Chuck Grassley
Senator for Iowa · Republican · United States
“Is the memory of Americans so short that they don't remember 9 percent inflation in the previous administration and how now it is dramatically down? Now, self-proclaimed democrat socialists are running for office, promising a pile of budget-busting policies rather than delivering affordability.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“Those taxpayers earning between $50,000 to $200,000 that took advantage of at least one of these new deductions received an average tax cut of between $815 and $1,250. Moreover, the rest of the law made pro-growth policies that incentivized business investment permanently.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“Here in the Senate, we have expanded and protected the Trump administration's effort to remove redtape and put more money back into the pockets of working families and small business owners. So far, the administration's efforts have resulted in over $1 trillion in total regulatory cost reductions.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“Of course, everybody agrees more needs to be done to stop anticompetitive practices of Big Pharma and these pharmacy benefit managers. I will continue to push to fix a broken system and lower drug costs. I have also worked to lower food costs by supporting American agriculture and passing the farm bill.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, lowering costs for Americans has been a key focus of this Republican Congress. The 2025 Working Families Tax Cut Act prevented the largest tax increase in the history of our country. If that bill had not passed, taxes would have gone up by about $3,500 per family.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“That said, the Department has been ``reevaluating the process'' for over a year. We have the most capable military and intelligence in the world. The Pentagon has the ability to identify and mitigate risks in a timelier fashion--especially given that wind energy projects are nothing new, nor are these agreements.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
The complete record
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“Mr. President, I come to the floor today as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Social Security, and to remind everybody--because everybody knows or better know--that the Social Security primary trust fund will be depleted in just 6 years. As a result, come late 2032, the program will only have enough income from the payroll taxes to pay 78 percent of benefits due. That surplus was built up since a Republican, President Reagan, and a Democrat, then-Speaker Tip O'Neill, sat down and said: We can't let anything bad happen to Social Security. So they put a plan together that passed almost unanimously in this U.S. Senate. I presume those two gentlemen--bipartisan they were--they thought it may only extend the program for 20 years or something.”
Senate29 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, today at the U.S. Capitol and the National Cathedral, at those places, we honored the life of Senator Lindsey Graham. Over the past few weeks, we have mourned Senator Graham's untimely passing. Here on the Senate floor and in committees, I and my colleagues have spent time honoring his life and recalling fond memories. Senator Graham loved this country. His forceful and quick-witted presence continues to be missed. Barbara and I continue praying for Senator Graham's family and newly appointed Senator Darline Graham. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate28 July 2026Source ↗
“And, hopefully, our government is helping, to some extent, to free him as well. I don't know his name. They didn't want to give out the name. But this stuff that happens in China and around the world, you can't understand how it can happen because it seems to me the peaceful approach of Christians is something that shouldn't be challenged or feared by any type of government anyplace on this globe. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate27 July 2026Source ↗
“In November of 2025, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution that condemned the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of religious groups, including Pastor Jin and the leaders of the Zion Church. In March of this year, I joined a congressional letter to President Trump asking that he advocate for Pastor Jin's release in a meeting that he recently had with the Chinese President. Today, we can celebrate that Pastor Jin is finally free. But our work is not finished. We must continue to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves and stand firmly in defense of religious freedom. Along this same line--not in China but someplace in Africa--I heard yesterday, in my attendance at the 105th Cedar Falls, IA, Bible Conference, that there has been a pastor in Africa that has been kidnapped, and they wanted us to pray for him.”
Senate27 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, all Americans--but I can't speak for all Americans. But I want to thank President Trump for his efforts to release Pastor Ezra Jin after 266 days in Chinese captivity. Pastor Jin started Zion Church in 2007 to share his love of God, to serve others, and to worship peacefully. Following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, his church and its community were among the first responders. They even hosted blood drives in Beijing to help those who were impacted by the earthquake. But on October 10, last year, Pastor Jin was detained with other leaders in the Zion Church. Now, you might find yourself asking: Why was he arrested? In communist governments, any belief system that places moral authority and fosters independent communities beyond government control is a challenge to the regime in power.”
