Following is Senator Grassley's schedule this week in Washington, D.C. The Senate is in session.
Grassley will meet in Washington with Iowans from the American Health Care Association, eCybermission, the Genetic Alliance, Hike to Help Refugees, the Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the National Retail Federation, the National Stroke Association, Pioneer, and Results.
Grassley also will meet with Iowans from Ames, Ankeny, Audubon, Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, De Witt, Hiawatha, Ionia, Le Mars, Manchester, Marion, Pleasant Hill, and Sioux Center.
Grassley will meet with the Iowa Pharmacy Association Karbeling Award winners, Andrew North and Courtney Gent. They are being recognized for their contributions to professional organizations and the political process. The Karbeling Award is given annually to Iowans who have demonstrated successful activism for the improvement of rural health and a commitment to community service.
Grassley will present Jefferson Awards to Iowans Kay Graber and Chuck Cavanaugh. The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. Graber is being recognized for starting the Brain Injury Association of East Central Iowa, and for being an advocate to change state legislation to benefit victims of brain injuries. Cavanaugh is being recognized for his extensive volunteer service, including volunteering for Sisters of Mercy, the Knights of Columbus, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, pre/post flood of 2009 work in Cedar Rapids, The Arc of East Central Iowa, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade Society.
Grassley will meet with Presidential Scholar David Huang of Iowa City. The Presidential Scholar Program is a government program that provides leadership development opportunities for outstanding graduating high school seniors. The scholars travel to Washington, D.C. where they attend lectures, meet with government leaders, and receive the Presidential Medallion.
Grassley will meet with the Iowa winner of the U.S. Institute of Peace's National Peace Essay Contest, Stephanie Wenclawski of Cedar Rapids. The National Peace Essay Contest is designed to promote discussion among high school students, teachers and national leaders about international peace and conflict resolution. Each year, over 1,000 students submit essays and the first place winners from each state are invited to Washington, D.C. to receive their awards and meet with government leaders.Grassley also will meet with Central Iowa 4-H youth.
- On Wednesday, June 22, at 8 a.m. (CT), Grassley will meet with Brigadier General John McMahon, the Army Corps of Engineers Division Commander for the Northwest Division, which covers western Iowa. Grassley and McMahon will discuss the current flooding in western Iowa and the Corps of Engineers' performance in anticipation of and reaction to that flooding.
- On Wednesday, June 22, at 9 a.m. (CT), Grassley will participate in a Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of intellectual property law enforcement efforts. The hearing will focus on federal agencies' efforts to enforce intellectual property rights, including the coordination among agencies, as well as coordination with industry. Grassley recently introduced legislation with the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy, to crack down on websites dedicated to the sale of infringing or counterfeit goods.
- On Wednesday, June 22, at 9:30 a.m. (CT), Grassley will participate in a meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate. Grassley will focus on the availability of FEMA funds for those affected by the Missouri River flooding.
- On Wednesday, June 22, at 1:30 p.m. (CT), Grassley will participate in a Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of: Christopher Droney, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Robert D. Mariani, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Cathy Bissoon, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Mark R. Hornak, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania; and Robert N. Scola, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
- On Thursday, June 23, at 8:30 a.m. (CT), Grassley will participate in an Agriculture Committee hearing on farm bill accountability and the importance of measuring performance while eliminating duplication and waste. The Senate Agriculture Committee recently began holding hearings to explore ideas and options for the 2012 farm bill. Grassley recently introduced legislation that will likely be considered during debate of the upcoming farm bill. The bipartisan Grassley-Johnson Rural America Preservation Act would limit the total amount of farm-program payments that a single farmer could receive to $125,000 and would narrow the guidelines used to define who is considered actively engaged in farming in order to close a loophole that non-farmers have used to improperly receive farm payments.
- On Thursday, June 23, at 9:00 a.m. (CT), Grassley will participate in a Judiciary Committee executive business meeting.
-30-
