D.C. Dispatch: Murder prosecution, child care affordability and veterans’ assistance
U.S. Capitol (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)
by Jay Waagmeester, Iowa Capital Dispatch
March 8, 2024
Both chambers of Congress continued to work toward approving appropriation bills this week, and the Iowa delegation introduced legislation tied to murder prosecution, environmental regulations, affordable child care and more.
Iowa’s four congressional delegates voted in favor of the first of two funding packages to avoid a government shutdown, and the Senate was expected to pass the bill before the end of the day Friday. The package includes legislation and earmark projects initially introduced by Iowa delegates, including Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Ashley Hinson.
Here’s a look at what Iowa’s congressional delegation was up to this week:
Extension for justice for murder victims
A bipartisan attempt to extend the window to prosecute homicides passed the Senate. The bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley would extend the window for prosecution 365 days after an attack to any point in time after the attack. Grassley’s office has cited more advanced life-support technology and modern medicine as reasons for the bill’s passage.
“The power of modern medicine has made the year-and-a-day rule totally arbitrary,” Grassley said in a news release. “There’s no sense in keeping it on the books any longer. I’m grateful the Senate has passed this legislation to ensure justice is served, violent criminals are held accountable and victims’ loved ones get the closure they deserve.”
Xylazine reclassification
Grassley announced growing support for a bill he introduced nearly a year ago, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. The bill has been updated since its introduction and would classify xylazine as a Schedule III drug, enable the Drug Enforcement Administration to track the manufacturing of the drug and update provisions for who may handle it so farmers and veterinarians can continue to use it for its intended purposes.
While xylazine is a drug manufactured for tranquilizing animals in a veterinary setting, there has been a growing trend of usage by humans, especially in conjunction with fentanyl.
“The alarming uptick in illicit xylazine use is contributing to the national drug epidemic and driving up overdose deaths in communities across the country. Our laws must keep pace as the drug trade evolves,” Grassley said in a news release.
Miller-Meeks and Rep. Zach Nunn cosponsored the House version of the bill.
Feenstra on child care affordability
Rep. Randy Feenstra introduced a bill to assist families in obtaining affordable child care.
The bill, called the Combatting High Inflation Limiting Daycare Act, would increase the annual contribution limit for tax-advantaged Dependent Care Flexible Savings Accounts from $5,000 to $10,000.
“When I’m traveling on my 36-county tour, parents, daycare centers, and child care providers all tell me that the cost of child care is out of control and that we need real solutions to make life more affordable for our families. I completely agree,” Feenstra said in a news release.
The legislation would also adjust the annual limit for inflation.
“This approach lets parents – not federal bureaucrats – decide how best to spend their hard-earned money when it comes to caring for their children while pursuing a career,” Feenstra said.
Nunn resource fair for veterans
Nunn will host a resource fair for veterans this month. The Connecting Iowa’s Heroes: Veteran Resource Fair is an event designed to help Iowa veterans learn more about community organizations and government agencies.
The event will include an update from Nunn on his work in Congress and also from the director of the Iowa Veterans Affairs regional office about accessing the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act resources. The director of the Des Moines Vet Center will speak on mental health support for veterans.
There will also be caseworkers present at the event to help veterans navigate resources from Veterans Affairs and other government agencies.
“As a veteran of the Air Force and current member of the Air Force Reserve, I know there is very little that is more important than supporting current servicemembers and providing resources to veterans who have served our country,” Nunn said in a news release.
The event is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 23 at the Gold Star Museum in Johnston.
Lawmakers support smaller meatpackers
Grassley, Feenstra and Sen. Joni Ernst wrote a letter to the EPA this week asking for the withdrawal of a proposed rule regarding wastewater treatment for meat and poultry processing.
The proposed rule announced in January would potentially increase the number of meat and poultry processors subject to wastewater discharge guidelines from 180 of approximately 5,300 processors to 1,618 of those processors.
“The proposed rule exposes hundreds of operators to a new regulatory regime with significant costs and a disregard of the ramifications on stakeholders,” the lawmakers wrote.
