WTO approval of FSC/ETI retaliation
Today the World Trade Organization authorized the European Union to impose up to $4 billion in additional duties on a variety of U.S. exports because the United States has not completed action to repeal the Foreign Sales Corporation/Extraterritorial Income Exclusion Act. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on...
Grassley Meets with Administration Officials, Urges Quick Decision on WTO Biotech Case
Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, held a meeting this morning in his office with top officials from the White House, the Department of State, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Department of Commerce to discuss the need to move...
Singapore Free Trade Agreement
Today, President Bush is scheduled to sign the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement with Singapore's prime minister. The signing comes after months of negotiations and sets the stage for congressional implementation of the agreement, which is expected to take place this summer. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on...
Grassley Works for BioEnergy Program Regulation Changes
? Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that he expects the final rule for the CCC BioEnergy Program to be published in the Federal Register this week.
The CCC BioEnergy Program was created to expand industrial consumption of agriculture commodities by promoting their use in the production of bioenergy. The...
Grassley Urges Continued Effort to Improve Medicare Home Health
? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today urged the Department of Health and Human Services to abandon a proposal to stop collecting data on the quality of care offered to individuals with private insurance who are served by home health agencies. Grassley said the...
GAO Report on Watch lists
Sen. Chuck Grassley today issued the following statement after the release of a General Accounting Office study on the federal government's watch lists and information sharing. The report, entitled "Terrorist Watch Lists Should be Consolidated to Promote Better Integration and Sharing" has alarming findings.
The report, requested...
Grassley Urges U.S. Case Over Ban on Ag Biotech Products
20508Dear Ambassador Zoellick:
I am writing to urge the Administration to promptly initiate dispute settlement proceedings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union regarding that government's moratorium on the approval of new agricultural biotechnology products.
For over four...
Everyday is Earth Day for Farmers
By Senator Chuck Grassley, of Iowa
Communities across America observed the 33rd annual Earth Day in April with recycling projects, park beautification, car-free travel, tree-planting activities and neighborhood clean-ups. I applaud Iowans who organized and participated in their own local events to pay tribute to...
Grassley Works for Lower-Priced Prescription Drugs
? With the high cost of prescription drugs a top concern for Iowans, Sen. Chuck Grassley today introduced legislation to help ensure a competitive marketplace for prescription drugs. Grassley's plan would close a loophole that's been used to create secret, anti-competitive agreements between brand-name and...
Word On: CRP Sign-Up
Q: What changes did the 2002 farm bill make to the CRP program?
A: The 2002 farm bill increased farmland acres eligible for enrollment in the 18-year-old federal Conservation Reserve Program from 36.4 million to 39.2 million. CRP currently helps shield roughly 34 million acres of U.S. topsoil from erosion, water run-off and...
Conflict diamonds legislation
Today President Bush is expected to sign the bipartisan Clean Diamond Trade Act into law. The bill, passed by both the Senate and the House this month under the Senate leadership of Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, will help stop the trade of diamonds that fund violent civil conflicts in many African...
Grassley Helps to Secure Potential Trade Assistance for Iowa Products
? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today praised the inclusion of corn and soybean growers as eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance under the proposed rule on Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers released today.
"The proposed rule brings the Trade...
FBI Investigates Government Seizure, Retention of News Media Documents
? Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting an internal investigation into FBI agents' seizing and retaining mail sent from one news media reporter to another.
The investigation conducted by the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility...
Word On: Amber Alerts
Q: What is the PROTECT Act of 2003?
A: It is every parent’s worst nightmare to experience the horror of a missing, kidnapped child. As a father, grandfather and federal lawmaker who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and as a member of the PROTECT act conference committee, I take personally the responsibility to advance...
Tempers Flare But Tax Policy Prevails
By Senator Chuck Grassley, of Iowa
Folks paying attention to the budget debate in Washington this spring got to see some fireworks well before the Fourth of July. As Congress neared completion of a $2.2 trillion federal budget, the usual give-and-take among lawmakers heated up quickly when the narrowly divided...
Housing and Urban Development credit card problems
Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, has worked to expose government credit card abuse and mismanagement, particularly in the military, where the volume of credit cards has presented significant management problems. Today, Grassley made the following comment on a new report from the...
Grassley Moves Wind Energy Legislation
? Sen. Chuck Grassley has advanced legislation to extend the production tax credit that gives wind energy a fighting chance to compete against traditional, finite sources of energy.
Grassley authored the first-ever wind-energy tax credit in 1992, and now chairs the Senate committee responsible for all tax bills. "Sen....
Word On: Food Labeling Law
Q: What is the country of origin labeling law?
A: During debate on the 2002 farm bill, I worked to include legislation that would empower consumers, enhance food security, promote trade and create lucrative marketing opportunities for America’s farmers. That’s the concept behind the country of origin labeling law. In...
Grassley Hails Final Passage of Conflict Diamonds Bill
? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today praised final passage of his legislation to help stop the trade of diamonds that fund violent civil conflicts in many African countries.
"The trade of conflict diamonds is a serious problem," Grassley said. "Funds from the sale of these...
Senators Release Study on Poorly Tested Tax Forms
$14.7 billion -- for this service. Clearly many taxpayers find the paperwork of taxpaying frustrating, and maybe even maddening. It's hard to see why the IRS doesn't spend more time developing tax forms with real life taxpayers."
"With the tax filing deadline right around the corner, I'm disturbed by the GAO...
