News Releases

Senate Budget Committee Hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Chairman Greenspan, it is my belief that your successful management of the economy can be summed up with one word ? confidence ? the confidence that financial markets and businesses have in your efforts at the Federal Reserve. Unfortunately, that confidence is missing when it comes...

Hearing Scheduled on United States Trade Representative Event: Confirmation Hearing Date/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001, at 10 a.m. Location: 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building Description: Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Finance Committee, will convene a hearing to consider the nomination by President Bush of Robert Zoellick as United States trade...

Grassley Continues Work for Farmers, Now Off the Agriculture Committee ? Sen. Chuck Grassley said today that he will not have an opportunity to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee during the 107th Congress. Grassley will not have his Agriculture Committee assignment this year because of a rule change restricting the ability of chairman of major...

Vote to confirm Gov. Tommy Thompson Last Thursday, the Committee on Finance held a hearing on the nomination of Gov. Tommy Thompson as secretary of Health and Human Services. Sen. Chuck Grassley, committee chairman, made the following comments in advance of the Senate's expected approval of Thompson: "Gov. Thompson is a problem-solver, focused on improving...

Grassley Works to Make College Education More Affordable Via Tax Code ? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today announced two legislative steps to make higher education more affordable via the tax code. "Technical expertise and college degrees are at a premium in today's super-charged workplaces," Grassley said. "The tax code...

Grassley Takes Reins of Senate Finance Committee Iowa Senator Plans to Focus on Tax, Trade and Retirement Issues Sen. Chuck Grassley this week assumes chairmanship of the influential Senate Finance Committee, where he will guide matters affecting the "quality of life" in America through an evenly divided committee. The Senate earlier this month approved a...

Bush Education Blueprint Sen. Chuck Grassley issued the following comment regarding the education plan announced today by President George W. Bush: "I want President Bush to know he can count on support in Congress. To maintain our competitive edge in the global marketplace, America must have a well-educated work force. "For example, this week I'm...

Grassley Announces $16.9 Million for VA Medical Facilities in Iowa ? Sen. Chuck Grassley announced today that Iowa veterans medical facilities will benefit from the $16.9 million in supplemental funds released to Network 14 for health care services. "This is good news for Iowa veterans," Grassley said. "These funds are needed in order to continue providing...

Floor Statement on Drug-Free America Act of 2001?Jan. 22, 2001 Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the "Drug-Free America Act of 2001." As many of my colleagues know, drug use by the children in our country continues to be a serious concern of mine. The "Drug-Free America Act" offers a series of initiatives that I believe will support efforts across...

Word On: Nutrition   Q: What is the USDA’s new nutrition resource all about? A: Too bad Americans aren’t able to trim surplus pounds as effortlessly as Washington dips into the surplus dollars taxpayers are sending to the federal Treasury. It’s a well-known fact that obesity is on the rise in the United States. As much as half of the U.S. adult...

An Elixer for the Economy   Thanks in large measure to the sure and steady hand calling the shots at the Federal Reserve, the nation's monetary policy helped spur record economic growth in the last decade. Paired with smart fiscal stewardship – some long overdue belt tightening in Washington – Uncle Sam kissed 30 years of deficit spending good-bye and...

Paul O'Neill nomination Today the Senate approved the nomination of Paul O'Neill to serve as Treasury Secretary under President George W. Bush. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, which held O'Neill's nomination hearing, made the following comment on the O'Neill vote. "Paul O'Neill has my confidence for a lot of reasons. He realizes...

Gov. Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services Nominee Gov. Thompson, welcome. I also want to thank Sens. Dole, Kohl and Feingold for accompanying you, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Secretary Shalala for her devoted public service over the past eight years. It is most fitting that we are starting the first health care hearing...

Paul O'Neill, Treasury Secretary Nominee Good morning. I welcome the new committee members introduced by Sen. Baucus and also want to welcome Sen. Snowe and Sen. Kyl to the Finance Committee, along with Sens. Bingaman, Kerry, Torricelli and Lincoln, and welcome back Senator Daschle. There's an old saying: "May you live in interesting times." I think there's...

Confirmation Hearing for Sen. John Ashcroft I'm pleased to welcome Sen. John Ashcroft back to the committee today. I know John Ashcroft to be an upstanding person and a man of integrity who deeply cares about this country. I've been privileged to serve with John here in the Senate and on the Judiciary Committee for the past six years. During this time, I've...

The Beauty of Biomass by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley   Two buzzwords commonly circulated among agribusiness, academic, political and opinion leaders in Iowa these days are biotechnology and value-added agriculture. Ever since the fall-out from the 1980s farm crisis, the public and private sectors in the Hawkeye state have launched efforts to diversify...

Grassley Keeps in Touch with Iowans Iowa's Senior Senator Begins 21st Year of Visiting Every Iowa County In keeping with his annual pledge he has fulfilled for 20 years, Sen. Chuck Grassley said today that he will visit all of Iowa's 99 Counties in 2001. "I appreciate that Iowans are always willing to share their concerns or give me their opinions on...

Word On: U.S. Marshal Service Q. What is the U.S. Marshals Service? A. As the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, the U.S. Marshals Service was created by the first Congress in 1789 when it created the judicial system. While marshals and deputies may trigger images of the Wild West for many Americans, the modern day Marshals Service is busy...

Grassley Pushes for Scrutiny of American Airlines Purchase of TWA Iowa Senator Advocates Thorough Review of Transaction's Impact on Air Service Sen. Chuck Grassley today released a letter he sent to regulatory officials urging vigorous scrutiny of the three-part deal that includes American Airlines' purchase of Trans World Airlines. Grassley's letter to...

USTR nomination Sen. Grassley issued the following comment regarding President-elect Bush's nomination of Robert Zoellick to be U.S. Trade Representative. The Senate Finance Committee, which Sen. Grassley is expected to chair after Jan. 20, is responsible for confirming this nomination. "Bob Zoellick will bring a tremendous amount of experience and vision...