[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9526-9527]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CERRO GORDO 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 Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County worth over $13 
million and successfully acquired financial assistance from programs I 
have fought hard to support, which have provided more than $182 million 
to the local economy.
  Of course, one of my favorite memories of working together is working 
to help Northern Iowa Community College obtain over $2 million in 
Federal

[[Page 9527]]

funds to support their programs, helping the city to improve the 
drinking water supply, and working to improve area lakes and waterways.
  Among the highlights: investing in Iowa's economic development 
through targeted community projects: In northern Iowa, we have worked 
together to grow the economy by making targeted investments in 
important economic development projects including improved roads and 
bridges, modernized sewer and water systems, and better housing options 
for residents of Cerro Gordo County. In many cases, I have secured 
Federal funding that has leveraged local investments and served as a 
catalyst for a whole ripple effect of positive, creative changes. For 
example, working with mayors, city council members, and local economic 
development officials in Cerro Gordo County, I have fought for more 
than $8.4 million for water treatment facilities which have allowed 
major food processing entities to operate in the region, knowing that 
the water they need to use is clean and healthy, helping to create jobs 
and expand economic opportunities. I have also secured over $310,000 to 
clean up area lakes and waterways, over $393,000 to rehabilitate the 
City National Bank Building, and over $444,000 for repairs to the 
Delaware Street bridge.
  Main Street Iowa: One of the greatest challenges we face--in Iowa and 
all across America--is preserving the character and vitality of our 
small towns and rural communities. This isn't just about economics. It 
is also about maintaining our identity as Iowans. Main Street Iowa 
helps preserve Iowa's heart and soul by providing funds to revitalize 
downtown business districts. This program has allowed towns such as 
Mason City to use that money to leverage other investments to jumpstart 
change and renewal. I am so pleased that Cerro Gordo County has earned 
$150,000 through this program. These grants build much more than 
buildings. They build up the spirit and morale of people in our small 
towns and local communities.
  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, Cerro Gordo County has received $2.2 million in Harkin grants.
  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. 
Cerro Gordo County has received over $9 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, Cerro Gordo County has received more than $8.4 
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, Cerro Gordo 
County's fire departments have received over $1.19 million for 
firefighter safety and operations equipment and more than $879,000 in 
Byrne Justice Assistance Grants.
  Wellness and health care: Improving the health and wellness of all 
Americans has been something I have been passionate about for decades. 
That is why I fought to dramatically increase funding for disease 
prevention, innovative medical research, and a whole range of 
initiatives to improve the health of individuals and families not only 
at the doctor's office but also in our communities, schools, and 
workplaces. I am so proud that Americans have better access to clinical 
preventive services, nutritious food, smoke-free environments, safe 
places to engage in physical activity, and information to make healthy 
decisions for themselves and their families. These efforts not only 
save lives, they will also save money for generations to come thanks to 
the prevention of costly chronic diseases, which account for a whopping 
75 percent of annual health care costs. I am pleased that Cerro Gordo 
County has recognized this important issue by securing more than 
$460,000 for community wellness activities.
  This is at least a partial accounting of my work on behalf of Iowa, 
and specifically Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo 
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.

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