Senate27 July 2026Source ↗
“It is obvious we need all eyes and ears within the Federal bureaucracy to stay wide open and remove the muzzle that Federal Agencies use to intimidate patriotic whistleblowers from reporting wrongdoing. The bill that I am sponsoring--1 of these 16 bipartisan initiatives-- is in there to solve that problem. The U.S. Treasury is not a piggy bank for fraudsters to exploit and drain public assistance programs for their own profit. This anti-fraud package will stop fraud and return money to the taxpayers. Thanks again to Senator Ernst. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“This comprehensive legislation cracks down on the fraudsters, protects the taxpayers' dollars, and curbs wasteful spending. The bill includes 16 bipartisan initiatives. And I think when you talk about 16 bipartisan initiatives, that ought to tell some of our constituents that think Republicans never talk to Democrats and vice versa that that is the wrong information permeating our great country. So the 16 bipartisan initiatives, 1 of them is my bill that I entitled ``Expanding Whistleblower Protection for Contractors Act,'' which then expands whistleblower protections for government contractors and grantees--just like we give whistleblower protection to people that are employees of the Federal Government.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, Iowans are fed up with their taxpayers' dollars being lost every year to waste, fraud, and abuse. As a watchdog for those taxpayers, I have helped lead the charge to stop brazen criminals from stealing Americans' hard-earned dollars. So that is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of my colleague from Iowa Senator Ernst's bill. That bill is entitled the ``Protecting American Taxpayers Act.'' I thank Senator Ernst so much for her hard work putting this piece of legislation together, and I also thank her for her hard work chairing the Small Business Committee of the Senate. Now to the purpose of this legislation: According to the Government Accountability Office--GAO for short--the Federal Government loses annually anywhere between $233 billion to $521 billion to fraud.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“I encourage the Trump administration to continue making records public for transparency, and hopefully the New York Times will get future stories right. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“For many years, whistleblowers have been hard at work to expose those and many other records. As difficult as it may be for the partisan media to understand this, I have made public thousands of pages of records to this Congress pursuant to lawful whistleblower disclosures. True whistleblowers stick their neck out just for telling the truth, and they do it no matter the risk to them. And a lot of these whistleblowers ruin themselves professionally by just doing what the law requires. So when I do get records, I owe it to the whistleblowers to make those records public. That is called congressional oversight, and it is my constitutional responsibility to get the job of congressional oversight done as the Constitution requires. This Senator's work will continue.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“And I want you to know that I will continue to make records public because that is what the taxpayers need and deserve and expect. As I said last July about this same FBI memo: One way or the other, intelligence must be fully investigated to determine whether it's true, or if it's just smoke and mirrors. End of this Senator's quote from last July. That is a quote, by the way, that the New York Times failed to mention. Now, turning to the Savage article from the New York Times, Charlie Savage wrote in part: Since President Trump returned to office last year, the senator-- Referring to Chuck Grassley-- has released a flood of internal law enforcement files that normally would be off limits to disclosure, sometimes attributing them to ``whistle-blowers'' or not saying who gave them to him.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“By the way, my and Senator Johnson's investigation was based on authentic bank records, authentic Treasury records, authentic Obama administration records, and transcribed interviews. In other words, it was not Russian disinformation, as the partisan media tried and failed to argue. Here, with this FBI memo, I released records last year because the facts and evidence ought to breathe. Let the American people see what is happening on their watch. I also issued the records as support to those FBI agents and analysts who were just trying to do their job under extreme pressure from inside the FBI. I don't know why people in the FBI care if the truth gets out, but a lot of people at the FBI get pressured not to let the truth out.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“My concern is that I think it gets dangerous if we cite potential political implications as reasons for not putting out our information. This FBI analyst raises legitimate concerns. Is the New York Times digging into those concerns? In other words, is the New York Times journalist doing what journalists should be doing? They ought to be good investigators, get all the facts. And guess who was involved in recalling the FBI memo: That person was then-Deputy Assistant Director Nikki Floris. She was also the main briefer for the fake briefing Senator Johnson and I received in August of 2020 from the now-disbanded Foreign Influence Task Force. You will remember, that was the briefing that was used to attack the Grassley- Johnson Biden family investigation. So I ask, Is the New York Times investigating that material connection?”