Senate Update
January 29, 2009:The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and resume consideration of H.R. 2, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.
There will be roll call votes throughout the day as the Senate continues to work through amendments to the Children’s Health bill.
January 29, 2009
Harkin Attends Ledbetter White House Bill Signing
by Harkin Press Staff
Senator Tom Harkin today attended the White House bill signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act – the first bill signing of the new administration. The Act will help to ensure all Americans are paid the same wage regardless of their age, gender, race or ethnicity. It passed both Chambers of Congress last week by overwhelming majorities. Harkin, a cosponsor of the measure, is a senior member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds labor initiatives.
“Today was a historic day – not only did it mark the first bill signing of the administration, it marked a new era for fighting pay discrimination in this country,” said Harkin. “This law will help to curb the unfair practice of pay discrimination by restoring civil rights protections for workers who face discrimination based on age, race, gender, national origin, religion or disability. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will be remembered in history alongside other critical anti-discrimination measures like the Equal Pay, Civil Rights, Family and Medical Leave and the American with Disabilities Acts.”
January 26, 2009
Senate Stimulus Will Create Jobs, Modernize Schools In Iowa
Senator Tom Harkin today joined his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee in unveiling a job creation measure to spur the nation’s flailing economy. The bill is expected to be marked up by Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow with hopes of reaching the President’s desk by early February. Harkin is Chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds education initiatives.
January 22, 2009
Hearing on the States’ Role in Keeping Americans Healthy
“Good morning. I would like to thank everyone for coming, this morning, to discuss some of the creative ways that states are taking the initiative in promoting disease prevention and a broader culture of wellness.
January 21, 2009
Harkin Welcomed Iowa National Guard To Washington To Assist With Inaugural Security
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) welcomed members of the Iowa National Guard to Washington, D.C. on Monday to provide additional assistance with security for the Inauguration of Barack Obama. The Guard members spent five days in the nation’s capitol assisting the District of Columbia’s Department of Transportation.
January 14, 2009
Statement Of Chairman Tom Harkin
“This morning it is my honor to hold this hearing of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to consider the nomination of Thomas J. Vilsack, former Governor of Iowa, to become Secretary of Agriculture. I want to welcome you to the Committee, Governor Vilsack, along with your wife, Christie, and a good number of Iowans and others here to support you and wish you well.
January 6, 2009
Harkin Sworn Into 111th Congress; Senator Begins Fifth Term
Tom Harkin was sworn in today to serve his fifth term as a United States Senator. The 111th Congress officially convened today at Noon to swear in new and returning senators.
December 18, 2008
Harkin Welcomes News That Fellow Iowan Tom Vilsack Nominated For Agriculture Secretary
Senator Tom Harkin today issued the following comment after President-Elect Obama announced that he had nominated Tom Vilsack for Agriculture Secretary. Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the Committee that will hold nomination hearings.
December 16, 2008
On the Nomination of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education
I applaud this morning’s announcement of Arne Duncan as the nominee to be the next Secretary of Education.
November 19, 2008
Harkin Chosen To Spearhead Prevention Elements Of Health Care Reform Bill
Senator Harkin was pleased to accept an invitation today from Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), to lead a working group tasked with crafting the prevention and public health components of the health care reform bill.
November 10, 2008
Keeping Faith with Our Veterans
Veterans Day is a welcome occasion to pause and salute America’s 24 million veterans, and to thank them for their service to our nation. But we must also honor our veterans in practical ways, and this means ensuring that they receive the benefits and recognition that they earned.
October 27, 2008
Harkin Announces More Than $71 Million Coming To Iowa For Flood Relief
Senator Harkin today announced that that Iowa will receive an additional $71.69 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for disaster relief through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. These funds are part of the $300 million that HUD released to Iowa and other states affected by natural disasters and were included in the first emergency spending package that Harkin led the fight to secure.
