[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 198 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7655-S7656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DAVE BUSIEK

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute to an 
Iowan whose stewardship at a leading television news station in Des 
Moines, IA, has strengthened the principles of good government, 
transparency and the public's right to know.
  As a member of the broadcast press corps for four decades, Dave 
Busiek understands that freedom of the press is fundamental to liberty 
in this country. I often say that journalists serve an important role 
in our system of checks and balances, which preserves liberty. They are 
integral to keeping an engaged and infoimed citizenry. They report 
corruption, weed out wrongdoing, and hold government accountable to the 
American people.
  Throughout my public service and political life, I hold myself 
accountable to Iowans by making myself accessible to members of the 
media. I hold regular news conferences and answer their questions in 
the hallways of the U.S. Capitol and after my county meetings at home 
in Iowa.
  It is a commitment I have kept since my first campaign for the U.S. 
Senate back in 1980. And that happens to be the year my political path 
crossed with Dave Busiek. In fact, for as long as I have served Iowans 
in the U.S. Senate, Dave Busiek has served the people of Iowa in 
broadcast journalism: as a reporter, anchor, and news director at

[[Page S7656]]

KCCI-TV in Des Moines, where he started in 1979 after working for 3 
years at WHO Radio.
  Dave has led coverage of breaking news events, natural disasters, 
government and politics, and human interest stories that keep Iowans 
informed. When there has been a story to tell and information that 
matters to Iowans, Dave has led the coverage over the span of four 
decades. Twenty-nine years ago, he covered the United Flight 232 plane 
crash in Sioux City. He made sure Iowans knew what they needed to know 
during the historic floods of 1993 and during the tornadoes in 
Marshalltown, Pella, and surrounding communities this past summer. With 
fairness, accuracy and objectivity, Dave has led a team of journalists 
to report the news that affects the lives of Iowans, including decades 
of coverage of one my favorite places in Iowa: The Iowa State Fair.
  Of course, Iowa is considered ground zero for the presidential 
campaign trail and all things politics. Dave's political coverage 
extends to six Iowa Governors and dates back to George H.W. Bush 
beating Ronald Reagan in the 1980 caucuses. As I mentioned earlier, he 
covered my first Senate campaign in 1980 and 35 years later, partnered 
with CBS News and the Des Moines Register to cosponsor the Democratic 
Debate for President at Drake University.
  His 29-year tenure as news director at KCCI helped the station win 
countless awards for journalistic excellence. In 2002, he was elected 
chair of the Radio-Television News-Directors Association and was named 
News Director of the Year in 2014 by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine. 
He was inducted this summer into the Iowa Broadcasters Association Hall 
of Fame. He understands that good content is integral to survival from 
an economic standpoint and obviously, good content matters to good 
government and quality journalism. He pursued KCCI's expansion into 
social media where the news station provides weather and breaking news 
coverage across all digital platforms to its consumers. Whether on-air 
or online, Dave has worked to stay on top of the news, day after day, 
for four decades.
  Dave Busiek is not a native Iowan, but we sure are glad he has called 
Iowa home since graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism. 
Remarkably, he is only the third news director at KCCI since it first 
aired in 1955. From viewers to voters, I know that Iowans carry a high 
bar of expectations. Dave earned his rise through the ranks and 
certainly has raised the bar even higher for his peers in the 
profession.
  I would like to thank Dave Busiek for his service, professionalism 
and integrity in broadcast journalis also like to thank him for his 
testimony at a congressional hearing I led back in 2000. He testified 
in support of my bipartisan legislation to allow cameras in Federal 
courtrooms. The Supreme Court has affirmed that the public has a right 
to know what happens in our courts. Dave and I agree that the media can 
serve as an important surrogate to allow the court of public opinion to 
bear witness to the court of law through the unfiltered lens of a 
camera. Specifically, audio/visual streaming and broadcasting of the 
Federal courts would enhance better appreciation and understanding of 
the Federal judiciary, a coequal branch of the Federal Governnent. That 
was 18 years ago. And I am not giving up on getting this bill signed 
into law. They say slow and steady wins the race. The people of Iowa 
graciously put me on this fence post and I am committed to fighting the 
fight as long as I am serving in the U.S. Senate.
  I congratulate Dave Busiek on a remarkable career. His legacy will 
continue to shine long after he signs off as news director through the 
lens of countless journalists he has trained and mentored along the 
way.

                          ____________________