28 Aug 2012

Braley Discusses Small Business Advancements with Iowa Entrepreneurs

By Amanda Bowman

Congressman Braley toured Dubuque and Cedar Falls businesses

Dubuque, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) this week toured two small businesses that were assisted by Small Business Development Centers (SBDC's) in Eastern Iowa. Braley introduced the Main Street Stabilization Act in Congress that helps fifteen Iowa SBDC's provide customized, free and confidential business advice to any small business. Braley also introduced the Support our Startups Act that increases tax deductions available for new startup companies.

"These thriving small businesses are a great way to see important funding at the SBDC and local level making a difference," said Braley. "I have worked hard to ensure that small businesses in Iowa get the assistance they need to succeed. Far Reach and Dubuque Power Equipment, which both received advice from the SBDC, are two great examples of people getting the right information from good resources. I will do everything I can so that the Small Business Administration and SBDC are properly funded and can assist more Iowans to create successful businesses in the future."

Yesterday, Braley toured Dubuque Power Equipment, a shop owned by Karen Ohnesorge. Ohnesorge took a class from Terry Sullivan, director of the SBDC in Eastern Iowa, where she learned a great deal about starting a business, the risks involved, and ways the Small Business Administration could help her achieve her goals. Braley spoke with her about the course, and improvements she would like to see in the program.

Today, Braley toured Far Reach, a local web start-up whose employees were assisted by the UNI Innovation Incubator and the SBDC. After touring the facility, Braley spoke with employees Kate Washut and Chris Rous to discuss how the SBDC helped their company, and how it, and other state and government programs could help small businesses in the future.

 

# # #
28 Aug 2012

Braley Announces Over $1.4 Million for Veterans Transportation Database

By Amanda Bowman

Funds will go toward creating a one call/one click resource for veterans

Dubuque, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today announced that the Federal Transit Administration has obligated $1,461,800 to the Iowa Department of Transportation for the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Project. The funding will create a database that will hold veterans' transportation information and combine it with other resources to create a comprehensive database to start a one-call/one-click resource. This will allow veterans, persons with disabilities, persons over 60, and the general public to access information about transportation and other human service resources available.

 

"The more resources veterans, the disabled, and the elderly have to assist them in transportation, the more ability they have to live a full and active life," said Braley. "At the very least, we owe our veterans reliable transportation, and the assistance to the rest of the community will be a great asset to many groups. I am pleased this funding is coming to Iowa and hope the resource database will provide new information and assistance to these groups."

 

Braley has worked hard to provide needed assistance to veterans. Less than a month ago the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act, which he introduced, was signed into law by President Obama.

 

# # #
28 Aug 2012

Braley to Tour Small Business in Dubuque

By Amanda Bowman

Braley will tour facility with owner Karen Ohnesorge 

Dubuque, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will be in Dubuque on Monday to tour Dubuque Power Equipment, a local business owned by Karen Ohnesorge. The tour will focus on how the Small Business Administration can further help small business owners in Iowa.

Braley has helped small businesses in Iowa by introducing the Support our Startups Act that increased the tax deductions available for new startup companies and the Main Street Stabilization Act that helps fifteen Iowa Small Business Development Centers provide customized, free and confidential business advice to any small business.

Rep. Braley will tour the business and hold a press availability.

Monday, August 27th, 2012 

 

2:00 PM CDT      Small Business Tour and Press Event

Dubuque Power Equipment

1901 Rockford Road

Dubuque, Iowa

 

###
24 Aug 2012

Braley: Respect Your Elders

By Amanda Bowman

The past few weeks have given us the 75th anniversary of Social Security, the 47th of Medicare, and a reminder of the millions of people the programs have assisted throughout the past decades.

Social Security and Medicare provide protection and support to millions of seniors, and were started with the spirit and belief that America's seniors should maintain a basic quality of life in their golden years. This social support is critical to protecting the health care and basic needs of our elders, here in Iowa and around the country.

