[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11311-11312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          BREMER 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

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difference in local communities across my State.
  Today, I would like to give an accounting of my work with leaders and 
residents of Bremer 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 Bremer County worth over $2 million 
and successfully acquired financial assistance from programs I have 
fought hard to support, which have provided more than $38 million to 
the local economy.
  Of course, one of my favorite memories of working together includes 
the community's tremendous success with the Main Street Iowa program, 
particularly the great work they have done rehabilitating the Last 
National Bank Building.
  Among the highlights:
  Investing in Iowa's economic development through targeted community 
projects: In Northeast 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 
Bremer 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, over many years, I 
fought for more than $5.2 million in funding for ag-based industrial 
lubricant research, as well as $500,000 for the 10th Avenue South 
corridor, and $400,000 to rehabilitate abandoned military facility just 
outside of Waverly, helping to create jobs and expand economic 
opportunities.
  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, Bremer County has received $961,998 in Harkin grants. Similarly, 
schools in Bremer County have received funds that I designated for Iowa 
Star Schools for technology totaling $89,295.
  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. 
Bremer County has received over $6 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, Bremer County has received more than $1 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 
the methamphetamine epidemic. For instance, Bremer County has received 
$200,000 in Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS, grants. Also, 
since 2001, Bremer County's fire departments have received over $6 
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 Bremer County, both those 
with and without disabilities.
  This is at least a partial accounting of my work on behalf of Iowa, 
and specifically Bremer 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 Bremer 
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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