Grassley Statement on the Appointment of Adam Gregg to be Lieutenant Governor
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa made the following statement regarding the appointment of Adam Gregg to be Lieutenant Governor of Iowa.
“Congratulations to Adam Gregg on becoming Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor. Governor Reynolds understands firsthand the importance of having a full team in the governor’s office working for Iowans, and this appointment reflects an appreciation for the fact that Iowans deserve no less than full and functioning leadership of state government. I look forward to working with both Lieutenant Governor Gregg and Governor Reynolds on behalf of Iowans.”
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Prepared Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Executive Business Meeting
May 25, 2017
Today we have three nominations and one bill on the Committee’s agenda.
Today’s nominees are on the agenda for the first time today. They are Noel Francisco, to be Solicitor General of the United States; Makan Delrahim, to be an Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division; and Steven Engel, to be an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel. I understand that the other side is requesting that they be held over this week, so they will be.
Turning to legislation, the only bill on our agenda is S. 782, the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2017. Senator Cornyn is the lead sponsor. The bill would extend an existing program, known as the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, for five more years. The bill will be held over, and we will take up the legislation at our next meeting, which will be held after the recess.
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Grassley Seeks Investigation of Chinese Companies’ Promises of Green Cards
Chinese companies touting ties to administration claim they can guarantee visas and investment, a potential violation of federal law and securities regulations
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 25, 2017 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley asked the Department of Homeland Security and the Securities and Exchange Commission to review potentially fraudulent claims by two Chinese companies affiliated with the development of One Journal Square in Jersey City, N.J.
The Qiaowai Group and another private Chinese company calling itself the “U.S. Immigration Fund” have reportedly offered assurances to investors that they can provide a “permanent green card” and full protection of investor funds in exchange for investment into the One Journal Square project. However, guarantees of this kind potentially violate the rules of the EB-5 Investor Visa program and certain securities laws, as EB-5 investments are required to be “at risk” for investors to qualify for upgraded immigration status. Misrepresenting risk to potential investors may also constitute investment fraud. The “U.S. Immigration Fund” has reportedly contributed millions of dollars to significant lobbying efforts to undermine reform of the chronically abused EB-5 visa program.
“Given all of these concerns, a closer look at Qiaowai Group and the U.S. Immigration Fund are clearly warranted, as reports suggest both companies have long employed questionable practices,” Grassley wrote in his letter.
Further, these companies claimed to have ties to the current administration, apparently because the One Journal Square development project involves Kushner Companies, which could raise further doubts about the integrity of the EB-5 program.
Full text of the letter
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Treasury Secretary on Grassley Co-authored Biodiesel Tax Credit Reform: “Sounds Like a Good Plan”
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 25, 2017 – Sen. Chuck Grassley today received support from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for a Grassley co-authored reform of the biodiesel tax credit. The bipartisan bill, the American Renewable Fuel and Job Creation Act of 2017, extends this important clean-fuel incentive for three years and reforms the incentive by transferring the credit from the blenders to the producers of biofuels. The switch ensures that the tax credit incentivizes domestic production and taxpayers aren’t subsidizing imported fuel.
In response to a question from Grassley at a Finance Committee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2018 budget, Mnuchin said, “Sounds like a good plan and we look forward to working with you on the details of that.”
Video of the exchange is available here. A transcript follows below. Details of the reform bill are available here.
Finance Committee Hearing Transcript Excerpt, Thursday, May 25, 2017
GRASSLEY: Secretary Mnuchin, mine is more of a rifle type questions that I have, not so general. I'd like to bring your attention to a proposal that I've introduced with Senator Cantwell that is very much aligned with the president's America First agenda, the America Renewable Fuel and Job Creation Act is what's called; would convert the current biodiesel blenders credit to a producers credit. The switch ensures that the tax credit incentivizes domestic production and taxpayers aren't subsidizing imported fuel like we're doing now.
With biofuel imports nearly doubling from 510 million gallons to almost one billion gallons in 2016, this change is critical to ensure the credit is supporting the domestic industry rather than subsidizing foreign imports that often already receive favorable treatment from their home country.
