[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 96 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3859-S3860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BUTLER 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 Butler 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 Butler County worth over $2.6 
million and successfully acquired financial assistance from programs I 
have fought hard to support, which have provided more than $11 million 
to the local economy.
  Of course, one of my favorite memories of working together has been a 
terrific partnership with the Butler County Rural Electric Cooperative, 
REC, which has done a tremendous job at securing funds for a variety of 
local economic development projects. I am particularly proud of the 
work I have done with the Homeward, Inc. project to provide quality 
affordable housing to Iowans throughout the region. I am pleased to 
have secured more than $1.9 million over the years to assist in this 
important work. I should also single out the outstanding leadership and 
tireless leadership of the former CEO and general manager of the Butler 
County REC, Bob Bauman, for his years of service and vision. He is the 
kind of Iowan, who has done so much to help those that have so little, 
that makes me so proud to have served Iowa in the Senate.
  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 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, Butler County has received $664,437 in Harkin grants. Similarly, 
schools in Butler County have received funds that I designated for Iowa 
Star Schools for technology totaling $115,000.
  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. 
Butler County has received over $6 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, Butler County has received more than $5.8 
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 
the methamphetamine epidemic. For instance, Butler County has received 
$449,956 in Community Oriented Policing Services grants. Also, since 
2001, Butler County's fire departments have received over $323,000 for 
firefighter safety and operations equipment.
  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

[[Page S3860]]

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 Butler 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 Butler 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 Butler 
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.

                          ____________________