News Releases

Grassley Seeks Answers on Motorized Wheelchair Reimbursements Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, has asked the General Accounting Office to brief his staff on Medicare reimbursement policies for motorized wheelchairs in light of explosive spending in this area. Grassley said he is concerned about whether the Medicare reimbursement...

Grassley Works to Finalize Special Exposure Cohort Regulation for Former IAAP Cold War Employees Sen. Chuck Grassley today sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson expressing concern that a final rule for the Procedures for Designating Classes of Employees as Members of the Special Exposure Cohort has not been published. The...

Grassley Pushes to Make Education Tax Incentives Permanent Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, is working to make permanent a series of education tax incentives he worked to enact in 2001 and 2002. These incentives would help parents save and pay for their children's education and make it easier to earn a college degree without...

Australian Free Trade Agreement Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on the announcement by the Office of the United States Trade Representative of the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Australia. "I'm pleased that we were able to conclude a trade agreement with Australia....

Grassley Continues Holding Town Meetings Across Iowa During February Congressional Recess Senator to Visit Polk, Story, Mahaska, Keokuk, Washington, Louisa, Scott and Linn Counties Sen. Chuck Grassley announced today that he will hold town meetings in eight Iowa counties during the February Congressional recess to be held February 16 – 20. The town...

Budget Puts Premium on Homeland Security by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, of Iowa   The President delivered to Congress in February his $2.4 trillion budget for the fiscal year that will start in October. With constitutional authority over the federal purse strings, lawmakers decide each year how to fund the federal government and spend your...

Word On: Salute to America’s Farmers   Q: Where on Earth can consumers earn enough to pay for a year’s worth of food in just 36 days? A: According to an annual analysis compiled by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average American family in 2004 earns enough to pay for a year’s worth of food in just 36 days. That’s a bargain unmatched around...

Grassley Praises Committee Passage of Highway, Corporate Reform, IRS Bills Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today praised the committee's passage of legislation to finance highway improvements, rein in a tax perk for companies, and fix several tax code headaches for taxpayers. Highway bill. Congress is considering legislation to...

Grassley Seeks WTO Case Over Mexico's Treatment of Corn Syrup Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today asked the Bush administration to initiate a case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Mexico's tax on soft drinks containing high fructose corn syrup. "The tax violates Mexico's international trade commitments and harms Iowa...

Accounting Firms and Tax Shelter Services In 2002, Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, tried to amend the Sarbanes-Oxley accounting standards improvement bill to prohibit public auditors from rendering an audit opinion on the financial statement effects of any tax shelter arrangements that the auditing firm sells to an audit client....

Grassley Works to Increase Federal Funding for Iowa Highways A preliminary formula made public last night would result in Iowa receiving a dramatic increase in federal dollars for highways with at least an additional $687.6 million for Iowa over the next six years, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley. "This is good news for Iowa," Grassley said. "Sometimes...

Grassley Releases Iowa's Share of Proposed Highway Funding Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today praised the new proposed dollar amount of federal highway funding for Iowa over the next six years. Under a preliminary formula, Iowa would receive at least an additional $687.6 million for highways over the next six years. "This is...

Records Sought About Tax-exempt Organizations for Committee's Terror Finance Probe Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, have asked for information about tax-exempt organizations in connection with a Committee investigation into terrorism financing. The Committee on Finance has jurisdiction over tax...

National Taxpayer Advocate 2003 Annual Report to Congress Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on the National Taxpayer Advocate 2003 Annual Report to Congress. "The report gives the Finance Committee a good road map of areas that need reform in the tax code and at the IRS. I'm especially interested in...

Grassley Seeks Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today sought a "thorough housecleaning" at the government agency that contracts for information technology equipment, software and related services for the federal government, citing severe contracting problems. Grassley also asked for a full inspector general review of the...

Ambassador Zoellick's call for re-energized WTO talks Today Robert Zoellick, United States trade representative, called for re-energizing World Trade Organization talks this year. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on this development. "I appreciate any efforts to move the WTO talks forward, so Ambassador...

KPMG announcement of leadership changes Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on KPMG's announcement of leadership changes in its tax practice. "Last October, a KPMG whistleblower testified before the Finance Committee about a corporate culture that rewards those who promote abusive tax shelters. Since...

Resolutions for 2004 by Senator Chuck Grassley, of Iowa   Many Iowans practice a traditional ritual at the start of a New Year. Setting financial, professional, lifestyle, and healthy diet and exercise benchmarks are common personal enrichment goals at the beginning of the calendar year.   With the first half of the 108th Congress wrapped up at...

Grassley, Baucus Seek More Accurate Improper Payment Rates Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, today expressed concern that the Office of Management and Budget has issued guidance to government agencies that likely will result in the understatement of improper or erroneous payments the agencies...

Grassley, Factory Leaders to Rally for Job-Saving Grassley Legislation Event: Press conference, rally Date/time: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004, at 11 a.m. Central Standard Time Location: John Deere Des Moines Works, 825 SW Irvinedale Drive, Ankeny Description: Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of Committee on Finance with jurisdiction over taxes and trade, will return...