April 10, 2024 (Wright County, Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley, a United States Senator from Iowa since January 3, 1981, recently visited Austin Warnke’s Government class at Clarion Goldfield Dows High School. The students had the opportunity to engage with Senator Grassley, asking him a range of questions that provided insight into his life as a senator and his perspectives on various issues.
One highlight of the visit was when Senator Grassley shared his favorite aspect of being a senator, which he described as seeing a bill you’ve worked on being signed into law by the President of the United States. Grassley considered visiting with the people of Iowa as something he enjoys doing. He also shared the importance of oversight and expressed his deep respect for whistleblowers.
The senator’s website shares this on whistleblowers: “Whistleblowers are critical to improving government and government accountability starts with protecting and empowering whistleblowers. With over a trillion dollars sprinkled across roughly 2,000 agencies, whistleblowers are essential in rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. Senator Grassley has led the effort to protect and empower whistleblowers through strong legislation meant to encourage whistleblowing and protect and prevent whistleblowers from retaliation. He is also a founding member and current Chairman of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus.”
Senator Grassley, who was born in 1933, shared some wisdom, urging the kids to speak up against wrongdoing. "If you know something is wrong, you ought to share and get it fixed," he emphasized regarding whistleblowing.
When asked about his least favorite part of being a senator, Senator Grassley candidly remarked, "The media." He considered the portrayal of a divided government by the media, claiming the false narratives distort the reality of bipartisan cooperation and consensus-building in the legislative processes.
The discussion led to contemporary issues, such as the TikTok Ban gaining momentum in the Iowa House. Senator Grassley voiced concerns about the app's data collection practices and advocated for its sale to an American owner to safeguard sensitive information from potential foreign influence.
Senator Grassley shared that he had considered a career as a government teacher before his journey in politics. He reminded the kids that when he first started his career as a politician; it was difficult to sustain a livelihood solely from a political role. This led him to continue farming on his family farm in Bulter County.
Superintendent Joe Nelson asked Senator Grassley to offer some advice for the kids in the classroom, considering all the changes he has witnessed. Senator Grassley underscored the importance of education:
“You have a chance to do whatever you want to do. Get an education and get as much knowledge in your head as you can.” The Iowa Senator prompted the kids to actively participate in both local and national governance. “Help rule, or be ruled,” he shared passionately to the classroom.
