Prepared Statement of Ranking Member Chuck Grassley of Iowa

U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Hearing on "The Violence Against Women Act: Building on Seventeen Years of Accomplishments"

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today's hearing on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  This is an important law that has helped countless numbers of victims across the country break the cycle of domestic violence and move on to productive lives.  The law created vital programs that support efforts to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  Further, the law provides resources across the country to victim advocates, attorneys, counselors, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, health care providers, emergency shelters, and many other services to help victims. 

As an original cosponsor of the Senate version of the reauthorization, I remain deeply committed to ensuring federal resources are provided to programs to prevent and end sexual assault and domestic violence.  There is, however, an unfortunate reality that we must face.  We live in dramatically different times today than we did in 2000 or 2005 when VAWA was previously reauthorized.   

Today, more than 14 million Americans are unemployed.  That's a 9.2 percent unemployment rate.  The unemployment numbers get worse each month and the national deficit keeps growing and growing.  The federal government must drastically reduce its spending and bring the fiscal house in order.  During these difficult economic times, we simply can't continue to allocate resources without verifying that the resources are being used as effectively and efficiently as possible.  Now, that doesn't mean we do away with VAWA as a program.  Instead, it means that as we in this committee look to reauthorize this program, we need to take a hard look at every single taxpayer dollar expended, determine how those dollars are being used, and determine if the stated purpose of the program is being met.  The American taxpayers expect us to do this with every law and this hearing affords us that opportunity.

I have long advocated for reviewing grant management at the Department of Justice and determining if programs are meeting their expectations and complying with the law.  Back in 2001, Senator Sessions and I requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review all VAWA grant files at the Justice Department.  That review found that VAWA files often lacked the documentation necessary to ensure that the required monitoring activities occurred.  GAO found that a "substantial number of [VAWA] grant files did not contain progress and financial reports sufficient to cover the entire grant period."  Ultimately, GAO concluded in the 2001 review that "because documentation about monitoring activities was not readily available, [DOJ] was not positioned to systematically determine staff compliance with monitoring requirements and assess overall performance."  These are significant problems and unfortunately, it appears that they continue to persist a decade later.

A review of individual VAWA grantee audits that were conducted from 1998-2010 by the Department of Justice Inspector General indicates that the problem with VAWA grantees' administration and record keeping may actually be getting worse.  During this timeframe, the Inspector General conducted a review of 22 individual grantees that received funding from VAWA programs.  Of those 22 grantees, 21 were found to have some form of violation of grant requirements ranging from unauthorized and unallowable expenditures, to sloppy record keeping and failure to report in a timely manner.  Some of these audits are downright appalling.  In 2010, one grantee was found by the Inspector General to have questionable costs for 93 percent of the nearly $900,000 they received from the Justice Department.  Another audit, this one from 2009, found that nearly $500,000 of a $680,000 grant was questioned because of inadequate support for expenditures.  Another audit in 2005 questioned $1.2 million out of a $1.9 million grant.  The list goes on and on for pages.  Simply put, in today's economic environment, we cannot tolerate this level of malfeasance in federal grant programs.  There are too many victims out there that do not have access to necessary services for the Justice Department to continue to provide funding to entities that play fast and loose with taxpayer dollars.

So, how do we fix this problem?  To start, we need a legitimate, rigorous evaluation of the VAWA program to ensure that these sorts of grantees are prohibited from getting funds.  That can be done by building effective anti-fraud measures into the legislation, such as debarring poor and underperforming grantees.  It also means requiring annual audits and evaluations of program grantees.  Unfortunately, as our witness from GAO will point out today, it is difficult to evaluate VAWA grantee performance because the data that is provided to Justice Department by grantees is often difficult to evaluate given varying definitions among different programs. GAO also notes that "information gaps" exist because the various authorizing statutes for different grants for victim's services have different purposes.  Finally, GAO notes that the various grants administered by both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice use varying data collection practices making uniformity of data difficult.  Taken together, GAO notes that while the agencies are making progress to address the gaps in data, these important issues need to be addressed by Congress as we consider reauthorizing VAWA.  Given the difficult financial situation that our nation faces, it is imperative that any reauthorization of VAWA include, at a minimum, new studies to determine how effective VAWA programs are, whether grantees are providing adequate services for the amount of funding they receive, and how we root out and cut down on fraud and abuse by VAWA grantees.  This grant program accountability will help to ensure that services really go to those in need.

Another issue that must be addressed during the reauthorization process is immigration marriage fraud.  Specifically, I'm concerned about the reports that some of the procedures employed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services actually help to facilitate immigration marriage fraud, and some of it is further enhanced by provisions under VAWA. 

I'm glad we have a witness here today to tell her story about how provisions of VAWA were manipulated by her ex-husband to facilitate his access to a green card. As a past cosponsor of VAWA reauthorizations, I'm saddened to hear this example of how a law designed to help victims, may be used to continue to abuse victims of domestic violence.  