That's why I'm baffled when I hear that some politicians are trying to do away with Medicare and privatize Social Security.  After years of service and work, our seniors deserve a happy, secure retirement and access to quality, affordable health care.

And I know this through personal experience in my own family - my mom, Marcia, receives both Medicare and Social Security.  She earned it, just like millions of other seniors.

But everywhere you turn, you hear the latest outrageous claims about Medicare and Social Security.  So, to put it in plain English, here's how I view it:

1.       The term "entitlement" is misleading.  It should be "investment."  My mom paid into Medicare and Social Security her entire working life, just like every other working Iowan.  She paid for those benefits, and nobody should take that away.

2.       It's not just seniors who have paid into Medicare and Social Security.  If you are working, then you are helping pay for these programs, whether you're 25, 55, or 65.  So when politicians talk about cutting benefits for those 55 and younger, they're still talking about a breach of contract.  If you're 54 years old, you've probably been investing in these programs for over 30 years.

3.       Medicare is currently solvent until 2024, and Social Security until 2033.  These are the facts.  This means that we should be thinking about the future of the programs, but we should not give in to knee-jerk reactions or those who use scare tactics to call for immediate, drastic changes.

I believe that we can protect Medicare and Social Security, maintain all current benefits, and keep the programs solvent.  We should not privatize the programs, turn them into vouchers, or cut benefits - these are just too drastic, and would be bad for seniors and Iowa families.  I'm confident that if we bring a little Iowa common sense to Washington, we can come up with ways to ensure strong, solvent and stable Medicare and Social Security programs for years to come.  I'm not just protecting these programs for my mom, Marcia.  I'm also protecting them for my daughter, Lisa.

# # #
17 Aug 2012

Braley-A Hard Working Iowan that Gets Results

By Amanda Bowman

Most Iowans know that U.S. Representatives write laws that affect many Americans. However, it is less known that Representatives provide assistance to their constituents every day of the week. Representative Braley has helped thousands of Iowans cut through red tape, fight for federal assistance, and improve their personal situations.

Rep. Braley's proudest accomplishments include helping Iowans and ensuring their needs are met. Many of Rep. Braley's legislative accomplishments have been inspired by these constituents, and he works hard every day to ensure that Iowans get what they need from the federal government.

Helping Iowans is incredibly important, and the following includes just a few examples of the thousands of Iowans that Rep. Braley has assisted.

With that, here are a few examples of Bruce Braley's Constituent Assistance Cases:

Getting Results for Iowa Businesses and Workers

Helped Russell Electric keep its doors open, Bettendorf:

  • Jeff Lanum is the CEO of Russell Electric, a local electric company in Bettendorf. The company was on the verge of closing the doors because the Department of Labor had not paid almost $500,000 to the company. After Braley pushed the DOL, it paid Russell Electric, which was able to save jobs and keep the business open.

Job Training at Community Colleges in Eastern Iowa:

  • Rep. Braley created the New Era Rural Technology Grant Program when he passed the first bill he introduced, the New Era Act, into law.  Then, he helped get grant funds for Iowa community colleges to train the next generation of biofuels technicians.  Rep. Braley secured job training funding for Hawkeye Community College (Waterloo), Eastern Iowa Community College (Quad Cities) and Northeast Iowa Community College (Calmar) to provide the job skills that Iowans will need to fill the biofuels workforce.

Getting Results for Iowa Veterans

Accessible Housing for the Connolly Family, Dubuque:

  • Andrew Connolly was an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who served in the Iowa National Guard 1-133rd.  He lost the use of his legs due to cancer near his spine, and the cancer then spread.  Andrew and his wife, Jenny, have a severely disabled young son, Brody, who will need medical care his entire life.  When Andrew's son was born he and his wife knew they would need a home that could accommodate his needs.  That need became more urgent after Andrew's disease progressed.  Rep. Braley helped Andrew get an upgraded VA disability rating, and secured a special VA housing grant to build a new home for the family, which is fully handicapped-accessible.  Andrew passed away in August 2011, though Jenny and Brody now have a fully accessible home to live in.  Braley also passed into law the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act, to ensure that more disabled veterans have access to these important housing grants.

