Grassley Marks Policy, Oversight Accomplishments in 2015
"It's my privilege to represent Iowans in the
Grassley returns to
Outside of these annual county visits, Grassley also attended a variety of events and meetings including: an avian influenza round table discussion with farmers and producers, a tax roundtable discussion with tax professionals and small business owners, a
In 2015, Grassley's
Highlights of Grassley's legislative and oversight work follow here:
Accountability for sexual assaults. After hearing whistleblower accounts of inadequate procedures to assist victims of abuse at the
Grassley is leading an effort calling on federal agencies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for employees who contribute to the demand for human trafficking by purchasing sex. He is also continuing to investigate sexual harassment claims from over 15 whistleblowers at the
As Chairman of the
Agriculture. Avian flu hit
Grassley authored the Family Farmer Bankruptcy Clarification Act to reverse a
Grassley wrote to the
Competition. In an effort to address anti-competitive practices among prescription drug makers, Grassley co-authored the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act. The bill would increase consumers' access to lower-priced generic drugs by helping put an end to the practice of brand-name drug manufacturers' using pay-off agreements to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market.
Grassley has been conducting oversight of mergers to ensure that increased consolidation does not adversely impact small businesses and rural America.
Defense oversight. As a long-time watchdog of
In May, the
Throughout the year, Grassley worked with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) to expose wasteful spending in
Education. The tax package given final approval this month includes Grassley's provisions to improve the already successful Section 529 college savings program. Grassley's provisions allow 529 funds to purchase a computer on the same tax-favorable basis as other required materials; cut outdated, unnecessary rules that increase paperwork and costs on plan administrators; and provide tax and penalty relief in instances where a student may have to withdraw from school for illness or other reasons.
The education bill given final approval in December includes the bipartisan bill from Grassley and co-sponsors that makes certain the needs of high ability students are included in federal education policy. The bipartisan proposal is the TALENT Act, or the To Aid Gifted and High-Ability Learners by Empowering the Nation's Teachers Act.
Earlier versions of the bill contained a grant program for developing innovative civics education programs. The provision Grassley negotiated in the final bill makes sure that a focus of the grant program is to support proven civics education programs that teach the history and principles of the
Grassley authored the Need-based Educational Act, which extends an antitrust exemption that allows certain colleges and universities, like
Energy, including renewables. In December, the
For months, Grassley urged the
Grassley provided oversight of his own when investigating instances of alleged retaliation against
Grassley asked the
Federal judiciary. The
Grassley authored the Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act, which would establish the
Grassley is working to curb frivolous lawsuits that are clogging up the court system. He's the author of the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act, which would impose mandatory sanctions for lawyers who file meritless suits in federal court.
Foster youth, adoption. As a founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Caucus on
The education bill given final approval in December includes the bipartisan Educational Stability of Foster Youth Act, which Grassley co-authored, that supports students in the foster care system by strengthening connections between child welfare agencies and state and local education institutions. Often, schools may be the only familiar place for a child in foster care, and the measure helps make sure that those kids can go to school in a safe, stable environment.
Grassley led through the
Fraud fighting. In addition to his work to protect specific agency whistleblowers who come forward, Grassley led a bipartisan group of senators in launching the
Good government (paid leave,
Grassley continued his oversight of whether the
In June, the
Health care. In June, the
Grassley also introduced the ACE Kids Act; the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act; the Rural Hospital Access Act; the Medicare Residential Care Coordination Act; the HELLPP Act covering podiatrists as physicians in
Grassley pressed the
Grassley pressed the agency on how much federal money it has given to each state health care exchange, how much money it has identified as misused, what it can do to recover money for unallowable activities, and how much money for unallowable activities it has recovered.
Grassley was the lead Republican on a bipartisan investigative report that gives rare insight into how a company prices a landmark prescription drug. In this case, the company,
Housing. Grassley continued his oversight of the
Illicit drugs, cannabidiol. Grassley was among several senators who successfully urged the
The
On cannabidiol, a substance that might ease severe seizures in children, Grassley and Sen.
In addition to the
Immigration. Grassley led the effort on many immigration reform initiatives and has conducted thorough oversight of the executive branch's policies. He has focused attention on making sure Americans were given the first opportunity at high skilled jobs in
He fought against sanctuary city policies that allow criminal immigrants to stay in communities because of state or local policies that expressly prohibit law enforcement from working with federal immigration officials. Grassley pressed the
Grassley held a hearing where victims' families shared their stories and called for reforms to improve enforcement of immigration laws and prevent future crimes.
