Chuck Grassley: “today, I begin a series of remarks to celebrate the sesquicentennial of my home State of Iowa. It is my intention to say…”

“today, I begin a series of remarks to celebrate the sesquicentennial of my home State of Iowa. It is my intention to say something on the history of Iowa, building up to the opening of the Smithsonian Institution's Festival of American Folklife on June 26. This year the festival celebrates Iowa. So, I wish to inform my colleagues that they will shortly be receiving an invitation from the Secretary of the Smithsonian and the Iowa congressional delegation to attend a birthday party for Iowa. We will host the birthday party on June 26 from 6:30 until 8:30 at the Centennial Building of the Smithsonian located next to the Smithsonian Castle. I hope to see many of you as we enjoy cake and ice cream along with the other invited guests, including the President, Vice-President, Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, and foreign diplomatic corps. Many Iowa-based businesses will also be there. As a matter of fact, even the Maytag repairman, the loneliest man in town, may be there. James K. Polk was our President when, on December 28, 1846, Iowa was admitted into the Union as the 29th State. But our history began long before that date. Before the coming of settlers from the East, Iowa was home to almost 17 different tribes of Indians over the years. Tribal names included the Ioway, Sauk, Sioux, Potawatomi, Oto, Missouri, and Mesquaki. The Mesquaki still live in Iowa on the Mesquaki Settlement in Tama County, which is some of the tribe's original land.”