Q: Who is served by the federal Social Services Block Grant?
A: The Social Services Block Grant is a federal program which provides services for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, disabled, foster children and disadvantaged kids. Services funded through the program in Iowa include adult residential care, adult day care, community-supervised...
With a heavy heart, I grieved the seven fallen astronauts, the brave adventurers aboard Columbia. On Saturday, February 1st, after 16 days in space, their hero’s homecoming abruptly turned into a national tragedy. As the space shuttle fell apart upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in the skies above Texas, the nation once again fell into mourning.
Each of...
Iowans who tuned in to the State of the Union address heard the president make the case for protecting our national security from international threats and defending the homeland from future acts of terrorism. Since 9/11, I know many Iowans are troubled with unease and anxiety about what troubles may lie ahead. Now the possibility of war with Iraq weighs...
Iowans who tuned in to the State of the Union address heard the president make the case for protecting our national security from international threats and defending the homeland from future acts of terrorism. Since 9/11, I know many Iowans are troubled with unease and anxiety about what troubles may lie ahead. Now the possibility of war with Iraq weighs...
Q: What are the advantages of filing your federal taxes electronically?
A: If you’re expecting a refund on your taxes, e-filing is the way to go. The IRS says those who file electronically can expect their refund within ten days, especially when using direct deposit. The turnaround time with the traditional paper return can take weeks. Apparently a lot of...
Each January I ring in the New Year by pledging to keep a resolution I first made in 1980 when the people of Iowa hired me to represent them in the U.S. Senate. Every year I make certain to visit with Iowans face-to-face in each of our 99 counties. As I launch my 23rd annual road trip across Iowa, I know I can count on one issue that gets brought up almost...
The tragic terrorist assault on America in 2001 mobilized the country as folks from all walks of life flocked together in solidarity. From small town U.S.A. to major metropolitan areas from coast to coast, Americans rallied around the flag to grieve for the victims and form a united front against the evildoers who orchestrated such a heinous attack against...
Q: What is flawed with the Medicare funding formula?
A: A complex funding formula treats America’s 40 million Medicare recipients inequitably, depending on where you live in the United States. Every U.S. worker pays the same Medicare payroll tax from each paycheck, yet the services and benefits aren’t the same once you become eligible for the federal health...
Q: How much money has your 1986 anti-fraud amendments helped recover?
A: The U.S. Justice Department announced in December that the whistleblower provisions I pushed through 16 years ago to strengthen a Civil War-era anti-fraud law have recovered $1 billion to the U.S. Treasury for the third year in a row. That pushes the false claims recovery to $10 billion...
A tug of war is in the making in the nation’s capital as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle stake out their positions on how best to grow the languishing U.S. economy. Even before the president officially outlined his economic growth and jobs creation plan in January, his critics were quick to define the debate in their terms. If you believed their line...
Q: Is Congress considering reinstating the draft?
A: At the opening of the 108th Congress in January, Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York introduced legislation to reinstate the draft, a compulsory method of calling up men and women from ages 18-26 to serve in the military. His bill would require young Americans to enlist in the military or perform mandatory...
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 changed the way Americans looked upon the federal government to keep them safe from harm. During the Cold War era, Americans found peace of mind in a superior military infrastructure. At the turn of the 21st century, America's way of life is under attack from an underground network of extremists and evildoers...
Although many of us may know of someone victimized by identity theft, some folks still feel it won't happen to them. Unfortunately, it appears the chances of falling victim to identity fraud are getting worse.
In our increasingly cash-free society, advanced technology allows consumers to shop online, pay with plastic and receive their paychecks or pay their...
Q: What steps should be taken if an individual suspects identity fraud?
A: In this situation, haste does not make waste. Take the following four steps as soon as possible. First, contact the three major credit bureaus to report the suspected fraud and request that a fraud alert be put in your file. Close fraudulent or tampered credit, banking and utility...
American consumers and health care providers increasingly rely on blockbuster miracle drugs that essentially have changed the practice of medicine and delivery of health care in the last 20 years. Pharmaceutical companies invest millions of dollars in scientific research and development costs each year to keep pace with market demands for the next miracle...
Q: What is LIHEAP?
A: The federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LI-HEAP) helps poor households pay for heating and cooling their homes. I have long supported federal funding for this program. It provides critical assistance for families, seniors and disabled individuals who struggle to pay their home energy bills. As winter approaches with cold...
Q: What prompted your longstanding advocacy of whistleblowers?
A: Whistleblowers are unsung heroes who often risk losing their livelihoods, friends and career to expose wrongdoing. It takes courage and integrity to go against the grain, especially in tightly controlled organizations like the Pentagon and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In both the...
American consumers are known for their shopping savvy. Whether searching for the best deal on a car, computer or this season’s 'must-have' toy, Americans spend valuable time comparison-shopping either on-line or on Main Street.
Usually, the extra time spent is well worth the effort. Most folks feel good when they get in on a bargain. At the same time, few...
Q: What steps have you taken to crack down on the smuggling of illegal immigrants into the U.S.?
A: While such criminal activity unfortunately has been a problem for years, the recent finding of 11 deceased victims aboard a rail car in Denison exposed the tragic risks wrought by human smuggling. For nearly four months, the locked, unventilated grain car sat...
American voters made history in the 2002 mid-term congressional elections. First, more Americans went to the polls than in 1998, reversing a discouraging trend during mid-term cycles. And when they cast their ballots, voters bucked another well-established trend of American politics, i.e., the president’s party historically loses seats during a mid-term...
