Report ranks Iowa bridges among most "deficient" in the country 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement after a report by the nonprofit group Transportation for America released today said Iowa has the third worst bridges in the United States in terms of their condition and upkeep:

"For four summers in college, I worked for the Poweshiek County Roads Department fixing roads and bridges.  Iowa's economy moves on its roads.  If they're crumbling, our ability to attract new jobs and new businesses to Iowa will crumble too.

"We can create jobs in the short-term and make a lasting boost to economic growth - not to mention keeping Iowans safe - by investing in new highways and proper maintenance of our bridges and roads.  We spent billions rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan - it's irresponsible not to make the same investment here at home."

The report says that nearly 22 percent of Iowa's bridges statewide are considered structurally "deficient."  The only states ranking below Iowa were Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.

The full report can be found at the following link: http://t4america.org/

Catholic school was one of only 7 Iowa schools to win 2011 US Education Department Blue Ribbon 

Davenport, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) visited students today at Davenport's St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School to recognize the school being named a 2011 Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education.  Only seven schools in Iowa received the award this year, including St. Paul's.

Braley met with members of St. Paul's student council before addressing the school's students in an assembly.

"My mother was a schoolteacher in my hometown, and my wife teaches high school in Waterloo - so you could say I have education in my blood," Braley said.  "Being named a Blue Ribbon School is no small achievement - only 305 schools in the entire country earned the distinction this year.

"Every school in Iowa should strive for this level of educational excellence.  After all, a world-class education is the foundation of our kids' future.  Quality schools lay the groundwork now for good-paying jobs and a stronger economy tomorrow."

Being named a Blue Ribbon School means meeting one of two criteria:

1. High-performing schools. Schools that are ranked among each state's highest performing schools as measured by their performance on state assessments, or, for private schools, that score at the highest performance level on national tests.

2. High-performing high-risk schools. Schools with 40 percent or more of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that improve student performance to high levels as measured by national tests.

To be named a Blue Ribbon School, a school must be nominated for the distinction by the top education official in its respective state.  The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools in each state.

House panel passes bill allowing Postal Service to advance plans to close 178 Iowa post offices 

Washington, DC - October 13, 2011 - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement as the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform considers the Postal Reform Act, a bill that, in part, allows the Postal Service to move forward with plans to close up to 178 small town Iowa post offices.  Braley is a member of the panel.

Braley was able to successfully amend the bill to require the Postal Service to report on the number of jobs eliminated by their proposed post office closures, including the number of veterans jobs eliminated.  Braley's amendment was passed with unanimous, bipartisan support.

"I grew up in a small town, and I know how important post offices are to these communities," Braley said.  "It may not seem like much to a bureaucrat in Washington, but a post office is the centerpiece of a small town.  If not for the post office, what else would provide the spark for economic development?  What business would open in a town without one?

"No question, the Postal Service needs to change to survive.  But it doesn't have to build its recovery on the backs of small town Americans.  That's why I'm working to improve this bill and prevent post office closures in Iowa.  I'm disappointed that the bill we're considering today doesn't protect small town post offices."

If passed by the panel, the Postal Reform Act of 2011 would move to the full House for consideration.  If passed by the House, it would advance to the Senate for consideration.

The Postal Reform Act:

1. Allows the Postal Service to eliminate Saturday delivery.
2. Establishes a commission to close post offices and postal facilities.
3. Reduces rural mail delivery.
4. Allows the Postal Service to sell advertising space on property and vehicles.
5. Allows the Postal Service to raise the price of bulk mail delivery.

Braley has sponsored an alternative postal reorganization plan that would prevent post office closures by allowing the Postal Service to reclaim billions of dollars in overpayments it has made in recent years to its employees' retirement system.

Braley writes Veterans Affairs Committee leaders to request Congressional inquiry 

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) urged leaders of the House Veterans Affairs Committee to launch a probe into allegations that banks and mortgage companies have been charging veterans illegal home financing fees, potentially defrauding veterans and taxpayers of hundreds of millions of dollars.

A whistleblower lawsuit unsealed this month in Atlanta federal district court alleges that several banks and mortgage companies, including Bank of America and J.P. Morgan Chase, intentionally concealed attorney's fees they charged to applicants of home loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  VA rules explicitly prohibit lenders from charging attorney's fees or settlement closing costs on these types of loans.

"If a bank intentionally preyed on veterans who've put their lives on the line for this country just to pad their profits, that's beyond the pale," Braley said.  "These allegations raise serious questions about the scope of possible fraud.  A staggering number of veterans could have been impacted by this alleged scam.  These reports warrant a prompt and thorough investigation by the Veterans Affairs Committee."

Reports indicate that over the last 10 years, more than 1.2 million VA-backed loans have been made to veterans.  Up to 90 percent of those loans might have been affected by the alleged fraud.

Braley made the request for a probe in a letter to House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Jeff Miller and Ranking Member Bob Filner.

A scanned copy of his signed request can be found at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/9kU