From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said Wednesday he welcomed committee passage of legislation that will increase opportunities for expanded trade markets for U.S. products, including agricultural products, manufactured goods and financial products from Iowa. “Iowa farmers, manufacturers and services providers would like access to new markets,” […]
From Press Release Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA 1), along with Congressman Ken Buck (R-CO) and Congressman David Young (R-IA) introduced the House companion to the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2015. U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) authored the legislation, which removes the […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor They tried and failed. Iowa House Democrats attempted Wednesday morning to bypass House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) and force a vote on Gov. Terry Branstad’s hallmark anti-bullying bill, Senate File 488. Conservatives across the state have fought the proposed legislation, saying it unnecessarily […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) drafted a resolution that was unanimously adopted by the Senate Wednesday, commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The full text of the resolution can be read by clicking here. Prior to the resolution’s adoption, Grassley made the following statement. Mr. […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today welcomed committee passage of an amendment he co-sponsored to prioritize agricultural trade technical assistance for businesses and sectors that engage women farmers and entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa. “Women in developing countries can benefit from the technical assistance agricultural trade experts […]
From Press Release Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is continuing to press the Drug Enforcement Administration to answer questions about the agency’s detainment of Daniel Chong, a University of California-San Diego college student in 2012 who was left without food or water for five days. […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today made the following comment on a report released by the House Committee on Ways and Means on the IRS’ spending on priorities other than its essential roles of taxpayer service and fraud prevention, leading to what the agency itself called […]
From Press Release Story County GOP Chairman Brett Barker announced today that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will be attending the second annual Story County Freedom Run. Among the planned participants are U.S. Senator Joni Ernst and Iowa Auditor Mary Mosiman. The event will take place on Saturday, April […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt has been creating than his fair share of Campaign 2016 heads in the past few days. His latest involved perhaps the newest member of the deepening Team GOP bench. During what was supposed to be a friendly interview […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor At the conclusion of regular business on any work day in the Iowa House of Representatives, any member of the chamber may rise and speak about any subject of his or her choosing. These speeches, called “personal points of privilege,” are often used to publicly […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today asked the IRS commissioner to account for weaknesses in computer systems that create opportunities for taxpayer or employee data to be lost, corrupted or stolen. “Protecting taxpayers’ information and ensuring efficient and appropriate administration of the tax system are of […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to part Tuesday in a hearing on “improving accountability and oversight of juvenile justice systems” in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs. At the onset of the hearing, he gave the following prepared statement. In 1974, Congress passed the Juvenile Justice […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today applauded the Iowa House of Representatives for passing House File 641, a bill that aims to connect every acre of Iowa to high-speed broadband Internet. The bill passed 89-5. “We began calling for broadband legislation last […]
From Press Release U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services admitted it erred in granting deferred deportation to a known gang member who is now charged with four counts of first-degree murder in North Carolina. In a letter to Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, USCIS […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act of 2015 that would permanently authorize and require employers to use the E-Verify program, an Internet-based system that assists employers in determining the eligibility of employees to […]
By The Iowa Statesman The U.S. Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Both of Iowa’s senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, played roles in the bill’s passage. The Senate-passed bill also includes human trafficking legislation introduced by Grassley earlier this year. The […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Economic Development Authority director Debi Durham today sent a letter to Iowa’s congressional egation encouraging the passage of Trade Promotion Authority, reforming and reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, and authorizing market-opening trade […]
From Press Release Dallas County Republicans are pleased to announce our next and final speaker for the Dallas County Spring Speaker Series. This is the final speaker of our Dallas County Spring Speaker Series, and it will be held at the West Des Moines Marriott. The last head speaker […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa Senate unanimously adopted a House of Representatives bill that would place preschools operated by or for local school districts under the purview of the Iowa Department of Human Resources. Last week, the Senate adopted House File 347, but with an amendment to further […]
By U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley As the spring planting season fetches long days in the tractor, farmers across Iowa already have invested an abundance of time and money in the new crop before sowing the first seed into the ground. Key management decisions are considered before the fieldwork begins. […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor For the fifth time in as many legislative work days, Iowa House Minority Leader Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) asked Iowa House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) on Monday about the status of conference committee negotiations on school funding for the next two years. Last week, […]
By The Iowa Statesman The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza at a commercial laying facility in Osceola County, Iowa. The facility has 5.3 million hens and is the second confirmed case in the […]
From Press Release Q: What is civil asset forfeiture? A: Asset forfeiture is a crime-fighting tool that enables law enforcement to seize cash or property that’s considered linked to illicit activity. The theory behind the asset forfeiture system is to che off the funding stream used to bankroll criminal […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to to the floor of the Senate to issue the following statement with regard to the complete and timely access for Inspectors General to conduct their necessary oversight of executive branch functions. Mr. President, the ability of the Congress to be […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to to the Senate floor this afternoon to discuss the nomination of George Hanks to be a District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. He also used the opportunity to respond to Democrat critici of the nomination confirmation process. […]
