August 25, 2011
Des Moines
I spent most of today in and around Des Moines meeting with constituents and holding office hours. One such meeting was with local representatives of UPS, who wanted me to see firsthand their new fleet of U.S. trucks that are technologically advanced and energy efficient.
August 24, 2011
Des Moines and Newton
My day started in downtown Des Moines today where I spoke to a great group – the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) – at the “Rooted in America: 24th Annual Ethanol Conference.” As a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, I am proud to have championed this industry since the days before it was an industry at all.
August 23, 2011
Council Bluffs, Glenwood and Carter Lake
I continued my middle class listening tour today in Council Bluffs where Iowa Western Community College hosted me for my second roundtable discussion on this pressing issue. I was glad to have Congressman Boswell on hand for the event.
August 22, 2011
Grinnell and Cedar Rapids
My travels in Iowa kicked off this week with events focused on how to rebuild the middle class in America. In my mind, there can be no economic recovery and no return to fiscal balance without the recovery of the middle class.
June 10, 2011
Harkin Appears Live on MSNBC’s
Today, Senator Harkin appeared live on “Morning Joe” during a special three-hour broadcast dedicated to education in America. He discussed the importance of investing in education in his role as Chairman of the Appropriations panel that funds education and his work to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. His interview can be viewed on the MSNBC website.
June 3, 2011
Harkin: Hasten Deficit Reduction Talks By Taking GOP Plan To End Medicare Off Table (Audio)
Shortly after Moody’s Investors Service warned that the nation’s credit rating is at risk unless Congress acts soon to avert a default, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) in a media call to urge Congressional Republicans to help speed along a deal by taking the GOP’s plan to dismantle Medicare off the table in the bipartisan talks.
April 27, 2011
Ryan Budget: Detrimental to the Middle Class
On Friday, April 15th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2012 on a party line vote. Analysis shows that the budget proposal will have a detrimental impact on Iowa.
April 5, 2011
Harkin Interview Featured in New Book, “Chocolate Nations”
An interview with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) on his work to combat child labor in the cocoa producing region of West Africa is featured in a new book on the origins of chocolate production, “Chocolate Nations.” The author, Orla Ryan, refers to him as “the crusading senator” for his work to secure an agreement between the chocolate industry and the African countries to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
March 22, 2011
The Affordable Care Act and Iowa - Stories from Around the State
March 23, 2011 marks one year since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. This landmark law does three important things: it ensures quality, affordable coverage to all Americans. It cracks down on the worst abuses by health insurance companies. And it places a sharp new emphasis on wellness and disease prevention.
February 22, 2011
Impact of House Budget Cuts on Iowa
Recently, the U.S. House passed a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011. The current funding proposal expires on March 18, 2011. Analysis shows that the budget proposal will have a detrimental impact on Iowa.
February 15, 2011
VIDEO: Harkin Holds Hearing on Fighting Fraud and Waste in Health Care
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies, held a hearing aimed at expanding support for efforts to combat waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. At the hearing titled “Fighting Fraud and Waste in Medicare and Medicaid,” Harkin, other senators and witnesses discussed how a small investment in cutting fraud and abuse can reap large rewards for taxpayers. Two weeks ago, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that efforts to prevent and root out health care fraud recovered a stunning $4 billion in taxpayer dollars last year – a record high. On average, every dollar that the Federal Government spent on these efforts returned $6.80 to the U.S. Treasury.
January 13, 2011
Honoring Dr. King with Service
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led an inspiring life, encouraging the best in all of us and working for a more just America – an America where as Dr. King said, “people are not judged on the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” He was a man of courage and a man of service who once said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” Today, I ask all Iowans to answer this question
January 5, 2011
Harkin Fights to Break Senate Gridlock
“The filibuster rule has become an absurd and destructive anachronism. At issue is a fundamental principle of our democracy—rule of the majority in a legislative body. We simply cannot govern a 21st Century superpower when a minority of just 41 senators, representing potentially as little as 11 percent of the population, can dictate action—or inaction—not just to the majority of senators but to a majority of the American people. The Senate cannot continue down this path of obstruction, paralysis and de facto minority rule.” – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
November 18, 2010
Harkin Leads the Fight to Protect Health Care Reform
Sen. Harkin has taken the lead fighting attempts to repeal and defund our nation’s historic Health Reform law. This law includes important consumer protections that put patients, not insurance companies, in charge of their health care. Every year on Veterans Day, Americans take the time to give our millions of brave veterans the honor and thanks they deserve. We thank those who have served out of love of country, and a desire to protect the rights that we prize so dearly. As a veteran myself, I am humbled by the gratitude that is shown on this day, but am even more humbled by the sacrifices that so many other veterans and their families have made and continue to make. Breast cancer is a far-reaching disease that affects hundreds of thousands of women each year and impacts the lives of the millions who love them. It is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer) and the National Cancer Institute estimates that this year 207,090 women will develop breast cancer and 39,840 will die from it. I know firsthand just how much this disease can impact a family - my two sisters both had breast cancer, and both died from the disease. The Aug. 23 ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth halting federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research has had a chilling effect on one of the most promising fields of biomedical inquiry. A U.S. Court of Appeals has stayed Judge Lamberth’s preliminary injunction, allowing funding to continue while the case is heard. But the out-of-the-blue ruling by this single activist judge is already having profoundly destructive effects nationwide. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement as Iowans rallied to celebrate the six-month anniversary of the Affordable Care Act – the landmark health reform effort –becoming law. The law was signed on March 23, 2010 by President Obama. Harkin, as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, played a pivotal role in the bill’s Senate passage and was on hand for the bill signing. This week, Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) is due to offer an amendment to the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act that could effectively kill the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This would be a grave mistake. Visit to Goodrich Engine Components Mills County Bridge Groundbreaking Breda- Tour of Move It One of the more dramatic developments in higher education in recent years is the explosive growth of for-profit colleges. The largest for-profit institution, the University of Phoenix, has a student body of more than 440,000, far larger than all the universities in the Big Ten combined. Some for-profit colleges are living up to their promise, pioneering innovative approaches to enrolling students and helping nontraditional students earn college degrees and postsecondary certificates. I met with Andrew Lent, City Coordinator for the City of Vinton to discuss the ADA and the effects that it had on Vinton. We talked about the remodeled Community Center/Storm Shelter and the accessibility features it now has to help insure that people with disabilities will be able to fully utilize it. He told me of the downtown renovation project of a few years ago that allowed the city to fully integrate accessibility features into the public areas. He told me of working with a local business to design and install a ramp to their front door that allows wheelchair access but does not block the public sidewalk. Over all he felt that Vinton has done a good job of complying with the ADA and that mostly it was just a matter of common sense. Des Moines - Naturalization Ceremony This morning I made my annual trek to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Every August I look forward to walking around the fair grounds, meeting new people and even bumping into some old friends – you never know who you are going to run into while at the fair! Today was the opening day and everyone was excited to see all of this year’s attractions. Tour of the National Mississippi River Museum Tour of VGM Deployment Ceremony, Des Moines The River Hills School for special-needs students in Cedar Rapids recently made improvements to the school’s two play areas. On August 3, 2010, River Hills Principal, Mike Lonning, gave Harkin staff a tour of the improvements. Tom was featured on Power Breakfast yesterday regarding the issue of for-profit colleges. The first stop on my July 29th ADA tour was the Onawa Public Library in Monona County. The beautiful building is over 100 years old, but boasts many of the same modern conveniences as a brand new library that still retains the historic feel of the building. On July 29, 2010, a member of Senator Harkin’s staff met with Mayor Fonley Allen who took me on a tour of the city, starting with Dunlap’s Wellness Center. The Center, which is nearly four years old, was supported in part with grant money. It is equipped with a weight room, and a room with a wide array of exercise machines. It also has a climbing wall, which was put up for a local teenage boy with cerebral palsy. I found it interesting to learn that he uses the wall, with assistance from an aide, for his physical therapy. The Manchester Aquatic Center is an older pool, which was renovated about 13 years ago with funds provided by the City of Manchester. They also obtained a state grant from the Department of Natural Resources to renovate the concession stand. At this time, they have about six regular clients who are classified as disabled. They usually take about 20 disabled clients per year. Cindy Lapel, the long-time elementary principal in this small Iowa town on the Minnesota border, is very proud of their new elementary and preschool playground. The school had applied for a pre-school grant to build a much-needed area in their existing elementary school. Some of the priorities of this grant were to have a fenced in area and ADA compatible play equipment. The community rallied round and passed a local option sales tax to pay for the playground. A motorcycle accident in 2005 left Drexall (Fred) Wall with mobility issues stemming from brain trauma. Prior to the accident, Fred farmed crops and livestock in addition to driving a school bus for the local district. After the accident, Fred found it harder and harder to feed his cattle by bucket and received some much needed assistance from Easter Seals and the Rural Solutions Program. All children attending Cherokee’s Early Childhood Learning Center are able to enjoy the Center’s state of the art playground. The playground was recently updated to make it more accessible for children with disabilities. Thanks to grant funding, it was resurfaced and is now equipped with a surface that is more accommodating to children in wheelchairs, and is generally much safer for all children playing on it than gravel. In addition to this equipment, the Center includes art easels, and weatherproof musical equipment at a height that makes these features available for all children to use. Adaptive bicycles are also available to the children. Lois Rowe, Mary Jo Browning and Helen Helgeland shared their stories about the Foster Grandparent Program and their concerns regarding the program during the current economic downturn. The Foster Grandparent Program assists many kids with disabilities that may need additional help in the classroom. The program also assists grandparent volunteers who may be disabled, allowing them to fully participate as well. Nathan Voss is a local grain and livestock farmer who lives just northwest of Galva. In 1999 he was injured in a car accident, and as a result of the accident, Nathan uses a wheelchair to be mobile. Cathy Ballard has Cerebral Palsy and uses a walker. She graduated from Albia High School and is able to go to work at Ragtime Industries every day. Cathy has lots of friends at work and is successful in her job. She loves to go to church, where she really enjoys the music and friendships. She attends the Easter Seals Camp during the summer and loves the activities and friends there. Cathy’s sister and mother are very proud of her and will continue to advocate for her and push for greater accessibility at home and in their travels. Carman Schacht lives in rural Howard County with her husband Everett and many cats. Her son lives nearby. Carman is retired from the NE Iowa Community Action Agency where she was in charge of managing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. She has been disabled since 1988, however it was not until 1995 when further complications set in and her legs gave out to where she is no longer able to walk. City Administrator Mark Nitchals demonstrated many different ways that Winterset has made the city accessible and ADA compatible during this tour. The Independent Living Center in Iowa City and Senator Harkin’s office hosted a listening post for people to share their stories about living with a disability, how it changed their lives and how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has shaped their day-to-day living. I toured the Pioneer Park Playground with the Harlan Parks Department supervisor, Kevin Krohn. Pioneer Park was created in 1995, and is accessible to a degree. For example, a parent in a wheelchair is able to get into the playground, but it would be very difficult for that parent to keep a close eye on their child because the rest of the playground is wood mulch rather than hard-surface. The South Central Iowa Center for Independent Living in Oskaloosa organized an ADA forum on July 12th. About 25 people attended the forum to share thoughts on what was working with the ADA and what needs improvement. Mychal Moon is a young man who was disabled in an accident immediately after his graduation from MFL Mar Mac High School in Monona. Mychal has a wonderful positive attitude and is now living on his own. He makes wooden yard bean bag games with a Hawkeye logo as a hobby, but his real job is helping his father with their large farm. In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Linn County ADA Celebration Committee hosted a picnic at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. The Osage Public Library was built in 1995 and is now in full compliance with ADA regulations. The single level building features electronic door openers and meeting rooms printed in Braille and English. Mary DeBower was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1980, but it has only over the past three years that her condition has progressed to the point where she needs to use a wheelchair. The problem was that she and her husband, Russ, lived on a farm located outside of Allison, Iowa. This two-story wood framed house was not designed to accommodate a wheel chair. Brigitte and her husband, Joe, are parents to four children, two of which, Josie (5 years old) and Jacob (3 years old) have Down Syndrome. The Area Education Association’s Early Access program has provided a therapist who comes into their home and works with Josie and Jacob. Josie is currently attending pre-school in Cedar Falls as they are better equipped to work with children who have special needs. Jacob will start pre-school this fall. The local school system in Grundy Center provides the transportation to and from Cedar Falls. In its second season, this aquatic center offers something for everyone. It’s zero depth entry helps those in wheelchairs and walkers gain entry into the pool. The pool also features a climbing apparatus, an umbrella area on the water, low and high diving boards and an aquatic aerobic area equipped with a slow current that provides resistance for those walking against the current. Maytag Park is a 40 acre park in Newton that offers the town many facilities including frisbee golf, a playground, picnic shelters and a pool. In 1997, the pool was constructed and the original bathhouse from 1935 was renovated, both facilities were made accessible via multiple ramps in the sidewalk and ramps at the entrances. The IowAble Foundation is located on the square in Centerville and Patti Lind is its director. IowAble Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advertises as: Iowa’s Financing Resource for Individuals with Disabilities. They give low-interest loans to Iowans for home modifications, modified vehicles, computer hardware and software and assistive technologies. Patti says that many low-income Iowans and people with disabilities have poor, or no financial credit, which makes it difficult to secure a loan. The program breaks that