Secured Overdue Pay and GI Bill Benefits for Hundreds of Members of the Iowa National Guard, 1-133rd, Statewide:

  • There are roughly 800 Iowa Guard soldiers who are now getting the pay they earned because of Rep. Braley's work on their behalf, when the Pentagon tried to deny these benefits.  In addition, Rep. Braley made sure that nearly 600 Iowa National Guard soldiers could take advantage of the GI Bill, and some of those have since gone to college thanks to those benefits.

Helping Iowa Veterans get the Medals they've Earned - For Example: Zane Thorpe, Dubuque:

  • Zane Thorpe is a WWII veteran who was eligible for several medals including the Purple Heart. He had not received any of the medals for his service. Braley worked with the National Personnel Records Center and Thorpe was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and several other medals. Braley presented the medals immediately following Zane's 89th birthday.

Fighting for the Well-Being of Iowa troops - For Example: Jennifer Short, Winthrop:

  • Jennifer disagreed with the findings of the Formal Physical Evaluation Board regarding her PTSD as not being combat-related and other discrepancies with the findings of her other medical issues. She contacted the Braley office for help with having the Air Force take a careful look at this and ensure a fair decision based on the evidence submitted. Rep. Braley worked closely with the Air Force on her behalf, and in May 2012 she received a favorable outcome.

Getting Results when Iowans Need it Most - Disaster Relief

Replaced the Iowa Northern Rail Bridge in Waterloo and Cedar River Rail Bridge in Cedar Rapids:

  • These two major rail bridges collapsed in the 2008 flooding, and Rep. Braley was immediately in touch with the rail companies and government officials.  Due to Rep. Braley's work, Iowa Northern gained access to federal funds which enabled them to quickly rebuild the Waterloo bridge, and CRANDIC railroad received new funds for the Cedar Rapids bridge.  These bridges are critical transportation arteries for Iowa businesses including John Deere and Alliant Energy, and they were rebuilt quickly due to Braley's prompt action to secure disaster funding.

Secured Replacement Computers for Waverly-Shell Rock Washington Irving Elementary School, Waverly:

  • After the Disasters of 2008, Rep. Braley worked with the Library of Congress to replace 16 destroyed computers at Waverly-Shell Rock Washington Irving Elementary School. Braley presented the computers to the school about four months after the flooding, and they were immediately put into use in the classroom.

Got Results to Clean Up after a Massive Fire, Maquoketa:

  • After a severe fire destroyed many buildings in downtown Maquoketa, the building owners were underinsured so the city was facing huge cleanup costs, coupled with concerns that debris was contaminated with asbestos. Braley helped secure and expedite an Environmental Protection Agency grant to assist with the debris removal, which allowed the city to recover much faster than without that assistance.

Getting Results for Iowa Families

Secured Benefits for the James Family following Tragedy, Dubuque:

  • Dubuque native Holley Lynn James was murdered by her husband while serving in the Armed Forces, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  After she was killed, Rep. Braley helped her father, Jesse James of Dubuque, secure Holley's benefits so they could be put in a trust for her children, which was completed in 2010.  In 2011, the family again faced problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Rep. Braley was able to secure Tricare coverage for Holley's children.  Rep. Braley has also introduced the Holley Lynn James Act, and passed legislation into law that will help prevent military sexual assault and domestic violence in the future.

Helped the Craig Family Adopt a Child, Des Moines & Waterloo:

  • In 2011, Rep. Braley was contacted by the Waterloo parents of Jonathan and Kayla Craig.  Jonathan and Kayla were trying to adopt a baby boy from Nigeria, and were being told by the US Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria that their son Joseph's adoption was not legal. After several weeks of late-night phone calls and emails with the US Embassy and State Department, Braley was able to obtain an IR-4 visa for Joseph. This was the first time an IR-4 visa had ever been issued in Nigeria, and Joseph arrived at his new home in Des Moines in late 2011.  Inspired by Joseph, Rep. Braley introduced the Making Adoption Affordable Act, to improve the adoption tax credits so that more families are able to provide homes to children in need.

