracies in USDA’s foreign disclosure filing process.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-peters-demand-action-from-agency-that-missed-conflicts-of-interest-deadline,"Grassley, Peters Demand Action from Agency that Missed Conflicts of Interest Deadline",2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) joined Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in demanding the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council implement their bipartisan 2022 law to prevent conflicts of interest in government contracting. The FAR Council failed to do so by the June 27, 2024, deadline. “The executive branch is slow walking its implementation of laws Congress passed to mitigate conflicts of interest. That’s unacceptable. Taxpayers ought to rest assured their hard-earned dollars aren’t going to contractors with potential conflicts. The FAR Council has had almost two years to make mandatory changes, which means it’s high time Congress and the public see results,” Grassley said of this bipartisan letter to the FAR Council. Grassley and his colleagues in their letter highlight conflict of interest cases, including one where a U.S.-based technology service simultaneously worked for a foreign adversary. Such circumstances put U.S. vulnerabilities at risk of falling into the wrong hands. The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act aimed to address reported conflicts of interest between taxpayer-funded projects and contractors’ other work. However, the FAR Council has neglected to institute congressional reforms. Read the senators’ full letter HERE. Background: Among other provisions, the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act, now law, requires: Federal agencies to identify potential conflicts early in contracting processes. Federal contractors to disclose preexisting business relationships with entities that may conflict with the work an agency has hired them to do. Private companies under contract with the U.S. government to disclose new potential business that opposes any ongoing services they’re providing the American people.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/09/23/2024/grassley-announces-staff-traveling-office-hours-across-iowa,Grassley Announces Staff Traveling Office Hours Across Iowa,2024-09-23,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)’s staff will hold traveling office hours in 14 Iowa counties from September 30 through October 4. Iowans seeking assistance with a federal agency or wishing to share their views may stop by during the scheduled hours listed below. NOTE: Grassley will not be in attendance. He will be represented by his regional directors: Noah Schrad of Des Moines and Matt Rector of Waterloo. “Iowans are my top priority. Traveling office hours ensure my constituents’ concerns are heard and their problems are addressed,” Grassley said. “My staff works year-round to help Iowans navigate federal agencies. I encourage anyone needing assistance to stop by my staff’s upcoming office hours or contact my offices.” The schedule is as follows: Winnebago County 10 – 11 a.m. Lake Mills Public Library 102 South Lake Street Lake Mills Regional Director Matt Rector Decatur County 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lamoni Public Library 301 West Main Street Lamoni Regional Director Noah Schrad Hancock County 1 – 2 p.m. Britt Public Library 132 Main Avenue South Britt Regional Director Matt Rector Wright County 3 – 4 p.m. Belmond Public Library 440 East Main Street Belmond Regional Director Matt Rector Clarke County 3 – 4 p.m. Osceola Public Library 300 South Fillmore Street Osceola Regional Director Noah Schrad Butler County 9 – 10 a.m. Greene Community Center 202 West South Street Greene Regional Director Matt Rector Union County 10 – 11 a.m. Gibson Memorial Library Genealogy Room 200 West Howard Street Creston Regional Director Noah Schrad Franklin County 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Hampton Public Library 4 South Federal Street Hampton Regional Director Matt Rector Hardin County 1 – 2 p.m. Robert W. Barlow Memorial Library 921 Washington Avenue Iowa Falls Regional Director Matt Rector Ringgold County 2 – 3 p.m. Ringgold County Courthouse 1st Floor Assembly Room 109 West Madison Street #204 Mount Ayr Regional Director Noah Schrad Hamilton County 2 – 3 p.m. Montgomery Memorial Library 711 Main Street Jewell Regional Director Noah Schrad Boone County 10 – 11 a.m. Madrid Public Library 100 West 3rd Street Madrid Regional Director Noah Schrad Dallas County 1 – 2 p.m. Woodward Public Library 118 South Main Street Woodward Regional Director Noah Schrad Adair County 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Stuart Public Library 111 Front Street Stuart Regional Director Noah Schrad",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-09-23-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 09-23-24",2024-09-23,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: government funding, the Farm Bill, foreign conflicts, the attempted assassinations of former President Trump, China's decision to end intercountry adoptions, voting and clean energy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-leads-bicameral-colleagues-in-calling-out-abuses-in-the-biden-harris-unaccompanied-migrant-children-program,Grassley Leads Bicameral Colleagues in Calling Out Abuses in the Biden-Harris Unaccompanied Migrant Children Program,2024-09-23,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led 43 bicameral Republican colleagues in a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in their administration’s unaccompanied migrant children program and stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s cover-up of the crisis. HHS has failed to comply with two out of three Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subpoenas and other information requests issued amid its investigation into more than 100 suspicious sponsors identified as a result of Grassley’s oversight. Program Abuse More than 500,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the southwest border under the Biden-Harris administration, while cartel trafficking activity surged an estimated 2,500 percent. Amid this crisis, the lawmakers note that the Biden-Harris administration limited background checks for sponsors of unaccompanied children, cut back on familial DNA testing at the border and decreased information sharing with law enforcement. In addition to hampering DHS’s child exploitation investigation, the Biden-Harris HHS attempted to obstruct Grassley’s oversight of HHS contractors, including Southwest Key. HHS has also defied House Judiciary Committee subpoenas. Seeking Solutions The lawmakers are urging Biden and Harris to “make changes to [their] policies and procedures” in order to “end this public safety crisis.” They are specifically calling on the Biden-Harris administration to enhance information sharing with law enforcement and Congress, fully cooperate with DHS’s child exploitation investigation and thoroughly respond to all congressional oversight requests. “[The Biden-Harris HHS] must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,” the lawmakers concluded. Read the full letter HERE. Joining Grassley on the letter are Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), along with Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). Additional co-signers in the House include Reps. Tom McLintock (R-Ca.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Russell Fry (R-S.C.), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) and Michael Rulli (R-Ohio).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-cantwell-introduce-bill-to-drive-local-overdose-data-collection-efforts,"Grassley, Cantwell Introduce Bill to Drive Local Overdose Data Collection Efforts",2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced the Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act. The bill would direct the Justice Department (DOJ) to award grants to states, cities, law enforcement units or tribes that operate overdose data collection programs, such as the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP). “The fight to end addiction and drug abuse in our communities requires a robust understanding of the problem at hand. By investing in local partners, we empower communities to more effectively track drug abuse trends and prevent future overdoses,” Grassley said. “I’m glad to support this cost-effective plan to expand this vital program.” “When responding to fentanyl overdoses, an extra minute can save a life,” Cantwell said. “Tracking fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses will help our first responders, law enforcement, and public health professionals better target and prevent OD spikes and surge resources to communities that need them the most.” “We commend the efforts of Senators Cantwell and Grassley for their work on the Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act. Developing a clear picture of where fatal and non-fatal drug poisonings and overdoses occur allows law enforcement and public health professionals to dedicate the needed resources to areas experiencing spikes in incidences,” Eric Brown, President of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, said. “The National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Director’s Association (NHDA) would like to thank Senators Cantwell and Grassley, along with their colleagues in the Senate, for their strong commitment in getting the Opioid Overdose Data Enhancement Act drafted and introduced on the Senate floor. This act will increase the public awareness on the dangers of synthetic opioids and address the crisis negatively impacting communities across the country. Your sponsorship of this legislation provides both crucial resources to the 33 [High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) programs] across the country, law enforcement, treatment, prevention, and public health to fight against alarming increases in overdose deaths from fentanyl. The NHDA thanks you for your leadership on this important issue,” F. Mike McDaniel, President of the National HIDTA Directors Association, said. Grassley and Cantwell are joined by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). Download bill text HERE. Background: ODMAP is a free, web-based platform that reports in near real-time suspected fatal and non-fatal overdose events, as well as incidents where overdose reversal medications like Naloxone were administered. ODMAP helps local agencies identify spikes and clusters of overdoses in communities, neighboring communities and nationwide. While ODMAP is a widely favored platform, DOJ would retain discretion in determining which data collection program is best for each grant applicant.