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Last weekend, my office received a new set of documents from the Justice Department related to my investigation of the ill-advised strategy known as Fast and Furious.

The documents were revealing.  Included were several memorandums to Attorney General Holder that reveal the Attorney General was briefed at least five times beginning in July 2010 in written memos about Fast and Furious.

What is concerning to many of us is the fact that the Attorney General told the House Judiciary Committee in May 2011 that he had just learned of Fast and Furious a few weeks before.  Yet, on January 31, in a previously scheduled meeting, I personally handed him two letters about Fast and Furious.

Now, to find out he knew some pretty detailed information about the operation back in the summer of 2010, is troubling.

The memo specifically says that the straw buyers, including the target of the investigation, were "responsible for the purchase of 1500 firearms that were then supplied to Mexican drug trafficking cartels."  It seems the logical question for the Attorney General, and his staff, after reading the memo would be "why haven't we stopped them?"

In addition, the documents we received show several other people very high up in the Justice Department knew a great deal of information about Fast and Furious, including that guns were being walked.

Congressman Issa, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee who I'm working with, and I will continue working to get to the bottom of this.  We want to make sure a stupid program like this never happens again.

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a major disaster declaration for several Iowa counties including Benton, Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, Story and Tama counties.  This declaration triggers the release of federal funds to help communities in this area recover from the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding which occurred July 9 - 14, 2011.  According to FEMA, additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and it is warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA will now provide public assistance to Benton, Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, Story and Tama counties through the Public Assistance Program.  The Public Assistance Program assists state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

All Iowa counties are also eligible to apply for assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant program.  The Hazard Mitigation Grant program assists state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

Grassley sent a letter to President Obama asking him to grant Governor Terry Branstad's request to declare Iowa a major disaster area as a result of the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes that began on July 9, 2011.

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I'd like to thank the Chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee for holding today's hearing about security and commerce at the northern border.  Border security is a critical issue that this body needs to constantly assess and improve.  The number one responsibility of Congress is to protect the homeland, and we must not turn a blind eye to the realities of illegal activity that is seen every day along the southern and northern borders.

Before I delve into the issues, I want to take a moment to thank all those who serve our country every day to protect the borders.  We are saddened by the recent loss of Border Patrol Agents Eduardo Rojas, Jr., and Hector Clark, who were killed last Thursday near Gila Bend, Arizona.  We pray for every agent's safety as they put their lives on the line and we share our gratitude for their dedicated service to our country.

It's been five months since Special Agent Brian Terry was shot and killed while on duty in Arizona.  His family still has not fully received answers as to what happened in the shootout with a roving band of illegal immigrants, although a recent indictment issued in the case confirmed information I had previously received that two of the guns those criminals were using were a part of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Operation Fast and Furious.  The ATF failed to stop those weapons from being transferred to the bandits at the scene of the shootout with Agent Terry.  One thing is clear?our borders are far less safe with the ATF having allowed well over a thousand firearms to end up in the hands of straw purchasers.  These cartels make our borders an increasingly more and more dangerous place each day.

When you hear stories of Agents Rojas, Clark, Terry, and others, it's hard to accept Secretary Napolitano's word that the border is more secure today than ever.  The Border Patrol Council - the union that represents agents - even said the Secretary's statements are "wrong and give citizens a false sense of security."  And, the facts are against her.  An independent study from the Government Accountability Office says that only 873 of the 2,000 miles separating U.S. and Mexico are under "operational control."

I'm also concerned by a recent Government Accountability Office report that emphasizes the significant threat posed by illegal crossing on our federal lands.  Our national parks and forests are vulnerable because of the lack of law enforcement presence and because of their rugged terrain.  On the Northern Border, the Spokane sector is the primary entry point for air smugglers of high-potency marijuana.  Yet, there's insufficient agency coordination to share intelligence or to develop joint budget requests or strategies to address these threats.

We have more than drugs and guns crossing our borders. We have human smuggling and trafficking.  And, we have more than just Mexicans wanting to make a better life for themselves and their families.  So far in fiscal 2011, we have apprehended over tens of thousands of "Other Than Mexicans" at the southern and northern borders.  We cannot let down our guard.  Lest we forget that the so called "millennium bomber" who sought to unleash a terrorist attack at the Los Angeles Airport was captured at our northern border with a car full of high powered explosives.  This is just another example of why we must remain vigilant against terrorists plotting against all our borders and points of entry.

Congress passed a $600 million border security bill in 2010, but this investment is only a down payment on what we really need to do.  The funding, paid by fees from high tech companies, has only amounted to $61 million since August.  That means the executive branch is collecting about $6.8 million each month.  If that rate were to continue, we'll only have $325.4 million collected over four years.  That's just 54 percent of the $600 million investment that we promised the American people.  And, unfortunately, this funding does nothing to complete a double layer fence in badly needed areas.

The 2010 border bill also didn't address Operation Streamline, a program that charges individuals who have crossed the border illegally with a misdemeanor and those who re-enter after deportation with significant jail time.  Operation Streamline, a fast-track program, resolves a federal criminal case with prison and deportation consequences in approximately two days or less.  This program can serve as a deterrent against future illegal immigration in existing Border Patrol sectors.

