[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 3, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3363-S3364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          DUBUQUE COUNTY, IOWA

 Mr. HARKIN. Madam 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 Dubuque 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 Dubuque County worth over $40 
million and successfully acquired financial assistance from programs I 
have fought hard to support, which have provided more than $97 million 
to the local economy.
  My close partnership with the community and economic development 
leaders in Dubuque has resulted in community transformation. From 
cleaning up the riverfront and building the National Mississippi River 
Museum to improving road and air access to the community to investments 
in Dubuque schools and downtown storefronts and housing, massive 
Federal investments combined with local vision and hard work has 
resulted in the revitalization of Dubuque. I am pleased that my staff 
will be touring the community health center. I have been a long-time 
supporter of community health centers, having worked for over two 
decades to expand centers in Iowa.
  Among the highlights:
  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 Dubuque 
County has recognized this important issue by securing more than 
$550,000 for construction, renovations, and to hire additional workers 
at the Crescent Community Health Center.
  Investing in Iowa's economic development through targeted community 
projects: In Northeast 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 
Dubuque 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 
Dubuque County, I have fought for $37 million to make highway 61 a 
four-lane highway to expand transportation into Dubuque, $23 million to 
improve the Mississippi River Bridge, $30 million for the southwest 
arterial, $4 million for the river museum, and a $5.6 million TIGER 
Grant, helping to create jobs and expand economic opportunities.
  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 isn't 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 
Dubuque to use that money to leverage other investments to jumpstart 
change and renewal. I am so pleased that the community has earned 
$438,000 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.

[[Page S3364]]

  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, Dubuque County has received more than $2.7 million in Harkin 
grants.
  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. 
Dubuque County has received over $4.3 million to remediate and prevent 
widespread destruction from natural disasters.
  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, Dubuque 
County's fire departments have received over $3 million for firefighter 
safety and operations equipment and over $570,000 in Byrne Justice 
Assistance Grants.
  Disability rights: Growing up, I loved and admired my brother Frank, 
who was deaf. 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 
Dubuque County, both those with and without disabilities.
  This is at least a partial accounting of my work on behalf of Iowa, 
and specifically Dubuque 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 Dubuque 
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.

                          ____________________