These are important issues that should be addressed as part of any reauthorization.  We are well past the time where we can continue to reauthorize programs without giving them the scrutiny needed to ensure that the population we are trying to help, here victims of domestic violence, are getting the services they need.  We also have a duty to ensure that those programs are actually working, are not subject to fraud, waste, or abuse, and that victims are not harmed by the programs themselves.  

We must do everything in our power to help victims of abuse and domestic violence.  At the same time, we face a new challenge of making sure we get it right and simply don't write another check on the taxpayer's dime without ensuring the program is meeting its goals. 

I look forward to hearing the testimony from the witnesses and working with members of the Judiciary Committee on finding the right approach.

Thank you. 

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AMES, Iowa - The 2011 Cook This! 4-H Culinary Challenge teams have been chosen. Twenty-four teams of Iowa youths are gearing up to compete in the kitchen at the Iowa State Fair.

"We're very excited about the number of teams and interest in the challenge," said Lisa Schmidt, a Cook This coordinator, with Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. "We had a cap of 10 teams per level, so we're excited that we had our junior level maxed out. We're hoping that the numbers will keep progressing for the other levels for future challenges over the next few years."

Each team consists of three or four youth, and at least one member must be in 4-H. The teams will compete in three age brackets, Schmidt explained. The junior level competition takes place on Aug. 15, the intermediate level takes place on Aug. 16 and the senior level competition will take place on Aug. 17. All events occur in the 4-H Exhibits Building.

Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of kitchen equipment and show off their creativity in food preparation.

The College of Human Sciences will provide $500 Iowa State University scholarships to the members of the winning senior team. Successful Farming Magazine will highlight the winning senior team on its recipe page. The magazine also is providing all winning teams a tour of the Better Homes & Garden test kitchen and photo studios. All first-place winning teams will receive a Cook This chef's hat. Second-place winners will receive gift baskets from Cookies Food Products, Wall Lake, Iowa. Every participant will receive a Cook This apron.

Sponsors for the challenge include the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Iowa Turkey Federation.

2011 Cook This! Teams

Iowa youth who completed any of grades 5 through 12 were eligible to apply for the competition. The following teams will participate in Cook This at the Iowa State Fair.

Junior Teams (5th and 6th graders)

·       Cooking Cousins: Nick Sandeen, Anna Beckman and Hallie Sandeen, Henry County

·       Calhoun County Corn COB: Becca Krueger, Olivia Hanlon and Courtney Melohn, Calhoun County

·       Cherokee Chefs: Clare Conley, Fan Conley and Elizabeth Wulfsen, Cherokee County

·       Cookin' C.A.T.: Collin Svenby, Audra Weber and Tanner Halleran, Keokuk 

·       IEI Chefs: Everett Wegge, Indigo Fish and Isaac Fish, Winneshiek and Allamakee counties

·       Tiger Pack Cooks: Zachary Roll, Malcom Wright and Blaire Card,Hardin County

·       We 3 Chefs!: Alexandria Schwerin, Gabbi Struchen and Shea Hassebrock, Hamilton County

·       Kitchen Fanatics: Scott Star, Nolan King and Amanda Riley, West Pottawattamie and Madison counties

·       Early Achievers: Megan Drey, Kallie Goettsch and Jack Mentzer, Sac County

·       Greenbrier Groovy Gourmet: Landra Reece, Emily Heupel and Abby Badger, Boone and Greene counties

Intermediate Teams (7th and 8th graders)

·       Kitchen Heat: Hanna McCoy, Bailey Olivia and Claire Birchmier, Warren and Marion counties

·       Triple B Country Cooks: Maree Bean, Attylissa Bailey and Sylvia Bain, Linn, Marion and Monroe counties

·       The 3 Amigo Cooks: Hannah Al-Mazroa, Christan Bertelson and Beth Wells, Madison County

·       Panthers: Melinda Goulette, Faith Seggerman and Hope Bollin, Woodbury and Plymouth counties

·       Cute & Culinary: Cali Westergard, Krayton Schnepf, Leah Bunkers and Rachel Wedemeyer, Plymouth, O'Brien and Calhoun counties

·       Early Achievers: Austin Goettsch, Devin Mentzer and Brooke Hoeppner, Sac County

Senior Teams (9th through 12th graders)

·       Sizzlin' Sauters: Shelby Storesund, Grant Vrba and Tanner Allensworth, Montgomery County

·       The Kitchen Cabinet: Janna Timmerman, Nicole Malott and Jamie Rohlf, Cedar County

·       Thumbs Up: Olivia Grimes, John Nidy, Geremiah Grimes and Brianna Lipa, Wayne and Howard counties

·       Bake to Beat: Shelby Vansteenwyk, Rachel Morgan and Jocelyn Beaver, Marion County

·       Cookin' Thyme: Rachel Hauglan, Olivia Cechota and Kenton Reece, Johnson, Linn and Boone counties

·       Blonde Brigade: Megan Haupert, Paris Schnepf and Leab Schroeder, O'Brien counties

·       Team Cuisine: Marcus Foltz, Dalton Rhum and Keegan Bintz, Decatur and Fremont counties

·       Chopping Trio: Carrie Adrian, Jenny Adrian and Luke Oberbroecking, Marion County

Sponsor a Cook This! Team

It costs $200 to support a Cook This team, Schmidt said. Sponsorship helps coordinators provide upkeep for the kitchen equipment and utensils, admission tickets for participants, t-shirts/aprons for participants and volunteers, printing of marketing and promotional materials and other items as needed.

