News Releases

Grassley Concerned About Office of Civil Rights at Department of Agriculture 20250Dear Secretary Veneman: As you know, I attended the nomination hearing of your new Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Mr. Vernon Parker. I stated during the hearing that I would like to witness Assistant Secretary Parker have success in overcoming USDA's problems and assist...

Grassley Advances Bill to Secure Children's Health Care Money for Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, has won Senate passage of his legislation to ensure that Iowa keeps a share of its unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program funds for health insurance for low-income children. The Grassley legislation would ensure that...

Grassley Re-introduces Bill to Help People Pay for Long-term Care Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, has re-introduced his bipartisan legislation to help Americans pay for the high costs of long-term care -- nursing home stays, assisted living, home health aides, and other services -- that easily can exceed retirement budgets. "More...

Grassley: Lewis and Clark Rural Water System Receives Funding ? Sen. Chuck Grassley today received confirmation from the Office of Management and Budget that they will restore funding to the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System to supply safe, reliable drinking water to thousands of residents in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. "Rural water not only provides...

Grassley: Lewis and Clark Rural Water System Receives Funding ? Sen. Chuck Grassley today received confirmation from the Office of Management and Budget that they will restore funding to the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System to supply safe, reliable drinking water to thousands of residents in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. "Rural water not only provides...

European Union's agricultural reforms Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on the European Union's agricultural reforms announced today. "A step by the EU on agricultural reform is better than no step at all. I look forward to examining further what is being presented by the EU as a major restructuring of its...

HCA fraud settlement Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on the Justice Department's settlement of the HCA Inc. health fraud case. "I had to badger the Justice Department to see the math in this case. At the last minute, the Justice Department agreed to show my investigators why this settlement was the best...

Grassley Announces $10 Million for Housing Assistance in Iowa ? Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has released $10,408,898 in funds to five communities in Iowa. The funding will be used for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Shelter...

Grassley Urges Mexico to Drop Trade Barriers to U.S. Agricultural Products ? In a strongly worded, example-laden speech on the Senate floor last night, Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, urged the Mexican government to stop imposing barriers on U.S. agricultural products ? many from Iowa ? and thereby undermining its commitments...

Grassley Announces Grants for Eight Iowa Fire Departments ? Sen. Chuck Grassley announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $503,224 to eight fire departments in Iowa through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Fire Operations and Fire Safety grants have been awarded to Anamosa, Cylinder, Hawkeye,...

Potential softwood lumber agreement Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on his preferences for a resolution of the softwood lumber dispute. "The Commerce Department recently released a policy paper designed to move Canada toward a more market-based system of selling its timber. This policy paper provides...

Grassley Announces $2.5 Million in Grants for Brownfields Projects in Iowa ? Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that six communities in Iowa will receive a total of $2,500,000 from the Brownfields program within the Environmental Protection Agency. "Redeveloping industrial areas is an important investment in the future of Iowa. Rejuvenating these areas...

Grassley Expresses Concern Over Egypt's Position on Ag Biotech Case ? Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today expressed concern over reports that Egypt is considering not participating in the challenge at the World Trade Organization against the European Union's moratorium on agricultural biotechnology products. Grassley's letter to...

Grassley Works to Expand Medicare Equity Package for Rural States ? Sen. Chuck Grassley is working to further boost federal payments to Iowa hospitals and doctors as part of the Medicare bill being debated in the U.S. Senate. The overall Medicare bill contains a comprehensive rural health care package crafted by Grassley and Sen. Max Baucus of Montana. The...

GAO report on anthrax clean-up Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on the General Accounting Office report he requested on the anthrax clean-up of the Hart Senate Office Building. "The anthrax contamination in the Hart building was a huge challenge for EPA and the other agencies involved. The clean-up was...

Grassley Works to Add Rx Coverage for Seniors, Fix Medicare Inequity for Iowa ? Sen. Chuck Grassley delivered his opening comments today as the U.S. Senate began day two of debate on sweeping Medicare legislation that would add a prescription drug benefit and address the flawed Medicare payment formula that shortchanges rural states, including Iowa. As...

Grassley Works to Keep Children's Health Care Money in Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, starting this week will work toward Senate approval of his legislation to ensure that Iowa keeps a share of its unspent Children's Health Insurance Program funds for health insurance for low-income children. The Grassley legislation ?...

Decision on Mexican trade Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on the decision of the U.S. Trade Representative to request World Trade Organization consultations on Mexico's antidumping order on U.S. beef. "I'm pleased with the decision of the U.S. Trade Representative to request WTO consultations regarding...

Word On: Medicare Rx   Q: Is Washington really poised to add prescription drug benefits to Medicare? A: For years, candidates for public office and incumbents have campaigned on a platform to help seniors pay for their prescription drugs through the Medicare program. The federal health insurance program provides health care coverage for 40 million...

EU's Common Agricultural Policy Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today expressed concerns regarding reports that France and Germany have agreed to work together to prevent major changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union. The agreement between France and Germany was reached this week at CAP reform...