The EPA projects the proposed rule would result in the closure of up to 53 processors, but the senators said the number of facilities projected to close is inaccurate. The senators said the “costly and technically complex proposed rule” would result in plants closing and eliminating jobs from rural economies.
The lawmakers called for an extended public comment period on the proposed rule, which is set to close March 25.
Small business emission regulation
Ernst and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia sent a renewed call to the EPA concerning a proposed rule regarding greenhouse gas emissions for power plants.
Ernst, citing her concerns for small businesses, wrote that the proposed rule has a severely underestimated impact on small entities. “The regulatory decisions the EPA makes now will determine if there are enough resources to meet tomorrow’s energy needs,” the senators wrote. “We must recognize the need for time and technology development before taking our nation down an energy path that prioritizes speed over practicality.”
The first call came in August when the two senators, and several others, first asked for a rescission of the rule.
Grassley justifying funding to Ukraine
In his weekly Capitol Hill Report, Grassley explained his reasoning for supporting aid to Ukraine.
“This isn’t just Ukraine, and this isn’t billions of dollars going to Ukraine,” he said. “About 60% or 70% of this money is going to be spent in the United States in several ways.”
The senator said much of the funding would pay for American-made war materials and replenishing American warehouses with those materials.
“I think aid to Ukraine gets a bad name because everybody thinks that it’s going to be just billions and billions of dollars going to Ukraine, and that’s down a great big rabbit hole, some would say,” Grassley said. “Most of the money is going to be spent in the United States.”
China Daily concerns
Grassley wrote nine letters to media companies, asking them to stop working with or accepting money from China Daily.
Grassley stated concern with U.S. institutions being infiltrated by Chinese propaganda.
“Despite mounting evidence of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) attempts to harass and intimidate American citizens, spy on sites of national security importance to the U.S., and influence our elections, your outlet has chosen not to cut ties with China Daily,” Grassley included in each letter.
According to reporting documents from the U.S. Department of Justice, a majority of the spending by China Daily with U.S. media companies involves printing expenses. Other vendors receive money from China Daily to compensate for marketing, distribution, rent and other expenses.
“No company based in the United States, including news outlets, should be complicit in legitimizing the CCP’s heinous acts or promoting the regime’s outright lies,” the letters state. “We urge your outlet to end its involvement with China Daily, as well as any other CCP-affiliated entity.”
Letters were sent to the USA Today, Seattle Times, Houston Chronicle, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, TIME, Financial Times, and to Chicago’s Sun Sentinel and Chicago Tribune.
Remarks on Caitlin Clark record mark
On Sunday, Caitlin Clark became the all-time leading scorer in men’s and women’s NCAA basketball.
“Because of Clark and the whole Hawkeye women’s basketball team, women’s sports are rightfully being covered and talked about at the national level with the same fervor as men’s sports,” Ernst said in a news release. “Her talents and achievements are living proof for young women everywhere: nothing is impossible with hard work and dedication! As she begins her WNBA career, Clark should know that all of Iowa is behind her.”
Iowa’s lawmakers responded by introducing a bicameral resolution to recognize the changes to women’s basketball Clark has helped trigger, including increased ticket sales and attention, and young girls looking up to Clark.
“The ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’ is not just changing women’s college basketball; it’s inspiring athletes of all ages, across all sports,” Grassley said in a news release. “As Clark continues to rise through the ranks of the ‘all-time greats,’ I congratulate her on behalf of the Hawkeye State. Keep making us proud. Go Hawks.”
Miller-Meeks was in attendance for Clark’s record-setting shot.
“I was honored to be able to attend the game and witness Caitlin’s out-of-this-world skills and team cohesion,” Miller-Meeks said in a news release. “I am proud that our delegation is recognizing our very own basketball phenom, and I cannot wait to see what records Caitlin will crush in the future.”
The resolution is to be sent to Clark, the University of Iowa athletics director, and the head coach of the women’s basketball team.
“Clark’s success is undoubtedly the dividend of her hard work, discipline and dedication,” Grassley said. “It seems to have earned her a suffix: ‘the first.’”
Nunn said in a news release that Clark “has caused a revolution in women’s sports, inspiring more young women and increasing viewership across the country.”
Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.
