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/commentary/grassley-op-ed-unwrapping-2019-and-looking-ahead-2020,Grassley op-ed: Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020,2019-12-31,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020 By U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  At the start of 2019, I became only the second U.S. senator from Iowa to be sworn in as Senate president pro tempore, one of only two constitutional officers in Congress. As the most senior lawmaker in the Senate Majority, it's an honor to serve in this leadership position on behalf of Iowans.  Although I'm now third in the presidential succession line, the prestige of the office hasn't changed the way I serve Iowans. In August, I wrapped up my 39thconsecutive year holding meetings in each of Iowa's 99 counties.  Meeting with Iowans where they work, attend school, access health care and even get their gas and groceries makes me a better senator. Having face-to-face dialogue where constituents set the agenda is essential to representative government.  One thing's for sure, Iowans aren't wrapped up with tweets and partisan-driven hysteria that consume people inside the Beltway. Here's what is on their minds.  Iowans harmed by historic floods are still coping and working to restore their homes, businesses and livelihoods. In April I participated in a field hearing led by Sen. Joni Ernst and made clear to the U.S. Army Corps that flood control needs to be its number one priority. I helped secure a federal disaster relief bill, including an amendment to help farmers who lost on-farm stored grain due to busted binseligible for disaster payments. I'll continue to work with Iowans on flood recovery and the Corps on restoring the levee system.I am a sponsor of three bills with colleagues in the region to help with these efforts. I'm also pleased we were able to get additional tax relief for Iowans affected by the floods in the year-end appropriations package.  Although the overall U.S. economy is experiencing wage growth and historic low unemployment, the farm economy is straddled with low commodity prices, trade uncertainty and natural disasters. Iowa farmers depend on trade to boost the prices they're paid for the grain they grow, the hogs they raise and the dairy products they produce. Although USMCA stalled in the House of Representatives, it was finally passed in December. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I'll work to get it to the president's desk early next year. Biofuels are a big deal to Iowa's economy. I successfully led efforts to extend the federal biodiesel tax credit through 2022. This delivers a boost of relief to soybean farmers and biodiesel workers. Although the Trump administration delivered on year-round sales of E15, I'm not satisfied with its implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard by any stretch of the imagination. I will hold the EPA's feet to the fire on this issue for as long as it takes to get it right.  Farm families also talked about the increase in suicides. As a lifelong family farmer, I empathize with the burdens borne by farmers to keep one's operation afloat during downturns in the farm economy. Congress renewed the FARMERS FIRST Act to provide funds for helplines, suicide prevention training and other outreach services. I'm also working to enact the bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Act to provide additional resources and training for local USDA employees who work closely with farmers to identify and help people at risk.  No matter where I go in Iowa, I also hear about the soaring costs of prescription drugs. Seniors tell me they skip doses or leave unfilled prescriptions at the pharmacy counter. Families are pinched to pay for the rising cost of insulin, for example. Iowans don't want to hear more excuses. They want Congress to act. My Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act is the only comprehensive, bipartisan plan that has broad support, including President Trump's support. Passing meaningful drug pricing reforms are a top priority for me in 2020. In the meantime, consumers will find some relief with passage of my bipartisan CREATES Act. Included in the year-end package, it will help accelerate lower-cost generic drugs to reach consumers.  Workers care about their paychecks and retirement security. Small businesses worry about filling job openings and attracting the workforce they need to grow and expand. Local leaders tell me about challenges they face with housing and rural broadband infrastructure. From my chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee, I shepherded passage of the SECURE Act through Congress. It will make it easier and more affordable for small businesses to offer retirement plans for employees. This new law will help small businesses with employee recruitment and retention and give workers another way to build retirement savings to last a lifetime.  Communities devastated by the opioid and methamphetamine crises also struggle when families are torn apart from addiction. My bipartisan legislation, the Family First Transition Act, will help states implement the Family First Prevention Services Act which passed last year, to help keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care.  Throughout my service as a U.S. Senator for Iowa, I've kept my nose to the grindstone to make the government work for Iowans, not the other way around. When Washington operates like a three-ring circus, I don't get caught up in the partisan side shows. Even as we ring in the New Year under the cloud of a presidential impeachment, I'm confident our system of representative government will prevail and I'll continue working for Iowans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-marks-policy-oversight-accomplishments-2019,"Grassley Marks Policy, Oversight Accomplishments in 2019",2019-12-31,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) marked a series of policy and oversight accomplishments of 2019. Serving the people of Iowa as their United States Senator is my first priority and it's an honor that I take seriously. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and through my extensive oversight efforts, my work focuses on making government more transparent, efficient and accountable to Iowans and all Americans, Grassley said. Grassley holds at least one question-and-answer session in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year to hear concerns and answer questions on any subject from Iowans. In 2019, Grassley completed his annual county meetings for the 39th year in a row. Grassley holds meetings in a variety of settings to ensure that a broad cross-section of Iowans can participate, including businesses, schools, town meetings and factory floors. Although the setting may differ from county to county, the format is the same: Iowans set the agenda. In addition to his annual meetings, Grassley attended or convened a variety of events and forums, including: In 2019, Grassley continued his social media series called #CornWatch and launched #SoybeanWatch. These gave followers an insider look at farming operations and tracked the progression of the corn and soybean crops grown on the Grassley family farm in New Hartford, Iowa from planting through harvest. When the Senate is in session, Grassley sets aside eight 15-minute meetings every Monday through Thursday to meet with Iowans in Washington, D.C., including advocacy groups, associations, chambers of commerce and local business leaders, students and families. Throughout 2019, Grassley met with more than 1,200 groups of Iowans visiting the nation's capital and discussed a variety of policy issues affecting Iowans such as trade, tax reform and prescription drug pricing. Grassley also joined 25 Iowa schools for photos on the Senate steps or Q&As via video conferencing and, as an avid fan of Iowa universities, attended dozens of sporting events. Grassley was also sworn in to be Senate president pro tempore, a position that has historically been bestowed upon the most senior member of the majority party in the upper chamber of Congress. Upon his swearing in, Grassley became third in the line of presidential succession following the vice president and the speaker of the House of Representatives. An Iowan has not held this position since Senator Albert B. Cummins in 1919. Highlights of Grassley's legislative and oversight work follow here:  Agriculture: As the senior senator of one of the top agricultural states in the country, Grassley has been an outspoken advocate for farmers and Rural America.While the Farm Bill is only voted on every 5 years, Grassley has consistently authored amendments important to farmers and pushed for careful oversight of the Farm Bill's implementation to ensure farmers are being appropriately prioritized.Grassley led an effort to help family farms reorganize debt when they fall on hard times by authoring the Family Farmer Relief Act. Following passage in Congress, President Trump signed this legislation into law this year.Grassley joined the only other farmer in the U.S. Senate, Jon Tester (D-Montana), to address farmer mental health. Unfortunately, more than ever, farmers are facing tough times with sinking commodity prices, unpredictable natural disasters and various trade disputes. Grassley and Tester authored the Seeding Rural Resilience Act which aims to curb growing rates of suicide in Rural America by implementing a voluntary stress management training program, creating a PSA campaign to raise awareness and directing the Secretary of Agriculture to work with state and local groups to identify best practices when responding to farm mental stress.From year to year, unexpected natural disasters take place across the country. Grassley joined fellow Iowa Senator, Joni Ernst as well as a few Senate colleagues from the Midwest in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide timely livestock disaster assistance. Following the severe flooding across Iowa this past spring, Grassley also authored an amendment, which passed in the federal disaster aid package, that provided relief to farmers that lost stored grain during the flooding.Grassley, along with his colleagues, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) sent a letter to the chairman and ranking member of both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees urging them to include robust funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG). Grassley spearheaded the effort to create the VAPG program in 2000 after hearing some of the business challenges facing Iowa farmers. The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized VAPG as part of an umbrella program called the Local Agriculture Market Program and provided VAPG with $12 million per year in mandatory funding.Always an advocate for the farmers in Iowa, Grassley questioned Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky on the USDA's crop reporting program during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. Grassley heard concerns from constituents around the state during his annual 99 county meetings relating to the accuracy and dependability of the crop reports and data collection tools. Censky acknowledged those concerns and reported that the USDA is actively working to make the crop reports more accurate for farmers.Diseases like African swine fever have the potential to devastate entire sectors of U.S. agriculture. With that in mind, Grassley cosponsored the Protecting America's Food & Agriculture Act of 2019 which will address the shortage of agricultural inspectors who protect the nation's food supply and agricultural industries at the border. This legislation passed out of the Senate by unanimous consent. Antitrust: The Senate passed Grassley's Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, which would extend whistleblower protections for employees who provide information to the Justice Department related to criminal antitrust violations. This initiative is part of Grassley's decades-long effort to protect and empower whistleblowers. The legislation passed the Senate the past three congresses, but has not been taken up by the House of Representatives.Grassley joined his colleague, Sen. Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, in introducing legislation to ensure antitrust authorities have the resources they need to protect consumers. The Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act would update merger filing fees for the first time since 2001, lower the burden on small and medium-sized businesses, ensure larger deals bring in more income, and raise enough revenue so that taxpayer dollars aren't required to fund necessary increases to agency enforcement budgets.Grassley also joined Klobuchar on bipartisan, bicameral legislation to curb the abuse of the FDA petition process and increase access to affordable prescription drugs. The Stop Significant and Time-wasting Abuse Limiting Legitimate Innovation of New Generics (Stop STALLING) Act would reduce the incentives for branded pharmaceutical companies to interfere with the regulatory approval of generics and biosimilars that would compete with their own products, a tactic that delays patient access to more affordable medications.Grassley and a bipartisan group of other Judiciary Committee members introduced legislation that would enable the federal government to take action against price fixing by OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, or NOPEC, would explicitly authorize the Justice Department to bring lawsuits against oil cartel members for antitrust violations.As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, Grassley also introduced legislation directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study the role and recent merger activity of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other intermediaries as well as possible anticompetitive behavior. The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019 helps shine a light on the PBM industry by examining the effects of consolidation on pricing and other potentially-abusive behavior. It also requires the FTC to provide policy recommendations to Congress to improve competition and protect consumers. Criminal Justice Reform: Congressional appropriators this year unanimously approved $75 million in funding for implementation of the bipartisan First Step Act, which Grassley championed and President Trump signed on December 21, 2018.This landmark law will reduce recidivism, promote public safety and improve fairness in sentencing of federal crimes. Grassley recently commemorated the one-year anniversary of its adoption with a speech on the Senate floor. Grassley and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) also communicated this year with the Justice Department (DOJ) regarding DOJ progress in implementing its criminal justice reforms. The two also joined Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) in touring a maximum security penitentiary in Illinois and received a briefing on its current operations.Congressional appropriators also continued funding, in a year-end spending package, for other DOJ grant programs that Grassley led the Senate in reauthorizing during his tenure as Judiciary Committee chairman. These include a formula grant program established by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. After convening a 2015 hearing that unearthed shortfalls in DOJ's oversight of that program, Grassley championed the Senate version of bipartisan reforms to this 1974 statute. He also led the bicameral negotiations that yielded the final version, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018. Signed on December 21, 2018, its enactment represents the first time in 15 years that Congress has updated and extended these juvenile justice programs.  Defense Oversight: Grassley's extensive oversight work throughout his career has included a dogged pursuit for answers from the Pentagon over decades of wasteful spending and its inability to produce a clean financial audit. In the fall of 2019, the Pentagon released the results of a full financial audit, showing once again it failed to produce a clean audit.Grassley has conducted oversight to hold the DoD accountable for over four decades. Earlier this year, he sent a letter to then-Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan seeking details about how the DoD contracts with businesses and other entities with respect to overpricing, specifically citing TransDigm Group Inc. (Transdigm). Additionally, Grassley asked about the DoD's ability to collect cost data from those entities and how Congress can help DoD stop price-gouging practices. Grassley also critiqued DoD's contracts with TransDigm in a floor speech and an op-ed. He recently sent a follow-up letter to Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, seeking an update on how DoD is confronting TransDigm's costly price-gouging schemes.Grassley also joined Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in reintroducing the Military Justice Improvement Act in response to reports of mishandling military sexual assaults.Grassley, with Gillibrand and Ernst, also probed the DoD for its apparent failure to ask victims of sexual assault if they would prefer their case to be tried in a civilian or military court.Additionally, Grassley, in a July 2019 letter, continued to press DoD's Office of Net Assessment (ONA) on allegations that contracts granted to Professor Stefan Halper were used to support potential partisan political or other improper or wasteful activities.A DoD Inspector General audit revealed significant flaws in ONA's contract management practices, indicating ONA's internal controls were weak or non-existent. In the July 2019 letter, Grassley requested thousands of pages of documents related to Professor Halper's contracts, and after months of back-and-forth with ONA, on November 14, 2019, Grassley received a full production of documents.Grassley plans to continue to press ONA on its contracting practices in an effort to shed light on the wasteful practices of DoD's internal think tank. DOJ/ FBI: Grassley partnered with his colleague, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to introduce the Special Counsel Transparency Act. The measure would ensure that the work of DOJ's Special Counsels is publicly available.Grassley and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) have continued communicating with the DOJ over the fatal shooting of Bijan Ghaisar by U.S. Park Police in 2017. Grassley first contacted the FBI in December 2018 about its investigation into the shooting, and the FBI responded in March with little information, prompting a follow-up letter from Grassley.In June, Grassley and Warner decried the opaque and drawn-out nature of the review in letters to both the FBI and National Parks Service (NPS). The FBI provided a brief response in August, leaving many questions unanswered. In October, the NPS provided a partial response, which prompted a follow-up letter from the Senators seeking more information. The DOJ then announced that it will not pursue action against the U.S. Park Police officers who shot and killed Ghaisar. Read Grassley's statement on that announcement here. In April, Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, contacted U.S. Attorney General William Barr to express concerns that the FBI may have used a counterintelligence briefing to conduct surveillance on the Trump transition team.The senators' letter inquires about the extent of the FBI's surveillance of the Trump campaign and transition staff.Subsequently, in its review of the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane Investigation, the DOJ OIG found that an FBI Supervisory Special Agent did attend certain counterintelligence briefings for 2016 presidential candidates and that at least one briefing was used for investigative purposes.In October, Grassley again joined Johnson in sending another letter to Attorney General Barr, calling for transparency in the reported DOJ criminal inquiry into the origins of the Russia investigation. In addition, on June 18, 2019, Grassley and other senators wrote to DOJ to ask why it has not required Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This letter is a part of Senator Grassley's ongoing FARA oversight.  Drug Prices: One of Grassley's top priorities has been to address the rising costs of prescription drugs. With Sen. Ron Wyden, (D-Ore.) he introduced the bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, which would save taxpayers more than $100 billion, lower premiums, lower out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare beneficiaries and provide peace of mind to millions of seniors. It cleared the Senate Finance Committee this year, and support for the measure continues to grow.In 2019, Grassley continued to lead the fight to decrease prescription drug costs in other ways. He joined Sen. Durbin in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), calling for implementation of proposed regulations requiring pharmaceutical companies to list prices of their prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements. Late this year, HHS made good on the promise and finalized a rule requiring price disclosure on TV ads for prescription drugs. That rule is being challenged by pharmaceutical companies in court, but its issuance represents great progress in much-needed transparency for consumers. Grassley and Wyden also partnered on a bipartisan investigation into insulin prices. They sent letters to leading insulin manufacturers, seeking information regarding recent price increases of up to 500% or more for insulin, a treatment available for diabetes for nearly 100 years.Grassley also joined Wyden in introducing the Right Rebate Act, which closed a loophole in Medicaid that has allowed pharmaceutical manufacturers to misclassify their drugs and overcharge taxpayers by billions of dollars. Senator Grassley's oversight work on EpiPen led to the development of this legislation, which is now the law of the land.Grassley also joined Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in introducing the bipartisan Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act. The measure would crack down on anti-competitive pay-for-delay pharmaceutical deals, in which branded companies pay their generic competitors not to compete as part of a patent settlement.Grassley joined Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in introducing another bipartisan measure, the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act. The CREATES Act, which recently was included in the year-end spending agreement, is expected to save taxpayers $3.7 billion, by removing obstacles to the development of lower-cost prescription drugs. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee last year, Grassley led that committee in approving the measure, which combats anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block lower-cost generic drugs from entering the market. Education: Grassley reintroduced a series of bills aimed at giving students and their families a better idea of the true costs of higher education and equipping them with the tools needed to make informed decisions based on tuition costs, financial aid and loan and repayment options. The Net Price Calculator Improvement Act would improve the effectiveness and access to net price calculators, tools that provide students with early, individualized estimates of higher education costs and financial aid figures before they decide where to apply.  The Understanding the True Cost of College Act would create a universal financial aid offer letter so that students could easily compare financial aid packages between schools. It would clarify what financial aid families would receive from a school, distinguishing between loans and grants, and create standard terms for the aid offered so that students could accurately compare offers from different schools. The Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act would increase the amount of information students receive about federal student loans, including their potential ability to repay based on their likely salary, before rather than after signing up for tens of thousands of dollars in debt to Uncle Sam.Grassley again confronted the issue of academic freedom, authoring a Wall Street Journal editorial on this subject in September. He also sent letters to the presidents of Duke University, Harvard University, Sarah Lawrence College and Villanova University, seeking information on the current culture of academic freedom on campus. Due to concerns that professors might avoid teaching certain material in good faith out of a fear of being labeled biased, Grassley also sought details on relatively new entities, known as Bias Response Advisory Committees, at the schools.As part of Grassley's continued oversight of potential foreign threats to taxpayer-funded research, he also sent letters to the National Institute of Health (NIH), DoD and HHS.In addition, on June 5, 2019, Senator Grassley convened a Finance Committee hearing, Foreign Threats to Taxpayer-Funded Research: Oversight Opportunities and Policy Solutions. Grassley later worked to get the Office of National Security, located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), access to government databases that it had yet to get access to.Recently, ONS gained access to some databases as a result of those efforts.Grassley also sponsored a resolution, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, designating the week beginning October 20, 2019, as ""National Character Counts Week. Energy: As a champion of renewable fuels and an all-of-the-above American energy policy, Grassley continued his extensive work to enact responsible energy policies throughout 2019. Grassley has been a leader in the effort to allow the sale of year-round E15. After regular correspondence with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meetings at the White House, instructed the EPA to begin the process of allowing year-round use of E15. The EPA rule allowing E15 to be sold year-round was finalized in time for the 2019 summer driving season.Grassley has also led the fight to maintain a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). He led efforts to pressure the EPA to stop issuing hardship waivers to obligated refiners as well as make the waiver process more transparent and highlight the importance of the RFS to President Trump.In July 2019, the EPA announced its 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the RFS that failed to account for lost gallons due to small refinery exemptions. After an oval office meeting with Midwest leaders, including Grassley, Ernst and Reynolds, the President directed EPA to issue a supplemental rule to account for future exemptions using projections based on past waivers. When the EPA changed the methodology in the supplemental rule, Grassley criticized the projections and noted that Iowa's senators and governor strongly support President Trump's promise to uphold the RFS and I've participated in meetings at the White House to fix this mess. On October 15, the EPA released a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. Once again, the EPA fell short of the mark as the rule does not live up to the September agreement we reached in the White House. Much of Grassley's energy agenda focused on the RFS. Grassley worked extensively with Senate colleagues, President Trump and the EPA to find ways forward on renewable energies and fulfill congressional intent on the RFS. Grassley, with his colleague, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) led a dozen senators in contacting the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, about the Trump Administration's changed circumstances review of antidumping and countervailing duty orders that were imposed only months prior on imports of certain biodiesel products from Argentina. The senators have pressed the Commerce Department to rigorously and transparently review actions by the Argentine government and industry to determine if revisiting the antidumping and countervailing duty rates is warranted.Grassley, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also authored the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2019.It would remove burdensome regulations on domestic energy production. Government intervention in the energy sector impacts everything from fuel sales to how fuels are taxed, inevitably driving up costs and holding back new technologies. As a result, Washington has unnecessarily limited consumer choice and constrained the wider availability of new fuel options.In addition to ethanol and biodiesel, Grassley highlighted the importance of wind energy in Iowa and around the country.Grassley has received awards for his work, including the 2019 Fueling Growth award from Growth Energy for his strong support and consistent work on behalf of ethanol.He also was presented with the 2019 Holmberg Lifetime Achievement Award at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference for his tireless efforts to promote renewable energy, particularly in Rural America. Federal Judiciary:  Grassley presided over a historic number of federal judicial confirmations during the 115th Congress, including the confirmation of two Supreme Court justices. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 114th and 115th Congresses, Grassley rigorously vetted and reviewed judicial nominations to ensure our federal judges will interpret and apply the law as written, not legislate from the bench based on policy preferences.  President Trump has made an effort to nominate constitutionalist and textualist judges who understand the role of the judiciary in our constitutional system. Under Grassley's leadership, the Judiciary Committee oversaw the confirmation of a record 30 circuit court judges, which is the most circuit court confirmations in the first two years of any presidency in history, and in 2019, the Senate has confirmed a record number of circuit court nominees. These confirmations will have an important impact on our country not just for this Congress or presidency, but for decades to come.  Foster youth, adoption, families and elder care: Throughout his congressional career, Grassley has advocated for children and families. He continued his work on these issues in 2019 by developing a number of bills aimed at protecting special needs children, preventing elder abuse, encouraging elder independence and promoting funding for programs to improve family health.Grassley partnered with colleagues in both the House and Senate to introduce the Family First Transition Act, which would help states transform their child welfare systems and keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care. This legislation, which recently was enacted, will provide states with the tools to successfully implement the Family First Prevention Services Act which became law last year.Grassley also partnered with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to introduce the bipartisan Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act, which would streamline and expedite access to federal housing assistance to foster youth who are aging out of care.The bill also would allow assistance to be extended for two additional years if the youth is engaged in self-sufficiency activities, such as work or school.Afterconvening a 2016 Judiciary Committee hearing on the challenges facing children who come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, Grassley joined with Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) to reintroduce the Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams (CONNECT) Act. This bipartisan bill would help states identify and meet the needs of these children, also known as dual status youth.Grassley introduced with Wyden the Increasing Opportunities for Former Foster Youth Act. This bipartisan legislation would improve services for older youth who are aging out of the foster care system. Specifically, the bill would provide grants for carrying out and evaluating programs that serve youth who are transitioning to adulthood, with the goal of helping them become successful adults.Grassley continued his many years of work on elder justice reform, convening two Finance Committee hearings this year to highlight deficiencies in oversight of nursing homes. At the first hearing in March, he invited Patricia Blank of Shell Rock, Iowa, to testify. Blank's late mother, Virginia Olthoff, allegedly was in severe pain and possibly was denied fluids for days before her death, while in the care of an Iowa nursing home. The facility previously had received the highest possible ranking from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for quality of resident care--although it also had been fined for physical and verbal abuse a year before Olthoff's death. CMS, which participated in this hearing, announced sweeping changes to its nursing home oversight policies a few weeks later.At the second hearing, Elder Justice: A Call for Reform, representatives of two government watchdog agencies testified to the need for additional reforms to promote the health and safety of residents of long term care facilities that participate in the Medicaid and Medicare programs. Grassley, a longstanding advocate for elder justice, is currently developing reforms, for inclusion in the draft legislation he is developing to extend Elder Justice Act programs.As chairman of the Finance Committee in 2006, Grassley worked on an early version of the original Elder Justice Act. He also authored a related measure, the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017, which was enacted last Congress. This year, Grassley also developed a resolution designating June 15, 2019, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to draw attention to the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. He also sponsored a resolution recognizing National Foster Care Month, to boost awareness of challenges faced by children in the foster care system. Both passed the Senate unanimously. Good Government and Transparency: Grassley has joined several Judiciary Committee colleagues in raising concerns about a continued culture of secrecy in the federal bureaucracy. In a letter to DOJ's Office of Information Policy, these senators noted negative trends in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including a lack of responsiveness to requests, long delays and record numbers of FOIA lawsuits.Grassley consistently has advocated for transparency across the board in the federal government. He joined other members of Congress in expressing significant concerns with the Department of Interior's (DOI) proposed FOIA rule, which appeared to restrict public access to records and unnecessarily delay the processing of FOIA requests. Following calls from members of Congress, DOI updated its FOIA policies.Grassley joined Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) in leading an effort to cut government waste and ensure that only the highest-performing federal employees are serving the American people. They reintroduced the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement and Transformation (MERIT) Act, which would modernize the civil service system by expediting the dismissal of underperforming employees to keep pace with changing workforce needs.Grassley has been monitoring recent reports regarding the World Bank. He sent a letter to the bank's president and requested a briefing on a highly questionable $50 million loan provided to an organization associated with the forcible internment of Chinese Uighur Muslims, a population that has experienced grave human rights violations at the hands of the communist Chinese government. He also gave a floor speech about the World Bank continuing to lend enormous amounts of money to the Chinese government despite their record of human rights abuses and role as the world's second largest economy.On June 5, 2019, Grassley held a Finance Committee hearing, Foreign Threats to Taxpayer-Funded Research: Oversight Opportunities and Policy Solutions. Following the hearing, Grassley called for the Office of National Security (located within HHS) to obtain access to certain government databases, to which that office previously had been denied access.On August 14, 2019, Grassley wrote to the Treasury Department, asking about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' Henniges transaction, which involved a convoluted mix of American and Chinese-government linked companies, including one entity that is managed by Hunter Biden. He has since received multiple classified briefings regarding the transaction.On October 2, 2019, Grassley sent a letter to the Intelligence Community Inspector General (IC IG) regarding a number of leaks of highly sensitive information in the past two years relating to the Russia investigation and now the Ukrainian whistleblower complaint.On October 17, 2019, after sending repeated oversight letters to the executive branch, Grassley received a final report from the State Department regarding its security review of Secretary Clinton's mishandling of classified information. That report identified 91 valid security incidents that were attributable to 38 individuals.The sanction for a violation includes suspension or revocation of the clearance, suspension without pay or termination.In December 2018, Grassley's staff interviewed two IC IG employees who were tasked to the Clinton investigation.Specifically, they interviewed them based on news reports that they had information relating to an alleged hack by China into Secretary Clinton's non-government server.On August 14, Grassley and Sen. Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, publicly released a Majority Staff Memo and all supporting documentation regarding the investigation into whether China hacked Clinton's non-government server. Gun Violence: Grassley reintroduced the EAGLES Act to expand efforts by the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center to help communities proactively mitigate threats of violence at schools. The bill would establish a national program on targeted school violence prevention and provide additional resources to expand research and training on a national scale. The bill also would require the Secret Service to develop an expansion plan and periodically report to Congress on its progress.Grassley in September called on HHS to explain why it has yet to adopt watchdog agencies' recommendations to improve accountability of grants awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In his letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Grassley urged adoption by HHS of policies to enhance grant program oversight and promote access to treatment of childhood trauma. Grassley also requested an inventory of federal grant programs to prevent violence as well as metrics on grantee vetting and program performance.With Senator Cruz, R-Texas, Grassley reintroduced the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act. The legislation improves school safety and prevents guns from falling into the wrong hands by ensuring that relevant agencies and institutions accurately submit records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Health Care  Grassley and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) championed the Advancing Care for Exceptional (ACE) Kids Act. This measure, which passed both chambers in April and President Trump signed, will provide children with complex medical needs, such as Down syndrome,the coordination of care needed to enjoy the healthiest life possible.In April, Grassley joined Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in introducing the Protect Act.This legislation would guarantee that Americans have health care coverage, regardless of their health status or pre-existing conditions.Grassley in January originated a letter to the HHS Secretary, cosigned by a bipartisan group of 21 other senators, questioning recent changes to our national liver distribution policy.These changes could adversely impact rural communities in certain regions of the country. In December, Grassley initiated a related letter, cosigned by Sen. Todd Young (R-In.) that calls for the Acting Inspector General at HHS to initiate a comprehensive examination of the adequacy of our nation's organ procurement and transplantation system.To reduce regulatory burdens on hospitals in rural or remote areas, Grassley called for CMS to update its guidance on the agency's co-location policy.Co-location arrangements enable hospitals in these areas to partner with other hospitals and health care providers to offer a wider range of services. In June, Grassley submitted policy suggestions for CMS as the agency finalizes new guidance clarifying how CMS and state surveyors will evaluate the use of shared space, shared staff, and contracted services by hospitals that are co-located with other hospitals and health care providers under the Medicare program.To better understand other unique challenges facing rural hospitals across the country, Grassley also participated in an August event sponsored by a Washington, D.C.-based research institution in Des Moines, Iowa. The senator's keynote speech highlighted the importance of telehealth in solving some challenges facing rural communities today.Grassley also requested specific information from the IRS regarding its oversight of nonprofit hospitals, after media reports emerged on this subject questioning whether these hospitals met the criteria for tax-exempt status, whether they served their communities appropriately and whether they served individuals in need regardless of ability to pay.Grassley later sent letters to the University of Virginia Health System and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tennessee, requesting information about their billing and debt-collection practices with respect to low-income patients. Grassley also continued his oversight of the Medicaid program, initiating an October letter to the CMS Administrator that cites government audits showing that at least a dozen state Medicaid agencies improperly made payments for the deceased in recent years. (In at least one state, such improper payments continued for as long as two years after the beneficiary's date of death.) Grassley called for greater federal leadership in this area to help reduce program payment risks.With his Republican colleagues on the Finance Committee, Grassley also released a report on Medicaid supplemental payments to providers. This report was issued to raise public awareness and initiate a congressional conversation about the transparency of provider payments and the importance of meeting their needs. Housing: Grassley this year pressed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for answers to questions about lax oversight of federal spending by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and delays in implementing reforms that HUD pledged three years ago to implement. Over 3,300 PHAs across the country receive millions of dollars in the annual congressional appropriations process. These funds are appropriated to support housing for low-income households. But many PHAs  including the country's largest  use a portion of those funds to cover fees for property management and other services to the housing projects they operate. Grassley joined Ernst on a bill and an amendment to require public housing agencies that have jurisdiction over the area in which a portable family is seeking to use the voucher received from the initial public housing agency to absorb them or cover the full cost if they have the funds available to do so. Iowa public housing agencies lost 530 vouchers in 2018 with housing assistance payment funding of $209,575 per month and administrative fees funding of $9,617.10 per month.This means that the housing authorities have less vouchers and funding to help Iowans in need.  Illegal and illicit drugs: In October, Grassley convened a Finance Committee hearing on the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, a new statute that passed Congress with overwhelming support.The Surgeon General testified to HHS's efforts to implement the statute's provisions to combat the national opioid crisis, while other witnesses discussed instances of addiction treatment fraud in a growing number of states. In a June letter to HHS and CMS, Grassley also pressed for implementation of recommended strategies to combat opioid misuse and abuse in Medicare and other health care programs.Grassley and Wyden also continued their investigation into the financial relationship between opioid manufacturers and tax-exempt organizations. They sent letters to 10 tax-exempt organizations, seeking to understand how pharmaceutical manufacturers' donations to these organizations affected their advocacy for specific pain treatment strategies.In addition, Grassley and Ernst sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to address the increased volume of methamphetamine being smuggled from Mexico into the United States. Grassley also met with the U.S. Drug Czar, Jim Carroll, in Iowa to discuss methamphetamine and how to combat the addiction crisis in Iowa. Grassley partnered with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in introducing the bipartisan SARMs Control Act of 2019.The bill's purpose is to crack down on synthetic variations of performance enhancing drugs that are illegally marketed as dietary supplements. Selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs, are synthetic drugs designed to mimic controlled substances and are often used as performance enhancers. SARMs have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human use.Grassley joined his colleagues, Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Cali.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Durbin to introduce the Preventing Pill Mills Through Data Sharing Act. This legislation would equip the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with additional tools to hold drug distributors, manufacturers and pharmacies accountable for identifying, reporting and stopping suspicious orders of controlled substances.Grassley also partnered with his colleagues Sens. Feinstein and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to introduce a bill to expand cannabidiol and marijuana medical research. Infrastructure: In 2019, Iowa faced devastating flooding across the state. Grassley visited many of the affected areas and authored an amendment, which was included in the final disaster relief package, to assist Iowans affected by the flooding.Grassley and Ernst held a hearing in Southwest Iowa, focused on Corps of Engineers management of the Missouri River. They closely monitored the situation along the western border and sent multiple letters to the Corps, seeking updates. They also sponsored several bills regarding flood recovery and management of the Missouri River. They continue to work with affected communities, the State of Iowa and federal departments and agencies on recovery and resiliency.Grassley and Ernst also pressed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the FCC's role in ensuring the accuracy of broadband maps. According to your 2018 Broadband Deployment Report, more than three in four rural Iowans have access to broadband. More broadly, the report indicates that 90.5 percent of all Iowans have access to broadband. As much as we wish that were the case, we can tell you that the FCC data drastically overstates broadband access throughout our state, the senators wrote.Congress passed the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act to help the FCC accomplish the goal of enhanced reporting and more accurate data, which will ensure federal broadband funding is able to serve Iowa communities that need it.  Immigration and Visas: On the third anniversary of Sarah Root's death, Grassley and Ernst joined Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) in reintroducing Sarah's Law, to allow federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person. On January 31, 2016  the night of her graduation  Sarah Root, a twenty-one year-old Iowan from Council Bluffs, was struck and killed in Omaha, Neb., by Edwin Mejia, who entered the country illegally and was driving drunk. He was three times over the legal limit.Grassley joined Leahy to tackle fraud, abuse and national security threats in the EB-5 Investor Visa Program. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act reauthorizes the EB-5 regional center program through 2024. It also expands DHS authorities to evaluate EB-5 applications and includes additional transparency and integrity measures to improve accountability of applicants, project managers, and the projects themselves.  Grassley also joined Tillis to introduce the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for jeopardizing public safety and failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities.Grassley sought information on a number of cases in which a crime was carried out by someone who was in the United States illegally. Grassley sought details on the immigration history of Marvin Oswaldo Esquivel Lopez, who allegedly murdered Rossibeth Flores Rodriguez and her two children in Des Moines, Iowa. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Esquivel Lopez was previously deported from the United States in 2010 and 2011.Grassley partnered with Sen. Tom Cotton (R- Ark.) to introduce Singh's Law, legislation that would bar criminal aliens associated with a criminal gang from entering the United States. Foreign nationals with gang associations would also be disqualified from receiving asylum, temporary protected status, special immigrant juvenile visas, and other forms of relief from removal. The bill is named in honor of Corporal Ronil Singh, a police officer in Newman, California, who was killed on December 26, 2018. An illegal immigrant with known gang affiliations and two prior DUI arrests has been charged with murdering Corporal Singh. Law Enforcement: To honor the service and sacrifice made by the men and women in law enforcement, Grassley supported a resolution designating the week of May 12 through May 18, 2019, as ""National Police Week."" It passed the Senate by unanimous consent. During Police Week, Grassley also cosponsored the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization.Grassley joined Gillibrand to introduce the Protecting America's First Responders Act, which would update the definition of disability to ensure that officers who are permanently unable to secure meaningful gainful employment following a catastrophic injury in the line of duty remain eligible for benefits. This bill cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and also passed the full Senate. It now awaits consideration by the House. Grassley had previously sent a letter to Attorney General Barr raising concerns about this program.Grassley, with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) introduced a bill to track law enforcement suicides. The Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act requires the FBI to collect voluntarily submitted, anonymous data on police suicides and attempted suicides from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Collecting this data will help inform policy solutions to promote prevention of law enforcement suicides. National Security:  Grassley joined Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H) in writing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan to express concern over the rise in domestic non-Foreign Terrorist Organization inspired terrorism over the last few years. Their letter also requests information about DHS efforts to mitigate and prevent this threat in order to protect the safety and security of Americans.Grassley also joined Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to introduce the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which seeks to promote justice for U.S. victims of international terrorism and encourage security cooperation among U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian security forces. The bill is designed to ensure access to courts for Americans who were injured or killed by acts of terrorism while abroad. Recent federal court decisions created loopholes in longstanding U.S. anti-terrorism law, allowing certain foreign actors to evade U.S. court jurisdiction when they support or carry out acts of terrorism against American citizens.On June 10, 2019, Grassley and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote to the HHS OIG to request a review of whether CMS has made payments for genetic testing to U.S. entities with ties to the Chinese government.The letter also asks about whether CMS considers national security risks when determining whether payments to entities linked to the Chinese government are permissible.The HHS OIG has agreed to perform a review of whether CMS considers national security risks before certifying laboratories that conduct genomic testing.Grassley also joined Sen. Whitehouse to introduce legislation that would make it more difficult for criminals and foreign enemies to hide assets from law enforcement and tax authorities. The True Incorporation Transparency for Law Enforcement (TITLE) Act would require states to obtain information on the true owners of corporations and LLCs formed within their borders. Presidential Nominations:  As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley carried out the Senate's constitutionally mandated advice and consent responsibilities respecting presidential nominations to many key departments and agencies. During 2019, the Finance Committee reported 15 individual nominations to the full Senate and 14 of those have been confirmed, including:  The first Commissioner of Social Security to be confirmed by the Senate in over a decade;The Chief Counsel to the Internal Revenue Service;The Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation;Two nominees to the International Trade Commission;Three nominees to the U.S. Tax Court; andOther nominations to important positions at the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Commerce, and the Social Security Administration.  Reform to Victims Rights Laws: Grassley in 2019 continued his work to prevent abuse of young athletes, by calling on the U.S. Olympic Committee in January to detail its efforts to support amateur athletes affected by a recent sexual assault scandal. Grassley met with the Olympic Committee's CEO, and in a January 2019 letter, pressed for changes to prevent future abuses in sports. Grassley issued his letter a year after Dr. Larry Nassar was first sentenced for sexually abusing scores of young gymnasts  several of whom who had testified before a 2017 hearing that Grassley convened as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.Grassley this year introduced legislation, the Stopping Abuse From Entering Sports, Promoting Oversight, Responsibility And Transparency (SAFESPORT) Act Of 2019. It builds on an earlier measure that Grassley cosponsored and shepherded through the Judiciary Committee in 2018, during his tenure as that committee's chairman. His latest proposal includes funding accountability measures, anti-retaliation protections, child abuse reporting requirements, and other reforms. The Senate Commerce Committee approved many of its provisions during consideration of a larger package of reforms to the Ted Stevens Act in November.Grassley also sponsored bipartisan legislation to aid victims of domestic violence. The bill, which Klobuchar and Capito joined as cosponsors, extends funding for programs authorized by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), a landmark law enacted in 1984 that directs funding to states and tribes to make supportive services such as emergency shelters, counseling, and more available to survivors of domestic abuse and their dependents. The bill also extends funding for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. It was merged with a related measure, introduced by Casey and incorporated into a broader CAPTA reauthorization package, which cleared the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in December.Grassley also joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate to introduce legislation to promote justice for additional survivors of crimes of sexual violence across the country. The Survivors' Bill of Rights in the States Act encourages states to adopt the same protections for survivors of state sex crimes that already exist at the federal level (under related legislation that Grassley championed several years ago).Grassley and a bipartisan coalition of senators also reintroduced legislation, entitled the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, which would combat sexual assault on college and university campusesCongress this year continued, in a year-end spending package, funding for federal grant programs to combat domestic human trafficking, which Grassley led the Senate in adopting during his tenure as Judiciary Committee chairman. These include the bipartisan Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017 that Grassley sponsored and the complementary Abolish Human Trafficking Act, both of which President Trump signed. One provision of Grassley's legislation calls for the creation of a new Public-Private Council to End Human Trafficking, to which an Iowan was appointed with Grassley's support.  Second Amendment: Grassley and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) introduced bipartisan legislation in 2019 to restore veterans' Second Amendment rights. Under current practice, once the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns a fiduciary to help a veteran manage benefit payments, the VA will report that veteran's name to the National Criminal Instant Background Check System (NICS), commonly known as the national gun ban list. Once on the gun ban list, a veteran is outlawed from owning or possessing firearms, resulting in some veterans who are perfectly safe to own firearms being denied their constitutional rights. The Veterans' Second Amendment Rights Restoration Act of 2019 would require that before the VA reports a veteran's name to the DOJ for placement on the NICS, the VA must first find and prove that a veteran is a danger to self or others. Taxes:   After assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee in January, Grassley worked closely with the Treasury Department as it issued regulations and other guidance related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provided clarity to farmers, cooperatives, and businesses  small to large  on changes to the business tax rules including the 20-percent deduction for pass-through businesses, the opportunity zones initiative, and international tax laws. Grassley joined the Finance Committee's ranking member, Sen. Wyden, to address temporary tax policies this year. They introduced bipartisan legislation to extend retroactively tax provisions that expired at the end of 2017 and 2018 through the balance of this year and provide disaster tax relief benefits to individuals and businesses affected by major disasters occurring in 2018. While most of the provisions were extended through 2020 in the year-end spending, the package also included longer-term extensions for the biodiesel and short-line railroad credits, and the disaster relief was also included. Additionally, the Finance Committeelaunched bipartisan taskforces to find long-term solutions to temporary tax policy. Summaries of their findings can be found here.Grassley worked with Wyden to support the Treasury Department's participation in the multilateral process at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is intended to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the global economy. In letters and other communications throughout 2019, Grassley and Wyden expressed their strong bipartisan opposition to unilateral digital services taxes (DSTs) that target and discriminate against U.S.