Updated 021810: from SEN. HARKIN for FEB. 2010

HARKIN LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE; SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to make his office more accessible and keep constituents informed, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) unveiled a new website today. The new site replaces his old site at the same web address: www.harkin.senate.gov

“The new website makes it easier for people to find what they’re looking for, be it press releases, contact information or even my Facebook page,” Harkin said. “The “Contact Tom” button is right on the front page of the site so people can let me know what they think right away – and of course everyone is still welcome to pick up the phone or send me a letter.”

The improved website has links to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and will include daily posts with Senate updates. Users can find information by issue area and date.

022410

HARKIN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $1.8 MILLION IN HIGHWAY FUNDS FOR IOWA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that four Iowa highway projects will receive a total of $1,828,362 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Harkin is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, which provided this funding.

“I am pleased that Iowa will receive these important funds to improve its highway system,” Harkin said. “These projects will be used to improve safety and reduce congestion.”

Descriptions of the projects are below.

Iowa City- $475,000 to build a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 80 to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

Ankeny- $712,500 to provide for a new interchange on Interstate 35 at NE 36th Street.

Sioux City- $1,092,500 for reconstruction and utility relocation along the Interstate 29 corridor.

Des Moines- $640,862 for the Iowa Department of Transportation to support highway safety programs provided through State and Community Highway Safety Grants.

021710

HARKIN ANNOUNCES OVER $8 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT DOLLARS FOR THE AMES TRANSIT AGENCY

Funding comes on One Year Anniversary of Recovery Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that $8,463,000 in funding is coming to the Ames Transit Agency from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant was made available through the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program and will be used to construct an Intermodal Transportation Facility in Ames, which will link public and private transportation modes for residents, students, faculty and visitors of Ames.

The funding for this grant comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was signed into law one year ago today. Harkin worked to secure these funds through his role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the Recovery Act.

“This facility will be a real boost for transportation in Ames and for the economy of the campus town area,” said Harkin. “This award reflects a strong effort put forth by city leaders and the University to improve living conditions for area residents by creating a new integrated parking center that includes access to transit and a retail center that will help revitalize the campus town area.”

Today’s announcement is part of a total of $1.5 billion to states, tribal governments, cities, counties and transit agencies across the country to fund 51 innovative transportation projects announced by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program was included in the Recovery Act to spur a national competition for innovative, multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional transportation projects that promise significant economic and environmental benefits to an entire metropolitan area, a region or the nation. Projects funded include improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities.

021610

HARKIN, CULVER ANNOUNCE OVER $3 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT DOLLARS FOR IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO TRAIN WORKERS FOR HEALTH INDUSTRY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Governor Chet Culver today announced that $3.4 million in funding is coming to Iowa Workforce Development from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funding comes from the Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries Grants program to train workers in emerging jobs in the health care industry. The funding was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Harkin helped to craft as a senior Senate appropriator.

“Iowa has a constant need for more workers in the health care industry,” said Harkin. “With this funding, we will train new workers to help them pursue careers in nursing, pharmacy and information technology to open the door of opportunity and help drive Iowa’s local economies.”

"The health care industry is one sector that continued to grow throughout the recession in Iowa," said Governor Chet Culver. "Today’s announcement ensures we can provide the training to prepare Iowans to increase and diversity their skills so they can succeed in the new economy and move Iowa forward.”

“The Recovery Act’s investments are making a positive difference in the lives of America’s working families,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The Recovery Act funded grants announced today will ensure thousands of workers across the nation can receive high-quality training and employment services, which will lead to good jobs in healthcare and other industries offering career-track employment and good pay and benefits.”

Through existing partnerships with Mercy College of Health Sciences, Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services and Mercy Medical Center, Iowa Workforce Development has already identified job openings for skilled workers that likely will become available in the next two years. The partnership will recruit, screen and provide training and support services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) Iowans to help them pursue careers in the health care industry. Employment services will be available via the Department of Labor's local One Stop Career Centers, and training will be offered at community colleges and other local education providers.

Today’s announcement is part of a joint effort by the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services to announce nearly $1 billion in Recovery Act funding to increase the use of health information technology and train workers for the health jobs of the future.

021210

HARKIN ANNOUNCES OVER $5 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT DOLLARS FOR THE IOWA FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL CARE TO EXPAND HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that $5,508,019 in funding is coming to the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding comes from the Regional Extension Center Awards program to help advance health information technology in Iowa. The funding was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Harkin helped to craft as a senior Senate appropriator.

