[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3232-S3234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          WAPELLO COUNTY, IOWA

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, the strength of my State of Iowa 
lies in its

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vibrant local communities, where citizens come together to foster 
economic development, make smart investments to expand opportunity, and 
take the initiative to improve the health and well-being of residents. 
Over the decades, I have witnessed the growth and revitalization of so 
many communities across my State. And it has been deeply gratifying to 
see how my work in Congress has supported these local efforts.
  I have always believed in accountability for public officials, and 
this, my final year in the Senate, is an appropriate time to give an 
accounting of my work across four decades representing Iowa in 
Congress. I take pride in accomplishments that have been national in 
scope--for instance, passing the Americans with Disabilities Act and 
spearheading successful farm bills. But I take a very special pride in 
projects that have made a big difference in local communities across my 
State.
  Today, I would like to give an accounting of my work with leaders and 
residents of Wapello County to build a legacy of a stronger local 
economy, better schools and educational opportunities, and a healthier, 
safer community.
  Between 2001 and 2013, the creative leadership in your community has 
worked with me to secure funding in Wapello County worth over $10.5 
million and successfully acquired financial assistance from programs I 
have fought hard to support, which have provided more than $43.5 
million to the local economy.
  Of course my favorite memories of working together have to include 
the establishment and funding of both a Job Corps center and a 
community health center, working with the Ottumwa Regional Health 
Center on renovations and equipment, working with Indian Hills 
Community College on biotechnology and other programs, expanding the 
Des Moines to Burlington highway, and working with local law 
enforcement to combat methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs in the 
community.
  Among the highlights:
  Investing in Iowa's economic development through targeted community 
projects: In Southeast Iowa, we have worked together to grow the 
economy by making targeted investments in important economic 
development projects including improved roads and bridges, modernized 
sewer and water systems, and better housing options for residents of 
Wapello County. In many cases, I have secured Federal funding that has 
leveraged local investments and served as a catalyst for a whole ripple 
effect of positive, creative changes. For example, working with mayors, 
city council members, and local economic development officials in 
Wapello County, I have fought for funding to separate the combined 
sewers which would overflow during rain events. Over the years, I have 
appropriated over $4.3 million to this project, which reduces the cost 
of these improvements to residents and businesses, helping to create 
jobs and expand economic opportunities. I also worked with leaders 
throughout the region to build a four lane highway from Des Moines to 
Burlington. I was pleased to have been able to acquire nearly $52 
million worth of Congressionally directed funding for various segments 
of this project. Thanks to our years of partnership, this highway will 
result in a more jobs and a better economy for the entire area.
  Main Street Iowa: One of the greatest challenges we face--in Iowa and 
all across America--is preserving the character and vitality of our 
small towns and rural communities. This is not just about economics. It 
is also about maintaining our identity as Iowans. Main Street Iowa 
helps preserve Iowa's heart and soul by providing funds to revitalize 
downtown business districts. This program has allowed towns like 
Ottumwa to use that money to leverage other investments to jumpstart 
change and renewal. I am so pleased that Wapello County has earned 
$120,000 through this program. These grants build much more than 
buildings. They build up the spirit and morale of people in our small 
towns and local communities.
  School grants: Every child in Iowa deserves to be educated in a 
classroom that is safe, accessible, and modern. That is why, for the 
past decade and a half, I have secured funding for the innovative Iowa 
Demonstration Construction Grant Program--better known among educators 
in Iowa as Harkin grants for public schools construction and 
renovation. Across 15 years, Harkin grants worth more than $132 million 
have helped school districts to fund a range of renovation and repair 
efforts--everything from updating fire safety systems to building new 
schools. In many cases, these Federal dollars have served as the needed 
incentive to leverage local public and private dollars, so it often has 
a tremendous multiplier effect within a school district. Over the 
years, Wapello County has received $3,301,391 in Harkin grants. 
Similarly, schools in Wapello County have received funds that I 
