Capitol Notebook: 2 new U.S. Attorneys among 4 Iowans confirmed to federal posts

Four Iowans were confirmed to federal posts by the U.S. Senate this week, filling openings for U.S. Attorneys, an ambassadorship and a college education post.

Leif Olson and David Waterman were confirmed by the Senate to serve as U.S. Attorneys in Iowa. Olson is the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, and Waterman for the Southern District.

Waterman, a lawyer from Davenport, originally was nominated by then-President Joe Biden, but was not confirmed before the end of Biden’s term. Waterman was nominated again, in March, by President Donald Trump.

David Waterman is the nephew of Iowa Supreme Court Justice Thomas Waterman.

Olson was serving as Chief Deputy Attorney General under Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. He was nominated in May.

Bird, in a press release from the AG’s Office, said Olson has “played a vital role in upholding the rule of law, supporting victims, and protecting the rights of Iowans.”

“Leif’s service and dedication have been invaluable,” Bird said in the statement. “I am grateful for the time he invested in our office, and I am confident he will continue serving Iowans with integrity and distinction in his new role.”

Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, Iowa’s Republican U.S. Senators, sent out statements praising Waterman’s and Olson’s confirmations.

“Mr. Waterman and Mr. Olson will help keep Iowans safe and faithfully serve our great state with honor and distinction,” Grassley said in a statement. “Iowa needed its top federal law enforcement officials in place, and Senate Republicans delivered.”

Said Ernst, “They have both served our state and nation selflessly, and I am thankful for Sen. Grassley’s work to move these nominations forward, so they can continue to work diligently for Iowans.”

U.S. Attorneys are the chief federal law enforcement officer in their district and also are involved in civil litigation where the United States is a party.

Also confirmed by the Senate this week were David Barker, as Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education; and James Holtsnider, U.S. ambassador to Jordan.

Barker had been serving on the Iowa Board of Regents, the state body that governs Iowa’s public universities.

State awards nearly $2 million in biofuel grants

More than $1.86 million in grants were awarded to support 48 biofuel infrastructure expansion projects in Iowa, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture’s office announced.

The grants, which range from roughly $2,000 to $75,000, were awarded by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Board during its quarterly meeting. The 48 projects are in 25 different counties, according to the state.

“We are helping to make affordable, cleaner-burning options like E15 and biodiesel more widely available which, in turn, provides Iowans with more ways to stretch their dollars at the pump,” Iowa Agriculture Sec. Mike Naig said in a press release. “These infrastructure investments boost our economy, strengthen rural communities, and keep Iowa moving forward with cleaner, more affordable energy. As the nation’s top biofuel producer, Iowa is also uniquely positioned to put more of our homegrown energy to work right here in our own communities.”

A full list of the projects and awards, as well as information on submitting a grant application, can be found on the state ag department’s website, iowaagriculture.gov.

Iowa State receives batch of state energy grants

Nearly $2.3 million in state grants were awarded to eight projects — seven of them at Iowa State University — by the Iowa Energy Center Board, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Agency.

The competitive grants were funded by gas and electric utilities and are designed to help companies pursue projects that benefit Iowa ratepayers, according to an IEDA press release.

A full list of grant winners and more information on the grant process can be found on the IEDA’s website, opportunityiowa.gov.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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