Grassley Celebrates Former Governor Branstad Ahead of Iowa Award Ceremony

Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore “Former Governor Branstad” Thursday, December 11, 2025 VIDEO Former Governor Branstad’s being honored today. Before I read that tribute about his honoring today, I thought I’d give a little bit of background about what I know about former Governor Branstad. I first met State Representative Terry Branstad [in] January 1973, when he was a new member of the legislature. He would tell you that I actually spoke to a group of Republicans that he was in at the University of Iowa in 1966. I’ll take his word for that. He served six years in the state legislature. Then, we used to elect our lieutenant governor, separate from the governor, and he served four years as lieutenant governor. Then, he was elected governor of Iowa [in] 1982, served 16 years until 1998. Then, he decided to have a private life and a business life, and during those 12 years that he was not governor, we had 12 years of Democratic governors. They left a big fiscal hole. There was a real feeling among Iowans that only former Governor Branstad then could get us back on a strong fiscal path to fiscal sanity in Iowa. So, he decided to run for governor again, and he selected now-Governor Reynolds as his running mate. And Terry Branstad served until the Trump administration, when he was appointed ambassador to China. And the second Branstad administration, continued by Governor Reynolds, has had Iowa on a strong fiscal path, not with any deficits, reducing taxes, having balanced budgets and having several billions of dollars in reserve funds. So, now I would like to, with that background, talk about the honor that he’s getting today. It’s an honor for me today to congratulate my good friend Terry Branstad. On this very day, he will become the 26th recipient of what’s called the Iowa Award, our home state’s highest citizen award. Governor Branstad is the longest serving governor in U.S. history who also served Americans as U.S. Ambassador to China during [the] first Trump administration. Like me, Terry grew up on a family farm. Throughout his lifetime of public service, Terry applied the bone deep work ethic of an Iowa farmer with extra elbow grease, fiscal conservatism and rock-solid tenacity. He’s famous for his retail politicking and his political skill. I’m proud to say that Terry has been a supporter of mine in every one of my congressional campaigns dating back to 1974. And he joins an esteemed group of Iowans, examples like President Herbert Hoover to Norman Borlaug and Grant Wood, who’ve helped make our state the best place to call home. Barbara and I congratulate Governor Branstad on his well-deserved award and thank him for his friendship and decades of service. -30-