News Releases

Grassley Q&A: Presidential $1 Coins    Q: What is the Presidential $1 Coin?   A: Many Iowa families have made the U.S. Mint’s popular 50 State Quarters® program an enjoyable learning tool for their children and grandchildren. As a life-long public servant, I’m tickled to observe genuine enthusiasm when kids show their parents a state...

Grassley Calls for Smooth Transition to New Medicare Part B Premiums Washington, DC -- U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), today commented on new information from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) ability to successfully implement income-related Medicare Part B...

Word On: Medicare Rx Open Season    Q: When can Medicare beneficiaries enroll or change prescription drug providers?    A: From Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, Medicare patients may choose to change their current drug-coverage plans. Administrators are encouraging beneficiaries to enroll by Dec. 8 to ensure the smoothest transition when the new...

Tax-exempt hospitals, community benefit and charitable care Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, continues to look into whether the nation’s non-profit hospitals properly account for their charitable activities, given the tax-exempt status they receive. The designation results in tax benefits totaling tens of billions of dollars every...

Grassley Calls on Trade Office to Ensure Implementation of China’s WTO Financial Services Commitments WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Finance Committee, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking Democrat, this week sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab urging her to ensure that China implement the promises it made in the World Trade...

Farm Policy in 110th Congress by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley    America’s agricultural abundance launched an historic feast of thanksgiving in 1621 between the colonists and Native Americans. Giving thanks for a plentiful harvest foreshadowed America’s berth as breadbasket to the world. Eventually President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in 1863 a...

Grassley: Pension Reforms Are Easing Guaranty Agency’s Deficit Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance and a key author of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, made the following comment on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s Fiscal Year 2006 financial results released today. "It’s good to see the new pension reforms already working...

Say No to Federal Tax Increase By U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley      The U.S. Constitution grants the power of the purse to federal lawmakers. Article 1, section 8 says Congress “shall have the power to lay and collect taxes…[to] pay the debts and provide for the Defense and general welfare of the United States.”   The federal budget exceeds...

Grassley Urges Social Security to Improve Disability Programs Administration Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over Social Security, today highlighted the release of a report by the Government Accountability Office entitled, "Social Security Disability Programs: Clearer Guidance Could Help SSA Apply the Medical...

Grassley Seeks Economic Analysis of Industrial Biotechnology WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over international trade, has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to conduct an analysis of the competitive conditions in the industrial biotechnology industry. "Industrial biotechnology is emerging...

Grassley, Baucus Express Concern Over Continued Tax Free File Program Problems WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking Democrat, today expressed concern that the Internal Revenue Service continues to make the tax Free File program inaccessible, complicated, and otherwise frustrating for...

Grassley, Baucus, Colleagues Urge CMS to Continue Improving Medicare Drug Benefit Pharmacy Policies to Help Beneficiaries WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, Sen. Max Baucus, ranking Democrat, and 15 fellow senators are urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue improving Medicare prescription...

Partisan attacks on Medicare drug benefit              Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over the Medicare program, was instrumental in the development of Medicare’s first-ever prescription drug benefit.  Today he made the following comment on...

Grassley Continues to Press FDA on Handling of Hampshire Case WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, continues to press the federal Food and Drug Administration for details of how the agency handled an internal investigation of one of its scientists, Dr. Victoria Hampshire. Grassley also wants to know how the agency...

Grassley Comments on Red Cross governance reforms  

Grassley Accepts Applications for U.S. Attorney Position Vacancy in Iowa's Northern District WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that Iowans interested in applying to be a U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa should send their applications to his Cedar Rapids office by November 17. Grassley said he wants to make sure that all Iowans are...

Grassley Calls on FBI to Provide Briefing, Documents on Unsolved Anthrax Case WASHINGTON – After years of dead-ends and a lack of progress in the FBI’s search for the person(s) who targeted members of Congress with a deadly strain of anthrax, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa has requested a full briefing and a number of documents related to the case.  ...

Word On: Home Repair Assistance    Q: Is assistance available through the USDA to help rural residents make improvements to their homes?   A: Yes. USDA Rural Development invests roughly $100 million annually to provide rural Iowa families with safe, decent and sanitary housing. This includes low-interest loans and grants available to families...

Grassley: Afghan Investment Agency to Sponsor ‘Matchmaker’ Conferences Grassley: Afghan Investment Agency to Sponsor ‘Matchmaker’ Conferences Des Moineswill be Second Stop on Tour               WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that the Afghan Investment Support Agency will be...

Grassley: Linn County to hold Veteran Stand Down             WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that his office will be participating in the Linn County Department of Veterans Affairs “Stand Down” for veterans who are homeless or in...