Chuck Grassley

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on November 27, it was announced that the Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, IA, has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. This award was earned for the wing's exceptional service to the Air Force in 2019, which included the usual thousands of flying hours and refueling, but it also included things like the humanitarian efforts of this wing's effort in the multiple Puerto Rican natural disasters. In addition, the 185th Wing has been working tirelessly to support cleanup efforts from this great windstorm in Iowa called the derecho, which wiped out 800,000 acres of crops through the middle of Iowa. It also included such things that they may not be recognized for enough-- helping with the COVID-19 testings in the State of Iowa. So I say congratulations to the 185th Wing, and, most importantly, thank you for your dedication to serving our State and country. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, long before he was sworn into the U.S. Senate, my former colleague, Tom Harkin from Iowa, served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. He and I represented Iowans for 30 years together here in the U.S. Senate. Six years ago, I came to the floor to wish my friend well in retirement, and I used these words: [So that he could] enjoy the blessings of hearth and home. Now, I am not so sure that he took my advice to heart. I recently learned that Tom has been moonlighting in retirement as an intrepid crew member sailing the icy waters of the North Atlantic. In fact, he joined the crew of 59 North Sailing for five voyages. His most recent adventure found Tom aboard Ice Bear navigating gale force winds in and around the rugged coastline of Newfoundland. They say you can't take the farm out of an Iowa farm kid. The same must be true for a lifelong sailor and the sea. Tom recently celebrated his 81st birthday in November. Barbara and I wish him many more trips around the Sun and as many adventures at sea that his heart desires. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to visit with my colleagues about something that hasn't happened in Iowa for over 100 years. Over the weekend, the Iowa State football team completed their regular season play. The Cyclones are having a noteworthy season. They secured the first place rank in the Big 12 Conference's regular season after winning five consecutive conference games and eight overall conference wins this season. The good news doesn't stop there for the Iowa State football program. The Cyclones finished first place in league play, for the first time since 1912, when they won the Missouri Valley Conference. This has earned the Cyclones their well-deserved spot in the Big 12 title game on December 19, the first ever Big 12 championship appearance in Iowa State University's history. I want to applaud the Cyclones for their historic season. So many fans, including me, will be rooting them on for the Big 12 championship game. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been known as Giving Tuesday. I suppose this Giving Tuesday is receiving more attention than usual because of the virus pandemic that we have been in for the last 12 months. Like many sectors, the nonprofit industry is hurting because of COVID-19. As part of the CARES Act passed last March, Congress enacted key provisions encouraging charitable giving to help support organizations that are being called upon more than ever to help Americans because of the virus pandemic. These charitable giving provisions that are in the CARES Act apply both to individuals who itemize their taxes and those who do not itemize. Iowa is blessed to have an extensive network of charitable organizations that are supported by incredible volunteers who open up their pocketbooks to support their neighbors in need. This fall, Senator Ernst and I heard from at least 20 nonprofits in the Cedar Rapids area about the challenges that they face because of the pandemic and natural disasters, and also we heard of the successes they have had this year. The work that Iowa nonprofits do is inspiring and has tremendous impact. In this season of Thanksgiving, I speak on behalf of my own State to thank these organizations, their employees, and volunteers for the hard work and services that they deliver every day of the year to Iowans in need. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I have an amendment to offset the costs to the Social Security's disability insurance trust fund associated with S. 578. Eventhough my amendment did not gain the 60 vote threshold, I want my colleagues to know that you just can't tap into the Social Security disability trust funds without dire future consequences. S. 578 waives a waiting period in the disability program for the compelling case of patients with ALS. There are, of course, other compelling cases. And we have to be mindful of the disability trust fund which will eventually face depletion. As the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, which is an umbrella organization representing advocates for a number of disabling conditions, puts it: ``Bills that only fix the problem for some people who meet the strict eligibility standards for SSDI are likely to lead to interest groups requesting waiver of wait periods for other impairments.'' So it is likely that Congress will see more requests for waivers of waiting periods for those afflicted with disabilities arising from conditions other than ALS. Waiting periods in the disability insurance program were put into