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“The FBI analyst involved said the FBI memo ``was coordinated and disseminated in textbook fashion.'' But based on the records the FBI provided to me, the allegations weren't fully investigated at the time because the FBI decided to recall its own memo. The FBI also described the FBI's sources as competent and authentic with reporting. So let the FBI do their job and investigate. An FBI analyst said in an email--and when I quote this email, the words ``me'' and ``I'' refer to the FBI analyst. Most concerning to me, is stating the reporting would contradict Director Wray's testimony. I found this troubling because it implied to me that one of the reasons we weren't putting this out is for a political reason, which goes directly against our organization's mission to remain apolitical and simply state what we know. . . .”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“election results in 2020, because admitting it might contradict prior testimony to Congress from then-F.B.I. Director Wray. That is not what I said when I made those records public. That is what the FBI said 6 years ago. The Albany memo, as the New York Times called it, is actually an FBI memo. It contained information from an FBI Confidential Human Source and was titled by the FBI. The titles by the FBI: Chinese Government Production and Export of Fraudulent U.S. Driver's Licenses to Chinese Sympathizers in the United States, in Order to Create Tens of Thousands of Fraudulent Mail-in Votes for US Presidential Candidate Joe Biden, in late August 2020. End of the FBI title. Let me emphasize what I said. The memo was an FBI memo based on an FBI Confidential Human Source. It was not a Chuck Grassley-created memo.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I come to the floor once again, as I have before, to discuss misleading reporting in the New York Times. The New York Times has a global reputation. They work hard to maintain that. So I don't understand why their journalists can miss so many important facts. This time the misleading article was written by Devlin Barrett and a second one was written by Charlie Savage. Barrett's article discusses the White House's release of government records about an alleged scheme by China to meddle in the 2020 election. The records at issue showed that FBI personnel suppressed intelligence of that alleged Chinese interference. Barrett's article said, in part: Mr. Grassley and others have cited the Albany memo as evidence that F.B.I. leaders covered up evidence that China might be taking aggressive steps to interfere with the U.S.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“I yield the floor. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Officials are human, but we have seen time after time where Caitlin has suffered physically--beyond what you would expect in competitive professional sports--with little accountability from the people that run the WNBA or from the referees. So I hope for Caitlin--and for the growth of women's basketball-- things improve quickly in the WNBA. Caitlin is a generational talent. Her hard work and dedication should be rewarded, not penalized. She has revolutionized WNBA. Attendance has shot up since she has been with the Indiana Fever, and income has shot up for the league and their teams. Salaries for players went from five figures to six figures, all because of her playing. So every player of all teams are better off. They should be thanking Caitlin as opposed to mistreating her on the floor. Someday I would like to meet Caitlin Clark.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, on a second matter, I want to talk about Caitlin Clark, a native of West Des Moines, IA. Caitlin Clark played basketball at the University of Iowa. She changed women's college basketball but also inspired athletes of all ages across all sports. She plays professionally for the Indiana Fever. Since joining the professional ranks 3 years ago, Caitlin has been the subject of very unfair treatment on the basketball court, and the referees are not doing their job. Recently, she got a fist to her throat by a player. Yet, the refs at the time did not call a foul. I am glad that the WNBA corrected this matter a few days later by charging a foul and suspending the player, but the unfair treatment of Caitlin and others in the WNBA has got to stop.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, once again, I am here to educate my colleagues about the necessity for passing the ethanol issue of E15 in this Congress. As Iowa families are going on their summer vacations and people visit or pass through my home State, we are seeing the evidence in Iowa that drivers are demanding E15 with their pocketbooks. New data from the Iowa Department of Revenue shows Iowa drivers purchased 47 million gallons of E15 in May. This is a new monthly record.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“We should not forget what history has taught us or, as George Santayana once said almost 100 years ago: If you don't learn from history, you are going to repeat the same mistakes. The United States was founded on principles of individual liberty and on unalienable natural rights, with the government's primary function being to preserve those rights and prevent fellow citizens or attacks by foreign powers from violating our constitutional rights. Americans have been reluctant to grant too much power to the government since the very beginning. Ultimately, free markets have helped America become the richest country in the world and have lifted more people from poverty than anything else in human history. I yield the floor.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“At the time, Venezuela was the richest country in South America, and now it is one of the poorest. One of Chavez's first actions was to nationalize the agriculture sector and rob landowners of their property. Food production fell 75 percent over two decades. Chavez went on to nationalize other parts of the economy, including electricity, water, oil, banks, supermarkets, construction, and other parts. He did this all while also expanding the welfare state with money that the country didn't have. Not only is the country poor, but it has also been ruled by brutal dictators, under Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, and riddled with corruption. One analysis about Venezuela's experience with socialism put it this way: So, what are the results of socialism in Venezuela? Well, we have experienced hyperinflation.