Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-02-02

TRIBUTE TO CARA MILLER

TaxesTradeCrime & JusticeAgriculture

Context

On 2026-02-02, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO CARA MILLER" in the Senate. The speech addressed taxes and also covered trade policy, crime and justice. It referenced legislation including S431, S432.

Full Text

TRIBUTE TO CARA MILLER

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S431-S432] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO CARA MILLER Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to congratulate an Iowan, Cara Miller, on her retirement. For the last decade, Cara has led Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area in the State of Iowa as its president. For those who don't know, Silos & Smokestacks is a 37-county, congressionally designated heritage area that shares a rich history of American agriculture. Mr. President, I am going to put a short list of some of the historical things that are in Silos & Smokestacks in the Record. I just would like to name a couple of these because there are dozens of them, and I am only going to submit a list of about 10. One is the childhood home and birthplace farm of Dr. Norman Borlaug, famous for the Green Revolution because of the research that he did to take disease out of wheat and rice that increased production very much. Another one is the home of Carrie Lane Chapman, one of the original suffragists. Her home was in Iowa, and that is one of these sites as well. Another one would be the REA Power Plant Museum because the first rural electric cooperative plant west of the Mississippi was in Iowa. Other examples, people can read in the Record. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this list be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Silos & Smokestacks was designated a National Heritage Area in 1996 and is the only heritage area that tells the story of agriculture. To do this, some attractions, programs, and activities that are offered include: ATTRACTIONS Dr. Norman Borlaug's childhood home and birthplace farms. Visitors can experience Dr. Borlaug's early beginnings and walk in his footsteps as they learn about how he became known as the ``Father of the Green Revolution.'' Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Girlhood Home: The home of Carrie Lane Chapman, a suffragist and founder of the League of Women Voters is included in the heritage area. The 10-acre site has a museum and interpretive education center. Plume Grove Historic Home: From 1844-1853, Plume Grove was home to Iowa's first territorial governor, Robert Lucas and his wife (Friendly). The site is furnished to the period when Mr. Lucas lived there and includes archaeology exhibits. REA Power Plant Museum: First rural electric cooperative plant built west of the Mississippi River. Depicts ``before and after'' eras of electricity in rural areas. The plant became operational in 1938 and provided electricity until 1951. 1876 Coralville Schoolhouse. A two-room red brick schoolhouse that now has interactive exhibits to relive the life of rural students up until 1951. Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve & Center. Native prairie where visitors can collect fossils, view the beehive kilns that were used by the Rockford Brick & Tile Company (manufactured agricultural drain tile). Bennington No. 4 School: One-room school built in 1911 and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Located at its original site, the preserved schoolhouse stands amid active farms in rural Bennington Township. University of Northern Iowa Marshall Center School: Restored to how it was in the early 1920s, the Marshall Center School is a one-room museum located on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa that shares how rural schools helped shape 19th century America. Ackley Heritage Center: Preserves, interprets and exhibits the history of Ackley, Iowa. Amana Heritage Society Museums: A German religious group settled the seven villages of the Amana Colonies in the 1850s. Established there was a communal village-based agricultural system that is significantly different than traditional Midwest family farms. Total of 110 sites (Effigy Mounds National Monument, Barn Quilts of Black Hawk County, Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch, etc.). PROGRAMS Junior Ranger Program: Participants travel across the heritage area learning about [[Page S432]] rural life, food production, and the cultural roots of American agriculture. They complete hands on activities and earn a badge as they ``become a proud steward of our farming heritage.'' Monthly ``remember and reminisce'' program: Hosted at the Traer Historical Museum which highlights the life of ``Tama Jim'' Wilson, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1897 to 1913. AG Adventure tour loops: Provide itineraries and maps for ``ag adventure'' tours to visit numerous sites. Iowa Eats Food & Drink Festival: Event in Waterloo that connects farmers, producers, and culinary professionals to the public. Partnerships with local historical societies and museums for other events. Mr. GRASSLEY. As a lifelong family farmer, I think it is important that we celebrate this history that--there is a lot of history, but Silos & Smokestacks exemplifies in Iowa all connected with American rural and American agriculture. The fuel you put in your car and the meals on your table are everyday commodities that are made possible by the hard work of family farmers. I always like to remind people that 2 percent of the people in this country produce the food for the other 98 percent and that one-third of that production is exported just to show you how a small group of people lead to the social cohesion of the United States because we don't have food riots and because food is the backbone of our national security. From the beginning of our Nation, when farms were where most Americans lived and worked, and through the Green Revolution of Dr. Norman Borlaug and the development of modern agriculture practices, Silos & Smokestacks preserves and displays Iowa's rich agricultural heritage. For the last decade, Cara has been dedicated to advancing the missions of Silos & Smokestacks. Once again, I want to thank Cara for her hard work and wish her very well in retirement. I yield the floor. ____________________

