Tom Harkin

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Calls for Evaluation of Rising Food Prices, Expansion of New Feedstocks

May 5, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should uphold the ethanol standards passed by the energy bill with an expansion of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) to 36 billion gallons by 2022. Earlier today, 23 Senate Republicans urged the agency to halt ethanol production expansion.    » read more »

Renews Call for Employee Free Choice Act

April 2, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) questioned members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and reiterated his support for the Employee Free Choice Act at an investigative Senate hearing he chaired on unfair labor practices in representation elections.

Strikers outside a construction site in Wilsonvile, OR: Photo by Lisa Norwood (CC)    » read more »

GAO Report Reveals Flaws

Washington, D.C. -- March 25, 2008 -- With more than 10,000 schools across the country identified as low-performing under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report written at the request of U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) has found that the Education Department failed to properly oversee one of the most critical sources of NCLBA funding.    » read more »

Budget Amendment Provides Additional Funding for Health Research, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Washington, D.C. -- March 13, 2008 -- Today, U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, successfully championed through an amendment to the FY09 Budget Resolution. The amendment, soundly passed by a vote of 95-4, increases funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $2.1 billion.    » read more »

Harkin is leading major bipartisan push to boost Iowa's crime & meth prevention funding

February 12, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Late last night, the Senate unanimously approved legislation U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) pushed to ensure that retailers are compliant with Combat Meth Act regulations to curb the spread of methamphetamines in communities.    » read more »

Harkin vows to fix funding cuts to help Iowa receive educational assistance

February 7, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) met with representatives of the Iowa State Education Association to discuss deep cuts to K-12 education funding in President Bush’s proposed budget. Harkin, who leads the Senate committee that funds education initiatives, called the Bush budget a reckless and backward-thinking proposal that would have dire consequences for Iowa’s school children.    » read more »

Harkin vows to fix funding cuts to help Iowa receive educational assistance

February 6, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Late yesterday, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) met with representatives of seven Iowa colleges to discuss deep cuts to higher education funding in President Bush’s proposed budget. Harkin, who leads the Senate committee that funds education initiatives, called the Bush budget an irresponsible, backward-thinking budget that would have dire consequences for Iowa’s educational assistance programs.    » read more »

Bush axes support for job competitiveness, LIHEAP and medical breakthroughs; Harkin vows to restore funding to these critical areas in his committee's domestic funding bill

February 5, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations subcommittee, took President Bush to task for coming out with such an irresponsible, backward-thinking budget for Americans’ priorities at home.    » read more »

February 4, 2008 -- Last week Bush wanted to give Americans $600 rebate checks, this week he slashes investments to our economy and asks Americans to ante up $1,000 in interest on his national deficit

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today discussed the impact President Bush’s budget proposal would have on Iowans and Americans. Harkin leads the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry committee as well as the appropriations subcommittee that funds health and education initiatives - both jurisdictions received major cuts in Bush’s budget.    » read more »

Washington Post reports today on record number of soldier suicides last year - highest rate since 1990

January 31, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. - As news reports reveal growing numbers of suicide among soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Barack Obama (D-IL) today introduced major legislation aimed at preventing suicide among active duty members of the military.    » read more »

January 28, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement tonight after listening to President Bush's final State of the Union address:

"I welcomed the spirit of cooperation in parts of the President's speech tonight and I am looking forward to working with him on important legislation we must finish this year.    » read more »

Last November, Harkin's veteran suicide prevention law - named after Iowan Josh Omvig - became law

January 25, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – 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.    » read more »

Senators seek to support local law enforcement by restoring funding for critical program to $660 million

January 24, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – As the country’s law enforcement officials reel from federal budget cuts, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Kit Bond (R-MO) today announced that they seek to increase funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program to $660 million. Byrne Grant funding is the only source of federal funding that encourages communities to band together to prevent and fight crime.    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement today regarding Senate passage of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007. The bill extends the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, referred to as the Healthy and Well Kids In Iowa (HAWK-I) program in Iowa, through March 31, 2009. The HAWK-I program provides health insurance to nearly 50,000 Iowa children.

The bill also contains a number of provisions designed to ensure seniors continue to have access to the healthcare they deserve.    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) tonight applauded Senate passage of a catch-all federal funding bill that would make key investments in programs that reflect Americans’ values and priorities. The Omnibus appropriations bill passed the Senate with a vote of 76 to 17.

The bill was a second attempt to push through domestic funding after President Bush vetoed Congress’ first attempt.

Harkin is Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.    » read more »