U.S. challenge of E.U. restriction on biotech products
Today United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced the United States is requesting a World Trade Organization dispute panel to rule on whether the European Union's moratorium on the approval of agricultural biotechnology products violates...
Grassley to Wrap-up Annual Visits to Iowa's 99 Counties
Senator to Closeout with Meetings in 10 Counties During August
? Sen. Chuck Grassley announced today that he will be traveling to 10 counties during the August Congressional recess as part of his pledge to visit each of Iowa's 99 counties every year. These visits will complete Grassley's annual tour...
Grassley Looks Forward to Continued Customs Progress
? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today commented positively on the findings of a new General Accounting Office (GAO) report on the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection's (Customs') prospective rulings.
"This report demonstrates that good accounting makes a difference,"...
Grassley Concerned About Possible Cover-up and Concealment by Interior Officials
20240Dear Secretary Norton,
I am writing you regarding the Inspector General's (IG) report of investigation: "San Rafael Land Exchange" (the report). The Finance Committee is conducting a review of land conservation matters. To that end, I requested and received from the IG a...
Grassley Expresses Concern Over Health Care Contracting Incident
? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, has expressed concern over a General Accounting Office report showing that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator "improperly intervened to exclude" a subcontractor from government work. Grassley expressed...
Grassley Seeks Answers About Backlog in Whistleblower Cases
? Sen. Chuck Grassley has asked the government lawyers charged with protecting whistleblowers to account for the recent doubling of the backlog of cases and to develop a plan of action to better manage cases.
In a letter sent today to the Office of Special Counsel, Grassley referred to a July 21,...
Road Trip Showcases Iowa
by Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa
For the ninth time since 1986, a caravan of international guests will join me on a road trip through Iowa, August 11-15. Launched as a way to showcase Iowa people, products and places during the depressed farm economy in the mid-1980s, my biennial trade tour of Iowa provides a good opportunity...
Grassley: Extension of Chapter 12 Bankruptcy for Farmers Passes Senate
? Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that a temporary extension of a section of the federal bankruptcy code passed the Senate late last night. The section is tailored to help farmers reorganize debt and stay in the business of farming.
The House has already passed the same bill. The...
Grassley, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Urging Ag Trade Liberalization
Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution expressing the Senate's expectation that upcoming trade talks create a more level playing field in the world market for U.S. farmers and ranchers. The resolution expresses...
Grassley Bill to Secure Children's Health Care Money for Iowa Receives Final Passage
Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, has won final passage of his legislation to ensure that Iowa keeps a share of its unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) funds for health insurance for low-income children. The Grassley...
Grassley, Colleagues Seek Consideration of a U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement
20508Dear Ambassador Zoellick:
We are writing to ask for your serious consideration of initiating negotiations with Colombia on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as you consider possible future FTA candidates. While we recognize that your agenda is already extensive, there are compelling...
Grassley Hails Passage of the Chile and Singapore Trade Agreements
Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today praised Senate passage last night of legislation implementing the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements. The Senate passage, following House passage, was the final congressional step needed to implement the...
Grassley Wins Major Victories for Iowa in Senate Energy Bill
? The U.S. Senate today voted for a sweeping energy bill that contains nearly $15.5 billion in tax incentives sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley for Iowa-grown energy including wind, ethanol, biomass, biodiesel and animal waste.
Grassley spearheaded the effort to include an environmentally...
Grassley Works to Require Nursing Homes to Use New Federal Money for Resident Care
? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today said he will work to require nursing homes to use a new federal windfall of $6.9 billion over 10 years for direct care to nursing home residents.
"I expect nursing homes to use the new money to improve...
Grassley Gets Commitment from Attorney General to Scrutinize Smithfield-Farmland Deal
? Sen. Chuck Grassley late yesterday secured a personal commitment from U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to look into the proposed Smithfield acquisition of Farmland.
In a telephone conversation, Ashcroft agreed to Grassley's request to have antitrust officials from the...
Funding for F-15 Radios to Improve Communication During Homeland Defense Missions
? Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that funding for radios in F-15 fighter jets has been approved by Congress and the Pentagon through the reprogramming of funds.
Last year, Grassley raised concerns about the communication capabilities between commercial airliners and fighter...
Grassley Bringing the World to Iowa
Senator Sponsors Five-Day Tour to Foster Trade
to send their ambassador and spouse. If the ambassador is unable to participate, the embassy has the option of sending another designee.
Grassley said during the week the diplomats will stay in the houses of Iowans at the over-night stops in Mason City, the Iowa Great Lakes...
9/11 Report
Sen. Chuck Grassley today made the following statement regarding the 9/11 report released today on the joint investigation by the Congressional Select Committees on Intelligence.
"This report needs to be part of the FBI's transformation from solving crimes to preventing terrorism. Too many signs were missed for anyone to be complacent now or in...
Grassley Asks Mueller to Stop Retaliation of FBI Whistleblowers
? Sen. Chuck Grassley today called on FBI Director Robert Mueller to end the retaliation against FBI agents who allege wrong-doing at the FBI.
"The FBI would be better served if they prevented retaliation in the first place, just like the FBI is now focused on preventing terror attacks, in the...
Grassley Announces $838,568 for Iowa Fire Departments
15 Communities Receive Assistance to Firefighters Grants
? Sen. Chuck Grassley announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $838,568 to 15 fire departments in Iowa through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Fire Operations and Fire Safety grants...
