[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 84 (Monday, June 2, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3337-S3338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DECATUR COUNTY, IOWA

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, the strength of my State of Iowa 
lies in its 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 Decatur 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 Decatur County worth over $2.7 
million and successfully acquired financial assistance from programs I 
have fought hard to support, which have provided more than $8.9 million 
to the local economy.
  Of course my favorite memory of working together has to be our shared 
commitment to school construction, renovation, and fire safety through 
the Harkin grant program. Working together with State and local 
communities, this funding has ensured Iowa students are learning in 
schools that are safe and modern. I look forward to learning about the 
renovations made possible in Decatur County.
  Among the highlights:
  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

[[Page S3338]]

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, Decatur County has received $1,604,352 in 
Harkin grants. Similarly, schools in Decatur County have received funds 
that I designated for Iowa Star Schools for technology totaling 
$34,578.
  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, Decatur County has received more than $1.4 
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, Decatur 
County's fire departments have received over $738,000 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 Decatur 
County has recognized this important issue by securing over $49,000 in 
wellness grants and more than $1 million for the Community Health 
Center in Leon.
  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 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 
Decatur 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 Decatur 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 Decatur 
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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