barrier and ultimately raises their credit rating for future financial security. Patti shared that they work with other organizations in Iowa such as the Small Business Administration, SCORE program to assists their clients. A few years ago Ron Bollmeyer, Superintendent of Gilmore City-Bradgate Community School District, looked out the window at recess and noticed hardly anyone was playing on the playground equipment. Then the thought occurred to him, “who would want to?” The equipment was old, rusty looking and uninviting, and it may have been dangerous. He made a decision to update the playground with a goal to make it fun and accessible as the district knew in a few years it would have a student who used a wheelchair. The Council Bluffs Center for Independent Living and the League of Human Dignity hosted an ADA forum. There was a great discussion on the impacts of the ADA (both intended and unintended). For example, parks and public buildings are now accessible to individuals with disabilities and those individuals can now attend school plays or baseball games. Nearly 100 individuals who volunteer their time in either the Foster Grandparent Program or the Senior Companion Program in Rock Valley met and shared their stories regarding the ADA and their time in the program. The foster grandparents give their time by helping students in local schools in six northwest Iowa counties. All of the volunteers have witnessed what life was like before the ADA and after passage of the ADA, and gave a unique perspective on the changes we have seen in the last 20 years. Tom and Justin with the Region 12 Council of Governments discussed the use of accessible transportation for people across the region. According to Tom, each community is served by at least one accessible bus, making it easier for individuals with disabilities to transport themselves to different communities, doctor’s appointments or grocery shopping. Region 12 provides over 100,000 rides per year to individuals with disabilities. Harkin staff had beautiful weather on the day they toured the Kennedy Family Aquatic Center in Cedar County, IA on July 27, 2010. It is the only indoor/outdoor aquatic complex in that region and the ADA advancements were truly state-of-the-art. On July 27, 2010, Harkin staff had the opportunity to visit with approximately 20 members of the community from various agencies about the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, commonly referred to as the ADA. State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm, City and Country officials, area providers for the disabled and their clients, advocates, and staff for Senators Harkin and Grassley’s office gathered on the steps of the Winneshiek County Court House to commemorate the ADA on Monday, July 26th. Pastor Jim Dale, who lives with a disability, served as emcee. The Pocahontas Public Library was the meeting place for Senator Harkin’s Mobile Office on Friday July 23, 2010. The library opened in 1987 after a major remodel of the former City Hall/Police Department. With the remodel, the community made several accommodations to make the building fully accessible at that time, prior to the passage of the ADA. The library now features two entry ramps, wide parking spaces, accessible restrooms, and an accessible lab of computers. On July 21, 2010, I held open office hours at the Sigourney Public – a facility that was refurbished in 2005. It is a one story building with power doors, accessible bathrooms and wide aisles. Doug Bylund, Recreational Superintendent of the City of Indianola, showed me the Aquatic Center, on July 20, 2010. The Center features a zero-entry pool, making it easier for those with disabilities to use it. One of the slides is accessible, as well as all of the restrooms. They keep a plastic wheel-chair on site should someone in a wheelchair want to use it to go down into the water and not get their own wheelchair wet. Three Rivers Independent Living Center and the Sioux City Human Rights Commission hosted a celebration of the ADA at City Hall on July 19, 2010. Speakers presented their personal stories of how the ADA has impacted their lives. Miss Wheelchair Iowa, Angie Plager, spoke of how the ADA has allowed her the independence to attend Iowa State University and volunteer in her spare time. Sioux City resident, John Paul Engel, spoke of what the ADA really means to all persons with disabilities – that those individuals can live independent lives. Built in 1902, the Corning Opera House sits along Davis Street and overlooks the business district from its perch across from the Central Park. In the middle of their ongoing renovation campaign, the Opera House has been the beneficiary of the Harkin Challenge Grant Program administered by Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Martin Olive, Nancy Carmichael and De Heaton shared their vision for the renovation of the Opera House: stabilize, accommodate and rehabilitate. Foster Grandparents, Marilee Taylor, Mary Van Cannon, Helen Biefelt (aka Grndma B) and Laura Herrig along with two program staff shared their thoughts on the program. The Sibley Community Hospital and Wellness Center has found ways to serve the needs of disabled patients and customers in recent years. During the renovation of the hospital, the building was made more accessible and now, each hospital room is larger and includes an accessible shower. Foster Grandparents Sandy Free, Kathleen Linn, Dorothea Peterson and Ginger Taylor shared stories of how the program provides children additional guidance that is missing through school programs. The Foster Grandparents program is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Four years ago the North Sentral Kossuth Community School District established a preschool program. Since its establishment, the school has seen between 12 and 16 kids each year. Two years ago, the district added a playground that is ADA compliant. Special attention was placed on compliancy. Not because the district had to, but because “it was the right thing to do,” said Arthur Pixler superintendent of the school district. Presently, there are no preschool children with physical limitations. Never-the-less, the district’s preschool program will be ready if the need arises. The playground flooring consists of recycle rubber. Children no longer have to worry about splinters from woodchips or tiny pebbles embedded in their knees after falling. The rubber tile makes the floor very flexible and children are less likely to get scrapes and bruises. In addition to traditional playground equipment such as slides, stairs and climbing walls, this playground has a paint board and water table so that children of all abilities can have fun and play. The playground capacity is 20 children. Last year, the Ruthven-Ayrshire School District was able to purchase hard surfacing for their pre-school playground. The school district received a grant from the local casino association in Palo Alto County, and was able to provide a safe and accessible playground to all students. While the school does not currently have any students with mobility difficulties, they have provided a sidewalk so that future students will have a safe way to participate in playground activities. Home Sweet Home Farms, owned and operated by Terry and Kim Brimeyer, is located in rural Audubon County. The couple raises Boer goats for show quality and seed breeding stock. Through their worm farm operation they produce organic fertilizer castings. It is easy to notice the changes at Waubonsie State park and evident that the staff has made the ADA a priority in providing for accommodations for people with disabilities and special needs. In 1992, Don noticed he was having trouble walking. A medical examination revealed a tumor had developed in his neck near his spine. He had it removed in December of 1996. Unfortunately, the surgery left Don with limited use of his legs. However, thanks to the Easter Seals and AgrAbility Project, Don was able to continue farming. The tumor has returned, however, and has left Don little use of his legs. Don still farms with the help of his two sons. In fact, he farms more acreage now (1,900) than he did prior to his disability. This building is a key piece of Greenfield’s town square. Constructed around the turn of the 20th century, the Opera House was and has reestablished itself as the cultural center for the Adair County seat town. Camp Marshalltown is a special day camp program serving 45 school age kids (6-21) in the Marshall County area. The program was created 10 years ago and is funded through the Arc of Marshall County and United Way. Nic Christiansen is a life-long resident of Harlan. At the age of two, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and has tried very hard to live an independent life ever since. In middle school, Nic was able to convince the community of the need for a new middle school. The school at that time was three stories tall, in need of repairs and was very difficult for Nic to navigate. A school bond vote failed on several occasions before, but school leaders and Nic were not ready to give up. Wilson Aquatic Center was built to replace the aging city pool in the late 1990s and is now the only public pool in Shenandoah. When it was built, a zero depth entrance was included to ensure that those with special needs could access the facility without having to climb a ladder or steps. Denny Buiert, Director of Public Works for the City of Pella, took me on a tour of City Hall, which used to be the old library. The City has done an outstanding job of converting the building to be accessible, with ground level entry, automatic doors and an elevator. Sen. Harkin’s staffer Jule Reynolds met with Melissa Lewis about how the ADA had affected her life. Her story is below. Gary Fedler’s life changed in many ways on a September afternoon in 2004. He was preparing his son’s horse for the Tri-State Rodeo on his Lee County farm. Suddenly, the horse bucked, tossing Gary to the ground and landing on top of him. Gary knew immediately the injury was serious. The meeting was held at the Chamber of Commerce in Atlantic, which is not an ADA accessible structure. This building, however, is a perfect example of the Chamber making a “reasonable accommodation.” Ann McCurdy from the Chamber indicated that as more and more events and receptions were held at the Depot that they should make it easier to access even though they had no complaints. The most reasonable fix was for the Chamber to purchase a portable ramp for a couple hundred dollars that can be used to achieve easier access when required. Harkin staff toured the Creston Headstart Playground in Union County and found that it was designed for the safety of all children, including kids with disabilities. It offers a rubberized surface that is accessible and the school has shade structures to keep students cool. For the most part, the playground equipment is ground level and would be accessible, but a few other sections require climbing. Wapsipinicon State Park was dedicated in 1923 and is one of Iowa’s first state parks. While touring the Yellow Smoke Park, the Director of the Crawford County Board of Conservation noted that many of the facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities, but not all of the facilities are posted as accessible. For example, the cabins have all the equipment and room that would be associated with an accessible hotel room, but the cabins are not posted as accessible. While the county hasn’t made a concerted effort at making the park more accessible, the director noted the importance of the park facilities being available to everyone who is interested, rather than those who may not be disabled. Sen. Harkin’s staffer Jule Reynolds met with Angie Plager about how the ADA had affected her life. Angie is President of Spinal Cord Injury Association of Iowa and is Ms. Wheelchair Iowa 2009. Her story is below. My visit to Davis County took me to the historic Bloomfield Public Library, which was dedicated on August 13, 1913. Like many other small Iowa towns, Bloomfield received funding for its construction from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Through the years, little has changed from its original design, though a ramp was installed several years ago to provide access to individuals unable to limbs its classic front entry. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allowed the AAA to replace four vans and seven buses, which was critical because the old vehicles were beyond their useful life. Now all of their 35 vehicles that serve the multiple counties in their area are accessible. The Foster Grandparents in Fort Dodge play a valued role in the lives of local children, especially those children with disabilities. Four “Grandmothers” – Lois Dencklau, Roma Fuller, Delores Jochimsen, and Marvel McCormack – took some time recently to meet with Senator Harkin’s staff to discuss their work in local schools. The Southern Iowa Trolley is run by the Area XIV Agency on Aging out of Creston. Through the Recovery Act, the Agency was able to purchase eight buses and four mini-vans, one of which is being put to good use in Mount Ayr in Southern Iowa. I met the Wiechmann family at the City Park in Davis City, where they ate their breakfast. They participate in the Camp Sunnyside Program, which includes one weekend per month of respite care and two week in the summer. This allows the Paxtons some time on their own and is much appreciated. Sherry Becker welcomed an audience of over 50 people in the atrium of the North Iowa Vocational Center (NIVC) Services, Inc. Audience members included individuals with disabilities, family members, advocates, Senator Amanda Ragan, United Way Representative Alex Kuhn and NIVC staff members. The town hall style meeting began with a brief video from the ADA Network celebrating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Just before Thanksgiving 1992, Virginia Boardwell and her husband received a call from the east coast that their beautiful and vibrant daughter had suffered a massive stroke that left her unable to function physically, except to blink her eyes. Through six months of intense rehabilitation, which included learning to speak and walk again, her daughter has regained almost all physical and mental functions. Virginia believes that her experience of working on public health issues as a County Supervisor helped navigate her daughter through rehabilitative services and the Social Security disability process. The Little Island Childcare Care Center is committed to the enhancement and enrichment of children’s lives in Fairbank. The Center was able to turn a simple idea of replacing loose-fill playground surface materials, like wood chips, into a community event. This resulted in a new accessible playground that offers something for every child with or without special needs. Preston Elementary Playground is using innovative equipment from an Iowa born company called Outdoor Recreation Products that brings outdoor play to all children, including those with disabilities. The ADA has been a natural outgrowth of the company’s philosophy, which equips play equipment with ramps and transfer points so all kids can enjoy them. Dwight Snowgren had worked for 19 years at Cargill when he was injured in 1993. Unfortunately, his injuries eventually led to have to have part of his right leg amputated. But that didn’t slow Dwight down. He worked with Easter Seals’ Rural Solutions program to get help getting a suitable prosthetic so he could get back out in the fields. He now farms more than 1700 acres of corn and beans in the small southeast Greene County town of Jamaica. Harkin staff met with the regional transit director, Hugh Lively, to discuss how they meet the needs of disabled individuals in the region. Hugh stated that they provided 405,155 rides in Fiscal Year 2009, and of those rides, at least 171,000 were to individuals with disabilities. These individuals use transit services to reach their jobs, the grocery store, or any other place they may need to go. This accessible transportation has been meant increased mobility for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to be active members of the community. While holding an open office hour at the public library in Remsen, Senator Harkin’s staff took note of the accessibility of the library building. The Remsen Public Library is a single-level library, so there does not appear to be any need for a lift or elevator. The meeting room is fully accessible, with large entry doors and plenty of space. The bookshelves inside the library leave plenty of room to navigate, and the library staff are always ready to assist someone in need. The original building was built in 1903 as a Carnegie Library and was used as Iowa Falls’ library until a new building was constructed about a decade ago. At that time, the Carnegie Library underwent renovation and restoration to be used as offices for the Chamber of Commerce, the Iowa Falls Area Development Corporation as well as a museum and tourist attraction. About 5 years ago, Chuck Bonjour who is the Principal at Sunset Heights, witnessed a grandparent from the community who was using a wheelchair get stuck in the rock surface of the playground while trying to push a grandchild on a swing. Mr. Bonjour had to go outside and help the person back to more solid ground. It was incident that led Mr. Bonjour to make some changes. When I visited beautiful Lacey State Park in Keosauqua, IA, I was happy to see not only handicapped accessible restrooms and camp sites, but also a specially designed cabin and fishing dock. The main lodge is also equipped with a wheelchair ramp for easy accessibility. My park ranger guide told me of programs that allow disabled people to fish and hunt on the park grounds with the assistance of other outdoorsmen, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and adaptive fishing equipment. Lacey State Park is an exceptional place for people with disabilities