Secured Funding for the Mobile Mammography Unit in Northeastern Iowa, West Union:

  • This traveling unit, based in West Union, goes to rural communities to provide free mammograms for Iowa women.  Braley secured the funding for this unit, which was provided to Gundersen Lutheran hospital, who now runs the mobile mammography unit.  As of mid-2011, the Unit had provided over 2,700 mammograms, and found 11 benign and 4 malignant tumors to women in Northeastern Iowa and the other states in the region.

Fought for Increased Pay for Iowa Doctors and Hospitals, Benefiting Seniors:

  • Rep. Braley secured a 5% Medicare pay increase for Iowa doctors in 2010 and 2011, and $33 million in payments to historically-underpaid Iowa hospitals in 2011 and 2012.  These bonus payments, which help make up for years of underpayments due to a flawed Medicare equation, have helped make sure more providers accept Medicare patients, which improves both access and quality of care for Iowa seniors.

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08 Aug 2012

Braley: An Effective Iowan in a Do-Nothing Congress

By Amanda Bowman

The past year has brought about a recurring theme of the 'Do-Nothing Congress,' a historic lack of legislation with even greater lack of House leadership. Washington is having trouble getting along, even more trouble passing laws, and the public has certainly taken notice.

But that isn't the case for Rep. Braley - he's busier than ever because he is working hard with both sides of the aisle to get things done for the people of Iowa.

Braley has been compiling quite a few accomplishments in the last year that may not garner the overwhelming attention of the 'Do-Nothing Congress,' but he is leading the way to make a real difference for veterans, families, and Iowans. Braley has been successful in passing legislation that will help veterans, prevent military sexual assault and domestic violence, keep kids safe, change how government communicates with the public, and protect Iowa jobs.

With that, here are Bruce Braley's Top 10 Legislative Accomplishments of the past year:

BRALEY'S TOP 10 LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR:

-Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act passed into Law: The bipartisan H.R. 1627, including Braley's Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act, was signed by President Obama on August 6, 2012. The bill will extend the adaptive housing grant program for disabled veterans for ten years, through December 31, 2022.  The legislation also increases the adaptive housing grant limit for temporary housing to $28,000, and increases the total adaptive housing grant limit from $63,780 to $91,780. The legislation was inspired by Andrew Connolly, a veteran from Dubuque whose family benefited from a VA housing grant program through Braley's help, who lost his battle with cancer last year. http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Andrew-Connollys-Widow-Talks-About-New-Vet-Housing-Act-165222236.html

http://iowaindependent.com/56570/u-s-house-gives-unanimous-backing-to-connolly-bill

-"Kadyn's Amendment" passed out of House: In June 2012, Braley added an amendment to a transportation funding bill requiring the federal government to devote at least $10 million to helping states enforce traffic laws that punish reckless drivers for illegally passing stopped school buses. The amendment was named for 7-year-old Kadyn Halverson, who was fatally struck by a pickup truck in May 2011 as she crossed the street to board her school bus near Northwood, Iowa.  The provision devotes $10 million of federal funding for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to strengthening the enforcement of existing state laws prohibiting drivers from passing stopped school buses that have warning lights flashing and stop arms extended. http://www.thonline.com/blogs/tri_state_politics/article_142c7ffe-777d-11e1-ba3d-0019bb30f31a.html

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/06/27/kadyns-amendment-passes-u-s-house/

-Combat Veterans Back to Work provisions passed into Law: In August 2011, Congressman Braley introduced the Combat Veterans Back to Work Act.  The bill was incorporated into two new tax credits that were signed into law by President Obama in November 2011.  The first, known as the Returning Heroes tax credit, provides up to $5,600 in tax credits for every unemployed veteran hired by an employer.  The second, called the Wounded Warrior tax credit, doubles the existing tax credit for firms that hire unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities.  Iowa businesses are currently taking advantage of these credits and hiring Iowa veterans and National Guard Members. http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Incentives-Help-for-Veterans-to-Find-Work-134288473.html