“Strengthening health information technology changes the way providers collect, store and mine health care data,” said Harkin. “As we work to reform the health system in America, this funding will give health providers another tool to improve patient care. At the same time, this funding will help create jobs and boost Iowa’s economy.”

The Extension Program provides grants for the establishment of Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers (Regional Centers) that will offer technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to support and accelerate health care providers’ efforts to become meaningful users of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The consistent, nationwide adoption and use of secure EHRs will ultimately enhance the quality and value of health care. The regional extension centers are expected to provide outreach and support services to at least 100,000 primary care providers and hospitals within two years.

Today’s announcement is part of a joint effort by the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services to announce nearly $1 billion in Recovery Act funding to increase the use of health information technology and train workers for the health jobs of the future. In all, HHS Secretary Sebelius announced over $750 million in HHS grant awards to help states and health care providers advance the adoption and meaningful use of health IT.

021210

HARKIN ANNOUNCES OVER $1.2 MILLION COMING TO IOWA TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that a total $1,236,175 will be coming to Iowa for public wellness efforts aimed at reducing obesity rates, decreasing smoking and promoting healthy living through increased physical activity and better nutrition. The grants are being provided through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and were funded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Harkin worked to secure these funds through his role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the Recovery Act.

“To improve our state's physical and financial health, reduce incidents of chronic disease and reign in rising health care costs, we must take steps to keep people well and out of the hospital in the first place,” said Harkin. “Today’s funding shows that the Recovery Act continues to help Iowans on all fronts -- today making investments that encourage better health choices and help prevent the chronic diseases related to obesity and smoking.”

Specifically, the funds will be used as follows:

$600,256 is being awarded for health policy and environmental change. Under direction of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Iowa will receive funding to promote state-wide policy and environmental changes that support good nutrition, physical activity, obesity control and reduce tobacco use.

$635,919 is being awarded for tobacco cessation. Iowa will receive the funding to expand Quitline Iowa (1-800-QUIT-NOW), and promote its use through expanded media campaigns. Quitline Iowa provides free support and coaching to all Iowans who wish to quit smoking.

020510

HARKIN SUPPORTS LEGISLATION TO EXTEND VITAL MEDICAID RECOVERY FUNDING (FMAP) Critical Funding Will Help Alleviate Budget Concerns for Iowa

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today joined a group of 28 Senators in introducing legislation that would extend by six months the increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) that states currently receive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In addition to ensuring coverage for children, parents, seniors, and people with disabilities, this extended funding will help states like Iowa retain employees and relieve state funding shortfalls.

Harkin is Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Labor, Health and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

“This funding is critical to states like Iowa that are weathering an economic storm while also aiding families in need of health care,” said Senator Harkin. “Medicaid helps some of our most vulnerable populations like individuals living with disabilities and children, who have been particularly hard-hit in this economy. Injecting this funding early on in the budget process will help the state legislature plan ahead.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5) provided $87 billion in fiscal relief to states through an increase in FMAP. This relief has helped stabilize state and local economies during the economic downturn by assisting states with growing Medicaid enrollment at a time when state revenues were declining. It has also helped protect against deep job losses. State Medicaid relief has been a very effective stimulus during this period of economic uncertainty.

By law, 49 states are required to balance their budgets and, in times of economic downturn, this task becomes significantly more difficult. As states struggle to close these historically large deficits, they will have to make severe cuts in education and Medicaid, which consume the largest portions of their budgets and also raise revenues. The Iowa Medicaid program is the third largest health care payer in Iowa, following Wellmark and Medicare. The program will serve over 559,000 Iowans, or 18% of the Iowa population Fiscal Year 2011.

Statistics show that extending state fiscal assistance is one of the most effective ways to create jobs and aid our nation’s economic recovery. According to economist Mark Zandi, every dollar of federal Medicaid aid results in $1.38 in increased economic activity, which will translate into stronger economic growth nationwide.

The legislation was introduced by Senators Reid and Rockefeller along with Senators Kerry, Harkin, Franken, Brown, Begich, Levin, Durbin, Gillibrand, Reed, Dodd, Whitehouse, Leahy, Kirk, Stabenow, Casey, Akaka, Burris, Boxer, Schumer, Menendez, Lautenberg, Johnson, Mikulski, Murray, Kaufman, Wyden, Bingaman and Specter.

020510

Information courtesy Sen. Harkin's office

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