Grassley Takes Careful Approach to Prescription Drug Coverage


-- Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that House-Senate appropriators have included $700,000 for the National Mass Fatalities Institute at Kirkwood Community College in the final version of the labor, health and education spending bill for fiscal year 2002. Grassley worked to gain increased funding for the project, which establishes a national training center for professional who specialize in handling mass fatalities incidents.

"In the face of continued terrorist threats, the funding for the National Mass Fatalities Institute is critical in order to better train professionals in responding to these types of incidents," Grassley said.

Grassley also worked to include provisions in the bill that improve science, math and technology education in Iowa and boost the state's workforce.

"The funding in this bill will help build a better workforce in the state," Grassley said. "Iowa students will be better prepared for jobs in math, science and technology and Iowa's employers will see a boost in the number of available workers as immigrants and refugees in the state become better prepared to enter the workforce."

The funding items are included in the conference report to the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill. Members of the House-Senate conference committee met this evening to determine the details of the legislation. Their report is the final version of the bill that will be considered by the House and Senate before going to the White House for the President's approval. The House and Senate are expected to vote on the conference report later this week.

In addition to the National Mass Fatalities Institute, Grassley worked to include the following funding items in the bill:

?$150,000 for the Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching and the Center for Excellence in Science and Math Education at Iowa State University. The goal of these centers is to improve science, mathematics and technology education through collaboration between scientists, mathematicians, professional educators, preservice administration, teachers, business leaders and parents.

?$200,000 for the National Center for Public and Private School Foundations at the University of Northern Iowa. The goal of the project is to establish a program that will help schools learn how to take advantage of charitable giving tax laws.

?$250,000 for a University of Northern Iowa program to integrate immigrants and refugees into the workforce. The program provides essential services to promote integration of immigrants and refugees into the Iowa workforce.