Senate Update
November 09, 2009:The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m. and proceed to a period of morning business until 3:00 p.m. with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 3:00 p.m., the Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 3082, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations.
At 4:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to the nomination of Andre Davis to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit.
At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination. An additional vote in relation to an amendment to Military Construction/VA appropriations is possible following the 5:30 p.m. vote.
October 23, 2009
Food Safety Reform Gains Momentum Following HELP Hearing
by Senator Tom Harkin
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.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that food-borne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses each year, including approximately 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths in the United States. These numbers are staggering and totally intolerable.
For over a decade now, I have urged FDA and USDA to strengthen our food safety system, and I have introduced several reform bills. In addition, I have been working closely with FDA to explore more effective ways of safeguarding America’s food supply. And now as Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, I intend to continue my efforts to make our food safer.
On Thursday, the HELP Committee held a hearing to explore how we can increase the safety of our food system.
At the hearing we heard from five great witnesses, including new FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, who said she wants to move towards a system where we not only react to outbreaks of food borne illnesses, but also take greater steps to prevent them. We agree that regulations should be effective, but not excessively burdensome for farmers and food processors for whom production, preparation, or sale of food is a source of livelihood. We also agreed that we need effective surveillance and enforcement measures, so that contaminated foods do not make it onto our kitchen tables. To accomplish all of these things, we must modernize food safety programs at FDA.
The momentum to act on food safety legislation is there, and I plan to work with my colleagues in Congress and the Administration to pass comprehensive a measure as soon as possible.
October 14, 2009
Harkin Emphasizes Prevention’s Role In Health Care Overhaul
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.
September 22, 2009
Ban On Candy Flavored Cigarettes Goes Into Effect Today
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.
September 10, 2009
Senator Harkin Takes The Helm Of Senate Health, Education, Labor And Pensions (HELP) Committee
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.
September 4, 2009
Dubuque
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.
September 3, 2009
Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans and Service Members
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.
September 2, 2009
Building Iowa’s Defense Technology and Food Safety
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.
September 1, 2009
Building Iowa’s Economic Future
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.
August 26, 2009
On the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy
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.
August 14, 2009
Mason City Town Hall
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.
August 13, 2009
Iowa State Fair and Mason City
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.