law for various policy reasons. When we waive waiting periods for specific conditions, some of which are terribly disabling and even fatal, we change the nature of the disability program. We change benefits and don't have any offsetting change to the tax that funds the disability insurance trust fund or any offsetting change to other benefits. However compelling it is to waive waiting periods, whenever we do it, we accelerate the exhaustion of the disability trust fund. And that affects people with all forms of disability. In order to help make Social Security combined disability and retirement trust funds whole, my amendment would offset the cost of the ALS bill. My amendment simply changes the minimum monthly withholding threshold for recovery of any overpayment of Social Security benefits to reflect the increase in benefits we have seen since SSA established the current minimum of $10 in 1960. My amendment simply changes the threshold amount from $10 to 10 percent of the monthly benefit payable, as is already done in the SSI program. With this change, SSA would recover overpayments more efficiently and better fulfill its stewardship obligations to Social Security's trust funds, while retaining safeguards for beneficiaries surrounding overpayments. Guardrails to protect beneficiaries to ensure that collections don't create hardships are maintained. Nothing in my amendment leads to benefit cuts of even a penny that a retiree or disabled worker has earned. This policy is something that has been in numerous budgets of the President, including President Obama and now President Trump. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, to ensure that we protect the integrity of Social Security's trust funds while also protecting beneficiaries.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I want to tell my colleagues about a disappointment I have in some U.S. Department of Agriculture recent revisions of a proposed rule. Here is the background: I have long fought to strengthen the safety net so that Iowa family farmers and other farmers are protected from natural disasters or other unforeseen events that they have no control over, like flooding or wind storms. Family farmers work hard to make sure that Americans have food on the table. These same family farmers operate on very thin margins. These farmers ought to qualify for help during tough times since losing these operations would risk our Nation's food supply. However, taxpayers and nonfarm State lawmakers may stop supporting a Federal farm safety net if spending programs aren't held accountable or left unchecked. Losing urban support for this farm safety net is why I am deeply concerned about the USDA's recent proposal to roll back rules that put teeth in the definition of a legal term called ``actively engaged in farming.'' Long-lost relatives, by changing these rules, who have probably never lifted a finger on the farm should not get away with collecting farm payments. Farm payments should only go to operators that--and I have a definition that is a little facetious but somewhat realistic--unless they have dirt under their fingernails. A few weeks ago, I recently complimented Secretary Perdue on what I thought were very strong rules that were being proposed at that time. Now the USDA's decision to backtrack on their rules means more megafarmers will take advantage of this loophole and people who aren't actively engaged in farming will benefit from farm payments. I am disappointed with this turnaround. Once again, Congress must do what it can to oppose these loopholes so that we have only family farmers benefiting from the farm program. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, each 52 weeks of the year, I do four telephone news conferences with different groups of journalists. Most of the journalists are Iowans. Each week, without failure, a familiar voice opens one of my press calls with a very thoughtful question on some matter of interest to folks in the heartland of America. For more than two decades at the Omaha World-Herald, Joe Morton has cut through the beltway noise to deliver real news to my constituents in Iowa and those in Nebraska. Sadly, his tenure at the paper ended just before Thanksgiving. So I want to take this opportunity to thank Joe for his decades of keeping Americans informed about the work of their elected leaders. So I say: Best of luck to Joe, wherever the future takes him. And if anybody in this area is looking for a dedicated journalist, you ought to consider Joe. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, like many Iowans, for the first time in my life, I wasn't able to share a meal with my family this Thanksgiving. That doesn't keep me from being thankful for the essential workers of our country who have also missed many Thanksgiving meals. Still, these essential workers provide and continue to provide for and keep our country safe. An essential job that often gets overlooked is that of the 86,000 Iowa farm families who produce the food that we consume on Thanksgiving and the 364 days out of the rest of the year. That is why I am proud to see Ron and Susie Kardel from Walcott, IA, get well-deserved recognition this past week. You see, Ron and Susie, along with their two turkeys, Corn and Cob, participated in a time-honored White House tradition. That tradition is the National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony at the White House. This ceremony helps connect the dots for many Americans, showing them that the food they put on the Thanksgiving table isn't grown in a grocery store. So I want to thank Ron, Susie, and President Trump for highlighting Iowa agriculture this Thanksgiving. In a year that has been so very difficult for most Americans, it is nice to see traditions like this carried on. