Chuck Grassley

ICYMI: Grassley Op-Ed: Republicans’ Rural Health Transformation Fund Is Improving Access to Care in Iowa | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Position: Senator Grassley supports the Rural Health Transformation Fund, enacted as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which provides federal funding to expand healthcare access and improve health outcomes in rural Iowa communities.

Republicans’ Rural Health Transformation Fund Is Improving Access to Care in Iowa By Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) I’m one of hundreds of thousands of rural Iowans who lives off a gravel road and am proud to call farm country home. Over one third of our state is considered rural. Yet too often, it’s difficult for rural Iowans to access the healthcare they need, close to where they live. Republicans are working to change that. Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which President Trump signed on July 4 last year, not only put money back in people’s pockets to help them provide for their families, it delivered historic funding to expand access to care in rural communities and improve health outcomes. It’s called the Rural Health Transformation Fund, and it’s the largest investment in rural health in U.S. history. Astoundingly, not a single Democrat in Congress voted to support this funding. Here in Iowa, the Rural Health Transformation Fund is already making a difference and keeping care closer to home. Under Gov. Kim Reynolds’ leadership, Iowa was the first state in the nation to begin awarding its federal funding. As a result, Iowans in Marshalltown looking for heart and cancer care soon won’t have to travel to Waterloo or Des Moines for treatment. The Marshalltown Hospital is recruiting two new specialists in cardiology and oncology so area residents can get local treatment that’s close to their loved ones, who provide a valuable support network. In Anamosa, Jones Regional Medical Center is buying a new surgical robot with this money, expanding options for cancer patients and bringing more surgeons to the region. In Onawa, Burgess Health Center is purchasing a new, advanced mammography system that will help detect breast cancer sooner and save Iowans’ lives. In Chariton, I met with Iowans who told me they’ll have access to an MRI machine at the Lucas County Health Center for the first time. And, during my meeting at the Pella Regional Health Center, I learned they’re leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Fund to purchase a machine to improve local cancer care. Iowans near Mason City will have access to a new Robotic Bronchoscopy system that detects lung cancer sooner, giving Iowans more years with family and friends. The good news doesn’t stop there. Over the next five years, Iowa will receive, at a minimum, $100 million annually from the fund. Our state already received over twice that much this year alone: $209 million. Because of this federal investment, young mothers needing prenatal care will be able to access clinics and telemedicine in up to five different locations in rural Iowa from the Des Moines Center of Excellence in Maternal Fetal Medicine. A grandfather in Jasper County who’s fighting cancer can get advanced procedures and high-quality scans at the Newton Medical Center now that its decades old equipment is being replaced. Iowans will also have access to more healthcare professionals, like family medicine physicians and nurses, because of this federal investment. As a senior member and former chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, I’m constantly advocating for rural healthcare on behalf of Iowans. That’s why I helped lead the charge to get the Rural Health Transformation Fund passed into law, and I’ll be following it closely to ensure Iowa receives the support it deserves. I applaud Gov. Reynolds for her work to identify needs across our state that qualify for these federal grants, such as combating cancer, improving access to emergency care and recruiting top-tier healthcare professionals. During my 99 county meetings this year, I’ve heard story after story from healthcare professionals who are putting this money to work for their patients. More Iowa communities will benefit from the Rural Health Transformation Fund in the years ahead. Chuck Grassley is the senior U.S. senator from Iowa.

Grassley Raises Awareness on Benefits of Home Visiting Programs During National Home Visiting Week | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore “National Home Visiting Week Resolution” Thursday, April 30, 2026 Strong families build a strong society and a strong America. Along [with] that thought, for the second year, I’ve led a bipartisan resolution in the Senate to recognize National Home Visiting Week. Evidence-based home visiting programs, as an example, programs like the Federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, [are] an example of programs offering important services that support pregnant women, new moms and entire families. The positive outcomes that families demonstrate in areas like maternal, mental and behavioral health issues illustrate just how important these services are. Evidence-based home visiting programs also reduce child abuse, reduce neglect and reduce family conflict. Targeted intervention of this kind is very important and key to preventing a family’s involvement with [the] child welfare system, and that is a very noble goal that I’ve long worked to help families achieve. Strengthening families and supporting parents as they raise the next generation is paramount. In many areas, my state leads. So, I’m proud to say that Iowa was one of the early adopters of home visiting programs, and it’s proven successful, very successful in our state. In fact, an Iowan from Sioux City was named a 2025 home visitor of the year by the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals. I’d like to thank the home visitors and their supervisors that provide evidence-based services that help families build a strong foundation.