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/iowa-dot-awarded-over-68-million-for-southwest-mixmaster-project,Iowa DOT Awarded Over $68 Million for Southwest Mixmaster Project,2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA - U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is announcing the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) secured $68,662,000 to reconstruct the I-80, I-35 and I-235 interchange in Des Moines. The U.S. Department of Transportation will administer the awards through its Mega Grant Program, which is funded by the Grassley-backed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). “This interchange has held up for many decades under significant traffic volume. But it’s past time for a revamp to enhance efficiency and ensure drivers’ safety. These federal dollars will help get the millions of people who pass through our capital city each year where they want to go,” Grassley said. “I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Iowa’s future in mind, and I’m glad our state is seeing a return on that investment.” These federal resources will enable IDOT to reduce congestion and increase navigability at the interchange, where reports indicate nearly 1,000 crashes occurred between 2018 and 2022. Specific construction projects include: New flyover bridges from southbound I-25/80 to eastbound I-235 and to westbound I-80; A new bridge on westbound I-235; and An additional lane on eastbound I-235 between 50th Street and Valley West Drive.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-healthy-moms-and-babies,Q&A: Healthy Moms and Babies,2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: How are you supporting families who are struggling with infertility? A: According to recent federal statistics, more than 13 percent of women under age 49 are affected by infertility. Coping with infertility, miscarriages and stillbirths takes a painful, emotional toll on families. I’m co-sponsoring legislation that affirms support for those facing infertility and fosters solutions to make meaningful medical advances in reproductive care. The Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act would expand access to restorative reproductive medicine within existing federal programs. Americans struggling with the anguish and uncertainty of infertility deserve better testing, diagnoses and treatment that a whole-of-government approach can bring. As a co-sponsor of the RESTORE Act, I support marshalling federal resources to promote research on the leading causes of infertility and provide training for medical professionals to learn how to diagnose and treat infertility. Let’s do what’s possible to ensure aspiring parents have information about evidence-based treatments to address underlying medical issues related to their fertility challenges. Unfortunately, the issue of reproductive health has been turned into a political football during this presidential election year. Specifically, the Democrat Majority Leader has scheduled votes twice in four months to manufacture a crisis about access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is not in question. Democrats intentionally loaded up their bill with poison pills like expensive programs and mandates that go well beyond simply protecting access to IVF while rejecting Republican alternatives to further support families utilizing IVF. The Democrat Majority is needlessly creating anxiety for people who already shoulder burdens of loss and despair. The RESTORE Act seeks to beef up the medical community’s focus on underlying reproductive health issues, such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and more. Treating underlying conditions causing infertility is a common sense solution. Learning more about the causes of infertility will help find cures and answer the prayers of so many Americans who want to be called “Mom” and “Dad.” Although IVF is one example of the miracles of modern medicine, we also must pursue robust holistic approaches to reproductive care and infertility, including education, testing, diagnosis and treatment. Let’s also be clear on one important fact: Access to IVF is not in jeopardy. It’s legal in all 50 states. I know many families, including pro-life families, who have benefitted from IVF. I support IVF and am proud to advocate for pro-life, pro-family and pro-mother policies in the United States Senate. Q: What other priorities are you pushing to improve maternal health? A: This summer Rep. Ashley Hinson and I scored a victory for expectant moms across America when our bill to help reduce stillbirths was signed into law. Tragically, approximately 21,000 babies are stillborn every year in the United States. The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act paves the way for Title V funds of the Social Security Act to be used for stillbirth prevention activities and programs. It will help curb infant mortality by enabling evidence-based stillbirth initiatives to qualify for federal funding. The tragedy of losing a baby to stillbirth after 20 weeks of pregnancy delivers immeasurable pain and heartache to families. What’s more, women who experience a stillbirth are more likely to die and have increased morbidity. Our bill will help improve maternal health and save babies by expanding resources for health care providers to proactively talk to their patients about stillbirth prevention strategies. I give a lot of credit to Iowa grassroots advocates for their leadership and commitment to help get this bill across the finish line. It’s an example of government of, by and for the people. For the third consecutive year, I co-sponsored the bipartisan National Stillbirth Prevention Day resolution to recognize those who have endured loss through stillbirth. Raising public awareness will lend urgency to public health efforts to help save lives. As an outspoken advocate for rural health care, I’m aware of the challenges faced by expectant moms living in rural areas to access prenatal and OB care. A lack of obstetric services and shortages in the health care workforce put patients and quality of care in rural areas at risk. I’ve introduced the Healthy Moms and Babies Act to address the maternal health crisis that particularly affects women of color and mothers living in rural America. In Iowa, more than 20 labor and delivery units have closed in the last decade. I’ll continue working with stakeholders to push for community-driven solutions and supports, including expanding telehealth services. My Healthy Moms and Babies Act would expand telehealth access for expectant and postpartum mothers to help lower mortality rates and improve patient outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. I’ll continue pushing at the federal level to improve access to high-quality care for moms and babies, including my long-time support for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. National Stillbirth Prevention Day is September 19, 2024. Sen. Grassley delivered remarks at a reception hosted by Iowa-based Healthy Birth Day, Inc. to celebrate congressional progress on stillbirth awareness and prevention measures.