-based companies operating around the world. Grassley continues to support the OECD multilateral process so that a global consensus on a modern international-tax architecture can be achieved, unilateral DSTs can be repealed or otherwise not implemented, and the potential for U.S. responses to DSTs, such as the U.S. Trade Representative's proposed duties on certain French products in response to France's enactment of its DST, can be avoided.Grassley and Wyden also partnered to introduce the Taxpayer First Act of 2019, major bipartisan legislation to modernize the IRS, improve taxpayer services and strengthen taxpayer protections. The legislation is the product of years of bicameral, bipartisan work between the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. This critical bill passed Congress and was signed into law by the President in June.Grassley and Wyden have opened an investigation into syndicated conservation-easement transactions, which are transactions that use the charitable-deduction provision of the tax code to encourage landowners to conserve their properties for future generations.But according to the IRS and some conservation groups, these types of transactions can easily turn into abusive tax shelters, and this investigation focuses on getting to the bottom of such allegations.Grassley was instrumental in creating the IRS's bipartisan Private Debt Collection Program (as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee in 2004) and in ensuring its reinstatement in 2015, after the IRS terminated the program in 2009 following a flawed study. Data released by the IRS on the program shows that the program is succeeding at increasing government tax-revenue collections by collecting taxes due and owed, and all without raising taxes.Grassley also joined several of his colleagues in re-introducing legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, more commonly known as the death tax. Grassley also joined Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) who chairs the Senate Health, Labor and Pensions Committee, in releasing a comprehensive reform package to address the financial crisis in the multiemployer pension plan system. The Multiemployer Pension Recapitalization and Reform Plan would provide targeted financial assistance to a number of large severely underfunded multiemployer plans and reform the overall system to protect workers and retirees from financial hardships resulting from the failure of their multiemployer pension plan. With the release of the plan, Grassley began discussions to develop a bipartisan consensus. Trade: The state of trade policy took center stage in 2019. Grassley was a central figure in the debate, advocating vigorously on behalf of Iowa's interests. The Washington International Trade Foundation recognized Grassley with its Congressional Leadership Award this year in light of his extraordinary contributions in the field of international trade.In the last two years, Grassley provided extensive support to the President's efforts to renegotiate NAFTA. The new trade pact reached by the President is called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)  and provides a host of new benefits for American's farmers, workers, and manufacturers. The nonpartisan International Trade Commission estimates that USMCA will add more than $68 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, and generate 176,000 jobs. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley worked closely with committee members and the Administration to guide USMCA through Congress. Unfortunately, Democrats in the House of Representatives unreasonably delayed passage of USMCA until the end of the year.Grassley looks forward to getting USMCA passed in the Senate and ratified early next year.As part of ensuring that USMCA was passed, Grassley made clear that the Administration's national security steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico would have to be dropped  as would those countries' retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. All sides' tariffs came down in May  and Iowa's farmers regained access to two of their most important markets.Grassley has long recognized that the World Trade Organization (WTO) can be a powerful tool to remove foreign trade barriers. However, the WTO needs significant reform  particularly in light of its failure to address China's abusive trade practices.Grassley held the first Senate Finance Committee hearing of the 116th Congress on the road ahead for the WTO.Grassley also supported the President in confronting China on its abusive trade practices. Grassley welcomed the Phase 1 deal the President reached with China, and looks forward to implementation of the deal in early 2020.Iowans, especially hog, corn and soybean farmers, will benefit from provisions in the deal that remove trade barriers, and commit China to increasing purchases of agricultural products.Grassley will continue to push in 2020 for a strong and enforceable agreement that address the remaining issues we have with China.To ensure that the President's tariffs on Chinese goods minimized unnecessary harm on Americans, Grassley has also carefully monitored and supported the U.S. Trade Representative's process to exclude certain products from the tariffs.Grassley welcomed the Administration's Phase 1 deal with Japan. Under the deal, farmers and ranchers stand to gain from tariff eliminations and reductions on more than $7 billion of U.S. food and agriculture products, including beef, pork, ethanol, poultry and egg products. Next year, Grassley will press the Administration to conclude a comprehensive free trade agreement with Japan.Grassley and Wyden also partnered on a bipartisan investigation into counterfeit goods sold online and then issued a report, The Fight Against Fakes, detailing five findings and two legislative recommendations. Their report outlines the harm posed to consumers by counterfeits and discusses statutory barriers that prevent information sharing between the Federal government and its private industry partners with respect to counterfeit goods seized and/or detained at U.S. ports of entry. Veterans: Grassley and Klobuchar introduced the bipartisan Veterans Access to Care Act, which would help improve veterans' medical facilities by allowing facilities with a need for additional health care professionals to apply to be designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Once designated, these facilities have access to National Health Service Corps, which provides service-obligated scholarships and loan forgiveness to health professional students who pledge to practice in a HPSA for at least two years. The bill would also require HHS and VA to establish a process for veterans' facilities to qualify as HPSAs.Grassley also joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues to introduce the Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need (HAVEN) Act to protect the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on disability benefits and may be experiencing financial hardship. The HAVEN Act complements recent congressional efforts to combat service member and veteran mental health issues, addiction, suicide, poverty and homelessness  all of which are exacerbated by financial hardship.In 2019, Grassley continued hosting Iowa veterans to participate in the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. Established by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. To date, more than 1,200 stories from Iowans have been recorded by the project. In November of 2018, Grassley's office interviewed Iowa veterans at the Iowa Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge in Des Moines to document their service to the nation. In May, he delivered 20 veterans' recorded interviews and documents. In November of 2019, Grassley's office interviewed Iowa veterans at Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. In December, he delivered 11 veterans' recorded interviews and documents.Grassley also hosted a ceremony in Urbandale, Iowa where he presented nine Iowa veterans or their family members, with their medals of service. Whistleblowers: As a staunch proponent of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government and as a founding member of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, Grassley has long championed the cause of whistleblowers.Grassley sent a letter to DoD Secretary Mark Esper, urging action on DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG) recommendations regarding cases of whistleblower retaliation.Grassley also joined his colleagues, Sens. Johnson and Mike Lee (R-Utah) in sending a letter to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Michael Atkinson, to push for answers related to the intelligence community's decision to change requirements for whistleblowers seeking to report urgent concerns to Congress.Having over four decades of experience working with whistleblowers, Grassley introduced the Whistleblower Programs Improvement Act of 2019. This legislation strengthens whistleblower protections for whistleblowers working in a variety of key sectors, including our securities and commodities industries, and the Foreign Service.To honor the critical role played by whistleblowers in promoting good governance, Grassley introduced a resolution designating July 30, 2019, as ""National Whistleblower Appreciation Day."" It passed the Senate by unanimous consent.In honor of the critical service whistleblowers provide for good governance and our nation, Grassley introduced a resolution designating July 30, 2019, as ""National Whistleblower Appreciation Day,"" which passed the Senate with unanimous consent.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-op-ed-unwrapping-2019-and-looking-ahead-2020,Grassley op-ed: Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020,2019-12-31,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020 By U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  At the start of 2019, I became only the second U.S. senator from Iowa to be sworn in as Senate president pro tempore, one of only two constitutional officers in Congress. As the most senior lawmaker in the Senate Majority, it's an honor to serve in this leadership position on behalf of Iowans.  Although I'm now third in the presidential succession line, the prestige of the office hasn't changed the way I serve Iowans. In August, I wrapped up my 39thconsecutive year holding meetings in each of Iowa's 99 counties.  Meeting with Iowans where they work, attend school, access health care and even get their gas and groceries makes me a better senator. Having face-to-face dialogue where constituents set the agenda is essential to representative government.  One thing's for sure, Iowans aren't wrapped up with tweets and partisan-driven hysteria that consume people inside the Beltway. Here's what is on their minds.  Iowans harmed by historic floods are still coping and working to restore their homes, businesses and livelihoods. In April I participated in a field hearing led by Sen. Joni Ernst and made clear to the U.S. Army Corps that flood control needs to be its number one priority. I helped secure a federal disaster relief bill, including an amendment to help farmers who lost on-farm stored grain due to busted binseligible for disaster payments. I'll continue to work with Iowans on flood recovery and the Corps on restoring the levee system.I am a sponsor of three bills with colleagues in the region to help with these efforts. I'm also pleased we were able to get additional tax relief for Iowans affected by the floods in the year-end appropriations package.  Although the overall U.S. economy is experiencing wage growth and historic low unemployment, the farm economy is straddled with low commodity prices, trade uncertainty and natural disasters. Iowa farmers depend on trade to boost the prices they're paid for the grain they grow, the hogs they raise and the dairy products they produce. Although USMCA stalled in the House of Representatives, it was finally passed in December. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I'll work to get it to the president's desk early next year. Biofuels are a big deal to Iowa's economy. I successfully led efforts to extend the federal biodiesel tax credit through 2022. This delivers a boost of relief to soybean farmers and biodiesel workers. Although the Trump administration delivered on year-round sales of E15, I'm not satisfied with its implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard by any stretch of the imagination. I will hold the EPA's feet to the fire on this issue for as long as it takes to get it right.  Farm families also talked about the increase in suicides. As a lifelong family farmer, I empathize with the burdens borne by farmers to keep one's operation afloat during downturns in the farm economy. Congress renewed the FARMERS FIRST Act to provide funds for helplines, suicide prevention training and other outreach services. I'm also working to enact the bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Act to provide additional resources and training for local USDA employees who work closely with farmers to identify and help people at risk.  No matter where I go in Iowa, I also hear about the soaring costs of prescription drugs. Seniors tell me they skip doses or leave unfilled prescriptions at the pharmacy counter. Families are pinched to pay for the rising cost of insulin, for example. Iowans don't want to hear more excuses. They want Congress to act. My Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act is the only comprehensive, bipartisan plan that has broad support, including President Trump's support. Passing meaningful drug pricing reforms are a top priority for me in 2020. In the meantime, consumers will find some relief with passage of my bipartisan CREATES Act. Included in the year-end package, it will help accelerate lower-cost generic drugs to reach consumers.  Workers care about their paychecks and retirement security. Small businesses worry about filling job openings and attracting the workforce they need to grow and expand. Local leaders tell me about challenges they face with housing and rural broadband infrastructure. From my chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee, I shepherded passage of the SECURE Act through Congress. It will make it easier and more affordable for small businesses to offer retirement plans for employees. This new law will help small businesses with employee recruitment and retention and give workers another way to build retirement savings to last a lifetime.  Communities devastated by the opioid and methamphetamine crises also struggle when families are torn apart from addiction. My bipartisan legislation, the Family First Transition Act, will help states implement the Family First Prevention Services Act which passed last year, to help keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care.  Throughout my service as a U.S. Senator for Iowa, I've kept my nose to the grindstone to make the government work for Iowans, not the other way around. When Washington operates like a three-ring circus, I don't get caught up in the partisan side shows. Even as we ring in the New Year under the cloud of a presidential impeachment, I'm confident our system of representative government will prevail and I'll continue working for Iowans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-1-million-federal-grant-peoples-community-health-clinic,Finkenauer Announces $1 Million Federal Grant for Peoples Community Health Clinic,2019-12-30,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) announced Peoples Community Health Clinic will receive a $1,039,051 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
We must continue to move toward the goal of providing Iowans with access to high-quality, affordable health care, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand how Peoples Community Health Clinic is part of the solution, and I am happy to see them receive this meaningful grant that will help Iowans.
Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc.is a nonprofit health care clinic that provides care to patients regardless of financial situation and insurance status. Peoples Community Health Clinic has locations in Waterloo and Clarksville.
Finkenauervisited the Waterloo locationon August 7th.
Finkenauer also invited Peoples Community Health Clinic toparticipate in her Waterloo health fairon November 18th.
Finkenauer also helped secure an extension for federal funding for community health centers, and sent a letter to House and Senate leadership in August urging a long-term bipartisan and bicameral funding solution.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qa-improving-us-organ-transplant-system,Q&A: Improving U.S. Organ Transplant System,2019-12-30,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Q&A: Improving U.S. Organ Transplant System With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  Q: Why are you looking into the nation's organ procurement and transplant system?  A:Advances in medical science, specifically organ transplants, save lives and give loved ones a new lease on life. Incredible gifts of life are made possible when family members and even total strangers donate to a patient in need. Postmortem donations give the gift of life from deceased donors who match an individual on the national wait list through the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the OPTN operates the national database of all patientswaiting for a transplant. The OPTN contracts with the Unified Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which is charged with overseeing the 58 organ procurement organizations (OPOs) located throughout the United States. Americans on the wait list are in a life and death situation. It is imperative the system functions fairly and effectively. There's a scarcity of available organs compared to the number of people added to the wait list every single day. This shortfall contributes to a dire situation in which 113,000 Americans on the wait list risk losing their lives without receiving a transplant in time. According to the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), at least 20 Americans die each day because a potentially life-saving organ transplant is out of reach. Based on investigative reports and whistleblower accounts, I'm concerned about inefficiencies and mismanagement of the procurement process,as well as the performance standards used by the 58 OPOs. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has legislative and oversight jurisdiction of many public health programs, I'm calling for increased oversight to correct flaws in this vital network in the nation's health care system. For more than a dozen years, the need for more accountability and transparency in the organ procurement and transplantation system has been on my radar as a taxpayer watchdog and healthcare policymaker. In 2005, I raised concerns about alleged violations of transplant protocols and requested an investigation into practices prohibited by federal law, including purchase orsale, for profit, of human organs that affects interstate commerce. I've also flagged misuse of taxpayer dollars based upon audits and investigations conducted by the HHS Office of Inspector General. The integrity of the U.S. organ procurement and transplant system is paramount forlife-saving care. The federal governmentmust uphold accountability standards, to require transparency, uphold public confidence, prevent avoidable deaths and protect taxpayerdollars.  Q:How will the proposed rules by the Trump administration help improve the system?  A:President Trump issued an executive order in July to help increase the organ supply and improve the allocation of organs available through deceased donations. HHS proposed a rule in December that would update the conditions that organ procurement organizations (OPOs) must meet to receiveMedicare and Medicaid payments under federal health care programs. Better incentives, better oversight, and better accountability standards can be achieved with more transparent, reliable, and standardized metrics to help gauge if the nation's system of donor networks is performing as effectively and efficiently as possible. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) also issued a proposed rule to remove the financial barriers to living organ donations.If finalized, it would expand the range of expenses eligible for reimbursement to include lost wages and childcare and eldercare expenses for those donors who lack other forms of financial support. The rule could be a game changer for the hundreds of thousands of Americans on dialysis. Outcomes for kidney transplant recipients show that living donations provide a better quality organ in a shorter period of time than those who continue on dialysis or eventually receive a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. The rule encourages a higher living donor transplant rate which would improve the quality of life and increase the life expectancy of Americans currently on dialysis.CMS estimates if all OPOs were to meet the new proposed metrics, the number of transplants would increase by nearly 15,000 additional transplants by 2026. Increasing patient access to healthy, quality organ donations and safe, high-quality transplants would save more lives and improve the quality of life for Americans for generations to come. I'm glad the Trump administration is moving forward with these reforms.However, even more can be done. In December, I called upon the HHS IG to conduct a comprehensive examination of thesystem. In a jointletterwithSenator Todd Young of Indiana, I spelled out substantive flaws in oversight and misspending that need to be flushed out and fixed. I'll continue working to fix what's broken in our system of procurement and distribution so that as many Americans as possible may benefit from the gift of life made possible by organ donations.  Public comments to the two proposed rules may be submitted electronically tohttp://www.regulations.gov. All comments are public. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/commentary/grassley-op-ed-lets-break-silence-and-talk-about-mental-health-farm,Grassley op-ed: Let's break silence and talk about mental health on the farm,2019-12-26,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"By Sen. Chuck Grassley  As this year nears its end, the Grassley family is grateful for another fall harvest. Like other family farms across Iowa, our three-generation farming operation experiences many of the uncertainties blanketing our profession.  For starters, our livelihoods are at the mercy of Mother Nature.  Getting the crops out of the ground before Old Man Winter shows up gets tricky with unplanned machinery repairs, the high-moisture content of corn and wet field conditions.  This year brought extra layers of uncertainty. Excessive rain and snowmelt in April led to prevented and delayed planting. The October snowstorms stalled field work for many farmers across the upper Midwest. The itch to get behind the wheel of the combine brings sleepless nights and weighs heavily on the minds of farmers already anxious about matters beyond their control.  As a lifelong family farmer, I can relate to the joys and hardships of our vocation. We have a passion to provide for our families. We have a bone-deep determination, passed on from one generation to the next, to keep on keeping on. We have a sense of duty to keep the farm intact for generations yet to come. I started farming when my dad passed away in 1960. I've coped with the highs and lows that go hand in glove from one season to the next. The cyclical nature of our profession is an occupational hazard and it can take a toll on mental wellness. We know that prosperity requires sound caretaking of Earth's natural resources and conservative stewardship of financial resources. Pinching pennies comes second nature because history teaches us that it's often feast or famine for farmers.  Right now, the agriculture horizon is a bit cloudy. A five-year decline in farm income, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. ag commodities, stalled trade agreements, disrupted renewable biofuel policies, devastating natural disasters, and shortages of LP gas needed to dry harvested grain add to the growing burdens weighing heavily on the minds of farmers. Mounting pressures to pay the bills, get the crops out and make ends meet can overwhelm mental wellness, even when times are good.  When bottled up and left unchecked, despair can have deadly consequences.  According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate is 45 percent higher in rural America than in urban areas. Farmers have higher rates than the general population. A number of factors may contribute to the rural-urban disparity, including geographic isolation, distance from health care services, stigma associated with obtaining mental health care services, and financial pressures stemming from the downturn in the farm economy.  We're seeing an increase in the number of farmer suicides reminiscent of the 1980s farm crisis. The desolation of losing a farm that had been in a family for generations was too much for too many farmers to handle. The loss of life and livelihoods still echoes throughout farming communities decades later.  As one of Iowa's U.S. senators, I've championed rural America for decades, including my advocacy to protect and expand access to health care services. That includes using my voice to break the silence on mental health for America's farmers.  Senator Jon Tester of Montana and I introduced the Seeding Rural Resilience Act to help curb the rising rate of farmer suicides. Our bipartisan bill would empower people who are in a position to identify farmers who need help to get them help. It would launch a voluntary training program within the USDA to educate government employees who work directly with farmers. That includes USDA staff from the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and National Resources Conservation Service. Specifically, our bill would provide training to flag potential warning signs and risk factors and direct the USDA to develop best practices to respond to mental stress impacting farmers. The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services also would be tasked with creating public awareness campaigns. Our legislative effort builds upon the FARMERS FIRST Act I co-sponsored with Sen. Joni Ernst included in the 2018 farm bill. It provides for suicide prevention programs and services for farmers and workers in Rural America through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). I also helped secure $8 million for the FRSAN through an amendment to the Senate agriculture appropriations bill for this fiscal year.  With rates of suicide on the rise across America, we must do more. Stigma has overshadowed this public health risk for decades.  Like an old-fashioned barn raising, let's join our neighbors to end the old-fashioned stigma. Let's build acceptance to access mental health services. Reaching out and seeking support will help distressed farmers and rural families count their blessings for more harvests to come.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-op-ed-lets-break-silence-and-talk-about-mental-health-farm,Grassley op-ed: Let's break silence and talk about mental health on the farm,2019-12-26,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"By Sen. Chuck Grassley  As this year nears its end, the Grassley family is grateful for another fall harvest. Like other family farms across Iowa, our three-generation farming operation experiences many of the uncertainties blanketing our profession.  For starters, our livelihoods are at the mercy of Mother Nature.  Getting the crops out of the ground before Old Man Winter shows up gets tricky with unplanned machinery repairs, the high-moisture content of corn and wet field conditions.  This year brought extra layers of uncertainty. Excessive rain and snowmelt in April led to prevented and delayed planting. The October snowstorms stalled field work for many farmers across the upper Midwest. The itch to get behind the wheel of the combine brings sleepless nights and weighs heavily on the minds of farmers already anxious about matters beyond their control.  As a lifelong family farmer, I can relate to the joys and hardships of our vocation. We have a passion to provide for our families. We have a bone-deep determination, passed on from one generation to the next, to keep on keeping on. We have a sense of duty to keep the farm intact for generations yet to come. I started farming when my dad passed away in 1960. I've coped with the highs and lows that go hand in glove from one season to the next. The cyclical nature of our profession is an occupational hazard and it can take a toll on mental wellness. We know that prosperity requires sound caretaking of Earth's natural resources and conservative stewardship of financial resources. Pinching pennies comes second nature because history teaches us that it's often feast or famine for farmers.  Right now, the agriculture horizon is a bit cloudy. A five-year decline in farm income, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. ag commodities, stalled trade agreements, disrupted renewable biofuel policies, devastating natural disasters, and shortages of LP gas needed to dry harvested grain add to the growing burdens weighing heavily on the minds of farmers. Mounting pressures to pay the bills, get the crops out and make ends meet can overwhelm mental wellness, even when times are good.  When bottled up and left unchecked, despair can have deadly consequences.  According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate is 45 percent higher in rural America than in urban areas. Farmers have higher rates than the general population. A number of factors may contribute to the rural-urban disparity, including geographic isolation, distance from health care services, stigma associated with obtaining mental health care services, and financial pressures stemming from the downturn in the farm economy.  We're seeing an increase in the number of farmer suicides reminiscent of the 1980s farm crisis. The desolation of losing a farm that had been in a family for generations was too much for too many farmers to handle. The loss of life and livelihoods still echoes throughout farming communities decades later.  As one of Iowa's U.S. senators, I've championed rural America for decades, including my advocacy to protect and expand access to health care services. That includes using my voice to break the silence on mental health for America's farmers.  Senator Jon Tester of Montana and I introduced the Seeding Rural Resilience Act to help curb the rising rate of farmer suicides. Our bipartisan bill would empower people who are in a position to identify farmers who need help to get them help. It would launch a voluntary training program within the USDA to educate government employees who work directly with farmers. That includes USDA staff from the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and National Resources Conservation Service. Specifically, our bill would provide training to flag potential warning signs and risk factors and direct the USDA to develop best practices to respond to mental stress impacting farmers. The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services also would be tasked with creating public awareness campaigns. Our legislative effort builds upon the FARMERS FIRST Act I co-sponsored with Sen. Joni Ernst included in the 2018 farm bill. It provides for suicide prevention programs and services for farmers and workers in Rural America through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). I also helped secure $8 million for the FRSAN through an amendment to the Senate agriculture appropriations bill for this fiscal year.  With rates of suicide on the rise across America, we must do more. Stigma has overshadowed this public health risk for decades.  Like an old-fashioned barn raising, let's join our neighbors to end the old-fashioned stigma. Let's build acceptance to access mental health services. Reaching out and seeking support will help distressed farmers and rural families count their blessings for more harvests to come.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/columns?ContentRecord_id=D63564D5-34F5-479F-8043-47DCCE8069EB,"Joni Ernst: 2019 was a great year, hearing from and delivering for Iowans across our state.",2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As we wrap-up 2019, I wanted to take a moment to look back on some of the highlights of the past year.
First and foremost, I completed my fifth 99 County Tour, my annual tradition where I visit every single one of Iowa's 99 counties within a calendar year, and hold public town hall meetings to hear directly from constituents. In fact, over the last year, I held 35 public town hall meetingsin small rural areas, like my hometown of Red Oak to Iowa's most populated county, Polk County. And as of this year, I've officially held a public event in all 99 counties since I first started serving in office.
Getting out and hearing from Iowans in every corner of the state allows me not only to connect with my fellow Iowans, but to hear directly from folks about the issues that are important to them. This input has helped me every step of the way in delivering real results for the people of Iowa.
Throughout 2019, Iowa experienced devastating flooding, including in areas around my hometown of Red Oak. As a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, I've used my position there to fight for flood relief, improved river management, and the development of Iowa's infrastructure. We passed a federal disaster relief package, which included my provision to extend USDA funds to cover Iowa farmers who had lost stored grain. In addition, following years of relentless efforts to secure federal funding for the Cedar Rapids flood mitigation project, I was thrilled to witness the groundbreaking of this critical infrastructure project. I also helped finalize the roll back of the harmful Obama-era Waters of the U.S.or WOTUSrule, which would have allowed the federal government to regulate 97% of the land in Iowa.
After working closely with President Trump, we finally got E15 year-round by the summer driving season, which provided a boon for our farmers and growers, and more choice at the pump for Iowa consumers. I also helped secure an extension of the biodiesel tax credit which ensures predictability for Iowa biofuel producers. And, after negotiating an agreement with the White House to guarantee 15 billion gallons of ethanol, I'm continuing to hold the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Administrator Andrew Wheeler accountable to hold up their end of the bargain.
As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, I helped secure relief for family farmers facing financial hardship through the Family Farmer Relief Act, which is now law, and assisted Iowa farmers with mental health support through my FARMERS FIRST Act.
When it comes to trade, one of the top issues I heard about on my 99 County Tour was the need to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreementthe USMCA. For more than a year, my Republican colleagues and I have pushed for Congress, particularly Democrats in the House, to move on this critical trade deal. And finally, we're seeing the results of our persistence. We forced House Democrats to get on board with this trade agreement, which will provide certainty to farmers across our state, and I'm hoping to get it across the finish line soon.
Another top issue I heard about from Iowans this year is the cost of health care, particularly prescription drug costs. As someone who has multiple family members with medical conditions, such as my nephew with autism and my two siblings who both have Type 1 diabetes, I've been laser focused on improving health care for my fellow Iowans. This year, I worked toward lowering the costs of prescription drugs by advancing multiple bills through the Senate, and successfully got one of these bipartisan bills, the CREATES Act, signed into law, which will help increase competition in the marketplace.
But our work didn't stop there. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, this past year I've continued to prioritize combating these horrific abuses. To that end, I authored legislation to modernize and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Actor VAWA. I was also proud to have multiple provisions included in the annual defense bill to expand support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the military.
I've also continued to fight to improve the benefits and support for Iowa's veterans and to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA, accountable. This year, I successfully had my bipartisan bill that will help protect the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on important benefits, signed into law. I've also fought to improve health care for veterans with bipartisan legislation that advanced in the Senate this year, and to combat veteran suicide by demanding accountability at the VA.
2019 was a great year, and I'm extremely proud of the work we've been able to get done. I couldn't have done it without the input, help, and support of Iowans from every corner of the state. It's truly an honor to represent the greatest state in the country. While we've accomplished a lot in 2019, there's still plenty more to be done in the year ahead, and I look forward to getting right back to work for Iowans.
Joni Ernst, a native of Red Oak and a combat veteran, represents Iowa in the United States Senate.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/columns?ContentRecord_id=DD080DA2-931F-4BC9-B096-10D8A58DD58F,"Joni Ernst: 2019 was a great year, hearing from and delivering for Iowans across our state.",2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As we wrap-up 2019, I wanted to take a moment to look back on some of the highlights of the past year.
First and foremost, I completed my fifth 99 County Tour, my annual tradition where I visit every single one of Iowa's 99 counties within a calendar year, and hold public town hall meetings to hear directly from constituents. In fact, over the last year, I held 35 public town hall meetingsin small rural areas, like my hometown of Red Oak to Iowa's most populated county, Polk County. And as of this year, I've officially held a public event in all 99 counties since I first started serving in office.
Getting out and hearing from Iowans in every corner of the state allows me not only to connect with my fellow Iowans, but to hear directly from folks about the issues that are important to them. This input has helped me every step of the way in delivering real results for the people of Iowa.
Throughout 2019, Iowa experienced devastating flooding, including in areas around my hometown of Red Oak. As a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, I've used my position there to fight for flood relief, improved river management, and the development of Iowa's infrastructure. We passed a federal disaster relief package, which included my provision to extend USDA funds to cover Iowa farmers who had lost stored grain. In addition, following years of relentless efforts to secure federal funding for the Cedar Rapids flood mitigation project, I was thrilled to witness the groundbreaking of this critical infrastructure project. I also helped finalize the roll back of the harmful Obama-era Waters of the U.S.or WOTUSrule, which would have allowed the federal government to regulate 97% of the land in Iowa.
After working closely with President Trump, we finally got E15 year-round by the summer driving season, which provided a boon for our farmers and growers, and more choice at the pump for Iowa consumers. I also helped secure an extension of the biodiesel tax credit which ensures predictability for Iowa biofuel producers. And, after negotiating an agreement with the White House to guarantee 15 billion gallons of ethanol, I'm continuing to hold the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Administrator Andrew Wheeler accountable to hold up their end of the bargain.
As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, I helped secure relief for family farmers facing financial hardship through the Family Farmer Relief Act, which is now law, and assisted Iowa farmers with mental health support through my FARMERS FIRST Act.
When it comes to trade, one of the top issues I heard about on my 99 County Tour was the need to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreementthe USMCA. For more than a year, my Republican colleagues and I have pushed for Congress, particularly Democrats in the House, to move on this critical trade deal. And finally, we're seeing the results of our persistence. We forced House Democrats to get on board with this trade agreement, which will provide certainty to farmers across our state, and I'm hoping to get it across the finish line soon.
Another top issue I heard about from Iowans this year is the cost of health care, particularly prescription drug costs. As someone who has multiple family members with medical conditions, such as my nephew with autism and my two siblings who both have Type 1 diabetes, I've been laser focused on improving health care for my fellow Iowans. This year, I worked toward lowering the costs of prescription drugs by advancing multiple bills through the Senate, and successfully got one of these bipartisan bills, the CREATES Act, signed into law, which will help increase competition in the marketplace.
But our work didn't stop there. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, this past year I've continued to prioritize combating these horrific abuses. To that end, I authored legislation to modernize and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Actor VAWA. I was also proud to have multiple provisions included in the annual defense bill to expand support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the military.
I've also continued to fight to improve the benefits and support for Iowa's veterans and to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA, accountable. This year, I successfully had my bipartisan bill that will help protect the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on important benefits, signed into law. I've also fought to improve health care for veterans with bipartisan legislation that advanced in the Senate this year, and to combat veteran suicide by demanding accountability at the VA.
2019 was a great year, and I'm extremely proud of the work we've been able to get done. I couldn't have done it without the input, help, and support of Iowans from every corner of the state. It's truly an honor to represent the greatest state in the country. While we've accomplished a lot in 2019, there's still plenty more to be done in the year ahead, and I look forward to getting right back to work for Iowans.
Joni Ernst, a native of Red Oak and a combat veteran, represents Iowa in the United States Senate.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-adds-400-million-iowa-flood-funding-tracker,Rep. Axne Adds $400 Million to Iowa Flood Funding Tracker,2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Des Moines, IA  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced $408million has been added to her Iowa Flood Funding Tracker following new information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on federal dollars spent in Iowa on flood recovery and other assistance efforts.
In a letter to Rep. Axne, the USDA detailed $408,784,120 in funding obligated for projects and grants in Iowa. The full letter from the USDA is available here.
I'm pleased to add more than $400 million to my Iowa Flood Funding Tracker thanks to new details from the USDA on how they're helping Iowa recover from devastating floods, said Rep. Cindy Axne.Iowans deserve transparency from their government while communities are still reporting they are not getting the assistance they need. I will continue to push the remaining agencies to explain how they are helping Iowa rebuild and recover.
The USDA also provided information on a number of pending outlays and grant applications, with more than 480awards still pending final approval.
The information from USDA is a response to Rep. Axne's requestlast monthfor eight federal agencies to provide specific updates on the disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa.
Earlier this month, Rep. Axne launched her Iowa Flood Funding Tracker for constituents to track updates on disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa after disastrous flooding in Southwest Iowa and across the region.The Tracker now includes information for USDA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Last week, Rep. Axne voted for a bipartisan appropriations package which made available an additional $1.5 billion in unspent 2017 disaster funds for 2019 agriculture disaster recovery programs.
In November, the Housepassedbipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Axne to modernize federal disaster recovery programs, ensure funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner, and protect taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources.
In May, the Housepassed H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019  which Rep.Axne successfully amendedto increase funding for programs vital to Iowa. President Trump signed that bill into effect on June 7th, effectively making funds available for disaster recovery programs available that day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/commentary/grassley-op-ed-decade-making-difference-senate-caucus-foster-youth,Grassley op-ed: A decade of making a difference: Senate Caucus on Foster Youth,2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"By Sen. Chuck Grassley  Ten years ago this month, Sen. Mary Landrieu and I founded the bipartisan Senate Caucus on Foster Youth. We launched this caucus a decade ago to give voice to the thousands of young people in America who deserved a platform to break the silence on the challenges and success stories of foster care. This issue impacts every community in America.  Our caucus not only provides the platform, we encourage foster youth to participate and lead discussions on issues that matter most to them. It's become a vital network for young people to connect with other youth in foster care and empowers them to share their ideas with researchers, advocates and lawmakers.  When I first got involved in foster care and adoption policy more than 20 years ago, I learned kids in foster care are the last ones to have a say in determining their future. If they are even asked at all. I learned older youth in foster care are brimming with innovative ideas to improve the system. And yet, they rarely had an opportunity to share those ideas with policymakers. When we launched the foster youth caucus in 2009, we made this a specific priority. Our mission was to ensure foster youth had a seat at the table.  Over the years, we've hosted discussions to consider barriers facing foster youth, including access to education, pervasive rates of homelessness and juvenile justice involvement, and substance abuse. We heard astounding stories of seemingly impossible success, as well as heartbreaking examples about things that are broken in the foster care system. The caucus invited stakeholders in the foster care system to learn about innovative programs working in communities across the country. We've followed up with researchers to understand why. But most importantly, we listened to the real experts on foster care: youth who have firsthand experience.  Listening directly to them has made a big impact on policy development and implementation. Time and again, foster kids tell us they want stability, a safe place to live, and a loving family. Many times, we heard testimonials from foster kids that if someone had just helped their parents, they might have avoided foster care in the first place. These conversations led to enactment of the Family First Prevention Services Act. This federal law reforms the foster care system to focus on what keeps kids safely at home, rather than bringing them into foster care.  One of the challenges facing older teens who age-out of the system without reunification with their biological family or adoption is homelessness. Once again, we heard from foster youth to solve the problem.  In 2013, ACTION Ohio, a group of foster youth and foster care alumni began advocating for changes in housing policy to access federal housing assistance. Although HUD's Family Unification Vouchers were previously available to youth who aged out of care, this group flagged flaws in the program. We collaborated and crafted solutions. These efforts led to the development of HUD's Foster Youth to Independence Initiative and my introduction in 2017 with Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) of the bicameral Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act. This legislation to make additional improvements to accessible housing for foster youth was reintroduced and is making its way through the 116th Congress.  In its first decade, the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth flexed its influence and made a difference. In the 116th Congress, nearly one-third of the Senate is on board with 32 senators from both sides of the aisle. Even in divisive political times, there's a chord of bipartisanship to help kids in foster care.  All children deserve a safe, permanent, loving home and consistent, caring adults to parent them. Society owes a debt of gratitude for all those who work to achieve this goal. Foster parents, caseworkers, court officials and youth advocates are a lifeline to vulnerable youth. I commend foster kids and teens for speaking up, demanding action, and fervently working to improve a system that in some cases failed them.  As a co-founder and current co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth with Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, I will continue listening and leading the way so foster youth are empowered to pursue their dreams like every child in America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-nominates-50-iowa-students-us-service-academies,Grassley Nominates 50 Iowa Students to the U.S. Service Academies,2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has nominated 50 Iowa students to be considered for appointments to the U.S. service academies.  These young Iowans who want to enter the academies and serve our country are a remarkable reflection on our state. Their accomplishments, leadership and desire to serve are exceptional, and signal continued excellence in the U.S. armed forces, Grassley said.  Each year, Grassley has the opportunity as a U.S. senator to nominate either current or future Iowa high school graduates for a select few service academy placements. The U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy all select at least one qualified student from Grassley's nominations. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy makes selections in proportion to states' representation in Congress.  Grassley encourages Iowa students to consider applying to more than one service academy due to the highly competitive nature of admissions. Iowa members serving in the U.S. House of Representatives make nominations in addition to both of Iowa's U.S. senators. Students may receive more than one nomination.  Students interested in academy appointments should begin the application process in the spring of their junior year of high school. Early application is encouraged. The academies select students based on the number of vacancies available for the next school year.  The academies offer some of the best options for higher education as well as an outstanding way to serve our country. It's a tremendous opportunity for young Iowans, Grassley said. Traditionally, the high quality of Iowa nominees results in several Iowa students being offered admission to attend each of the service academies. These students then choose whether to attend the academy. More information about service academy nominations can be foundhere. Grassley will make announcements as academy appointments are offered to Iowans.  The list of Grassley's nominees for the 2020  2021 school year follows.  U.S. Military Academy at West Point Kaylah Ajram-Wright  Cedar Rapids Jacob Baier  Ankeny Samuel Cotton  Bettendorf Margaret Cristoforo  Mount Pleasant Christopher Cumberbatch  Davenport Chloe David  Granger Ethan Flege  Waverly Grace Greer  Iowa City MaryClare Greer  Iowa City Emma Holesinger  Dubuque Patrick Junker  Waukee Noah Kohut-Jackson  Cambridge Carson Parker  Story City James Pinter  Iowa City Ambria Pipho  Decorah Luke Posegate  Grimes Grace Ries  Asbury Mikail Syed  Iowa City Jerry Vesey  Bettendorf Wynn Yeager - Winterset  U.S. Naval Academy Bryce Anstoetter  Dubuque Ryan Dougherty  Sioux City Mason Dunn  Bettendorf Madison Foht  Davenport Nicholas McGowan  Sioux City Ambria Pipho  Decorah Benson Redfern  Cedar Falls Bryce Green-Repollo  Urbandale William Rolfstad  Davenport Donovan Thornhill  Cedar Rapids  U.S. Merchant Marine Madison Foht  Davenport Nicole Masteller  Des Moines Lucas Miller  Urbandale Jacob Nelson  Bettendorf Donovan Thornhill  Cedar Rapids Jonathan Wargo  West Branch  U.S. Air Force Academy John Bell  Waterloo Scott Bell  Altoona Anthony Cordes  Avoca Anton Dahm  Bettendorf Chloe David  Granger Jacob DeJohn  Urbandale Keegan Eitter  Asbury Mitchell Engelbart  Wyoming Emma Holesinger  Dubuque Jacob Hrasky  Treynor Jacob James  Council Bluffs Olivia Lewis  Bettendorf Nicole Masteller  Des Moines Brooke Netcott  Davenport Connor Pickhinke  Early Elliot Potter  Cedar Rapids Hunter Sherry  Boone Jacob Torresi  Ames Jordyn Wagner  Clive Rebecca Wright  Center Point -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-op-ed-decade-making-difference-senate-caucus-foster-youth,Grassley op-ed: A decade of making a difference: Senate Caucus on Foster Youth,2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"By Sen. Chuck Grassley  Ten years ago this month, Sen. Mary Landrieu and I founded the bipartisan Senate Caucus on Foster Youth. We launched this caucus a decade ago to give voice to the thousands of young people in America who deserved a platform to break the silence on the challenges and success stories of foster care. This issue impacts every community in America.  Our caucus not only provides the platform, we encourage foster youth to participate and lead discussions on issues that matter most to them. It's become a vital network for young people to connect with other youth in foster care and empowers them to share their ideas with researchers, advocates and lawmakers.  When I first got involved in foster care and adoption policy more than 20 years ago, I learned kids in foster care are the last ones to have a say in determining their future. If they are even asked at all. I learned older youth in foster care are brimming with innovative ideas to improve the system. And yet, they rarely had an opportunity to share those ideas with policymakers. When we launched the foster youth caucus in 2009, we made this a specific priority. Our mission was to ensure foster youth had a seat at the table.  Over the years, we've hosted discussions to consider barriers facing foster youth, including access to education, pervasive rates of homelessness and juvenile justice involvement, and substance abuse. We heard astounding stories of seemingly impossible success, as well as heartbreaking examples about things that are broken in the foster care system. The caucus invited stakeholders in the foster care system to learn about innovative programs working in communities across the country. We've followed up with researchers to understand why. But most importantly, we listened to the real experts on foster care: youth who have firsthand experience.  Listening directly to them has made a big impact on policy development and implementation. Time and again, foster kids tell us they want stability, a safe place to live, and a loving family. Many times, we heard testimonials from foster kids that if someone had just helped their parents, they might have avoided foster care in the first place. These conversations led to enactment of the Family First Prevention Services Act. This federal law reforms the foster care system to focus on what keeps kids safely at home, rather than bringing them into foster care.  One of the challenges facing older teens who age-out of the system without reunification with their biological family or adoption is homelessness. Once again, we heard from foster youth to solve the problem.  In 2013, ACTION Ohio, a group of foster youth and foster care alumni began advocating for changes in housing policy to access federal housing assistance. Although HUD's Family Unification Vouchers were previously available to youth who aged out of care, this group flagged flaws in the program. We collaborated and crafted solutions. These efforts led to the development of HUD's Foster Youth to Independence Initiative and my introduction in 2017 with Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) of the bicameral Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act. This legislation to make additional improvements to accessible housing for foster youth was reintroduced and is making its way through the 116th Congress.  In its first decade, the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth flexed its influence and made a difference. In the 116th Congress, nearly one-third of the Senate is on board with 32 senators from both sides of the aisle. Even in divisive political times, there's a chord of bipartisanship to help kids in foster care.  All children deserve a safe, permanent, loving home and consistent, caring adults to parent them. Society owes a debt of gratitude for all those who work to achieve this goal. Foster parents, caseworkers, court officials and youth advocates are a lifeline to vulnerable youth. I commend foster kids and teens for speaking up, demanding action, and fervently working to improve a system that in some cases failed them.  As a co-founder and current co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth with Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, I will continue listening and leading the way so foster youth are empowered to pursue their dreams like every child in America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/icymi-grassley-explains-secret-holds-congress,ICYMI: Grassley Explains Secret Holds in Congress,2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ICYMI: Grassley Explains Secret Holds in Congress December 22, 2019  In the odd inner workings of Congress, there's something called a legislative hold. It gives any individual senator the power to stop a nominee or a bill put a hold on them. The idea is to encourage negotiations between those for and against. But sometimes the Senator making the hold keeps his name secret. Senator Chuck Grassley tells why he's been trying for a decade to stop the secrecy.  Sen. Grassley: So why do you put a hold on? Lot of times, people put a hold on because they want to negotiate something, or they want to use it as a lever to get something else. So I use holds, but I've always put a statement in the record of why I'm putting a hold on an individual nominee or a bill. So people know who it is, come and talk to Chuck Grassley and I'll tell you what the problems is I've got. And you can negotiate then, whatever you want to negotiate.  Sharyl: What is a secret hold?  Sen. Grassley: Well, a secret hold is when you put a hold on, you don't want anybody to know about it. So don't you think the public's business ought to be public? Well, if it's going to be secret, how's anybody know why you're holding it. Maybe they do it for a reason that's not a very good reason. So it's secret.  Some important secret holds have gotten a lot of attention over the years. One senator's secret hold killed a new Whistleblower bill to protect federal employees reporting corruption. And an unnamed senator temporarily blocked a cost of living increase for disabled veterans and their survivors. With the names of the holding Senators kept anonymous, it's impossible for other Senators know their reasoning or negotiate a compromise.  So in 2011, Senators Grassley and Ron Wyden successfully led a bipartisan effort to ban secret holds starting in 2013. A new rule said that all Senators must disclose their names and reasoning in the Congressional record within two days of making a hold.  Sen. Grassley: Eight years later, it happens every day that people put a hold on a bill or a nominee and don't put their statement in the public record. We need these rules enforced in the leadership of the Republican and Democratic Party ought to be enforcing these rules.  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=98957366-1174-4A97-8F78-40A5E9D2F6D9,Ernst Week in Review,2019-12-21,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Increasing Flood Protection and Support for Iowa's Communities
In the wake of this spring's devastating floods, this week Senator Ernst put forward bipartisan legislation to help communities, like Hamburg, Iowa, make temporary flood protection structures permanent. Earlier this year, Senator Ernst chaired a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee field hearing in southwest Iowa where she questioned U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) witnesses on their management of the river and heard from local stakeholders, including Cathy Crain, the Mayor of Hamburg, who described her community's struggles to make their heightened levee permanent.
Providing Servicemembers with Much-Needed Resources
On Tuesday, Senator Ernst proudly supported the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The final bipartisan, bicameral defense bill includes nearly all of Senator Ernst's priorities, including her proposals to address military sexual assault, to improve Iowa's critical contributions to our nation's defense, and to invest in technological advancements to keep America ahead of our adversaries.

