M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Reporters and Editors
RE: Grassley Schedule
DA: Monday, April 8, 2013
Here is information about Senator Grassley’s schedule this week. The Senate is in session.
Senator Grassley is scheduled to meet with Iowans in Washington for Ecumenical Advocacy Days, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Association of Crop Insurers, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Arts Advocacy Days, the American Fraternal Alliance, the American Heart Association, University of Iowa Student Government, the National Association of Postal Supervisors, Growth Energy, Select Specialty Hospital, Lutheran Services of Iowa, the Education Technology Policy Summit, the American Academy of Ophthamology, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
Senator Grassley will meet with Iowa families visiting Washington from Atlantic, Boyden, Renwick, Sioux Center, Griswold, Dubuque, Fort Madison, and Maquoketa.
During the week, Senator Grassley will meet with students from Prairie and Xavier high schools in Cedar Rapids who are in Washington with the Global Leadership Connection. Senator Grassley will answer questions via Skype from 150 students in a public relations class at Iowa State University. He will answer questions via teleconference from 25 students in a human relations class at the University of Northern Iowa. He will meet with four delegates from Henry, Adair, Worth and Story counties who are in Washington for the National 4-H Conference and meet with students from Belle Plaine in Washington with the Close Up Foundation.
Senator Grassley will be a guest this week on public affairs programs hosted by Cindy Kohlmann of KDTH Radio in Dubuque, Sally Hart of KCII Radio in Washington, Bryan Nichols of WTAD Radio in Quincy, Fred Hoffman of KCPS Radio in Burlington, and Mark Hahn of KSCJ Radio in Sioux City.
On Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. (ET), there is a Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism hearing on Current Issues in Campaign Finance Law Enforcement.
On Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a Finance Committee hearing on the Nomination of Marilyn Tavenner to be Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Last week, Senator Grassley asked for a response by Tuesday to his questions about CMS communications on Medicare Advantage payment rates, which reportedly moved stock prices when correctly predicted by an outside firm prior to public release. This is the second time in recent years Grassley has asked CMS to describe its processes for dealing with political intelligence firms and others who seek to profit from government information. In December 2011, he wrote to the agency over allegations from a then-agency employee who said nearly one dozen agency employees were made to have a lengthy meeting with a Wall Street firm in 2009 over reimbursement policy for certain medical devices. The agency’s response revealed loose procedures for dealing with outside firms. Senator Grassley is working on a reform to require political intelligence-gathering firms to register the way lobbyists are required to register, in an effort to provide transparency into a growing industry that seeks information from Congress, the federal agencies, and the White House for financial gain, possibly to the disadvantage of everyday investors.
On Wednesday, April 10, at 10:30 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a Budget Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to serve as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
On Wednesday, April 10, at 2:30 p.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a Judiciary Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.
On Wednesday, April 10, at 4 p.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will meet with civic leaders from the Siouxland area who have traveled to Washington to discuss economic development issues and initiatives. He will attend the annual Siouxland Steak Reception Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, April 11, at 11:30 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will meet with Brenda Maro, Assistant Principal at George Washington Middle School in Dubuque. She was named the 2012-2013 Iowa Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators of Iowa.
On Thursday, April 11, at 9:30 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a Finance Committee members meeting about Tax Reform Options.
On Thursday, April 11, at 10 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in the weekly executive session of the Judiciary Committee. The committee may consider the nomination of Kenneth John Gonzales to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico. Senator Grassley is Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee.
On Thursday, April 11, at 2 p.m. (ET), there is a Budget Committee hearing on the President’s budget proposal for fiscal 2014 (expected Wednesday) with testimony from Acting Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget Jeffrey Zients.
On Thursday, April 11, at 2:30 p.m. (ET), there is a Finance Committee hearing on the President’s budget proposal for fiscal 2014 with testimony from Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.