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“According to a White House Council of Economic Advisers report, if the United States had moved toward Nordic country-style policies in the 1970s, by 2018, America's GDP would be at least 19 percent smaller, coming out to about 11,000 fewer dollars of wealth per person here in the United States. We can learn a lot from Sweden so we don't go down the dead-end road called socialism. We can also learn a lot from Cuba's experience moving from freedom to socialism. That happened in 1959. Cuba's standard of living over the past 50 years has been destroyed. In 1959, after Fidel Castro came to power, the Cuban Government took away private property and established price controls. This led to food shortages, and you can see that on our own televisions being a problem today in Cuba. Castro's regime even killed political opposition.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“Socialist countries have also seen private property confiscated and constitutional rights taken away from the people. Recently, there is a group of socialists called Democratic Socialists that have won Democrat Party primaries. Where I sit, socialism is still socialism. They may think that calling themselves democratic somehow would cancel out all of the negatives of socialism, but they want to bring about the same negative outcomes that will produce less prosperity and less freedom. Example after example in history backs up my point. In 2021, I spoke here on the Senate floor about Sweden's experiment with socialism. I encourage my colleagues to go back and read that speech. In case they don't have time, I will summarize it right now. In the 1950s, Sweden gained newfound wealth and economic freedom.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“I am glad some Democrats share this concern, as Democrat pollster Mark Penn wrote in the Wall Street Journal. Democrats could take a playbook out of the 1947 effort by Eleanor Roosevelt and Hubert Humphrey, as recently reported in the Washington Post. Socialism is a failed ideology and experiment. It claims to focus on the good of society as a whole over the rights of individuals. This is in contrast to America's founding principles. Socialism, whether it is the revolutionary kind or the democratic kind, is aimed at government ownership of industry and the elimination of private property. Countries that have adopted socialism have found themselves less prosperous, even witnessing starvation and economic ruin followed by lawlessness and corruption. The only people that benefit from it are the people in the political system.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, with recent political victories in Democrat primaries in Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere by socialists, I wanted to spend some time with my colleagues sharing the failed results that we have witnessed throughout history under socialism regimes. And if any of my colleagues consider themselves democratic socialists, I would like their attention. The expansion of candidates and people who want to institute socialism in the United States is very concerning. What they desire is going to destroy everything America has stood for. The recent trend toward socialism in the Democratic Party frankly surprises me. It ought to make every traditional Democrat worry about the trend of their party and be a warning for all of us.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“Yet, this year, the minority party is refusing to work in a bipartisan manner and cooperate even to get the appropriations process started in the U.S. Senate. The Appropriations Committee has not been able to report a single appropriations bill to the Senate floor. Now we are less than 3 months from a new fiscal year and, once again, the minority party is prioritizing a government shutdown over cooperation. They want to play politics at the expense of the American family and our Nation's welfare. Lurching from one deadline to the next is the wrong way to run Washington and ought to be avoided. The majority, led by Senator Collins, is working and willing to do the hard work of passing 12 annual appropriations bills on time.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“For 36 days, the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered due to their refusal to fund Federal law enforcement and border security. Ultimately, the majority had to take matters into their own hands. So through the reconciliation process, the bill called the Secure America Act funded Federal law enforcement officers, border security, and protecting American communities from violent criminals, illicit drugs, and contraband. Obviously, it was a choice from the other side of the aisle to not fund these critical priorities. You would think that the minority would have learned that government shutdowns never accomplished anything. After all, they achieved none of their policy objectives, although their costly government shutdown compromised our Nation's security and, at the same time, inflicted pain on the American public.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, it is the responsibility of Congress every year to pass appropriations bills to fund the government. Failure to enact the 12 annual appropriations bills by the end of the fiscal year of September 30 has, with increasing frequency, resulted in major government shutdowns. Last year, Senator Collins, as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked with strong bipartisan support to report funding bills to the floor. Unfortunately, that is where the minority party's cooperation ended.”
