News Releases

Grassley on Today's Job Gains Announcement Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on today's announcement that the nation's employers added 308,000 new jobs in March, hiring at the fastest pace in four years. "Job creation is very good news. People have to provide for their families. They need not only jobs,...

Word On: Income Averaging   Q: Are farmers taking advantage of a provision of the tax code called income averaging? A: A new federal report says tens of thousands of farmers who may benefit from income averaging instead overpaid their federal taxes by as much as $33 million for the 2001 tax year. Approximately 52,000 taxpayers used income averaging to...

Grassley to Visit 12 Communities During April Congressional Recess Senator to Continue Annual 99 County Tour Sen. Chuck Grassley announced today that he will visit 12 counties to meet with Iowans during the April Congressional recess to be held April 12 – 16. Town meetings are planned for Perry, Guthrie Center, Jefferson, Carroll, Denison, Missouri Valley,...

Grassley, Baucus Urge Fair Treatment for Retirement Plan Participants Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, have urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to consider the impact of a proposed mutual fund reform on retirement plan participants. In a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission...

Word On: FDA   Q: What public advisory did the FDA issue regarding antidepressants? A: The Food and Drug Administration made headlines in late March when it warned medical professionals to use caution and carefully monitor patients for whom they prescribe antidepressants. In the meantime, the federal agency is continuing to analyze data regarding a...

Grassley Praises Approval of Medicare Drug Discount Card Sponsors Jonah Heywood Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, praised the federal government's approval this week of 28 sponsors to provide older Americans and people with disabilities savings on their prescription drugs, beginning June 1. With the new cards, Medicare...

Wanted: U.S. Jobs by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa   During my county visits throughout the last year with Iowans, one issue comes up consistently at every meeting: Jobs. Many Iowans are concerned about what’s known as outsourcing, whereby American companies send jobs overseas as a cost-savings measure to become more competitive.   Just as...

Grassley Describes Sanctions Impact of Inaction in Trade Dispute Jonah Heywood Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, is urging members of Congress to study the list of U.S. products targeted for increasing tariffs as Congress fails to enact legislation ending a trade dispute with Europe. "Some people might write off the tariffs as...

Grassley Continues to Question Agriculture Department on Soybean Rust Precautions   Sen. Chuck Grassley today continued his efforts to ensure that soybeans and soybean meal coming into the United States is safe from rust. In a letter to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Grassley expressed concern that soymeal would be free...

Today's Medicare trustees' report Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on today's Medicare trustees' report. "The trustees' report recognizes that health care costs are rising. That's no surprise to anyone. Since Medicare beneficiaries deserve a better program, we took a major step forward with our...

Grassley Plans Hearing on New Freedom Initiative for Elderly, Disabled   Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today announced plans to hold a hearing on April 7 to examine President Bush's initiative to streamline services and funding for the elderly and people with disabilities. "The array of federal services for older Americans...

Word On: Trade with Mexico   Q: How is Mexico’s tax on high fructose corn syrup hurting Iowa corn growers? A: Mexico launched a protectionist 20 percent sales tax and 20 percent distribution tax on beverages that do not use cane sugar in January 2002. It’s no coincidence that the stiff import tariff virtually shut out high fructose corn syrup sales...

Grassley Praises Key New Tax Guidance for Farmers   Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today praised the Internal Revenue Service's issuance this week of key tax guidance for farmers. For months, Grassley has been listening to the agricultural community about inadequate guidance and working with the IRS to make sure farmers have...

Keeping Government Accountable Cold War Workers Waiting on Uncle Sam   For three decades, thousands of Iowa workers toiled in a federal ammunition facility just west of Burlington to help protect America during the Cold War. About 4,000 workers assembled and test-fired nuclear weapons at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middleton from the late 1940s...

U.S. case against China on semiconductors Today the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced that the United States has filed a case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging China's discriminatory tax rebate policy for integrated circuits. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Finance Committee, offered the following comments on...

U.S. case against Mexico on high fructose corn syrup Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today commended the decision of the Bush administration to initiate dispute settlement proceedings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) with regard to Mexico's 20 percent tax on soft drinks containing high fructose corn syrup. Sen. Grassley made...

U.S.-Dominican Republic trade agreement Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today welcomed the conclusion of negotiations of the U.S.-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The U.S-Dominican Republic FTA will be "docked onto" the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which was recently concluded between the...

Grassley Praises Funding to Educate Seniors About New Medicare Benefits   Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today praised the Bush administration for dedicating millions of dollars this year and next year for state and local programs that counsel Medicare beneficiaries to help them understand and take advantage of new Medicare...

Grassley Urges Bush to Raise Corn Syrup Dispute With Mexican President   Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today urged President Bush to raise the issue of Mexico's tax on soft drinks containing high fructose corn syrup in his meetings tonight and tomorrow with Mexican President Vicente Fox. Grassley said the Mexican tax...

Grassley: Coordination and Leadership Needed in Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Strategy   Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that the United States faces major challenges in stopping terrorist financing and money laundering. Based on testimony from a hearing before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control he noted that many positive...