Click here or the image above to watch Senator Ernst's remarks on the NDAA.
Pressing DOJ for Updates on Glenwood and Woodward Resource Center Investigation
As the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigates disturbing allegations of federal rights violations at the Glenwood Resource Center and the Woodward Resource Center, Senator Ernst is requesting regular updates on the status of their investigation and that information on potential violations be provided immediately.
In a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Drelband, Senator Ernst asked:
 
When did the Department of Justice first became aware of this alarming increase in reported deaths at the Glenwood Resource Center?
What prevented the Department from initiating this investigation more quickly?
 

WHO Radio covered the Senator's efforts. Click here or on the image above to listen.
Combatting the Opioid and Meth Crisis
With Congress dedicating nearly $11 billion to tackle the opioid crisis to date, Senator Joni Ernst chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week focused on examining the federal government's strategy for combating the epidemic, including the daunting rates of methamphetamine abuse in Iowa in particular, and to conduct oversight on the nation's top agencies and departments tasked with the job.

Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Ernst's opening remarks.
Senator Ernst also joined her colleagues, Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Doug Jones (D-AL), in introducing a bipartisan bill to provide more non-opioid pain treatment options for Medicare beneficiaries, to help prevent abuse. The NOPAIN Actor the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation Actwould help alleviate barriers for Medicare beneficiaries to use non-opioid pain management alternatives.
Pushing EPA to Uphold RFS: 15 Billion Gallons
This week, the EPA issued their final rule to establish the required renewable volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021. Senator Ernst, a tireless advocate for Iowa's renewable fuels industry, issued the following statement:

Social Media Highlights


Click here or the image above to watch a video of Senator Ernst highlighting the one-year anniversary of the 2018 Farm Bill.






###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-trump-signs-axne-supported-bills-included-year-end-spending,President Trump Signs Axne-Supported Bills Included in Year-End Spending Legislation,2019-12-21,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed into law numerous measures supported by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) that will eliminate the threat of burdensome healthcare taxes, bring investment to Iowa's green economy and rural communities, help with disaster recovery and support local farmers, producers and small businesses.
I'm happy to see measures that are critical for helping Iowa families and businesses in 2020 become law, said Rep. Axne. I'm thankful that the President has signed these bills that I supported this year, and I'm proud of the work we have done in the House to get them included in the final law.
 Biodiesel & Biofuel Tax Credits 
Provisions to extend the biodiesel tax credit through 2022 and the second-generation biofuel producer credit through 2020 were included in the appropriations package that was signed into law yesterday.
Since coming to Congress, I have made it a priority to address these expired tax credits, Rep. Axne said.Farmers are taking it on the chin with the ongoing trade war and the EPA undermining the RFS at every turn. We have seen plants stall or shut down, causing folks to lose their jobs and farmers to lose their buyers. I am glad to see the provision signed into law to bring our farmers and producers some market certainty, create jobs, and set us on a path towards a cleaner environmental future.
These critical tax credits expired at the end of 2017, leaving Iowa farmers and producers with significant uncertainty. Rep. Axne has consistently advocated for these provisions from the beginning of the year.
 Repeal of the Health Insurance Tax, Cadillac' Tax, and Medical Device Tax 
The new law includes a permanent repeal of a mandated health insurance tax (HIT), Cadillac' tax, and medical device tax. These repeals will protect middle class Iowans from higher health care costs and end the cycle of delays that have spread uncertainty in the health care markets.
These taxes were looming over Iowans, waiting to see how much their health care will cost in 2020, said Rep. Axne. By permanently ending the threat of these burdensome taxes, I am not only making sure Iowa families aren't paying even more for their care, but also creating stability in our health care.
Rep. Axne has continually advocated repealing these taxes. Earlier this month, Rep. Axne wrote to House leadership to ensure that as many as 142 million Americans were spared from the implementation of the HIT.
In July, Rep. Axne voted to permanently repeal the Cadillac' tax, the 40 percent excise tax on the most expensive employer-provided health insurance plans.
 Renewing Tax Breaks for Iowa Craft Brewers, Distillers 
The new law extends expiring tax breaks for Iowa's craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Authorized in 2017, the tax breaks cut per-barrel excise taxes with the largest reduction going to the first 60,000 barrels of a brewery's production.
Our small brewers and distillers are the pride of Iowa and helping give us a nationwide reputation as a hotspot for a good local brew, said Rep. Axne. I'm happy that their production can benefit from an extension of this vital tax credit.
Iowa is home to more than 100 craft breweries, supporting thousands of Iowa jobs, and is projected to produce more than 146,000 barrels this year. Earlier this year, Rep. Axne cosponsored the House version of this reauthorization.
 Giving Tax Relief to Aid Flood Recovery 
The Disaster Tax Relief Act was included in the legislation signed into law, providing tax relief for Iowans affected by the 2019 floods.
I'm glad that we're lending another helping hand to those Iowans affected by recent flooding, said Rep. Axne. By providing them the means to keep businesses intact, deductions for their damaged property, and other tax help, our families and communities don't have to worry that a natural disaster will break their budget.
The bill would help impacted Iowans keep their paychecks coming in by providing retention credits to employers with inoperable businesses that continue to pay their employees. In addition, it would expand deductions for destroyed property, encourage donations to projects in disaster areas, and remove the penalty for early withdrawals from retirement accounts.
The original legislation was introduced in April in the House with Rep. Axne as a cosponsor.
 Helping Electric Cooperatives Invest in Development, Disaster Recovery 
The new law also includes legislation that would reopen government grants to electric cooperatives (co-ops) to allow for invests in improvements in broadband service or disaster relief.
Electric cooperatives provide the power for more than 600,000 Iowans, said Rep. Axne. Allowing them to partner again with government to build improvements in our communities will help strengthen our energy infrastructure. 
Changes in tax law in 2017 blocked co-ops from accepting any kind of local, state, or federal grant funding without risking their tax-exempt status.
In addition, the new law contains other Axne-supported divisions, including: H.R. 510, the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act;H.R. 1994, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act; H.R. 3851, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act; andH.R. 4634, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://steveking.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/king-s-china-surveillance-amendment-becomes-law-with-trump-s-signature,Kings China Surveillance Amendment Becomes Law with Trumps Signature on National Defense Authorization Act,2019-12-20,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Steve King,K000362,steveking.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Steve King releases the following video statement regarding the imminent enactment into law of an amendment he put in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which identifies China's growing surveillance state as a threat to the security interests of the United States. The NDAA is scheduled to signed into law by President Donald Trump at 7:30 PM in a ceremony held tonight at Joint Base Andrews.
To watch the video, please click the image above or on this link.

Transcript of Congressman King's remarks:
I'm happy to announce that the President's likely to soon sign the NDAA, the National Defense Authorization Act. We did some really good things in that bill, and one of them is to give our troops a pay raise that's significant, and they deserve it. They put their lives on the line for us.
And another component is the King provision that is written into the bill that addresses the Chinese surveillance and their oppression of human liberty. They have been reaching into the communities around China, the Uighur community, the Christian communities that are there, persecuting them, taking their children out of the home and moving them into indoctrination camps, and putting Uighur's and other religious people into camps to orient them according to what they think is Chinese culture. Just suppressing human freedom.
So I asked for a report in there on how it [the Chinese Surveillance State] might affect our national defense, and what the Chinese are doing to suppress human freedom and human rights of thought, religion, and expression, not only in China, but around the world. So we will get a good look at what's going on in China and around the world as a result of the King provision that's in the NDAA. And I supported it along the way, and, of course, voted for it.
We are getting some things done in this Congress, in spite of the impeachment effort that has just unfolded recently.

King's China Surveillance Language:
The King provision appears in section 1260 of the NDAA. The relevant language reads as follows:
(31) An assessment of China's expansion of its surveillance
 state, including--
 ``(A) any correlation of such expansion with its oppression
 of its citizens or its threat to United States national
 security interests around the world; and
 ``(B) an overview of the extent to which such surveillance
 corresponds to an overall respect, or lack thereof, for human
 rights in China, especially for religious and ethnic
 minorities.''.

See Also:




###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-announces-usmca-markup-january-7,Grassley Announces USMCA Markup January 7,2019-12-20,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today announced his intention to lead a markup of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on January 7, 2020, based on the expectation that the Senate will have received the legislation beforehand from the House of Representatives.  This markup will move us closer to ratifying USMCA in early 2020, Grassley said. Farmers, manufacturers and all American workers will soon be able to benefit from a stronger and modernized trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.  Further details regarding exact timing and location will be provided at a later date. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-receives-response-defense-department-transdigm-price-gouging,Grassley Receives Response from Defense Department on TransDigm Price Gouging,2019-12-20,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Following inquiries from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) regarding TransDigm Group, Inc.'s (TransDigm) price-gouging of spare parts purchased by the Department of Defense (DoD), Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen M. Lord provided further information about DoD's TransDigm contracts and the efforts DoD is taking to protect taxpayer dollars. I appreciate Under Secretary Lord's answers to my questions.The Defense Department needs to continue to be transparent on the issues it faces with respect to overpricing and price gouging on spare parts.I am hopeful that the new Cadre of Experts' is ready to tackle these issues and stop the egregious spare parts rip-offs that were uncovered by the Inspector General earlier this year. While I'm looking forward to working with the department to assure that it is working diligently to protect taxpayer dollars, I'll continue to conduct aggressive oversight to ensure that these goals are in fact met, Grassley said. Grassley has been a watchdog against waste, fraud, and abuse at DoD for nearly four decades. Grassley'sextensive oversight work throughout his career has included a dogged pursuit for answers from the Pentagon over decades of wasteful spending and its inability to produce a clean financial audit.In his October letter to Lord, Grassley asked a series of questions about what DoD is doing to aggressively confront and end the excessive price-gouging of spare parts by TransDigm.Full text of Under Secretary Lord's response can be found HERE.  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qa-creating-rx-savings,Q&A: Creating Rx Savings,2019-12-20,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  Q: How will the CREATES Act help drive down prescription drug prices?  A:America's free enterprise system has engineered technological and medical innovation like nowhere else on Earth. Consumers and patients benefit when competition drives the entrepreneurial spirit and pushes inventors, innovators and investors to take risks and create new products and cures. Millions of American families depend on pharmaceutical medicines to treat cancer, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, among so many others. Prescription drugs also provide life-saving treatments for tens of millions of Americans to manage diabetes and other chronic conditions, such as arthritis, high blood pressure or asthma. There's no question America leads the way in breakthrough medicines and medical cures. There's also no question that Americans are shouldering the financial burden to finance pharmaceutical research and development for the rest of the world. America's system of free enterprise requires robust competition to deliver another big benefit of the free marketplace: lower prices for consumers. To ensure Americans continue to experience healthy outcomes and better quality of life from scientific advances, including next generation pharmaceuticals and biologics, public policy needs to address sticker shock at the pharmacy counter. Prescription drugs won't do consumers a bit of good if they can't afford to pay for them. Skipping doses to stretch out prescriptions put patient health and outcomes at risk. During my tenure as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I developed bipartisan legislation with Senator Leahy of Vermont to root out anti-competitive behaviors that some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies are using to block or delay lower-cost generic drugs from reaching the marketplace. A few bad actors were exploiting the system by deploying anti-competitive tactics, such as restricting access to their samples to perform necessary testing to gain FDA approval or preventing them from participating in a shared safety protocol. Our legislation, Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act (CREATES), enacts remedies to stop these anti-competitive behaviors. It allows generic drug manufacturers, who are blocked by Big Pharma, to file for injunctive relief in federal court. Our bill would save billions in federal spending and provide even more savings to consumers and private insurers. I'm glad to report the CREATES Act was included in the year-end legislative package passed by Congress in December.  Q: What else needs to be done to reduce drug prices in the United States?  A: Although I'm glad to get my bipartisan CREATES legislation across the finish line, Congress left unfinished business on its plate at the end of the year. The good news is I've set the table to take another bite at the apple in the New Year with a strategic legislative deadline baked into the process. Nothing seems to get done in Congress without the hammer of a deadline to nail lawmakers to act. The year-end spending package approved in December includes high priority health care measures that will expire in May 2020 without action by Congress. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I'm working with ranking member Senator Wyden of Oregon to keep up the pressure and get our balanced, bipartisan reforms to the president's desk. What's more, President Trump supports our Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. It would deliver meaningful savings for Americans at the pharmacy counter. For the first time ever, it would place a $3,100 annual cap for out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors and spread out payments for high-cost drug expenses. It would lower the amount beneficiaries have to pay for drugs before they hit this new out-of-pocket cap. In the New Year, I'll also continue working with Senator Durbin of Illinois to shed sunlight on drug pricing. Our bipartisan legislation would require Big Pharma to include drug pricing information in their television advertising. Americans are bombarded by prescription drug advertising  an average of nine ads per day per consumer. Big Pharma spends big bucks to flood the airwaves with ads. Current law requires drug advertisers to share potential side effects, they ought to be required to tell consumers how much the advertised drug will cost. Price transparency would bring accountability by prompting Big Pharma to rethink their pricing strategies to help lower the lid on soaring drug prices. Finally, I've long supported legislative and administrative efforts that would allow for the re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada. I applaud the Trump administration for taking the necessary steps to make this available for American consumers. In December, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a federal rule that mirrors bipartisan legislation I wrote with Senator Klobuchar of Minnesota to ensure imported drugs meet FDA safety standards and pose no risk to public health and safety. More drug pricing reforms on the menu in 2020 include another three bipartisan bills I'm working on to address anti-competitive practices, including abuses in the citizen petition process by brand drug companies; anti-consumer arrangements between brand and generic pharmaceutical companies that delay generics entry in the market and keep prescription drug prices high; as well as a directive to the Federal Trade Commission to examine recent merger activity and competition concerns in the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) space. Make no mistake, I'll keep dishing up legislative reforms in 2020 to reduce drug prices in the United States.Americans have no appetite for more excuses. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397338,Loebsack Statement on the EPAs Final RFS Rule,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack, co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule for 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements. The final rule does nothing to address the misuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) and reneges on the President's promise made to Iowa farmers in September to account for SREs using actual waived gallons, not DOE recommendations.The final RFS rule set forth by the EPA is another slap in the face to Iowa's farmers and ethanol producers. It does nothing to stop the vast misuse of the small refinery exemptions, which only serves to erode the RFS and destroy demand for clean, renewable fuel, like ethanol. From Trump's Twitter Trade War to his continuing to side with big oil over our farmers, this is just another in a long list of attacks on our rural communities by this administration. I will continue to stand up for our farmers and producers and fight to restore the integrity of the RFS.Background
Representative Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of the RFS, ethanol and the biofuels industry. He has been leading the way in the House to increase oversight and transparency of the Small Refinery Exemption that the Administration has used to undermine the RFS, hurting our farmers and rural communities, while propping up Big Oil. As co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, Loebsack helped lead the opposition of the excessive use of the SRE, including this August when the President and EPA granted 31 new waivers. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Loebsack secured an oversight hearing this fall examining the Trump Administration's abuse of SREs and considering legislation he helped introduce, H.R. 3006, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act, which would help bring greater transparency to the use of SREs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0727A0BC-F86F-4308-B6D9-1BA115693A52,"As Feds Investigate Glenwood and Woodward Resource Centers, Ernst Requests Regular, Immediate Updates",2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  As the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigates disturbing allegations of federal rights violations at the Glenwood Resource Center (GRC) and the Woodward Resource Center (WRC), U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is requesting regular updates on the status of their investigation and that information on potential violations be provided immediately.
In a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Drelband today, Senator Ernst asks of DOJ:
 
When did the Department of Justice first became aware of this alarming increase in reported deaths at the Glenwood Resource Center?
What prevented the Department from initiating this investigation more quickly?
 
