The
Presidential
Inauguration
Yesterday,
Americans
had
the
opportunity
to
witness
a
hallmark
of
American
democracy
in
the
peaceful
transfer
of
power
from
one
president
to
the
next.
Nobody
should
be
surprised
at
the
priorities
laid
out
in
President
Trump’s
speech.
It
focused
on
the
same
ideals
that
got
him
elected.
President
Trump
has
given
hope
to
many
Americans
who
have
long
felt
forgotten.
He
is
empowering
Americans
and
inspiring
people
to
believe
that
government
can
work
for
them
again.
I
appreciate
President
Trump’s
pledge
to
create
jobs,
help
struggling
families,
secure
our
borders,
combat
Islamic
terrorism
and
resume
America’s
position
of
leadership
in
the
free
world.
President
Trump
outlined
a
bold
agenda
to
put
America
first,
and
now
it’s
time
for
Congress
to
get
to
work.
As
the
President
said,
"No
challenge
can
match
the
heart
and
fight
and
spirit
of
America."
Grassley
Direct
I
spoke
with
Ed
Funston
from
KILR
radio
in
Estherville
and
Jamie
Whitney
from
the
Pocahontas
Record
Democrat
about
President
Obama's
commutation
of
Chelsea
Manning,
the
Secretary
of
Agriculture
nominee
and
agriculture
policy
in
a
Trump
administration,
Obamacare
repeal
and
replacement,
Governor
Branstad's
becoming
ambassador
and
the
confirmation
process
for
Trump
nominees.
Q&A:
Collecting
Taxes
Owed
Q:
What
is
the
IRS
Whistleblower
Office?
Q:
Why
do
you
support
private
debt
collection
for
unpaid
taxes?
Quick
Links
I
met
with
Gov.
Rick
Perry,
nominated
by
President
Trump
to
be
secretary
of
the
Department
of
Energy,
alongside
fellow
senators
from
biofuels-producing
states
to
discuss
concerns
related
to
that
department.
I
received
assurances
from
Gov.
Perry
that
he
appreciates
the
role
of
biofuels
in
an
all-of-the-above
energy
strategy
and
that
he
recognizes
the
tremendous
benefits
in
job
creation,
economic
investment
and
environmental
protection
created
by
the
biofuels
industry.
I
also
met
with
Robert
Lighthizer,
President
Trump's
nominee
to
serve
as
United
States
Trade
Representative.
I
wanted
to
convey
that
regardless
of
what
action
the
President
takes
on
trade,
he
and
his
advisers
should
consider
the
effects
on
agriculture. Iowa
is
an
exporting
state,
with
a
tremendous
amount
of
agricultural
commodities
and
other
goods
shipped
to
markets
around
the
world.
I
expect
the
new
administration
to
work
hard
to
maintain
existing
markets
for
Iowa
and
other
farm
states'
exports.
I
introduced
a
bipartisan
bill
to
ensure
that
employers
make
a
good
faith
effort
to
hire
qualified
American
workers
first.
It
also
prioritizes
American-educated
foreign
workers
over
those
who
have
not
spent
time
in
the
United
States.
The
legislation
does
this
by
increasing enforcement
of
immigration
laws,
modifying
wage
requirements
and
securing
protections
for
American
workers.
The
Senate
Finance
Committee
held
hearings
this
week
on
the
confirmation
of
Treasury
Secretary
nominee
Steven
Mnuchin. In
that
hearing,
I
made
sure
to
specifically
ask
for
a
commitment
to
support a
strong
IRS
whistleblower
function.
Mr.
Mnuchin
gave
his
assurance
that
he'll
work
with
me
if
confirmed
to
support
tax
fraud
whistleblowers.
Post
of
the
Week
|