I just completed my 99 county tour of Iowa this year. Every year I hold a meeting in every county to listen to concerns and answer questions on any subject. These conversations help me be a true representative of Iowa in the United States Senate. Today I held town hall meetings in Independence, Hudson, New Hampton and Cresco. There was a good discussion in each community. This kind of interaction is fundamental to the process of representative government, and I look forward to taking the opinions and comments that I heard today to Washington when the Senate reconvenes on September 8.