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 Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Grassley will also meet with Iowans from Ames, Ankeny, Bettendorf, Johnston, Lawton, Mason City, Mount Vernon, Pella, Robins, Rock Valley, Strawberry Point, West Des Moines and Winterset.

• On Monday, August 1, at 3:15 p.m. (CT), Grassley will meet with Congressman Steve King, Senator Tom Harkin and Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, to discuss the Sioux City mail processing facility consolidation to Sioux Falls. 

• On Wednesday, August 3, at 9:00 a.m. (CT), Grassley will attend a Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Cybercrime: Updating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to Protect Cyberspace and Combat Emerging Threats."

• On Wednesday, August 3, at 9:00 a.m. (CT), there is a Finance Committee hearing entitled, "Dually-Eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) Beneficiaries: Improving Care While Lowering Costs." 

• On Thursday, August 4, at 9:00 a.m. (CT), Grassley will attend a Judiciary Committee executive business meeting. 

• On Friday, August 5, at 9:00 a.m. (CT), Grassley will attend a Finance Committee hearing on the nominations of: Mr. Michael Punke, of Montana, to be Deputy United States Trade Representative with Rank of Ambassador, Executive Office of the President; Mr. Paul Piquado, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, United States Department of Commerce; and Mr. David S. Johanson, of Texas, to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission.

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Dear Arts/Culture/Heritage Presenter,

Experience Quad Cities and Quad City Presenters are collaborating on a very important research project to collect data on the vitality and economic impact of the artistic, cultural and heritage organizations in the Quad Cities. Your participation in this project is key to its success -- because evidence of a community with a strong arts, culture and heritage scene contributes to economic development as well as the ability to attract both visitors and new residents to the area. Please click here to access our survey. Because your input is important, please complete this questionnaire within two weeks of receiving it. Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide us with this information. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please feel free to call Doug at 309.794-7426. 

Sincerely, 

Douglas Tschopp                 Jodie Shagrin Kavensky 
Quad City Presenters           Experience Quad Cities

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement after voting against Speaker John Boehner's default bill:

"Washington is broken and it's long past time that we fix it. The American people are tired of excuses. That's why I couldn't support Speaker Boehner's bill tonight. It doesn't fix the problem, it delays it, and it's time we address this problem like adults. Over 5 months ago I asked the President and Speaker Boehner for a plan to reduce our nation's spending and get our debt under control. But the simple truth is that problems rarely get solved in Washington until the clock has nearly run out. Now we've come to the brink of a default and a serious blow to our fragile economy. That's unacceptable. As soon as I see a viable plan to bring us back from the brink of default and address our national debt and deficit, I'll be the first to cast my 'yea' vote."

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During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley discusses his bill targeting synthetic drugs.  The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, on July 28, and would ban chemicals used to make drugs like K2, also known as Spice.  Grassley's legislation is named after David Rogza of Indianola, Iowa, whose death may have been the first in the nation related to K2.

Click here for audio.

The text of the address is available below.    

Weekly Video Address:  Synthetic Drug Bill  

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed my bipartisan legislation to ban chemicals used to make synthetic drugs like K2, or Spice.

A year ago in June, K2 led an 18-year old from Indianola to take his own life.  David Rozga's death may have been the first in the country stemming from a new type of synthetic drug.  I met with David's family last August, and David's dad traveled to Washington to testify in April at a drug caucus hearing which I co-chaired.

David's death hasn't been the last.  In January, a high-school student in Omaha killed his assistant principal and himself.  He had K2 in his system.

Poison-control centers and emergency rooms are reporting skyrocketing cases resulting from K2 use.  Violent injuries are seen, related to K2 increasing agitation, heart rates and blood pressure, hallucinations, and seizures.  K2 abuse has even led all branches of the military to ban the use of the synthetic drug after high profile cases arose at the Naval Academy and on the U.S.S. Bataan which was deploying to Libya. 

The drug is available at local shopping malls and online.  It's marketed to appear natural and harmless, like a package of incense.  Victims like David Rozga get sucked into trying the drug, unaware of the risks.

Federal legislation is needed because the Drug Enforcement Agency's process of banning drugs is slow, with no guarantee of a permanent ban.  The proposed bill - which I named the David Mitchell Rozga Act -- would treat K2 like banned narcotics such as methamphetamine and cocaine.

The Senate should act to ban this drug as soon as possible.

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