to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Daleney Marie Teske was born on November 25th, 2000. She was a micro-preemie, born at 27 weeks, weighing 1 lb. 13 oz. Daleney spent her first 93 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was also diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. The Montgomery County YMCA opened in the late 1990’s under the guidance of Executive Director Nick Zimmer. Located in Red Oak, the YMCA is a central hub in the county. Grinnell Mayor Gordon Canfield and Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Johnson-Rose are understandably proud of the brand new Grinnell Aquatic Center, which just opened on June 1st of this year. Several years ago it became apparent that the existing swimming pool and bath house, built in 1957, needed major repairs and upgrading to fulfill the needs of a growing community. Rather than repair an aging facility, it was more cost effective to build new aquatic center. I met with Fern, Michael and Mary Lynn in the Decorah Iowa Works Office and Fern and Michael in the Oelwein Iowa Works Office. They were all very enthusiastic about the navigator program and how successful it has been. They are now 10 navigators for the 16 regions that Iowa Works operates. They gave me several examples of the success they see in their clients when a navigator is involved. They explained that the Navigator works with the disabled client, the employer and the one stop system which may include such entities as Social Security, DHS, Vocation Rehab, ect. They facilitate the inclusion of the disabled. They listen to client and work to make their dreams fruition. Sheldon Community Schools received a grant from the Iowa Association of School Boards to purchase surfacing for their playgrounds at East Elementary. The school also installed concrete sidewalks to the playground so that a child in a wheelchair could easily access the playground equipment. The school currently has one student in a wheelchair who is now able to fully participate in activities with the rest of the school’s students. Beth and Greg Ervin always had a love for horses, the outdoors and helping the youth. Greg was a 23 year-employee for the Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, in charge of the equestrian program and all outdoor activities, and Beth, among other careers, volunteered at an equestrian therapy program in Minneapolis. Both are passionate about animals and believe strongly in the benefits that result when humans and animals interact. Harkin staff met with Stacy Martin, Foster Grandparent Coordinator, Nancy Lewis, Project Concern Executive Director and seven of the participants of the Foster Grandparent program in Dubuque. This program is located at the helping agency of Project Concern on Elm St. in the same building as the Community Health Center. The four woman and two men were representative of the 35 volunteer “grandparents” in the program. They go into the schools, public and private and some agencies and work with children who are at risk and most have various developmental, behavioral, mental and physical disabilities. They talk, read and communicate cultural norms to the children and have a real bond with their charges. This is such a sought-after volunteer corps and there is usually a waiting list for people to get involved. The Chariton Aquatic Center is very popular in town and widely used, mainly due to the accessibility features of the facility. The Center contains a wheelchair ramp that leads down to the pool and a zero entry pool so those with special needs can access it. The restroom facilities are also all accessible, including showers with low shower heads for those in wheelchairs. The original building had stairs as the only entrance. In 2003, the library installed automated doors at the base of the building and added an elevator inside of the library to allow patrons access to all levels of the building. Linda and Jack Couchman live just a few miles from the Missouri boarder in Wayne County. Jack was football coach at Seymour High school for many years and a salvage guy who would dismantle and save architectural treasures. For most of his life, Bob Brown worked as a general carpenter when he wasn’t busy on his family’s farm. He also built homes for families in southeast Iowa. However, in 1992, a farm accident nearly severed his right hand, which could have great altered his life; but not for Bob. Senator Harkin’s staff met with area residents on July 23 at the Community Center and Public Library on Main Street in downtown Rockwell City. The building, part of the city’s revitalization plan, is a newly constructed building and fully accessible. This building highlights the “built-in” accommodations that accompany new construction in everything from the entrance to the low circulation desk in the library. The conference rooms were also spacious and provided an ideal meeting place for the whole city and surrounding community. All in all, this is a great public meeting place for local residents – even those with special needs. They could not have picked a more beautiful summer night along the Mississippi River. In the historic baseball field - home of the Quad Cities River Bandits - children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities, along with their families and community came together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act. Highlights from the evening included the Pleasant Valley High School Sparkles and the Davenport Central High School Stars cheerleading squads, as well as our National Anthem performed by a sign language choir. Throughout the game, activities, including ADA trivia, continued the theme of celebration and educated fans about ADA. Kevin Mayberry, the Mills County ADA coordinator and county engineer, is leading an effort to make the county courthouse more accessible to individuals with disabilities. He, along with Carole Robertson, County Auditor, said the county has been setting aside funds for an elevator for a number of years, and nearing the point at which they must decide how to pay for the rest of the necessary renovations. I met with Stacy Martin Foster Grandparent Coordinator and Nancy Lewis Project Concern Executive Director and seven participants in the Foster Grandparent program in Dubuque -- four woman and two men representing the 35 volunteer “Grandparents” in the program. Beth and Greg Ervin always had a love for horses, the outdoors and helping young people. Greg was a 23 year employee for the Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, in charge of the equestrian program and all outdoor activities, and Beth, among other careers, volunteered at an equestrian therapy program in Minneapolis. Both are passionate about animals and believe strongly in the benefits that result when humans and animals interact. When they bought the Overlook Farm in Lakota, Iowa it was easy to envision the Iowa Lakes Riding Academy. Now, they are working to make their dream a reality. The Foster Grandparents Program may be one of the best kept secrets around – but not for long. The excitement of the group that gathered to share stories about the work they are doing to help the children in Ottumwa was infectious. “Grandmas” and “Grandpas”, with varying backgrounds, education, and work experiences volunteer in schools and through some non-profit child care programs to provide additional helping hands to teachers. To the children with developmental or physical disabilities who are lucky to have a Grandparent in their classroom, it is more often the comforting arms, understanding eyes, and loving smiles that makes each day with their Grandma or Grandpa, extra special. Harkin staff held open office hours in the New Hampton Public Library on July 14, 2010. The library, built in 1994 after the ADA became law, is accessible and is equipped with power door openers, accessible bathrooms and wide aisles to allow for easy access. Residents of Henry County gathered at the Mt. Pleasant Library to celebrate the 20 year milestone of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Resident Dave Helman recalled the sometimes contentious period during the hearings and debate over the issue. He then thanked Senator Harkin for his tenacity in assuring that individuals with limited abilities received justice. Over the past 20 years, since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Larry Goehring has seen significant changes that have made living with a serious physical limitation less burdensome. In 1981, Larry suffered severe spinal cord injuries in a farm accident when a skid loader and small farm building tipped and landed on him. With the care and encouragement of his wife, Nicky, and his family, Larry learned to operate his motorized wheelchair with amazing precision, controlled simply by his own breath. No longer engaged in farming, Larry and Nicky have moved to a home in Fairfield which has been adapted to allow Larry to maneuver his chair more easily around the house. A lift helps move Larry in and out of bed, and a computer, also control by his breath keeps him connected to the world. On July 14, 2010, Harkin staff held open office hours at the Waverly Public Library to learn about the ADA’s impact on the facility. I was invited to visit with Mike and Trish Simester on their small farm in Muscatine. Upon arrival, I was greeted by half a dozen chickens and a couple of ducks basking in the sun. Mike opened the door for me limping, with a brace on his leg. Mike had sustained injuries from a motorcycle accident while enlisted in the military. He has extensive damage to his right leg, and several other conditions that make day to day life difficult for him. Denny Theesfeld of rural Armstrong was one of the witnesses first called to testify before Congress when the ADA was being considered. He described to Congress how he has been able to continue farming despite his disability. Like several communities in Iowa this July, Burlington celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the crack of a bat! Met and visited with Sam Gipple of Iowa County Transportation. For 17 years, Sam has been the Director and the first ADA Coordinator for Iowa County. When Sam started 17 years ago, there was only one van and it wasn’t handicap accessible. Now, they are up to seven different buses and 1 minivan. After some retrofits, they are still using the original van too. Green Man Technologies in Carlisle, Iowa is a company that makes playground tiles for the National Playground Compliance Group. The tiles are used to make playgrounds accessible to people with disabilities. Instead of using wood chips or gravel, these tiles help individuals gain accessibility to the playgrounds as well as keep kids safe from falls. Senator Harkin’s staff was on hand for an open office hour at the Storm Lake Public Library on Tuesday, July 13. This library is accessible to individuals with disabilities in a number of ways: from automatic doors to plenty of room for a person utilizing a wheelchair, the library is truly open to all members of the community. Attached to the library is a small local art gallery, which is also accessible and offers a wheelchair ramp to individuals wishing to view the displays. All in all, this facility is a great way for area residents – even those with special needs - to enjoy a local gathering place and the arts at the same time. On July 9th, Senator Harkin’s staff held open office hours at the North Iowa Area Community College Charles City Center. On Thursday, July 8, I toured the Clarion Public Library. Originally opened in 1908, the library is at the heart of the Clarion community. From 1983-1984, the library underwent extensive renovations including the addition of an elevator – a vital accessibility feature. Now, the entire Wright County community can take advantage of the library’s books, media and cultural programming. The library also has convenient first-in-lot handicap parking as well as zero-step entrances and automated doors for easy entry. I visited with Brenda at Rock Rapids Kids Club Playground on July 7, 2010. Brenda is working to provide an ADA-compliant day care for children in the Rock Rapids area. She wants to be able to provide a way for parents of disabled children to maintain their employment by providing the same convenience available to parents of other children. Senator Harkin met with Ariel recently and was so moved by his story that we asked him to describe it in his own words. Below is Ariel’s account. Six years ago, at the age of 21, Jeremy was accidentally shot while hunting. The incident caused paralysis of the lower half of his body. This Memorial Day, Americans will spend time with friends and families at picnics, cookouts and baseball games. But each of us, in the privacy of our hearts, should find a time to remember and thank the men and women of the Armed Forces who served and sacrificed on the field of battle. Today folks in Iowa and across the country are honoring Arbor Day by planting trees in their community. Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Our nation can be proud of its efforts to preserve its forests and woodlands and demonstrate a strong measure of our natural resource stewardship. From the simple pleasure of sitting in the shade on a hot summer day or going on a walk in a forest, to the role trees play in capturing greenhouse gases and providing a home for wildlife, trees are an essential part of our everyday lives and our planet’s well being. And on this day, I encourage people to consider planting a tree in the yard, neighborhood or community space. Senator Tom Harkin today joined Lily Ledbetter to offer a statement on the Huffington Post in observance of Equal Pay Day. Equal Pay Day symbolizes how far into 2010 women must work to earn what men earned in 2009. Tom talks about the benefits Iowans stand to gain from the comprehensive health reform bill passed earlier this week: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, passed Thursday by the U.S. Senate. This past Sunday I was thrilled to host Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at two forums, one in Cedar Rapids and one in Des Moines, that focused on the future of our public schools. Secretary Duncan’s Blueprint for Reform, which he unveiled this weekend, revises the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) - also known as No Child Left Behind - to help states raise expectations of students and reward schools for producing dramatic gains in student achievement. Attending our forums were local education leaders, parents and students to ensure that our work to re-draft ESEA includes the ideas and needs of our communities. I felt it was appropriate to begin this discussion in Iowa - the first state to establish core academic standards, and a state respected nationwide for the quality of its public schools and teachers. Today, President Obama delivered a speech in the White House to lay out the path forward for comprehensive health reform this year. Senator Harkin, the Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee made the following remarks. Today, Senator Harkin made the following comments after the White House unveiled its proposal to overhaul the nation’s health care system. Along with this framework, the President will host a bipartisan summit later this week that will outline a path forward for enacting comprehensive health reform this year. Harkin will be a participant in the bipartisan summit. Senator Tom Harkin today issued the following statement on the passing of respected Iowa businessman and philanthropist John Ruan. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), today attended a meeting at the White House with First Lady Michelle Obama, Cabinet members, business leaders and others on the growing problem of childhood obesity. In 2008, Harkin spearheaded an effort to create the nation’s first federal interagency task force responsible for developing a national strategy for combating obesity. The task force announced today was modeled after legislation introduced by Harkin and others, the Federal Obesity Prevention Act of 2008, which aimed to create a federal interagency taskforce responsible for developing a national strategy for combating obesity across America. Today Senator Harkin joined First Lady Michelle Obama to begin a dialogue about how we can reduce the growing problem of childhood obesity in our country. Senator Harkin traveled to the White House with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Education Secretary Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Earlier today, U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin released a report showing what we have known for far too long - that bad eating habits and physical inactivity are causing America’s children to be more obese and unhealthy than ever before. In fact, it is predicted that one in three children born today will develop type II diabetes, while many others will suffer severe health complications throughout their life. This is a trend that we can, and must, reverse. So many of the images coming out of Haiti have been devastating, but today we learned some good news. Matt and Mandy Poulter are on their way back to Iowa with their adopted daughter, Maya, who had been living in an orphanage in Haiti. Last April, the Poulter’s legally adopted her and were only waiting to get a passport and visa to bring her to the U.S. when the devastating earthquake struck. In the early hours this morning, the Senate overcame the Republican obstructionism and paved the way for passage of comprehensive health reform that will give every American the quality, affordable health care they need and they deserve. Listening to stories from around Iowa of the uninsured and the underinsured shows that the American people don’t fear change in health care. They fear the status quo: being denied coverage because they or a loved one have a preexisting condition or being dropped by their health insurance company because they get cancer or chronic heart disease. They fear that if they get a serious illness, they will have to go to war with their insurance company in order to get it to pay the bills or that they will bump up against their policy’s annual or lifetime payment cap and will be forced into bankruptcy. Tom gives his holiday message to the troops serving abroad Today the health insurance industry released yet another report that claims insurance premiums will rise under the Senate hearth reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This study’s “findings” are far from the truth. In fact, the findings go against a report from the non-partisan, independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which shows that the bill will result in savings of 14 to 20 percent for Americans purchasing coverage on their own by creating more competition in the health insurance industry and lowering administrative costs. In my home state of Iowa, individuals will save from $148 to $355 annually and Iowa families will save between $960 to $1,177 on their health insurance premiums. Today, the benefits of the Senate health reform proposal came into focus. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides needed insurance reforms, provides health insurance for some 94 percent of Americans and increases access to prevention and wellness so that we keep people well, rather than treat them once they become sick. Each year on Veteran’s Day we honor those soldiers who have served and protected our country. As we think of our loved ones now gone and salute those among us who have served in the nation’s armed forces, let us also remember to honor our veterans in practical ways, by ensuring that they receive the benefits and recognition that they have earned. As President Abraham Lincoln said in his Second Inaugural Address: “Let us care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan,” and let us never forget those who “laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.” We’re all familiar with the stories: food outbreaks linked to spinach, peppers, peanut products, and cookie dough. These outbreaks have sickened far too many Americans and made two things clear: our current regulatory system does not adequately protect Americans from serious, widespread food-borne illnesses and the dangers associated with food-borne outbreaks are profound. Senator Tom Harkin took to the Senate floor today to stress the importance of keeping wellness and prevention measures in the merged health reform bill. Meaningful reform, Harkin argues, means shifting the focus of the system from patching people up after they get sick to keeping them out of the hospital in the first place. Today marks a milestone in the fight against cancer and tobacco addiction. Going forward, big tobacco companies will no longer be able to market candy flavored cigarettes to our children. Every day in America, another 1,000 kids become regular smokers – and roughly one third of them will die as a result. We owe it to our kids to give them a fair shot and put an end to unethical, insidious marketing techniques that trap them in addiction at a young age. Banning the marketing and use of strawberry, chocolate and other flavored cigarettes will help slow the rate of addiction among young smokers, prevent disease and save millions in health care costs down the line. On Wednesday, I was honored to accept the chairmanship of the Senate HELP Committee. To serve in this capacity is to carry on the legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy, who dedicated his life to ensuring that our economy works for all Americans, guaranteeing every child the opportunity to pursue a quality education and, of course, the cause of his life: access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. In this last endeavor, I expect to work closely with Senator Dodd, who has guided the HELP Committee so capably in reporting The Affordable Health Choice Act, and who will continue to play a leading role as health care legislation moves to the Senate floor. Today I started another beautiful Iowa morning by meeting with members of the American Legion Post #6 in Dubuque. I was there to present long sought- after military medals to two area veterans. These medal ceremonies are some of my favorite events to do as I travel across the state. Service to our country takes on various forms and today, I honored two types of service members. I started my day at the Grout Museum District in Waterloo by presenting medals to three veterans and their families. Ensuring all veterans have the honor they deserve is so important on a personal level to me that I introduced legislation to facilitate the expeditious delivery of military medals to veterans. I started off my day by touring the Mechdyne Technical Facility in Marshalltown to learn about a project receiving federal appropriations called Shared Vision. I visited with several employees of Mechdyne including the President and CEO Chris Clover, VP of Operations Jim Gruening and Shared Vision Project Manager Mark Ferneau. I kicked off the second part of my August “Building Iowa’s Future tour” in Sioux City today by taking a tour of the local Youthbuild site. Youthbuild is a phenomenal program that helps students who have faced hardships and setbacks get back on track. I have long said that in our society we must provide a ladder of opportunity for people. Sometimes young people might miss a rung or two, but that’s where Youthbuild comes in, providing the necessary training to get these students on a proven career path. Today my thoughts are with the Kennedy family as they mourn the loss of their father, grandfather, husband and patriarch. Their grief is shared by all of us in Congress who have lost a friend and role model. I personally was honored to serve with Ted Kennedy and call him my friend. This morning I held a town hall meeting on health care at Northern Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. I have visited NIACC before, but was impressed at how well maintained the campus and facilities are – tributes to the staff, faculty and the students who go there. I was met by Dr. Debra Derr, President of NIACC, and members of their board. We started the morning in the nursing lab, where students are taught how to care for patients. Jenna Winters, a NIACC nursing student, described for us her decision to enter the health care field and the challenges she will face upon graduation. Today I took my annual trip to the Iowa State Fair and visited with some of my favorite people. I started in the Agriculture Building, where I saw the Butter Cow and a commemorative exhibit of the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo landing on the Moon. The Agriculture Building was full of interesting exhibits, and even early in the morning on the first day of the Fair, it was filled with people. One of the best feelings in the world is coming back to Iowa to see a new Community Health Center where last year, we just broke ground on the facility. That was my feeling in Storm Lake today, where I kicked off my day at the United Community Health Center. Day Four of my August trip brought me to Scott Community College in Bettendorf to tour the nursing lab and then talk with approximately 200 Iowans about the need for health reform. If there’s one thing we know about health reform, it’s that our mission will not be complete unless we have the workforce necessary to put these new improvements in place. The start of National Community Health Center Week today gave me a perfect opportunity to come back to Iowa and visit our community health centers, and to talk with people about the health reform effort underway in Washington. I kicked off the week at the Peoples Community Health Center in Waterloo and was amazed at the size of this facility and the great services it offers for the insured, underinsured and, as patient Jennifer Schmidt described, those who were once uninsured, but received such great care, that they kept coming back even after they obtained insurance! Today I met Labor Secretary Hilda Solis at the Ottumwa Industrial Airport for the groundbreaking of the new Job Corps Center. The Center, which is scheduled to open in 2011, will partner with Indian Hills Community College to provide academic and vocational training to economically disadvantaged youths. It is only the second facility of its kind in Iowa, and comes at a critical time with the economy shedding another 247,000 jobs nationwide in July. I kicked off my August “Building Iowa’s Future” tour today at Des Moines Primary Health Care, Inc., a community health center in Des Moines. I was joined by Ted Boesen, Executive Director of Iowa/Nebraska Primary Health Care, by Kelly Huntsman, Executive Director, and by over 150 Iowans to talk about how health reform. One thing was clear from the start: Iowans are eager to hear how the choices being proposed in Washington will impact their families. On Monday evening, Senator Harkin joined members of the Senate Health, Education, Labors and Pension (HELP) Committee to discuss the benefits of The Affordable Health Choices Act for all Americans. Harkin touted the prevention and wellness elements of the bill, which will reduce incidents of chronic disease and rein in the high costs of health care in America. He took to the Senate floor as his staff completed a state-wide listening tour of all 99 counties to hear Iowans concerns about health care. As you know, I am excited about the very robust wellness and prevention provisions in the health reform bill that we passed in the Senate health committee last week – The Affordable Health Choices Act. No question, these provisions are going to save lives and save money. And that’s why I am very disappointed – and, frankly, disturbed – by the Congressional Budget Office’s refusal to acknowledge these savings. The Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, of which Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is a senior member, today passed The Affordable Health Choices Act, landmark legislation that will reduce health costs, protect individuals’ choice in doctors and plans, and assure quality and affordable health care for all Americans. The bipartisan bill includes more than 160 Republican amendments accepted during the month-long mark-up, one of the longest in Congressional history. The Senate health committee continues to make steady progress in marking up comprehensive health reform legislation. We have already produced a very robust Prevention and Public Health title, which I took the lead in drafting. And, yesterday, we began marking up the Coverage title. On the wall of my Washington Senate office, I have two simple framed items. One is a postcard dated July 19, 1939, inviting my unemployed coalminer father to report for work with FDR’s Works Progress Administration. The other is a picture of dirt-floor house where my mother was raised in Slovenia, before she immigrated to America. Yahoo! News (www.news.yahoo.com), the most-visited overall news site on the Internet, posted an exclusive op-ed feature from Senator Tom Harkin, the lead Senator in drafting the Prevention and Public Health section of the landmark health reform bill. Senator Harkin shares the statistics and reasons he feels this legislation is necessary to American’s health and well-being. Over the past week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on which I serve, has begun work on one of the most important bills in decades – the Affordable Health Choices Act. The goal of the bill is to reform our health care system to improve care, lower costs and make health care work for all Americans. Today, Senator Tom Harkin delivered remarks on the Senate Floor just prior to the passage of S. Con. Res. 26, which he introduced and co-sponsored. The transcript follows. When President Obama spoke to the American Medical Association (AMA) about health reform today, he mentioned the importance of investing in prevention and wellness to fight chronic disease and reduce rising health care costs. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today praised the passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, legislation that will allow the FDA to regulate what tobacco companies put into their products for the first time and dramatically reduce the number of young Americans who become addicted to tobacco. In 1998, Harkin introduced the first comprehensive, bipartisan bill to give the FDA authority to regulate tobacco and was an original cosponsor of the legislation that passed today. Judge Sotomayor is extremely qualified. She has the intellect and experiences necessary to serve on our nation’s highest Court. In addition to her nearly 17 years on the federal bench – having been appointed by both Presidents Bush and Clinton – she has unique life experiences that I believe are critical to ensure that the Court truly embodies the diversity of our country and understands how the law impacts ordinary Americans. As this year’s Memorial Day weekend draws near, it is important to remember that there is far more to this holiday than your typical three-day weekend. While this weekend will likely be filled with family, friends and cookouts, let us be sure to take a moment and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today. I want to thank Rev. Steve Copley, Rev. Sue Gaeta, and all the other faith leaders who have joined us, this morning, in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the mass arrests at Agriprocessors, Inc., in Postville. I commend St. Bridget’s Church, local charities, and the entire Postville community for coming together with compassion and generosity to assist the families of those arrested in the raid. Tom introduced legislation today to prevent future flu outbreaks in response to the current H1N1 flu outbreak. The Seasonal Influenza and Pandemic Preparation Act of 2009 would establish a nationwide voluntary influenza vaccination program under which any individual may receive an annual influenza vaccine, free of charge. “Good morning. I want to thank our witnesses for coming here today on such short notice to discuss the current outbreak of swine influenza. So far, this flu outbreak has centered in Mexico but there have been 47 confirmed US cases in five states and additional possible cases are being analyzed. Many are already calling this a flu pandemic because this is a virus for which people have little or no immunity and for which there is no vaccine. And it is capable of human-to-human transmission. Senator Harkin sent out a press release today regarding the A/H1N1 flu outbreak: April 22 is Earth Day and a time when people in Iowa and across the nation take time to promote environmental citizenship. Earth Day began when a pioneering Midwestern Senator named Gaylord Nelson proclaimed that we had an environmental crisis in the United States. Since then, the day has helped to bring our nation’s concerns over a cleaner environment and conserving resources to the forefront of American ideals. Senator Harkin today was named by his colleagues as one of the most bipartisan members of the Senate. The Hill newspaper asked all 99 sitting members of the Senate who they liked to work with most and Harkin tied for fourth place overall. In an effort to make wellness and prevention a part of the national discussion on health care reform, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) today reintroduced legislation which aims to fight the growing prevalence of chronic disease and improve the quality of life for the 135 million full-time and part-time workers in the United States. They were joined at a press event on Capitol Hill by representatives from the U.S. Workplace Wellness Alliance, who applauded the introduction of the bill. A measure introduced today in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House will offer choice and independence for people with disabilities. The Community Choice Act, legislation sponsored by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL), will bring people with disabilities into the mainstream of society and provide equal opportunity for employment and full involvement in community activities. It allows people with disabilities who need an institutional level of care the choice of receiving their services and supports in their own communities, rather than in an institution. Senator Tom Harkin, joined by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and 10 other Senate Democrats, warned AIG executives in a letter Tuesday to give up the controversial bonuses they stand to receive or else prepare for Congress to tax the payments to virtually nothing. Leading members of the U.S. Senate and House today introduced legislation that would help enable workers to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions by restoring their rights to form unions. On the floor of the U.S. Senate today, Senator Tom Harkin spoke against an amendment to the omnibus appropriations bill offered by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would strip funding for school modernization grants and agriculture research. Senator Tom Harkin announced today that Iowa has been awarded a total of $10,932,062 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, as well as a total of $16,732,201 from the Homeless Prevention Grant Program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that Iowa stands to benefit from thousands of new jobs, modernized schools, college grants, and extended unemployment benefits for Iowans out of work, in the economic recovery package that President Obama signed today. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin released the following statement today after the Senate reached a compromise on an economic recovery plan. Senator Tom Harkin today attended the White House bill signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act – the first bill signing of the new administration. The Act will help to ensure all Americans are paid the same wage regardless of their age, gender, race or ethnicity. It passed both Chambers of Congress last week by overwhelming majorities. Harkin, a cosponsor of the measure, is a senior member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds labor initiatives. Senator Tom Harkin today joined his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee in unveiling a job creation measure to spur the nation’s flailing economy. The bill is expected to be marked up by Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow with hopes of reaching the President’s desk by early February. Harkin is Chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds education initiatives. “Good morning. I would like to thank everyone for coming, this morning, to discuss some of the creative ways that states are taking the initiative in promoting disease prevention and a broader culture of wellness. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) welcomed members of the Iowa National Guard to Washington, D.C. on Monday to provide additional assistance with security for the Inauguration of Barack Obama. The Guard members spent five days in the nation’s capitol assisting the District of Columbia’s Department of Transportation. “This morning it is my honor to hold this hearing of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to consider the nomination of Thomas J. Vilsack, former Governor of Iowa, to become Secretary of Agriculture. I want to welcome you to the Committee, Governor Vilsack, along with your wife, Christie, and a good number of Iowans and others here to support you and wish you well. Tom Harkin was sworn in today to serve his fifth term as a United States Senator. The 111th Congress officially convened today at Noon to swear in new and returning senators. Senator Tom Harkin today issued the following comment after President-Elect Obama announced that he had nominated Tom Vilsack for Agriculture Secretary. Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the Committee that will hold nomination hearings. I applaud this morning’s announcement of Arne Duncan as the nominee to be the next Secretary of Education. Senator Harkin was pleased to accept an invitation today from Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), to lead a working group tasked with crafting the prevention and public health components of the health care reform bill. Veterans Day is a welcome occasion to pause and salute America’s 24 million veterans, and to thank them for their service to our nation. But we must also honor our veterans in practical ways, and this means ensuring that they receive the benefits and recognition that they earned. Senator Harkin today announced that that Iowa will receive an additional $71.69 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for disaster relief through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. These funds are part of the $300 million that HUD released to Iowa and other states affected by natural disasters and were included in the first emergency spending package that Harkin led the fight to secure. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today kicked off his tour of schools that are recipients of Harkin Grants at East High School in Des Moines. The Des Moines School Board was also presented with a copy of the Congressional Record that Harkin submitted honoring their accomplishments. Since 1998, Harkin has secured a total of $121 million for the state government in Iowa, which selects worthy school districts to receive these grants for a range of renovation and repair efforts – everything from updating fire-safety systems to building new schools or renovating existing facilities. Senator Tom Harkin released the following statement today after President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act. The bill was recently passed unanimously by both the House and the Senate. Harkin was the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced tonight that nearly $23 billion in disaster aid will be included in a package of defense and homeland security appropriations and a continuing funding measure. Developed by Senate and House appropriators, action on the must-pass legislation is expected in both the House and Senate this week. The disaster package builds on the $2.65 billion in disaster aid that Congress passed immediately after flood waters hit Iowa in June. Senator Tom Harkin released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act unanimously by voice vote. Last week the Senate passed the Harkin led bill by unanimous consent. The bill now goes to the President’s desk for his signature. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) today announced that the Senate had approved by unanimous consent a bill that would clarify the law’s intent and ensure that all Americans with disabilities are protected from discrimination. The bill will need to be acted upon by the House of Representatives before being sent to the President’s desk. Unveiling the findings of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today assailed the Bush Administration for its failure to crack down on pay inequity. The report, which Senators Harkin and Clinton requested along with Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), shows that the federal government has failed to adequately monitor enforcement of our nation’s pay discrimination laws. In light of the findings, the Senators reiterated their call for the Senate to pass legislation that would strengthen our pay discrimination laws and take steps to erase pay inequities, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Fair Pay Act, and the Paycheck Fairness Act. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) joined senators from other Midwestern states, including Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), today in asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive the filing deadline for claims for flood-insured buildings in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, and Wisconsin that were damaged by the recent flooding. FEMA requires those with flood insurance to submit a Proof of Loss (POL) as part of their claim package within 60 days of the loss. Though a 60 day extension has already been granted, there is recent precedent for granting a waiver to ensure those affected do not have to go through additional steps to receive their claim. Iowa Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley today urged the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to take the actions necessary to release funding that was allocated to Iowa on August 4 for disaster-related needs. In a letter to HUD Secretary Steve Preston, the lawmakers expressed concern about the delay in releasing emergency Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) funding, which can be used for home buyouts, public infrastructure projects and flood mitigation. Whether you are a teacher, a farmer, a health care worker, a construction worker, a state or federal employee – whatever your profession – you are privileged to enjoy the dignity and honor of hard work, and the satisfaction of contributing to your community and country. But, this Labor Day, with rising energy prices and a shaky economy, working people are anxious about their jobs, their pensions, and their health care. I was very fortunate to be able to sit down today with lawmakers and community stakeholders at Des Moines University to discuss the recently passed Iowa health reform bill and what needs to be done on the federal level to fix our broken health care system. I believe that real health care reform is long overdue. Thousands of Iowans go without basic health care, Iowa businesses are struggling to offer health coverage to their employees and hospitals are having difficulty keeping their doors open. Two of the things I continue to focus on in the Senate are prevention and wellness initiatives. By shifting our health care dollars toward preventing chronic diseases and keeping people well, we can significantly lower our nation’s health care costs and get better outcomes for every American. Our nation’s health care crisis demands a comprehensive approach - and real reform is never easy. But I think that today’s forum was a good example of how government at all levels can partner with health care professionals and others to create positive change. I traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to conduct a field hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee with Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), a member of the Committee. The hearing, Food, Feed, and Fuel Production: Today and Tomorrow, gave the Committee an opportunity to explore recent economic shifts - including rising energy prices, rising commodity prices and related changes in acres planted, and the increasing production of biofuels, which have led some to question whether we are on the right path. On Sunday evening I met some friends at the taping of a Prairie Home Companion at the Iowa State Fair. Fellow Midwesterner Garrison Keillor brought his Rhubarb Tour into town with a show that was full of music, jokes and funny stories. Ruth and I listen to the show on NPR every Saturday so it was really fun to see how they put it together on stage. One of the highlights was watching the sound effects master Fred Newman try to keep up with Garrison’s crazy stories. The weather was terrific for August in Iowa and it was great to be there for the last hours of the 2008 state fair. I visited the Uptown Cafe in Audubon on Friday and was greeted by the owner Pat Jensen. I spent my time there chatting with several long-time friends, including Robert Nelson, about all of the people I remember from the area and what they are doing now. Larry Greufe from the Audubon County News was there to listen in and I was also able to talk about some potential casework with a woman, who came to ask for help with some difficulties she is facing. My day began at one of the most innovative and green businesses we have in Iowa. The Fox River Mills company takes packaging, boxes, magazines, plastic film and yarn cones and turns them in to socks. From start to finish, the socks are made in Osage. When I first arrived I chatted with John and Becky Lessard, who own and run the company, as well as my good friend, Wes Birdsall. They had some concerns about issues that have an impact on their business such as high oil prices, NAFTA and immigration. We had a good conversation and I was glad to share my thoughts with them. This morning I made my annual trek to the world famous Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Every August I look forward to walking around the fair grounds, meeting new people and even bumping into some old friends— you never know who you are going to run into while walking around. As an added bonus, I couldn’t have asked for better weather today. This afternoon I toured the Linn County town of Palo. I met with City Council members Paula Gunter and Jeannie Blumer, along with Penny Glavin and Tom Watson. I gave the keynote address at the induction ceremony for Iowa ’s new National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) facility in Vinton today. I worked hard to have the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School designated as the site for Iowa’s only AmeriCorps NCCC facility after learning about how perfect of a fit the campus would be from my wife Ruth. Ruth serves on the Iowa Board of Regents, which oversees the school. The campus is close to numerous highways, and it ’s residential and recreational facilities were the perfect match for the NCCC’s needs. I secured $2.5 million to transform portions of the Braille and Sight Saving School into the NCCC campus, so it was great to see the results! After meeting with local leaders in Appanoose County, I made my way to Ludlow’s Steakhouse and Lounge in Corydon. It was good to see Ron Redmon and Maureta Perryman, who own and operate Ludlows. I remember visiting there during my August tour in 2006. I spoke with Bill Yeager, the Wayne County Emergency Management Coordinator regarding the various disaster damages that the county is dealing with. He said that FEMA has been very helpful to them thus far. I also met Dan and Susan White. Dan and I chatted about conditions in Wayne County, as well as our time in the military, he told me that before he retired, he served 27 1/2 years. As I continued through Northwest Iowa, I had the opportunity to tour MidAmerican Wind Farm in Pocahontas. This program helps place wind turbines on individual farms across four areas in Iowa. Currently they have 136 wind turbines installed and have plans to install an additional 35 more before winter. I met Brian Wells and his family, who are going to have four wind turbines installed on their farm as part of an effort to switch to renewable energy sources. Special thanks to Matt Bartlett of the MidAmerican Pomeroy Wind Farm project for giving me a detailed briefing on how these wind farms are helping move Iowa forward. I was happy to meet the team of maintenance professionals from Enxco who joined us at the briefing. I also want to mention how lucky Pocahontas County is to have a team of County Supervisors who had the vision to encourage these wind farms be raised through MidAmerican Energy. Jack Dewolf, Paul Beneke and Ralph Christiansen all were there to show their support for a project that is great for the region’s economy and for reducing our dependence on oil. The county is also well represented in the State House by Delores Mertz who has been so supportive in making sure we are providing access and incentives to businesses like MidAmerican who want to invest in Iowa’s future. On August 7, I traveled to Spencer in the morning where I visited the Family Table Restaurant. There I was able to speak with local officials on a wide range of issues. In particular we discussed what it will take it change the sewer system in Spencer, but we also discussed a whole range of issues including farming, flooding and renewable energy. I began my day today talking with folks in LeMars at one of a Café Stops at Lally’s East Side Restaurant. I met up with my good friend Mike Mullally, who has owned Lally’s for years. I also had a chance to meet a number of Plymouth County residents. I spoke with Denice Kolker, a special education teacher at North Middle School in Sioux City. Denice expressed her hope for adequate funding for IDEA, which helps students with disabilities get the public education they have a right to. I have led the fight in Congress to ensure the federal government meets its commitment to fund 40 percent of the IDEA. As I continued my travels in Iowa on Tuesday, I began my morning in Davenport with about 150 members of DavenportOne, the local Chamber of Commerce. This breakfast meeting was an opportunity for me to learn more about the command and administration of the numerous military and civilian entities located at the Rock Island Arsenal. I continue to be impressed by the high quality products manufactured there and the rapid response capabilities repeatedly demonstrated which are keeping our troops safe. Equally, I have witnessed the invaluable service the Army Corps of Engineers continues to provide to communities and residents in Iowa devastated by the floods. I expressed my appreciation and commitment to the future of the facility and its tenants, which play a vital role in the region’s economy and the nation’s security. Today, I began my travels in Coralville where I met with mayor Jim Fausett, City Manager Kelly Hayworth, City Council member Mitch Gross (who was once an intern in my office), and Rebecca Needs from the Chamber of Commerce, to tour places that were damaged by the floods. We began at the Old Chicago restaurant and chatted with the owner, who told us about his reconstruction efforts. We then went out back to take a look at the Crandic Railroad which served as not only a railway, but also a levee. Unfortunately it was breached – and caused nearly 150 businesses to be flooded. I’m hopeful that the track can be raised to provide greater protections for the businesses in downtown Coralville. On August 2, I was honored to present the Ames Historical Society with the late Joseph Lawlor’s military medals from both World Wars. In 2004, Joseph’s son, Conrad, a long-time friend of mine and former Des Moines District Director of the Small Business Administration, wrote to me asking for help in obtaining his father’s military medals from the Department of Defense - nearly six decades after Joseph earned them! My staff gathered the necessary information and we made an inquiry about the missing medals, and shortly after that, they were sent. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee is planning to include $10.1 billion in disaster aid in the next supplemental appropriations package. A significant share would go toward Midwestern states hit by floods, including Iowa. The legislation will be acted on in September and could become law by October. Harkin is a senior member of the Committee. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was one of the landmark civil rights laws of the 20th century -- a long-overdue emancipation proclamation for millions of Americans with disabilities. As chief sponsor of the ADA in the Senate, I take pride in the progress we have made since the bill was signed into law on July 26, 1990. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement after his meeting with Governor Chet Culver regarding disaster aid for Iowa: U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with the entire Iowa delegation, today sent President Bush a letter urging him to consider a partial or complete waiver of the 25 percent cost-share the state must come up with to receive federal assistance to repair and rebuild infrastructure and utilities. Reducing the cost share will continue to help those communities most in need after the devastating floods. Reduction of the cost-share amounts for states was enacted for victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi. Iowa’s cost-share was reduced to ten percent after the flooding in 1993.
