Apr 16, 2024
I particularly appreciate that the students from Westwood, which closed in 2016, finally have been granted relief.
Tom Harkin
The Public Record
Tom Harkin is a former U.S. Senator from Iowa who served from 1985 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Harkin was known for his advocacy on disability rights and health care reform. He played a significant role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and was a strong proponent of mental health services and education initiatives. Throughout his tenure, Harkin focused on issues affecting working families and rural communities in Iowa.
★ Featured Quote
April 16, 2024
I particularly appreciate that the students from Westwood, which closed in 2016, finally have been granted relief.
— Tom Harkin
Most widely reported
by number of sources- today I am introducing the Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction Act of 2002. On December 6, 2001, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld and expanded an earlier District Court decision that removes the U.S. Department of Agriculture's, USDA, authority to enforce its Pathogen Performance Standard for Salmonella. Passage of this bill is vital because the Fifth Circuit's decision in Supreme Beef v. USDA, Supreme Beef, seriously weakens the substantial food safety improvements adopted by USDA in its 1996 Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point and Pathogen Reduction, HACCP, rule. According the Fifth Circuit's opinion in Supreme Beef, today, USDA does not have the authority to enforce Performance Standards for reducing viral and bacterial pathogens. This decision seriously undermines the new meat and poultry inspection system. The Pathogen Performance Standard rule recognized that bacterial and viral pathogens were the foremost food safety threat in America, responsible for 5,000 deaths, 325,000 hospitalizations and 76 million illnesses each year. To address the threat of foodborne illness, USDA developed a modern inspection system based on two fundamental principles. The first was that industry has the primary responsibility to determine how to produce the safest products possible.…4 sources2002govinfo.gov
- I have come to the floor, today, to introduce the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act. I am very pleased that Senator Hatch has joined me in introducing this legislation, as well as Senator Dodd, who has been a long time supporter of the Best Buddies program. We are also joined by 8 other co-sponsors, both Republicans and Democrats, demonstrating the bipartisan support for this legislation. The Special Olympics program is respected around the world as a model and leader in using sport to end the isolation and stigmatization of individuals with intellectual disabilities. For more than 40 years, Special Olympics has encouraged skill development, sharing, courage and confidence through year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through their programs, Special Olympics has helped to ensure that millions of individuals with intellectual disabilities are assured of equal opportunities for community participation, access to appropriate health care, and inclusive education, and to experience life in a nondiscriminatory manner.3 sources2010govinfo.gov
- today I am introducing the FIT Kids Act. That first word, FIT, an acronym for Fitness Integrated with Teaching, an important concept that I am proud to promote today. The FIT Kids Act encourages schools to provide children with quality physical education in an effort to promote health and wellness throughout their lives. Since the 1970s, the incidence of obesity has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and for young people aged 12-19 years; for children aged 6-11 years, it has more than tripled. Since there are many reasons for this public health crisis, we know that addressing it will require multiple solutions. An important place we can address childhood obesity is in our schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that fewer than 10 percent of our public schools offer daily physical education for the entire school year for all students. Let me repeat that, fewer than 10 percent. Our kids deserve better. Research has shown that physical education not only promotes health and wellness, it also has a direct correlation with kids' academic performance in school. The FIT Kids Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to shine a light on the availability of quality physical education for all public school children through grade 12, and to ensure they receive important health and nutritional information.3 sources2011govinfo.gov
- I say to my friend from Minnesota, I think that is right. If the Senator wants to be engaged in the process of legislation, then, as I say, the Senator from Minnesota has talked to me many times about what he wants in the bill. The Senator from Colorado and even Members on the Republican side have talked to me about what should be in the bill, what should not be in the bill. That is the process. I would say to my friend from Minnesota, I have been chairman twice before, not of this committee but of the Agriculture Committee when we did major agricultural bills. One was in 2001 and the other one was in 2007, and both times I worked with the ranking members, basically, the same kind of process. We got bipartisan bills through that were signed by President Bush both times, 2001 and in 2007. This was the process we used. We let amendments be offered. We opened it up. No one on the committee ever raised an objection to our meeting during the Senate session. We got our jobs done. That is the way we have always done it. That is just the legislative--as I said, considerate, logical legislative process. That is the way we have always conducted it. What it does is it allows Members--Senators who are interested, as the Senator from Minnesota has been so keenly interested in this Education bill, to give them time to go to the ranking member, to go to me, to go to other Members, to see what they can get in the bill.…3 sources2011govinfo.gov
- today I join with my senior colleague from Iowa, Senator Grassley, and with the distinguished chair of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy, in reintroducing the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. The need for this legislation was vividly demonstrated by the experience of an Iowan--Jack Gross. Mr. Gross gave the prime of his life, a quarter century of loyal service, to one company. Despite Mr. Gross's stellar work record, FBL Financial demoted him and other employees over the age of 50 and gave his job to a younger employee. Expressly to prevent this kind of discrimination, in 1967 Congress passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, ADEA. Modeled from and using the same language as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964-- which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin and religion--the ADEA makes it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of age. When Mr. Gross sought to enforce his rights under this law, a jury of Iowans heard the facts and found that his employer discriminated against him because of his age. That jury awarded him almost $47,000 in lost compensation. The case was ultimately appealed to the Supreme Court. In June 2009, in Gross v. FBL Financial, Inc., the Court ruled against Mr. Gross, and in doing so made it harder for those with legitimate age discrimination claims to prevail under the ADEA. In fact, on remand, despite the fact Mr.…3 sources2013govinfo.gov
- again, I thank the Senator for this clarifying question. Under this bill, State plans must include a certification that there are in effect in the State requirements that include the establishment of a grace period that allows homeless children to receive services while their families are taking any necessary actions to comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements. That requirement stands apart from procedures the State uses to permit enrollment of homeless children while other required documentation is obtained.3 sources2014govinfo.gov
congress.gov
Apr 15, 2024
The Biden Administration has taken some important steps to right those wrongs, discharging student loans for borrowers who were not able to graduate.