Senate21 July 2026Source ↗
“So I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass a Defense bill that strengthens our national security and best supports our military readiness. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“I am also pleased that a provision I worked on is included in the bill that reinforces the notion that Russia's aggression toward Ukraine is unacceptable. This provision prohibits funds being used to recognize Russia's control over any Ukrainian territory that has been forcibly seized by Russia. I have offered several amendments to this Defense bill to combat crime and support law enforcement, strengthen security provisions and cooperation in the Baltics, and condemn very strongly Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children, which has been in the amounts of tens of thousands of children. If the Defense bill is passed this year, it will be the 66th consecutive year that Congress has passed this important annual Defense legislation.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“We have learned from our history that preventing conflicts is less costly and spares more lives. I support the $1.1 trillion authorization put forth by our Senate Armed Services Committee. The fiscal year 2027 Defense bill supports our servicemembers, boosts our national industrial defense base and allows for historic investment in our national security. This legislation also includes important provisions that I back to hold defense contractors accountable. This includes a requirement that contractors provide notification when the price of a product or service increases beyond a predetermined threshold. While our investments in defense increase, ensuring accountability and fiscal responsibility is very paramount. Companies that work for the government should not be ripping the taxpayers off.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, as the Senate and House are currently working on the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, it is important--very important--that Congress pass this bill. We need a very strong and capable military, and we need to hold the Pentagon accountable for taxpayer dollars. For 240 years, the No. 1 responsibility of the Federal Government has been national security. A nonnegotiable tenet of America's national security is ``peace through strength.'' In preventing war, a strong Department of War is also an instrument of peace. So, to achieve peace through strength, we must invest in our Nation's defense and modernize military capabilities to be best prepared for any threat. Our military ought to be strong enough to deter any aggressor.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“And I think we should show our appreciation for the hard work, as just 2 days before he passed, he was in Ukraine, meeting with Zelenskyy, and he was announcing that he was going to move forward with some very important legislation putting additional sanctions on Russia because of their invasion of Ukraine. And I think we can show our gratitude and appreciation of Senator Graham by moving that legislation forward. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate13 July 2026Source ↗
“And in the year 2016, when he announced he was going to run for President, I had the privilege of showing him around a time or two during his campaign for President. He was a fan of the good people of my State of Iowa, identifying with our shared values of hard work, of faith, and genuine care for one another. I also worked closely with Senator Graham on the Senate Budget and Judiciary Committees, and we worked together for decades. He was a coveted ally on legislation, and, as chairman of those Committees, he was always fair, and he was always productive. From Supreme Court confirmations to criminal justice reform and border security, having Senator Graham in your corner was a great asset. He will be remembered for his many accomplishments as a national figure for the Republican Party. Senator Graham deeply loved his country.”
Senate13 July 2026Source ↗
“Frequently, Senator Graham would hold court there, and in holding court, he was making every Senator laugh, no matter what the challenge we were dealing with on that particular day. He was infectious in the way he told a story, and, of course, there was always a punch line. I was no stranger to being the butt of his jokes. Senator Graham loved to tell people how frugal I was and that if I were ever to open my billfold, dust and moss would come out of it. I don't know how many times I have heard that. Senator Graham always brought a smile to your face and levity to the Halls of Congress. Senator Graham was no stranger to my home State of Iowa, as it is first in the Nation for Presidential elections.”
Senate13 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, it is a sad day for all of us in the Senate and particularly those that are very, very close to Lindsey Graham, and that would be most Senators and, obviously, his staff. So I would like to take a moment to honor the life of our fellow Senator Lindsey Graham. We were shocked by the sad news yesterday of his untimely death. Senator Graham was a devoted public servant, through his military service as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, as well as being elected to office continually since 1992. Senator Graham was a very forceful and quick-witted presence in every room that he entered. His warm nature made everyone his friend, and I feel blessed to be one of them. A few feet from right here is the Senate cloakroom.”
Senate13 July 2026Source ↗
“It says ``donor'' right there on my driver's license. And, of course, besides encouraging people to be organ donors, I am keeping a close eye on how the Federal Government is implementing this new law that we passed in a bipartisan measure to give people the chance at a lifesaving transplant. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate30 April 2025Source ↗
“Through my bipartisan oversight and the 2023 Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network law that we passed, the Federal Government is making long overdue changes. The law improved the management and the oversight of our organ transplant system and encouraged participation from competent and transparent contractors. To build on those reforms, in March, the President signed a continuing resolution that provided authority for the Department of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees from organ transplant member institutions. This action by our President ensures the 2023 law can be implemented properly. I encourage all Americans to consider being organ donors and to understand the impact it can have on saving lives. So when you get your driver's license, you can tell them you want to be an organ donor.”
Senate30 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. President, April is National Donate Life Month. This is a month to raise awareness about the lifesaving importance of organ donation. There happen to be over 103,000 Americans on the national organ transplant waiting list. We should have confidence that our organ transplant system is efficient and that the system is also fair. Sadly, my oversight, dating back as far as 2005, has uncovered decades of corruption and mismanagement in that system. It has left vulnerable patients to die. They are on the waiting list while unused organs from generous American donors go to waste. Speaking of waiting lists, I have been concerned about reports of those on the wait-list being skipped over. This furthers the distrust in the organ donation system.”
