[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3540-S3541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            LEE 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 Lee 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 Lee County worth over $28.8 million 
and successfully acquired financial assistance from programs I have 
fought hard to support, which have provided more than $35.3 million to 
the local economy.
  Of course, one of my favorite memories of working together include 
the terrific work that Keokuk and Fort Madison have done to improve 
their downtowns through Main Street Iowa, my long standing support work 
to make sure the Avenue of the Saints construction benefits the area 
and is funded, and working to improve river navigation on the 
Mississippi River, in part through funding reconstruction of Lock and 
Dam 19 at Keokuk.
  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 
Lee 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 Lee 
County, I have fought for more than $23 million for the restoration of 
Lock and Dam 19 as well as overall navigation and environmental 
improvements on the Mississippi River, as well as more than $118 
million for work on the Avenue of the Saints, helping to create jobs 
and expand economic opportunities in the region.
  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 Fort 
Madison and Keokuk to use that money to leverage other investments to 
jump-start change and renewal. I am so pleased that Lee County has 
earned $78,500 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, Lee County has received more than $4.1 million in Harkin grants. 
Similarly, schools in Lee County have received funds that I designated 
for Iowa Star Schools for technology totaling $288,457.
  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. 
Lee County has received over $5.1 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, Lee County's 
fire departments have received over $1.4 million for firefighter safety 
and operations equipment, and more than $564,187 in Byrne justice 
assistance grants.
  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 Lee County 
has recognized this important issue by securing $389,563 for community 
wellness activities.
  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 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 one 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County, to fulfill 
their own dreams and initiative and, of course, this work is never 
complete. Even after I retire

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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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