, DC ? Welcoming Iowa's 40th governor to the job, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley today extended an invitation to Iowa's first Democratic governor in three decades to keep-up a close working relationship with state government and Vilsack's administration.
Earlier this month, Grassley was sworn in to his fourth six-year U.S. Senate term. "I am honored to serve Iowans in the United States Senate and will continue my commitment to work hard for their interests in Washington. As a federal lawmaker, I understand the advantages afforded Iowans by a positive relationship between my Senate office and state government."
Grassley's seniority in the Senate has allowed him to achieve key committee assignments that bear considerable importance to Iowa families, students, senior citizens, farmers, and workers. For example, as a senior member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, Grassley helps develop public policy on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, international trade, and pensions. "I make it a priority to seek ideas from Iowans on issues that affect their quality of life and economic well-being. Since I came to the Senate in 1981, I have enjoyed an open working partnership with Iowa's governor for the benefit of our constituents."
Grassley outlined key areas where a productive relationship between his office and state government has made a difference for Iowans.
- Face It Together ? Last year Grassley launched the nation's first-of-its-kind statewide, anti-drug community coalition called Face It Together (FIT). Working in cooperation with state government, including the Governor's Alliance on Substance Abuse, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Grassley canvassed thousands of Iowans to draft a blueprint for action. FIT seeks to empower all segments of the community to address illegal drug and substance use with emphasis on Iowa's methamphetamine problem;
- Federal Grants/Disaster Relief ? Cooperative efforts between Grassley's office and state government help award federal dollars to local public works projects, community improvement projects, state universities, veterans programs, job assistance and training programs, and the Iowa National Guard;
- Biennial Trade Tour ? An integral partner to Grassley's biennial trade tour of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Economic Development helps coordinate relations between ambassadors with Iowa industries and communities. Since 1986, Grassley has hosted hundreds of international guests to promote Iowa's industry, work force, culture, exports, educational excellence, and agriculture. His seventh trade tour is scheduled for August 1999;
- Public Policy ? Grassley uses his chairmanship of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and senior positions on the Senate Finance, Budget and Judiciary Committees to protect Iowa's interests. Close working relationships with the Iowa Department of Transportation, Department of Human Services, Department of Inspections and Appeals, Department of Elder Affairs, Division of Economic Assistance, and Iowa Attorney General's office has proved instrumental. Such cooperation has allowed Grassley to advocate policies that will help Iowa provide better services to families, retirees, children, nursing home residents, immigrants, and motorists;
- Oversight ? Grassley practices aggressive scrutiny of the federal bureaucracy, including those with federal-state overlap. Grassley keeps in close contact with the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Education and Department of Inspection and Appeals to monitor enforcement of environmental quality standards, proposals for block grant funding and enforcement of nursing home regulations, respectively; and,
- Casework ? Grassley's Washington and state staff in six Iowa offices handle thousands of constituent requests each year for information and assistance with state government agencies.
"I tip my hat to Gov. Terry Branstad and his years of public service," said Grassley. "I look forward to working with Gov. Tom Vilsack to keep close consultations with my office and launch a vibrant beginning for Iowa in the 21st century."
