Bracing for the Long Haul Against Flood Waters

The Missouri River flooding that's under way is unlike other recent flooding disasters in Iowa for the length of time it will go on. Everyone's worried about the levees holding up against 90 days of pressure from the biggest flood in more than 100 years. I'm in close contact with the communities along the river and will continue to communicate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I hosted the Brigadier General for the Corps... Read more

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Protecting the Public's Right to Know

America's prosperity hinges on our consumer-driven economy. The economic recovery is slowed in part by tepid consumer confidence that adds to the reluctance by businesses to increase payroll, upgrade equipment and expand operations. Decision-makers in the private sector are taking a wait-and-see approach due to uncertainty over the federal debt, tax, spending and regulatory policy. The economic recovery could continue to languish if the federal government fails to rein in spending. Even so, America's strength and resilience still rests... Read more

 

Helping the Whole Family Affected by Substance Abuse

It’s clear that drug abuse wrecks the life of the drug abuser. It might be less obvious that substance abuse often uproots children who end up in foster care as a result. A young woman who’s interning in my office this summer was one of those children. When Taatianna turned three, she opened the front door of her home to a caseworker who removed her and her two siblings because of their parents’ substance abuse. She was placed in foster care at a very young age. Fortunately... Read more

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Farm Bill Debate Starts Anew

As discussion of the next farm bill begins to heat up and budgets start to solidify, I'm working to put Iowa in the middle of the debate. This week I sent a request to Senator Debbie Stabenow, the Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senator Pat Roberts, the Ranking Member of the committee, asking them to hold a committee field hearing in Iowa to discuss the upcoming farm bill. I also pointed out that the Senate Agriculture Committee has a history of conducting farm bill field hearings in our state. It makes sense to keep Iowa at the forefront of these discussions. Iowa is the number one producer of corn, soybeans, pork, and eggs. In addition, Iowa farmers produce a large number of beef cattle from the many cow-calf operations throughout the state. And, we have many dairy farms that are vital parts of their communities. Iowa's greater agriculture industry is... Read more