The senator goes on to write:
It is the duty of the federal government and elected officials to protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens. These troubling reports will be of upmost concern to communities across Iowa and particularly to the residents of these centers, their families, and their loved ones. I will be closely monitoring this situation and the Department's ongoing investigation.
Glenwood Resource Center has a history of disturbing mistreatment of its residents. In 2017, state inspectorsfound that the center failed to report allegations of abuse and did not address incidents of suspicious injuries and mistreatment. The Des Moines Register has also reportedthat 14 residents of the center died between June 2018 and April 2019, and three more residents died in just the last two months.
Click HERE for a PDF of Senator Ernst's letter.
The full text of Senator Ernst's letter is below:
Dear Attorney General Barr and Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Drelband:
I write regarding the Department of Justice investigation into disturbing reports of potential systematic violations of the federal rights of individuals with disabilities at the Glenwood Resource Center (GRC) and Woodward Resource Center (WRC) in Iowa.
I request that you use the full extent of your authority under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and Title H of the Americans with Disabilities Act to conduct a thorough investigation of these reports and determine any possible violations of the law.
I appreciate the Department's attention to this situation; however, I am also concerned by the delay in initiating this course of action. As you are aware, it has been reported that 14 severely disabled residents of the Glenwood Resource Center died between June 2018 and April 2019, and three additional deaths have been reported within just the past two months. I respectfully request your response to the following questions:
 
When did the Department of Justice first became aware of this alarming increase in reported deaths at the Glenwood Resource Center?
What prevented the Department from initiating this investigation more quickly?
 
It is the duty of the federal government and elected officials to protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens. These troubling reports will be of upmost concern to communities across Iowa and particularly to the residents of these centers, their families, and their loved ones.
I will be closely monitoring this situation and the Department's ongoing investigation. To the extent possible, I also request that you provide consistent updates to my office on the status of this investigation. All those who may have been impacted by this situation will be looking to the Department to provide clear and concise information in order to ensure an immediate and proper response.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E4D9DC10-ED8E-473D-AC9A-28F468074B05,"Ernst, Grassley Issue Statements on EPAs Renewable Fuel Standard Rule",2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONU.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), tireless advocates for Iowa's renewable fuels industry, issued the following statements with regard to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule to establish the required renewable volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020, and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021:
Throughout this process, I, along with Senator Grassley and Governor Reynolds have made it crystal clear that Iowa's farmers and biofuel producers need certainty that EPA will follow the law. After shaking hands in the Oval Office this fall, EPA had an opportunity to restore the broken trust of farmers and to follow through on the president's commitment, but it appears they've missed the markagain. We were guaranteed a deal in September, and we were assured of that same deal in October, yet EPA rolled out, and has now finalized, a different proposal. It's no wonder trust has been lost, said Senator Ernst.
While I'm hopeful we get to the 15 billion or more gallons of ethanol that we've been promised, I clearly understand the hesitation from Iowans to trust the word of EPA to actually follow through on that commitment. I believe President Trump wants to do right for the biofuels community  we've seen that with E15 year-round and most recently the biodiesel tax incentive. But Administrator Wheeler should know: this is not the end. I will continue to fight tirelessly to make sure that my fellow Iowans have a seat at the table when it comes to renewable fuels. We will keep holding EPA's feet to the fire to ensure they truly uphold the RFS, the law, as intended and fully implement the other critical aspects of this rule, said Ernst.
Once again, EPA is playing games and not helping President Trump with farmers. An agreement was reached on September 12 in an Oval Office meeting between several Midwest leaders, President Trump and other members of his Administration. This does not reflect what we agreed to in that meeting. Simply requiring that the three-year rolling average be based on hard data and actual waived gallons rather than Department of Energy recommendations and EPA discretion would solve this problem and ensure the renewable volume obligations are met. Administrator Wheeler has put the president in a bad situation by not following the law as intended by Congress and as the president has promised to uphold, said Senator Grassley.
No matter what EPA says about the impact of its waivers to oil companies making billions in profits, farmers and biofuels producers know and feel the negative impact of the agency's actions. I will hold EPA's feet to the fire to make certain they abide by the Department of Energy's recommendations and ensure integrity in the RFS. Whether that happens is up to Administrator Wheeler and the president's support among farmers is in his hands, said Grassley. The magic words from the Oval Office meeting were three-year rolling average based on hard data and actual waived gallons. Abiding by this would have solved all the problem's EPA has created.
Background:
Senator Ernst isan original cosponsorof S.1840, theRenewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Integrity Act of 2019. The bipartisan legislation would ensure EPA properly accounts for exempted gallons in the annual renewable volume obligations (RVO) it sets each November.
Senator Ernst worked closely with the Trump Administration, specifically EPA, to remove the outdated restriction on the sale of E15 year-round. In May of this year, the EPAfinalized a new rule lifting the ban, and theSenator joined President Trump in Council Bluffs, Iowato celebrate the big win for Iowa farmers and producers.
The Senator has urged EPAto stop issuing so-called hardship waivers exempting obligated parties, to provide topline information about the waivers already issued, to disclose whether or not the agency redistributed the waived volume obligations among the non-exempted obligated parties, and to outline the agency's plan to make the waiver process more transparent.
For five years in a row, Growth Energy, who is a leading biofuels trade association in the country, have presented Senator Ernst with theFueling Growth Award,for her work to get E15 sold year-round and her constant efforts to advance, support, and defend renewable fuels and the RFS as a whole.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-votes-advance-usmca-trade-agreement-tells-senate-pass-week,"Rep. Axne Votes to Advance USMCA Trade Agreement, Tells Senate to Pass This Week",2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted with 384 of her Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House to advance the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement.
I'm proud of my vote today to approve the USMCA and get it one step closer to being ratified, said Rep. Axne. Trade is fundamental to the state of Iowa, and this finalized agreement will modernize our partnership with our two closest neighbors and provide market certainty for Iowa farmers and manufacturers by ending the threat of back-and-forth retaliatory tariffs.
Rep. Axne spoke during debate on the House floor prior to final passage of the deal. Video of her remarks can be found here.
The agreement reaffirms trade partnerships with two of America's most important markets and ensures access for exports from Iowa, the second largest agricultural exporting state in the country. Last year, Iowa exported $4.2 billion in goods to Canada, 30 percent of the state's total exports, and $2.3 billion to Mexico.
The deal now heads to the United States Senate, which has already stated that it intends to hold on passing the deal until sometime after the beginning of next year. Earlier this week, Rep. Axne led a letter with six of her freshman colleagues in the House calling on the Senate to stay in town to finalize the deal.
It is completely unacceptable that after months of negotiations and an agreement that both the President and the House agreed to, the Senate will still leave town without giving our farmers and families the Christmas gift they deserve, said Rep. Axne. I hope my friends in the Senate will reconsider their plans to start their holiday vacation without passing this deal and getting our constituents the certainty of having this deal done by the new year.
Rep. Axne has been a leader in calling for action on USMCA. She repeatedly urged her colleagues on the House floor to work to finalize the agreement. Earlier this month, shesent a letterto Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer and called for action on the USMCA before the end of the year.
The USMCA builds on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which went into effect in 1994. It includes provisions to enforce labor protections across all signatories to protect American jobs from outsourcing, and excludes language in an earlier draft that could have raised prescription drug costs by protecting pharmaceutical companies.
The enhanced labor protections in the USMCA will benefit Iowa workers and keep our middle class strong. Without them, we'd see Iowa workers undermined and our American-made products undercut, Rep. Axne said. I am also glad that the biologics title was removed so Iowa families will not face higher costs for certain pharmaceuticals, and to see key improvements in environmental protections.
The agreement passed today is a product of months of bipartisan collaboration between the House Working Group, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and trade representatives from the Mexican and Canadian governments. The three countries signed USMCA in November of 2018 and on May 30, 2019 the administration submitted the text of the agreement to Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-rep-cindy-axne-fifth-circuit-court-ruling,Statement from Rep. Cindy Axne on the Fifth Circuit Court Ruling,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) issued the following statement on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Texas vs. United States:
Yesterday's ruling by the Fifth Circuit is disastrous for Iowa. By continuing down a path that could lead to completely undoing the Affordable Care Act, this decision not only risks raising premiums in the short term, but it could also eliminate protections for the 1.2 million Iowans living with pre-existing conditions, undo Medicaid expansion, and send health care costs skyrocketing across our country.
This campaign to undermine and eliminate health care coverage for Iowans has gone on too long. Since I've come to Congress, I've voted to lower prescription drug costs, protect those living with pre-existing conditions from losing their coverage, and supported legislation to improve care for seniors and children. We must focus on lowering costs and expanding access to health care, not eliminating coverage.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-federal-grants-economic-development-districts-iowas-first,Finkenauer Announces Federal Grants for Economic Development Districts in Iowa's First Congressional District,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced the Region 6 Planning Commission and East Central Intergovernmental Association will each receive $17,500 federal grants from the Economic Development Administration. The goal of the grants is to encourage job creation by establishing an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports capital investment by bringing public and private sectors together. I continue to push for more investment in our communities to ensure small businesses can begin, grow, and thrive, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I am happy to see this federal investment in Northeast Iowa, and I will keep doing anything I can to ensure that hardworking families see a direct impact from these types of investments. Ensuring our communities have the tools they need to thrive is one of my top priorities. Kelly Dentmyer, Executive Director of the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA) said, ECIA has been a designated EDA District since 1978. We utilize the EDA planning grant to assist our member governments with vital economic development and community development projects in our region. ECIA matches the EDA grant dollar for dollar with local funding and this enables our staff to work on projects related to business retention and expansion; workforce recruitment and retention; workforce housing development; as well as infrastructure related projects. This funding is critical to our economic development activities throughout the region. 
Julie Winter, Planning Director of Region 6 Resource Partners said, We are thrilled to receive the $17,500 award for the EDA Planning Partnership Grant. Funds from this award will be used to help support planning efforts in the region like affordable housing, sewer improvements, water improvements, tornado recovery, and trail development. These investments in our region are crucial to healthy, thriving communities. These funds allow us to help communities secure grants and other outside funding sources that maintain good quality of life, especially for rural areas. The Region 6 Planning Commission is comprised of Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, and Tama counties. The East Central Intergovernmental Association is comprised of Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson counties. Finkenauer represents Iowa's First Congressional District, which includes many of the counties in the Region 6 Planning Commission and the East Central Intergovernmental Association. In Congress, Finkenauer is a member of the House Committee on Small Business and is the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE).In that role, she has invited Iowans to testify about small business and economic issues that are impacting them and their communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-passage-us-mexico-canada-trade-agreement,Finkenauer Statement on Passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)released the following statement on the House passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement: 
""I am happy to see and be a part of bipartisan passage of the UMSCA. This is a win for Iowa's farmers who will have certainty now that the president will not fulfill his reckless threat to pull out of NAFTA and cost us even more with our trading partners. With the new provisions included, this ensures we will stop bleeding American jobs to other countries and will work as well to start to bring these jobs back home.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-trump-administration-undercutting-renewable-fuel-standard,Finkenauer Statement on Trump Administration Undercutting the Renewable Fuel Standard,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule regarding Renewable Fuel Standard small refinery waivers:
""Iowa's biofuels producers and farmers have suffered enough this year from the president's trade war, to taking the side of big oil and refinery waivers. Today, we have a final rule from the administration that fails to take into account legitimate bipartisan concerns and feedback from our nation's actual ethanol and biodiesel producers. Once again we see the president has no intention of making good on the promises he has made to Iowans in the past to stop attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard. Iowans shouldn't be losing jobs because of the Trump administration's EPA policies and lack of leadership from the president.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://steveking.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/champion-of-agriculture-steve-king-praises-house-passage-of-usmca,Champion of Agriculture Steve King Praises House Passage of USMCA,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Steve King,K000362,steveking.house.gov,,,legacy,"This is a terrific trade agreement. . . It's a huge victory for the President of the United States, for Americans everywhere, for Iowans in the 4th Congressional District which is the number one agriculture producing district in all of America.

Washington D.C- Congressman Steve King releases video of floor remarks he delivered in the House of Representatives today in which he expresses his support for the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement successfully negotiated by President Trump. King voted in favor of the USMCA, which passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 385-41. Prior to delivering his USMCA remarks, Congressman King was recognized by Rep. Kevin Brady, the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, as a champion of agriculture.

To view the video, click the image above or on this link.

Transcript of Rep. King's remarks:
Thank you, Madame Speaker, and I thank the Gentleman from Texas, the Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee, and perhaps one of the most successful in my modern time. 
I'm looking at this USMCA trade agreement. I've said from the beginning that I would not have opened up NAFTA. It was good for Iowa agriculture, it was good for Iowa manufacturing, it was good for America in many areas. But the President promised that he would open it up, and that he would prevail in his negotiations. He has followed through and he has kept his word. 
For a year and a half, I've been having discussions with every entity that I can find that has been affected by this trade agreement. They all say, we are better off!' They might say we are marginally better off, but they say we are better off!' Until you get to dairy, where we are a lot, lot, better off than we were in the past. 
This is a terrific trade agreement. Whatever the nuances were afterwards were some changes that didn't affect, I don't think, the district that I represent. But what this amounts to is this: It's a huge victory for the President of the United States, for Americans everywhere, for Iowans in the 4th Congressional District which is the number one agriculture producing district in all of America. 
We are happy, we are delighted, we are thankful to have this Christmas present coming to us. We say, Merry Christmas, Mr. President.' Merry Christmas, America.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/bipartisan-legislation-boosting-support-foster-care-system-passes-congress,Bipartisan Legislation Boosting Support for Foster Care System Passes Congress,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas), praised the inclusion of the Family First Transition Act in the end-of-year funding legislation that passed in the Senate today and heads to the president's desk for signature. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Grassley and Wyden, and in the House by Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) and Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.). The legislation provides states with additional tools to successfully implement the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which became law last year. FFPSA established federal support for states to transform child welfare systems and keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care. The Family First Transition Act is supported by over 100 national organizations and more than 350 state and local groups. The Family First Prevention Services Act will change the landscape of child welfare, making it possible for more kids to stay with their families instead of entering foster care. I'm glad that states will now receive additional tools to successfully transform their systems, as I know these resources will directly help kids at risk of abuse and neglect, Grassley said.  Families and their children in and at risk of entering foster care need help now, Wyden said. The enactment of this legislation will enable states to move forward more quickly in providing critical services to safely prevent foster care entries and move children who are already in foster care into placements that will best meet their needs. I am hopeful that states will seize the opportunity Congress has provided and move to make the promise of the Family First Prevention Services Act a reality.  The Family First Transition Act will provide states with the tools they told us they need to implement the Family First Prevention Services Act and transform our nation's child welfare system to strengthen families and give our most vulnerable children the fair start they deserve. I am grateful to Chairman Davis for his leadership, and to all of our Ways and Means Members who worked so hard to get this across the finish line. This just goes to show what we can accomplish when we work together to do the right thing, Neal said.  Now that it has passed as part of the end-of-year spending bill, Family First will be a game changer for our foster care system and will help keep more American families intact. Thanks to the hard work of Republican Reps. Jackie Walorski, Brad Wenstrup, Vern Buchanan, and Ron Estes on the Ways and Means Committee, we're giving our states the necessary time and resources to help bring their child welfare programs into the 21st century, Brady said.   Background TheFFPSA, signed into law in February 2018, helps keep more children safely with their families and out of foster care.The law supports states in providing evidence-based programs to prevent children from entering foster care, encourages states to place children with foster families instead of in group homes and reduces bureaucracy forand provides help torelatives so more children can live with extended family if they must be removed from their homes. The Family First Transition Act, like the original Family First bill, was a unified, bipartisan effort by the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.   TheFamily First Transition Actpassed by Congress this week builds on the previous law by: Providing one-time funding to all states to help implement the FFPSA;Providing insurance to states with child welfare demonstration projects that ended on October 1, 2019, guaranteeing they will not face a large financial shortfall as they transition to the new law; andPhasing in the FFPSA requirement that 50 percent of spending on foster care prevention be on programs meeting the highest level of evidence (well supported), allowing states to receive reimbursement for a broader range of evidence-based programs in early years while the Department of Health and Human Services expands its list of qualifying programs. A summary of the bill can be found HERE.A list of groups that support the bill can be found HERE.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-statements-epa-s-2020-rfs-rule,"Grassley, Ernst Statements on EPA’s 2020 RFS Rule",2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today released the following statements regarding the EPA's final 2020 renewable volume obligations rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  Once again, EPA is playing games and not helping President Trump with farmers. An agreement was reached on September 12 in an Oval Office meeting between several Midwest leaders, President Trump and other members of his Administration. This does not reflect what we agreed to in that meeting. Simply requiring that the three-year rolling average be based on hard data and actual waived gallons rather than Department of Energy recommendations and EPA discretion would solve this problem and ensure the renewable volume obligations are met. Administrator Wheeler has put the president in a bad situation by not following the law as intended by Congress and as the president has promised to uphold.  No matter what EPA says about the impact of its waivers to oil companies making billions in profits, farmers and biofuels producers know and feel the negative impact of the agency's actions. I will hold EPA's feet to the fire to make certain they abide by the Department of Energy's recommendations and ensure integrity in the RFS. Whether that happens is up to Administrator Wheeler and the president's support among farmers is in his hands.  The magic words from the Oval Office meeting were three-year rolling average based on hard data and actual waived gallons. Abiding by this would have solved all the problem's EPA has created, Grassley said.  Throughout this process, I, along with Senator Grassley and Governor Reynolds have made it crystal clear that Iowa's farmers and biofuel producers need certainty that EPA will follow the law. After shaking hands in the Oval Office this fall, EPA had an opportunity to restore the broken trust of farmers and to follow through on the president's commitment, but it appears they've missed the markagain. We were guaranteed a deal in September, and we were assured of that same deal in October, yet EPA rolled out, and has now finalized, a different proposal. It's no wonder trust has been lost.  While I'm hopeful we get to the 15 billion or more gallons of ethanol that we've been promised, I clearly understand the hesitation from Iowans to trust the word of EPA to actually follow through on that commitment. I believe President Trump wants to do right for the biofuels community  we've seen that with E15 year-round and most recently the biodiesel tax incentive. But Administrator Wheeler should know: this is not the end. I will continue to fight tirelessly to make sure that my fellow Iowans have a seat at the table when it comes to renewable fuels. We will keep holding EPA's feet to the fire to ensure they truly uphold the RFS, the law, as intended and fully implement the other critical aspects of this rule, Ernst said. Grassley has been a steadfast advocate for ethanol and environmentally-friendly alternative energy throughout his time as a U.S. senator. Last year, he joined abipartisan groupof 35 senators urging EPA to increase volume obligations for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuel and to ensure any small refiner economic hardship exemptions are appropriately accounted for in its final rule for the RFS. Grassley is also an original co-sponsor of theRFS Integrity Act of 2019, which would ensure the EPA properly accounts for exempted gallons in the annual renewable volume obligations it sets each November.Grassley sent aletterto DOE requesting information on its review process of hardship waivers as it provides recommendations on exemption requests to the EPA. DOE responded to his letter explaining that the EPA wentagainst its recommendationsand were issuing waivers to refineries that faced little or no actual hardship. Grassley has urged the EPA to outline its plan to make the waiver process more transparent. He's also led effortspressingthe EPA to stop issuing these hardship waivers to obligated refiners andto highlightthe importance of the RFS to President Trump and his Administration.Grassley helped lead the effort to encourage the Trump administration toapprove E15for year-round sales to help farmers, consumers and the country. In May of this year, the EPAfinalized a new rule lifting the ban.Growth Energy, one of the leading biofuels trade associations in the country, presented Grassley with theFueling Growth Award, this yearfor his work to get E15 sold year-round and constant efforts to advance, support and defend renewable fuels and the RFS. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said then, Senator Grassley has fought and won more battles for Iowa farmers and biofuels producers than anyone in Washington. We're deeply grateful for his tireless dedication to protecting the role of biofuels in America's fuel mix and opening new opportunities for the agricultural economy. He understands the incredible challenges facing America's farm families, and he works every day to ensure their voices are heard.On November 4, over 60 corn, soybean, and biofuel groups wrote a letter stating that the EPA's supplemental rule would not accurately account for small refinery exemptions and would hurt farm economies and biofuel plants in rural America. Their letter can be foundhere.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-house-passage-usmca,Grassley Statement on House Passage of USMCA,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Grassley Expects Senate Passage and Final Ratification Early Next Year  Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement regarding passage in the House of Representatives of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).  The overwhelming, bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives is a historic victory for President Trump and the entire country. President Trump was adamant in campaigning for an overhaul to NAFTA. Now he's put to rest any doubt that USMCA is a significant improvement and a win for Americans, Grassley said. President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer have worked hard to achieve a strong deal with bipartisan support. They deserve congratulations for this historic achievement.  Ratification of USMCA in 2019 is no longer possible because it took more than a year for House Democrats to act. It's unfortunate that farmers, manufacturers and all American workers had to wait so long. Impeaching the president and passing USMCA in the same week makes immediate action impossible. But I look forward to getting USMCA passed in the Senate and ratified early next year. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-passage-anti-robocall-legislation-0,Grassley Statement on Passage of Anti-Robocall Legislation,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"For Immediate Release Thursday,December 19, 2019  Grassley Statement on Passage of Anti-Robocall Legislation  WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement on the passage of thePallone-ThuneTelephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Senator Grassley cosponsored theTRACED Actin the Senate, which was authored by Senator John Thune (R-S.D.).  Robocalls aren't just annoying, they can be dangerous. Wily scammers are stealing money and personal information from unsuspecting victims through robocalls.Grassley said. Passage of theTRACED Actwill help bring some much-needed relief of robocalls in Iowa and across the country. It is vital that these scammers are stopped and that enforcement be robust.  According to YouMail, there were an estimated 48 billion robocalls in 2018, which is up over 65% since 2016. This number has already been surpassed in the first ten months of 2019. In fact, Americans received a record-high number of 5.7 billion robocalls in October. First Orion predicts that this year 44.6 percent of all calls to mobile devices will be scams. In 2018, the FCC received 232,000 consumer complaints of unwanted calls, a nearly 35 percent increase since 2015.  In May, the Senate passed theTRACED Actby a vote of 97-1. In July, the House of Representatives passed theStopping Bad Robocalls Actby a vote of 429-3. These bills were reconciled resulting in thePallone-Thune TRACED Act.  ThePallone-ThuneTRACED Act, S. 151, is bipartisan legislation that takes aim at telemarketers who prey on consumers. The following is a summary of the major provisions of the bill:  TRACED grants the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) more latitude to pursue civil forfeiture penalties against the worst offendersrobocallers intentionally violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Under current law, the FCC must first issue a citation to a robocaller, and then can only seek penalties within a year of a subsequent violation. This bill would permit the FCC to pursue intentional violations for up to four years after a violation has occurred and would eliminate the citation requirement. The bill applies to calls and text messages.  The legislation would direct the FCC to adopt rules requiring all classes of telephone providers to adopt call authentication technologies. These technologies enable a telephone carrier to verify that incoming calls are authenticated before they reach consumers' phones.  TRACED commissions a working group of law enforcement and other key robocall enforcers to evaluate policies and resources needed to better prosecute and deter illegal robocalls. The working groups will be comprised of the FCC, Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  Requires the FCC to evaluate ways to reduce access to numbers by potential violators.  Directs the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to help protect subscribers from receiving unwanted unauthenticated calls. This mandate will ensure that the FCC adopts protections that help empower subscribers to block calls from spoofed numbers.  Consumers often receive robocalls intended for previous individuals who had their phone number. TRACED ensures the FCC is quickly making available the reassigned number database it agreed to implement in December 2018 by requiring a report to Congress.  Requires the FCC to issue an annual report to Congress on their enforcement efforts against illegal robocallers, and to provide information to the U.S. Attorney General regarding certain violations.  One-ring scams are when an international scammer makes a call to a consumer in hopes that the consumer will call them back so that they can charge exorbitant fees. Under TRACED, the FCC is required to initiate a proceeding to protect consumers from one-ring scams.  TRACED requires the FCC to register a neutral consortium of companies that have banded together to trace back the origin of illegal robocalls. The Commission would report to Congress on the consortium's findings.  Hospitals are plagued by robocalls resulting in some lifesaving information being given to consumers. TRACED establishes a Hospital Robocall Working Group to issue best practices to help carriers combat illegal robocalls to hospitals.  -30-  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-passage-rural-broadband-deployment-and-mapping-bill,Grassley Statement on Passage of Rural Broadband Deployment and Mapping Bill,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement on the passage of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act.  I'm concerned that the current FCC maps dramatically overstate broadband access in Iowa in a way that has a negative impact on our funding eligibility, Grassley said. Better data will ensure that funding is available throughout rural America. This bill should help the FCC accomplish these goals.  The Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue new rules to require the collection and dissemination of granular broadband availability data and to establish a process to verify the accuracy of such data.  Grassley has a long history of working to close the digital divide in Iowa. He is a strong advocate for rural broadband deployment and providing the tools necessary to make sure that rural America is not left behind. All Americans ought to be able to share in the opportunity that advanced telecommunications and mobile technology can bring to one's home, classroom, hospital, business, or tractor, Grassley stated. Most recently, Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst sent a letter on July 8, 2019 to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai regarding the FCC's role in ensuring the accuracy of broadband maps. In August 2019, the FCC voted to create a new Digital Opportunity Data Collection regime based on geospatial broadband coverage maps provided by fixed Internet service providers. The Universal Service Administration Company was charged with the new data collection and will create a portal for collecting the carrier data and allow for crowdsourced challenges to the maps. The FCC is continuing to collect data based on census blocks, but will require fixed broadband suppliers to also provide coverage maps based on shapefiles for more granular data. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-wyden-introduce-bill-tackle-medicare-appeals-backlog,"Grassley, Wyden Introduce Bill to Tackle Medicare Appeals Backlog",2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) reintroduced legislation to reduce the backlog of Medicare appeals cases. The bipartisan Audit & Appeals Fairness, Integrity, and Reforms in Medicare Act (AFIRM) of 2019, establishes new tools for the Office of Medicare Hearing and Appeals (OMHA) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to resolve outstanding appeals cases in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.  HHS has made great strides to reduce the backlog of Medicare appeals at OMHA. However, despite their best efforts, more than 300,000 Medicare appeals were still pending as of June this year. As a result, hospitals, doctors and nursing homes are being forced to wait for up to three years for their appeal to be adjudicated. This bill gives HHS the ability to eliminate the backlog more quickly and help prevent bottlenecks in the future, Grassley said.  Care providers and seniors shouldn't have to wait years for the federal government to determine it has improperly denied a health care claim and compensate them accordingly. This bipartisan bill has been before Congress for far too long. I thank Chairman Grassley for continuing this bipartisan work and I hope it can become law soon to finally eliminate this backlog, Wyden said.  The AFIRM Act (S.3078) builds on the Committee's past oversight and investigative efforts to identify ways to make Medicare appeals more efficient for healthcare providers. In 2015, an earlier version of the AFIRM Act was passed out of the Senate Finance Committee by unanimous consent, but failed to pass the Senate. Since the beginning of the year, Grassley and Wyden have worked to identify opportunities to reduce costs associated with the bill. Earlier versions of the bill were estimated to cost more than $1 billion over a ten year period, while this version is expected to cost just a fraction of that amount.  The legislation introduced this week would help HHS adjudicate low-value claims by providing HHS the authority to establish the Medicare magistrate program. This policy would enable Administrative Law Judges to focus on more complex and higher amount in controversy appeals, while ensuring that all appealed claims are adjudicated. Granting HHS the authority to establish the Medicare magistrate program addresses these issues and provides the Department with a more flexible workforce. Additionally, this aspect of the bill saves taxpayer dollars, by providing non-hearing alternatives to an otherwise costly appellate process. Legislative text of the AFIRM Act is available HERE. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/senators-request-comprehensive-study-national-organ-donor-system,Senators Request Comprehensive Study of National Organ Donor System,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Todd Young, a member of the Committee, wrote to Health and Human Services Acting Inspector General (HHS OIG) Joanne Chiedi requesting a comprehensive examination of the adequacy of the organ procurement and transplantation system in the United States. President Trump's historic executive order will transform the nation's organ procurement and transplant system. I'm confident that the proposed rule being developed by Secretary Azar as the result of President Trump's directive will save thousands of American lives. But there's also no question that more can be done right now to improve a system that is mired by inefficiency, waste and a serious lack of accountability. Grassley said.  Because our organ donation system is so complex, most people don't know how it works, or if patients are being protected. This is why we are taking a look behind the curtain of a system that so many lives depend on. My friend, Marine Dave Gunny' McFarland from Jeffersonville, Indiana, died because his heart transplant never came. That is unacceptable. I won't stop working on this issue until we increase the availability of organs for patients in need, and eliminate the inefficiencies occurring in our organ donation system, Young said.  The senators are seeking information about the extent of HHS OIG oversight of OPOs and other information regarding previous relevant investigations. The letter from Grassley and Young can be found HERE.Grassley, Young and a bipartisan group of senators wrote to HHS earlier this year demanding answers to a recent change in the national liver distribution policy made by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Under the new policy, transplant hospitals in areas with rural and low-income populations could see patients waiting longer for a liver match and losing livers donated in their state.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=60DD3F05-EB9B-4D21-B2E5-72DAB9B6D546,Ernst Bill Would Help Iowa CommunitiesLike HamburgMake Temporary Flood Protection Structures Permanent,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON In April 2019, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) chaired a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee field hearing in southwest Iowa where she questioned U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) witnesses on their management of the river and heard from local stakeholders, including Cathy Crain, Mayor of Hamburg, Iowa who described her community's struggles to make their heightened levee permanent. Today, Ernst is putting forward bipartisan legislation, with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), to help communities, like Hamburg, make temporary flood protection structures permanent.
Rural communities like Hamburg, Iowa deserve the same flood protection as any other community across the country, said Senator Joni Ernst. Iowa's communities, regardless of their size, should be able to get the flood protection they need, and our bipartisan bill helps them do just that.
In emergency situations, the Corps has the authority to construct temporary flood structures. In 2011, it raised the levee protecting Hamburg by about 8 feet to improve the town's defenses against flood waters. This temporary improvement helped withstand the flood waters, but Corps policy dictated that the structure had to be either taken down or built to Corps specificationsat a cost to the town. Because Hamburg could not afford to make the levee permanent, it had to be removed.
The Local Expertise is Vital for Effective Embankments (LEVEE) Act gives the Corps the authority to review whether temporary flood control structures should be made permanent. In making these determinations, the Corps is directed to consider the likelihood of needing to construct a similar structure in the future, and the economic and safety benefits of making the structure permanent. The legislation also allows the local cost share for making the structure permanent to be waived for communities with populations less than 10,000, or that are financially disadvantaged or at risk from recurring flood events.
Background
Atan oversight hearing earlier this year, Senator Ernst questioned Corps officials on the recovery effort and their river management policies in the wake of the March flooding in Southwest Iowa, specifically with regard to repairing and rebuilding the levees that were compromised.
Senator Ernst has also pushed the Corps to put a greater emphasis on flood control and give Iowans more of a voice in the decision-making process and is a cosponsor of two bills to prioritize Iowa communities in the eyes of the Corpsone that would make flood control the top priority for the Corps' management of the Missouri River; and another to create a civilian advisory council to give Iowans a direct say in the Corps' decision-making.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B2973EAF-E501-475B-A43F-1AA614A33AEA,Ernst Nominates 40 Iowans for Admission to U.S. Service Academies,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, today announced U.S. Service Academy nominations for 40 young Iowans.
As a combat veteran, and mother of a West Point cadet, it's truly an honor to nominate these qualified Iowa students for admittance to our U.S. Service Academies. Each of these students has exemplified strong leadership, dedication to academics and commitment to community service. This nomination is an important step in the admissions process, and I'm proud to assist these students in reaching their goal of serving our nation in uniform, said Senator Ernst.
Each year, Senator Ernst nominates Iowa students to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. To learn more about the service academy nomination process, click here.
Below is a complete list of the students nominated by Senator Ernst for the Class of 2024.
U.S. Air Force Academy
Scott Bell  Altoona*
Anthony Cordes  Avoca
Anton Dahm  Bettendorf
Jacob DeJohn  Urbandale
Keegan Eitter  Dubuque*
Emma Holesinger  Dubuque*
Jacob Hrasky  Treynor
Nolan McGregor  Sergeant Bluff
Benson Redfern  Cedar Falls
Jordyn Wagner  Clive

U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Margaret Cristoforo  Mt. Pleasant
Madison Corey  Ankeny
Ethan Flege  Waverly
Grace Greer  Iowa City
James Pinter  Iowa City
Luke South  Linden
Mikail Syed  Iowa City
Gaige Tvrs  West Liberty
Jerry Vesey III  Bettendorf
Wynn Yeager  Winterset

U.S. Naval Academy
Kaylah Ajram-Wright  Cedar Rapids
Bryce Anstoetter  Dubuque
John Bell  Waterloo
Scott Bell  Altoona*
Chloe David  Granger
Mason Dunn  Bettendorf
Mitchell Engelbart  Wyoming
Keegan Eitter  Dubuque*
Madison Foht  Davenport*
MaryClare Greer  Iowa City
Emma Holesinger  Dubuque*
Nicholas McGowan  Sioux City
Lucas Miller  Urbandale*
Jacob Nelson  Bettendorf*
Lucas Paskach  Des Moines
Ambria Pipho  Decorah
Elliott Potter  Cedar Rapids
Bryce Repollo-Green  Urbandale
William Rolfstad  Davenport
Jonathan Wargo  West Branch*

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:
Madison Foht  Davenport*
Lucas Miller  Urbandale*
Jacob Nelson  Bettendorf*
Brooke Netcott  Davenport
Donovan Thornhill  Cedar Rapids
Jonathan Wargo  West Branch*
*The admissions process to the service academies is highly competitive, and Senator Ernst encourages students to apply for more than one academy. This denotes students who are being nominated for both their first and second choice of service academy.

