[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 92-93]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MARVIN VAN HAAFTEN

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to offer my congratulations and gratitude to an 
extraordinary Iowan. Marvin Van Haaften is stepping down from his 
distinguished position as director of the State of Iowa's Office of 
Drug Control Policy. He assumed this position after being named by 
Governor Tom Vilsack in 2002 and has served the State with honor and 
distinction since accepting the appointment.
  I would like to take this opportunity to show Marvin Van Haaften the 
appreciation that the country, the State of Iowa, and myself personally 
have for his extensive commitment as a public servant. With more than 
32 years of law enforcement experience, Marvin has taught extensively 
in the field of rural law enforcement, particularly death investigation 
and domestic violence crimes. He has provided local and national 
leadership on the role of law enforcement in strategic victim safety 
and offender apprehension, and is presently on the board of directors 
of the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement. Marvin also served on 
many local and State committees such as the Iowa Criminal and Juvenile 
Justice Planning Advisory Council, the board of the Mid-Iowa Narcotics 
Enforcement Task Force, the board of the 18-county South Central Iowa 
Clandestine Laboratory Task Force, and was the third vice president on 
the board of directors of the Iowa Association of Counties. Marvin was 
named Sheriff of the year in 1991 by the Iowa State Sheriffs' and 
Deputies' Association and served as its president in 1996. He is also a 
graduate of the FBI National Academy and has attended the National 
Sheriffs' Association's National Sheriffs' Institute and the FBI Law 
Enforcement Executive Development Institute. In 1997 he became a 
licensed Iowa medical examiner investigator.
  Marvin knows firsthand the true value and significance of a loving 
family. He has been married to his wife Joyce for 42 wonderful years 
and has the blessings of 5 grown children and the joy of 11 
grandchildren. It is through Marvin's love of family and law 
enforcement experience that enabled him to expose the destruction that 
drug abuse wreaks on families.
  I share my appreciation for Marvin Van Haaften along with my fellow 
Iowans for the invaluable service he has provided to our State and 
country.

[[Page 93]]

He has proven himself to be versatile and fully capable of accepting 
and mastering the tasks placed before him. His enduring commitment to 
the safety of Americans is cause for admiration.
  Again, I offer my congratulations and sincere appreciation to Marvin 
Van Haaften for his remarkable achievements throughout his extensive 
and highly regarded career. His hard work and determination will be 
missed in Iowa and throughout the Nation.

                          ____________________