March 29, 2024

Grassley bids farewell to retiring Harkin

DES MOINES (AP) — Sen. Chuck Grassley has offered an emotional farewell to longtime colleague Tom Harkin, who is retiring after three decades in the Senate.

Grassley spoke on the Senate floor Wednesday. The Republican Grassley and Democratic Harkin have served from Iowa together since the mid-1980s.

Grassley noted that Wednesday was Harkin’s 75th birthday. He praised Harkin for working on behalf of people with disabilities and for championing causes like education and the environment.

Grassley said he and Harkin “looked out for the millions of Americans who choose to work and earn a living in rural America.” He said they always worked together for Iowa.

Republican Joni Ernst won the hotly contested race for Harkin’s vacated Senate seat, meaning Iowa will soon have two Republican senators for the first time in decades.