Senator Harkin will be traveling around Iowa during the August recess. This map shows the stops he will be making. You may also want to view a detailed listing of these stops.
Iowa Disasters
Learn about Disaster Recovery Assistance through the handout provided by Senator Harkin's office
Get the latest information available from the State of Iowa Flood 2008 website.
We now have available a Flood Cleanup Guide in PDF format.
Learn about Federal Emergency Assistance Available to Agricultural Producers
Additionally, Iowans affected by recent tornadoes and floods are urged to call the 24-hour Iowa Concern Hotline for financial and emotional assistance at (800) 447-1985
People who want to donate to help the victims of the storms can do so through Iowa’s Flood Resource Center.
Senate Update
September 08, 2008:The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 3001, the Defense Authorization bill. Senators should be prepared for a roll call vote at a 5:30 p.m. on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Defense Authorization bill.
Pro forma sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, at 10:00 a.m.; Friday, August 8 at 11:00 a.m.; Tuesday, August 12 at 2:00 p.m.; Friday, August 15 at 10:00 a.m.; Tuesday, August 19 at 9:00 a.m.; Friday, August 22 at 10:00 a.m.; Tuesday, August 26 at 2:00 p.m.; Friday, August 29 at 2:00 p.m.; Tuesday, September 2 a 12:00 p.m. and Friday, September 5 at 9:30 a.m.
August 20, 2008
Healthcare Roundtable
by Senator Tom Harkin
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.
August 18, 2008
Field Hearing in Omaha
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.
August 17, 2008
Iowa State Fair
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.
August 15, 2008
Audubon County Cafe Stop
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.
August 14, 2008
Osage, New Hampton, Mason City
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.
August 13, 2008
Iowa State Fair
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.
August 11, 2008
Palo
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.
August 11, 2008
Vinton
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!
August 9, 2008
Corydon, Chariton and Osceola
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.
August 8, 2008
Pocahontas and Humboldt
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.
August 7, 2008
Spencer, Storm Lake and Primghar
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.
