Iowans got thumped by a treacherous ice storm in January that tested even the hardiest Midwestern mettle. Entire townships in Western Iowa were left without power as heavy layers of ice and blustery winds pulled down utility lines, stripped massive branches from tree trunks and caused hazardous traveling conditions across the state.
At the rate the winter of...
Q: What internship opportunities do you offer to Iowa students?
A: I strongly encourage and welcome college-age Iowans to intern in my Washington and Iowa offices. Internships are available during the spring and fall semesters and for two six-week summer sessions. Internships are an excellent educational opportunity where students get first-hand exposure to...
Q: What is the State of the Union address?
A: The State of the Union address originated from Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution which states that the President, “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and...
Many Americans look forward to a fresh start with each new calendar year. After weathering troubling times in the last decade, from terrorism attacks to sky-high taxpayer-financed bailouts and stimulus spending, high unemployment rates, catastrophic natural disasters, meltdowns in the mortgage markets, fears of a flu pandemic and runaway federal deficits,...
Q: Why do you conduct oversight of Veterans Affairs (VA)?
A: I regularly conduct pro-active and vigorous congressional oversight of the executive branch of government on behalf of taxpayers and beneficiaries of federal programs, including veterans. I recently received an internal memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs which stated that the wrong filter...
Q: How can Iowans get help in dealing with a problem with the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS?
A: Iowans often come to me with problems they have dealing with federal agencies. As one of Iowa’s U.S. Senators, I work to make sure Iowans get a fair shake from the federal government. To try to help provide taxpayers with better service in dealing with problems...
Q: How can international trade help create jobs?
A: By opening markets through trade liberalizing agreements with countries around the globe, we increase the size of our marketplace. And that fosters greater demand for our goods and services, resulting in increased sales for our producers and service suppliers. Expanding production domestically to fill the...
Q: How can wind energy help create jobs?
A: As I talk with Iowans, there seems to be a recurring theme: they are worried, even scared, about where the country and economy are heading. As the unemployment rate stays at 10 percent nationally and 6.7 percent in Iowa, creating jobs is where the focus of Congress should be. Renewable “green” energy is a win-win...
After a $700 billion bailout that was supposed to keep credit flowing to Main Street, but ended up in Detroit and on Wall Street; a $787 billion stimulus package that was supposed to jump-start the economy but left us with record unemployment; and a $410 billion appropriations bill signed by the President in March, it’s little wonder Iowans are fed up with...
Q: Is it illegal to import goods made by forced labor, including forced child labor, into the United States?
A: Current law prohibits the entry of goods into the United States if they were made from convict labor or forced or indentured labor, including forced or indentured child labor. Even so, the law includes an exception which potentially allows goods to...
Q: What is biodiesel?
A: Biodiesel is a clean-burning renewable fuel alternative to petroleum-based diesel. It’s produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. Since the agricultural products used to produce biodiesel are grown or raised in the United States, it provides jobs and economic opportunities to rural communities while also reducing America’s...
Q: When did Thanksgiving become a federal holiday?
A: Congress approved Thanksgiving as a federal holiday in 1870. It was one of the first five federal holidays. Until 1941, each year the President declared which Thursday Thanksgiving would fall on, usually choosing the last Thursday of the month. In 1941, Congress declared the fourth Thursday in November as...
The federal government has put taxpayers on the hook this year for hundreds of billions of dollars to stimulate the economy and pump up the banking sector and auto industry. The out-of-control spending has mortgaged the future with historic debt and diminished present-day opportunities for economic recovery. In addition, there’s widespread frustration and...
Q: What is the Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act? A: In November, I introduced -- along with Senators Al Franken of Minnesota, Orrin Hatch of Utah, and Dianne Feinstein of California – this bill to help reduce the national backlog of thousands of untested rape kits that are currently in police storage. Rape kits are a tool used by law enforcement...
Like many citizens across the country, Iowans flocked to town meetings this summer to express strongly held views about proposals to reform the delivery of health care in America. To a large degree, people seemed to divide along the lines of those for and against a nationalized health care system.
These face-to-face meetings gave a collective voice to a...
Q: What is American Diabetes Month?
A: American Diabetes Month is held in November to help raise awareness about diabetes, the seriousness of its complications and the importance of prevention and control of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes. In 2007, another 57 million...
Q: What services does the VA provide to veterans?
A: The Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA as it is commonly referred to, helps veterans who become disabled through an injury, disease, or aggravation of an existing condition while in service to the country. The VA provides health services, cash payments and other benefits to eligible veterans.
Q: How can...
Military service places a significant physical and emotional toll on our men and women in uniform. Those who serve on the front lines to protect U.S. national security often face considerable hardship and witness unimaginable brutality to shield loved ones at home from the evils of tyranny and terrorism.
When war veterans return home, many soldiers also...
Q: What is Character Counts!?
A: Character Counts! is an educational program that’s available to help schools teach values and ethics to America’s youth. Getting a well-rounded education involves more than learning to read, write and do arithmetic. Lessons learned at home and in the classroom also should help kids grow into responsible young adults and good...
With Iowa’s harvest season in full swing, it’s fitting that 800 scientists, policymakers, anti-hunger advocates, farmers and business leaders from 65 countries around the world gathered in Des Moines in October for The World Food Prize.
Launched by Iowa’s native son Norman E. Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, the World Food Prize Foundation honors...