-Implementation of Payments to Underpaid Iowa Hospitals: Braley has continued to work on the implementation of his Geographic Equity payments for Iowa hospitals, which he passed in 2010.  Twenty different Iowa hospitals have now received payments in 2011 and 2012 to account for long-term underpayments by Medicare.  As of April 2012, Braley had secured over $33 million in additional Medicare reimbursements for these Iowa hospitals, which will help improve access to care for Iowa patients.  These Iowa hospitals have historically been underpaid because Medicare bases payments largely on geography. http://thegazette.com/2012/04/17/affordable-care-act-helps-iowa-hospitals-receive-medicare-reimbursement/

-Preventing Closure of Iowa Post Offices: Braley successfully amended the Postal Reform Act in October 2011 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 affected. Then, Braley helped to prevent the closures of many of Iowa post offices by opposing such efforts to close them, and working with the Postal Service on behalf of Iowa post offices. http://qctimes.com/news/local/postal-service-offers-plan-to-keep-rural-post-offices-open/article_87e35c52-9a5e-11e1-a2bd-0019bb2963f4.html

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/braley-waterloo-cedar-rapids-mail-processing-operations-staying-open/article_fbe986c2-5e44-11e1-a3c7-001871e3ce6c.html

-Holley Lynn James Act protections passed into Law: Braley has championed reforms in the Department of Defense to protect victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. In April 2011, Braley introduced the Holley Lynn James Act to strengthen the legal process for preventing and addressing claims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the military. Since then, Braley has passed a number of these provisions into law, including: 1) the bill's improvements on oversight of the DOD's sexual assault policy; 2) ensuring that victims have access to counsel; 3) implementation of the bill's "elevated disposition requirements," requiring sexual assault cases be considered by senior officers with greater experience; and 4) supporting victims of sexual assault in filing disability claims with the VA by requiring retention of documentary evidence. The bipartisan bill is named after Holley Lynn James, a Dubuque native who was killed by her husband while both were in the service.  James had filed complaints against her husband, who was supposed to be restricted to his barracks the night he murdered her. http://go.usa.gov/GGK

-Marshalltown Jobs Amendment passed out of House: In June 2012, Rep. Braley passed a bipartisan amendment that would remove burdensome government regulations on refrigerated deli-style display cases that threaten the future of their manufacture in the United States.  Lennox Industries, Inc., which makes the deli-style display cases covered by the regulation, has a manufacturing facility in Marshalltown, Iowa, that employs about 1,000 people.  The adoption of the amendment will help protect Iowa manufacturing jobs. http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/550541/Braley-helps-remove-red-tape-impeding-manufacturing.html?nav=5005

-Implementation of Plain Writing Act; Report Card Released: In July 2012, Rep. Braley joined the Center for Plain Language to unveil the Center's first-ever "Plain Language Report Card," a letter-grading of federal agencies' implementation of the Plain Writing Act. The Plain Writing Act, authored by Braley and signed into law by President Obama in 2010, requires government agencies to write forms and other public documents in simple, easy-to-understand language.  Braley continues to ensure its full implementation to change the way government communicates with citizens and businesses. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120719006341/en/USDA-VA-Plain-Writing-Act-Report-Card 

-Cost of War Amendment passed out of House: In May 2012, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Braley's "True Cost of War" amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Braley's amendment would require a full account of the human and financial costs of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya from the Departments of Defense, State and Veterans Affairs. http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=554&stoplayout=true&print=true

-Housing for Blinded Veterans passed into Law: Braley introduced HR 5999, the Housing for Blinded Veterans Act, that will apply the American Medical Association and federal government's 20/200 standard for blindness to the VA's adaptive housing program.  Before Braley's bill, veterans could be considered "legally blind," but not blind enough to apply for the VA adaptive housing program.  Braley's law will expand eligibility for the program to more blind veterans and create a more uniform standard for blindness across federal agencies. This fix was signed into law on August 6, 2012. http://nlihc.org/article/housing-blinded-veterans-act-introduced

