If the federal government overpaid someone in your family more than 30 years ago, should you be held responsible for the debt? And should the government have an indefinite amount of time to try to collect the overpayment?
Those questions are pending in the nation’s capital in light of revelations that the Social Security Administration was seizing...
NASCAR’s Richard Childress testified for advanced biofuels during a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee last week emphasizing the valuable role advanced biofuels play in creating jobs and strengthening the rural economy.
There’s no doubt that advanced biofuels are on the move despite many obstacles. Last fall, the Environmental...
with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Q: As the Affordable Care Act shifts more health care costs to the taxpaying public, how is Medicare stacking up as public entitlements consume a growing share of the economy?
A: Virtually every American has a vested interest in the Medicare program, including current and future enrollees,...
Transparency changes behavior. That’s the case whenever government information that ought to be public is brought into the light.
Under pressure, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the latest government agency to embrace a little more transparency.
After I announced my intent to object to Senate consideration of an...
by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
No matter how good the laws are written or how well-intentioned public policies are prescribed, Uncle Sam’s coffers have long been viewed as open season for bad operators who look to line their own pockets on the taxpayer’s dime.
Unfortunately, unaccountable and complex payments systems within the federal...
by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Taxpayers are familiar with the annual drill. Keeping records, gathering receipts, filling out forms, figuring out changes in tax rules. Right around this time, taxpayers are ready to see April 15 disappear into the rearview mirror.
The IRS estimates it...
Momentum is building to extend expired tax provisions that lapsed Dec. 31. Of the 55 expired tax breaks on the table, wind energy incentives are among those left hanging. I’ve been working to build bipartisan, bicameral and regional alliances to secure a victory for America’s 21st century clean energy policy. So far, 144 lawmakers are...
Last week I had the honor of welcoming Dr. Daniel McClure of Washington, Iowa, as the Senate Guest Chaplain as he opened the U.S. Senate with a morning prayer.
Based in Iowa, McClure currently serves as the National Chaplain of the American Legion. He was appointed in August 2013 at the Legion’s Annual...
According to a new report I requested from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), federal intelligence agencies aren’t reporting their employees’ non-mission or personal trips on federal aircraft.
The GAO said that the intelligence agencies, like the CIA or FBI, are required by federal regulations to report non-mission travel to the General...
With Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley
Q: Does the Environmental Protection Agency have jurisdiction over waterways on Iowa farms?
A: Congress writes environmental laws to set in place policies that protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land in which our food grows. The executive branch is tasked with faithfully carrying out these laws. In...
Whistleblowers are patriotic citizens who bring to light waste, fraud and abuse that is hidden in the depths of the federal bureaucracy. That’s why it’s disturbing to learn that the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General might be requiring some whistleblowers to sign non-disclosure agreements that fail to include information about an employee’s...
Q: What is the status for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline project?
A: After nearly six years of rigorous regulatory review, approval for the more than 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline remains in limbo. The TransCanada Corporation awaits a U.S. Presidential Permit to begin construction of the transcontinental infrastructure connecting a 36-inch...
It’s an ongoing challenge for the U.S. government to attract and retain quality military recruits. When men and women sign up, they receive notice of the terms of service and potential retirement benefits. The government enters into a compact of sorts with these patriotic citizens in exchange for their service to the country.
That’s why it bothered me that a...
After nearly six years of rigorous regulatory review, approval for the more than 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline remains in limbo. The TransCanada Corporation awaits a U.S. Presidential Permit to begin construction of the transcontinental infrastructure connecting a 36-inch pipeline system from Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Nebraska. Starting from the...
Q: Is there a one-stop shop for frequently asked questions during tax filing season?
A: The Nobel-winning physicist Albert Einstein reportedly said, “the hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” That’s something coming from the man whose last name is interchangeable with genius. The Presidents’ Day holiday weekend typically kicks off the...
by U. S. Senator Chuck Grassley
During his State of the Union address, the President said that success is limited only by the “strength of our work ethic and scope of our dreams.” By pointing out “the son of a barkeep is Speaker of the House,” the President identified a unifying principle in which 535 lawmakers and the President can agree. America is the...
with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Q: Which reforms is the Senate Judiciary Committee considering to the criminal justice system?
A: A generation or so ago, homicides and other crimes of violence were linked to a rise in illegal drug trafficking. Policymakers across all levels of government zeroed on efforts to make the nation’s streets safer and public...
Sexual abuse and domestic assault are some of the most heinous crimes. Most people agree that these are areas where mandatory minimum criminal sentences are very much needed.
I’m concerned that the absence of mandatory minimum sentences is causing serious problems in deterring these terrible acts of sexual assault and domestic violence. Too many sex...
The harsh winter and propane price spikes have caused hardship for many rural Iowa families who use propane to heat their homes. My office has received calls from worried consumers who have seen their bills go through the roof. Propane dealers are concerned about short supplies in their period of greatest demand.
It’s hard for the layperson to gain knowledge...
with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Q: What are the federal service academies?
A: The United States has five federal service academies: the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.; the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.; the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.; the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y.; and, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy,...