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-and-hinson-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-national-stillbirth-prevention-day-resolution,"Grassley & Hinson Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral National Stillbirth Prevention Day Resolution",2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) teamed up with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) to introduce a resolution designating today, September 19th, as National Stillbirth Prevention Day. Grassley this morning delivered remarks at a reception Iowa-based Health Birth Day, Inc. hosted to celebrate congressional progress on stillbirth awareness and prevention measures. “Iowa has made strides towards reducing stillbirths in our state. This bipartisan resolution recognizes researchers like we have in Iowa, as well as care providers and advocates. It also reaffirms our goal to improve maternal care resources, particularly in rural areas,” Grassley said. “No mom should know the heartbreak of a stillbirth. I’m glad to be partnering on a number of federal legislative efforts to help target contributing factors and save babies’ lives.” “Over 21,000 babies are stillborn in the U.S. each year. This rate is unacceptably high, and we must do more to ensure more women experience healthy pregnancies and have healthy babies. I am proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort to recognize September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention Day to raise awareness about stillbirth prevention so we can help save more moms and babies,” Hinson said. “A single family affected by stillbirth is one too many. Yet this tragedy impacts thousands across America, upending the lives of individuals and families from all walks of life,” Merkley said. “Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we must do more to reduce the alarming rate of stillbirth, which disproportionately impacts Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women. This National Stillbirth Prevention Day we recommit to doing everything we can to end this public health crisis, so no one again ever has to experience the trauma of stillbirth.” “Thousands of families grapple with the unimaginable pain of stillbirths, and, devastatingly, Black women and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by these tragedies,” Booker said. “By designating September 19 as National Stillbirth Prevention Day, we will help raise awareness, promote research and develop solutions so all mothers and babies, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the care and support they deserve.” “I was proud to co-lead the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act and see it pass into law this year, which will increase awareness for families on how to prevent this painful, yet common experience. Today we recommit to ending stillbirth and to giving more families a chance to be whole. This is just the beginning, and I am committed to doing my part on behalf of all of America’s families,” Adams said. Background: An alarming 21,000 babies are stillborn every year in the United States. While the overall stillbirth rate has marginally declined in recent decades, racial disparities in birth outcomes persist. The National Stillbirth Prevention Day resolution recognizes families who’ve endured stillbirths and calls attention to the medical community’s work to tackle the crisis, supporting greater maternal health care access as part of the solution. This summer, the president signed into law their bill to make evidence-based stillbirth prevention projects eligible for federal funding.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-risch-introduce-strategic-act-to-counter-ccp-competition,"Grassley, Risch Introduce STRATEGIC Act to Counter CCP Competition",2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today joined Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in introducing legislation to set up the United States and its allies for success in strategic competition with China. A key provision of the bill is based on Grassley’s Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act. “China is leveraging every tool at its disposal in an attempt to leapfrog America as the world’s leading superpower. This legislation takes a resolute stance against the Chinese Communist Party’s global influence campaign and protects American interests. Critically, it also advances one of my major national security goals: adding teeth to FARA for the first time in almost 60 years. This will provide DOJ with the tools to more effectively and efficiently enforce the law, limiting the ability of the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign entities to secretly peddle their policy interests through public relations firms and lobbyists,” Grassley said. “Despite the significant threat China poses to the United States, the U.S. Congress has failed to enact legislation in a number of crucial areas that would set up the United States, its allies, and partners for success,” Risch said. “This legislation takes strong positions to safeguard U.S. and allied interests and provides actionable provisions that will help us in our strategic competition with China. We cannot wait for more reports and studies – it is time to start implementing policies.” The STRATEGIC Act would: Reform the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by removing certain exemptions for foreign adversaries and authorizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue civil investigative demands. Address predatory CCP economic practices through anti-trust reform and increased scrutiny of foreign investments in American farmland – a major Grassley priority. Counter CCP influence by enhancing think tank transparency, prohibiting certain foreign gifts and contracts to U.S. colleges, improving research security and exposing CCP’s harassment and abuse of diplomats. Authorize strategic infrastructure initiatives focused on digital, transport and energy sectors, while strengthening supply chain security and lowering trade barriers. Strengthen international security by countering the proliferation of Chinese unmanned aerial systems in the Middle East and modifying the Missile Technology Control Regime to increase AUKUS cooperation. Bolster support for Taiwan and partner countries by establishing a task force to identify targets for sanctions, export controls and other economic measures. Protect U.S. interests in international organizations and support for human rights. Increase oversight of U.S. funding for biological research in China. Joining Grassley and Risch are Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). Download bill text HERE and a one-pager, HERE. Background: The Grassley-led Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act, included in the STRATEGIC Act, would strengthen FARA by shining light on foreign adversaries’ efforts to influence American policy and public opinion. The bill stiffens penalties for foreign agents who do not register their status and provides DOJ with additional tools to investigate FARA violations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-sullivan-seek-to-hold-va-accountable-for-3-billion-budget-shortfall,"Grassley, Sullivan Seek to Hold VA Accountable for $3 Billion Budget Shortfall",2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on a bill to hold the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) accountable for running a $3 billion deficit on its 2024 fund for administering veterans’ benefits. “The VA grossly mismanaged taxpayer dollars and put veterans’ benefits at risk. We won’t leave our nation’s veterans in limbo, hard stop. The VA, on the other hand, has major explaining to do: Veterans, Congress and the public deserve answers to basic questions. Namely, what led to this egregious financial shortfall and how will the agency fix the mess it created,” Grassley said. “Our legislation institutes needed accountability measures to prevent the VA from squandering taxpayer dollars intended to benefit those who’ve honorably served our nation.” “Telling Congress we have to provide $3 billion to the VA in a matter of days or our constituents won't get their benefits—without any accountability or reforms—is a shocking failure in leadership and management,” Sullivan said. “It is incumbent upon the Secretary to appear before the committee and answer questions, but remarkably, he declined to do so. This is not a great victory as some are spinning it. The VA has a duty to provide congressional oversight committees with high-quality, in-person briefings explaining these shortfalls in the future—earlier than just a month in advance. In light of this budgetary fiasco and the millions of dollars’ worth of bonuses improperly distributed to VA executives, I’ve put forward commonsense legislation to require the VA to abide by a basic level of accountability and oversight. “Let me be clear: We will fund this shortfall. Our veterans deserve and rely upon their hard-earned benefits. But, going forward, our veterans also expect a much higher standard of accountability from VA leaders. I expect the Secretary and other VA leaders to come to the table with clear answers as to how these deficiencies keep happening and how they are going to prevent them in the future.” The Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act requires the VA for the next three years to submit quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress, fostering greater financial oversight. Certain senior personnel from the VA and Office of Management and Budget would not receive their bonuses in the event of additional financial shortfalls. Joining Grassley and Sullivan are Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Download bill text HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/democrats-block-grassley-effort-to-protect-unaccompanied-migrant-children-from-sexual-harm,Democrats Block Grassley Effort to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children from Sexual Harm,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sought to cut off federal funds to entities the Justice Department (DOJ) has identified as facilitating sexual abuse and harassment against unaccompanied alien children (UACs). Democrats objected to Grassley’s measure, instead proposing a bloated amendment that would cement the Biden-Harris policies that are putting thousands of migrant kids in harms’ way. “How many more children have to endure abuse before Congress finally says enough is enough? I say it shouldn’t be even one more,” Grassley said on the Senate floor. Grassley noted Democrats’ proposal: Prioritizes speed over safety by mandating the government determine a child’s placement no later than seven days after the government receives a sponsor application; Fails to require across-the-board post-release services for all children; Restricts information-sharing with law enforcement; and Leaves the door open for dangerous sponsors to obtain children. Specifically, it Does not require sponsors to undergo fingerprint-based background checks, Does not disqualify sponsors based on their criminal records, Does not require sponsors to have a pre-existing relationship with a child, and Does not require sponsors to return their proof-of-identity documents in a timely manner. “I came to the floor to offer a commonsense solution to deny bad actors access to kids. My bill would put contractors on notice that they can’t willfully blind themselves to child abuse in order to get rich off taxpayers’ dollars. Democrats couldn’t even take that blindness seriously,” Grassley concluded. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-accepts-american-fraternal-alliance-award,Grassley Accepts American Fraternal Alliance Award,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) accepted the American Fraternal Alliance’s first-ever “Fraternal Ally Award” for his work to support fraternal benefit societies. Grassley is a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “Fraternal benefit societies are deeply rooted in the fabric of our nation. For centuries, they’ve made an impact by living out their core principles of membership, community and volunteerism. I’m glad to offer my continued support to this vital part of the financial sector and honored to accept this award,” Grassley said. “We are honored to present Senator Grassley with our first-ever “Fraternal Ally” award for his steadfast support of our sector,” Allison Koppel, CEO of the American Fraternal Alliance, said. “Senator Grassley’s continued support allows fraternal benefit societies to continue enriching our communities, while providing financial protection for families in need.” Download photo HERE. Grassley in 1982 championed legislation to allow tax-deductible donations to fraternal organizations. This Congress, Grassley cosponsored a resolution acknowledging fraternal benefit societies for their work to provide critical benefits to people and communities across America.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-china-should-not-go-back-on-the-promises-it-made-to-children-and-families,Grassley: China Should Not Go Back on the Promises It Made to Children and Families,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is seeking information on China’s August 28, 2024, decision to end intercountry adoptions. In letters to the State Department and the Chinese Ambassador, he notes China’s announcement has jeopardized adoption prospects for many American families – including in Iowa – who have been stuck in the final stages of the process. Grassley wrote, in part: “Parents have been left without instruction or clarity on if the children they have been paired with, named, and are growing a connection with will ever actually get placed in their home. I understand this decision to halt intercountry adoptions is within the [People’s Republic of China]’s purview. That said, China should not go back on the promises made to children and families and instead ought to allow for adoptions that have already been in the works to be finalized. Families should be united and children who were paired with a loving home should not be deceived and left in orphanages away from their adoptive parents.” Read his full letters to the State Department and the Chinese Ambassador at the corresponding links. Click HERE to download broadcast-quality video of Grassley discussing this effort. Background: Grassley co-chairs the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth and is a longtime adoption advocate. When China continued to suspend its intercountry adoption program following the COVID-19 pandemic, despite opening its borders for business and other activities, Grassley called out the inconsistency. He advocated for stalled adoption processes to resume, so children and families could finally unite. *Note: To protect Iowans’ privacy, the enclosures transmitted with the letters are not publicly available.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-condemns-antisemitism-at-senate-judiciary-hearing,Grassley Condemns Antisemitism at Senate Judiciary Hearing,2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today participated in a hearing to shine light on the rise of antisemitism in America. Antisemitic incidents and threats in the U.S., particularly on college campuses, spiked following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Significant unrest this spring, including violent protests and campus encampments, resulted in disruption to class schedules, cancellation of commencement ceremonies and over 1,000 arrests. Grassley has called on the Biden-Harris administration to better protect Jewish and Israeli students by upholding and enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. He introduced bipartisan legislation instructing the Education Department to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws on campus. During questioning, Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfeder, Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, reaffirmed the need for a clear definition of antisemitism to strengthen enforcement capabilities and protect Jewish individuals. VIDEO Grassley’s questions of Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, follow. Antisemitism on College Campuses: Are some higher education institutions, either wittingly or unwittingly, shielding or even fostering antisemitism in the United States today? Biden-Harris Admin’s Response to Antisemitism: Have the Department of Justice and the Department of Education, in this administration, done enough to address the epidemic of hate speech and antisemitism on college campuses? What more should this administration be doing? Hamas Funding Collegiate Anti-Israel Protests: What have you discovered about Hamas’ potential funding of college protests and what evidence have you relied on to form your opinion? Foreign Actors Exploiting Civil Unrest: In the same vein as my previous question, there have been media reports citing Iran, Russia and other international actors as taking advantage of and stoking recent civil unrest here. What do you think can be done to counter this malignant influence? The Recent Rise of Antisemitism and Hate Speech: In your assessment, what has allowed for the recent rise of antisemitism and hate in our communities?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-spotlights-iras-unintended-health-care-consequences-obamacare-fraud-at-finance-committee,"Grassley Spotlights IRA’s Unintended Health Care Consequences, Obamacare Fraud at Finance Committee",2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – At today’s Senate Finance Committee hearing on health care costs, former chairman and current senior member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) discussed his bipartisan work to bring transparency to opaque pharmaceutical industry middlemen. He asked about the Biden-Harris administration’s program to mask how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has hiked seniors’ premiums and reduced plan options, as well as fraudulent Obamacare subsidies. VIDEO Excerpts from Grassley’s exchange with witness Mr. Theo Merkel, Senior Research Fellow at the Paragon Health Institute, follow. Holding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) accountable: Grassley: “We know PBMs are getting away with shady, anti-competitive practices that are costing patients more and taking a toll on rural drugstores. The [IRA] did nothing to address powerful prescription drug middlemen driving up drug costs. In this Congress alone, four Senate committees, including this committee, have advanced bipartisan PBM bills that have garnered the support or co-sponsorship of 68 senators. There’s no reason these bills should not be advanced.” The Biden-Harris administration’s Medicare Part D cost-shifting plan: The Biden-Harris administration launched a demonstration program to artificially lower premium payments with taxpayer dollars, bailing out big health insurers and covering IRA flaws. Grassley requested the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analyze the fiscal implications. Grassley: “Why is the Biden administration establishing this cost-shifting policy, and how much money will this cost taxpayers?” Merkel: “The IRA took a previously bipartisan idea – there was a lot of support for the out-of-pocket cap in Medicare Part D – but it moved away from bipartisan discussions to shift the proposal in a way that would cost more for taxpayers, and potentially cost more to beneficiaries and higher premiums. “In the underlying IRA, there was a program to artificially keep premiums low for about six years; it was going to cost around $40 billion. But even that wasn’t enough. What the administration has done is, they saw there was a premium spike last year. They were very concerned about a premium spike this year. So they have created, as has been mentioned, a 402 demonstration project that basically just pays Part D plans, CMS is saying, around $5 billion in just one year to keep their premiums lower.” Fraudulent Obamacare subsidies: Grassley wrote the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) citing a study that found five million individuals may have falsely reported their income to qualify for Obamacare subsidies. He demanded information on HHS’ controls to stop this abuse and the actions it’s taking to address the issue. HHS had not responded as of September 17, 2024. Grassley: “This overestimate of income comes with a price tag of $20 billion just this year. HHS says it’s working to combat unauthorized and fraudulent activity in Obamacare. Should we believe they’re accomplishing that?” Merkel: “[…] There is no sense, that I can tell, that they appreciate or are willing to be forthcoming about the potential magnitude of this. They have announced that they are going after 200 brokers. There absolutely is some activity where unscrupulous brokers are switching because of very, very lax program integrity controls – people into plans without their knowledge. