11 Dec 2009

Braley Secures Over $11.5 Million for Iowa Programs in House Funding Bill

By Amanda Crawford

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today that he has secured over $11.5 million in funding for Iowa programs in the 2009 omnibus bill, which pass in the House by a vote of X-X. This bill provides funding for the entire US Government's operations during the 2010 fiscal year.

"The Iowa funding in this bill will help create jobs in Iowa and will directly benefit the people I represent," Braley said. "I'm pleased to have secured funding for these critical Iowa priorities. This funding will help expand access to healthcare, improve Iowa infrastructure, and save and create jobs throughout eastern Iowa."

A list of Braley-secured projects follows:

  • $2 million for Iowa National Guard in Davenport. This project will fund additions and alterations to the Army Aviation Support Facility, providing space needed for all personnel to train to mission standard and to provide maintenance of the assigned aircraft to the facility.

  • $2 million for the city of Parkersburg to improve the intersection of Highways 14 and 57.

  • $1.6 million for projects at the University of Northern Iowa. This includes funding for National Institute for Early Math and Science Education, the Center on Literacy, Language and Disability Studies in Early Childhood Education, the National Ag-Based Lubricants Center and MyEntreNet, a national rural entrepreneurship development system.     

  • $1 million for the I-74 Corridor Construction leading up to the I-74 bridge. This project extends from 53rd Street in Davenport, Iowa to Avenue of the Cities in Moline, Illinois.      

  • $681,800 for the design and construction of a transit maintenance garage in Davenport, as recommended by the 2002 transit study of the Iowa Quad Cities.   

  • $600,000 for St. Ambrose University to construct a Center for Health Sciences Education. The money will also help equip the facility for occupation and physical therapy and nursing programs that will allow for interdisciplinary learning, research and clinical practice.

  • $500,000 to complete the extension of the 10th Avenue South Corridor in Waverly

  • $500,000 to complete the "Rivers to the Sea" museum as part of the National Missisissippi River Museum and Aquarium for the Great Rivers Center in Dubuque. This is one of the top priorities of the City of Dubuque and the number one priority for the Envision 2010 process.

  • $400,000 for Clarke College to transition to a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, mandated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing by 2015 for advanced practice nurses.

  • $400,000 for Hawkeye Community College to develop and deliver training to additional instructors, to provide tuition assistance for qualified trainees, to procure training equipment and supplies and for staff development to train and certify through its program. 

  • $400,000 for a Flight Training Device for the University of Dubuque's Aviation Degree program. This will ensure the pilots are provided with sufficient training on the most current technology available.

  • $389,600 for Dubuque's Southwest Arterial. This will help fund the final design and development of final construction documents, complete property acquisition and to complete the archaeological and cultural resource mitigation work. 

  • $340,900 for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank to construct a food warehouse and distribution center to house a regional Food Bank and its multi-county programming efforts. 

  • $250,000 for the Iowa Dental Association's Dental Home Demonstration Project in Scott County.

  • $200,000 for Loras College to strengthen student faculty research by upgrading and equipping the environmental microscopy and human physiology/anatomy research and teaching center in the school's science hall.

  • $194,000 for Homeward, Inc. to expand a construction finance program that has provided low interest loans to communities to encourage development of new housing in rural communities.

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30 Oct 2009

Braley Secures $300,000 for Clinton Wastewater Improvements

By Amanda Crawford

    Funds included in the Department of Interior and Environment Appropriations

    Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today that he has secured $300,000 for City of Clinton Wastewater Improvements. The funding was included in the Department of Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 2996) which passed in the House today with a vote of 247 to 178.

    "I'm proud to announce this funding for wastewater improvements in the Clinton area," Braley said. "At a time in our state's economy, when too many Iowans are facing the challenges of unemployment, it's crucial to promote projects like this that will create jobs for Iowans."

    Specifically, this project will make capital improvements to existing facilities and construct a new remote treatment facility serving Camanche and Low Moor, extending wastewater services to the western industrial development corridor.

