News Releases

Word On: OMB   Q: What is OMB? A: The Office of Management and Budget serves as the chief money manager and internal oversight arm of the executive branch of the federal government. It evaluates, formulates and coordinates management procedures within and among federal departments and agencies. From my post on Capitol Hill, I take seriously my watchdog...

Grassley Asks Vice President to Raise U.S. Beef Trade With Japan Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today sent the following letter to Vice President Dick Cheney. April 8, 2004 The Honorable Richard B. Cheney Vice President of the United States The White House Washington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. Vice President: I am writing with regard to...

Grassley says it should be legal to buy prescription drugs from Canada Senator sponsors bill to ensure safety of and timely access to lower-priced pharmaceuticals Sen. Chuck Grassley today introduced a bill that would make it legal for U.S. consumers to buy safe prescription drugs from Canada. Grassley said his legislation reflects consumer demand for the...

Grassley, Baucus Expand Charities Review to Statue of Liberty Foundation Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, today expanded their ongoing review of charities' governance to include the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Their action came after media reports described the lack of movement...

Grassley, Baucus Expand Charities Review to Statue of Liberty Foundation Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, today expanded their ongoing review of charities' governance to include the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Their action came after media reports described the lack of movement...

Grassley Praises Increased Medicare Payments to Rural Hospitals Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today said rural hospitals will see increases in Medicare payments starting now under provisions of the new Medicare law. Grassley, the lead Senate architect of the bipartisan legislation, had insisted on measures in the Medicare law to...

New Medicare Law Benefits Iowans by Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa   This is no April Fool’s joke. As of April 1, 2004, Medicare payments that significantly impact Iowa’s health care delivery system will grow significantly. In fact, over the next 10 years Iowa stands to gain an additional $25 billion.   As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,...

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,...

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,...

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, 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...