"This funding will go a long way to improve the quality of life for Iowans. It will help Iowa build a better workforce, update health care facilities and improve educational opportunities for teachers and students," Grassley said.
Grassley worked to gain funding in the bill for the National Mass Fatalities Institute at Kirkwood Community College. The project, which establishes a national training center for professionals who specialize in handing mass fatalities incidents, received $700,000.
Grassley also worked to include provisions in the bill that increase educational opportunities for Iowa students, improve schools and boost the state's workforce.
The Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching and the Center for Excellence in Science and Math Education at Iowa State University received $150,000. The goal of these centers is to improve science, math and technology education through a collaboration of parents, educators and business and industry leaders.The National Center for Public and Private School Foundations at the University of Northern Iowa received $200,000 to establish a program that will help school learn how to take advantage of charitable giving tax laws. UNI's program to integrate immigrants and refugees into the workforce received $250,000. The program provides essential services to promote integration of immigrants and refugees into the Iowa workforce.
"These projects will help Iowa students to be better prepared for jobs in math, science and technology and assist immigrants and refugees as they enter the workforce," Grassley said.
The Senate passed the conference report to the Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill by a vote of 90 to 7. The conference report is the final version of the legislation passed by Congress before going to the White House for the president's approval. The House passed the spending plan on Wednesday. The president is expected to sign the bill.
Following are additional Iowa funding items included in the bill:
?$500,000 for Iowa Policy Project for a study on temporary and contingent workers.
?Nearly $212 million was allocated for the construction and renovation of health care facilities throughout the United States. The bill specifically mentions projects for the following Iowa facilities:
?Community Health Care, Inc. in Davenport;
?Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center;
?Grandview Health Center in Des Moines;
?Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines;
?Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport;
?Peoples Community Health Clinic in Waterloo;
?Primary Health Care, Inc. in Des Moines;
?River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa;
?Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City;
?South East Iowa Community Health Centers in Burlington;
?University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
?$800,000 for the University of Iowa for the training of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.
?$1.1 million for the Iowa Department of Public Health to create a Center for Health Care Workforce Shortage
?$1 million for the creation of Iowa State University's Center for Food Security and Public Health
?$1 million for the University of Iowa planning of a Hygenic Lab
?$850,000 for the Iowa State University extension for the training of rural mental health providers
?$1.5 million for the Iowa Department of Public Health for the continuation of a prescription drug cooperative demonstration
?$1.5 million for the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Seamless System to integrate senior programs
?$200,000 for Iowa State University for the universal kitchen design project to develop technologies for independent living for individuals with disabilities.
?$3 million for the continuation and expansion of the Iowa Communications Network statewide fiber optic demonstration
?$100,000 for Invent Iowa to encourage kids to invent and hold fairs to display those inventions
?$1 million for the Iowa Department of Education for additional bilingual and English as a Second Language training in rapid growth areas of Iowa
?$2 million for Iowa Online AP Academy to continue and expand the online advanced placement demonstration
?$500,000 for the Iowa School Board Association Lighthouse for School Reform for the training of school board members on education issues
?$500,000 for the University of Iowa for a demonstration in Iowa of a computerized reading program
?$600,000 for the University of Northern Iowa in collaboration with the Waterloo Community Schools for the expansion of an early childhood development center
?$100,000 for the Iowa Parent Training Information Center for pilot on referral and legal advice
?$800,000 for AIB College of Business in Des Moines for training of court reporting students in captioning
?$1 million for Buena Vista University in Storm Lake for equipment
?$1 million for Central College in Pella for teacher training in technology and for distance education programs
?$200,000 Higher Education Learning Center in Des Moines for curriculum development
?$800,000 for Indian Hills College in Ottumwa for technology upgrades and equipment at the Bioprocess Training Center
?$2 million for the Iowa Student Aid Commission to continue a program of loan forgiveness for teachers
?$1 million for Mount St. Clare College in Clinton to create, test, and implement a technology-based undergraduate and graduate teacher training program
?$800,000 for the University of Dubuque for the creation of a teacher training program focused on environmental science
?$500,000 for the Grout Museum in Waterloo for exhibits on the Sullivan brothers
?$61,000 for the Iowa State Historical Society to catalogue and archive the history of workers in Iowa
?$389,000 for the National Audobon Society's ARK Museum in Dubuque for creation of exhibits and public education