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today met with Cedar Rapids city leaders, including Mayor Kay Halloran, to get an update on the recovery and rebuilding process. Cedar Rapids officials outlined the federal support they will need to rebuild and Harkin reiterated his vow to securing federal resources to help in that effort. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin today made the following statement after President Bush vetoed the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act – which would reverse a 10.6 percent cut in reimbursement for physicians who serve Medicare patients, while also providing important reforms for hospitals, patients and pharmacists. The legislation was approved by veto-proof margins in Congress and both the House and the Senate are expected to override the president’s veto in the coming days. Senator Tom Harkin announced today that the funding package designed to help Midwestern states ravaged by flooding and other severe weather will likely be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 22. The bill will include dollars to help individuals and communities recover and rebuild after historic disasters hit Iowa and other states last month. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the full $17 million in federal funds directed to the Iowa Workforce Development are now available to create temporary employment in counties that have been affected by the recent severe weather and flooding. Earlier this month, Harkin spoke with Labor Secretary Elaine Chao about an immediate release of $6 million to Iowa. Today’s announcement represents the total amount of funding that was headed Iowa’s way. Harkin is the Chairman of the Senate panel that funds labor initiatives. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin today made the following statement about President Bush’s approval of the Supplemental Spending Bill which, among other domestic priorities, would allocate $2.65 billion for the federal agencies tasked with providing support for the recent disasters. In an effort to ensure that affected states are getting help, Harkin, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, brought together a coalition of bipartisan Midwestern Senators to fight for funding for areas impacted by natural disasters this year. Harkin has received assurances that another Supplemental funding package may be brought up this year to include more disaster funding for Iowa and other states.
Senator Harkin, Chairman of Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds labor and health initiatives, successfully included major provisions to help Americans in the supplemental spending package that the Senate passed today by votes of 92 to 6. The bill will now go to the president for his approval. Senator Harkin today applauded passage late last night of a resolution he introduced with Senator Chuck Grassley and Senators Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson of Nebraska honoring those affected by the tornado that hit the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Little Sioux, Iowa on June 11. Sen. Harkin tours Columbus Junction, IA In the first few weeks following a disaster, residents may be misled by rumors and half-truths about how to get help and the various assistance programs that are available. When residents suffer losses they need accurate information. Following action by the state of Iowa to establish a Disaster Food Assistance Program in counties hardest hit by flooding and weather, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today encouraged Iowans affected by the disaster to seek help in putting food on their tables while the flood waters recede. The Disaster Food Assistance Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a senior appropriator on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds USDA programs. Following action by the state of Iowa to establish a Disaster Food Assistance Program in counties hardest hit by flooding and weather, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today encouraged Iowans affected by the disaster to seek help in putting food on their tables while the flood waters recede. The Disaster Food Assistance Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a senior appropriator on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds USDA programs. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced the federal disaster declaration of 13 Iowa counties - Adam, Boone, Cerro Gordo, Crawford, Dallas, Dubuque, Floyd, Franklin, Marion, Page, Story, Tama and Union. Now that the counties have been declared, residents and businesses can begin applying for federal disaster assistance. Black Hawk, Buchanan, Butler and Delaware counties have already been given their federal disaster declarations. Harkin visited Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City today and plans on touring the damage done in Mason City, Charles City, Nashua and Waverly tomorrow. Senator Harkin today conveyed his sympathies to victims, families and friends of those affected by last night’s tornado that swept through the Little Sioux Scout Ranch near Turin, Iowa. News reports indicate that four boys - including 14-year old Aaron Eilerts from Eagle Grove, Iowa - died in the disaster and many more are injured.
US Senator Tom Harkin released the following statement today after touring communities in northeast Iowa that were ravaged by tornadoes:
On Memorial Day, the President and other leaders give speeches in the amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. But to truly appreciate the sacrifices of Americans who have given their lives in battle, I recommend visiting a different part of the cemetery. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement in response to the Senate vote of 82 to 13 override the veto of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act in the Senate. Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted 316 to 108 to override the measure. Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and of the Senate-House conference committee on the new farm bill. Today, right now in America, farm families and rural communities are awaiting a new farm bill. Working families are struggling to put food on the table because of recession and rising food prices. Today in America farmers and ranchers lack the assistance they need to conserve resources and provide a cleaner environment. Production is increasing at such a rapid pace that our lands are eroding and the strain on the environment is increasing. And today in America energy costs are off the charts with drivers in some areas paying over $4.00 a gallon for gas and farmers around the country seeing their diesel costs increase substantially. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act - or more commonly, the farm bill - was aptly named to address each of these concerns. Senator Tom Harkin released the following statement after learning that Senator Ted Kennedy had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and of the Senate-House conference committee on the farm bill, today announced that with a vote of 81-15, the Senate had overwhelmingly approved the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the farm bill conference agreement. The bill will now be sent to the White House.
Years ago I began my political career as an intern for Iowa Representative Neal Smith in the House of Representatives. The experience provided an invaluable firsthand education into how government operates. I’m looking for bright students who share this interest in public service to apply for internships in my office. Senator Harkin takes to the floor during the debate of the farm bill. Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and of the Senate-House conference committee on the new farm bill, today announced that the conference committee had agreed upon and approved all major elements of the new farm bill. Staff for the Senate and House agriculture committees and for conferees will continue to work through finalizing a few remaining issues and obtaining official budget scoring from the Congressional Budget Office. The completed legislation will have to be approved by both the Senate and House before being sent to the White House. In a conference call with Iowa reporters today, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Senate-House conference committee on the farm bill, said he was pushing ahead with a new bill, despite increasing White House threats against the bill. The farm bill Harkin is sheparding through Congress makes critical investments for Iowa in conservation, renewable energy and nutrition. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Senate-House conference committee on the farm bill, today said that the core farm bill utilizing the $10 billion above baseline has been worked out among key farm bill negotiators. Specific details and funding will still have to be worked out and are all subject to ratification by the full conference committee. Chairman Harkin intends to convene the conference committee on Monday. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today led a rally with Burlington’s Oak Street Middle School students Katherine Milani and Julian Swayzer, and health teacher Betsy DeBower, to reverse childhood obesity and encourage healthy lifestyles. Oak Street participates, along with 24 schools nationwide, in the Healthy Schools Program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), which works to improve access to healthier foods, increase opportunities for physical activity and establish school wellness programs. Mr. President, tomorrow is Fair Pay Day, the day that symbolizes how far into the year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned during the previous year. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate-House Conference Committee on the farm bill, today held the first meeting for all Senate and House farm bill conferees. Harkin’s introductory remarks as prepared for delivery are as follows: Responding to numerous recent reports that Americans are growing unhealthier and less active, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced legislation today that will set national exercise guidelines for Americans of all ages and ability levels.
In testimony delivered to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) described how deep cuts to critical law enforcement funds will impact Iowa. A two-thirds cut to the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants program in last year’s funding bill – a cut which will cost Iowa $3 million – threatens the ability of Iowa’s sheriffs and police to tackle drugs, fight crime and protect our communities. Harkin told the Committee how the cuts will translate into fewer law enforcement officers and less regional cooperation, and how his home-state will need to eliminate 15 of its 21 successful drug control programs. Earlier this month, Iowans were shocked to learn that California-based Hallmark/Westland, a slaughter and meatpacking establishment, forced "downer" cattle that could not walk into the slaughter line. These actions led to the largest beef recall in U.S. history, and it also served as a wake-up call about lax enforcement of our nation’s food safety laws and regulations.
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and his Senate colleagues announced today that they seek to increase funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program to $660 million. This would increase Iowa’s estimated share of 2008 funding from $1.5 million to $6.1 million. Harkin was also joined by police officers and local sheriffs, including Marshall County Sheriff Ted Kamatchus and Iowa’s Drug Czar Gary Kendall.
As recently released data shows growing numbers of suicide among soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq and seeing his Joshua Omvig veteran suicide prevention bill made law, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that he will introduce legislation next week to prevent suicide among active duty members of the military. Harkin's proposal, which he unveiled today at a Des Moines event honoring the Omvig family, would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a comprehensive suicide prevention program including annual training for soldiers, improved instruction for field medics and post deployment assistance. This afternoon the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry meets for a hearing on the nomination of Edward T. Schafer, former Governor of North Dakota for Secretary of Agriculture. Welcome to the Committee, Governor Schafer. I also want to recognize and welcome your wife, Nancy, and your daughter, Kari, as well as the good number of North Dakotans who are here with us this afternoon. Senator Tom Harkin, the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees heating assistance, announced today that he has secured an additional $9.3 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Iowans who rely on the program. Iowa has already received $36 million in LIHEAP funds this year. The additional funds are part of $450 million in contingency funding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released today. As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, I could not be more proud of the passage of the 2007 farm bill, The Food and Energy Security Act. We have traveled down a long road to get to this point, and our hard work has resulted in a very strong bill. This afternoon, my legislation garnered more votes than any farm bill since 1973. The final vote was an overwhelming 79-14. The bill now heads to a joint meeting with the House of Representatives to work out the differences. The Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 runs the gamut: it helps dairy farmers and sends an unprecedented level of assistance to specialty crop producers; boosts rural area jobs through rural development; invests in conservation to increase water quality and wildlife habitat; puts more food on the table for low-income families and improves the diets of our school kids; and invests in renewable energy resources to enhance our energy security.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced that agreement had been reached on amendments related to the farm bill and that Senate consideration of the bill may resume as soon as tomorrow.