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I appreciate your interest in pushing them for more answers on this. I think [HHS] likely announced that minor action in hope it blows over.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-09-16-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 09-16-24",2024-09-16,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: Secret Service oversight, Chinese and Russian military aggression, government funding, Harris' proposal for a homebuyers grant, the Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act and Ukraine's use of long-range weapons.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-announces-staff-traveling-office-hours-across-iowa,Grassley Announces Staff Traveling Office Hours Across Iowa,2024-09-16,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)’s staff will hold traveling office hours in 24 Iowa counties from September 23 to September 27. Iowans seeking assistance with a federal agency or wishing to share their views may stop by during the scheduled hours listed below. NOTE: Grassley will not be in attendance. He will be represented by his regional directors: Rochelle Fuller of Cedar Rapids, Penny Vacek of Davenport, Jonathan Bladt of Council Bluffs and Jacob Bossman of Sioux City. Grassley’s state offices regularly assist constituents with issues regarding Social Security, military service, immigration, veterans’ benefits, IRS challenges and other matters. Iowans can request help at any time via Grassley’s website at www.grassley.senate.gov/services/help-with-federal-agencies. “Iowans are my number one priority. Traveling office hours ensure Iowans’ concerns are heard and their problems are addressed,” Grassley said. “My staff works year-round to help Iowans navigate federal agencies. I encourage anyone needing assistance to stop by my staff’s upcoming office hours or contact my offices.” The schedule is as follows: Scott County 9 – 10 a.m. Blue Grass Public Safety Building 606 West Mayne Street Blue Grass Regional Director Penny Vacek Ida County 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Lohff-Schumann Community Center 301 Lohff-Schumann Drive Holstein Regional Director Jacob Bossman Keokuk County 10 – 11 a.m. Hedrick Community Center 109 North Main Street Hedrick Regional Director Rochelle Fuller Adams County 1 – 2 p.m. Corning Economic Development Office 710 Davis Avenue Corning Regional Director Jonathan Bladt Washington County 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Riverside City Hall 60 Greene Street Riverside Regional Director Rochelle Fuller Montgomery County 3 – 4 p.m. Red Oak Chamber of Commerce 307 East Reed Street Red Oak Regional Director Jonathan Bladt Iowa County 4 – 5 p.m. Hotel Millwright in Amana 800 48th Avenue Amana Regional Director Rochelle Fuller Jefferson County 9 – 10 a.m. Fairfield City Hall, Council Chambers 118 South Main Street Fairfield Regional Director Penny Vacek Sac County 10 – 11 a.m. Wall Lake City Hall 108 Boyer Street Wall Lake Regional Director Jacob Bossman Dubuque County 10 – 11 a.m. Dyersville Social Center 625 3rd Avenue SE Dyersville Regional Director Rochelle Fuller Mills County 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Malvern Public Library 502 Main Street Malvern Regional Director Jonathan Bladt Van Buren County 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Keosauqua City Hall, Council Chambers 201 Main Street Keosauqua Regional Director Penny Vacek Calhoun County 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Lake City City Hall, Council Chambers 105 North Center Street Lake City Regional Director Jacob Bossman Fremont County 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Fremont County Courthouse, Meeting Room 506 Filmore Street Sidney Regional Director Jonathan Bladt Davis County 1 – 2 p.m. Bloomfield Public Library, Small Meeting Room 107 North Columbia Bloomfield Regional Director Penny Vacek Webster County 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Gowrie Community Civic Center 1206 Market Street Gowrie Regional Director Jacob Bossman Benton County 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Blairstown Public Library 305 Locust Street NE Blairstown Regional Director Rochelle Fuller Wapello County 3 – 4 p.m. Agency City Hall 104 East Main Street Agency Regional Director Penny Vacek Page County 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Lied Public Library 100 East Garfield Street Clarinda Regional Director Jonathan Bladt Taylor County 1 – 2 p.m. Taylor County Farm Bureau Office 607 Pollock Boulevard Bedford Regional Director Jonathan Bladt Palo Alto County 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Palo Alto County Courthouse, Board Room 1010 Broadway Street Emmetsburg Regional Director Jacob Bossman Emmet County 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Emmet County Courthouse, Board of Supervisor’s Room 609 1st Avenue North Estherville Regional Director Jacob Bossman Humboldt County 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Humboldt City Hall, Council Chambers 29 5th Street South Humboldt Regional Director Jacob Bossman Kossuth County 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Kossuth County Courthouse, Old Board Room 114 West State Street Algona Regional Director Jacob Bossman",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-hassan-reintroduce-simsa-act-to-crack-down-on-illicit-analogues,"Grassley, Hassan Reintroduce SIMSA Act to Crack Down on Illicit Analogues",2024-09-16,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senate Drug Caucus Co-Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and caucus member Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today led bipartisan colleagues in reintroducing the Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act. The legislation targets deadly drugs that are substantially similar to already-controlled substances but carefully engineered – often in China or Mexico – to slip into the U.S. undetected. “International drug traffickers are taking advantage of a gap in our laws. This has created a lethal game of ‘whack-a-mole.’ The SIMSA Act sends an explicit message the U.S. is done playing,” Grassley said. “Law enforcement is struggling to keep pace under the inefficient scheduling system we have, and communities are dealing with an unprecedented drug crisis as a result. Our legislation provides much-needed adaptability to get ahead of bad actors and their deadly synthetics.” “Communities across New Hampshire have been devastated by fentanyl and other deadly drugs. Fentanyl analogues pose just as severe a threat as fentanyl itself, and criminals have deliberately engineered these drugs to circumvent our laws and evade bans,” said Hassan. “Our bipartisan legislation will provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to crack down on the criminals flooding our streets with these drug analogues. I urge my colleagues to support this effort to protect our communities and save lives, and I will keep working to combat the fentanyl crisis.” Joining Grassley and Hassan are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). “The danger of lethal drugs and fentanyl pouring over our border and into our communities is too great to ignore. We have lost too many Iowans to rapidly evolving synthetic drugs that bypass the very federal laws meant to ban them,” said Senator Ernst. “That’s why I’m working across the aisle to ensure law enforcement officials have the tools they need to curb the influx of deadly synthetic drugs.” “According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues were involved in 76% of all drug overdoses in West Virginia in 2021,” Senator Capito said. “These deadly substances are flowing into our communities from China and across our southern border, and criminals know that they can get around existing law by slightly changing the chemical makeup of a drug while still having the same negative effect on the human body. This legislation will allow for law enforcement to crack down on synthetic drugs and save lives.” “When synthetic drugs, such as analogues to deadly drugs like fentanyl, can be quickly modified to evade federal laws designed to ban them, lives across our communities are put at risk,” Shaheen said. “We must act with urgency to solve this crisis, which is why I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan Stop the Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues Act to stop dangerous drug traffickers, give law enforcement the authority they need to get these drugs out of communities and stem the spread of deadly synthetic opioids."" The bill is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Association of Police Organizations. Background: U.S. law prohibits the unauthorized use of certain controlled substances. However, illicit drug makers and importers circumvent those laws by altering single atoms in controlled substances to create tweaked drugs that are not yet outlawed, but have similar effects on users. Currently, uncontrolled substances must undergo a time-consuming analysis before the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can permanently schedule them. The SIMSA Act allows DEA to assign substances as Schedule A if (1) their chemical structure is substantially similar to a controlled substance and (2) they are expected to have the same or greater effect on the human body. The bill subjects individuals who manufacture, export and import these uncontrolled substances to the criminal penalties associated with Schedule A. It also includes provisions to ensure legitimate research on substances added to Schedule A can continue. SIMSA gives law enforcement the tools they need to keep up with drug cartels and emerging drug threats. Grassley introduced the SIMSA Act in 2019 and 2021.