Tom Harkin

Sept. 18, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study released today found that access to commodity programs and to crop insurance is a key factor motivating producers to plow up range land. The report was requested by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Both Committees are charged with crafting a new farm bill.    » read more »

September 5, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today held a hearing to investigate the recent Utah mine disaster and how future tragedies can be prevented. The son of an Iowa coal miner, Harkin has continually pressed the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to improve mine safety.    » read more »

Full Senate voted tonight in favor of confirming Nussle

September 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today urged his colleagues from the Senate floor to support the confirmation of former Iowa Representative Jim Nussle as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. After President Bush selected Nussle to be his nominee in June, he testified in front of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as well as the Senate Budget Committee.    » read more »

September 4, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today wrote letters to President Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Acting Director R. David Paulison urging them to approve Iowa’s request for federal assistance covering damage caused by storms during the week of August 17-24. These storms led to one death and several injuries. Additionally, preliminary damage estimates show hundreds of homes, as well as bridges, roads, and other public facilities, were affected.    » read more »

Senate Legislation in Works to Reduce Foodborne Illness Caused by Produce

Aug. 30, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today issued the following statement on the recall of 8,118 cases of bagged spinach after they tested positive for Salmonella. The produce, distributed by Metz Fresh LLC of King City, California, has not been linked to any human cases of foodborne illness, yet comes almost one year after an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in fresh, bagged spinach.    » read more »

August 27, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that East Central Iowa Council of Governments received a $50,000 grant to establish a comprehensive economic development strategy for Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Tama and Washington counties. These funds were made available through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.    » read more »

August 27, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the subcommittee which funds health care initiatives, issued the following statement today on the new obesity study released by the Trust for America’s Health, which found that Iowa maintained its national obesity rank of 20 and no state experienced a decrease in its levels of obesity.    » read more »

August 27, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement today.

“News of Attorney General Gonzales’ resignation is long overdue; he has at long last done the right thing and resigned.

I opposed his nomination because I believed the man who used his position as White House Counsel to authorize the use of torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay was unfit to serve as the nation’s highest law enforcement official.    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced a loan of $15,902,000 in rural development funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for broadband access in Clarion, Eagle Grove, Goldfield, Humboldt and Renwick. Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.    » read more »

Bettendorf and Davenport to use funds for police support

August 21, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that Scott County received $288,261 to fight crime from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Harkin has been a steadfast supporter of the Byrne grant program that funds many drug fighting initiatives across the state.    » read more »

August 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that Dubuque received $53,747 to fight crime from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Harkin has been a steadfast supporter of the Byrne grant program that funds many drug fighting initiatives across the state.    » read more »

$40,000 grant will purchase law enforcement equipment for Ottumwa, Wapello County officers

August 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that Ottumwa received more than $40,000 to fight crime from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Harkin has been a steadfast supporter of the Byrne grant program that funds many drug fighting initiatives across the state.    » read more »

Sioux City also receives funds to assign officers to a special drug task force, purchase an ATV for patrolling purposes

August 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that Woodbury County received $78,988 to fight crime from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Harkin has been a steadfast supporter of the Byrne grant program that funds many drug fighting initiatives across the state.    » read more »

Funding secured by Harkin allows for new USDA signups

August 7, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) encouraged producers to take advantage of open enrollment in the Conservation Security Program (CSP) announced today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Harkin secured funding for this enrollment in an appropriations bill that passed Congress in June. He has been working with USDA since that time to release the funding and commended today’s action by Secretary Johanns.    » read more »

System Established to Trace Animal Origins in the Case of Disease Outbreak Could Fail if Problems Are Not Addressed

August 2, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report requested by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and released today found weaknesses in USDA’s plan to implement a national animal identification system.    » read more »