 --- John Davis, Chief of Staff, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01)

# # #
07 Aug 2012

Pass the Farm Bill

By Amanda Bowman

by Bruce Braley

Two weeks ago, I visited with two farmers from Palo, Iowa, Gary and Vicki Owens, to see their farm and the drought conditions affecting their crops and crops across Iowa. I saw the dry ground and struggling corn and soybeans that the family is hoping will be able to survive the relentless heat and dry weather. Gary and Vicki told me how concerned they are that the lack of rain in July will doom their harvest this fall.  Despite the difficult summer, the Owens remain hopeful that wetter and cooler weather will grace their fields soon.

The drought is bad enough.  But adding to the uncertainty is a hardening political stalemate in Congress over the 2012 Farm Bill.  The current Farm Bill is set to expire on September 30th - along with modern crop insurance programs, disaster relief, conservation programs, nutrition programs and more -- unless a new bill is signed into law.  Some disaster assistance programs have already expired, adding insult to injury for many agricultural producers just in time for the drought.

And the hits keep coming.  The House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm Bill more than three weeks ago in a bipartisan vote - a critical test of support for the bill - but leaders have continued to block the full House from voting on the bill.  Then, this week, House leaders pulled a one-year Farm Bill extension, preventing a vote on that.  In a final coup de grace, despite members voting against adjournment, leaders sent Congress home for a month-long recess on Thursday, leaving the Farm Bill unresolved and the clock running out before its September 30th expiration date.

Here's what I can't figure out.  What exactly is Congress taking a vacation from?  Any Iowan who's worked a day in their life knows that to get time off, you actually have to put time in.  Congress certainly hasn't done much of anything this year.  Farmers don't get a vacation from the drought, and Congress shouldn't get one either.

Political gridlock over the Farm Bill strikes me as incredibly childish.  There are real folks back home hurting, but Congress can't get beyond petty feuds and personal differences.

Congress needs to grow up, act like adults, and get the job done on the Farm Bill.

There are members of both political parties out there who agree that producers need the financial stability and protections provided in the Farm Bill.  Farm families and agricultural producers in Iowa certainly agree.

Maybe I'm an optimist, but I think that if allowed to cast a vote on the Farm Bill, a majority of the House would support it.  It's the political games of leaders looking to score the most insignificant of political points against their opponents that is standing in the way.

So, I've launched an effort that could short-circuit the political games.  If a simple majority of representatives sign on to a petition I'm circulating, the Farm Bill must immediately come up for a vote before the House.  And I've been encouraged by the early positive response - I'm working with two Republicans (Rick Berg of North Dakota and Chris Gibson of New York) and a Democrat (Peter Welch of Vermont) to recruit signers.

It's a drastic step and maybe a long shot , but we need to do everything we possibly can to help Iowa farmers through the worsening drought.  And the best way to help right now is to give farmers the certainty that the Farm Bill will bring.

The Farm Bill deserves a vote, not the obstruction that's become all too typical of Washington. Folks like Gary and Vicki Owens are depending on it.

06 Aug 2012

Braley, Harkin Announce Over $2 Million for Iowa Highways

By Amanda Bowman

Supported Projects by Encouraging Funding from DOT

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today announced that Iowa will receive $2,123,916 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration for highway related projects. Braley wrote numerous letters of support for Iowa highway improvement projects to the DOT.

"These improvements will enhance infrastructure and promote travel across Iowa.  They're important not only for transportation, but for creating jobs and improving the economy," said Braley. "I am proud to support improvements in safety and better roads for Iowans and tourists to enjoy."