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-recognized-for-biofuels-leadership,Grassley Recognized for Biofuels Leadership,2024-09-13,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) accepted Growth Energy’s 2024 “Fueling Growth Award” for his efforts to support biofuels producers. Grassley is a lifelong family farmer and senior member of the Agriculture and Finance Committees. “As an Iowa corn and soybean grower, I’m well familiar with biofuels’ many benefits. Homegrown biofuels are good for Americans’ pocketbooks, the environment and our national security – in short, they’re good, good and good,” Grassley said. “Iowans’ leadership and role in diversifying our energy portfolio, from the farm to the refinery, is unmatched. I’ll keep my foot on the gas and continue working diligently to expand biofuels markets at the federal policymaking tables.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-farm-safety-week,Q&A: Farm Safety Week,2024-09-13,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: What’s the history behind Farm Safety Week? A: Since World War II, National Farm Safety Week is observed in September to boost public awareness before the harvest season gets fully underway. It’s one of the most dangerous times of year in farming. President Franklin Roosevelt called America’s farmers and ranchers “the source from which the reservoirs of our nation’s strength are constantly renewed.” America’s farmers anchor the nation’s breadbasket, keeping people nourished and society thriving. I often remind people in Washington that farmers make up only two percent of the population who feed the other 98 percent of Americans. When FDR signed the proclamation to declare National Farm Safety Week, it helped shine a spotlight on the sacrifices and noble work of Americans who grow, produce and process food. Farm sector jobs are among the most hazardous occupations in the economy. Too many people have suffered disabling injuries or death while putting in the work to put food on our plates. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States had 417 ag-related fatalities in 2022. As a lifelong family farmer, I understand the daily push to get the chores done and squeeze every minute out of the day, especially during harvest season. Over the years, we’ve had close calls on our fourth-generation family farm, and I’ve heard too many stories of tragic accidents from neighbors and Iowans across the state that’s led me to a rule of thumb on the farm. It’s better to be safe, than sorry. Refuel with food and sleep to avoid fatigue in the tractor seat. Don’t take risky shortcuts or skip safety checks. It could end up costing a life or limb. Always walk around equipment, particularly Power Take Off (PTO) shafts that can quickly entangle shoe laces, pant cuffs or shirt sleeves. During this time of year, extended members of farm families are pitching in to get the job done. I encourage Iowans to be mindful, especially of young children wandering behind wagons and tractors. Use common sense so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor with loved ones during the upcoming holiday season and prepare for spring planting in 2025. Q: What safety measures should Iowans keep in mind during the harvest season? A: Awareness is the first step for safety. During this busy time of year, I encourage all Iowans to be extra vigilant on the roads. Be cautious when passing and give some grace to slow-moving farm machinery. The fluorescent red-orange triangle emblem indicates a slow moving vehicle of 35 mph or less. Farmers ought to ensure turn signals and brake lights are operating properly before hauling grain from the field to the farm or local elevator. A study by the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health (GPCAH) compared crashes across nine Midwest states, finding about 70 percent of crashes occurred in rural zip codes. One of 11 nationally-funded centers under the umbrella of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the ag research, education and prevention center is located within the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health. Find additional resources by GPCAH on roadway safety, hearing loss prevention, manure gas safety, avian flu, skin cancer prevention and more, including a FarmSafe podcast. Did you know tractor roll-overs are the leading cause of fatalities on the farm? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 in 10 farmers will overturn a tractor in his or her lifetime. Older tractors can be fitted with rollover protection structures (ROPS), such as a roll bar, cage frame or crush-proof cab. Use caution around row ends, slopes, ditches and waterways. Take advantage of safety training classes available for farmers and first responders, such as grain engulfment and entrapment. Learn about additional rescue programs offered through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety located in Peosta, Iowa. Register for free online webinars during National Farm Safety and Health Week here. (https://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/) Farm safety measures also must take mental health into account. From one year to the next, farmers manage high amounts of stress, from not having enough hours in the day, to low commodity prices, high interest rates, soaring input costs and natural disasters. In 2020, I supported legislation that created 988, the three-digit national hotline to help people in crisis. From my seat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I also steered passage of bipartisan legislation to boost additional resources for suicide prevention and stress management for farmers. I continue to push federal agencies to ensure the law is implemented as intended to improve access to mental and behavioral health services in rural America. During Farm Safety Week and the other 51 weeks of the year, I’m proud to be a voice for farmers and rural Americans in the U.S. Senate. National Farm Safety and Health Week is September 15-21, 2024.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-bipartisan-colleagues-seek-to-prevent-youth-opioid-use-and-overdoses,"Grassley, Bipartisan Colleagues Seek to Prevent Youth Opioid Use and Overdoses",2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) today introduced the Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act. The bipartisan bill would establish a new grant program for Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to educate students about the dangers of synthetic opioids. “Halting drug abuse in our communities, and especially in our schools, demands an all-hands approach. One piece of the puzzle is standing up drug prevention programs to educate young people about the effects of synthetic opioids and the resources available. I’m glad to join my colleagues in advancing this important, fiscally responsible bill to protect our next generation from a crisis that’s hurting far too many Americans,” said Grassley, co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control. “In New Hampshire, we’ve lost too many Granite Staters—and far too many young people—to opioids. We can and must do more to bring an end to this epidemic and save lives,” said Shaheen, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. “The bipartisan Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act will help communities across New Hampshire and the nation stem opioid misuse in schools by educating kids about the dangers of opioid use and working to help prevent overdoses.” “In recent years, far too many young Americans have lost their lives to opioid addiction and overdose. Just in my home state of California, fentanyl is responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths of young people between the age of 15 and 24,” said Butler, who serves alongside Grassley on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I am proud to cosponsor the Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act to fund the community-based coalitions working within schools to prevent substance abuse, to decrease deadly overdoses, and to save lives.” Reps. Lori Chavez DeRemer (R-Ore.) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives. Legislative Information: The Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act authorizes $7 million per year for a five-year grant program. The legislation would allow elementary, middle and high schools to apply for up to $75,000 in federal funding to plan, implement and evaluate effective drug prevention initiatives. Eligible schools could renew their resources for up to three more years. Grassley’s DFC Leadership: Grassley helped create the DFC program in 1998, after establishing Iowa’s “Face It Together,” or FIT – a first-of-its-kind, statewide anti-drug effort. Today, the DFC program serves 751 communities across the nation and supports 6.1 million middle and high school students.