Apr 27, 2023
Tomorrow, April 28, is Workers Memorial Day, a day unions and others, here and around the globe, remember those who have been killed, injured, and diseased on the job.
May 19, 2015
The Protect Student Borrowers Act would hold colleges and universities accountable for student loan defaults by requiring them to repay a percentage of defaulted loans.
May 19, 2015
our institution's performance, measured by student withdrawal and default rates, is one of the best of any examined, and it appears that students are faring well at this degree-based college.
May 19, 2015
I introduced the Protect Student Borrowers Act with Senators Durbin, Warren and Murphy--and I want to thank Senator Warren for her great leadership on this issue and many other issues.
Apr 15, 2015
We do think that the decisions about what is safe should be made by science and not by politics.
Dec 16, 2014
today I am introducing one last bill as a United States Senator. It is on an issue I have long wanted to tackle, changing our national anthem to one I believe is more representative of the amazing country and people that make up our United…
Dec 13, 2014
the omnibus appropriations bill that the Senate approved today includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies bill. Or, as we like to refer to it, the Labor-HHS bill. Most people didn't think that would…
Dec 12, 2014
I too want to spend a couple of moments reflecting upon my long friendship and association with Senator Carl Levin from Michigan. Much has been said this morning about Carl the person and the Senator. Let me say this: I don't know of…
Dec 12, 2014
Most of all, I thank my wife, Ruth, the love of my life, my wife of 46 years. You have been my constant companion, my soul mate, my strongest supporter, and my most honest critic. You have been my joy in happy times and my solace when…
Dec 12, 2014
almost 2 years ago I announced I was not going to seek a sixth term in the Senate. That decision and that announcement didn't seem all that difficult or hard at that time. After all, 2 years was a long time off. Since then, I have been…
Dec 11, 2014
I wish to pay tribute and to extend my thanks to one of my smartest and most passionate staff members Zachary Schechter Steinberg. A native of Iowa City, IA, Zach started with the office as an intern in the summer of 2007. He became an…
Dec 11, 2014
as I prepare to depart the Senate, I would like to take a few minutes to express my deep appreciation to Brian Ahlberg, my chief of staff for the last decade. Of course, every Senator knows that the title ``chief of staff'' encompasses a…
Dec 11, 2014
as I prepare to relinquish the gavel as chair of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, I would like to take a few minutes to express my deep gratitude to our staff director, Derek Miller, for his sterling service in one…
Dec 10, 2014
as I approach the end of my Senate career, I cannot help but reflect on the role that my tremendous staff members have played in advancing my policy goals and, indeed, advancing the important work the American people over the years. I have…
Dec 10, 2014
in 1997, Beth Stein, a talented young woman armed with a razor-sharp mind and relentless attention to detail, arrived on Capitol Hill as counsel to a true American hero, U.S. Senator John Glenn. As his investigative counsel, Beth played a…
Dec 10, 2014
As a boy growing up in rural Cumming, IA, population 150, I could never have imagined that I would one day serve in Congress. My father had a sixth-grade education. He spent most of his life working in coal mines, and all he had to show…
Dec 9, 2014
I would like to personally commend Senator Feinstein for releasing this report today. We have all heard the Justice Louis Brandeis quote that ``sunlight is the best disinfectant'' but occasionally we need a real world reminder. Today…
Dec 8, 2014
I ask unanimous consent that Zachary Gross, Katy Crabtree, and Emalee Barto, interns with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of today's session and that Caitlin Boon…
Dec 8, 2014
I speak in support of the nomination of Lauren McFerran to fill an approaching vacancy on the National Labor Relations Board. I was heartened by the recent cloture vote in support of the McFerran nomination and urge my colleagues in just a…
Dec 4, 2014
I wish to take a moment to introduce and thank our guest Chaplain today. Dr. Calvin French is the pastor emeritus for the Community of Christ Church in Washington, DC, where he served that congregation for 30 years before retiring. He has…
Dec 3, 2014
I thank the Presiding Officer. I thank my friend and colleague from Connecticut for his very excellent, profound statement and for taking a leadership position on this very crucial issue. It is obviously well known I am retiring in 3…
Dec 3, 2014
I thank the Senator for his kindness. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa. International Disability Rights Day
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