Prop 12 is a Hogwash ‘Government Knows Best’ Approach | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Position: Senator Grassley opposes California's Proposition 12 animal welfare standards, arguing they impose unconstitutional burdens on interstate commerce, increase consumer prices, harm farmers—particularly smaller operations—and create market consolidation. He commits to supporting federal legislation to prevent states from imposing such standards on interstate agricultural commerce.

With passage of Proposition 12 in 2018, California voters overstepped constitutional boundaries and effectively hogtied pig farmers across America. Pork producers were faced with a dire choice: either fork out tens of thousands of dollars to comply with California’s mandates or get blacklisted from selling to 15% of the nation’s pork market. Since Prop 12 went into full effect on Jan. 1, 2024, consumers have been subject to inflated pork prices: the average price per pound of a pork loin in California has risen more than 40%. And pig farmers are stuck like a pig in a poke. Don’t just take my word for it; recall what a fellow Iowan, former Iowa governor and USDA secretary for a dozen years during the Obama and Biden administrations said about Prop 12. Then-Secretary Tom Vilsack explained to the House Agriculture Committee how Prop 12 sowed “chaos” in the marketplace. At that same hearing, House Ag Chairman Glenn Thompson referenced a preliminary USDA finding that costs associated with Prop 12 “have a more severe impact on smaller independent operations, and that distresses placed upon the entire production and marketing chain will lead to ever-increasing consolidation and concentration of the industry.” With the current downturn in the farm economy, the last thing farmers need is more uncertainty, more expenses and more ridiculous regulations. Here’s precisely why Prop 12 is bad policy: Punitive Prop 12 expenses are pigheaded. As work continues in Congress to pass the next farm bill, I’m committed to restoring constitutional guardrails and shutting the barn door on California and other states who impose intrusive standards on interstate commerce. As a lifelong family farmer and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to champion rural America and serve as an outspoken advocate for farm families, including Iowa’s pig farmers. Prop 12 undermines their livelihoods and jacks up prices for consumers at the grocery store. As Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the Supreme Court’s ruling, “policy choices like these usually belong to the people and their elected representatives.” Congress has the power to stop the chaos unleashed by Prop 12. It’s time we do so. Keeping domestic markets open for business lowers food costs for families and alleviates tight margins facing America’s farmers. During National Agriculture Week, that’s something lawmakers on both sides of the aisle ought to give their whole hog endorsement. Chuck Grassley is Iowa's senior senator.