Also ignored is the exit-entry control system that was mandated in 1996 to track every foreign national who arrives and departs the United States.  Since then, due in part to the recommendations put forth by the 9/11 Commission, Congress has called on the Department of Homeland Security to develop a system that matches biometric information of an alien against relevant watch lists and immigration information.  This biometric data is also supposed to be compared against manifest information collected by air carriers so that the federal government can confirm that foreign nationals have departed the country as required.  After fifteen years and several serious terrorist attacks against citizens of the United States, administration after administration has failed to fully implement a biometric air exit system.  It is unacceptable that progress on the exit portion of US-VISIT has stalled despite congressional funding and several pilot projects.

The President has touted the success of the previous administration's achievement in doubling the Border Patrol, and this Congress is committed to maintaining these levels of personnel.  But, I'm seriously concerned about the President's mixed message, saying that a legalization program is in the best interest of our economy and our security.  Secretary Napolitano touts this administration's record number of deportations, but even the Washington Post disputed these figures, alleging they cooked the books to make them appear enforcement-minded.  While I realize this is a hearing focused on border issues, I hope Mr. Morton will address the fuzzy math and so-called record statistics, and share with members the challenges his officers face in enforcing the laws on the books when aliens bypass our border patrol.

Again, thank you for holding this hearing today.  I look forward to hearing from our witnesses.

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by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Unlike Congress, families in Iowa can't spend more money than they bring in year after year.  At least not without facing grave financial problems.

Unlike Congress, Iowans can't increase their paychecks by passing a law to boost their income.  On the contrary, the big spenders in Washington would like to pass laws that would decrease taxpayers' take-home pay by raising taxes.

When rising gas prices squeeze household budgets, Iowans need to figure out where to spend less to make up for the shortfall.  They don't have the luxury of a blank check co-signed by Uncle Sam to pay for basic necessities or splurging on items they can't afford.

Visiting one-third of Iowa's counties during a two-week road trip in April, I met face-to-face with more than 1,000 Iowans to answer questions and address issues that matter most to their families, communities and way of life.

In county after county, a sweeping majority of Iowans expressed overriding concern about keeping energy affordable.  Filling up the gas tank week after week is eating up a bigger share of family incomes, increasing transportation costs for schools, farms and businesses, and squeezing profitability and savings month after month.

Policymakers and consumers need to use sticker shock at the pump as a catalyst to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.  The United States sends more than $400 billion each year overseas for foreign oil.  Now more than ever, the United States needs to ramp up domestic production of traditional energy -- including oil, natural gas, and coal -- and expand alternative fuels and renewable energy -- including wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and geothermal.  Consumers can help lead the way through conservation and choosing energy-efficient appliances, hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels.  Congress needs to keep energy security on the front burner in Washington.

In the U.S. Senate, I have long championed American agriculture for its capacity to help feed a growing world population.  My work also shaped public policy to give Rural America the opportunity to serve as a domestic, renewable energy resource to help displace oil imports, create jobs, grow green energy, increase competition, and strengthen U.S. energy and national security.

America imports more than 60 percent of our oil.  The U.S. Treasury pays out an average $84 billion a year to defend the shipping lanes by which foreign oil reaches the United States.  Those who want to isolate ethanol's federal tax incentives and put them on the chopping block need to remember the massive tax breaks the oil and gas industries have received each year for the last 100 years.  There's an effort under way in the Senate to end ethanol's federal tax incentives, even as oil and gas tax breaks would remain untouched. Policymakers in the United States should not be legislating to slow down domestic energy production.  Killing ethanol's tax incentives would cost U.S. jobs, increase our dependence on foreign oil, increase prices at the pump for U.S. consumers, and keep OPEC's stranglehold on the U.S. economy.

This week I introduced legislation that lays out a fiscally responsible path forward for the ethanol sector.  No one else in the energy field has come forward in a similar way, but I hope my legislation starts a trend.  Today, ethanol is the only source of alternative energy that's substantially reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.  Going forward, the sky's the limit as we move to the next generation of advanced biofuels and cellulosic ethanol.

The mid-term elections in November sent a signal to Washington to stop overspending.  Iowans who attended my town meetings in April asked what can be done to rein in deficit spending.  Washington can't afford to spend 24.7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (and that's what's projected by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for fiscal 2011) alongside two-percent economic growth without saddling future generations with a legacy of debt.

A divided government in Washington must work together to address chronic deficits and a $14 trillion national debt.  Simplifying the federal tax code would help promote compliance and trigger stronger economic growth, investment and job creation.  I support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require a balanced federal budget just as 46 of the 50 states require.  I don't support raising taxes to balance the budget.  It doesn't work.  Right now, Washington spends $1.68 for every dollar it collects in taxes.  Since World War II, the government has spent $1.17, on average, every time Congress has raised taxes by $1.

At my town meetings, Iowans asked for measurable belt-tightening in Washington.  I'll be working to make it happen as Congress debates raising the debt ceiling and approving the federal budget for fiscal 2012.  The Senate Budget Committee is expected to get to work next week.  The budget resolution deserves a rigorous debate and one that takes place in a transparent manner. As a member of the Budget Committee, I intend to do what I can to make that happen.

Friday, May 6, 2011