On Tuesday at 10 a.m. (Eastern time), Sen. Grassley will participate in a Judiciary committee hearing regarding post-conviction DNA testing. Two legislative proposals will be considered. Both set up a federal DNA testing program and create a grant program to help states establish DNA testing programs.
On Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time), Sen. Grassley will testify at a hearing of the Environment and Public Works committee on the environmental benefits of ethanol under the Clean Air Act.
On Wednesday at 10 a.m. (Eastern time), Sen. Grassley will guide through the Finance committee a bill that would provide treatment to low-income, uninsured women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through a federally-sponsored early detection program. The existing screening program is a success, but many women who learn they have cancer have no means by which to get treatment. Earlier this year, Sen. Grassley helped secure funding for the breast or cervical treatment initiative from his position on the Budget Committee.
On Wednesday at 12 noon (Eastern time), Sen. Grassley will host a luncheon on Capitol Hill for the international diplomats who spent a week in Iowa last summer on a trade tour Sen. Grassley sponsors every other year to promote Iowa's workforce, manufactured products, financial and insurance services, educational facilities, raw commodities and value-added agricultural products. Through one-on-one meetings and events such as this luncheon, Sen. Grassley works to foster the relationships and ties established during his biennial ambassadors tour. Delegates from over 50 countries visited Iowa on last year's tour.
On Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time), Sen. Grassley will meet with over 100 community leaders from Central Iowa who will be in Washington to promote Greater Des Moines' economic development priorities, including revitalizing the 300-acre Riverpoint West area, H-1B visas for certifying high-skilled workers, and direct air service from Des Moines to Reagan National Airport.
On Thursday, Sen. Grassley will introduce legislation to address the serious challenges faced by America's rural hospitals. Hospitals of all types are reporting difficulties during this era of sharply rising medical costs and lower reimbursement from both private and governmental payors. Unlike larger hospitals that can often find corners to cut to allow them to adjust to these changes, small rural hospitals simply have no financial margin for error. One main thrust of his bipartisan bill is improving Medicare payment to small, rural hospitals, since under Medicare there is a federal responsibility to ensure that these essential facilities can continue to serve their citizens. The bill also includes provisions to make federal grant money more accessible for rural hospitals to upgrade their facilities and technology.
On Thursday at 10 a.m. (Eastern time), the Senate Judiciary committee will take final action on Sen. Grassley's bipartisan bill to reform the class action lawsuit process to better protect consumers. The legislation he sponsored with Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin would stem the conflict of interest that lawyers face in class action lawsuits and help ensure fair settlements for the individuals who are harmed.
On Thursday at 11:30 a.m. (Eastern time), Sen. Grassley will help assemble CARE packages of school supplies for preschool girls and boys whose villages were destroyed during India's October 1999 super cyclone. The CARE packages will consist of educational toys and supplies and will be sent to preschools in poor rural areas devastated by the storms. Sen. Grassley also participated in the CARE event last year.
On Thursday from 7-7:30 p.m. (Central time), Sen. Grassley open the phone lines and respond to e-mail questions during his monthly town meeting on cable television and over the Internet. Iowans are invited to participate and express their concerns on any subject. Cable providers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City will provide live television coverage. To view the program over the Internet, Iowans should go to http://grassley.senate.gov.
Throughout the week, Sen. Grassley will meet with Iowa students from middle schools in Fairfield and Farmington, 4-H, the Upward Bound program, and a group marking National History Day.