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-presents-congressional-adoption-award-to-jones-county-family,Grassley Presents Congressional Adoption Award to Jones County Family,2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, presented Chelsey’s Dream Foundation with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption award. Anamosa’s Chuck and Carol Bildstein founded the non-profit to provide financial and emotional support to adoptive families. “I was honored to nominate Chuck and Carol for their work to carry out their daughter’s final wish. This family has changed countless lives for children and parents,” Grassley said. “Chelsey’s Dream Foundation is highly deserving of the 2024 Angels in Adoption award, and I look forward to seeing its many accomplishments still to come.” Chelsey’s Dream Foundation is named after Chuck and Carol’s daughter, who passed away from cancer in 2014. Chelsey lived a generous life; her dream was to help families with their adoption expenses. The Bildsteins’ Iowa-based non-profit carries out Chelsey’s aspirations and champions her legacy. It manages fundraisers and grants, pairs families with donors and engages with like-minded organizations. Chelsey’s brother, Chad, and his wife, Shantelle, accept the Angels in Adoption award from Senator Grassley. Download the photo HERE. Background: The Angels in Adoption Program recognizes individuals for their contributions to adoption, foster care and child welfare. CCAI invites Angel honorees to Washington to celebrate their efforts, participate in advocacy training and share their experiences with congressional representatives. Grassley was named a member of the Advisory Council of the CCAI in 2015 and is a longtime advocate for adoptive parents and children. Learn more about Grassley’s work to support adoptive families: The Adoption and Safe Families Act, signed into law in 1997, reduces barriers to adoption and helps increase the number of adoptions across the country. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act, signed into law in 2008, ensures all special-needs children are eligible for federal adoption assistance. The Recruiting Families Using Data Act, reintroduced this Congress, would strengthen state efforts to identify, recruit, screen, uplift and retain foster and adoptive families.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-schmitt-call-for-a-return-to-regular-order-enhanced-legislative-debate,"Grassley, Schmitt Call for a Return to Regular Order, Enhanced Legislative Debate",2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) are urging a renewed emphasis on the Senate’s debate and amendment processes. In a letter to the Senate Republican Conference, the senators request their colleagues adopt legislative procedures that guarantee every senator ample opportunity to make their constituents’ voices and priorities heard when considering major pieces of legislation. “Iowans at my town meetings often wonder why those of us in Washington can’t seem to get along,” Grassley said of the letter. “A lot of the dysfunction here in the Senate has to do with the slow disintegration of the deliberative process. For starters, it’s hard to get much done when the Majority Leader only calls votes for two-and-a-half days a week. And, when the Senate is voting, the debate and amendments process are extremely limited, if not totally nonexistent. Our Founders did not intend this body to act as a rubber stamp. We in the Senate ought to return to regular order and start living up to the obligations assigned to us in the Constitution.” “The role of the Senate is to serve as the world’s most deliberative body, yet, under the leadership of Sen. Schumer, the Senate has become allergic to any sort of deliberation or debate on the Senate floor. I was elected by Missourians to fight for their best interests on the Senate floor – not to sit idly by and allow must-pass legislation to be crafted through backroom dealmaking with zero input from others,” Schmitt said of the letter. “Reforming the Senate and moving away from this bureaucratic-style legislating process requires buy-in from Republicans. I’m proud to co-lead this effort with Senator Grassley, who has pushed for important reforms like the Stop Cloture Abuse Resolution or reforms to add transparency to this chamber.” Grassley and Schmitt suggest the Senate Republican Conference commit to abiding by the following procedural rules in the 119th Congress: Allow each senator to offer an amendment on any given piece of legislation; Allow each senator to amend legislation on the Senate floor and prevent the Senate from moving to a final vote on a piece of legislation until all senators’ amendments have been offered and debated; Avoid procedures that inhibit senators’ freedom to debate and amend, such as blocking consideration of certain amendments by filling the “amendment tree” or reflexively objecting to colleagues’ amendments. Read the senators’ full letter HERE. Background Grassley has defended Senate procedure for years. In the 111th Congress, he called for hearing witnesses to disclose outside affiliations and potential conflicts of interest before testifying to Congress. The Senate in the 112th Congress passed Grassley’s resolution abolishing the secret placement of holds on legislation, necessitating a senator to make his or her opposition to a bill public. Grassley proposed the Stop Cloture Abuse Resolution in the 113th Congress to force publication of and deliberation on all amendments before ending debate and proceeding to a final vote on a bill. He has supported the Balanced Budget Amendment for several Congresses because, among other reasons, the measure would encourage a return to regular order legislating on annual appropriations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-braun-push-for-increased-oversight-to-protect-american-agriculture-from-foreign-adversaries,"Grassley, Braun Push for Increased Oversight to Protect American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries",2024-09-10,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today joined Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) to introduce the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024. The legislation would increase scrutiny of foreign bids to purchase U.S. farmland, particularly from adversaries like China, North Korea, Russia and Iran, by adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). “When adversarial foreign governments buy up U.S. farmland, it undermines economic opportunities for families across America’s Heartland and presents obvious national security threats. The federal government’s number one job is to protect its citizens. Our legislation would support that fundamental responsibility by taking commonsense actions to address current vulnerabilities,” Grassley said. “Chinese ownership of American farmland increased more than 20-fold in the past decade. The amount of American soil in the hands of our foreign adversaries will only go up if we do not implement restrictions and oversight, especially on nations that compromise our national security and agricultural supply chains. I’m proud to lead this effort to protect American farms and food security,” Braun said. The Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act would: Include the Secretary of Agriculture on CFIUS transactions involving agricultural land, biotech or product transport, storage and processing. Authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to report agricultural land transactions involving foreign persons of China, North Korea, Russia or Iran, as well as those invoking the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA). Joining Grassley and Braun are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) leads the legislation in the House of Representatives. Learn more about Grassley’s longstanding work to protect American farmland: Grassley cosponsored AFIDA as a member of the House of Representatives. The 1978 law requires foreigners who acquire, sell or hold interest in U.S. farmland to disclose their transactions and assets. Last year as part of Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations, Congress modernized AFIDA by creating an internet database for investors to submit disclosures electronically. USDA has yet to fully address the errors that resulted from the previous handwritten disclosure process. The Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act is not Grassley’s only legislative effort to give CFIUS more teeth on farm transactions: similarly, his bipartisan Food Security is National Security Act would ensure top U.S. agriculture and food officials have permanent CFIUS posts. Grassley’s bipartisan Farmland Security Act would ensure all foreign investors, including shell companies, report their U.S. farmland holdings. It would also strengthen penalties for those who evade filing.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-09-09-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 09-09-24",2024-09-09,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: the Farm Bill, an Iowan's disappearance in Mexico, the anniversary of 9/11, the upcoming presidential debate and Iran-backed assassination plots.