‘Tom and I served side-by-side for the good of our home state’

Editor’s note: The following is a floor statement made Nov. 19 by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in tribute to U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who’s nearing retirement.

Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 75th birthday of my friend and long-time colleague from our home state of Iowa, Tom Harkin. As you know, Mr. President, Sen. Harkin will be retiring from public office in just a few weeks.

At the end of the 113th Congress, Sen. Harkin will close a chapter on public service that spans more than a half-century, including four decades in Congress. He served 27 years in the United States Navy and U.S. Naval Reserves; 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives; and 30 years here in the United States Senate.

That’s a remarkable and distinguished record of public service.

After 40 years of representing Iowans in Congress, Tom soon will leave behind the halls of the U.S. Capitol. He also will leave behind a legacy of fiery floor speeches, passionately delivered on behalf of individuals with disabilities. For Iowa farmers. For the elderly. For child laborers. And for the many causes he championed, such as early childhood education, nutrition and wellness, conservation, renewable energy and the environment.

Through the years, Tom and I have served side-by-side in Washington for the good of our home state. For three terms, we worked together in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was here our shared commitment to give Rural America a voice at the policymaking tables was sown. And for the many years we have worked together on the Senate Agriculture Committee, we looked out for the millions of Americans who choose to work and earn a living in Rural America. We worked together to advocate for rural infrastructure and investment and access to health care, housing, technology and transportation.

For the last three decades we have served alongside one another in the United States Senate, an institution we hold near and dear to our hearts. Although some of our silver-tongued critics over the years may have ascribed Tom’s views as those of a bleeding heart liberal or mischaracterized mine as that of a cold-hearted conservative, we both know that our hearts have always been in the right place.

Neither of us was born with a silver spoon in our mouths. And we learned early on to appreciate the work ethic of our parents and grandparents. Each of us raised our families with the hopes that our children and grandchildren would achieve the promise of America’s prosperity and grow up to enjoy the pursuit of happiness. As Iowa’s U.S. Senators, we have worked to keep alive that dream for hardworking Iowa families.

Now, it’s true we have vastly different views on the government’s influence on America’s ladder of opportunity. However, we whole-heartedly agree that it is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Iowa. For some reason, our respective re-elections every six years have confounded political observers. Many couldn’t seem to square the notion that Iowans would continue to elect two U.S. senators from opposite sides of the political spectrum for the last three decades.

Mr. President, it is widely understood that Iowans aren’t casual political observers. Our electorate takes pride in retail politicking and its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. We certainly have given Iowa voters a night-and-day choice.

So while we may not see eye to eye on politics and ideology, we do see eye to eye when it came to working for Iowa’s best interests. Although our voting records may reflect night and day positions on public policy, you wouldn’t see the light of day between us when we worked together on matters that matter most to Iowa, including natural disasters, such as the 2008 floods, Iowa farmers and agriculture, notably recovering from the farm crisis; renewable energy and rural infrastructure.

We also enjoy welcoming economic development leaders and constituents to the nation’s capital. Between the Siouxland Steak Dinner here in Washington and the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, there’s no doubt Tom will miss staking out Iowans to discuss politics and policy.

However, I have no doubt my home state colleague will continue to champion the causes for which he has devoted a lifetime of service.

To his credit, Tom’s legacy reflects the priorities he set out to achieve decades ago: to make a difference for those on the down side of advantage.

Mr. President, Barbara and I extend our warmest wishes to Tom and Ruth, and the entire Harkin family. As you start life’s next chapter, may you enjoy the blessings of hearth and home, health and happiness.  Although Tom is retiring from public office, I’m confident he is not retiring from serving the public interest.

From one constituent to another, I thank you for a lifetime of public service. And I wish you good luck and Godspeed.

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