By Iowans for Tax Relief The Iowa Legislature is currently at a stalemate. Last week showed little progress on the budget, the main task Legislators must complete before adjourning this session. This is especially concerning because Legislators have just two weeks before the Legislative session is scheduled to adjourn. […]
By The Iowa Statesman State Rep. Sandy Salmon (R-Janesville) has released her weekly Capitol Corner legislative update. She discussed the Raccoon River water quality lawsuit, private property rights, and the upcoming National Day of Repentance event planned for the Iowa Statehouse on April 30. Capitol Corner may be read […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to part in Monday’s meeting of the budget conference committee. He to the occasion to speak about the public’s expectation for government to “behave responsibly, live within our means, and at the very least, produce a budget.” His full remarks […]
From Press Release An inquiry by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the Justice Department to correct its initial reply to whistleblower claims about hiring practices at the U.S. Marshals Service. In its initial response to Grassley’s first inquiry about the hiring claims, […]
By The Iowa Statesman The Governor’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a photo of an Iowan who lost his life during the Vietnam War. During Gov. Terry Branstad’s weekly press conference, he was joined by Iowa Newspaper Association executive director Chris Mudge, who joined in […]
By The Iowa Statesman Thursday, April 30, will mark the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, which effectively ended the Vietnam War. That day, North Vietnam to control of all of South Vietnam, and immediately declared a united Vietnam. That day, the Iowa Gold Star Museum, located at […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today presented the Congressional Badge of Bravery to retired Iowa State Patrol Trooper Mark Domino of Charles City. Domino was awarded the medal by the U.S. Attorney General for his actions during a bank robbery in Maynard, in Fayette County, […]
By The Iowa Statesman Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is, by all accounts, planning to announce his candidacy for President of the United States tonight on “Special Report with Bret Baier” on FOX News, his former employer. The show airs at 5 p.m. Iowa time. The 2008 Republican Iowa […]
By The Iowa Statesman Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following bills into law: • House File 146: An act concerning gambling game prohibited activities and making penalties applicable. • House File 172: An act relating to corporations’ powers and duties, document filings, meetings, mergers, voting procedures, and […]
By The Iowa Statesman Internet giant Google has announced today it will be investing an additional $1 billion in its Council Bluffs data center in exchange for $19.8 million in sales and use tax refunds. The Iowa Economic Development Authority is taking up the request today, and is likely […]
By The Iowa Statesman Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has frequently said he is “personally pro-life,” and he has a voting record that mostly supports that position. However, an ad that aired during his most recent re-election campaign last fall has some scratching their heads, trying to figure out where […]
From Press Release Iowa Governor Terry Branstad today issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Clinton County in response to recent severe weather. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of a severe storm system that made its way […]
By U.S. Rep. David Young Iowa’s Third Congressional District This was an odd week in Washington; a senior government official shocked the nation with an honest answer to a question I asked her. While I was questioning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Sarah Saldaña during a hearing, she […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Grassley has released his weekly video address in which he discusses the Judiciary Committee hearing he convened to discuss federal asset forfeiture procedures. In the address, he notes the intent to provide restitution for victims of crime, and to prevent organized crime, but […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) yesterday made the following comment on the introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reinstate Trade Promotion authority. Grassley is a senior member and former chairman of the Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over trade. “The introduction of Trade Promotion Authority legislation is […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today praised key Senate committee passage of legislation to identify and serve high ability students from underserved groups. Grassley is the lead sponsor of the TALENT Act, or the To Aid Gifted and High-Ability Learners by Empowering the Nation’s Teachers Act. […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor On the surface, the education funding mechanism in Iowa sounds fairly straight forward: count up the students, figure out how much there is to hand out, then distribute it evenly to all of the school districts. But, reality is never as simple as it may […]
By The Iowa Statesman The White House hasn’t exactly held back on its thoughts about U.S. Attoreny Loretta Lynch’s stalled nomination to be the next Attorney General, and Thursday, the matter reared its ugly head once again during the daily press briefing with Press Secretary Josh Earnest. Asked about […]
From Press Release In September 2014, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) wrote to the National Science Foundation and the National Ecological Observatory Network, a federal grant recipient, to express concern over NEON’s spending of federal funds on parties, alcohol and lobbying and the National Science Foundation’s apparent sanction of […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA 1) announced Thursday that he will be taking part next week in a rally with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, wiy believed to be announcing soon that he will run for the GOP presidential nomination. The event is planned for 12:30-1:30 […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) spe with the National Pork Producers Council today. The following are his prepared remarks from that speech: I am glad to be here with you, and I hope you had a good breakfast that included either ham or bacon to […]
By The Iowa Statesman At the beginning of today’s executive business meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the committee chair, announced there were three nominations to be considered: Sally Yates to be Deputy Attorney General; Kara Stoll to be Circuit Judge for the Federal […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is requesting an explanation for why nearly all of the names on the Justice Department’s gun ban list in the “mental defective” category belong to veterans or their dependents. “It’s disturbing to think that the […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa Senate narrowly adopted Wednesday a bill to reschedule marijuana as a Schedule II controlled substance, and to allow for the use of cannabis for medical purposes in Iowa. Senate File 484 was adopted on a 26-19 vote– an act to allow for the […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, today asked the Justice Department and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for an update on the investigation of alleged misconduct by IRS personnel, including Lois Lerner, in connection with their handling of applications for […]
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