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-new-oig-audit-of-fbi-littered-with-examples-of-no-action-and-delayed-action,Grassley: New OIG Audit of FBI ‘Littered with examples of no action and delayed action’,2024-09-09,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is demanding answers from the FBI on its failure to implement necessary changes to improve its practices regarding child sex offense cases. A recent Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audit (“the 2024 Audit”) spurred this latest oversight push, which builds on Grassley’s longtime work to strengthen FBI investigations into child sex abuse reports. “The chasm between the FBI’s promises and performance undermines trust, raises sincere doubts about the FBI’s handling of child sex abuse cases, and makes it difficult to take the FBI’s acceptance of recent OIG recommendations seriously,” Grassley wrote in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray. After its botched investigation into former USA Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar, the FBI committed to making meaningful reforms. However, the DOJ OIG’s 2024 Audit reveals the FBI: Did not issue promised policy guidelines directing employees to report child sex abuse to State, Local, Tribal and Territorial authorities, regardless of whether the allegation fell within FBI jurisdiction. These very vulnerabilities prevented local law enforcement in Michigan from swiftly bringing Nassar to justice. Still heavily relies on the outdated Sentinel system it used during the Nassar investigation, as opposed to the updated Guardian system that consolidates case data in a central location and pushes alerts for timely reviews. Has yet to act on 83 percent of the 42 cases the OIG flagged as requiring an immediate response, despite confirming it would. These discrepancies have unacceptably enabled reported child sex abuse to go uninvestigated, in one instance for up to 21 months. Grassley is seeking accountability from the FBI, progress updates on the 42 cases the OIG escalated during the audit, and information on why the agency is opting to use outdated case tracking technology over a more secure – and available – alternative. He’s also digging into FBI Headquarters' apparent refusal to address staffing shortages in field offices. Download Grassley’s full letter HERE. Background: As Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Grassley was the first in history to convene a congressional hearing on athlete protections. He additionally spearheaded oversight of the U.S. Olympic Committee and, as ranking member, welcomed athletes who survived Nassar’s abuse to share their stories before Congress. Grassley has since worked hard to help prevent other young athletes from suffering similar abuse. Several Grassley-led measures to hold abusers accountable became law in 2020. Congress enacted as part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act Grassley’s bipartisan legislation to bolster federal sex tourism statutes that had been too weak to convict Nassar.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-after-9/11-vigilance-matters,"Q&A: After 9/11, Vigilance Matters",2024-09-06,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Q: What comes to mind with the 9/11 anniversary this month? A: After 23 years, the unprecedented terrorist attacks on U.S. soil serve as a solemn reminder to all Americans. We must never forget the tragic loss of approximately 3,000 people who woke up and went about their daily lives on that sunny September morning, never to see their loved ones again. Thousands more have passed in the years since from cancer and other illnesses brought on by the toxins generated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. On 9/11, observed as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, let’s keep in mind how Americans throughout history pull together in unity, finding strength and resilience, no matter what comes our way. Remember the bravery of the first responders on 9/11 who rushed into deadly infernos; the heroes aboard United Flight #93 who prevented their hijacked plane from reaching its target; and the efforts by all those involved in the aftermath to search, rescue, recover and rebuild. Give thanks to the men and women who have answered the call to serve our country in uniform to fight terrorism and defend freedom around the world. Honor the lives lost and the burdens shouldered by survivors and loved ones left behind. From the U.S. Senate, I continue to push bipartisan legislation to strengthen the 9/11 victims law called the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. Our bill would close loopholes in federal law to allow victims’ families to seek financial compensation from foreign sponsors of terrorism in court. America must stand unequivocally against terrorism, and that includes holding state sponsors of terrorism accountable and allowing families to seek justice and closure in a court of law. More recently, Hamas’ horrific attacks on Oct. 7 in Israel delivered a wake-up call to the world: America and our allies must never let down our guard to threats of terrorism. As a nation, we must stand firm to rein in terrorists and plug the financial pipelines that underwrite their crimes. Reckless policies of appeasement are a slippery slope. Nearly a decade ago, I explained why the nuclear deal for Iran should be rejected. Lifting sanctions on Iran paves a path for arms trafficking and support for Hezbollah, Hamas and others, endangering innocent lives and emboldening adversaries. America must not flinch. Peace through strength makes America stronger, safer and more secure. Q: What national security risks have you flagged taking place at our southern border? A: For nearly four years, the Biden-Harris administration’s failure to secure our southern border has compromised national security. Millions of people have crossed the U.S. border without permission, including an untold number of violent criminals and individuals on the terrorist watch list. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress that “we’ve seen the threat from foreign terrorists rise to a whole ‘nother level after Oct. 7.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-puts-hhs-vetting-information-sharing-under-microscope-amid-biden-harris-admins-neglect-to-protect-migrant-children,"Grassley Puts HHS Vetting, Information-Sharing under Microscope amid Biden-Harris Admin’s Neglect to Protect Migrant Children",2024-09-04,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is seeking information from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) regarding their documented failure to protect over 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children (UCs). Grassley’s oversight follows up on an August 19, 2024 watchdog report revealing DHS has not accounted for all UCs HHS released to sponsors, scheduled UCs’ immigration court appearances or attempted to locate UCs who skipped scheduled proceedings. “[The HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)]’s lax vetting has placed migrant children in grave danger of exploitation and abuse and makes locating these children after placement difficult, something I fear hinders the work of DHS as well,” Grassley wrote. “I won’t tire in my commitment to protect these children and bring about needed reforms to ensure they aren’t placed in the hands of traffickers and those seeking to exploit them.” The Biden-Harris administration, as part of its open border agenda, terminated a Trump administration policy that enhanced critical HHS and DHS information-sharing. This action resulted in broken inter-agency communications channels and continues to contribute to the growing migrant children crisis. Specifically, the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) last month uncovered: UC entries into the U.S. have surged under the Biden-Harris administration. Of the 448,820 UCs in ORR custody from fiscal year (FY) 2019 to FY 2023, DHS placed roughly 366,000 of them – or 81 percent –with ORR between FYs 2021 and 2023. The Biden-Harris administration is not keeping tabs on UCs in its custody. Between FYs 2019 and 2023, Immigration and Customs Enforcement neglected to issue notices to appear (NTAs) in immigration court for 65 percent of UCs transferred from DHS custody within that same period. The Biden-Harris administration has lost track of thousands more UCs. Between FYs 2019 and 2023, over 32,000 UCs who received NTAs did not appear in court. Grassley’s letters to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas are available at the corresponding links. Background: Grassley has a nearly decade-long history conducting oversight of the federal government’s care for unaccompanied minors. This Congress, he’s sought to overturn a Biden-Harris HHS rule endangering UCs. Grassley in July held a roundtable to hear from whistleblowers who witnessed firsthand the rampant issues in the Biden administration’s UC program. He launched an extensive review of federal contractors and grantees who are paid to provide UCs food, shelter and other basic services, as well as vet sponsors with whom they stay while they await their immigration proceedings. In January, Grassley alerted federal law enforcement to evidence of suspected child trafficking and sponsorship vetting shortfalls at HHS. Given whistleblowers’ pivotal role in rooting out wrongdoing in the executive branch, Grassley raised serious concerns HHS policies aim to prevent employees and contractors from making whistleblower disclosures to Congress or the HHS OIG. He called on the Office of the Special Counsel to examine HHS’ deficient whistleblower protections.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/capitol-hill-report-09-03-24,"Capitol Hill Report, 09-03-24",2024-09-03,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,IA,Chuck Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,grassley,https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Grassley's weekly Capitol Hill Report can be found HERE. Topics include: Grassley's 99 county tour, manufacturing, Medicare Part D, preserving Americans' constitutional rights, Israel-Hamas hostage negotiations and Vice President Harris' focus on price gouging controls.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z