News Releases

$500,000 to Iowa Railroads WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley said today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $500,000 grant to Westinghouse Airbrake Corporation in Cedar Rapids through the Railroad Safety Technology Program.   The company will use the funds to improve Positive Train Control track database verification and...

Grassley Asks GAO to Review Accountability of Tax Dollars in Build America Bonds Program WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley today asked the Government Accountability Office to conduct an analysis of who benefits from the federal Build America Bonds program and what portion of tax dollars go to Wall Street banks for fees rather than to the infrastructure...

  Grassley Celebrates Adoptive Family from Iowa by Sharing Their Story on Capitol Hill     WASHINGTON – A photo of a Story City family will be displayed in the office of Senator Chuck Grassley this month in celebration of National Adoption Month.   Grassley said the Buckels family story is a “wonderful way” to promote the goals of the...

Q & A: National Adoption Day Q.  What is National Adoption Day?   A.  National Adoption Day is a day when many adoptions of children in foster care are finalized, and families who adopt are celebrated.  Over 30,000 children have been officially adopted on National Adoption Day since the first one was held in 2000.  That year,...

Grassley, Kohl Seek More HHS Leadership in Physician Payment Sunshine Implementation WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Herb Kohl are asking the federal government to move forward in implementing new physician payment sunshine provisions.  The senators said some drug and medical device makers are preparing to meet the new requirements but in...

Grassley: AARP Employees’ Health Care Costs Going Up, Despite AARP-Endorsed Health Care Overhaul M E M O R A N D U M To: Reporters and Editors Re: AARP employees’ health care costs Da: Friday, November 05, 2010 Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over key federal health care programs, made the...

Q & A: Veterans Day 2010 Q. What is Veterans Day?   A. World War I ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting had stopped – pending the treaty – on November 11, 1918, “at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.”     President Wilson declared November 11 Armistice Day,...

  Treasury Needs Plan to Recoup Taxpayer Investment in GM     M E M O R A N D U M To: Reporters and Editors Fr: Jill Gerber for Sen. Grassley, 202/224-6522 Re: GM stock initial public offering Da: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 Sen. Chuck Grassley made the following comment on the terms of GM’s initial public offering of...

Grassley seeks information about immigration channels used by suspected terrorist as a matter of public accountability WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley has asked the Department of Homeland Security for an accounting of the immigration and naturalization channels used by the suspected bomber of the Washington, D.C. Metro system. Grassley said he’s making...

More Than $4 Million to Iowa for Disaster Relief WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded funding totaling $4,883,232.83 to Keokuk and the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids.   Keokuk will receive $1,217,522.52 to...

$735,000 to Iowa from USDA WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development has awarded loans and grants totaling $735,000 to Iowa through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.   “This money will help small rural businesses create jobs for Iowans and stimulate economic growth...

$225,000 to the University of Iowa WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has awarded a $225,000 grant to the University of Iowa.   According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the university will use the funds to...

Boone County Disaster Recovery Center Opening Thursday WASHINGTON – A new Disaster Recovery Center will open this week in Boone County to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the recent storms and flooding in Iowa.   The Boone County Disaster Recovery Center will be located at Luther City Hall, Five Luther St., in Luther, and will...

  Grassley Seeks Details of Potential Conflicts of Interest Among CMS Contractors     WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to detail any identified conflicts of interest among CMS contractors and any steps taken to minimize and prevent such conflicts of interest.  Grassley is...

Q & A: Medicine Abuse Q. Does the U.S. have a problem with abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines?   A. Over-the-counter and prescription medicines save lives and aid in healthy living. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of cases of children and adults abusing prescription drugs to get high or to lose weight. Abuse of...

Grassley Presses the Administration to Fix Lax Oversight of Tax Dollars at Public Housing Agencies WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is pressing the federal government to fix its lax oversight over the billions of taxpayer dollars given to public housing agencies. Grassley’s review and media reports have exposed millions of dollars being paid to...

Grassley Releases Report on Lack of Inspector General Oversight at the International Trade Commission WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the lack of Inspector General (IG) oversight at the International Trade Commission (ITC). Although, the Inspector General Act requires that...

BAUCUS, GRASSLEY, STARK RELEASE GAO REPORT SHOWING NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY IN NURSING HOME OWNERSHIP Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA) released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report today on...

Library of Congress Traveling Exhibition Coming to Iowa WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley received information from the Library of Congress regarding traveling exhibition stops in Iowa.  The Library of Congress’s Traveling Exhibition will stop in Grinnell, Cedar Falls, and Mason City.  The locations, times and dates are below.   October...

IRS Makes Zero Progress on Debt Collection, Despite Ending Private Contractor Program M E M O R A N D U M To: Reporters and Editors Re: GAO report on private contractors’ tax collection Da: Tuesday, October 26, 2010  Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on a report released...