[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 107 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4399-S4400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DELAWARE 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. 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 Delaware 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 successfully acquire financial assistance from 
programs I have fought hard to support, which have provided more than 
$9 million to the local economy.
  Of course, my favorite memory of working together has to be working 
together to mitigate and prevent damage from natural disasters. 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 has provided critical support to Iowa communities impacted by the 
devastating floods of 2008. Delaware County has received over $5 
million to remediate and prevent widespread destruction from natural 
disasters.
  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 S4400]]

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, Delaware County has received $458,158 in 
Harkin grants. Similarly, schools in Delaware County have received 
funds that I designated for Iowa Star Schools for technology totaling 
$27,650.
  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, Delaware County has received more than $6.5 
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, Delaware 
County's fire departments have received over $1 million 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 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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware 
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.

                          ____________________