Grassley Recognized for Casting 12,000th Vote in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON - Senate leaders today recognized Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa for casting his 12,000th Senate vote early Friday morning.  Only 17 senators in history have cast more votes than Grassley.

In addition, no senator serving today has gone as long as Grassley has without missing a vote.  Grassley has cast 7,474 consecutive votes.

Since Grassley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, he has held at least one official meeting in every one of Iowa's 99 counties every year.

"When I cast a vote, I'm bringing the benefit of every comment, question and criticism heard from Iowans to the vote," Grassley said. "With 12,000 votes, I think of the many conversations and pieces of correspondence behind those votes.  Whether I'm meeting with Iowans in the Hart Building in Washington or at the University of Northern Iowa volleyball matches near my farm in New Hartford, the time people take to visit with me is time well-spent for me and I hope they consider it time well-spent for them."

Grassley's 12,000th vote came early Friday morning during consideration of a budget deal.   He voted "no" on a motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with regard to the deal.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee recognized Grassley in remarks on the Senate floor today.  Grassley also gave brief remarks.  Video is available here.  The text of his remarks is available here.

In the Senate, Grassley is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.  He is a senior member and former Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance.  He serves on the Agriculture and Budget committees, chairs the Caucus on International Narcotics Control and co-chairs the Caucus on Foster Youth, which he co-founded.

Grassley is committed to congressional oversight of the executive branch of government.  His efforts have been recognized by whistleblower advocacy and government reform groups and journalist organizations for protecting press freedom and the First Amendment.  He fights for transparency in government and wherever tax dollars flow.

Grassley's legislative record of achievement includes expansive tax relief and reform, approval of international trade agreements, renewable energy and conservation incentives, farm program reforms, rural health care fairness, Medicare modernization, adoption and foster care incentives, access to health care for children with disabilities, updates to patent and trademark laws, expanded consumer access to generic drugs, measures to fight fraud against taxpayers, whistleblower protections, pension program reforms, bankruptcy reform, and making certain that members of Congress live under civil rights, labor and health care laws passed for the rest of the country.

Grassley is the fourth most senior member of the U.S. Senate and the third most senior Republican senator.

Other senators currently serving who have cast more than 12,000 votes are Sens. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Orrin Hatch of Utah and Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Since 1789, there have been nearly 2,000 members of the U.S. Senate.  The last vote Grassley missed was in July 1993, when he accompanied President Bill Clinton to Iowa to inspect flood damage.

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Grassley Presses Defense Secretary on $43 Million Gas Station in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today pressed the Department of Defense to cooperate with a government watchdog by releasing all documents, names of staff involved and reasons for placing severe restrictions on information behind the construction of a $43 million natural gas filling station in Afghanistan.

"This gas station cost many more times than it should have," Grassley said.  "So far, the Defense Department has been unable or unwilling to explain what happened.  Incredibly, the Defense Department is distancing itself from its own $800 million task force that oversaw the construction of the gas station, as if it never existed.  This is all unacceptable.  I'll continue to press for cooperation from the Defense Department with a key watchdog on behalf of taxpayers."

Grassley wrote to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, seeking that the Defense Department release all records related to the filling station and a complete list of all former personnel assigned to the task force that oversaw the gas station to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).  The inspector general has cited a lack of cooperation from the Defense Department in getting to the bottom of the cost over-run.  Grassley also sought a plausible explanation for withholding or placing severe restrictions on access to the task force documents.

Grassley's letter to the Defense secretary is available here. Grassley's comment on the SIGAR report is available here.  The SIGAR report is available here.

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Senate Votes on Measures to Address WOTUS, Agrees to Consider Resolution of Disapproval

WASHINGTON– Sen. Chuck Grassley made the following statement after the Senate voted on a pair of measures to address the misguided rulemaking by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers known as the Waters of the United States (U.S.) rule.

Despite receiving bipartisan support by a majority of the Senate, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act fell to a filibuster by a vote of 57-41.  Grassley is a cosponsor of the bipartisan bill, led by Sen. John Barrasso, that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to start over with the rulemaking for the Waters of the United States rule.

The second vote was on proceeding to debate on the Resolution of Disapproval of the Waters of the U.S. rule.  Grassley is a cosponsor of the resolution, which was introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst.  A resolution of disapproval is a legislative procedure used to try to overturn regulations and rules put forth by the executive branch.  A simple majority of the Senate is needed for passage.  If the Senate and House pass the resolution, the President must sign it to become law.  If the President vetoes the bill, Congress must overturn the veto for the resolution to take effect.  The Senate agreed to take up that resolution by a vote of 55-43.

Here is Grassley's comment on today's votes.

"Considering the flawed process that the EPA used in writing this rule, which is now recognized by two federal courts that have blocked the rule from moving forward, going back to the drawing board hardly seems like an unwarranted proposition.

"The bipartisan bill that was filibustered by a minority of the Senate would establish specific guidelines and require specific analyses that the EPA and the Corps must follow during the rulemaking process. It would also mandate collaboration with states and others affected by this rule to make sure it's workable.

"It's unfortunate that it's come to this, but instead of attempting to address the legitimate concerns raised during the open comment period, the EPA and its allies pushed their own agenda, attempting to drive support for the rule, while belittling the concerns of the public.  As written, the rule could result in significant red tape and expense for Iowa farmers, home builders, golf course managers and construction companies as they make routine decisions about how best to use their land and run their businesses.

"And, in true Washington, D.C., bureaucratic dysfunction, the rule could hamper projects to improve water quality.  Isn't that ironic?

"Federal courts have already ruled that the rulemaking process was flawed.  Now, a bipartisan majority of the Senate has voiced its disapproval as well.  Unfortunately, a filibuster by a minority of the Senate and a veto threat by the President will ensure that the courts decide this instead of the representatives of the American people."