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https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-leads-freshman-democrats-calling-senate-pass-usmca-year,Axne Leads Freshman Democrats in Calling on Senate to Pass USMCA This Year,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) called on the Senate to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) before the end of the year.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Rep. Axne joined six of her freshman House colleagues in demanding that the Leader bring up the deal as soon as the House passes it this week.
We are deeply concerned by your statements that the Senate will not take up the USMCA this year, the lawmakers wrote. The Senate cannot leave for recess until you pass the USMCA.
The letter highlighted the Senate's previous words of support for the agreement amid statements that now suggest the deal will not be brought up until February.
Over the last year, many of our colleagues in the Senate have expressed support for USMCA and their desire to move this deal as quickly as possible, the lawmakers wrote. We have completed the heavy lifting of negotiations and compromise and will send you a bipartisan trade agreement that the President himself supports. USMCA cannot end up in the Senate's Legislative Graveyard.
The letter was signed by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), Rep. Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02), Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01), Rep. Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Rep. Kenda Horn (OK-05), and Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07).
The House is expected to pass the USMCA trade agreement on Thursday.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/hamburg-needs-our-help-rep-axne-introduces-legislation-cut-red-tape-provide,"Hamburg Needs Our Help: Rep. Axne Introduces Legislation to Cut Red Tape, Provide Greater Flexibility in Critical Levee Construction",2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Iowa's Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced legislation in both chambers of Congress to give communities and the Army Corps of Engineers greater flexibility in constructing permanent levees from temporary ones. The bipartisan legislation was jointly led by Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
The Local Expertise is Vital for Effective Embankments (LEVEE) Act would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to begin preconstruction on levee improvements without waiting for congressional approval if a project is determined to be critical to flood prevention and cost less than $25 million. The legislation would also provide full federal funding for projects in flood-prone areas.
No town should have to worry that federal red tape stands between them and a devastating flood, said Rep. Axne. What we saw in Hamburg earlier this year proves that we must do something to allow the Corps to act faster and provide full federal funding for flood-prone areas. Our local and on-the-ground experts need to be listened to. I'm proud that this bipartisan, bicameral legislation does just that and addresses this critical issue for Southwest Iowa.
In 2011, residents of Hamburg, Iowa worked the Army Corps of Engineers to construct makeshift emergency additions to a levee to combat rising flood waters. The levee saved the town from floodwaters, but was determined to be not adequate enough to be made permanent without changes. After Hamburg could not come up with the funds to make the changes, the additions to the levee were removed.
Last spring, Nebraska experienced the worst flooding since 2011,"" said Rep. Bacon. ""Many homes, businesses, livestock and dreams were lost. Under this bill, the Army Corps would be allowed to evaluate repeated and potential areas of flooding and construct levees to prevent such disasters from occurring again. We must take the proper actions to protect communities from future floods and this legislation does just that.
Since disastrous flooding earlier this year, Rep. Axne has been fighting to ensure federal funding reaches ongoing recovery efforts in her district.
Last week, Rep. Axne recently announced the creation of her Iowa Flood Funding Tracker, allowing all Iowans to track updates on where disaster relief funding is being spent in Iowa. The Tracker also identifies federal agencies that have not answered Rep. Axne's call for transparency in accounting for where disaster relief funds are being spent.
Securing federal funding for disaster recovery in Iowa is only the first step, said Rep. Axne. I'm committed to calling out federal agencies who won't tell us where the money is being spent, helping constituents navigate the rebuilding process, and pushing for legislation in Washington to fix inefficiencies and reform our disaster recovery systems to work better for Iowans.
In November, the Housepassedbipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Axne to modernize federal disaster recovery programs, ensure funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner, and protect taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources.
In May, the Housepassed H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019  which Rep.Axne successfully amendedto increase funding for programs vital to Iowa. President Trump signed that bill into effect on June 7th, effectively making funds available for disaster recovery programs available that day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://steveking.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/king-stands-with-the-constitution-and-president-trump-votes-against-sore,"King Stands with the Constitution and President Trump, Votes Against Sore Loser Democrats Sham Articles of Impeachment",2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Steve King,K000362,steveking.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C- Congressman Steve King releases the following statement after voting against both of the sham impeachment articles introduced by House Democrats. The Articles of Impeachment passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 230-197 (Article One) and 229-198 (Article Two). Not a single Republican voted in favor of the Impeachment Articles; in fact, the Democrats' Impeachment Articles were so meritless that a handful of conscientious Democrats were willing to cross party lines to join Republicans in voting against them.
For three years, sore loser Democrats have feverishly attempted to undo election results that they have never accepted, and these sham impeachment articles represent the futile culmination of the far-left's impotent frustration and rage, said King. Leftist Democrats and Never-Trumpers created a Resistance movement to thwart President Trump at every turn, and they have turned Constitutional protections like due process inside-out and upside-down in their quest to remove our remarkably successful President from office. The simple fact of the matter is this: Democrats realize that they can't beat the President in 2020, and they've decided to use the impeachment process as a campaign weapon against him. The people of Iowa see through the Democrats' cynical ploy. Iowans support this President and the great work he is doing for our country, they want their votes for President Trump respected, and they understand that adherence to our Constitution means rejecting the impeachment of a duly-elected President on such baseless, politically motivated charges.
In rejecting the Articles of Impeachment, Congressman King stands firmly on the side of the United States Constitution, protecting a duly-elected President from hyper-partisan House Democrats' illegitimate effort to remove him from the office to which the American people, including the people of Iowa, elected him to serve. As a reminder, in the 2016 Presidential election, the people of Iowa voted 51.1% to 41.7% to elect President Trump over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The importance of protecting the votes cast by Iowans is particularly resonant in the 4th Congressional District King represents, a district in which his constituents voted for President Trump by a 26.8% margin.
Congressman King has been on the front lines in the defense of President Trump throughout the House Democrats' impeachment proceedings. In addition to his votes against the Articles of Impeachment today, here are several additional examples of King's efforts to protect his constituents' interest in having the President they elected continue to serve:
 On October 16, King spoke on the House floor in support of a House Resolution that seeks to Censure Rep. Adam Schiff for Misleading the American People. The censure resolution specifically references the actions taken by Rep. Schiff as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, when, during a hearing held on September 26, instead of quoting directly from the available transcript, Chairman Schiff manufactured a false retelling of the conversation between President Trump and President Zelensky. The resolution states, this egregiously false and fabricated retelling had no relationship to the call itself and these actions misled the American people, bring disrepute upon the House of Representatives and make a mockery of the impeachment process, one of this chamber's most solemn constitutional duties.
 
 On October 16, Congressman King first attempted to gain entry to the SCIF in which Rep. Adam Schiff was holding secret impeachment proceedings. In this instance, the Members pictured below demanded to enter to read the Volker Transcript, and were blocked by security at Rep. Schiff's direction.
 

From left: Rep. Andy Harris, Rep. Steve King, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Andy Biggs, Rep. Debbie Lesko, and Rep. Louie Gohmert. 

 On October 21, King voted in support of a resolution, H. Res 647, that sought to Censure Representative Adam Schiff. King was also a cosponsor of the resolution.
 
 On October 23, Congressman King protested the secret impeachment hearings being conducted by Rep. Adam Schiff when he joined with many of his colleagues to Storm The SCIF (the hearing room in which the secret proceedings were being held.) As King stated at the time, It's unimaginable that anybody would have the audacity to hold secret impeachment hearings here in the House of Representatives, the People's House. King has also referred to the Democrats' impeachment efforts as the greatest atrocity I've seen in the United States Congress in 17 years.
 

Congressman King joined his colleagues to demand greater transparency into secret impeachment hearings being conducted by Rep. Adam Schiff. (Photo Credit: Office of Congressman Steve King).

 On October 31, Congressman King voted AGAINST H.Res 660, a resolution which formalized the the House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry. As King noted at the time, I reject the Democrats' efforts to legitimize this sham impeachment process, and all Americans should be concerned that the person most empowered by the House impeachment resolution voted on today is Rep. Adam Schiff, a man who just faced a censure effort based on his efforts to deceive the American public on this subject, and who has just had an ethics complaint filed against him as well. Congressman King also referred to H.Res. 660 as a Halloween Impeachment Trick on all of America.
 


###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://steveking.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/video-king-defends-president-trump-against-articles-of-impeachment,Video: King Defends President Trump Against Articles of Impeachment,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Steve King,K000362,steveking.house.gov,,,legacy,"You're accusing Donald Trump of doing that which Joe Biden has confessed to doing!

Washington D.C- Congressman Steve King releases the following video of comments he delivered during House debate this afternoon over the Articles of Impeachment that House Democrats have introduced to impeach and seek the removal of President Donald J. Trump from office. King opposes both Articles of Impeachment being brought against the President.

To watch the video, please click the image above or on this link.

Transcript:
I thank you Madame Speaker and I thank the Gentleman for yielding. I start off first that this is the largest and most massive cover-up of such a list of crimes against our country, and it goes so far as to bring impeachment hearings to try to cover all of this up. And I would take you back to October of 2015 when Barack Obama said, Hillary Clinton would never intend to jeopardize our national security.' Again, the following April, the next month, Peter Strzok wrote the statement that was delivered by James Comey. And they've spent Democrat money and Hillary Clinton money in Russia to pick up dirt on Donald Trump! And, then, Joe Biden goes to Ukraine and makes a statement Here's a billion dollars, but you must do what I tell you to do!' You're accusing Donald Trump of doing that which Joe Biden has confessed to doing!
And, by the way, Joe Biden was not the opponent of Donald Trump. He's in a 21-way primary for Democrats; he's running third in that race. His [Biden's] opponents are the other 20 Democrats. How would anybody dig in to that mess of 21 people and decide he's going to go overseas and pull some maneuver like this? You have to assign him a motive. You assign him a motive, then you create the dots, then you go dot to dot. But the reality is that it was Biden that was doing the extortion of the power play in order to protect his own son, and it was Donald Trump that was following the law that said you have to ensure that there is not corruption here before this money is handed over. 
And, by the way, there was a violent war going on in Ukraine and that's when we sent blankets and MRE's over there under Barack Obama. But when I hear this from the Gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Johnson, he doesn't think he can win the election fair and square, so he would cheat.' And, I've heard that here on this floor. No, it's the other way around. Your number one proponent of impeachment is Al Green of Texas, and he said those very same things and they brought this case November 9th, the day after Trump was elected.
I yield back.

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https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-first-step-act-one-year-anniversary-senate-passage,Grassley on the First Step Act: One Year Anniversary of Senate Passage,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Prepared Floor Remarks by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa The First Step Act: One Year Anniversary of Senate Passage Wednesday, December 18, 2019  I come to the floor today to commemorate and celebrate the one year anniversary of a groundbreaking achievement. On December 18, 2018, the Senate passed the First Step Act. Three days later, President Trump signed this monumental bill into law.  The First Step Act is the most significant criminal justice reform law in a generation. I'm proud of the work we accomplished a year ago here on the Senate floor by voting it out of this chamber with a roll call vote of 87-12.  This historic vote means a lot to me. In fact, in one of the conference rooms in my office here in Washington, I have the official tally sheet from this bill's vote framed and hung on a wall. Now, Iowans, advocates, and those who visit my office can see a piece of history.  Our criminal justice system is based on the rule of law. That means when you commit a crime, you should be punished. But the punishment should fit the crime. If the penalty is too harsh, it doesn't do any more to deter criminal activity and it's a bad value for taxpayers. Overly harsh penalties can also make it harder for prisoners who are trying to change their lives to turn over a new leaf.  It's worth noting that almost all criminals are eventually released from prison. So our criminal justice system must do more than punish and deter. It must rehabilitate and prepare prisoners to reenter society.  And that's what the First Step Act does.  It gives non-violent prisoners an incentive to participate in programs in prison like job training, drug treatment programs, and counseling that have been shown to reduce recidivism.  The First Step Act also makes sentencing more fair. It leaves tough penalties in place for the worst criminals, but it reduces mandatory minimum sentences giving judges the ability to tailor punishments to fit crimes.  Today marks a happy occasion and a time for reflection. However, we must remain focused on the future and implementation of the law. With vigilant and consistent oversight into the implementation of the First Step Act, we can ensure that these goals of reducing recidivism and improving our criminal justice system are met.  I have met with dozens of former prisoners who have been released because of the reforms in the First Step Act and their families. These former prisoners are inspiring. They are finding jobs. They are taking care of their families. They are paying their taxes and contributing to their communities.  They have told me that the First Step Act gave them hope. It reminded them that the rest of the country had not forgotten about them, but wanted them to succeed.  The First Step Act gives former prisoners a better chance at changing their lives. And every day there are more success stories. No doubt there will be some prisoners who return to a life of crime. But the reforms we put into place have been shown at the state level to reduce crime by reducing recidivism. It's the right thing to do for the people in the criminal justice system. But it's a good value for the taxpayer too.  As we commemorate the First Step Act, it's important to acknowledge that this was a bipartisan effort. A lot of people didn't think it was possible. But we did it by working together and finding a way to work out a reasonable compromise.  First and foremost, I want to acknowledge Senator Durbin. I guess you could call him my partner in crime. There is no better advocate for criminal justice reform than Senator Durbin and this bill would never have passed without his hard work and willingness to forge this bipartisan compromise.  Also, thanks to my other Senate colleagues who made this possible: Senators Lee, Cornyn, Scott, Whitehouse, Booker, and Leahy among many others.  I also want to recognize President Trump and thank him and his team, particularly Jared Kushner, for support and leadership in this space.  Today, December 18, will always be an important day to me. I look forward to making sure this law is implemented successfully and to finding additional ways to improve our criminal justice system. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-lauds-inclusion-plan-restore-access-justice-us-victims-terrorism,Grassley Lauds Inclusion of Plan to Restore Access to Justice for U.S. Victims of Terrorism in Spending Package,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bipartisan bill allows PA to be held accountable in U.S. courts based on martyr payments to families of terrorists & activities by the PA on U.S. soil.  WASHINGTON  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement after successfully securing the inclusion of the bipartisan Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2019 in the year-end appropriations package. In October, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the legislationintroduced by Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.)to ensure American victims of international terrorism can seek justice in U.S. courts. The legislation builds upon the 1992Anti-Terrorism Actauthored by Grassley and responds to the Palestinian Authority's (PA) shameful restriction on humanitarian aid in its effort to thwart accountability for supporting acts of terrorism. It also corrects a recent circuit court decision that effectively closed the courthouse doors to American victims.  The American principle that everyone deserves meaningful access to justice is as old as the Constitution itself. That's why, in 1992, Congress unanimously passed theAnti-Terrorism Actto open the courthouse doors to American victims and their families. Unfortunately, recent flawed court decisions gutted the law that had worked for nearly 30 years. When Congress sought to close that loophole, the Palestinian Authority responded by thumbing its nose at our justice system and unnecessarily blocked humanitarian aid from its own people in the process. ThePromoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Actrestores jurisdiction in U.S. courts and ensures that critical humanitarian aid can continue to flow.  This bill marks a rare compromise reached by American victims of terrorism, the State Department, and other key stakeholders. I'm grateful for their tireless work and the efforts of colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and especially the leadership of Senator Lankford, to move this bill forward. After over a year of negotiations, I'm glad this bill is on its way to becoming law, Grassley said.  In 1992, Congress unanimously passed Grassley'sAnti-Terrorism Act, allowing Americans who fall victim to acts of terrorism while abroad to seek damages in U.S. courts. Since it was enacted, the law has resulted in significant judgments in favor of U.S. victims, providing some semblance of justice and deterring further support of international terrorism. However, a flawed ruling by the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals undermined the law by constraining the ability of U.S. victims to establish jurisdiction over foreign entities accused of perpetrating or supporting acts of terrorism. To restore the law, both chambers of Congress passed theAnti-Terrorism Clarification Actin 2018 without a single objection. That bill, also authored by Grassley, made clear that any foreign entity accepting taxpayer-funded foreign assistance is consenting to jurisdiction in U.S. courts for Antiterrorism Act lawsuits. In response, the PA, which had already been found liable by a New York jury for supporting acts of terrorism that killed Americans, rejected all American foreign aid to dodge accountability in U.S. courts. It also needlessly blocked any foreign aid for nongovernmental entities operating in the region in apparent retaliation to the bill. To correct this injustice by the PA and to restore the congressional intent of the 1992 law, Grassley joined Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to introduce thePromoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.The bill helps to restore foreign assistance to the region while providing new jurisdictional bases for American victims that are consistent with bipartisan U.S. foreign policy.  The bill also includes an amendment by Grassley and bill co-sponsor Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) to subject the PA to U.S. court jurisdiction so long as it continues to compensate families of terrorists, as discouraged by the bipartisanTaylor Force Act. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also co-sponsored and worked tirelessly to advance this legislation in the Senate.  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-partners-leeve-act-make-temporary-flood-protection-structures-permanent,Grassley Partners on LEEVE Act to Make Temporary Flood Protection Structures Permanent,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Kirsten Gilibrand (D-N.Y.) in introducing the Local Expertise is Vital for Effective Embankments (LEVEE) Act to help communities make temporary flood protection structures permanent.In April, Grassley participated in a field hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in southwest Iowa chaired by Ernst, in which local stakeholders, including Mayor Crain of Hamburg, described the struggles communities have in keeping levee improvements made in face of flooding permanent. Cities like Hamburg have struggled after disasters to keep their temporary flood protection structures in place to provide further protection from flooding.We should use some good Iowa common sense and not tear down these structures. This bill was discussed at the hearing and we are following through on our commitment. It's important that communities do not have to go through the situation that Hamburg has gone through along our mighty rivers, Grassley said.  The Local Expertise is Vital for Effective Embankments (LEVEE) Act gives the Army Corps of Engineers the authority to review whether temporary flood control structures should be made permanent. In making these determinations, the Corps is directed to consider the likelihood of needing to construct a similar structure in the future, and the economic and safety benefits of making the structure permanent. The legislation also allows the local cost share for making the structure permanent to be waived for communities with populations less than 10,000, or that are financially disadvantaged or at risk from recurring flood events.  In 2011, the Corps raised the Ditch 6 levee by about eight feet to help protect the town against flood waters. This levee held the floodwaters back, but unfortunately, Corps policy told them they had to take down the additional protection or rebuild it to Corps specifications. Hamburg was unable to come up with the additional funds to rebuild the levee so they were forced to take it down. This same levee was overrun earlier this year, contributing to the destructive flooding that left two-thirds of Hamburg under water.  The City of Hamburg, the State of Iowa and the Corps are committed to rebuilding the levee to its original height.However, this process has been delayed until the spring. Grassley and Ernst have been communicating with the Corps to make sure that this process continues. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-praises-committee-passage-bipartisan-national-bio-and-agro-defense,"Grassley Praises Committee Passage of Bipartisan National Bio and Agro-Defense Legislation, Lands Package",2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined his colleagues, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) in supporting the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Act of 2019, which recently passed out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.  National security is a growing priority for the agriculture industry, which faces many potential foreign threats. This bipartisan bill will add another layer of defense for the food supply in our country. I'm glad to see a collaborative cross-agency approach to address emerging threats and prioritize farm and food safety, Grassley said.  The Committee passed S. 2695, as amended by a manager's amendment, on a voice vote. Read full text of the bill here.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-prescription-drug-pricing-reduction-act-would-help-americans-parkinson-s,Grassley: Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act Would Help Americans with Parkinson’s,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Prepared Floor Remarks by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Chairman, Senate Finance Committee Wednesday, December 18, 2019  Senator Wyden and I received a letter from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research endorsing our bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.   One million Americans have Parkinson's disease. There's no way to stop it or cure it. But thanks to modern medicine, the symptoms can be treated to help patients live a better life.   Ninety percent of all individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease are on Medicare. Our bill would help these seniors afford their medicine with a cap on out-of-pocket expenses.   Now's the time for Congress to act. Not only for those with Parkinson's disease, but for all Americans who need our help.  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-fifth-circuit-court-appeals-obamacare-ruling,Grassley Statement on Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Obamacare Ruling,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement regarding the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.  In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare, despite serious constitutional issues with the federal government forcing Americans to purchase a product from a private company. Until an ultimate decision is made by the Supreme Court or Congress decides otherwise, the Affordable Care Act will remain the law of the land, Grassley said.  Congress should work to ensure that no matter the ultimate outcome, Americans who have pre-existing conditions are protected from losing their insurance or facing discrimination. This is something that has broad, bipartisan support. The only reason for Democrats not to act on legislation like the Protect Act is because they would prefer to keep a partisan political issue alive. That's the definition of putting politics before people and it shouldn't stand. Earlier this year, Grassley joined Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and several other senators in introducing the Protect Act, legislation that would protect Americans with pre-existing conditions and ensure that Americans have the peace of mind knowing that they and their loved ones will never be denied health care coverage or be charged more because of a pre-existing condition.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-impeachment-president-trump,Grassley Statement on the Impeachment of President Trump,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), president pro tempore of the United States Senate, released the following statement regarding the impeachment of the President of the United States by the House of Representatives.  This is a sad day for our country. The impeachment of a president is a serious matter.  Today marks the first partisan impeachment of the President of the United States in modern history. The only bipartisanship the American people witnessed today stood opposed to impeachment. The Framers of the Constitutiondid not want impeachment to be a partisan process.  The House of Representatives will soon present articles of impeachment to the Senate. I will examine the evidence of the charges presented before the Senateand uphold my oath and duty as a juror.  As president pro tempore of the Senate, Grassley will swear in Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the Senate trial. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-trump-drug-importation-plan,Grassley Statement on Trump Drug Importation Plan,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Longtime Drug Importation Advocate Grassley Praises Trump Effort to Lower Prescription Drug Prices Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released the following statement regarding the Trump administration's announcement of a proposed rule to allow certain prescription drugs to be imported from Canada.This is a long time in the making and an important piece of the puzzle to lower prescription drug prices. I applaud President Trump and Secretary Azar for not succumbing to Big Pharma scare tactics and moving forward with this bold but thoughtful plan to finally allow more competition in the marketplace, Grassley said. I've been a longtime advocate of allowing prescription medicine from Canada to be imported to the United States. This proposal would ensure that any drug imported for sale to Americans abides by strict FDA health and safety standards. I look forward to closely reviewing this proposed rule and continuing to work with President Trump and Secretary Azar on bipartisan legislation to lower prescription drug prices.The Trump administration proposed rule mirrors bipartisan legislation from Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Grassley, the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2019, to import prescription drugs from Canada that meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety standards, pose no risk to the health and safety of Americans, as well as not allowing controlled substances or biologics to be imported.Grassley has repeatedly encouraged increased importation of prescription drugs from Canada and worked to address the ever-increasing costs of prescription drugs. In 2017, Grassley and other senators urged HHS Secretary Tom Price to use statutory authority to fast-track the importation of prescription drugs from Canada. Grassley sent a similar letter to then-Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell in 2015.Grassley had previously urged HHS and FDA to reinstate unannounced inspections of prescription drug manufacturing facilities in foreign countries in light of the administration's new Safe Importation Action Plan as well as the fact that these facilities provide most of the ingredients for production inside the United States.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/icymi-grassley-delivers-soybean-farmers-biodiesel,"ICYMI: Grassley Delivers for Soybean Farmers, Biodiesel",2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Here's what advocates are saying about the Biodiesel Tax Credit extension secured by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in negotiations this week with House and Senate leadership, which the Senate will take up this week:  Passage of the biodiesel tax credit is much-needed good news in rural America. We thank Senator Grassley for working into the wee hours of the morning to ensure this crucial policy finally moves forward. This credit has long been a priority for the Senator, and as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee he has shepherded it through to spark the growth of next generation biofuels.  We express the utmost gratitude to Sen. Chuck Grassley, our most ardent champion, for fighting for this policy. The entire U.S. biodiesel industry owes him our humble thanks for his leadership.  Biodiesel adds value to every bushel of soybeans The Iowa Soybean Associationis grateful forIowa Senators Grassley and Ernst for their steadfast leadership and tremendous support  This is welcome news for the entire renewable fuels industry, and we thank Senator Grassley, Speaker Pelosi and other congressional leadership who made this important compromise possible.  ASA is grateful to Congress for its support of the tax creditwhich will help expand markets for soybean growers during an unsteady time.  Read more about the expected extension from Iowa Public Radio:   Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, worked late into the night Monday to Tuesday finalizing a deal on the so-called tax extenders.  I'm happy to report, we've restored the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax credit, and we did it retroactively to its expiring on Dec. 31 2017, Grassley said. That means it will apply to 2018 and 2019 and the provision also calls on it to continue through 2022.  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/senators-seek-interviews-former-obama-administration-officials-regarding-burisma,Senators seek interviews with former Obama Administration officials regarding Burisma Holdings and Hunter Biden,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are seeking records from and transcribed staff interviews with five former Obama administration officials:  Antony Blinken Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State  Amos Hochstein Former senior advisor on international energy affairs to Vice President Joe Biden   Catherine Novelli Former Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment   Victoria Nuland Former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs  David Wade Former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State John Kerry These interview requests continue the chairmen's oversight efforts (seehere,here,here, andhere) related to potential conflicts of interest and political influence by Ukrainian elements, including the natural gas firm Burisma, which employed Hunter Biden as a board member while his father was vice president and the public face of the Obama administration's handling of Ukraine.Additional records and interviews related to these matters may also be necessary. The chairmen have requested these individuals to respond by no later than December 23, 2019.On December 6, 2019, Johnson, Grassley, and Graham requested records and transcribed interviews with Andrii Telizhenko and Alexandra Chalupa, two individuals reportedly involved in an effort by Ukrainian embassy officials to undermine the Trump campaign in the 2016 election (see here).Both individuals have since been in contact with the committees and discussions are ongoing regarding document productions and scheduling interviews. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5CDFCB35-DCC7-48E6-AE8D-ED9C81D6DDC3,Ernst: Defense Bill Provides Servicemembers with Much-Needed Resources,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a combat veteran and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats & Capabilities, applauded the bipartisan passage of this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Ernst thanked Senate Armed Services Chairman, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), for his leadership and emphasized the importance of the bill, which includes a pay-raise for our troops and supports the needs of our special operators. She also highlighted her provisions that were included in the final bill to expand support for victims of military sexual assault and domestic violence.

Click here or the image above to watch Senator Ernst's remarks.
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http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B47C0707-EA5D-4B33-99D0-19704D3BDB33,Annual Defense Bill Advances with Ernsts Support and Priorities Included,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a combat veteran and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, proudly supported theFiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The final bipartisan, bicameral defense bill includes nearly all of Senator Ernst's priorities, including her proposals to address military sexual assault, to improve Iowa's critical contributions to our nation's defense, and to invest in technological advancements to face the threats of today and well into the future.
Having worn our nation's uniform, I take seriously the responsibility we have to provide our servicemembers with the support, authorities, and resources they need to carry out their mission. This bipartisan defense bill includes a number of my priorities that will directly impact all Americans and bolster our national security so that we are outpacing and maintaining a strategic advantage against our adversaries.
Congress has passed an annual defense bill 58 years in a row, and in an overwhelmingly bipartisan way, and I'm proud to say that after tremendous hard work and commitment, we've fulfilled our obligation once again. The House and Senate have acted, and I'm confident President Trump will swiftly sign this critical bill into law, said Senator Joni Ernst, the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate.
Nearly all of Ernst's priorities from the Senate-passed NDAA were included in the FY20 NDAA Conference Report.Below are a few highlights:
 
Expanding support for victims of military sexual assault and domestic violencethrough provisions focusing on both prevention and successful prosecution of these serious offenses;
Improving research on TBIamong servicemembers and strengthening the capacity to track and mitigate injuries caused by blast pressure exposure;
Sustaining and enhancing the workload at the Rock Island Arsenal;
Ensuring the production of much needed combat munitions at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant;
Requesting a briefingon DoD's efficient and transparent use of Iowa tax dollars through language similar to Ernst'sCOST Act;
Ensuring the Special Operations Command has the resources and authorities they need to be most effective in the fight today and in the future;
Increasing research and development for key technologies like artificial intelligence, directed energy, and hypersonics to deter adversaries such as China and Russia.
 
For a full recap of the Ernst provisions included in the bill, click here.
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http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F568F669-9B2D-4EAF-BA2D-B7971C6FB3A9,Ernst Leads Bipartisan Hearing on Opioid and Meth Crisis,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  With Congress dedicating nearly $11 billion to tackle the opioid crisis to date, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today focused on examining the federal government's strategy for combating the epidemic, including the daunting rates of methamphetamine abuse in Iowa in particular, and to conduct oversight on the nation's top agencies and departments tasked with the job.

Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Ernst's opening remarks.
Witnesses included top officials from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The NOPAIN Act
Senator Ernst is also joining her colleagues, Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Doug Jones (D-AL), in introducing a bipartisan bill to provide more non-opioid pain treatment options for Medicare beneficiaries, to help prevent abuse. The NOPAIN Actor the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation Actwould help alleviate barriers for Medicare beneficiaries to use non-opioid pain management alternatives.
Under current law, hospitals receive the same Medicare payment for both opioid and non-opioid prescriptions. This creates a disincentive for doctors to prescribe non-opioids, given that traditional opioids are typically dispensed by a pharmacy at little or no cost to the hospital. The NOPAIN Act addresses this payment disincentive by requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide separate Medicare reimbursement for non-opioid pain management options.
Senator Ernst's full opening remarks in today's hearing are below:
Since 1999, more than 700,000 people have died from a drug overdose in the United States. Increased opioid addiction and the production of deadly synthetic opioids have exasperated America's staggering overdose death rates.
In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States.
Of those deaths, 68% involved prescription opioids and illicit opioids, such as fentanyl.
Americans fared no better against the opioid epidemic in 2018 when: more than 10 million people age 12 or older abused opioids; 2 million people suffered from an opioid use disorder; and, on average, 130 Americans died each day from an opioid overdose.
We do not know the sum costin disrupted lives or untimely deathsfrom widespread misuse of prescription and non-prescription opioids. But we know from our family, our neighbors, and our friends who bear the enduring imprint of lost loved ones that the opioid crisis isnot over. We must continue contending with this crisis.
That being said, we've made some great strides over the past three years to help combat this crippling epidemic.
Congress has passed landmark, bipartisan legislation directed at combating the opioid crisis. Most notably, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and the 21st Century Cure Act (Cures Act), both of which I proudly supported and were signed into law in 2016.
Combined, these two bills provided over $1 billion in funding to combat the opioid crisis, with an emphasis on increasing prescription drug abuse prevention and treatment programs.
Two years later, Congress passed the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which is the most comprehensive anti-drug addiction and trafficking legislation in modern history.
We crafted the SUPPORT Act to address every element of the opioid epidemic, from manufacturers and distributors, through prescribers, dispensers, and users, to first-responders and recovery professionals.
And to date, Congress has dedicated nearly $11 billion to tackle the opioid crisis, with the largest portion of that funding granted to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Today, we will hear from the Administration and the Executive Branch members that shape and execute the government's strategy for combatting the opioid epidemic: the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of Justice; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Department of Health and Human Services.
This hearing is especially important when we think about the oversight role we have in Congress to ensure these Executive Branch partners are properly stewarding the funding we've provided to them to clearly tackle the opioid crisis. That said, the federal government is just one aspect to combatting this epidemic; we do not stand alone.
Curbing the opioid crisis relies on wide-scale, integrated solutions from all impacted sectors.
So, during today's hearing, we will also have the opportunity to hear from key components of the private sector, including the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, National Community Pharmacists Association, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, and drug policy experts from the RAND Corporation.
Together, we anticipate a close and comprehensive review of our collective efforts to curb the supply of illicit opioids and unnecessary prescription opioids; to improve access to evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery services for opioid use disorder; to identify future needs at federal, state, and local levels; and to develop sophisticated and tailored solutions to this destructive and deadly crisis.
Before I turn to our Ranking Member and esteemed witnesses, I'd like to take a moment to remind us all that America's drug abuse problem did not begin with opioid misuse and will not end with the opioid crisis.
In my home state of Iowa, methamphetamine abuse has remained a persistent and perilous problem.
Nationwide, in 2017, almost one million people had a methamphetamine use disorderthat is, they reported clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home as a result of their drug use.
This number is significantly higher than the 684,000 people who reported having methamphetamine use disorder in 2016.
In 2016 alone, my home state of Iowa reported over 1,500 confirmed child abuse reports relating to methamphetamine  not just in the home  but being found in the child's body.
Folks, ultimately, Americans are suffering from drug dependencyour loved ones are dying from drug abuse at alarming and distinct rates.
Opioids are our priority today, but methamphetamine and the other dangerous substances impacting our urban and rural communities should, and will, be addressed going forward. 
Thank you.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-votes-fund-our-military-increase-grants-local-police-invest-cancer,"Axne Votes to Fund our Military, Increase Grants for Local Police, Invest in Cancer Research, and Protect our Elections",2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) joined Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House in voting to pass a four-bill package of appropriations bills and provide funding certainty to support our national security for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020.
The bill passed by the House today, H.R. 1158, provides funding for the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Commerce, and other key executive branch agencies tasked with protecting our nation and its citizens.
I'm proud to have the backs of those Americans who work every single day to keep our country safe by voting today to keep their agencies open and increase investments in programs that are essential to the national defense, said Rep. Axne. This legislation will protect our elections, support our local law enforcement, and invest in our national security.
A number of provisions in the final bill reflect priorities for Iowa and issues which Rep. Axne wrote to members of the House Appropriations Committee to advocate for:
 $65 million for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program, which the Iowa National AirGuard participates in
	$847 million for the Small Business Administration, including $261 million for Entrepreneurial Development Programs and $135 million for Small Business Development Centers
	Allows Customs and Border Protection to hire an additional 240 Agriculture Specialists to help protect against the African Swine Fever
	$425 million for State Election Security Grants to improve election systems and protect our elections from interference
	$492.5 million for Department of Defense Cancer Research, including breast, kidney, ovarian, and rare cancer research
	$22.3 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including $17.8 billion for disaster response and recovery efforts and $2.9 billion for state and local grants
	$3.28 billion in grants to local and state law enforcement, including the Byrne JAG program and funding to address blacklogs in sexual assault cases
 The bill also provides the funding to support a 3.1% pay raise for the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.
A product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, this legislation also ensures that the government remains open for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020, providing budget certainty to federal employees and their families ahead of the holidays.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-votes-invest-health-and-education-infrastructure-and-rural-communities,"Axne Votes to Invest in Health and Education, Infrastructure, and Rural Communities",2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted to pass a package of appropriations bills and tax extenders, investing in key programs that help Iowans and provides funding certainty for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020.
These investments in Iowa will be key to increasing access to health care and a quality education, investing in our rural communities, growing small business investments, helping our seniors, ensuring environmental protections and honoring our responsibilities to our veterans, said Rep. Axne. In addition, I'm happy to see much-needed tax provisions to extend critical biofuel tax credits and permanentlyrepeal health care taxes that would hurt Iowans.
The bill includes a revival of the biodiesel tax credit until 2022 and an extension of the second generation biofuel tax credits until 2021, provisions that Rep. Axne has fought for since coming to Congress  and which will create good-paying green jobs, support Iowa farmers and producers.
The bill passed by the House today, H.R. 1865, provides funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other key executive branch agencies and programs.
A number of provisions in the final bill reflect priorities for Iowa and issues which Rep. Axne wrote to members of the House Appropriations Committee to advocate for:
 $3.4 billion for Community Development Block Grants to provide grants to cities, counties, and rural areas to help meet the needs of low-income families
	$1.5 billion in unspent 2017 funds for disaster relief, which can now go to those impacted by the 2019 flooding
	$2.8 billion for Alzheimer's disease research, $27 million for Diabetes Prevention Program, and $195 million for the Cancer Moonshot research initiative at the National Institutes of Health
	$10.6 billion for Head Start and $13.9 billion for Special Education
	$640 million investment in rural broadband to support education, healthcare, and economic development
	$196 million for Family Caregiver Services, which supports those who are providing care to their families and loved ones
	$405 million for the Senior Community Services Employment for Older Americans Program
	$2.8 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Grants for skills training programs
	Increases the maximum Pell Grant to $6,345.00, to help keep pace with inflation
	$16 million for the Zero Suicide program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including for children and youth; and $19 million for the Suicide Lifeline
	$80.2 billion for medical care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including $222 million in suicide prevention outreach activities
	$400 million for Airport Improvement Grants and $2.2 billion for Highway Infrastructure Programs
 The bill also includes a provision championed by Rep. Axne to block a pay raise for her and her fellow members of Congress, and a permanent repeal of the health insurance, Cadillac,' and medical device taxes  which Rep. Axne called on House leadership to include in the year-end deal.
In addition, divisions of this legislation include bills that Rep. Axne has supported, including: H.R. 1175, the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act; H.R. 510, the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act; H.R. 2147, the Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act; H.R. 1994, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act; H.R. 2284, the Disaster Tax Relief Bill Act; H.R. 3851, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act; and H.R. 4634, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019.
A product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, this legislation also ensures that the government remains open for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020, providing budget certainty to federal employees and their families ahead of the holidays.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cindy-axne-statement-week-s-article-impeachment-vote,Rep. Cindy Axne Statement on this Weeks Article of Impeachment Vote,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"I came to Congress to work for middle class Iowans  getting people better health care and better-paying jobs while making the Federal government more accountable.
When I took the oath of office, I swore to protect the Constitution and our democracy. After carefully reviewing the evidence presented from the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees, it's clear the President abused his power by using $400 million in taxpayer money for his own personal, political gain and obstructed Congress by ordering his administration to refuse to testify or provide subpoenaed documents.
That's why today, I am announcing my support for the articles of impeachment.
While the impeachment process continues, I will continue my work to lower health care and drug costs, increase access to job training programs, and help our neighbors affected by natural disasters.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-secures-child-care-and-rural-broadband-investments-iowa-s-first,Finkenauer Secures Child Care and Rural Broadband Investments for Iowas First Congressional District in Appropriations Package,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)) voted to provide new investments in high-quality child care, rural broadband, registered skilled apprenticeship programs, as well as a historic five-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit. These Iowa priorities were secured as part of a legislative package to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2020. The package included both appropriations and tax provisions and passed with bipartisan support.
""From day one, I have worked across the aisle to get this done for our district and state. From passing legislation through committee, to holding hearings with biodiesel producers testifying, it has been a bipartisan effort to get here,Finkenauer said.I came to Congress to make sure Iowa's voices and working families were heard. From constituents visiting the office to roundtables and town halls in the district, this package covers the priorities we heard and its effects and funding will be felt in homes across Iowa. Provisions included will help doctors serving patients in rural communities, invest in our crumbling infrastructure, expand access to high-quality child care, fund rural broadband projects, and provide certainty for our biofuel and soybean producers who work hard every day for a strong Iowa economy. Without a doubt, the package we passed today is a big win for Iowa.
The House passed two separate appropriations packages today, both with significant bipartisan support. The packages fund federal departments and agencies, along with the nation's military. In addition, they include a package of tax provisions that are being extended and expired last year, like biodiesel and second-generation biofuels.
  Finkenauer Priorities Included in the Appropriations Package
 Early childhood programs get an increase of $1.1 billion, helping ensure that northeast Iowans can access child care and early education no matter where they live
	Provides $175 million for registered skilled apprenticeship programs, a $15 million increase over last fiscal year
	Repeals the Cadillac Tax which would have made it harder for employers to offer high-quality health care plans. 
	Invests $640 million in the expansion of broadband in rural areas.
	Includes increased funding for rural bridge repairs and replacements.
	Keeps tax relief in place for our small brewers and distillers.
	Extends important health care programs that help improve access to healthcare in Northeast Iowa, including the Work Geographic Index Floor which ensures fair reimbursements for physicians in rural areas and has been a legislative priority for Rep. Finkenauer as well as the Conrad 30 Program to address health care workforce shortages.
	Includes the increased federal fundingthat Rep. Finkenauer fought forto help entrepreneurs grow and start their businesses, including Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, and the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) program.
	Provides $41.7 billion for NIH, an increase of $2.6 billion above the previous year, to develop life-saving treatments and make sure that the United States continues to lead the way when it comes to medical innovation.
	Increases investments in K-12 education.
	Restores the Short Line (45G) railroad tax credit.
		
 Finkenauer's Work on Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit The biodiesel tax credit has been expired since 2018 and is important to farmers and biofuels producers around the country. Finkenauer helped lead a bipartisan effort in the House to bring attention to the credit through new legislation, pass it through the House Ways and Means Committee and include it in this final package. Monday, Finkenauer alsooffered an amendment to H.R. 5377 This is part of her efforts to make sure the biodiesel tax credit is extended before the end of the year.
Congress had previously extended the tax credit retroactively for 2017, but left it expired for 2018 and beyond. This year, Finkenauer was joined by Senators Grassley and Ernst, as well as industry leaders, at a press conference supporting the legislation. Finkenauer testified before the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, sharing the stories of Iowa producers and businesses that would benefit from the legislation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-articles-impeachment,Finkenauer Statement on Articles of Impeachment,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the House's upcoming vote on Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump: 
On January 3rd of this year, I had the distinct honor and privilege to raise my right hand on behalf of my neighbors across Iowa's First Congressional District and swear I would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I would bear true faith and allegiance to the same. 
I think of that oath, and my constituents who I'm grateful to serve, every day. Tomorrow, after reviewing months of testimony from national security experts, our intelligence community, and the words and actions of the President of the United States, I will continue to uphold that oath. I will be supporting both articles of impeachment and honor my duty to defend our constitution and democracy from abuse of power at the highest level. 
This decision is not, and was never about politics, and this shouldn't be about political parties or elections. It's about facts, dignity in public service, and honoring those who fought and continue to fight to protect our sacred democracy.I'll continue to do my job with the same values and respect I grew up with here in Iowa. It will soon be up to our US Senators if they choose to do the same.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-inclusion-biodiesel-tax-credit-extension-key-legislation,Finkenauer Statement on Inclusion of Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension in Key Legislation,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the inclusion of a five-year biodiesel tax credit extension in the year-end tax extenders legislative package:
""From day one, I have worked across the aisle to get this done for our district and state. From passing legislation through committee, to holding hearings with biodiesel producers testifying, it has been a bipartisan effort to get here.
While today is a good day for an industry that has been dealt so many unnecessary blows, we should have passed this earlier in the year so our biodiesel producers had the certainty they need to make investments and move the industry forward. No one should have to make plans for closures and layoffs because of Congress failing to do its job.
I will keep fighting for our farmers, rural small business owners, and state to ensure we do not see this type of damage again with a common sense tax credit that helps Iowa's biofuels industry grow and helps employ hard-working Iowa families.""
  Finkenauer's Work on Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit
Monday, Finkenauer alsooffered an amendment to H.R. 5377 This is part of her efforts to make sure the biodiesel tax credit is extended before the end of the year.
Congress had previously extended the tax credit retroactively for 2017, but left it expired for 2018 and beyond. This year, Finkenauer was joined by Senators Grassley and Ernst, as well as industry leaders, at a press conference supporting the legislation. Finkenauer testified before the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, sharing the stories of Iowa producers and businesses that would benefit from the legislation.

Reaction to Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said, We thank Congresswoman Finkenauer for impressing upon House leadership the importance of the biodiesel tax credit to supporting rural jobs and robust ag markets. She worked diligently drum up support among House members and to ensure the tax credit was a priority for the House leaders. Her efforts played an important role in securing today's great news for farmers and biofuels producers.
Kurt Kovarik, vice-president of federal affairs at National Biodiesel Board said, ""On behalf of NBB members, I'd like to thank Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Abby Finkenauer as well as many other senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle for their strong and consistent championship of our industry.
David Fialkov, VP of government affairs for the National Association of Truckstop Operators said, Congresswoman Finkenauer's leadership was absolutely essential to ensuring the biodiesel tax credit would be extended for multiple years. Throughout 2019 it has been clear that the entire biofuels community has a real champion in Representative Finkenauer. Without her and her first-rate staff the biodiesel tax credit would have been in serious jeopardy. The entire retail fuels industry is extraordinarily grateful to Congresswoman Finkenauer.
""The biodiesel tax credit helps Road Ranger bring to market cleaner burning fuels that support the local Iowa economy while also bringing down prices for our customers,"" said R.J. Rymas, Vice President of Fuels for Road Ranger Truck Stops and Travel Centers. ""It is a win-win for us. We are very grateful for Congresswoman Finkenauer's efforts that led the House to pass legislation that includes this important policy.""
We are grateful to Congresswoman Finkenauer for her efforts to include the biodiesel tax credit in the year-end spending package, said Douglas Beech, Legal Counsel and Director of Government Relations at Casey's General Stores. Fuel retailers like Casey's have made investments in biofuel infrastructure for many years because it good for the environment, our farmers and rural communities. We appreciate the recognition by Congresswoman Finkenauer that the biodiesel tax credit has helped us become more energy independent, environmentally friendly, and also to offer competitive fuel prices to our customers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://steveking.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/king-discusses-votes-against-14-trillion-in-irresponsible-spending-bills,King Discusses Votes Against $1.4 Trillion in Irresponsible Spending Bills,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Steve King,K000362,steveking.house.gov,,,legacy,"Too much money, too little time, and no process that allowed for any kind of oversight.

Washington D.C- Congressman Steve King releases the following video of comments he delivered during a Facebook Live broadcast today. In his remarks, King discusses his reasons for voting against irresponsible spending bills totaling $1.4 Trillion in spending that were rushed through the House of Representatives today with little to no opportunity for Members to review the contents prior to the votes.
While there are things in each of the bills that King likes (see the included list of King's legislative successes below), such as the tax extenders package for the Bio-diesel credit (King was a cosponsor of that legislation), in the end it came down to this:

To watch the video, please click on the image or on this link.
""The first thing I request is this: I want regular order. I want an open process. I want an opportunity to weigh in on these pieces of appropriations bills with amendments. I want to hear the debate on the amendments that others might have offered. And, in the end, I want also fiscal responsibility. $1.4 Trillion in spending without scrutiny is not fiscal responsibility. . .The whole picture was too much money, too little time, no process that allowed for any kind of oversight by the regular members on the floor of the House of Representatives.""
Despite his opposition to the underlying bills, Congressman King was incredibly successful in ensuring that many of his most important legislative priorities received funding. According to a document prepared by the House Appropriations Committee, the following King priorities were included in the 12 bills passed in the House of Representatives today.

Congressman Steve King (IA-4)

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
 $1 million is provided for the new Genome to Phenome program at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
	No language is included to interfere with the mandatory funds provided to the Market Access Program.
	$16.3 million is provided in the bill for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network between the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
	$315 million for the Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(b) and 3(c) programs and cooperative extension, maintaining the FY19 level.
	$57 million for Extension Services at 1890 Institutions, an increase of $8.3 million.
	$67 million for the Evans-Allen Program/Research at 1890 Institutions within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is a $9 million increase.
	$1.3 billion is provided for the Agricultural Research Service, an increase of $44.3 million.
	$1 billion is provided for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Research and Education account, which is an increase of $105.4 million.
	$5.5 billion for direct electric loans for rural electric improvements as well as $750 million for guaranteed electric loans, the same level as provided in the FY19 enacted law.
	$20 million in loans is supported by the bill for the Rural Energy for America Program.
	$425 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, an increase of $10 million.
	$259 million for the Hatch Act program within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, maintaining the FY19 level.
	$36 million for the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act program, maintaining the FY19 level.
	The bill provides $26.5 million, an increase of $5.7 million for the appropriate assistance to state wildlife agencies for the Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health Program. The increased funds may also be used for research collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Academy of Sciences, and other public and private entities.
	$5.7 million increase for the Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health Program to address Chronic Wasting Disease.
	$5.7 million increase for the Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health Program includes research collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Academy of Sciences, and other public and private entities.
	$175 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service Small Watershed Program, which is a $25 million increase.
 
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
 $547 million for the Department of Justice for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG).
	$235 million for the Department of Justice for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring program.
	$244 million for the Department of Justice State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.
	$2.6 billion for grants administered by the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.
	$38 million for the Department of Justice for regional information sharing activities.
	$48 million for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Grant program to support all 52 participating jurisdictions at no less than $760,000 each.
	$146 million for the Department of Commerce for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program.
 
Defense
 $150 million provided in the Defense Health Program for Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research.
	$10 million increase in Army research for Peer-Reviewed Military Burn research.
	$7.1 million increase in Air Force operations and maintenance for the Civil Air Patrol.
	$11 million provided in Air Force procurement for Civil Air Patrol aircraft.
	$3.5 million provided in Air Force procurement for Civil Air Patrol vehicle and communication equipment procurement.
	$20 million provided in the Defense Health Program for Peer-Reviewed Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis research.
	$110 million provided in the Defense Health Program for Peer-Reviewed Prostate Cancer Research.
	$6 million provided in the Defense Health Program for Peer-Reviewed Tuberous Sclerosis Complex research.
 
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
 $425 million for Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
	$104 million for Department of Energy Wind Energy program.
	Full use of estimated annual revenues and some additional prior year revenues in the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (Corps of Engineers).
	$3.7 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance account.
	Report language on Corps of Engineers Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program and additional funding specifically for multipurpose projects in the preconstruction engineering and design phase.
	$145.1 million total for Bureau of Reclamation rural water projects.
 
Homeland Security
 $1.9 billion for Customs and Border Protection Procurement, Construction, and Improvements: $1.375 billion for border barriers with no transfer restrictions, $14.8 million for coastal interceptor vessels, and $32.5 million for lightweight helicopters.
	Includes funds as requested for intelligent enforcement systems and opioid detection.
 
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
 Report language under Indian Health Service regarding the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership.
	$46 million in Fish and Wildlife Service - North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.
	$1.7 million in US Geological Survey - Surveys, Investigations, and Research for Chronic Wasting Disease.
	Report language under US Geological Survey - Surveys, Investigations, and Research, regarding Chronic Wasting Disease.
 
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
 $38.7 million for the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
	$35 million for Sexual Risk Avoidance in the Department of Health and Human Services.
	$1.6 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Health and Human Services Health Centers program.
	$42.1 million for the Department of Health and Human Services Adoption Opportunities program.
	$55 million for the Department of Labor Homeless Veterans Reintegration program.
	$10 million for the Department of Health and Human Services National ALS Registry program.
	$94.5 million for the Department of Labor YouthBuild program.
	$12 million for the Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Athletes program.
	$40.2 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health.
	$5,285 maximum Pell Grant per individual in the academic year 2020-2021.
	$770 million for the Community Services Block Grant program.
	$1.1 billion for the Department of Education Federal Work Study program.
	Language included related to patient identification options.
 
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
 Report language for Department of Veterans Affairs regarding funding of wheelchairs.
 
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
 Language supporting the Action Plan on Children in Adversity.
	Language included on Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS).
	$227.5 million for Conventional Weapons Destruction.
 
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
 Bill language requiring the Department of Transportation to exempt certain agricultural haulers from electronic logging device requirements.
	$162 million for the Department of Transportation Essential Air Service.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-completes-2019-social-media-series-cornwatch-soybeanwatch,"Grassley Completes 2019 Social Media Series #CornWatch, #SoybeanWatch",2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a family farmer, completed his two social media series called #CornWatch and #SoybeanWatch that gave followers an inside look at farming operations on the Grassley family farm in New Hartford, Iowa. His 20-week series highlighted the progression, from planting to harvest, of the farm's corn and soybean crops.  Most people have never stepped foot on a family farm, let alone know about all the complexities that go into planting, growing and harvesting a bountiful crop. The purpose of my #CornWatch and #SoybeanWatch series was to highlight how this small group, only 2 percent of Americans, do the work that feeds and fuels the world.  The process of seeing a crop from beginning to end is one that many wouldn't have an opportunity to see, including most of my colleagues in Washington. My hope is that everyone was able to learn more about farming through my #CornWatch and #SoybeanWatch series' and how important farming is to the country's success.  While this is the second year in a row that Grassley has featured his #CornWatch series, this is the first year that he launched his #SoybeanWatch series. Grassley created #SoybeanWatch to help provide additional education about another important crop to Iowa. As one of only two farmers in the Senate and the senior senator of one of the top agricultural states in the country, Grassley has been an outspoken advocate for farmers and Rural America. Grassley has been a steadfast proponent of the Renewable Fuel Standard. He's continued to act as a watchdog over the EPA so they do not undercut ethanol and biodiesel production. Grassley's also been a champion for the biodiesel industry, ensuring that the biodiesel tax credit was guaranteed by Congress through 2022.Grassley also took action when there was a liquid propane shortage in Iowa this fall. After hearing concerns from people from every corner of the state, he joined his colleagues, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Gov. Kim Reynolds in pushing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to begin an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process to address the shortage. Following the ADR process, FERC announced that it would work to send additional propane shipments to the Midwest.Farmers play a critical role in their communities, with many people relying on them. Unfortunately, more than ever, they are facing tough times with sinking commodity prices, unpredictable natural disasters and varying trade disputes. Seeing this first-hand, Grassley partnered with the only other farmer in the U.S. Senate, his colleague, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), to author a bill focused on farmer mental health and suicide prevention. The Seeding Rural Resilience Act aims to curb growing rates of suicide in Rural America by implementing a voluntary stress management training program, creating a PSA campaign to raise awareness and directing the Secretary of Agriculture to work with state and local groups to identify best practices when responding to farm mental stress.To see his #CornWatch series in its entirety, click here.To see his #SoybeanWatch series in its entirety, click here.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-partners-bill-stop-flow-drugs-pill-mills,Grassley Partners on Bill to Stop Flow of Drugs to Pill Mills,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to give the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) additional tools to hold drug distributors, manufacturers and pharmacies accountable for identifying, reporting and stopping suspicious orders of controlled substances. The Preventing Pill Mills Through Data Sharing Act was introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and also cosponsored by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). The bill builds upon the Using Data to Prevent Opioid Diversion Act, which was enacted last year as a part of a comprehensive package to combat the opioid addiction crisis. As communities across the country continue to battle the flood of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and other illicit opioids, we can't ignore the drug dealers wearing white coats. Bad actors in the legitimate medication supply chain have also contributed to the spread of opioid addiction and overdoes. In some cases, pharmacies have provided small communities with lethal volumes of highly-addictive pills  far beyond what could reasonably be prescribed. This bill ensures that the Drug Enforcement Agency is able to collect and share data necessary to identify and prevent suspicious drug orders. It builds on several bills I've pushed to attack the opioid crisis on multiple fronts, Grassley said.  Thousands of opioids, often bought from pharmacies, are flooding our communities and leading to devastatingly high levels of addiction and prescription drug-related overdose deaths. One West Virginia town of 392 people received nearly 9 million pills in a single year. We cannot allow pharmacies to order far more drugs than they can responsibly distribute, and drug manufacturers and distributors to supply them. The data needed to stop pharmacies from becoming pill mills already exists, we just have to make it accessible so suspicious orders can be spotted and reported to the authorities. That's exactly what this bill does and I'm proud to introduce it with my colleagues, Feinstein said.  Our recent history in West Virginia, where millions of prescription opioids flowed freely into small communities throughout the state, demonstrates all too clearly why continued action is needed to ensure suspicious orders of controlled substances are detected, stopped, and those responsible held accountable. I'm glad to join Senator Feinstein in introducing this legislation that builds on our past bipartisan work and provides much needed next steps to guarantee the mistakes of the past are note repeated, Capito said.  We've seen opioids flood small towns in Illinois in volumes that are so dramatically high, no one would believe they were for legitimate medical needs. Our bill builds upon legislation we passed last year, and the recent Inspector General report, to hold DEA accountable and enhance oversight on the pharmaceutical industry's excessive and unjustifiable shipment, Durbin said.  A 2019 Justice Department inspector general report on the DEA's response to the opioid crisis found that the current quarterly reporting requirement for drug manufacturers and distributors results in outdated reporting, hampering the detection of suspicious orders. The Preventing Pill Mills Through Data Sharing Act addresses this issue by: Requiring drug manufacturers and distributors to report the sale, delivery or other disposal of all controlled substances on a monthly, rather than quarterly basis as current law requires;  Extending the penalties and reporting requirements that currently apply to drug manufacturers and distributors to pharmacies;  Requiring DEA to provide quarterly reports to manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies in a format and manner that better facilitates the identification of suspicious orders; and  Requiring DEA to provide Congress the same reports that it provides to states every six months, and expands the reporting requirements to include unusual volumes of controlled substances that are disposed of rather than sold, and unusual numbers of deleted transactions of high volumes of controlled substances. Grassley has been a leader in battling the opioid addiction crisis for several years. Earlier this year, Grassley, Feinstein and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act to target rapidly evolving synthetic drugs. Last year, Congress passed the landmark SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which included seven opioid bills that Grassley advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee as chairman. In 2016, Grassley led theComprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a sweeping addiction recovery bill aimed at addressing the nation's growing heroin and opioid addiction epidemic, through the Senate. The bill, which later became law, included a number of Grassley provisions to assist in the fight against methamphetamine. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-passage-national-defense-authorization-act,Grassley Statement on the Passage of National Defense Authorization Act,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released the following statement on the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. The annual funding bill provides critical resources for national defense, military readiness and support for the nation's service members.  National defense is the number one responsibility of the federal government, and ensuring our military efforts receive appropriate resources is critical to the safety of our country. This legislation also includes a well-deserved pay raise for members of our armed forced. I will continue to conduct robust oversight to help cut wasteful military spending while also ensuring our men and women in uniform have everything that they need to perform their mission, Grassley said. Grassley introduced an amendment to the FY 2020 NDAA legislation that would have increased transparency by requiring the DOD to report to Congress on contracting practices, specifically on the sole source spare parts contracts for which the DoD is unable to obtain accurate cost data. This amendment is a product of Grassley's continuous oversight work on overpriced spare parts purchased by the DoD. The NDAA as passed by Congress includes similar language requiring the GAO to report on the DoD's efforts to secure reasonable prices in contracts.Grassley also sent a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging them not to adopt a House provision in the FY 2020 NDAA that would have restricted audit firm transparency requirements that are already in effect. That provision was ultimately not included, and the law requiring audit firms to report all disciplinary proceedings to the DoD will remain in place.Earlier this year, Grassley sent aletterto then-Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan asking for more information about how the DoD contracts with businesses and other entities in overpricing, specifically citing TransDigm. Additionally, Grassley asked about DoD's process to collect cost data from those entities and how Congress can help DoD to stop price-gouging practices. Grassley also critiqued DoD's contracts with TransDigm in afloor speechand anop-ed. He recently sent a follow up letter to Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, seeking an update on how DoD is confronting TransDigm's costly contracting practices.Grassley has been a watchdog against waste, fraud and abuse at the DoD for nearly four decades. Grassley'sextensiveoversightworkthroughout his career has included a dogged pursuit for answers from the Pentagon over decades of wasteful spending and its inability to produce a clean financial audit. Read his most recent statement on another failed audit here.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-temporary-funding-health-programs-opens-door-prescription-drug-pricing,Grassley: Temporary Funding for Health Programs Opens Door to Prescription Drug Pricing in 2020,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement regarding critical health program funding included in the year-end appropriations package. Grassley and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have been leading the charge to lower prescription drug prices in Congress.This deal ensures funding for critical health programs won't lapse and provides long-term certainty for some programs, including health research crucial to medical innovation and discovery. By extending some programs until May of next year, Congress will have the opportunity to act on prescription drug pricing and finally make good on a promise nearly all of us have made, Grassley said. The inclusion of the CREATES Act is a good first step toward addressing abuse and establishing a freer and fairer prescription drug marketplace, but much more must be done if Americans are truly going to see lower prices at the pharmacy counter any time soon. Funding for Medicare, Medicaid and key human services programs are within the jurisdiction of the Senate Finance Committee. Background on funding provisions can be found below.  Funded until May 21, 2020:  Medicare:  Extension of the work geographic index floor that increases Medicare payments to rural health care providers, a priority of Grassley's;Extension of funding to support activities related to quality measurement and provider performance in the Medicare and Medicaid programs; andExtension of funding for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) that helps low-income seniors with Medicare enrollment.  Medicaid:  Funding for Money Follows the Person program in Medicaid to help states provide transition services to help people move from nursing facilities to home or community-based settings;Funding of a spousal impoverishment protection in Medicaid; andFunding for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic demonstration in Medicaid.  Human Services: Funding of the Health Professions Opportunity Grant program; andExtension of the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education and Personal Responsibility Education programs.  Longer-term funding:  10 Years: Extension of funding for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, which funds the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a government-sponsored non-profit that investigates the effectiveness of medical treatments to improve patient care, includes improvements from Grassley to eliminate its funding being sourced from the Medicare Trust Fund, which is insolvent, andincludes a provision for PCORI to better address issues faced by people with intellectual and development disabilities, an underserved population (disability costs in healthcare expenditures are $3.9 billion per year in Iowa, according to the CDC);  Two Years: Medicaid funding of territories. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-two-year-anniversary-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act,Grassley on the Two Year Anniversary of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Prepared Floor Remarks by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Chairman, Senate Finance Committee Tuesday, December 17, 2019  This week marks the second anniversary of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  Thanks to theses historic tax cuts and reforms, Americans have more money in their paychecks and pocketbooks.  Individuals and families have more to spend or save for retirement.  Small businesses and entrepreneurs have more to invest in their employees and business operations.  As a result, we have experienced the longest U.S. economic expansion in history, higher wages and historically low unemployment.  I am proud to say on this two year anniversary that tax reform has been a resounding success. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-welcomes-inclusion-retirement-savings-legislation-spending-package,Grassley Welcomes Inclusion of Retirement Savings Legislation in Spending Package,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The SECURE Act Mirrors the Bipartisan Grassley-Wyden Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement after successfully securing the inclusion of legislation based on his bipartisan bill with Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore) in the year-end appropriations package. TheSECURE Actincludes theRetirement Enhancement and Savings (RESA) Act of 2019,legislation Grassley introduced earlier this year with Wyden. This legislation will help more Americans save for their retirement and help more American businesses invest in their employees' future financial security, Grassley said. Government should be doing everything it can to help Americans save more of their own hard-earned money so they can retire with peace of mind, dignity and independence. Passing this bipartisan bill was one of my top priorities as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee this Congress. I'm glad after months of delay it will finally become law.  The SECURE ACT includes reform proposals to increase retirement savings in several ways, including:  Improving an existing type of retirement plan called a multiple employer plan or MEP. Such plans would be expanded to make it easier for small employers to join together to sponsor a single retirement plan for their workers. This would help millions of Americans save for retirement, and reduce plan-administration costs for small businesses;Helping workers to ensure they have adequate income in retirement by creating new rules for employers that offer lifetime-income arrangements in their retirement plans;Enhancing the ability of employees to transfer their retirement plan assets to a new retirement plan when they change jobs;Encouraging employees to increase their retirement savings annually through automatic increases in contributions to 401(k) plans and requiring employers to provide estimates of how much an employee's account would provide during retirement if it were invested in an annuity; and,Continuing to allow an employee to pass a limited amount of an IRA or 401(k) account to a family member or other beneficiary to permit the beneficiary to continue the tax-deferred saving for retirement.  Among its additions toRESA, theSECURE Actincreases the age for taking required minimum distributions from 70 to 72. It also includes proposals to require businesses offering retirement plans to cover certain part-time workers, allow penalty-free withdrawals from retirement accounts to cover birth and adoption expenses, expansion of 529 savings plans to cover apprenticeship programs and certain student loan payments and changes to help certain home health worker increase retirement-plan contributions.  Notably, theSECURE Actalso includes an amendment that addresses unintended consequences of reforms tothe Kiddie Tax, to ensure middle-class families with children receiving unearned income are not subject to tax rates intended to prevent wealthy parents from taking advantage of their child's lower rate. This amendment applies broadly, but in particular will benefit families who have children with income from military survivor benefits, applicable Native American tribal payments, Alaska permanent fund dividends and certain scholarships and grants. Grassley and Wyden were both recently named 2019 Champions of Retirement Security by the Insured Retirement Institute. Op-eds from Grassley on retirement savings can be found here and here. A floor speech can be found here.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/year-end-spending-package-includes-wins-biodiesel-disaster-affected-areas,"Year-End Spending Package Includes Wins for Biodiesel, Disaster Affected Areas",2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) made the following comments on the deal reached by lawmakers regarding temporary tax code provisions also known as extenders.  After years of uncertainty for many Americans, we've finally come to an agreement on the future of these temporary tax policies. Many people in my state, farmers and processors alike, can breathe a sigh of relief that Congress will extend the biodiesel tax credit retroactively and through 2022. That industry employs more than 60,000 Americans, including thousands of Iowans. This extension provides important, longer-term stability for them and their communities. As chairman of the Finance Committee, I led the effort to get this top priority done.  We are also extending tax relief needed to help rebuild in areas where natural disasters have devastated homes and businesses. This will help people in Iowa who saw historic, damaging floods in 2019 as well as Californians and others who've endured some of the biggest wildfires in recent history.  We found a path to extend a small but significant set of policies by negotiating through midnight last night. This may not be the package I'd have pushed for on my own, but it's a reasonable way forward that provides certainty where before there was only anxiety for many Americans.  The package includes the extensions of the following policies: Multi-year extension of the Biodiesel Tax Credit through (2022);Multi-year extension of the Short-line Railroad Tax Credit (through 2022);Extension of disaster tax relief;Single-year extension of the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit;Resolution of tax-exempt organization parking tax;Clarification of the tax benefits for rural electric cooperatives (RURAL Act). Full text of the legislative package can be found HERE. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397337,"Reps. Loebsack, Latta, Long and McEachin Praise House Passage of Legislation to Improve Broadband Data Maps",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Representatives Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bob Latta (OH-05) authors of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (HR 4229), along with its cosponsors, Reps. Billy Long (MO-07) and Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued the following statements praising the House passage of the bill. The Broadband DATA Act is bipartisan legislation that would improve the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps by changing the way broadband data is collected. The bill now heads to the Senate where similar legislation has been introduced Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN), Roger Wicker (MS), Gary Peters (MI) and John Thune (SD).In 2019, it is simply unacceptable that many families, small businesses, farmers, educators and healthcare providers in rural areas don't have the necessary access to high-speed internet. When this bill becomes law, we will finally begin to fix the bad broadband maps that for too long have often misstated speed and availability, said Congressman Dave Loebsack. I have often said there are two things needed to connect rural America to highspeed broadband and that is dollars and data. But without reliable data, the dollars do not matter. Garbage in, is garbage out. You have to have good data to know where the problems exist, otherwise it is a waste of taxpayer dollars. I am pleased that the Broadband DATA Act, which will help address those issues, has passed the House. I look forward to working with the Senate to get the Broadband DATA Act to the President's desk.Our country's technological capabilities are revolutionizing the way Americans communicate and work with each other, but due to inaccuracies in our maps that identify where people can and cannot access the internet, some people are being left behind. The passage of this bill means more Americans, whether they live in urban, suburban, or rural communities, will be able to participate in our 21st century economy, because we will be able to better pinpoint where internet access is lacking so that funding can be appropriately dispersed to areas that need it most. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly consider this bill so people across the country can engage in the digital age, said Congressman Bob Latta.