Senate Harkin, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Governor Chet Culver came together on Capitol Hill today to urge the Senate to pass a farm bill that will bolster economic growth in Iowa by fueling investments in renewable energy initiatives. Late last month, I was proud to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee as we approved a farm bill with strong, bipartisan support, with not one negative vote against it. Our strong, forward-looking, fiscally responsible farm bill is at a stand still on the floor because we cannot obtain the necessary Republican support. They will not agree to a reasonable plan that keeps the farm bill from getting bogged down and far off the subject of the farm bill. As a proud member of American Legion Post 562 in Cumming, I know firsthand the patriotism of America’s veterans - a patriotism not of words, but of deeds and sacrifice. Some members of our Armed Forces pay the ultimate price. Others - including soldiers and Marines I have had the honor of visiting at Walter Reed Army Medical Center - bear terrible wounds that they will carry the rest of their lives. As you may know, recently, I have spent much of my time on the Senate floor, managing debate on the new farm bill. Later today, we will convene the House-Senate conference on the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. I expect a good conference that will produce a good, solid bill. Bear in mind that this bill passed in the Senate on a 75 to 19 vote, including a strong majority of Republican Senators. This bipartisan support reflects the fact that this bill funds essential, life-supporting, and life-saving services for millions of people in this country. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today passed by an overwhelming majority the 2007 farm bill, The Food and Energy Security Act. The measure continues and improves farm income protection and makes historic investments for the future in energy, conservation, nutrition and rural development initiatives – all while staying within strict budget limits. Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) today hailed the bill’s passage and thanked membership of the Committee. The bill must now be considered by the full Senate. I'm pleased to announce that I've been able to reach a basic agreement with key members of the Senate Agriculture Committee on the elements of the new farm bill, which we hope to mark up in this month. I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know about some real successes we've seen recently in the Senate on behalf of veterans and their families. A year ago, there was a large-scale outbreak of food-borne illness caused by a virulent strain of E. coli in fresh bagged spinach. More than 200 people became ill, and three died. Since then, U.S. consumers have been bombarded with news of repeated cases of contaminated food — everything from peanut butter to seafood to pet food. Just this week, there was a recall of a Dole bagged salad product because of E. coli contamination. Today, General Petraeus once again came to Capitol Hill to ask Congress to prolong our involvement in Iraq's civil war. His assessment of the situation in Iraq was positive, but not independent. The simple fact is that asking General Petraeus to evaluate the surge he has overseen in Iraq is like asking a college student to grade his own term paper. As you may know, for more than a year, now, I have been working to pass the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act. This bill - which is named for a soldier from Grundy Center, Iowa, who took his own life after returning from Iraq - directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to step up screening, counseling and other mental health services for returning war veterans. In the decade since it was first authorized, the Children's Health Insurance Program has been an extraordinary success story. It has reduced the number of uninsured low-income children by a third, providing basic health insurance to 6.6 million children whose parents cannot afford private insurance, but who don't qualify for Medicaid. July 26th, marks the 17th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act — one of the landmark civil rights laws of the 20th century. As chief sponsor of the ADA in the Senate, I take pride in the progress we have made as a nation since 1990. We have removed most physical barriers to movement and access for the 50 million Americans with disabilities. We have required employers to provide reasonable accommodations so that people with disabilities can have equal opportunity in the workplace. And we have advanced the 4 goals of the ADA — equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Recently, I introduced legislation to address one of the most important issues facing American workers today: the rapid erosion of the traditional pension plan. Today, the House of Representatives will debate and vote on S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would lift President Bush's arbitrary restrictions on federal embryonic stem cell research. This bill passed in the Senate two months ago with a strong, bipartisan vote. Since then, momentum has continued to build. The overwhelming majority of Americans — and their members of Congress — want to take the shackles off of federal researchers. They want to move forward with some of the most exciting and promising research of modern times. I am sure everyone has heard by now about the case of Andrew Speaker, who was diagnosed with an active, drug-resistant form of tuberculosis. On May 10, Mr. Speaker flew from Atlanta on a 12-day international odyssey, which he continued despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Then he reentered the U.S. at the Canadian border when a customs agent allowed him to pass despite knowing that Mr. Speaker was being sought by health authorities. During this hearing, we will hear testimony from Mr. Speaker by live hook-up from his hospital room in Denver, Colorado, where he is under quarantine. At this time of year, I always recall that famous Norman Rockwell painting, "Freedom from Want," which portrays a grandmother placing an enormous roast turkey on a dinner table surrounded by a happy extended family. America truly is a nation of amazing blessings and abundance. And the holiday season is always a wonderful time at which to reflect on and give thanks for our prosperity and freedom.
November 10, 2010
Ensuring Our Veterans Receive the Benefits They Deserve
October 14, 2010
New Resources for Combating Breast Cancer
October 7, 2010
Stem-cell research must go forward
September 22, 2010
Harkin Joins Iowans in Celebrating Six-Month Anniversary of Health Reform Law
September 13, 2010
Hands off the Prevention Fund!
September 10, 2010
Friday, September 10th – West Des Moines
September 9, 2010
Thursday, September 9th – Mills County and Shenandoah
September 8, 2010
Wednesday, September 8th – Breda and Denison
September 3, 2010
A fairer deal for college students
August 31, 2010
Benton County - Vinton
August 13, 2010
Friday, August 13 - Des Moines, Johnston
August 12, 2010
Thursday, August 12 - Des Moines
August 11, 2010
Wednesday, August 11 - Dubuque and Davenport
August 10, 2010
Tuesday, August 10th - Waterloo and Delhi
August 9, 2010
Monday, August 9th - Des Moines, Story City, Roland
August 3, 2010
Black Hawk County - Cedar Falls
August 2, 2010
Video - Investigating For-profit Colleges
July 29, 2010
Monona County – Onawa Public Library Tour
July 29, 2010
Harrison County - Dunlap Tour
July 28, 2010
Delaware County - Tour of Manchester Aquatic Center
July 28, 2010
Allamakee County - Tour of New Albin Elementary Playground
July 28, 2010
Taylor County - Tour of Drexall and Lora Wall’s Farm
July 28, 2010
Cherokee County - Cherokee Early Childhood Learning Center Playground and Roosevelt Elementary School Playground
July 28, 2010
Story County - Mid Iowa Foster Grandparent Program
July 28, 2010
Ida County - Meeting with Nathan Voss
July 28, 2010
Monroe County - Visit with Cathy Ballard
July 28, 2010
Howard County - Meeting with Carman Schacht
July 28, 2010
Madison County - Tour of Winterset
July 28, 2010
Johnson County - Listening Post
July 28, 2010
Shelby County - Pioneer Park Playground
July 28, 2010
Mahaska County - Listening Post
July 28, 2010
Clayton County - Meeting with Mychal Moon
July 28, 2010
Linn County - ADA Celebration Picnic
July 28, 2010
Mitchell County - Osage Public Library
July 28, 2010
Butler County - Meeting with Mary DeBower
July 28, 2010
Grundy County - Meeting with Brigitte Van Nice
July 28, 2010
Winnebago County - Forest City Aquatic Center
July 28, 2010
Jasper County – Maytag Park Pool and Playground Facility
July 28, 2010
Appanoose County - Meeting with IowAble Foudation
July 28, 2010
Humboldt County - Visit the Bradgate Community School District
July 28, 2010
Pottawattamie County - Council Bluffs Independent Living Center Visit
July 28, 2010
Sioux County - Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion Program
July 28, 2010
Sac County - Regional Transit Buses
July 27, 2010
Cedar County - Tipton Aquatic Center
July 27, 2010
Clinton County - ADA Forum
July 26, 2010
Winneshiek County - ADA Commemoration Event
July 23, 2010
Pocahontas County – Listening Post
July 21, 2010
Keokuk County - Sigourney Public Library
July 20, 2010
Warren County - Tour Indianola Aquatic Center
July 19, 2010
Woodbury County - ADA Celebration
July 15, 2010
Adams County - Corning Opera House
July 15, 2010
Boone County - Various Stories from Foster Grandparents
July 15, 2010
Osceola County - Tour of Sibley Hospital and Wellness Center
July 15, 2010
Dallas County - Various Stories from Foster Grandparents
July 15, 2010
Kossuth County - North Sentral Kossuth Playground
July 15, 2010
Palo Alto County - Tour of Ruthven-Ayrshire School Playground
July 15, 2010
Audubon County - Home Sweet Home Farms
July 15, 2010
Fremont County - Tour of Waubonsie State Park
July 15, 2010
Franklin County - Don Wohlford
July 15, 2010
Adair County - EE Warren Opera House
July 15, 2010
Marshall County - Camp Marshalltown
July 15, 2010
Shelby County - Nic Christensen
July 15, 2010
Page County - Tour of Shenandoah Wilson Aquatic Center
July 15, 2010
Marion County - Tour of City Hall
July 15, 2010
Guthrie County - Melissa Lewis
July 15, 2010
Lee County – Visit with Gary Fedler
July 15, 2010
Cass County - Open Office Hours
July 15, 2010
Union County - Tour of the Creston Headstart Playground
July 15, 2010
Jones County - Wapsipinicon State Park
July 15, 2010
Crawford County - Yellow Smoke Park
July 15, 2010
Polk County - Angie Plager
July 15, 2010
Davis County - Bloomfield Public Library
July 15, 2010
Clarke County - Tour of AAA trolley buses
July 15, 2010
Webster County - Meeting with Foster Grandparents
July 15, 2010
Ringgold County - Southern Iowa Trolley Demonstration
July 15, 2010
Decatur County - The Wiechmann Family
July 15, 2010
Cerro Gordo County - "Listening Post"
July 15, 2010
Washington County - Virginia Boardwell
July 15, 2010
Buchanan County- Little Island Childcare Care Center
July 15, 2010
Jackson County - Tour of Preston Elementary Playground
July 15, 2010
Greene County - Meeting with Dwight and Marsha Snowgren
July 15, 2010
Clay County - Spencer Regional Transit
July 15, 2010
Plymouth County - Listening Post and Tour of Remsen Library
July 15, 2010
Hardin County - Iowa Falls Carnegie Library
July 15, 2010
Hamilton County - Sunset Heights Elementary School Playground
July 15, 2010
Van Buren County - Lacey State Park
July 15, 2010
Carroll County - Teske Residence Tour
July 15, 2010
Montgomery County - YMCA Tour
July 15, 2010
Powesheik County - Tour of Grinnell Aquatic Center
July 15, 2010
Fayette County - Iowa Works
July 15, 2010
O’Brien County - Tour of East Elementary School Playground
July 15, 2010
Kossuth County - Iowa Lakes Riding Academy, Home of Healing Horses
July 15, 2010
Dubuque County - Meeting with Project Concern
July 15, 2010
Lucas County - Tour of Vredenburg-Charition Aquatic Center
July 15, 2010
Tama County - Traer Public Library
July 15, 2010
Wayne County - Meeting with Linda and Jack Couchman
July 15, 2010
Louisa County - Bob Brown
July 15, 2010
Calhoun County - Listening Post
July 15, 2010
Scott County – Quad City River Bandits Game
July 15, 2010
Mills County - Tour of the Courthouse
July 14, 2010
Dubuque County - Foster Grandparents Visit
July 14, 2010
Hancock County - Iowa Lakes Riding Academy
July 14, 2010
Wapello County – Foster Grandparents
July 14, 2010
Chickasaw County - New Hampton
July 14, 2010
Henry County – Mt. Pleasant Library Visit
July 14, 2010
Jefferson County
July 14, 2010
Bremer County - Waverly
July 14, 2010
Muscatine County – Meeting with Mike and Trish Simester
July 14, 2010
Emmet County - Meeting with Denny Theesfeld
July 14, 2010
Des Moines County - Burlington Bees
July 13, 2010
Iowa County Transportation
July 13, 2010
Warren County - Tour of Green Man Technologies
July 13, 2010
Buena Vista County - Storm Lake Public Library
July 9, 2010
Floyd County - North Iowa Area Community College Charles City Center
July 8, 2010
Wright County – Clarion Library Visit
July 7, 2010
Lyon County - Visit to Rock Rapids Kids Club Playground
July 1, 2010
Crawford County - Denison Job Corps
June 28, 2010
Iowa County - Jeremy Koehn & The AgrAbility Project
May 29, 2010
Honoring America’s Fallen
April 30, 2010
Celebrating Arbor Day
April 20, 2010
Equal Pay for Equal Work
March 26, 2010
Video - Sen. Harkin Talks About the Passage of Comprehensive Health Reform
March 15, 2010
ESEA Blueprint a Step Forward for Public Education
March 3, 2010
Crunch Time on Health Reform
February 22, 2010
A Path Towards Passing Comprehensive Health Reform This Year
February 14, 2010
Harkin Statement On The Passing Of John Ruan
February 9, 2010
Harkin Once Again at White House As First Lady Announces Task Force to Combat Childhood Obesity
February 2, 2010
Harkin, First Lady Discuss Childhood Obesity Epidemic Today
January 28, 2010
We Must Work Together To Fight Childhood Obesity
January 19, 2010
A Small Victory Amidst Disaster In Haiti
December 21, 2009
In Latest Procedural Motion, Senate Achieves Votes To Pass Health Reform
December 6, 2009
Stories Of The Uninsured And Underinsured In Iowa
December 4, 2009
A Holiday Message To The Troops
December 3, 2009
Industry Funded Report Is More Of The Same False Attacks On Real Health Care Reform
November 19, 2009
The Senate Health Reform Measure is a ‘Good Deal for America’
November 10, 2009
In Iowa’s Interest: Taking Care of Those Who Protect and Serve Our Nation
October 23, 2009
Food Safety Reform Gains Momentum Following HELP Hearing
October 14, 2009
Harkin Emphasizes Prevention’s Role In Health Care Overhaul
September 22, 2009
Ban On Candy Flavored Cigarettes Goes Into Effect Today
September 10, 2009
Senator Harkin Takes The Helm Of Senate Health, Education, Labor And Pensions (HELP) Committee
September 4, 2009
Dubuque
September 3, 2009
Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans and Service Members
September 2, 2009
Building Iowa’s Defense Technology and Food Safety
September 1, 2009
Building Iowa’s Economic Future
August 26, 2009
On the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy
August 14, 2009
Mason City Town Hall
August 13, 2009
Iowa State Fair and Mason City
August 12, 2009
Building Iowa’s Health and Economic Infrastructure
August 11, 2009
Building Iowa’s Medical Workforce
August 10, 2009
Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City
August 9, 2009
Day 2 – Building Iowa’s Economic Future
August 8, 2009
Kicking off the ’Building Iowa’s Future’ Tour in Des Moines
August 3, 2009
In Senate Floor Speech, Harkin Describes Iowans’ Struggles with Health Care; Cost-Savings from Prevention and Wellness
July 23, 2009
Prevention Reforms Will Save Lives and Money
July 15, 2009
In Historic Vote, Senate Health Committee Approves The Affordable Health Choices Act
July 9, 2009
Health Reform Moves Forward in Washington with a Public Option
July 1, 2009
The American Dream Lives
June 25, 2009
Yahoo! News Carries Harkin Message Of A New “Wellness Society”
June 23, 2009
HELP Committee Readies Largest Investment in Prevention and Public Health
June 18, 2009
Harkin Delivers Remarks On S. Con. Res. 26, An Apology For Enslavement And Racial Segregation Of African-Americans
June 15, 2009
Prevention Efforts Touted in President’s AMA Speech Are Part of the “Affordable Health Choices Act”
June 11, 2009
Harkin Hails Passage Of Landmark Legislation To Allow FDA To Regulate Tobacco
May 26, 2009
The Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court
May 23, 2009
Honoring America’s Veterans All Year Long
May 19, 2009
Harkin Rally’s with Faith Leaders in Support of EFCA
May 12, 2009
On The One-Year Anniversary Of The Raid On Agriprocessors, Inc.