So, it's not really a question, but for you to understand that from Argentina we're getting all this biofuel and the taxpayers of the United States are subsidizing that import just like we're -- we're attempting to incentivize domestic production. And so, we want to change it so that we
don't subsidize that import and I'd like to hear if you kind of -- I'd like to hear you say you agree with me.
MNUCHIN: Sounds like a good plan and we look forward to working with you on the details of that.
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Sens. Young, Gillibrand, and Grassley Lead Reintroduction of Legislation to Improve and Modernize Placement of Foster Children
Washington DC, May 25, 2017 – Today, Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a bipartisan effort to modernize the foster care placement process. Their effort takes steps to alleviate our overwhelmed adoption system, which has only become more strained as the opiate abuse crisis worsens.
Senators Young, Gillibrand, and Grassley were joined in introducing the Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act by Senators Al Franken (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
Currently, states use antiquated paper-based systems to process and approve placement cases, significantly hamstringing efforts to place foster children in loving homes. The legislation would provide resources to modernize the system by implementing a standardized electronic interstate system, known as the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE).
“Right now, for example, Iowa is not yet a member of the NEICE system. If a child lives in Red Oak, Iowa, and there is a potential family able to care and provide for that child across the state border in Omaha, there might be delays in the paperwork needed for the adoption because the two states can’t exchange data quickly and securely. Throughout the country, caseworkers often avoid exploring out of state placements because of the long delays in processing the paperwork. Our bill gives incentives to states to join the NEICE system and streamline the paperwork to make foster care placements and eventual adoption happen faster. The more we can do to give children safe, stable homes, the better. The increased displacement of kids due to parental substance abuse, including opioid abuse, makes this cause especially important.” – Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
“With so many American children in need of a home, we should not be delaying the process for loving, caring, and responsible adults who want to welcome these children into their families,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The outdated process we currently have puts an unnecessary burden on child welfare agencies and prevents children from growing up in a safe home with devoted parents. The Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act would streamline the process, and let as many of our nation’s foster children as possible find homes and parents who love them.”
“Thousands of children in my state have lost loving parents to opiate addiction, and I fear if we do nothing, we’ll lose thousands in the next generation, too. Modernizing the outdated interstate child placement process is one of a number of proposals that are urgently needed. It will help alleviate the strain on the foster care system. It will more quickly get children placed into loving homes where a set routine and stability will help them cope. Tragedy compounded by extended stints in various foster arrangements has proven detrimental to a child’s future. For children caught up in a system struggling to meet community needs, we should do everything possible to get them immediately placed in the setting that’s best for them, regardless of state boundary lines.” -- Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana)
This legislation passed the House of Representatives as part of two different pieces of legislation – H.R. 4472 and H.R. 5456) in the previous session of Congress.
Supporters and Advocates:
Supporters: American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), Child Welfare League of America, Children's Home Society of America, Consortium for Children, The National Association of Counties, the National Association of County Human Services Administrators, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, and the Donaldson Adoption Institute, Inc.
Cynthia K. Booth, Executive Director of Child Advocates (Indianapolis):
“I am pleased to support Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act proposed by Senator Todd Young. Delays to a permanent home are frustrating for a child, especially when those delays are caused by the outdated processing of paperwork. Too often in our advocacy for children, we have a placement in another state ready to accept the child and we must wait for “paperwork.” This bill is underscores how all of us in the child welfare system should operate: what is best for the child.”
John Sciamanna, Vice President of Public Policy for Child Welfare League of America
“The Child Welfare League of America supports the ‘Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act.’ It is critical that states take the necessary steps to modernize the interstate compact and the process they use to place a child across state lines. When the best home and best interest of the child is with a family in another state the current process can sometimes fail. Research now shows that we can use 21st century internet and digital technology to speed up adoptions. With more than 112,000 waiting to be adopted that is in everybody's interest."
Sharon Pierce, President and CEO, The Villages of Indiana
“Senator Young’s common sense legislation truly acknowledges that there is nothing more vital for an abused or neglected child, than making certain they are in the care of a loving adult, who is committed to be their “forever family”, as quickly as possible. The vulnerable children which organizations like The Villages of Indiana are so privileged to serve are truly “hungry” for permanency and stability; and this proposal shortens that journey!”