It is unacceptable that many Virginians and people across our country, particularly in rural and underserved communities, lack access to high-speed internet, said Congressman A. Donald McEachin. The Broadband DATA Act will help ensure we have a more complete understanding of broadband availability  and thus bring much-needed, high-speed internet to all of our constituents. I urge my Senate colleagues to consider this bill immediately so that all Americans have access to fast, reliable, and affordable broadband internet services.

It's crucial that federal broadband programs are using accurate data and up-to-date maps. The federal government spends billions of dollars each year on rural broadband deployment, yet millions of Americans lack basic access to broadband services. For rural communities, such as those in Missouri, knowing where broadband is and is not available at certain speeds will go a long way in closing the digital divide. I'm grateful for the strong, bipartisan support as we work towards a more connected future, and I commend my colleagues, Reps. Donald McEachin, Dave Loebsack and Bob Latta for their hard work on the Broadband DATA Act, said Congressman Billy Long. 

Specifically, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act would: require the FCC to collect granular service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers;
 require strong parameters for service availability data collected from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy;
 and create a challenge process for consumers, state, local, and Tribal governments, and other groups to challenge FCC maps with their own data, and requires the FCC to determine how to structure the process without making it overly burdensome on challengers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1F01B171-7BDE-4F47-9687-29C927D50F62,Ernst: We should expect and demand the highest standard of care for Iowas veterans,2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Followinga Government Accountability Officereport detailing that Veterans Health Administration facilities are hiring providers with a history of misconduct, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate, has fought tirelessly to ensure our nation's veterans are receiving the highest standard of care. Building on her efforts, Ernst joined Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) in putting forward a bipartisan bill to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is sufficiently vetting and training veteran health providers.
We should expect, and demand, the highest standard of care for Iowa's veterans and those across the nation. This bipartisan bill builds on my effort to ensure the VA is held accountable for who they're hiring to provide treatment and care to our nation's veterans, said Senator Ernst.
Our nation's veterans have earned the right to the very best care, and it is outrageous that the VA is not sufficiently vetting its health care providers, said Senator Hassan. Following the VA's failure to even respond to a letter asking how it will remedy the issues raised in the Government Accountability Office report, my colleagues and I are introducing bipartisan legislation to ensure that the VA takes action so that veterans are not cared for by providers with a history of misconduct.
Arizona veterans rely on the VA for critical health care. Our bipartisan legislation ensures VA medical professionals are qualified to provide the high standard of care Arizona veterans have earned, said Senator Sinema.
In October, the senators sent an oversight letter to the VA requesting detailed information about the steps it will take to implement the report's recommendations, but the Senators have yet to receive a response. So, the senators put forward the bipartisan Veterans Health Administration Caregiver Retention and Eligibility Determination (VHA CRED) Act of 2019 which addresses the problems raised in the Government Accountability Office report by:
 
Requiring the VA Under Secretary for Health to prescribe regulations and guidance to improve the credentialing process for providers who work at Veterans Health Administration facilities;
Ensuring that those responsible for credentialing providers receive thorough training;
Requiring the Under Secretary for Health to develop and implement a program to continuously monitor credentialed providers to ensure that they still meet the requirements; and
Requiring the Under Secretary for Health to conduct an audit of all providers with adverse actions and the effect those actions have on their employment eligibility and submit the report to Congress.
 
Earlier this year, Senator Ernst introduced the Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act, which requires that every health care provider hired by the VA with a revoked license undergoes a third party review of that provider's care. If the review determines that a competent practitioner would have managed the veteran's care differently, the veteran will be notified. Ernst spoke before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee urging support for this legislation.
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http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F4CDFA35-EF4E-4AEF-80C2-28FA6149BC19,"In 2019, Ernst Continues to Fight Relentlessly and Deliver Real Results for Her Fellow Iowans",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  From securing E15 year-round, to breaking ground on the Cedar Rapids flood mitigation project, and from seeing her FARMERS FIRST Act in action providing mental health resources for farmers, to having her veterans billthe HAVEN Actsigned into law, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) continued to fight relentlessly to deliver real results for Iowans this year.
2019 was a great year, and I'm proud of the work we've done to help Iowa's farmers and producers, to support our families and communities impacted by the terrible spring floods, to lower the costs of health care and prescription drugs, and to get trade deals finalized, said Senator Joni Ernst. Another year also means another 99 counties in the books! For the fifth time, I've completed my 99 County Tour, holding 35 town halls and hearing directly from thousands of Iowans in every corner of our state. There's plenty to build on in the year ahead, and I look forward to continuing to fight relentlessly for my fellow Iowans.
As 2019 comes to a close, Senator Ernst is reflecting on the last year and highlighting the work she's done to deliver real results for her home state of Iowa.
VIDEO: Click HERE or on the image below for a video recap of Senator Ernst's 2019.

AUDIO: Click HERE for an audio file download of Senator Ernst describing some highlights from 2019.
Some highlights from 2019:
 
99 County Tour  Held 35 town halls in every corner of the statefrom rural areas like Red Oak, to Iowa's most populated area, Polk County; has held a public event in every single county in Iowa since being elected.
Upholding the RFS  Secured E15 year-round by the summer driving season; negotiated an agreement with the White House to guarantee 15 billion gallons of ethanol.
Providing flood relief  Broke ground on the Cedar Rapids flood mitigation project, following years of relentless efforts to secure $117 million; passed a federal disaster relief package to support Iowans, which included a provision to extend USDA funds to cover Iowa farmers who had lost stored grain.
Fighting for Iowa's farmers  Provided critical mental health support to farmers through her FARMERS FIRST Act; forced House Democrats to finally get on board with supporting the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USCMA) trade deal, after they delayed for more than a year.
Lowering Prescription Drug Costs  Advanced three bills in the U.S. Senate to push down drug costs for Iowans.
Combating Sexual Assault  Authored legislation to reauthorize and modernize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); had provisions included in the annual defense bill to expand support for victims in military.
Veterans  Secured support for veterans facing financial hardship through her HAVEN Act which was signed into law; held the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accountable for failures in its veteran suicide prevention programs.
National Security  Had nearly all of her of provisions included in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA); visited U.S. troops, including a number of Iowans, deployed in Kuwait and Afghanistan the week of Thanksgiving.
Make Em Squeal  Pushed to cut future former presidents' unlimited perks; called for federal agency headquarters to be housed closer to the heartland and outside of the DC beltway; cracked down on government projects that are over-budget and beyond schedule with her bipartisan Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act; issued her monthly Squeal Award to highlight some of the most egregious waste in our government.
 
Click HERE for a detailed summary of Senator Ernst's work from 2019.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/citing-end-year-tax-extender-uncertainty-rep-axne-introduces-amendment-revive,"Citing End-of-Year Tax Extender Uncertainty, Rep. Axne Introduces Amendment to Revive Biodiesel, Biofuel Tax Credits",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Rep. Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) submitted two amendments to H.R. 5377 that would revive the expired biodiesel tax credit and extend tax credits for Iowa's second generation biofuels.
The amendments would support Iowa farmers, incentivize investment in green jobs, and finally revive essential tax credits after their expiration at the end of 2017.
As the Congress considers bills this week to extend and adjust tax provisions, we are determined to fight for the investments that will support our farmers, rural communities, and good-paying green jobs, said Rep. Axne. At a time when Iowa farmers are facing hardship, Congress cannot ignore the importance of including these critical provisions.
The biodiesel tax credit is important for Iowa farmers, producers, rural small businesses, and hard-working families, said Rep. Finkenauer. From day one, I've been working with colleagues on both sides for the aisle, and in both the House and Senate to get bring this credit back. I have stressed to House leadership how important this credit is to the First Congressional District, and to the entire state of Iowa. While I wish this is something that would've been resolved during the last Congress, I will keep working to make sure I get this done for Iowans. Today's amendments are another push to get that done.
As a member of the Biofuel Caucus, Rep. Axne has been fighting for the biodiesel tax credit since coming to Congress.
In her first full month representing Iowa, Rep. Axne joined the entire Iowa Democratic delegation to call for a multi-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit.
In April, Rep. Axne introduced the Biofuel Tax Credit Bill to make the second generation biofuel producer tax credit permanent.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/three-axne-lead-bills-pass-house-help-modernize-grants-broadband,"Three Axne-lead bills pass the House to help modernize grants, broadband",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, the House of Representatives passed three bipartisan bills backed by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03): the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act, the Mapping After Public Scrutiny (MAPS) Act, and the Broadband Data Act.
With the passage of these bills, the House has now passed 66 bills that have been written or co-sponsored by Rep. Axne.
In order to remove red-tape and modernize the process, the GREAT Act would establish uniform reporting requirements and create a single public website to publish grant data. By standardizing the process, the bill will make it easier and cheaper for Iowans to receive grants and increase transparency and accountability to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in federal grant spending.
I've heard too many stories from Iowans struggling to navigate federal grant applications, said Rep. Axne. Often times, grants are just awarded to big organizations who can afford a professional grants writer, and I've talked to folks running a small business who have a great idea, but don't know how or where to apply for grants.
H.R. 150, the GREAT Act, was one of Axne's first bills to pass the House in January 2019. The Senate held the bill until October, when it finally passed unanimously. Now, the House has approved the Senate's changes and will send the bill onto the White House for signature.
The GREAT Act was one of the first bills I supported because Iowans need equal access to grant funding, just like any other state, said Rep. Axne. That's also why I've launched my Iowa Flood Funding Tracker, to show Iowans where disaster relief funds are being spent in Iowa. Iowans need equal access to grant funding, just like any other state.
H.R. 4227, the MAPS Act, and H.R. 4229, the Broadband DATA Act, both work to improve the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mapping process for rural broadband and wireless service. The Broadband DATA Act, introduced by Rep. Loebsack (IA-02), would require the FCC to develop a new mapping process, with full, verifiable information about available speeds at a detailed level. That, combined with a process for residents and local officials to challenge the maps, will provide federal support to communities without service that have been improperly cut off.
The MAPS Act authorizes the FCC to penalize corporations if they knowingly submit inaccurate broadband coverage maps.
I've seen broadband and wireless maps that claim all of Iowa is covered  and that's just not true. As I toured each of my 16 counties every month this year, I know there are huge pockets where there's zero coverage said Rep. Axne. In order to fix our broadband access problems, we need to understand the problem. Accurate coverage maps are the right place to start and I'm proud to see these bill get overwhelming support.
Rep.Axne has been a champion on both rural broadband and on government reform in her first year in office.
In November, the House passed an Axne-sponsored bill to reform federal disaster recovery programs in order to improve government services while saving taxpayer dollars. The bill ensures funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner and protects taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources.
In May, Rep. Axne was appointed to sit on the newly launched House Rural Broadband Task Force to provide coordination and leadership to end the rural-digital divide.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-3-million-grant-iowa-head-start-programs,Finkenauer Announces $3 Million Grant for Iowa Head Start Programs,2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) will receive a $3,079,374 federal grant for its Head Start programs. The grant will be distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 
Children in our communities deserve every opportunity to succeed, and that starts with proper early childhood education, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, This grant will ensure HACAP can keep serving kids in our community to give them the chance to thrive from the very start. I am thrilled to see such a worthy organization receive an investment like this. I will keep working to make sure the kids in our district are supported so they are not held back from following their dreams.
  Background on HACAP & Head Start 
  HACAP is a community action agency serving 6 counties in Eastern Iowa. Its Head Start and Early Head Startare comprehensive early childhood development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. As child-focused programs, they have the overall goal of increasing theschool readiness of young children in low-income families. In addition to center-based school readiness programs, Early Head Start provides a home program for pregnant women and children age birth-3. There are no fees for children & families enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start. All supplies and materials are provided for enrolled children. Head Start/Early Head Start program services are funded through grants. Awarded grants are from the federal, state and local levels.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-finkenauer-introduces-amendment-revive-biodiesel-biofuel-tax-credits,"Rep. Finkenauer Introduces Amendment to Revive Biodiesel, Biofuel Tax Credits",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) submitted two amendments to H.R. 5377 that would revive the expired biodiesel tax credit and extend tax credits for Iowa's second generation biofuels. These two amendments would support Iowa farmers, incentivize investment in good-paying jobs, and finally revive essential tax credits after their expiration at the end of 2017. The biodiesel tax credit is important for Iowa farmers, producers, rural small businesses, and hard-working families. From day one, I've been working with colleagues on both sides for the aisle, and in both the House and Senate to get bring this credit back, Congresswoman Finkenauer said. I have stressed to House leadership how important this credit is to the First Congressional District, and to the entire state of Iowa. While I wish this is something that would've been resolved during the last Congress, I will keep working to make sure I get this done for Iowans. Today's amendments are another push to get that done. As the Congress considers bills this week to extend and adjust tax provisions, we are determined to fight for the investments that will support our farmers, rural communities, and good-paying green jobs, said Rep. Axne. At a time when Iowa farmers are facing hardship, Congress cannot ignore the importance of including these critical provisions. Finkenauer's Work on Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit
Congress had previously extended the tax credit retroactively for 2017, but left it expired for 2018 and beyond. This year, Finkenauer was joined by Senators Grassley and Ernst, as well as industry leaders, at a press conference supporting the legislation. Finkenauer testified before the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, sharing the stories of Iowa producers and businesses that would benefit from the legislation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-gives-update-usmca-us-china-trade-and-impeachment-morning-tv,"Grassley Gives Update on USMCA, U.S.-China Trade and Impeachment on Morning TV",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) discussed USMCA, Phase 1 of the new U.S.-China trade deal, and impeachment proceedings this morning on Cavuto Coast to Coast on Fox Business Network and Balance of Power on Bloomberg TV.    -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-leahy-hail-inclusion-creates-act-year-end-spending-agreement,"Grassley, Leahy Hail Inclusion of CREATES Act In Year-End Spending Agreement",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Reforms would save taxpayers $3.7B. by removing obstacles to lower-cost prescription drugs  Washington  Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday hailed the inclusion of their legislation to combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs in the domestic appropriations package filed today in the House.  The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act would deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. The bill is sponsored by Leahy and cosponsored by Grassley who, like Leahy, is a former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Other leading cosponsors are Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Amy Klobuchar, leaders of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. A companion House bill was introduced by Representatives David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law, joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and David McKinley (R-W.Va.).  Patients are increasingly facing skyrocketing medication costs, and anti-competitive practices by some brand-name pharmaceutical companies are partially to blame. These companies block access to more affordable generic alternatives, hurting consumers and costing taxpayers billions. The bipartisan CREATES Act puts a stop to this abuse, and encourages greater competition and consumer choice, which lowers prices, while respecting intellectual property of drug makers. This bill saves taxpayers an estimated $3.7 billion on top of reducing sticker prices at the pharmacy counter. Passing the CREATES Act is an important step in a broader bipartisan effort to improve access to affordable medications through market-oriented reforms, Grassley said.  I hear from Vermonters every day that rising prescription drug prices are increasingly straining their tight budgets. For too long, a few predatory name brand drug companies have used anticompetitive strategies to delay entry of lower cost generic drugs and to prolong monopolies on key medicines and lifesaving drugs. When these companies use unfair practices to keep drug prices artificially high, patients suffer. Patients, families and government programs shouldn't have to cope with increased drug costs to pad name brand companies' bottom lines. Our bipartisan bill is precisely targeted to stop these abuses, and I'm hopeful that it will be signed into law by the end of this week, Leahy said.  The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill would result in a $3.7 billion net decrease in the federal deficit over 10 years. Savings to consumers and private insurers likely would be far greater  many billions of dollars more. The Leahy-Grassley CREATES Act passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in June of 2018 under Grassley's leadership. The legislation mirrors the proposal reported by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) this year, and is strongly supported by a coalition of groups as diverse as AARP, American College of Physicians, FreedomWorks, Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs and many more. A coalition letter in support of the CREATES Act can be found here and a list of supporters here. In addition to Senators Leahy, Grassley, Klobuchar and Lee, the bill is cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Senators Baldwin (D-Wis.), Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Booker (D-N.J.), Braun (R-Ind.), Brown (D-Ohio), Capito (R-W.Va.), Collins (R-Maine), Cotton (R-Ark.), Cramer (R-N.D.), Cruz (R-Texas), Daines (R-Mont.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Ernst (R-Iowa), Fischer (R-Neb.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Hassan (D-N.H.), Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kennedy (R-La.), King (I-Maine), Markey (D-Mass.), McSally (R-Ari.), Menendez (D-N.J.), Murkowski (R-Alaska), Paul (R-Ky.), Peters (D-Mich.), Reed (D-R.I.), Rosen (D-Nev.), Rounds (R-S.D.), Shaheen (D-N.H.), Smith (D-Minn.), Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tester (D-Mont.), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Young (R-Ind.).  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-prescription-drug-pricing-affects-everyone,Grassley: Prescription Drug Pricing Affects Everyone,2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Prepared Floor Remarks by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Chairman, Senate Finance Committee Monday, December 16, 2019  I recently heard from an 81-year old Iowan who is battling cancer.  She told me that one test cost more than $12,700, almost an entire year's income.  On top of that, her medication is more than $4,700 a month.  She's on Humana and Medicare, but that's not enough for her to afford her medicalbills.  Too many Americans share this Iowan's story.  That's why we must pass thePrescription Drug Pricing Reduction Actto finally help Americans afford the critical medications they need. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A70AB4E9-B186-40C9-9CB8-AF0DA7B36A1A,Ernst Week in Review,2019-12-14,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Calling on Congress to Work Together for Iowans
With just a few weeks left in 2019, Senator Joni Ernst is calling for her colleagues  Democrats and Republicans  to put politics aside and work together on issues where there should be common ground, like funding the government, supporting U.S. servicemembers, passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and providing resources for fellow survivors of sexual and domestic abuse.

Click hereor the image above to watch Senator Ernst's remarks.
Ernst also took to the Senate floor to outline the need for bipartisan work on these important issues and her willingness to continue working with her Democratic colleagues despite their distractions and delays.

Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Ernst's remarks on the floor.
Applauding Phase One China Trade Deal
As Iowa's fourth largest trading partner, China is a critically important market for Iowa's farmers and manufacturers. Following the news of a phase one trade agreement between the U.S. and China, Senator Ernst, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Energy and Rural Development, thanked President Trump and his administration for their commitment to securing a phase one deal and called on China to follow through.
China has been a bad actor for years, and this president has consistently stood up to their harmful trade tactics and worked to get a good deal in place, one that will especially benefit Iowa agriculture.
Fighting for Paid Leave for Iowa's Working Families
Senator Ernst, a mother and leader on the issue of paid parental leave, joined Ivanka Trump, senior advisor to the President, Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith, Director of the Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL), and her colleagues at the White House this week for a working families summit. Senator Ernst remains committed to working alongside her colleagues and the administration to provide commonsense paid leave solutions for families across Iowa.

Senator Ernst and her colleagues discuss paid leave at the White House.
Prioritizing Children's Health Care Research
Following sharp reductions in pediatric medical researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Senator Ernst introduced bipartisan legislation to increase pediatric-focused research. The Pediatricians Accelerate Childhood Therapies (PACT) Act would establish an NIH-wide grant to support early-career pediatric researchers; improve coordination and collaboration; and identify gaps and opportunities to support the development of new treatments and cures for diseases and conditions that affect children in Iowa, and across the country.
Building on Efforts to Spur Economic Growth in Distressed Communities in Iowa
Senator Ernst, one of the leaders in first launching Opportunity Zonesa landmark program designed to promote investment and help spur economic growth in low-income areasintroduced legislation with Senators Tim Scott and Chuck Grassley to improve their outcomes by better tracking their success. The bill institutes a variety of reporting requirements to better determine the impact of the 62 Opportunity Zones in Iowa and the more than 8,700 across the country.
Social Media Highlights







###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A5DB7664-0BC8-46E7-AD2C-B5DA064AF558,Ernst Statement on Phase One China Deal,2019-12-13,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHIGTON  U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Energy and Rural Development, issued the following statement regarding the U.S-China phase one trade deal:
As Iowa's fourth largest trading partner, China is a critically important market for our farmers and manufacturers. I'm glad to see there will be no new tariffs going into effect this week. China has been a bad actor for years, and this president has consistently stood up to their harmful trade tactics and worked to get a good deal in place, one that will especially benefit Iowa agriculture. I'm grateful to President Trump and his administration for their commitment to securing a phase one deal. It's time for China to follow through.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/show-iowans-money-ahead-trip-flood-affected-counties-axne-unveils-iowa-flood,"Show Iowans the Money: Ahead of Trip to Flood-Affected Counties, Axne Unveils Iowa Flood Funding Tracker to Hold Government Accountable",2019-12-13,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Des Moines, IA  Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced the creation of a new Iowa Flood Funding Tracker for constituents to track updates on disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa after disastrous flooding earlier this year. The tracker will boost transparency and hold our federal agencies accountable by allowing Iowans to see directly where the funding that was approved by Congress is being spent.
The documents provided in the tracker are the first batch of updates from three federal agencies that Rep. Axne demanded last month provide specific updates on the disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa.
I am pleased to launch the Iowa Flood Funding Tracker today to ensure transparency and allow Iowans to see where federal agencies are spending relief dollars in the flood-affected areas of Iowa, said Rep. Cindy Axne. While Congress has ensured this funding is available, I still hear from constituents that flood areas are not getting the assistance they need. I will continue to hold federal agencies accountable  demanding they show Iowans the money'  and update our tracker to ensure the information is public for all to see.
The letters released on the tracker today include updates provided from the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The tracker is available on the Congresswoman's official website at: https://axne.house.gov/disaster
Tomorrow, Rep. Cindy Axne will host two Connect with your Congresswoman (CWYC) town halls in Fremont and Pottawattamie counties, and will provide constituents at those town halls with updates on flooding recovery dollars being spent in their area.
I look forward to hearing from my constituents directly tomorrow about their experience navigating this recovery process  and providing them with this update, said Rep. Cindy Axne. As this recovery continues, I will continue working to get answers and make this process easier.
In November, the House passed bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Axne to modernize federal disaster recovery programs, ensure funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner, and protect taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources.
In May, the House passed H.R. 2157  Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019  which Rep. Axne successfully amended to increase funding for programs vital to Iowa. President Trump signed that bill into effect on June 7th, effectively making funds available for disaster recovery programs available that day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://steveking.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-epa-to-uphold-rfs-with-rule-ensuring-15-billion,"King, Colleagues Urge EPA to Uphold RFS with Rule Ensuring 15 Billion Gallons Are Blended into Fuel Supply",2019-12-13,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Steve King,K000362,steveking.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Steve King, a member of the Congressional Biofuel Caucus, releases the text of a letter he signed that has been sent to members of the interagency panel producing the final rule regarding the EPA's October 15, 2019 announcement of the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program and standards for 2020 and biomass-based diesel volume for 2021. The letter was circulated by Rep. Rodney Davis and Rep. Roger Marshall, and it includes 19 Members of Congress as signatories. It may be seen at this link.
The letter requests that the EPA issue a final rule that ultimately ensures that a minimum of 15 billion gallons are blended into the nation's fuel supply starting in 2020. In addition, the letter asks the EPA to propose a fix in the final rule that will more accurately capture the number of gallons that will be lost should waivers be granted in the future. The proposed fix would require the EPA to consider the actual gallons waived when doing Renewable Volume Obligation calculations, in place of a projected number provided by the agency that frequently underestimates the harm done by waivers.
The EPA's use of small refinery exemptions (SRE) to undercut the RFS has resulted in a crisis in the corn belt, and the agency must now act to produce a final rule that will preserve and protect the RFS's volume requirements, said King. To do this, the final rule must provide for at least 15 billion gallons to be blended into the fuel supply beginning next year, and it must ensure that the EPA accurately accounts for future waived gallons. This letter tells the EPA how to fix the problem they have created, and it's signatories are united in support of protecting the integrity of the RFS.
Protecting the integrity of the RFS from the damage caused by SRE's is a major priority for Congressman King. King introduced two bills in June (HR 3410 and HR 3411) that seek to address this problem. HR 3410 requires that there be no net reduction in RFS volume obligations. HR 3411 contains a retroactive recapture provision that seeks to recapture volumes lost due to waivers from 2006-2018 by adding those previously lost gallons to future year RFS obligations.
The text of the letter follows:

December 13, 2019

				The Honorable Mick Mulvaney
				Director
				The White House Office of Management and Budget
				725 17th Street, NW
				Washington, D.C. 20503
			
			
				The Honorable Lawrence Kudlow
				Director
				National Economic Council
				Room 235, Eisenhower Executive Office Building
				Washington, D.C. 20502
			
		
				The Honorable Andrew Wheeler
				Administrator
				U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
				1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
				Washington, D.C. 20460
				
				The Honorable Sonny Perdue
				Secretary
				U.S. Department of Agriculture
				1400 Independence Avenue, SW
				Washington, D.C. 20250
			
			
				The Honorable Dan Brouillette
				Secretary
				U.S. Department of Energy
				1000 Independence Avenue, SW
				Washington, D.C. 20585
				
			
		
				
			
			
				
