Congressional Management Foundation names Grassley as a finalist for its Democracy Award; ‘The Grassley office is clearly one of the best in Congress’
BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – The nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) has named U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) as a finalist for its Democracy Award, which recognizes exemplary performance in congressional offices. Grassley was selected as one of four finalists in CMF’s Constituent Accountability and Accessibility category. CMF will announce one winner from each political party in July.
“The people of Iowa have placed their trust in me to represent their views and values, and every Iowans’ voice matters to me. That’s why I hold a question-and-answer session in every county in Iowa, every year, and encourage my constituents to share their thoughts, opinions or concerns with me and my office. My staff and I are ever-ready to do all we can to help Iowans,” Grassley said. “I have always felt a responsibility to be accessible and accountable to the people of Iowa to counter cynicism about government. I’m honored my staff and I have been recognized for our work on behalf of Iowans.”
“As a Democracy Award finalist, the Grassley office is clearly one of the best in Congress,” said Bradford Fitch, President and CEO of CMF. “This designation demonstrates that Senator Grassley has made a significant commitment to being the best public servant for his constituents. Senator Grassley and his staff are to be congratulated for not only being a model for his colleagues in Congress, but for helping to restore trust and faith that our democratic institutions can work.”
About the award:
CMF is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Congress and building trust in its work with and for the American people. CMF’s Constituent Accountability and Accessibility award recognizes congressional offices that demonstrate transparency and accountability through regular, meaningful and robust communication with constituents.
CMF cited the following as reasons for selecting Grassley as a finalist:
“On an average week in Washington, Senator Grassley sets aside nearly three hours to speak with local newspapers, radio stations, agriculture reporters and television stations, during which he discusses one news-of-the-day topic then opens the floor for questions.
“Taking the Senator’s lead, staff ensure they are constantly accessible to Iowans, too. Iowans who visit Washington are always able to meet with a member of Grassley’s staff, with or without an appointment. The state staff also hold traveling office hours in all of Iowa’s 99 counties throughout the year as another way to keep in touch with Iowans across the state.
“Senator Grassley’s most famous practice of accessibility is his annual commitment to holding at least one question-and-answer session in each of Iowa’s 99 counties, the ‘Full Grassley,’ as this practice has become known.”