May 1, 2009
Senator Harkin Introduces Flu Prevention Legislation
April 28, 2009
Opening Statement Of Senator Tom Harkin During Hearing On The So-Called “Swine Flu”
April 27, 2009
The A/H1N1 Flu
April 22, 2009
Celebrating Earth Day All Year Long
April 21, 2009
Harkin Named One Of The Most Bipartisan Members Of U.S. Senate
April 2, 2009
Sens. Harkin, Cornyn And Reps. Blumenauer, Bono Mack Reintroduce Healthy Workforce Act
March 24, 2009
Measure Offers Choice And Independence For People With Disabilties
March 19, 2009
Harkin Warns AIG: Give Up Bonuses Or Congress Will Recoup Them Through Tax Code
March 10, 2009
U.S. Senate And House Introduce Employee Free Choice Act
March 4, 2009
Floor Statement On The Importance Of School Modernization Grants; Agriculture Research
February 26, 2009
Statement by Senator Tom Harkin
February 25, 2009
Harkin Announces More Than $27 Million For Housing Programs Across Iowa
February 17, 2009
Economic Recovery Package Signed Today By President Obama Will Benefit Iowa, Says Harkin
February 9, 2009
Senate Plan Will Revive And Transform America’s Economy
January 29, 2009
Harkin Attends Ledbetter White House Bill Signing
January 26, 2009
Senate Stimulus Will Create Jobs, Modernize Schools In Iowa
January 22, 2009
Hearing on the States’ Role in Keeping Americans Healthy
January 21, 2009
Harkin Welcomed Iowa National Guard To Washington To Assist With Inaugural Security
January 14, 2009
Statement Of Chairman Tom Harkin
January 6, 2009
Harkin Sworn Into 111th Congress; Senator Begins Fifth Term
December 18, 2008
Harkin Welcomes News That Fellow Iowan Tom Vilsack Nominated For Agriculture Secretary
December 16, 2008
On the Nomination of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education
November 19, 2008
Harkin Chosen To Spearhead Prevention Elements Of Health Care Reform Bill
November 10, 2008
Keeping Faith with Our Veterans
October 27, 2008
Harkin Announces More Than $71 Million Coming To Iowa For Flood Relief
October 7, 2008
As Harkin Grants Celebrate 10th Anniversary, Senator Tours East High School In Des Moines
September 25, 2008
Senator Harkin’s Statement Regarding ADA Amendments Act Becoming Law
September 23, 2008
Harkin, Grassley Announce Almost $23 Billion In Federal Aid For Iowa And Other States Hit By Disasters
September 17, 2008
Harkin Statement On House Passage Of The ADA Amendments Act
September 11, 2008
Harkin, Hatch Measure Fulfilling Promise Of Americans With Disabilities Act Passes Senate Unanimously
September 10, 2008
Senators Harkin And Clinton Assail Bush Administration For Failing To Crack Down On Pay Discrimination
September 5, 2008
Harkin Requests Proof of Loss Waiver for Iowans With Flood Insurance
September 3, 2008
Harkin, Grassley Urge HUD to Release Disaster Funding for Iowa Housing Needs
September 1, 2008
Valuing Work, Honoring Workers
August 20, 2008
Healthcare Roundtable
August 18, 2008
Field Hearing in Omaha
August 17, 2008
Iowa State Fair
August 15, 2008
Audubon County Cafe Stop
August 14, 2008
Osage, New Hampton, Mason City
August 13, 2008
Iowa State Fair
August 11, 2008
Palo
August 11, 2008
Vinton
August 9, 2008
Corydon, Chariton and Osceola
August 8, 2008
Pocahontas and Humboldt
August 7, 2008
Spencer, Storm Lake and Primghar
August 6, 2008
LeMars, Sioux Center, Little Rock, Ashton
August 5, 2008
Visiting Davenport And Dubuque
August 4, 2008
The Start Of The Tour
August 2, 2008
Senator Harkin Presents Military Medals
July 31, 2008
Harkin Announces More Than $10 Billion In Federal Aid For Iowa And Other States Hit By Disasters
July 24, 2008
The Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 22, 2008
Harkin Statement Regarding Meeting With Governor Culver
July 21, 2008
Harkin, Grassley Lead Iowa Delegation In Urging President Bush To Reduce State’s Share Of Public Assistance For Flood Aid
July 16, 2008
Senator Harkin Meets with Cedar Rapids Officials, Pledges Federal Support
July 15, 2008
Senator Harkin Reacts to Bush Veto of Crucial Support for Iowa Physicians and Medicare Patients
July 10, 2008
Harkin Announces Second Infusion of Iowa Flood Relief Coming Soon
June 30, 2008
Harkin Announces Full $17 Million Coming To Create Jobs, Rebuild Iowa Communities
June 30, 2008
Statement by Senator Harkin on President’s Approval of Flood Relief Support
June 27, 2008
Congress Approves Harkin’s Push For Flood Disaster Aid & American Health, Employment And Research Priorities
June 25, 2008
Harkin, Senators Honor Boy Scouts And Those Affected By Tragic Tornado
June 24, 2008
Videos Of Senator Harkin in Iowa This Weekend
June 23, 2008
Common Misunderstandings Could Delay or Limit Your Assistance
June 23, 2008
Updated - Harkin Encourages Families Affected by Disaster to Seek Food Assistance
June 18, 2008
Harkin Encourages Families Affected by Disaster to Seek Food Assistance
June 17, 2008
An Update From Senator Harkin
June 16, 2008
Tom Talks From The Senate Floor About The Recent Flooding In Iowa
June 15, 2008
Images from Iowa
June 13, 2008
After Eastern Iowa Flood Damage Tour, Harkin Announces Federal Disaster Declaration For 13 Counties
June 12, 2008
Senator Harkin Statement Regarding Tornado That Ripped Through Little Sioux Boy Scout Ranch
May 26, 2008
Statement From Senator Harkin After Visiting Iowa Communities Hit By Severe Weather
May 23, 2008
The Meaning of Sacrifice
May 22, 2008
Statement of Chairman Tom Harkin
May 21, 2008
President Bush Veto Would Deny Forward-Looking Farm, Food, Conservation and Energy Initiatives
May 20, 2008
Harkin Statement on Senator Ted Kennedy
May 15, 2008
Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Harkin Led Farm Bill That Benefits Iowa
May 14, 2008
Interning in my Office
May 14, 2008
Video - Tom Debates the Farm Bill on the Senate Floor
May 2, 2008
Senate-House Conference Committee Adopts Chief Farm Bill Initiatives
May 1, 2008
Harkin Brings Farm Bill Closer To Finish Line As White House Threats Increase
April 25, 2008
Bipartisan Farm Bill Agreement Will Lead to Strong Final Bill, Says Harkin
April 22, 2008
Senator Harkin, Burlington, Iowa Students Lead the Charge to Reverse Childhood Obesity
April 21, 2008
The Fair Pay Act
April 9, 2008
First Farm Bill Conference Meeting
March 12, 2008
Senator Harkin Joins Star Athletes in Pushing Physical Activity Guidelines to Address Rising Rates of Obesity, Skyrocketing Health Care Costs
February 27, 2008
Harkin Criticizes Bush Administration For Pulling Rug Out From Under Iowa’s Law Enforcement Community, Slashing Their Support
February 26, 2008
Food Safety First
January 30, 2008
Harkin, Colleagues, Announce Plan To Increase Funding For Crime Prevention
January 28, 2008
Harkin Works To Prevent Suicide Among Active Duty Soldiers
January 25, 2008
Statement Of Sen. Harkin At The Nomination Hearing Of Edward T. Schafer
January 16, 2008
Harkin Secures More Than $9 Million In LIHEAP Funds For Iowa
December 18, 2007
Senator Tom Harkin Ushers 2007 Farm Bill Through Senate
December 11, 2007
Farm Bill Continues to Move Through Senate
December 7, 2007
Farm Bill Agreement, Like Bill Itself, is Bipartisan
December 5, 2007
Senator Harkin Urges Passage of the Farm Bill
November 15, 2007
Fighting for Critical Farm Bill Investments
November 11, 2007
Doing Right by Our Veterans
November 8, 2007
Moving the Farm Bill Forward
November 5, 2007
Harkin Ushers 2007 Farm Bill to Senate Floor
Maintaining a Strong Farm Safety Net ...
November 1, 2007
Fighting For Investments Here At Home
October 26, 2007
Senate Agriculture Committee, Under Harkin Leadership, Approves Major Farm, Nutrition, Energy and Conservation Investment Measure
October 17, 2007
2007 Senate Farm Bill: Investments for the Future
September 28, 2007
Update: The Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act
September 20, 2007
The Fresh Produce Safety Act
September 10, 2007
Asking General Petraeus to evaluate the surge he has overseen in Iraq is like asking a college student to grade his own term paper.
September 3, 2007
The Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act
August 1, 2007
Statement on the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007
July 26, 2007
The 17th Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 2, 2007
Working To Ensure Retirement Security For American Workers
June 7, 2007
The House debates S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007
June 6, 2007
Protecting the Public Health
June 5, 2007
Freedom From Want