Grassley Opens Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Prepared Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting Thursday, April 30, 2026 On today’s agenda, we have 14 nominations and six bills. Today, we’ll vote on four judicial nominations: Sheria Clarke for the District of South Carolina, Kathleen Lane for the District of Montana, Evan Rikhye for the District of the Virgin Islands and Kara Westercamp for the Court of International Trade. We’ll also vote on Kenneth Sorenson to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii and Johnson Teehee to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. After that, we’re voting on three bills: S. 1572, the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act, S. 3062, the GUARD Act and S. 3966, TREY’s Law. The other bills and the remaining nominations will be held over for future consideration. Before we turn to the votes, I’d like to say a few words about the American Bar Association, or the ABA. In recent decades, the ABA’s inserted itself into divisive political topics. Since the 1960s, the ABA has taken positions hostile towards the Second Amendment. It also passed a pro-abortion resolution, which forced thousands of its members to leave in protest. And it issued rules recommending sanctions for attorneys who publicly state that there are only two genders. As one former White House Counsel stated, the ABA “takes public positions on divisive political, legal and social issues that come before the courts.” And it’s damaged the ABA’s credibility in rating judicial nominees. Its evaluation process lacks transparency, and historically, a poor ABA rating has reflected a bias against conservatism. In fact, the ABA gave at least a minority “Not Qualified” rating to many great conservative judges, including Frank Easterbrook, William Pryor, Timothy Tymkovich and many others. Meanwhile, the ABA has heralded liberal judicial nominees. One Biden nominee, Charnelle Bjelkengren, could only list six cases that she’d litigated in her career. At her hearing, she couldn’t remember what Articles II or V of the Constitution were. How did the ABA assess her nomination? Let me say that again, the ABA rated as “Qualified” a Biden nominee who lacked basic knowledge about the same Constitution that she’d swear an oath to uphold. To the ABA, it’s long appeared that political affiliation is more important than legal competency. So, it’s no surprise that the ABA recently rated Ms. Lane, who works for the RNC, managing a docket of more than 100 cases, as “Not Qualified.” However, like other judges who received poor ABA ratings, Ms. Lane is a great nominee. She spent years working with Montana’s Solicitor General. She’s litigated dozens of appeals, including briefs before the Supreme Court. And she’s uniquely qualified to serve in Montana because of her experience in rural cases involving land use, grazing rights and coal mining leases. Once confirmed, I hope Ms. Lane wears her ABA rating as a badge of honor. Based on the history of stellar judges who received poor ABA ratings, she’s likely to become one of our nation’s finest jurists. On our legislative agenda today, we’re considering three bills. First, we’ll vote on Senator Blackburn’s bipartisan Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act. This important bill will give federal prosecutors the tool they need to bring these violent offenders to justice. We’ll also consider two bipartisan civil bills, the GUARD Act and Trey’s Law. These bills advance the important issue of child safety. These measures, if enacted, would protect kids from being harmed or exploited. Finally, I’d like to take a minute to recognize some of the families who are here today with us. Their children were victims of harmful manipulation by Character.AI, one of these chatbots. Please know your families are in my prayers. I look forward to these bills being discussed and voted on by our committee.

Grassley Praises Iowa House Members for Fighting for Farmers on Farm Bill, E15 | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Position: Senator Grassley advocates for passage of legislation to establish E15 (15% ethanol fuel blend) availability nationwide, arguing it will expand agricultural markets, reduce fuel costs, and provide economic certainty for retailers and farmers.

Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore “Iowa Delegation is Fighting for Family Farmers” Thursday, April 30, 2026 [I’m taking] a little while here now to thank Iowa members of the House of Representatives, Congressman Feenstra, Congressman Nunn and Congresswomen Hinson and Miller-Meeks, for their very good efforts fighting for Iowa farmers during the Farm Bill negotiations in the House of Representatives. And part of that discussion involved the biofuel issue of E15. E15 is a top priority for not only Iowans, [but] for people generally in the Midwest, where we have abundant corn crops that make the ethanol that ends up being E15. E15 will expand markets for farmers, help consumers at the pump and, according to the economists for the Iowa Corn Growers [Association], add $14 billion to an already hurting ag economy. And when I say already, already for the last three or four years. Now, E15 is a no-brainer that is supported by President Trump. In fact, when President Trump visited Iowa [in] early March, he [said] he'd like to have Congress present an E15 bill to him to sign. So, I hope the leadership of the House of Representatives keeps their word to get E15 a floor vote and [does] that in very short order. In fact, I don't really know what all the problem is about E15 because, by presidential waiver, we've had E15 the last two years of Trump One, four years of the Biden administration and now two years in this Trump administration. And I have never heard any controversy about that. Then, secondly, we've had the governors of eight Midwestern states petition the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for E15 year-round and throughout all those eight states. And I never heard anything controversial about that. But, when we want to pass legislation that would avoid a presidential waiver and allocate E15 in the other 42 states that don't have it year-round, all of a sudden [it] becomes quite a controversial issue. [It’s] something I just don't understand. I think it's the case that now we're having some legislation to bring certainty to the issue of E15, and it's going to make it possible for retailers to invest in the very expensive pumps that it takes to distribute E15. And that certainty is very necessary for that investment, but all of a sudden it becomes a very controversial issue where it has not been a controversial issue by presidential waiver or by those eight state governors petitioning EPA to have it in those states. It ought to be done now and help American agriculture and reduce the price of gasoline tremendously through E15. Now, I hear from some states that don't have E15 that their people don't want it because it's going to raise the price of gasoline. Come to Iowa. Come to other Midwestern states where we have E15 year-round, and you'll find that gasoline that has ethanol with a 15% mixture [is] cheaper than any other grade of gas that you can buy.