The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“DES MOINES COUNTY, IOWA” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S3715-S3717 on June 17, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
DES MOINES COUNTY, IOWA
Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, the strength of my State of Iowa lies in its vibrant local communities, where citizens come together to foster economic development, make smart investments to expand opportunity, and take the initiative to improve the health and well-being of residents. Over the decades, I have witnessed the growth and revitalization of so many communities across my State, and it has been deeply gratifying to see how my work in Congress has supported these local efforts.
I have always believed in accountability for public officials, and this, my final year in the Senate, is an appropriate time to give an accounting of my work across four decades representing Iowa in Congress. I take pride in accomplishments that have been national in scope--for instance, passing the Americans with Disabilities Act and spearheading successful farm bills. But I take a very special pride in projects that have made a big difference in local communities across my State.
Today, I would like to give an accounting of my work with leaders and residents of Des Moines County to build a legacy of a stronger local economy, better schools and educational opportunities, and a healthier, safer community.
Between 2001 and 2013, the creative leadership in your community has worked with me to secure funding in Des Moines County worth over $45 million and successfully acquire financial assistance from programs I have fought hard to support, which have provided more than $158 million to the local economy.
Of course, my favorite memories of working together include helping to get compensation for sick former nuclear workers at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, improving transportation in the county, and helping area residents access to quality, affordable health care by building a Community Health Center.
Investing in Iowa's economic development through targeted community projects: In Southeast Iowa, we have worked together to grow the economy by making targeted investments in important economic development projects including improved roads and bridges, modernized sewer and water systems, and better housing options for residents of Des Moines County. In many cases, I have secured Federal funding that has leveraged local investments and served as a catalyst for a whole ripple effect of positive, creative changes. For example, working with mayors, city council members, and local economic development officials in Des Moines County, I have fought for funding for important transportation projects, including $118 million for the Avenue of the Saints, more than $45 million for the four-lane highway from Des Moines to Burlington, another $45 million to replace the Burlington Northern bridge over the Mississippi River, and maintaining Essential Air Service funding to the community, helping to create jobs and expand economic opportunities.
Main Street Iowa: One of the greatest challenges we face--in Iowa and all across America--is preserving the character and vitality of our small towns and rural communities. This isn't just about economics; it is also about maintaining our identity as Iowans. Main Street Iowa helps preserve Iowa's heart and soul by providing funds to revitalize downtown business districts. This program has allowed towns like Burlington to use that money to leverage other investments to jumpstart change and renewal. I am so pleased that Des Moines County has earned
$130,000 through this program. These grants build much more than buildings; they build up the spirit and morale of people in our small towns and local communities.
School grants: Every child in Iowa deserves to be educated in a classroom that is safe, accessible, and modern. That is why, for the past decade and a half, I have secured funding for the innovative Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Program--better known among educators in Iowa as Harkin grants for public schools construction and renovation. Across 15 years, Harkin grants worth more than $132 million have helped school districts to fund a range of renovation and repair efforts--everything from updating fire safety systems to building new schools. In many cases, these Federal dollars have served as the needed incentive to leverage local public and private dollars, so it often has a tremendous multiplier effect within a school district. Over the years, Des Moines County has received $717,400 in Harkin grants. Similarly, schools in Des Moines County have received funds that I designated for Iowa Star Schools for technology totaling $20,000.
Disaster mitigation and prevention: In 1993, when historic floods ripped through Iowa, it became clear to me that the national emergency response infrastructure was woefully inadequate to meet the needs of Iowans in flood-ravaged communities. I went to work dramatically expanding the Federal Emergency Management Agency's hazard mitigation program, which helps communities reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and enables mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery period. Disaster relief means more than helping people and businesses get back on their feet after a disaster, it means doing our best to prevent the same predictable flood or other catastrophe from recurring in the future. The hazard mitigation program that I helped create in 1993 provided critical support to Iowa communities impacted by the devastating floods of 2008. Des Moines County has received over $1 million to remediate and prevent widespread destruction from natural disasters.
Iowa Army Ammunitions workers: When a constituent, Bob Anderson, wrote me a letter to saying that he was sick with lymphoma and believed it was because he had worked at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, which manufactured nuclear weapons during the Cold War, I began looking into his claims. Even though the Army initially denied these accusations, I continued to investigate the situation and discovered that workers there were in fact exposed to massive doses of radiation and that this wasn't an injustice unique to Iowa. Working to get compensation to Bob and thousands of other sick workers throughout the United States involved a massive bipartisan legislative and bureaucratic undertaking, starting with the passage of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Plan Act of 2000. To date, the Department of Labor has paid out over $10 billion in compensation to workers all over the United States, including over $239 million to the Burlington workers and more than $57 million to a special cohort of workers at the Ames Laboratory.
Keeping Iowa communities safe: I also firmly believe that our first responders need to be appropriately trained and equipped, able to respond to both local emergencies and to statewide challenges such as, for instance, the methamphetamine epidemic. Since 2001, Des Moines County's fire departments have received over $1.2 million for firefighter safety and operations equipment and more than $499,000 in Byrne Justice Assistance Grants.
Wellness and health care: Improving the health and wellness of all Americans has been something I have been passionate about for decades. That is why I fought to dramatically increase funding for disease prevention, innovative medical research, and a whole range of initiatives to improve the health of individuals and families not only at the doctor's office but also in our communities, schools, and workplaces. I am so proud that Americans have better access to clinical preventive services, nutritious food, smoke-free environments, safe places to engage in physical activity, and information to make healthy decisions for themselves and their families. These efforts not only save lives, they will also save money for generations to come thanks to the prevention of costly chronic diseases, which account for a whopping 75 percent of annual health care costs. I am pleased that Des Moines County has worked with me to secure $2.9 million for the Community Health Center.
Disability rights: Growing up, I loved and admired my brother Frank, who was deaf. However, I was deeply disturbed by the discrimination and obstacles he faced every day. That is why I have always been a passionate advocate for full equality for people with disabilities. As the primary author of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the ADA Amendments Act, I have had four guiding goals for our fellow citizens with disabilities: equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Nearly a quarter century since passage of the ADA, I see remarkable changes in communities everywhere I go in Iowa--not just in curb cuts or closed captioned television but in the full participation of people with disabilities in our society and economy, folks who at long last have the opportunity to contribute their talents and to be fully included. These changes have increased economic opportunities for all citizens of Des Moines County, both those with and without disabilities.
This is at least a partial accounting of my work on behalf of Iowa, and specifically Des Moines County, during my time in Congress. In every case, this work has been about partnerships, cooperation, and empowering folks at the State and local level, including in Des Moines County, to fulfill their own dreams and initiatives. And, of course, this work is never complete. Even after I retire from the Senate, I have no intention of retiring from the fight for a better, fairer, richer Iowa. I will always be profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Iowa as their Senator.
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