Details of the funding are listed below:

2012 TCSP Improving Access, Enhancing Lives, Dubuque, Iowa - $600,000

Funding will be used to convert three key streets - 9th Street, 11th Street and Elm Street into complete streets. This would promote alternative modes of transportation like walking and biking, reducing vehicle miles travelled and air pollution. http://go.usa.gov/G8k

2012 NSBP Iowa Great River Road National Scenic Byway Signage - $346,160

The project will install 738 byway route guide and entrance signs along the 328-mile Iowa Great River Road to provide a reliable wayfinding system. http://go.usa.gov/G8B

2012 NSBP Great River Road Marquette Overlook - $332,800

Funding will be used to improve the Marquette-Joliet Bridge scenic overlook observation deck to provide visitors with ample viewing opportunities from two new and improved viewpoints. http://go.usa.gov/G8p

2012 NSBP Great River Road Mississippi River Trail in Riverdale - $494,956

This project will construct a critical 1.3 mile section of the Mississippi River Trail along Iowa's Great River Road for education, recreation, and alternative transportation users.

 

2012 IBRD Amish Sawmill Bridge on Dillon Ave. south of 135 St., Buchanan - $350,000

This funding is proposing to replace an existing deficient bridge with a new structure using a bent steel blate girder section supported on Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) abutments and promote accelerate bridge construction while increasing safety and use of GRS abutments.

 # # #

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that Iowa will receive $5,035,316 for highway-related projects. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration. Harkin is a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department.

"Providing Iowa with the resources to improve and strengthen its scenic highways keeps Iowa thriving," said Harkin.  "These grant will help to make some of Iowa's most beautiful areas more attractive to tourists and local residents."

Details of the projects below:

Great River Road Mississippi River Trail in Riverdale - $494,956 to build a 1.3 mile mixed use trail with interpretive signage and "nature walk" education area. The trail will parallel U.S. Highway 67 in Riverdale.

Amish Sawmill Bridge - $350,000 to renovate the bridge on Dillon Avenue, south of 135th street in Buchanan County.

Iowa Great River Road National Scenic Byway Signage - $ 346,160 to install 738 byway route guide and entrance signs along the 328-mile Iowa Great River Road along the Mississippi River.

Great River Road Port Louisa Rest Area - $200,000 to build a rest stop and improve an existing walking trail at the Port Louisa Wildlife Refuge near Wapello.

Louisa County Great River Road Bicycle Lane - $1,350,000 to pave a roadway shoulder to provide a smooth travel space for bicycling.

Great River Road Marquette Overlook - $332,800 to improve the Marquette-Joliet Bridge scenic overlook observation deck.

Great River Road and Driftless Area Byway Visitor Center - $1,361,400 to build a new visitor center with traveler amenities on the Great River Road National Scenic Byway, overlooking the Mississippi River Valley at Lansing, Iowa.

Improving Access, Enhancing Lives - $600,000 to convert 9th Street, 11th Street and Elm Street in into complete streets in Dubuque.

###

17 Jul 2012

Braley Will Host Emergency Telephone Town Hall on Drought Situation in Iowa

By Amanda Bowman

Braley will talk with farmers about the drought's effect on agriculture in eastern Iowa 

Washington, DC - On Thursday, July 19, 2012, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will host an emergency telephone town hall with Iowa farmers to discuss the Iowa drought, its impact on Iowa agriculture, disaster relief, and this year's Farm Bill. Braley will be joined by Juan Garcia, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency.

Braley has hosted 12 listening sessions on the Food, Farm and Job Bill across eastern Iowa this summer. The listening sessions have taken Braley to Grinnell, Independence, Manchester, Marengo, Marshalltown, Peosta, St. Ansgar, Strawberry Point, Toledo, and Vinton.  Also, Braley joined USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at listening session events in Maquoketa and Cedar Rapids last month.

Braley and Garcia will be available to answer Iowans' questions and comments live over the phone. The event is open to the public. Iowans interested in participating should use the following instructions.

Call-In Information: 

When: Thursday, July 19, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM Central Time

Phone Number: 877-229-8493, Code: 110428#

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