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TRIBUTE TO CARA MILLER Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S431-S432] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO CARA MILLER Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to congratulate an Iowan, Cara Miller, on her retirement. For the last decade, Cara has led Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area in the State of Iowa as its president. For those who don't know, Silos & Smokestacks is a 37-county, congressionally designated heritage area that shares a rich history of American agriculture. Mr. President, I am going to put a short list of some of the historical things that are in Silos & Smokestacks in the Record. I just would like to name a couple of these because there are dozens of them, and I am only going to submit a list of about 10. One is the childhood home and birthplace farm of Dr. Norman Borlaug, famous for the Green Revolution because of the research that he did to take disease out of wheat and rice that increased production very much. Another one is the home of Carrie Lane Chapman, one of the original suffragists. Her home was in Iowa, and that is one of these sites as well. Another one would be the REA Power Plant Museum because the first rural electric cooperative plant west of the Mississippi was in Iowa. Other examples, people can read in the Record. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this list be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Silos & Smokestacks was designated a National Heritage Area in 1996 and is the only heritage area that tells the story of agriculture. To do this, some attractions, programs, and activities that are offered include: ATTRACTIONS Dr. Norman Borlaug's childhood home and birthplace farms. Visitors can experience Dr. Borlaug's early beginnings and walk in his footsteps as they learn about how he became known as the ``Father of the Green Revolution.'' Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Girlhood Home: The home of Carrie Lane Chapman, a suffragist and founder of the League of Women Voters is included in the heritage area. The 10-acre site has a museum and interpretive education center. Plume Grove Historic Home: From 1844-1853, Plume Grove was home to Iowa's first territorial governor, Robert Lucas and his wife (Friendly). The site is furnished to the period when Mr. Lucas lived there and includes archaeology exhibits. REA Power Plant Museum: First rural electric cooperative plant built west of the Mississippi River. Depicts ``before and after'' eras of electricity in rural areas. The plant became operational in 1938 and provided electricity until 1951. 1876 Coralville Schoolhouse. A two-room red brick schoolhouse that now has interactive exhibits to relive the life of rural students up until 1951. Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve & Center. Native prairie where visitors can collect fossils, view the beehive kilns that were used by the Rockford Brick & Tile Company (manufactured agricultural drain tile). Bennington No. 4 School: One-room school built in 1911 and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Located at its original site, the preserved schoolhouse stands amid active farms in rural Bennington Township. University of Northern Iowa Marshall Center School: Restored to how it was in the early 1920s, the Marshall Center School is a one-room museum located on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa that shares how rural schools helped shape 19th century America. Ackley Heritage Center: Preserves, interprets and exhibits the history of Ackley, Iowa. Amana Heritage Society Museums: A German religious group settled the seven villages of the Amana Colonies in the 1850s. Established there was a communal village-based agricultural system that is significantly different than traditional Midwest family farms. Total of 110 sites (Effigy Mounds National Monument, Barn Quilts of Black Hawk County, Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch, etc.). PROGRAMS Junior Ranger Program: Participants travel across the heritage area learning about [[Page S432]] rural life, food production, and the cultural roots of American agriculture. They complete hands on activities and earn a badge as they ``become a proud steward of our farming heritage.'' Monthly ``remember and reminisce'' program: Hosted at the Traer Historical Museum which highlights the life of ``Tama Jim'' Wilson, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1897 to 1913. AG Adventure tour loops: Provide itineraries and maps for ``ag adventure'' tours to visit numerous sites. Iowa Eats Food & Drink Festival: Event in Waterloo that connects farmers, producers, and culinary professionals to the public. Partnerships with local historical societies and museums for other events. Mr. GRASSLEY. As a lifelong family farmer, I think it is important that we celebrate this history that--there is a lot of history, but Silos & Smokestacks exemplifies in Iowa all connected with American rural and American agriculture. The fuel you put in your car and the meals on your table are everyday commodities that are made possible by the hard work of family farmers. I always like to remind people that 2 percent of the people in this country produce the food for the other 98 percent and that one-third of that production is exported just to show you how a small group of people lead to the social cohesion of the United States because we don't have food riots and because food is the backbone of our national security. From the beginning of our Nation, when farms were where most Americans lived and worked, and through the Green Revolution of Dr. Norman Borlaug and the development of modern agriculture practices, Silos & Smokestacks preserves and displays Iowa's rich agricultural heritage. For the last decade, Cara has been dedicated to advancing the missions of Silos & Smokestacks. Once again, I want to thank Cara for her hard work and wish her very well in retirement. I yield the floor. ____________________