			
		RE: EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0136

Dear Director Mulvaney, Director Kudlow, Administrator Wheeler, Secretary Brouillette and Secretary Perdue:
As you work together through the interagency review process to promulgate a final rule regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) October 15, 2019 announcement of the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program and standards for 2020 and biomass-based diesel volume for 2021, we urge you to issue a final rule that ultimately ensures that a minimum of 15 billion gallons are blended into the nation's fuel supply starting in 2020. Additionally, we urge you to ensure that a proper fix applies for all future years so that this situation never occurs again.
The EPA's May 2019 announcement to allow for year-round sales of E15 came as welcome news, but to see the full benefit, the integrity of the RFS must be upheld. Since 2016 there have been as many as 35 waivers issued in any given compliance year, and altogether there have been 85 small refinery exemptions issued in the past three years. These exemptions have obstructed the demand of nearly 4 billion gallons of biofuels and devastated our local farm economies. To date, none of the gallons lost to small refinery exemptions have been reobligated, only to the detriment of our farmers. 
Currently the Renewable Volumes Obligation calculation factors in the estimated number of small refinery exemptions that will be granted, however the EPA consistently uses zero as the projected number despite history proving this method to be unrealistic. For the Renewable Fuel Standard to function as intended, this must be addressed. The purpose of these exemptions is to provide, on a temporary basis, a true small refinery from suffering disproportionate economic hardship. Unfortunately, these waivers have just shifted the burden of any perceived economic hardship onto our farmers.
The EPA's proposed rule, as written, does not protect the RFS from future waivers that may be granted. When projecting future waivers to account for waived gallons, the EPA must base its projection on the history of actual gallons waived. It is inaccurate for EPA to project waivers based on the ignored recommendations from the Department of Energy (DOE), particularly when the Department has often only recommended half the number of waivers of that EPA has actually granted.
Specifically, we request that you amend the proposed definitions for the terms used in calculating the annual volume percentage standards to require that the projections for volumes of gasoline and diesel that will be exempt from biofuels blending are 1) based on an average of actual exemptions granted from the prior three compliance years and 2) included in the annual percentage standards, regardless of whether the exemptions have been adjudicated by the time of the final volume rule.
We ask that you consider the history and purpose of small refinery exemptions and take appropriate action to mitigate the history of abuse and damages that these waivers have caused, and as a result, have endangered the livelihood of our local farmers and producers. It is our job as individuals who make and carry out the law to follow it in a manner that is fair, consistent and reliable, lending to certainty via stable markets and a consistent regulatory process.
As you work through this review process and move to implement any final rule, it must ensure that a minimum of 15 billion gallons are blended into the nation's fuel supply and ensure that a fix applies to all future years. We urge you to work together to keep the promise made to our farmers by correcting this issue and upholding your commitment to the RFS.
Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-china-trade-deal,Grassley Statement on China Trade Deal,2019-12-13,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement regarding the United States' Phase One trade deal with China.  This is a very positive development. Easing tensions and lowering tariffs is welcome news. This paves the way for a broader agreement that must address non-tariff barriers and intellectual property issues, Grassley said. President Trump should be commended for working toward a strong, enforceable trade deal that will require China to abide by international trade norms and the rule of law. Iowa in particular will benefit from China's purchasing of agricultural products, especially hog, corn and soybean farmers. But China must know that this gesture of goodwill does not mean the United States will accept anything less than a full and enforceable trade deal. I applaud President Trump, Ambassador Lighthizer and Secretary Mnuchin for their hard work and urge them to remain committed to securing a deal that does away with China's unfair trade practices.  -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-submission-usmca-congress,Grassley Statement on Submission of USMCA to Congress,2019-12-13,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Trade Representative's submission of legislative text and accompanying material to Congress of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This is an important milestone for USMCA. Americans have been waiting for more than a year for House Democrats to act, and now Congress can finally consider this trade agreement negotiated by President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer, Grassley said. I expect the House of Representatives will pass USMCA soon. The Senate Finance Committee will then review the trade agreement and report it out of committee as well. Final passage in the Senate is within sight and USMCA will soon be the law of the land. This is a historic win for farmers, autoworkers, manufacturers and all Americans. President Trump made a promise to reform the outdated NAFTA. After a lot of hard work, he's made good on that promise. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qa-raising-red-flags-about-world-bank,Q&A: Raising Red Flags about the World Bank,2019-12-13,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  Q: Why are you raising concerns about World Bank loans to China?  A: When I got wind the World Bank approved an over $1 billion a year plan to award China with low-interest loans through 2025, I raised a big red flag. These loans are categorized for structural and environmental reforms under the World Bank's International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) division. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson says the funds will be used for poverty alleviation. This U.S. Senator wasn't born yesterday. News reports have linked World Bank funds to the ruling Communist regime's systematic repression of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang province, which includes mass internment and forced labor. Let's be clear. Institutions like the World Bank have an incumbent responsibility to vet human rights risks when money is handed out for so-called technical and vocational education and training. This language mirrors what the Chinese Communist Party euphemistically calls its internment camps. There's two big reasons Americans see red when they hear about deals like this. For starters, the American taxpayer should not be put on the hook to underwrite loans for the world's second largest economy. China is our biggest competitor. And right now, every farmer in Iowa is hurting from the tariff turf war playing out at the trade negotiating tables. What's more, freedom-loving Americans should not send money to a Communist regime and subsidize projects in a country that imprisons and enslaves people based upon their ethnicity and religious beliefs. Misusing American tax dollars to support the agenda of China's repressive Communist regime is entirely objectionable and unacceptable.  Q: What are you doing to protect U.S. tax dollars and protect religious liberty?  A:I'm on the same page with President Trump's Treasury Department when Secretary Mnuchin objected to the World Bank's plan. China is the world's second largest economy. It needs to graduate from World Bank lending programs, which are intended for low- and middle-income nations with per capita incomes well below China's. Don't forget. China has made an open secret of its goal to become the planet's sole super power and dominate the world stage militarily and economically. The U.S. Treasury should not subsidize low-interest loans to China that put Americans at a competitive disadvantage and shortchange poor countries that actually need development assistance. Congress needs to take immediate steps to stop the madness. I've introduced two bills that provide short-term and long-term solutions. U.S. taxpayers are the World Bank's largest contributor. Right now, Congress is hammering out spending bills for 2020. The State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill currently authorizes a big capital increase for the World Bank. I've introduced legislation that would require the U.S. representative to the World Bank to work to defeat any project in any country that has reached the graduation threshold and for which the State Department has flagged for religious freedom concerns. Using these definitions, my legislation would apply to China and Russia and make it U.S. policy to remove them from eligibility for IBRD loans. As for a long-term solution, I've also introduced a bicameral bill that would put the congressional seal of approval behind the Trump administration's efforts to graduate China from the World Bank's lending program reserved for impoverished countries. My two-pronged approach seeks to stick a fork in the World Bank's misguided approvals of this lending program. Congress must take action to prevent the exploitation of programs intended to lift developing nations from poverty to productivity and prosperity. Lawmakers hold the purse strings and have a fiscal and moral responsibility to uphold. We can't turn a blind eye to the World Bank, especially when it comes at taxpayer expense and compromises fundamental American values of individual freedom and religious liberty. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397336,Loebsack Praises House Passage of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will finally give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies and makes the lower prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance. In Iowa's Second Congressional District, there are 115,293 people enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan and 566,387 people enrolled in private health insurance  all of whom stand to benefit from the passage of this legislation. Additionally, the cost savings from H.R. 3 will be reinvested back into both Medicare, to expand the benefits provided to include comprehensive dental, vision and hearing coverage for senior citizens, and for research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to accelerate the search for the next scientific breakthrough.  It is past time that Medicare is able to negotiate with drug companies, similar to what the Veterans Administration has been doing for years. These negotiated prices will then be passed along to Iowans who have private healthcare insurance. I am also very pleased that the cost savings contained in this bill will be reinvested back into Medicare to give Iowa's seniors needed dental, vision and hearing coverage, and expand research at the NIH. No family should have to sit at their kitchen table and have to decide between putting food on the table and paying for their prescriptions. This historic legislation takes the necessary steps to ensure that conversation does not have to happen. Along with many other bills, it is time for the Senate to step up, debate and pass this legislation to help families across the country. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act would lower drugs costs and expand benefits:   
- Give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies to bring down prices and create powerful new tools to force drug companies to the table to agree to real price reductions.  
- Make the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance too, not just those on Medicare.  
- Stop drug companies ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs by limiting the maximum price for any negotiated drug.  
- Create a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for people on Medicare.  
- Save taxpayers approximately $500 billion over the next ten years and reinvest that savings into:   
 -Expanding Medicare benefits to cover things like dental, vision and hearing,  
 -Combatting the addiction crisis, and  
 -Researching new cures and treatments.   
- Independent experts found the Lower Drug Costs Now Act would:  
 -Save American households $120 billion.  
 -Save private businesses more than $40 billion.  
 -Save taxpayers approximately $500 billion and reinvests that savings to expand benefits. H.R. 3 is supported by a wide variety of groups and associations, including:   
AARP, Alliance for Retired Americans, AFL-CIO, SEIU, UAW, Catholic Health Association of the United States, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), Medicare Rights Center, Voices for Progress (V4P) and Patients for Affordable Drugs Now.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=97F90789-12EA-496A-99B7-87CFBC7A5CE6,Ernst Joins White House Working Families Summit with Ivanka Trump,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a mother and leader on the issue of paid parental leave, joined Ivanka Trump, senior advisor to the President, Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith, Director of the Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL), and her colleagues at the White House today for a working families summit.


Click here for a downloadable link to the photos.
Affording all moms and dads the flexibility to spend time with their newborn or adopted baby is something Iowans, and Americans want to see happen, said Senator Ernst. It's past time we modernize our family leave policies to reflect the evolving needs of today's workforce and reduce the barriers that pose challenges for parents balancing family and work. I'm grateful for Ivanka Trump's leadership to find a pathway forward on this critical issue, and I remain committed to working alongside my colleagues and the administration to provide commonsense paid leave solutions for families across Iowa.
In March, Senator Ernst and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) put forward a paid parental leave plan that is budget neutral and flexible for parents who choose to opt in.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-introduces-legislation-fund-clean-energy-construction,Axne Introduces Legislation to Fund Clean Energy Construction,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Rep. Cindy Axne joined Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), and Paul Tonko (NY-20), chair of the Environment and Climate Change subcommittee, in introducing the National Climate Bank Act, legislation that creates a federal bank to invest in clean energy and emissions reduction projects. 
The National Climate Bank will use $35 billion of public capital to support up to $1 trillion of private investment in renewable energy generation and projects to improve energy efficiency across the economy.
""While serving at the Iowa statehouse, I worked under both Republican and Democratic governors to make Iowa a leader in wind energy,"" said Rep. Cindy Axne. ""This not only gave Iowans cleaner, cheaper electricity, it also created thousands of jobs. Creating a National Climate Bank will spur investment in clean energy projects nationwide. Leveraging federal investment to partner with the private sector is an essential step in dealing with climate change, and will help make America a leader in green technology and infrastructure.""
The National Climate Bank would combat climate change by mobilizing private capital to increase access to clean energy and upgrade our existing energy infrastructure tomake the United States a world leader. The National Climate Bank will provide capital to encourage investment in a wide range of sectors, including renewables, storage, transportation, transmission, resiliency, efficiency, reforestation, agriculture, and industrial de-carbonization. The Bank will also explore new and innovative approaches to reduce emissions, in addition to funding state and local green banks. These banks have had success in supporting both large projects like utility-scale wind and solar farms and small scale upgrades like household solar and wind generation.
A Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Similar legislation, the Green Bank Act of 2019, was introduces by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Representative Jim Himes (D-CT).
""In recent years, state and city level climate banks have proven financially self-sustaining and successful in spurring new private investment in renewable energy and energy efficient buildings. These technologies create quality jobs, reduce carbon, air and water pollution and create savings for families and businesses Now, state and local climate banks are leading the way in investing in mobility as well as in adaptation and resilience to speed our recovery when disaster strikes. The National Climate Bank Act will ensure that the entire country can make these critical investments, which include driving the necessary investment in communities affected by loss of fossil-fuel related businesses,""said Doug Sims, Director, Green Finance Center, the Natural Resources Defense Council. 
To properly tackle climate change an aggressive agenda is required that addresses all fronts of the crisis. To get to a fully clean economy, we need comprehensive efforts to spur innovation in the economy, technology, and society. Establishing a National Climate Bank will serve as an important implementation tool to achieve this goal by publicly financing and stimulating private investments in clean, renewable energy projects, clean transportation, and support communities most effected by climate change,said Rep. Debbie Dingell.
A summary of the National Climate Bank Act is availablehere, and the full bill text is availablehere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-votes-lower-prescription-drugs-price-iowa-seniors-and-families-adds,"Rep. Axne Votes to Lower Prescription Drugs Price for Iowa Seniors and Families, Adds Amendment to Cut Red Tape",2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C.  Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted for passage of H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a measure that will lower prescription drug prices and improve the quality of health care for Iowa seniors and families. Prior to passage of the final bill, the House voted unanimously to add Rep. Axne's amendment to tackle excessive health care administrative costs to the final package.
Every week, I hear from Iowa seniors and families in my district about their struggle to pay for their prescription drugs, said Rep. Cindy Axne. I've heard stories of Iowans skipping meals, rationing their drugs, and depleting their retirement saving just to afford the medications they need to live. I'm proud to vote today to cap Medicare drug costs, allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars to ensure that no Iowan ever has to decide again between buying medication and making ends meet.
The Lower Drug Costs Now Act would allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drugs every year, and extend those savings to Americans across the country. It will also create a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for seniors, while ensuring that drug companies can't charge Americans more than 20% higher prices that other countries, like Great Britain or Australia. It also increases investments into more innovative, affordable cures and treatments. It is endorsed by AARP, Protect Our Care Iowa, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
I am fed up with pharmaceutical lobbyists writing laws that benefit their bottom lines, said Rep. Axne. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act would lower prescription drug prices across the board, help our seniors keep their retirement savings. I know how important improving our health care system it  it's literally life or death. I'm proud to support this bill, to improve it with my amendment, and to continue fighting for Iowans in Congress.
Prior to final passage of the bill, the House voted by voice vote to adopt Rep. Axne's amendment to create a grant program to help reduce duplicative and excessive health care administrative costs, as well as reduce the redundant work by 50% at the federal level.
I'm particularly proud that the House voted unanimously today to include my amendment to cut medical red tape and reduce excessive medical paperwork to improve the quality of health care and lower costs for Iowa families and doctors, continued Rep. Axne. As a mother of two, nothing frustrates me more than when I take time off work to take my sick children in to the doctor and I spend more time filling out paperwork than they do seeing my kids.
You can find the video of Rep. Axne's introduction of the amendment HERE.
Axne's amendment creates a $250 million grant program and directs the federal government to reduce their excess administrative costs by 50% over a 10 year period, meaning the grant will more than pay for itself while saving taxpayer money. Axne's amendment could save the federal government millions of dollars annually, while also giving doctors and nurses more time with their patients.
A 2016 survey found that doctors are spending twice as much time on administrative work as they do seeing patients. That same study found when a doctor is with a patient in an exam room, they'll still spend more than a third of that time at their computer.
Ask any health care professional about the excessive paperwork they have to do, and they'll tell you that it's burning them out. I've heard it from doctors, nurses, all kinds of medical professionals that they need something to change,Rep. Axne said.My amendment saves everyone money, it's going to help doctors and nurses focus on their patients.
This morning, the Health Innovation Alliance  a collection of patient groups and medical provider organizations  endorsed Rep. Axne's amendment.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-successfully-amends-and-passes-historic-bill-lower-prescription-drug,Finkenauer Successfully Amends and Passes Historic Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices and Expand Medicare Coverage for Iowans,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) voted to pass H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, and successfully offered a bipartisan amendment that would require TV advertisements for prescription drugs to include how much a 30-day supply or typical course of treatment would cost. Requiring drug companies to disclose pricing information in advertising is something that Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, President Trump, and members of both parties support. This is something I hear about in our district every time I go home and has been a top priority for me here in Congress. I've hosted prescription drug roundtables around our district to hear what Iowans are struggling with when it comes to prescription drug prices, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, We've got a major problem in this country and we need to fix it. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act gets at the heart of the problem - it puts people first, and it even expands Medicare for Iowans and ensures more transparency in drug costs through my amendment. I am proud of this bill and the work that has been done on it, and today we took a huge step forward in lowering the costs of prescription drugs and expanding Medicare. The legislation is expected to save nearly a half-trillion dollars over the next decade, and that savings would be invested to expand Medicare and provide dental, vision, and hearing services for seniors and conduct medical research at the National Institutes of Health. H.R. 3 will lower the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies and lower costs for people who have Medicare as well as those with private insurance. Finkenauer's Floor Speech on Iowans' Rx Drug Stories and Amendment on Drug Cost Transparency While introducing her amendment on the House floor, Finkenauer shared stories from Iowans who are struggling to afford prescription drugs. After sharing those stories, Finkenauer said, These are the reasons that we are here today, that we fight for legislation like this, that we get these things done and that we put our constituents and people over the politics that we continue to see here from the folks who would like to divide us instead of unite us. Full video can be found here. Rep. Finkenauer's amendment to H.R. 3 will require drug companies to disclose pricing information about prescription drugs and biological products when they advertise these products directly to consumers on TV. H.R. 3 Impact on Iowa H.R. 3 will lower the cost of prescription drugs for all Iowans, while also saving taxpayer money. The savings will be reinvested in drug research, and in closing gaps in dental, vision, and hearing services for Iowa seniors who rely on Medicare. In Iowa's First Congressional District, H.R. 3 will re-invest savings to address the following Medicare coverage gaps:
 91% lack coverage for dental extractions
	89% lack coverage for dental exams
	86% lack coverage for hearing exams
	86% lack coverage hearing aids
	79% lack coverage for eye exams
	87% lack coverage for eyeglasses
 This year, Finkenauer has heard about the challenges Iowans face with prescription drug prices, including at prescription drug roundtables in Dubuque and Waterloo. Also, Iowans shared their stories with the Congresswoman through her Rx Initiative Survey.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://steveking.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/haitian-ambassador-thanks-congressman-king-for-king-s-humanitarian-work,Haitian Ambassador Thanks Congressman King for Kings Humanitarian Work,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Steve King,K000362,steveking.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ambassador Denis- We know he is a true friend of Haiti. He has been helping the social and religious organizations, and we are two men of God. We believe strongly and know that prayer can help Haiti to go forward.
Washington D.C- Congressman Steve King releases the following video of comments made today by the Haitian Ambassador to the United States, Herve H. Denis, in which the Ambassador expresses thanks to the Congressman for the work he is doing to address the humanitarian crisis in the impoverished Caribbean nation.
Earlier this year, less than 24 hours after a meeting between King and Ambassador Denis, USAID announced that they would be sending emergency food assistance to the Island, a development that prompted Ambassador Denis to send a thank you letter to King noting that thanks to your involvement and keen diligence, the people of Haiti were able to receive assistance in this strenuous moment that my country is facing.
King is also the lead sponsor of a House Resolution, H. Res 619, which expresses support for the Haitian people while condemning the violence that has recently disrupted the political process in that nation.
To view the video, click on the image or on this link.
Transcript:
Congressman Steve King:
Hi, I'm Congressman Steve King here with Ambassador to the United States from Haiti, Herve Denis. We've developed a friendship here over the many months going past, and we've seen what's happened with the terrible earthquake in Haiti and that's brought the attention of America. There's so many Americans that want to help out in Haiti and I've made a trip down and seen the disaster and built friends down there as well. I just appreciate that we're working together to continue to move Haiti up towards first-world status one day. There's so many people down there that can benefit from the work we are doing together.
Ambassador Denis:
Thank you to Congressman King for the help he provides to us, first of all the earthquake and recently with the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and all he did with his intervention to help us. Tomorrow, we have the Director of USAID that is coming back to Haiti, so this is partly to his [King's] effort. We know he is a true friend of Haiti. He has been helping the social and religious organizations, and we are two men of God. We believe strongly and know that prayer can help Haiti to go forward. And so we continue collaborating, and we expect a lot from you Congressman, as well as your colleagues, that are for our country. We are living close to the greatest country in the world. This is a blessing, so we have to take full advantage and we hope with people like you, Congressmen like you, with good will we can go ahead and we're proud of you, and would you please say to your colleagues that we are proud of their efforts too.
Congressman Steve King:
Well, I thank you Ambassador. And I want to say thank you also to all the people of faith and charity that have stepped forward to help in Haiti. The people in my neighborhood, and across America, that go down on a regular basis to help out. And, also, thank you to the State Department and USAID who have been very cooperative with the messages that we have sent to them. Those relationships all matter, and we're looking forward to strengthening our relationships with Haiti. Hopefully, we will see the Haitian President come to the United States at the Prayer Breakfast in February and build these networks around the world so that one day we can go to Haiti and see they've been lifted up out of the poverty and out of the disaster and join first-world status in our hemisphere. Which we talked about, tying the whole hemisphere together. It's not only a Haitian vision, it's a vision for the Western hemisphere entirely, Ambassador.
Ambassador Denis:Definitely and the President is a man of God. He will be very happy. I hope his time will allow him to come here, and I think he would be very happy to participate and to launch messages of prayer and of peace because he is a man of peace, a true democrat, and we hope to work together and take much benefit from the trip that we will propose to the President.
Congressman Steve King:
I say to you, Ambassador, God's blessings to you, God's blessing's to Haiti. Let us work together.
Ambassador Denis:
Thank you, very much. Thank you. God bless Haiti. God bless the United States of America.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-delivers-11-iowa-veterans-stories-library-congress,Grassley Delivers 11 Iowa Veterans’ Stories to Library of Congress,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) delivered recorded interviews and documents comprising the stories of service from 11 Iowa veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Last month, Grassley's office interviewed veterans at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown to document their service to the nation. This is the second time Grassley has submitted interviews to the Library of Congress. A list of the records he has contributed to the project can be found here. Grassley also recently published an op-ed on his experience participating in the program. These stories will be preserved in the permanent collection of the Library, making accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. I want to thank all our veterans who have sacrificed in defense of our freedoms. Their service ensures that all Americans will live in peace and prosperity for generations to come, Grassley said. Established by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. To date, more than 1,200 stories from Iowans have been recorded by the project. Iowa veterans who would like to have their story recorded can contact Grassley's Veterans Fellow at veterans_fellow@grassley.senate.gov or call the senator's Des Moines office at 515-288-1145.Grassley's leadership on behalf of veterans also includes his oversight work to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable. Last year, Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst raised questions about improperly canceled diagnostic exams at the Iowa City VA. The internal watchdog at the VA this week reported nearly one-fourth of the radiology orders it investigated at the facility were improperly canceled. Grassley will continue pressing the VA to ensure Iowa veterans receive timely medical services.Photos from the presentation can be found below. All media files for broadcast can be found here. The stories of the following veterans were presented by Grassley today: Dave JohnsonCecil BuschbomGeorge EwersHarry FrostHarry HollandJudy LewisonAndrea FermTom ReillyJimmy CarterLeonard BisherLes Graham   Karen Lloyd, director of the Veteran's History Project at the Library of Congress, presents Sen. Chuck Grassley with a certificate of appreciation for the senator's ongoing contributions to the Veterans History Project.  Sen. Chuck Grassley presents eleven stories from Iowa veterans recorded and collected by his office to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.  Sen. Chuck Grassley alongside a staff member who collected and prepared the veterans' stories for presentation to the Library of Congress. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-measure-reauthorizing-domestic-violence-hotline-and-emergency-shelters,Grassley Measure Reauthorizing Domestic Violence Hotline and Emergency Shelters Passes Committee,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee today approved Sen. Chuck Grassley's (R-Iowa) bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) as part of a broader package of child and family safety legislation, known as the CAPTA Reauthorization Act.  The programs approved will make a real difference to families across the country who deal with domestic violence and abuse. No one should face those problems alone and our provisions will make sure there's help for any child, woman or man who needs it. I thank Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray for their leadership and continued work to improve child and family safety, Grassley said. The legislation that Grassley introduced in January extends the main source of funding for programs established under the FVPSA.These programs, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, include emergency shelters and other supportive services for survivors of domestic violence across the country. The bill also extends funding for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Congress first adopted FVPSA in 1984, and its most recent authorization expired several years ago.Grassley's reauthorization measure was merged with a related provision introduced by Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Murkowski (R-Alaska) and approved as part of a child safety and welfare package.The original version of Grassley's bipartisan reauthorization bill is cosponsored by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-statement-house-passage-prescription-drug-bill,Grassley Statement on House Passage of Prescription Drug Bill,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Charles Grassley,G000386,www.grassley.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement regarding passage in the House of Representatives of legislation to lower prescription drug prices. While this legislation misses the mark, I'm glad the House has acted and I applaud both Democrats and Republicans in the chamber for recognizing the need to address this issue, Grassley said. According to the independent CBO, the House bill would result in dozens fewer potentially life-saving or life-extending drugs being developed. That could include the cure to Alzheimer's disease or cancer. Congress must fix this broken system, but not at the cost of critical innovation that could save and improve countless American lives. Big Pharma is spending millions of dollars opposing any reforms that will cut into their billions of dollars of profits. Any solution must be bipartisan if it's going to stand a chance of becoming law. Right now, the only significant, bipartisan proposal in the Senate is the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act that I authored with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden. I know some Democrats would prefer a different approach, as would some Republicans. But the moment is ripe for compromise. Americans are quite literally sick of not being able to afford their prescription medications. The House has acted, and now the Senate must act.-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397335,Iowa Reps Call on Administration to Uphold Integrity of RFS,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) sent a letter to Russell Vought, the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and President Trump, about the EPA's October supplemental proposed rule regarding the reallocation of Small Refinery Exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Friday, December 6, 2019 the EPA sent their proposed rule to OMB for final review. The Members of Congress expressed serious concerns that the rule as drafted fails to keep the RFS whole, and called on Vought to ensure that the final rule upholds the Administration's guarantee of blending 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol on an annual basis, as is mandated by law.

CLICK HERE to read the letter.As we travel through our districts in Iowa, we hear first-hand from farmers, renewable fuel producers, and rural communities about the harm caused by the explosion of small refinery exemption (SRE) applications that EPA has approved in recent years. These conditions have caused three ethanol facilities to close permanently and another fourteen to idle, affecting nearly 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of corn bushels on an annual basis, the Members wrote. The RFS promises our rural economies that 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol and increasing volumes of advanced biofuels such as biodiesel will be blended into the nation's transportation fuel supply. Without a binding commitment that EPA will account for exemptions granted by EPA, this rule fails to keep the RFS whole.The Members concluded, The Office of Management and Budget must ensure that the final rule upholds the integrity of the RFS, avoids further plant closures, and provides farmers and producers certainty going forward.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.ernst.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=526CEA24-2273-42BB-961E-8475914AFF11,"Ernst, Colleagues Push Bipartisan Bill Prioritizing Childrens Health Care Research",2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Republican,House,IA,Joni Ernst,E000295,www.ernst.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONFollowing sharp reductions in pediatric medical researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) is introducing bipartisan legislation to increase pediatric-focused research at the NIH by addressing challenges in researcher recruitment and retention and by creating a pipeline of early-career pediatric researchers.
A strong pipeline of pediatric researchers is essential to ensuring kids in Iowa, and across the country, have access to innovative cures and treatments for the complex medical conditions that they and their families are facing, said Senator Ernst. We must work to ensure that children are being adequately represented in federal research. That's why I've put forward this bipartisan bill that will bolster pediatric-focused research and in turn help to improve the lives and health of our children and families.
Ernst's legislation is cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Bob Casey (D-PA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
I am proud to support investments in pediatric scientists and research that will helpreduce the suffering experienced byour nation's children.By bolstering the pediatric-scientist workforce, we are creating opportunities forscientificadvancements that will not only improve the health and livelihood of kids across the country but also reduce the burden of disease faced by Americans in later-life, said Senator Coons.
The PACT Act would work to stop the steady decline in pediatric research workforce development through a new focus on recruiting and retaining more physician-scientists to work on better treatments and cures for childhood diseases. Children in Mississippi and across the nation will benefit from increased access to cutting-edge care at places like Children's of Mississippi and St. Jude, said Senator Hyde-Smith.
Expanding pediatric medical research opportunities is vital to ensure paths to the highest quality care for children and innovation in medicine, said Senator Casey.
Cutting-edge medical research supported by NIH has improved the lives of hundreds of millions of people, said Senator Wicker. This legislation would provide important incentives to increase the number of physician-scientists working to improve the quality of life for children suffering from a wide variety of medical conditions.
Pediatric medical researchers generate scientific insights that are critical to reshaping the way we treat diseases that affect children in Colorado and around the country. In recent years, we have seen groundbreaking research on pediatric diseases such as sickle cell disease and leukemia as a result of this dedicated research, said Senator Bennet. I am proud to co-sponsor the PACT Act to provide much-needed assistance to strengthen our nation's commitment to supporting medical researchers who have dedicated their lives to studying lifesaving treatments for pediatric diseases.
To tackle childhood diseases, we must invest in pediatric education and research, said Senator Brown. This legislation will help increase support for pediatric medical researchers and their groundbreaking research that continues to save lives.
The Iowa Pediatric Collaborative fully supports implementation of the PACT Act of 2019, said Teri Wahlig, M.D., ChildServe CEO and Iowa Pediatric Collaborative spokesperson. As the primary pediatric specialty providers in Iowa, we see a direct correlation between a robust pediatric research workforce and our ability to provide the most current, effective and innovative treatments for children. The PACT Act recognizes the difficulties in attracting and retaining physician-scientists to the field of pediatric research  especially as Iowa's healthcare workforce ages. The future of pediatric medicine depends on a continuous pipeline of scientists interested in advancing child health, and we applaud Senator Ernst for her efforts in introducing this important legislation.
The Iowa Pediatric Collaborative is comprised of Blank Children's Hospital, ChildServe, MercyOne Children's Hospital, and the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.
Background:
In the past several years, pediatric research slots have seen sharp reductions within the NIH. This includes reductions of Child Health Research Center Awards, which supports fewer than half of the young investigators than it did in 2010. The Pediatric Scientist Development Program has also seen cuts, having been reduced from supporting 17 training slots per institution down to 10 per institution. These reductions contrast with the consistent increases Congress has provided to the overall NIH budget.
The Pediatricians Accelerate Childhood Therapies (PACT) Act would establish an NIH-wide grant to support early-career pediatric researchers. The bill also directs the NIH Pediatric Research Consortium to set priorities, improve coordination and collaboration, and identify gaps and opportunities to support the development of new treatments and cures for diseases and conditions that affect children in Iowa, and across the country.
This legislation is supported by the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Blank Children's Hospital, MercyOne Children's Hospital, ChildServe, the Children's Hospital Association, and the Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research
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https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/iowa-reps-call-administration-uphold-integrity-rfs,Iowa Reps Call on Administration to Uphold Integrity of RFS,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.  Today, Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03), Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), and Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) sent a letter to Russell Vought, the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and President Trump, about the EPA's October supplemental proposed rule regarding the reallocation of Small Refinery Exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Friday, December 6, 2019 the EPA sent their proposed rule to OMB for final review. The Members of Congress expressed serious concerns that the rule as drafted fails to keep the RFS whole, and called on Vought to ensure that the final rule upholds the Administration's guarantee of blending 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol on an annual basis, as is mandated by law.
CLICK HERE to read the letter.
As we travel through our districts in Iowa, we hear first-hand from farmers, renewable fuel producers, and rural communities about the harm caused by the explosion of small refinery exemption (SRE) applications that EPA has approved in recent years. These conditions have caused three ethanol facilities to close permanently and another fourteen to idle, affecting nearly 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of corn bushels on an annual basis, the Members wrote. The RFS promises our rural economies that 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol and increasing volumes of advanced biofuels such as biodiesel will be blended into the nation's transportation fuel supply. Without a binding commitment that EPA will account for exemptions granted by EPA, this rule fails to keep the RFS whole.
The Members concluded, The Office of Management and Budget must ensure that the final rule upholds the integrity of the RFS, avoids further plant closures, and provides farmers and producers certainty going forward.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/opioid-detection-prevention-bills-pass-house,"Opioid Detection, Prevention Bills Pass the House",2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills to improve detection and safe handling of opioids that will help ensure police officers, customs officials, and other Homeland Security safety personal are better protected from exposure while working to prevent the influx of opioids entering the United States. The House passed H.R. 4761, the DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, in a 393 - 1 vote and H.R. 4739, the Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention and Training Act, in a 393-0 vote.
Police officers and customs officials work to keep our communities safe, but often they don't know what type of drugs they might come in contact with on the job. That's why these bills work to ensure they have adequate equipment to test and protect themselves against exposure, said Rep. Axne. I'm proud to have voted for these bills, and to see them pass overwhelmingly.
Between 1999 and 2017, over 700,000 Americans died due to drug overdose, while countless more struggled with addiction. Tragically, 68% of drug overdose deaths involved opioids. At the peak of this epidemic, there were 81 active opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in American.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-and-bost-introduce-legislation-address-rural-teacher-shortages,Finkenauer and Bost Introduce Legislation to Address Rural Teacher Shortages,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Today,U.S. Reps. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) and Mike Bost (R-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to combat inadequate funding and teacher shortages in rural schools. The Rural Education Investment Act requires the Secretary of Education to determine the percentage of K-12 students living in rural areas and ensures it is equal to the percentage of Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant dollars going to schools in rural areas. The TQP Grant Program allows teachers to be placed in a full-time classroom clinical practice while completing Master's-level coursework. All Iowa students deserve access to a high-quality education wherever their home may be, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, From Grinnell, to Northwood, to Waukon, the Rural Education Investment Act will help ensure Iowa schools have a pipeline of great teachers. After attacks on our public school teachers in the Iowa state legislature, we must do everything we can in Congress to recruit and retain teachers in our state. I am proud to join Congressman Bost in pushing for this bipartisan bill to become law. We must continue to look at finding solutions to build up and support our teachers and our kids. 
All students deserve access to a quality education, regardless of where they live, said Congressman Bost. A major part of that comes by educating and training highly qualified teachers. While Southern Illinois is blessed with many amazing educational professionals, rural communities face unique challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to ensure that rural areas receive assistance and resources necessary to grow the next generation of America's leaders. 
Through establishing model residency programs, the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program is essential in preparing educators of the 21st century, said Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association. NEA is proud to support the Rural Education Investment Act to ensure rural communities benefit from TQP and receive a pool of talented, licensed, and effective educators, just as their suburban and urban counterparts. 
The Rural Education Investment Act is supported by the National Education Association, the School Superintendents Association, the National Rural Education Association, the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition, the Iowa State Education Association, and the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z