For more information, contact Lisa Schmidt at schmidt5@iastate.edu or AnnaBear Vance at ajvance@iastate.edu.

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AMES, Iowa - Students who attended the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference June 28-30 learned the basics of food preparation at the Cook This! workshop with hands-on activities and a dash of fun.

"This was a great experience for the youth to learn basic culinary knowledge," said workshop co-director Lisa Schmidt, a junior in culinary science at Iowa State University. "It was great to see them interact with food, which will hopefully push them to do more cooking and baking on their own."

The workshop lasted an hour and a half each day, and students learned the basics of knife safety, how to properly cut fruits and vegetables, how to make bread and how to properly cook meat. The north Ames Fareway donated groceries to the workshop. Three commodity groups shared information with the students on beef, pork and eggs.

Schmidt and workshop co-director AnnaBear Vance held a bread design competition and a food jeopardy game during the workshop. The winners won candy and Iowa 4-H cookbooks. The events offered youths a preview of the Cook This! competition to be held at the 2011 Iowa State Fair.

"I enjoyed watching the kids learn and grow more comfortable with both the kitchen equipment and each other over the course of the workshop," said Vance, a junior in culinary science.

The youth conference included a wide array of workshops for the students, which are geared toward educating them about career choices, exposing them to the opportunities Iowa State University has to offer and expanding their interests.

"This is a chance for people to explore some things they have never done before and to discover new opportunities," said Brenda Allen, a 4-H youth development specialist with Iowa State University Extension.

The 2011 Cook This! 4-H Culinary Competition will take place Aug. 15-17 at the Iowa State Fair. For more information, contact Lisa Schmidt at schmidt5@iastate.edu or AnnaBear Vance at ajvance@iastate.edu.

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AMES, Iowa -- Terry Steinhart, Iowa State University Extension livestock specialist, recently spent a week at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan. He was a member of the U.S. team training Pakistan and Afghanistan extension workers. Steinhart said extension workers in the three countries share some similarities, such as degree of training and expertise in a subject matter and a desire to help farmers. However, there are many differences, and the U.S. model can contribute to strengthening the network and skills among Pakistan and Afghanistan extension workers.

"During training session introductions, an Afghan extension worker of 30 years said, 'I love my farmers,' which is a universal sentiment among extension specialists," Steinhart said.

Steinhart was one of four U.S. extension trainers at the "Strengthening Extension Skills of Young Professionals in Afghanistan and Pakistan" workshop. Joining him were Louise Ferguson, University California-Davis; Trish Steinhilber, University of Maryland; and Kevin Murphy, Washington State University.

"Extension systems outside the U.S. Extension systems generally do not have an affiliation with their universities. Instead they are government employees, and thus they do not have an immediate connection to the applied research, as we do in the U.S.," said Mary Holz-Clause, ISU Extension and Outreach associate vice president and project coordinator.

The June 2011 workshop was the first of three in-region workshops planned by the consortium of land-grant universities, which includes University of California, Davis, Washington State University, University of Maryland, Purdue University and Iowa State University, as part of the Af-Pak Trilateral, a project funded by a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service grant.

"Transportation is slow and limited in the two countries. They have no cell phones and limited funding. Extension workers have had no connection to each other or to a university and its research," said Steinhart. "But they do have Internet access and are proficient using computers."

This international training gave the 36 extension workers and university personnel their first chance to meet, share experiences and begin building networks. During conference opening remarks, UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan said the two countries are sides of the same coin, because they share values, religion and culture. They face common challenges of food security and terrorism, and he stressed the need to produce quality research and transmit the knowledge into goods and services. There is great need for strengthening the skills of extension workers.

During conference workshops, the U.S team created a general framework intended to support participants as they implement extension programming that incorporates technical knowledge. U.S. team lectures and demonstrations dealt with adult learning techniques, examples of programming such as workshops, field demonstrations and recruiting early adapters to run side-by-side plots, and development of fact sheets that are suited for the education level of the farmers. "While they are very familiar with Internet, they needed help identifying reliable information on the Internet and knowing how to search for information based on research," Steinhart said. "They will be able to build on the training we provided through connections they made at the conference with university personnel and the other extension workers. Networking will be vital to their success."

The second of three workshops planned for Ministry Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (Afghanistan) and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Pakistan) extension workers as part of the project is scheduled for September 2011.

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