Senate30 April 2025Source ↗
“As the dean of the Iowa congressional delegation, I am proud to say Jay made Iowa a better place. Barbara and I extend our sympathies to the Byers family and loved ones, including his wife Katie and daughters Sophie and Charlotte. May the ones he loved the most, and who are hurting the most with their loss, find peace in knowing this servant of the Lord is resting in Eternal peace. ____________________”
Senate29 April 2025Source ↗
“During his first year on the job, Simpson saw its largest first-year student enrollment in more than a decade and increased first-year student retention. I have no doubt that Jay's energy was contagious on campus. He leaned into the Wesleyan values of faith, learning, and service in his professional and personal life. His character, work ethic, and loyalty were shaped from an early age. From his days as a musician and an athlete in high school to playing intramural games as a law student at the University of Iowa, to what probably seemed like herding cats in the capital city of Des Moines, Jay embodied the Lord's commandment: to see the goodness in others and to love one another. His distinguished accomplishments and professional accolades were hard-earned and well-deserved.”
Senate29 April 2025Source ↗
“You might say he was a force of nature who lifted up others through sheer grit and determination. I could always spot him in a crowd wearing his signature bow tie. When he served as president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the organization experienced unprecedented growth, expanding to more than 6,500 members. That growth enabled Jay to flex political muscle and put in the work to achieve game-changing investment in the metropolitan area, including recreational amenities, job growth, and big-ticket infrastructure wins, including the new Des Moines International Airport terminal. A couple of years ago, Jay took on a new challenge to become president of his alma mater Simpson College in Indianola. Once again, Jay brought the Midas touch and made an immediate impact with faculty, staff, students, and alumni.”
Senate29 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. President, on Maundy Thursday, the Lord called home one of Iowa's best and brightest civic leaders and a beloved husband and father. A native son of northwest Iowa, Jay Byers passed away at age 54. Maundy is derived from the Latin term mandatum, which means commandment. On the night before His betrayal and arrest, Jesus gave his disciples a ``new commandment'' to love one another as he had loved them, John 13:34. By all accounts, Jay's life was deeply rooted in servant leadership.”
Senate29 April 2025Source ↗
“Whichever political side of the fence you are on, one thing is for sure: President Trump ran on a platform, and he is serving on that platform. Promises made; promises kept. That is a refreshing change in this town. Seventy-seven million Americans voted for this President to get America roaring back to peace and prosperity. In these first 100 days, that is exactly what President Trump is doing, and we are just getting started. Mr. President, I have time for other remarks that I would like to make at this point.”
Senate29 April 2025Source ↗
“Fake pills laced with fentanyl are killing young people in the prime of their lives. President Trump is fighting tooth and nail to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl from China that is trafficked by dangerous drug cartels into our communities. Here in the Senate, I led the passage of a bill that is entitled the HALT Fentanyl Act, but there is more work to do. Big Tech must be held accountable to protect young people from being targeted by drug traffickers on social media. President Trump also promised to cut wasteful spending, unleash America's energy, bring back manufacturing jobs, and get our trading partners to the negotiating table. And on that latter point, he is being very successful. The President is swinging for the fences, and he is running the bases.”
Senate29 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. President, today marks the 100th day of President Trump's return to the White House. Trump 2.0 has hit Washington like a hurricane. By that, I mean President Trump is working hard to keep his promises, unleash America's golden age, and launch a revolution of common sense. Let's take a look at some of these achievements. First and foremost, President Trump secured the border. He did that by words he used at the joint session of Congress. All it took was a new President. Today also marks Fentanyl Awareness Day.”
Senate29 April 2025Source ↗
“It also provides State and local grants to support communication tools that assist families to quickly locating missing loved ones. The purpose of this month is to increase the understanding of people living with autism. I am proud that Kevin and Avonte's Law is helping to do just that by enhancing the protection and safety of individuals living with autism. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate28 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. President, April is World Autism Month. This month is a time to recognize the millions of Americans living with autism. Over the years, we have made progress in increasing awareness and enhancing resources for individuals living with autism. I have worked to pass the Kevin and Avonte's Law, which helps families locate missing loved ones living with autism, Alzheimer's, dementia, and other conditions that may cause them to wander. The law is named in honor of two young boys with autism, Kevin Curtis Wills from my State of Iowa and Avonte Oquendo from New York, who tragically lost their lives after wandering from safety. This law provides resources to train first responders and law enforcement, helping each to respond more effectively to these situations.”
Senate28 April 2025Source ↗