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 1 minute for morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Although promising vaccines for the coronavirus are on the horizon, it is more important than ever to stop the surge. Countries across the world are seeing cases explode. It is critical for Iowans to step up their personal responsibilities to stay safe and healthy for themselves and their loved ones. And that, of course, includes our tireless healthcare professionals--those on the frontlines, working to save lives. This virus is hitting rural and urban areas alike. No community is immune. I ask every Iowan to continue to do their part to keep their family and neighbors safe: Wash your hands; limit your activity outside your household; social distance; wear a mask. We are going to get through this together, but we need everyone to do their part. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, today I pay tribute to our former colleague and my friend, former U.S. Senator Roger Jepsen. Roger Jepsen passed away last Friday, at age 91, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Quad Cities, IA. An Iowa native and an American patriot, Roger devoted his life in service to his family, faith, and community. He spent his youth on his family farm near Cedar Falls, about 5 miles from where I was born and grew up. I still reside within 4 miles of the farmhouse where I was born. Regardless of the close proximity of us as young people, I didn't become acquainted with Roger until he represented Scott County in the Iowa Legislature. I wish I had known him earlier when we were neighbors, as children. For 14 years, Roger served our country in the U.S. Army. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, and then he later served in the Army Reserve. Roger worked for 20 years in the life insurance business and was a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters. Along the way, Roger answered the call to public service and civic leadership. For more than two decades, he climbed the ranks of elected officials in service to his community and the State of Iowa. He started out as a county supervisor in Scott County, IA, and went on to represent his neighbors in Iowa Senate District 15. An active, grassroots leader in the Republican Party of Iowa, Roger served as a delegate to the national GOP convention of 1972 and 1980. In 1968, he was elected as Iowa's 39th Lieutenant Governor, where he served with Governor Bob Ray for two terms. Until Iowa adopted reforms under a constitutional amendment in 1972, the office for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were on the ballot every 2 years in my home State. In 1978, when I won reelection to Iowa's then Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Roger Jepsen flipped Iowa's U.S. Senate seat. He defeated incumbent Senator Dick Clark. At the time, political observers gave Roger scant chance of a victory that year, but on election day, Roger Jepsen pulled off the upset, beating his opponent by more than 26,000 votes. In that same election, Roger returned both houses of the State legislature to Republican control for what would be Governor Ray's final term in office. In the previous legislative session, Iowa expanded its historic ``right to work'' law. For decades, this instrumental policy has enhanced Iowa's ability to attract businesses, create jobs, and grow wages across the State. It was under attack in the last election. Iowa voters responded by expanding the Republican majority at the Iowa State House under a Republican administration led by Governor Kim Reynolds. During his 6 years here in the U.S. Senate, Roger Jepsen solidified his pro-life, pro-family credentials. He was a fiscal conservative. He flexed steadfast support for the military, and he worked to put money back in the taxpayers' pockets. In 1981, he voted to end ``bracket creep'' by indexing for inflation across-the-board tax rate cuts. An outspoken advocate for rural America, Roger Jepsen fought to boost the economic recovery across the farm belt. He championed farm exports, expanded lending and tax relief for farmers. He was chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and served on the Senate Agriculture and Armed Services Committees. After losing his bid for reelection in 1984, President Reagan nominated Roger Jepsen to serve as Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration, where he served from the years 1985 to 1993. Although he and his wife Dee retired to Florida, Scott County was what he considered his home. Roger and Dee devoted considerable time and effort to end religious persecution and promote religious liberty. Alongside Congressman Jack Kemp, they cofounded the Christian Rescue Effort for the Emancipation of Dissidents, known as CREED, to promote religious freedom as a human freedom around the world. Each time I return home by way of Cedar Falls, IA, I pass Jepsen Road. In fact, it intersects my street. Over the years, Roger's and my paths crossed many times in service to Iowans. Seeing that street sign reminds me that no dream is too big for an Iowa farm kid. Roger and Dee celebrated 62 years of marriage in September. Together they raised 6 children. Barbara and I extend our condolences to his family and loved ones. On behalf of the State of Iowa, we thank Roger for his service here on Earth as he is welcomed home into the hands of the Lord. