Pay salary differentials for active duty employees
Vilsack proposed and signed Senate File 458, which created a program appropriating $1.8 million to pay salary differentials and continued state health benefits to state employees called up for active duty with the National Guard and Reserve and whose
active duty salaries amounted to less than their civilian salaries. This would ensure that these troops and their families would not experience a drop in income as a result of being called to active duty.
Source: Press Release
Feb 24, 2004
Support continued funding for First Responders
The administration seeks funding for the Iowa-led multi-state partnership to strengthen agro-terrorism prevention and preparedness efforts. The administration also calls on Congress to address the needs of the agriculture community in preparing for,
and responding to, emergencies. The administration calls on Congress to provide greater flexibility in the use of First Responder grants to allow States to target the money where most needed in their communities.