WASHINGTON
– Senator Chuck Grassley, along with Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Bruce Braley, sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao asking for quick consideration of Iowa’s request for a National Emergency Grant to assist communities in Iowa that were impacted by deadly tornadoes on May 25. The funding would help with clean-up efforts and assistance in processing damage claims.
“Iowans affected by the tornado have been very resilient, but there’s a long road ahead and a National Emergency Grant will help move the town forward,” Grassley said. “The Department of Labor has already been in contact with Iowa Workforce Development, which should help make the turnaround on a decision a quick process.”
The letter specifically urges Chao to give an expeditious and favorable review to the request for federal assistance from Iowa Workforce Development. Grassley, Harkin and Braley noted that the Department of Labor has made quick action on requests for other parts of the country in the past in order to help with the clean-up of the devastation.
The following is the full text of the letter:
June 6, 2008
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
Secretary
United States Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington
, DC 20210
Dear Madam Secretary:
We are writing to request an expeditious and favorable review of the Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) application for a National Emergency Grant, which was submitted to your Department on June 5, 2008. The application requests federal assistance that will help numerous communities in Iowa impacted by the deadly tornadoes of May 25, 2008. Specifically, the application requests funds to help with the clean-up of the massive tornado destruction that occurred, as well as to assist with the processing of damage claims.
We visited the area after the storm and saw devastation that is almost unbelievable. These communities withstood the brunt of one of the worst tornadoes our state has ever seen. Families have lost homes and loved ones. We believe the Department of Labor (DOL) should support the clean-up and recovery in these Iowa communities, as it has when natural disasters have struck other parts of the United States.
We understand that DOL staff has been in contact with IWD staff already and we appreciate the timely assistance that your staff is providing to IWD. We look forward to your response to our letter. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Tom Harkin Charles Grassley Bruce Braley
United States Senator United States Senator Member of Congress