[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO RON STEELE

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I come to the Senate floor to 
congratulate a legend in the broadcasting business. Ron Steele is a 
long-time journalist from my hometown TV station KWWL in Waterloo, IA. 
Tomorrow will be his last day behind the anchor desk after more than 50 
years of bringing news, weather, and sports to Iowans.
  Over the years, he has interviewed newsmakers from around the world 
and across our State, spanning U.S. Presidents, Nobel laureates, 
Olympic medalists, and hometown athletes. Iowa's families in the Cedar 
Valley looked forward to his weekly coverage of ``Friday Night 
Heroes.'' He also launched a public affairs program called ``The Steele 
Report,'' where he interviewed more than 400 people, including this 
U.S. Senator.
  As an avid news consumer, I hold Ron's work in high regard. He has 
received recognition for his outstanding work, including the 
prestigious Jack Shelley Award from the Iowa Broadcast News Association 
as well as multiple Emmy Awards.
  Ron didn't let grass grow underneath his feet behind the anchor's 
desk. He leveraged his platform to become an invaluable civic leader 
across Cedar Valley, bringing particular focus to special needs kids. 
Ron's program called ``Iowa's Child'' series has helped 200 children 
find their forever families. Like my work in the U.S. Senate on foster 
care, what I hear from foster care kids as they are shuttled from one 
family to another over the course of a year: I would like to have a mom 
and dad and a home. That is what Ron was helping these 200 children 
find.
  His leadership also was instrumental in raising enough money for the 
five Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo. I don't expect 
people in Washington to know about the Sullivan brothers, but they are 
the five brothers who were on the same destroyer in 1942 in World War 
II. It sunk, and they all lost their lives. There are some trees 
planted out here, on the Capitol Complex, in their memory--five 
Japanese trees.
  So, from one small town kid to another, I appreciate Ron's commitment 
to our community and to the people of Iowa. He will certainly be missed 
behind the news desk. My wife Barbara and I wish the entire Steele 
family the very best in the years ahead.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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