designated for Iowa Star Schools for technology totaling $57,315.
  Disaster mitigation and prevention: In 1993, when historic floods 
ripped through Iowa, it became clear to me that the national emergency-
response infrastructure was woefully inadequate to meet the needs of 
Iowans in flood-ravaged communities. I went to work dramatically 
expanding the Federal Emergency Management Agency's hazard mitigation 
program, which helps communities reduce the loss of life and property 
due to natural disasters and enables mitigation measures to be 
implemented during the immediate recovery period. Disaster relief means 
more than helping people and businesses get back on their feet after a 
disaster, it means doing our best to prevent the same predictable flood 
or other catastrophe from recurring in the future. The hazard 
mitigation program that I helped create in 1993 provided critical 
support to Iowa communities impacted by the devastating floods of 2008. 
Wapello County has received over $12.2 million to remediate and prevent 
widespread destruction from natural disasters.
  Agricultural and rural development: Because I grew up in a small town 
in rural Iowa, I have always been a loyal friend and fierce advocate 
for family farmers and rural communities. I have been a member of the 
House or Senate Agriculture Committee for 40 years--including more than 
10 years as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Across the 
decades, I have championed farm policies for Iowans that include 
effective farm income protection and commodity programs; strong, 
progressive conservation assistance for agricultural producers; 
renewable energy opportunities; and robust economic development in our 
rural communities. Since 1991, through various programs authorized 
through the farm bill, Wapello County has received more than $9.9 
million from a variety of farm bill programs.
  Keeping Iowa communities safe: I also firmly believe that our first 
responders need to be appropriately trained and equipped, able to 
respond to both local emergencies and to statewide challenges such as, 
for instance, the methamphetamine epidemic. Since 2001, Wapello 
County's fire departments have received over $1.4 million for 
firefighter safety and operations equipment.
  Wellness and health care: Improving the health and wellness of all 
Americans has been something I have been passionate about for decades. 
That is why I fought to dramatically increase funding for disease 
prevention, innovative medical research, and a whole range of 
initiatives to improve the health of individuals and families not only 
at the doctor's office but also in our communities, schools, and 
workplaces. I am so proud that Americans have better access to clinical 
preventive services, nutritious food, smoke-free environments, safe 
places to engage in physical activity, and information to make healthy 
decisions for themselves and their families. These efforts not only 
save lives, they will also save money for generations to come thanks to 
the prevention of costly chronic diseases, which account for a whopping 
75 percent of annual health care costs. I am pleased that Wapello 
County has recognized this important issue by securing over $2 million 
for the community health center and for community wellness programs.
  Disability Rights: Growing up, I loved and admired my brother Frank, 
who was deaf. But I was deeply disturbed by the discrimination and 
obstacles he faced every day. That is why I have always been a 
passionate advocate for full equality for people with

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disabilities. As the primary author of the Americans with Disabilities 
Act, ADA, and the ADA Amendments Act, I have had four guiding goals for 
our fellow citizens with disabilities: equal opportunity, full 
participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency. Nearly 
a quarter century since passage of the ADA, I see remarkable changes in 
communities everywhere I go in Iowa--not just in curb cuts or closed 
captioned television, but in the full participation of people with 
disabilities in our society and economy, folks who at long last have 
the opportunity to contribute their talents and to be fully included. 
These changes have increased economic opportunities for all citizens of 
Wapello County, both those with and without disabilities. And they make 
us proud to be a part of a community and country that respects the 
worth and civil rights of all of our citizens.
  This is at least a partial accounting of my work on behalf of Iowa, 
and specifically Wapello County, during my time in Congress. In every 
case, this work has been about partnerships, cooperation, and 
empowering folks at the State and local level, including in Wapello 
County, to fulfill their own dreams and initiatives. And, of course, 
this work is never complete. Even after I retire from the Senate, I 
have no intention of retiring from the fight for a better, fairer, 
richer Iowa. I will always be profoundly grateful for the opportunity 
to serve the people of Iowa as their Senator.

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