One of the most recent headlines surrounding the rainforest project concerns money issues. Senator Grassley has promised to give the original 50 million dollars for this project, but first , an additional 50 million dollars will have to be raised privately (non-federal money). Sen. Grassley approved this legislation stating that "I want this project to succeed because it's a big opportunity for Iowans from start to finish. It was originally designed to clean up an old 30-acre Brownfield land site. Its construction will create jobs. When finished, it will be a tourist destination and a leading environmental education center," Grassley said in a press release. "However, the project will never become a reality if the majority of the funding isn't raised from private benefactors and other sources. Until the project can demonstrate its ability to raise that money, I can't let federal tax dollars be frittered away."(Press-Citizen, 11/9/05). The media is always on alert when these new advances come through. This is especially important, because it makes the organization accountable for raising its own money as well as the government, since it is such a big pork barrel project.

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051109/NEWS01/51109009&SearchID=73226948459466