Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said today that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing titled “A Fair Share for All: Pay Equity in the New American Workplace” on Thursday, in an effort to examine the importance of fair pay for women. The committee will hear testimony that demonstrates how protecting workers from pay discrimination can strengthen the middle class and will discuss loopholes in existing laws. The hearing will be webcast live at 9 a.m. Click here on Thursday to watch the webcast.

Drake University President David Maxwell was elected to the board of directors of the American Council on Education (ACE), the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions, the university announced today. ACE represents more than 1,600 college and university presidents and more than 200 related associations nationwide. “As the national voice and forum for America’s colleges and universities, ACE plays a central role in shaping the future of higher education in this country,” Maxwell said in a release. “It is a privilege and an exciting opportunity to be part of ACE’s leadership discourse. I am also very grateful for the chance to serve that effort, and to contribute whatever I can to moving the discussion forward.”

Jim McCaughan, president, global asset management and CEO of Principal Global Investors, will present at the UBS Asset Gathering Conference on March 15 at 2:10 p.m. in Boston. The presentation will provide insight on the company’s strategy to drive sustained growth and performance in the future. To watch a live webcast of the presentation, go to www.principal.com/investor. The webcast replay will be available for a week after the presentation.

Thirty-five Iowa communities will receive an estimated $12.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds through the Community Facilities and Services Fund and the Water/Sewer Fund. The fund provides grants to communities for a variety of projects and activities that benefit primarily low- and moderate-income people. They will include work on daycare facilities, senior centers, vocational workshops and stormwater projects. To see a full list of the cities receiving funds, click here.