With congress on its summer recess, some representatives are making the rounds in their home districts to meet constituents.
In Clarinda Iowa yesterday, Senator Chuck Grassley spoke with local high schoolers.
For KXCV-KRNW, Gavin McGough has more.
The auditorium of the Clarinda Junior Senior High School is about a third full with students clustered in the front rows. A select few classes who've been pulled aside for the opportunity to speak with their senator. Currently the longest serving in the US Congress, Chuck Grassley.
The lights are drawn down over the auditorium seats, and the Senator has abandoned his spotlight podium to speak directly before them answering their questions in his steady, booming voice while a security team stands watch at the room's perimeter.
What's on the mind of Clarinda's young people? Many are concerned with the economy.
A student calls out, " Do you believe that the inflation is decreasing? Is there any hope that the price will drop?"
Grassley responds, " Not fast enough. I think you might get an answer from actions of the Federal Reserve Board. If they reduce interest rates, I think it is a signal that they feel that that inflation is not gonna be a major problem."
They ask about technology, about drone warfare and artificial intelligence. They ask about the impact of global wars.
Grassley answers with detail, " If you believe in the rule of law as we do in the United States, you ought to believe that in the international law as well."
Many students are curious over Grassley's path to becoming a senator and how they should develop their own skills today.
Grassley says, " I would encourage people to get as much education as you can get, but I hope you understand that you don't have to have a college degree to be of success in America."
It is shortly time to wrap up. The senator is escorted from the room. Students file back to class. The event was not open to the public and Grassley did not speak directly with members of the local media.
What's it like to get the rare opportunity to address one of their lawmakers today?
High schooler, Addison Eberly answers, "It was great. Opened my eyes a lot. Made me rethink a lot of things, getting another point of view than what is online and hearing it in person and getting more explanation on how things work."
After the senator and his security team rolled out, superintendent Jeff Privia took a deep breath in the late summer morning outside.
Privia says, " This would be the first time I know that i've arranged anything like this. You know, we're here to work together and Senator Grassley has a wealth of knowledge of how he's been doing it for 64 years, so him being able to impart some knowledge on our students is great for our kids."
