News Releases

Grassley: $2 Million to Support Agriculture Counter-terrorism Project in Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded $2,000,000 to Iowa to prevent agro-terrorism. The Iowa Department of Public Defense, Emergency Management Division, will use this funding to support the Agriculture Counter-terrorism Project,...

Grassley Praises U.S.-China Trade Progress, Urges More Chinese Action Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today recognized the progress made this week in resolving certain United States-China trade differences, yet urged China to take action on several additional trade issues, including China's de facto import ban on porcine proteins...

Grassley Asks for Clarification on FBI Counterterrorism Funds Dear Director Mueller: I am writing to inquire about the Federal Bureau of Investigation's receipt and use of counterterrorism funds throughout the 1990s and more recently, and the effect of the appropriations on the FBI's performance in stopping terrorist attacks and the financial support of...

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...

U.S. Consumers Sick of Rx Sticker Shock It’s Time to Legalize Imports from Canada   Stocking up the medicine cabinet is compelling more and more law-abiding citizens to break federal law and import their prescription drugs from Canada and elsewhere. The trend is illegal, and without the proper safeguards, it could compromise the integrity of the U.S....

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 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, 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,...

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 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,...

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...