Schylar Baber, Executive Director, Voice of Adoption
“In many adoption cases, the best placement for a child may be in another state. Currently, such placements are quite challenging to complete and can delay permanence and cause a child to linger in foster care. Voice for Adoption believes the federal government has a critical role to play in easing the process of interstate placements, and supports the NEICE program.”
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Floor Speech of Sen. Chuck Grassley Recognizing National Foster Care Month
Delivered Thursday, May 25, 2017
I rise today to thank my colleagues for unanimously supporting a resolution recognizing May as National Foster Care Month.
National Foster Care Month has been recognized for over 20 years as a time to celebrate the voices of foster youth and to bring awareness to the challenges that they face.
During this month, organizations in Iowa and across the country have been working to support and recognize youth in foster care.
Nationally, there are over 425,000 children in foster care. In Iowa alone, almost 4,000 kids entered foster care in 2015.
I salute all those who work tirelessly to support these children.
This includes foster parents, who open their hearts and homes to children who need support.
This also induces social workers, advocates, and alumni of the foster care system, who inform lawmakers and the public, and fight to secure better outcomes for kids in care.
As stated in our resolution, Congress must continue to work towards real solutions for these children, who often face trauma, abuse, and neglect, both before and after they are removed from their parents’ care.
We must work to ensure that all children, no matter their circumstances, have a permanent, loving home, and consistent, caring adults in their lives.
With legislation such as the Fostering Connections Act of 2008, and the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act of 2011 we’ve made some progress.
These laws provided new investments and services to improve the outcomes for children in the foster care system.
But our work is not done. Over 20,000 young people aged out of the foster care system in 2015 with no legal permanent connection to a family.
This impacts their ability to pursue higher education, find employment and stable housing, and prepare for the future.
While in care, children experience an average of 3 different placements. 65% of kids in foster care change schools 7 or more times.
This constant uncertainty compounds the trauma of neglect and abuse, and makes it hard for these kids to make connections to their communities.
Through my work on the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, I’ve had the opportunity to hear firsthand what children in foster care need.
They need love, support, safety, and permanency. They need a family.
Moving forward, Congress must continue to work to find better solutions and secure better outcomes for youth in foster care.
Once again, I thank my colleagues for supporting this resolution. It is important that this month, and all year long, we continue to support the goals of National Foster Care Month.
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Floor Statement of Sen. Chuck Grassley The Affordable Care Act’s Broken Promises
Delivered Thursday, May 25, 2017
I rise today to share real stories from real Iowans who have been harmed, not helped, by the Affordable Care Act. The other side talks about the benefits of the ACA without mentioning the reality. There is a reason Republicans are acting to protect Americans from a loss of access to medical care.
Obamacare has broken its promises. All these promises, made over and over again, have not stood the test of time.
Let’s look at these promises:
PROMISE: You were promised if you like your doctor, you could keep your doctor.
IN REALITY: This promise was actually scrubbed from the Obamacare website.
PROMISE: You were promised you would be able to keep your insurance plan.
IN REALITY: In the fall of 2013 between 7 and 12 million people had health insurance cancelled.
Obamacare mandates resulted in fewer choices for people to buy affordable insurance. People were kicked off plans they liked and could afford. This promise was dubbed the “Lie of the Year.”
PROMISE: You were promised your premiums would go down by $2,500 per family.
IN REALITY: Not even close!
In Iowa, premiums increased up to 43%, in just one year! One farmer told me that his insurance went up from $20,000 to $32,000 in one year. He was able to get the premium down to $25,000 but he has a deductible of $15,000.
THE BIGGEST PROMISE: You were promised access to affordable health care – the law is called the Affordable Care Act. That is the most concerning of all, the situation created by Obamacare is far from affordable.
IN REALITY: Premiums in 2017 have doubled for the majority of states using Obamacare exchanges. In three states, premiums have tripled during Obamacare. One Iowan from Pomeroy, Iowa wrote to me and said that she shopped for an Obamacare plan and found that she would have to pay $9,000 out of pocket before her insurance kicks in. She told me she doesn’t know where that money would come from. That is too expensive to use!
For the past seven years, Obamacare has not been working and it will never work for the American people.
Republicans will not accept failure.
We aim for better and that is what guides as we continue our work repealing and replacing this failed law.
The chart Sen. Grassley used is available here.
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