Iowa Democrat Bruce Braley on Thursday filed a discharge petition seeking to require the House to vote on the stalled farm bill that was approved in July by the Agriculture Committee.

Braley had been unable to file the petition earlier because the bill (HR 6083) had not been formally reported to the House.

"Today, we took a tremendous step forward toward forcing a vote on the farm bill," Braley said in a statement. "After 65 days of dithering and distraction, Speaker [John A.] Boehner has finally allowed the bill to be released from committee."

The House would be required to vote on the bill if at least 218 members sign the petition.

The petition is a long-shot at best. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, few discharge petitions ever get 218 signatures, "and for those that do, the process usually takes some months."

Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Boehner, R-Ohio, said he did not think the Speaker had talked to any lawmakers about the petition.

Meanwhile, two House members, Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Kristi Noem, R-S.D., are gathering signatures on a letter requesting a meeting with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., on the farm bill.

"Whether members support or oppose the farm bill, we believe the House should be allowed to vote so that we can be held accountable to those we represent," the letter says.

As of Thursday afternoon, 25 members had signed the Welch-Noem letter.

Noem, who is a freshman member of Boehner's leadership team, and Welch wrote a similar letter to House leaders in July, urging them to bring the bill to the floor before the August recess. That letter was signed by 38 Democrats and 41 Republicans, including a close ally of Boehner's, Republican Tom Latham of Iowa, and many other farm-district Republicans.

Republican leaders have been insisting the bill does not have enough votes to pass.

"Everything that is being attempted right now is an attempt to force the House leadership to bring the bill to the House floor," said Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union. "People are trying virtually everything they can think of to make that happen."

Legislation would protect students and teachers from radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer 

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today introduced the End Radon in Schools Act, a bill that will protect students, teachers, and school employees from high levels of radon in schools. The bill has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society.  Braley worked with the American Cancer Society and the Radon Coalition, based in Iowa, to craft the legislation.

Radon is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas that is produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. It is a form of ionizing radiation, proven carcinogen, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The gas will often leak through cracks or holes in foundations or walls of buildings if not properly controlled.

All of Iowa's 99 counties are considered at a "Zone 1" risk level by the government, which indicates they have the highest potential for radon exposure in schools, homes, and other buildings.  Iowa is one of only two states in the country that has a statewide "Zone 1" risk level.

"Today, I am very pleased to introduce the End Radon in Schools Act. We need to ensure that our schools are safe from unacceptable levels of this harmful gas," said Braley. "You cannot see, taste, or smell radon, but it poses a real risk to Iowans. Iowa has one of the highest levels of radon radiation in the country, and I introduced this legislation to ensure that Iowa kids, teachers and employees are safe from harmful levels of radon when they go to school."

The End Radon in Schools Act would give grants to states to work with school districts to test the radon levels in their school buildings. If the school building has an unhealthy radon level, the school would be given funding to mitigate or diminish the high radon levels. Schools awarded the grant funding would conduct the testing with the assistance of a licensed radon mitigation specialist.  The school would work with a specialist to determine the best way to mitigate the school building.

Today, Braley also met with Iowa members of the American Cancer Society, as well as University of Iowa Men's Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery, to discuss his bill and other issues related to cancer research, care and prevention.  A photo from today's meeting is below.

A link to the text of the End Radon in Schools Act can be found here: http://go.usa.gov/rAC9 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement regarding the death of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three diplomats in Benghazi, Libya yesterday.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Ambassador Stevens and the other Americans who lost their lives yesterday. This is an absolute travesty, and a direct attack on Americans. I firmly believe that we should do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice."

Congressman Braley made stops in DeWitt and Eldridge

Dubuque, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today made stops in Eastern Iowa to talk about the drought and Farm Bill in DeWitt and Eldridge, Iowa. On a farm tour of Bob and Mary Anne Braden's home, Congressman Braley discussed the impact of the drought and concerns dealing with the Farm Bill. He spoke with Democrats and Republicans about their worries if the Farm Bill is not passed, and what would happen to laws if the current Farm Bill fully expires.

"The Iowans I talked to today, Democrats and Republicans, are deeply concerned that the Farm Bill is not going to be passed. They are worried that all of the necessary protections the Farm Bill provides will be gone and laws will revert back to the 1949 Farm Bill. They know this is unacceptable, I know this is unacceptable, and we all wish the rest of Congress would understand just how important it is to get the Farm Bill passed as soon as possible."

Braley has started a discharge petition which would force the house to move towards a vote in the U. S. House. However, House Leadership refuses to move on the issue and bring up the bill.