For months, Braley has fought to keep Iraq, Afghanistan vets from losing their homes

 

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) joined a group of lawmakers to urge the Obama administration to take more aggressive action to protect military families who are at risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure.

Military homeowners have faced unique challenges during the recession.  Military families who would otherwise be current on their mortgages are often forced to move because the military requires them to do so.  Due to the housing downturn, military families are often unable to sell their homes quickly at prices that will enable them to pay off their mortgages, and they cannot generate enough rental income to cover mortgage payments until housing prices return to normal values.  Many of these families are also forced to make ends meet with lower housing allowances at their next duty stations, and they often lose the incomes of non-military spouses while they try to find new employment in their new community.

"In service to our country, military families are required to move from place to place, and base to base," Braley said.  "The recession has left many military families underwater in homes that are no longer worth what they used to be.  Then, when duty calls, these families don't have the option to wait around for the economy to recover.  They have to move.

 

"That's why it's our duty to help them.  I'm urging the Obama administration to immediately review the scope of these problems and adjust foreclosure prevention programs to address military families' unique challenges."

Braley joined six members of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee in urging the Obama administration to comprehensively review the problems of military homeowners and develop specific programs to address their needs as quickly as possible.  A copy of their letter is attached.

Today's action is the latest step Braley has taken to protect military families facing foreclosure.

In May, Braley introduced the Protecting Veterans' Homes Act to protect veterans from being foreclosed on by banks and give servicemembers returning from deployments time to get their finances in order before facing foreclosure.

On September 8th, the Protecting Veterans' Homes Act was approved by the House Veterans' Affairs Committee with bipartisan support.

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Braley helped end international bureaucratic nightmare for new parents of Nigerian adoptee

 

Washington, DC - On Monday in Des Moines, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will meet one of Iowa's newest residents and present him with an American flag flown over the US Capitol.

Joseph Craig is the Nigerian-born adopted son of Jonathan and Kayla Craig of Des Moines.  In July, the Craigs learned the adoption of their son was on the verge of being blocked by diplomatic red tape and bureaucratic bungling by US and Nigerian authorities.  Scott Porter, Kayla's father and a Waterloo resident, turned to Braley for help navigating every parent's worst nightmare - and on August 27^th, Joseph arrived in Des Moines.

Bruce Braley accepting applications now 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) reminded high school students today that he is accepting applications for nominations to the United States armed services academies from Iowa's 1st District for the class entering in fall 2012.

"I am seeking highly qualified and motivated students to nominate to our nation's service academies," Braley said.  "Students not only get a world-class education at the academies, but they grow into our country's next generation of leaders.  I want to send Iowa's best to the academies, and I encourage interested young Iowans to apply."

Interested students should contact Braley's district office in Waterloo to request an application packet to be considered for a service academy nomination.  The application packet includes specific instructions on the accompanying forms and required documents, including an application form, an essay, high school transcript, ACT/SAT scores, and letters of recommendation.  These materials take time to compile, so interested students are strongly encouraged to start obtaining the materials needed for the packet as soon as possible.

The deadline for submitting a completed nomination packet to Braley's office is Friday, October 14th.

Braley nominates up to 10 candidates from Iowa's First Congressional District for each available vacancy at the four service academies: the US Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy.  Applicants are judged on the basis of character, scholarship, physical aptitude, medical fitness, and motivation.

For further information as well as an application packet, contact the Waterloo office at (319) 287-3233.

More information can also be found at http://braley.house.gov.

 

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Funding included in Agriculture Appropriations bill, along with additional money for agriculture development in Iowa's First District

Washington, DC?Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced he has secured $875,000 to continue the New Era Rural Technology Program he established. This USDA grant program allows community colleges and advanced training facilities to train the next generation of agriculture-based energy professionals. The funds were included in the House-Senate conference agreement, which passed today in the House with a vote of 263 to 162.

"This funding for the New Era Program allows us to keep Iowa at the forefront of the bio-energy industry," Braley said. "As our economy shifts to a culture of renewable energy, it's crucial that we provide education for the emerging professionals in Iowa. I'm proud to have introduced, passed into law and funded legislation that does just that."

Braley also announced funding for the National Education Center for Agriculture Safety in Peosta, the National Ag Based Lubricants Center (NABL) at University of Northern Iowa and for UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center to research floodplain restoration.

The $170,000 for the National Center for Agriculture Safety will provide interactive health and safety education to Iowa farmers, volunteer firefighters, EMS providers and agricultural businesses. The program will also provide youth safety training to over 300 young people in the First District.

The $405,000 for the UNI-NABL will fund research and testing of bio-renewable lubricants and greases. The goal is to create commercial, bio-based lubricant products which are bio-degradable and more environmentally friendly than petroleum based products.

The $134,000 for UNI's Blackhawk County's Tallgrass Prairie Center will fund a study of wetland communities to determine which species best aid in floodplain recovery. This will provide direct impact on restoration of wetlands in Eastern Iowa and across the country.

The Agriculture Appropriations bill conference agreement now must be approved by the Senate before moving to President Obama for his signature.

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