He continues to investigate problems with the vetting and placement of unaccompanied alien children who have traveled from Central and
Grassley raised concerns about the insufficient vetting process to ensure terrorists posing as refugees are not granted access to
Grassley is leading a bipartisan effort to implement national security and anti-fraud safeguards following concerns of abuse raised by whistleblowers, independent watchdogs, and agency leaders. The bill he introduced, the American
Inspectors general. Grassley raised concerns about
Grassley introduced legislation to again restate
Even before the
Jobs and the economy. Abusive patent litigation practices are undermining the patent system that has made
Grassley held a hearing to help
Law enforcement. Grassley guided through the
Grassley pressed several federal law enforcement agencies on their use of technology that can sweep up cell phone locations of innocent Americans. Following Grassley's inquiries, the
Grassley has made an effort to make sure that excessive use of force by law enforcement is being pursued. He inquired about the status of a drawn-out investigation into the death of Iowan Brandon Ellingson, who drowned while in
Grassley sought information regarding the death of a
Grassley helped author legislation that would help incentivize the collection of better data on police shootings of civilians.
Grassley sought details on the
Inappropriate hiring practices and the misuse of funds at the
Grassley introduced the Criminal Antitrust Anti-retaliation Act to extend whistleblower protection for employees who provide information to the
Military sexual assault. Grassley continued working with Sen.
National security. Grassley's efforts in preventing new attacks on the homeland have focused on balancing the federal government's core responsibility to ensure Americans' security with the fundamental privacy rights guaranteed in the
Grassley's bill to strengthen
Grassley has also been asking questions about the
Given the increasing role that encryption has had in facilitating terrorism and other crime, Grassley held a hearing in the
Grassley has been dogged in finding more information about the detainees released from
Regulations. In an effort to rein in an overabundance of regulations that stifle innovation and job creation, Grassley is a cosponsor of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which would require congressional approval before enacting regulatory proposals that carry an annual economic impact of
Grassley is the author of the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015, which would shine a light on sue-and-settle litigation and help to restore the transparency, public participation and judicial review protections of the rulemaking process.
To illustrate the need to rein in regulations and executive overreach, the independent investigative arm of
As Chairman of the
Second Amendment. Grassley continued his efforts to ensure the Second Amendment rights of all Americans are protected. He requested that the
Grassley led 52 senators in condemning an
Sunshine. Grassley and Sen.
Since 2013, the Open Payments database created by the Physician Payment Sunshine Act covers 15.71 million published records and
Taxes. The year-end tax package passed by
It extends enhanced Section 179 expensing for equipment purchases, which is popular with farmers and small businesses. This allows farmers and small business owners to deduct the cost, up to a limit, of major equipment and property purchases that contribute to farm and business operations and job creation. The permanence is a major achievement because this provision has been temporary over the last several years.
Included is a bipartisan measure Grassley led to increase the alternative tax liability limitation for small property and casualty insurance companies. These small companies largely serve rural communities, which rely on this adjustment to provide additional surplus and cash flow used to pay customers' insurance claims.
The tax package adopts Grassley-led policy to ensure that those granted deferred action under the President's executive actions on immigration cannot retroactively get the Earned Income Tax Credit based on earnings from work performed illegally in
Tax-exempt organizations. Responding to investigative reports, Grassley looked in-depth at the
Grassley asked questions of a tax-exempt hospital in
Trade. In June, the
Transparency. As the champion for transparency and openness in government, Grassley has been investigating whether former Secretary of State
Grassley shepherded the FOIA Improvement Act out of the
Two of Grassley's long-standing initiatives, saving taxpayer money and transparency in government, came together this past year as he requested a GAO study on how much taxpayer money is spent on lawsuits stemming from the government's attempts to withhold information in violation of the Freedom of Information Act.
Veterans. Grassley continued to keep tabs on beefed up accountability measures to help root out employee misconduct and a culture of corruption within the
In addition, Grassley wrote to the
Grassley set up a veterans fellowship program to help him reach out to
Victims reform. As Chairman of the
Grassley is currently working on legislation to address the perverse incentives that have nudged enforcement of civil asset forfeiture laws off kilter with basic fairness. These laws are important crime-fighting tools that enable law enforcement to seize cash or property that's considered linked to illicit activity. However, it seems this tool is increasingly being misused as a funding source for the government with thin regard for civil rights.
Grassley is looking at an area of the law to help indigent defendants who are not being provided with counsel as the
Earlier this year, Grassley introduced the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2015 to ensure that at-risk youth are fairly and effectively served by juvenile justice grant programs. The bipartisan legislation, which has 16 cosponsors and the endorsement of more than 150 organizations, has cleared the
Grassley led through the
Grassley shepherded through the
In a major accomplishment, Grassley led a bipartisan coalition of senators to introduce the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. Grassley steered the bill through the
Grassley supported and led through the
Read this original document at: http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-marks-policy-oversight-accomplishments-2015
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News