News Releases

Medicare Rx Coverage Coming Soon By U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa   Iowans insured by Medicare will receive important information in the mail by mid-October from the federal government about the first-ever voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit that will begin January 1, 2006.   Take the time to read through the handbook "Medicare &...

Grassley Explores Proposals for Long-term Hurricane Rebuilding I’m pleased to call to order this hearing. The Senate Finance Committee will focus on our efforts to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on an important area of our nation – the Gulf Coast region. It was especially devastating to the states of Louisiana,...

Grassley says he will vote to disapprove BRAC recommendations Iowa Senator says process flawed, Commission failed in its responsibilities WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that he will vote for a joint resolution to disapprove the 2005 BRAC recommendations, if such a resolution comes before the Senate. One is under consideration in the House...

Grassley Advances Effort to Bolster Pension Funding WASHINGTON – The leaders of the two Senate committees with jurisdiction over pension issues today reached an agreement on a pension funding and reform bill, clearing the way for Senate consideration. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, Sen. Mike Enzi,...

Grassley Comment on the Opportunity for New FDA Leadership Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, has conducted oversight of the Food and Drug Administration over the last 18 months and called for administrative and legislative changes to make the agency more responsive to new information about safety risks with prescription drugs and...

Grassley Seeks Major Inspector General Role in Policing Katrina Spending WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, today urged federal government inspectors general to weigh in comprehensively on the best way to prevent fraud, waste and abuse in Hurricane Katrina spending. Grassley and...

Organizations Providing Prescription Drug Plans for Iowa Announced Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and chief architect of the Medicare Modernization Act, made the following comment on today’s announcement of the organizations that will offer Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage- Prescription Drug Plans through the...

After Katrina: Relief and Recovery by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa   The epic natural disaster that devastated America's Gulf Coast exposed vulnerability in the chains of command when it comes to the government's response to disaster preparedness and assistance. By all accounts, government at every level failed the victims of Hurricane Katrina in...

Grassley works to prevent abuse of government purchase cards and stop waste of hurricane relief dollars            WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley said that the guidance issued today by the Office of Management and Budget to control expenditures on government employee purchase cards is helpful but that...

Grassley and Harkin Introduce Legislation to Extend Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting Act   WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation that will extend the Livestock Price Reporting Act by one year. The Livestock Price Reporting Act requires packers, processors, and importers to provide...

Grassley Looks for Quick Resumption of Ag Exports from Mississippi River Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on Hurricane Katrina and the resumption of agricultural exports from the Mississippi River. The Committee on Finance has Senate jurisdiction over international trade. "Like those of many other...

Grassley: Housing in Iowa Available for Hurricane Victims through USDA Iowa Senator Makes Announcement this Morning WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley today contacted the Governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to offer housing in Iowa for victims of Hurricane Katrina through Iowa’s Office of Rural Development. "There is an unprecedented...

BRAC Hearing and Rock Island Arsenal Sen. Chuck Grassley today made the following comment after the Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s second day of hearings. These hearings are the basis for the final recommendations that will be submitted to the President for approval. "It’s gratifying to know that the Commission accurately assessed the fairness...

Sen. Grassley Comments on the First Day of the BRAC Commission's Final Hearing Sen. Chuck Grassley today made the following comment after the Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s first day of hearings. "Today’s hearings brought mixed results for the Quad Cities area. The good news is that nearly 400 jobs will be coming to the Arsenal. I’m disappointed,...

Grassley: $2.4 Million to Iowa for 23 Fire Departments Funds Part of 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will award $2,404,519 in grant funding to 23 fire departments in Iowa. The federal funds are provided through the Assistance to Firefighters grant...

Grassley Highlights Lower Costs for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced today that prescription drug plans offering coverage under Medicare’s new benefit will have lower costs than independent experts projected. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, who helped to enact the...

President Bush Signs Into Law Comprehensive Energy Bill Sen. Chuck Grassley today released the following comment after President George Bush signed into law a comprehensive energy bill. Grassley was the lead architect of the tax provisions of the bill which include incentives for alternative sources of energy such as biodiesel, biomass, ethanol, and wind....

Meth: Wake Up to a National Epidemic By U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa   An epidemic is defined as a rapid and extensive development of growth, usually of something unpleasant, among a group of people than would normally be expected.   Epidemic. That's certainly an accurate way to define what's been infiltrating communities across the country...

Agreement Made in COmprehensive Energy Bill 7.5 Billion Gallon Ethanol Mandate Included WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that an agreement was made early this morning between the House and Senate on legislation on a comprehensive energy bill. The legislation includes tax incentives for farmer friendly renewable fuels as well as a 7.5 billion...

Grassley Questions ONDCP Commitment to Stopping Meth   WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, today sent a letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy questioning the agency’s work to stop the use of methamphetamine in the United States. The letter was sent with Sen. Joe Biden,...