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Iowa is home to a lot of people who have a heritage from the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. November 17 is coming up pretty soon, and it marks the 31st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. In 1989, the Czech people stood up against Communist rule and, through nonviolent demonstrations, precipitated the nation's transition to democracy. The Velvet Revolution lasted 43 days and in the end ended 41 years of Communist control of Czechoslovakia. Jingling keys became a symbol of the revolution and of the new doors that democracy and freedom from communism would unlock for those great people in Czechoslovakia. Now we have two countries--the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. We also have a National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids, IA. This museum helps to educate Americans about these events I just talked about and, most importantly, to teach them about the importance of never giving up on fighting for freedom. I yield the floor.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business, please.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Since the end of World War I, Americans have taken this day to recognize the sacrifices made by our veterans, and they did that in service to our country. For the third consecutive year, my office recorded the oral histories of Iowa's veterans for the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. I would urge some of my colleagues to take a look at that and see if they can help add a lot of their veterans from their respective States to the history project at the Library of Congress. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude for their patriotism, and it is vitally important to record the stories of veterans so that future generations will always remember their service and the sacrifice that it takes to preserve our freedom. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, this morning, Pfizer announced positive results from its eagerly awaited coronavirus vaccine trial, with early data suggesting the vaccine is 90 percent effective. This trial is taking place at over 120 sites, including at the University of Iowa's medical school. The University of Iowa's portion is being led by Dr. Patricia Winokur, an infectious disease expert and associate dean. The trial involves about 250 Iowans who have volunteered to participate. The trial is not yet complete, but this is exciting news and an important step to halting the virus. I am proud of Iowa's role in making sure the vaccine will be safe and effective. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, November is National Adoption Month. Each November, families across the country finalize adoptions and celebrate the creation of new families and connections. On National Adoption Day, which is celebrated on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, a special effort is made to finalize as many pending adoptions as possible. Last year, over 4,000 adoptions were finalized on that day. While I am sure that this day will look a little different this year due to the coronavirus, I am confident that family courts and child welfare agencies will still make it a special day for many, many families--happy families--because they will be able to bring new ones into their families. The pandemic has created significant challenges for the children and families in our child welfare system. With travel restrictions and limits on visitors in hospitals, adoptive parents are meeting their children for the first time ever over video chat instead of in person. Kids in foster care are having to wait longer for placements, and foster parents are facing the added stress of school closures. Court proceedings are taking place over Zoom. Despite the challenges, both new challenges and old challenges that can accompany adoption, parents in Iowa and across the country are still making the choice to open their hearts and homes to children in need. Congress has worked in the past to reduce barriers that would-be adoptive parents face. I will continue my efforts of making sure adoption remains an option for children in foster care who can't be reunited with their families, women who are facing unexpected pregnancies, and all parents who are willing and able to provide safe and loving homes for kids in need. There were over 100,000 children in the foster care system who were waiting for adoption in 2019. That 100,000 was approximately one-fourth of the number of kids in foster care. Congress must work in a bipartisan way, as it has for many years, to make sure adoption can become a reality, not just a dream, for all of these kids. We must also make sure that child welfare agencies have the tools and flexibilities they need to serve the families in their communities. For years in the Senate, I have worked to elevate the voices of youth in the foster care system. These young people are their own best advocates, and they can tell you that the thing they want the most is a caring and loving family and a permanent home. What would you expect from any of these young people who are moved from home to home maybe two or three times in a given year? As I continue to work in Congress toward the goal of helping all children find their forever families, I will always keep the best interests of children at the forefront. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GRASSLEY

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute in morning business.