28 Oct 2009

Braley Provision to Fix Troop Pay Problem Becomes Law

By Amanda Crawford

Bill signed by Obama allows Pentagon to provide benefits to Iowa National Guard troops

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) today applauded President Obama's signing of his Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act (HR 1222) into law. The Act was included in the final FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act.

Braley's fix will ensure that hundreds of Iowa National Guard members are provided benefits they were promised under the Department of Defense's Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) program, commonly known as "Respite Leave."  Over 20,000 Army National Guard members across the country - including almost 800 members of the Iowa National Guard - did not receive benefits they earned due to delay between the announcement of the leave program by the Department of Defense and the implementation of the program by the individual services.

"As the Iowa National Guard prepares to send over 3,000 troops to Afghanistan in the largest single unit call-up since World War II, it is critical that troops receive the benefits they have earned and deserve," Braley said.  "That's why I'm thrilled that President Obama signed this important legislation into law today.  Now that the Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act has finally been enacted into law, I'll be working to ensure that the Pentagon provides these benefits to National Guard troops in Iowa and across the country immediately."

Respite Leave was designed to provide service members deployed to places like Iraq and Afghanistan for longer than established rotation cycles additional help to reintegrate back to civilian life, as well as to improve the retention of service members who had experienced especially long tours of duty.

Once the Respite Leave program was announced, however, there were significant delays before its implementation.  The Department of the Army, for example, didn't issue its corresponding policy for implementing Respite Leave until more than six months after the Pentagon's January 2007 announcement of the program.

Because of this gap, thousands of soldiers from the Army National Guard did not receive proper Respite Leave compensation.

Braley first introduced the Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act in July 2008.  The bill will allow the Pentagon to retroactively grant up to $200 per day to affected troops.

# # #

16 Oct 2009

Rep. Braley Announces Opportunity for Iowa Student

By Amanda Crawford

2010 Congressional Page applications now available

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today that applications are now available for 2010 Congressional Page positions in Washington D.C. High school juniors are encouraged to apply.

"This is an outstanding opportunity to gain knowledge, experience and a first-hand look at the workings of our federal government," Braley said. "It's aimed not only at those interested in politics and public policy, but any student looking to challenge themselves, meet new friends and expand their horizon.

"Students gain insight, outstanding networking skills and long-lasting friendships. Not to mention a great love and understanding for our nation's capitol. I look forward to welcoming a student from the First District to Washington D.C."

The internship begins on January 24th, 2010 and concludes on June 4th.  The applications are due by November 9th and should be submitted to the Waterloo District Offce, at 501 Sycamore St., Suite 610, Waterloo, IA 50703.

Applications are available at http://www.braley.house.gov and are due on November 9th.

# # #

09 Oct 2009

Braley Provision to Fix Troop Pay Problem to Become Law

By Amanda Crawford

Provision passed by House paves way for Pentagon to provide benefits to Iowa National Guard troops

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) today announced that his Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act (HR 1222) was included in the final FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House today by a vote of 281-146.  The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for passage and then onto President Obama to be signed into law.

Braley's fix will ensure that hundreds of Iowa National Guard members are provided benefits they were promised under the Department of Defense's Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) program, commonly known as "Respite Leave."  Over 20,000 Army National Guard members across the country - including almost 800 members of the Iowa National Guard - did not receive benefits they earned due to delay between the announcement of the leave program by the Department of Defense and the implementation of the program by the individual services.

"Today brings us one critical step closer to ensuring that National Guard troops across the country receive the benefits they earned and deserve," Braley said.  "Iowa National Guard troops have served some of the most grueling and lengthy deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we owe it to them to provide these long overdue benefits immediately.  I'm looking forward to seeing President Obama sign this important legislation into law, and seeing Iowa National Guard troops finally receive the benefits they have long been promised by the Pentagon."

Respite Leave was designed to provide service members deployed to places like Iraq and Afghanistan for longer than established rotation cycles additional help to reintegrate back to civilian life, as well as to improve the retention of service members who had experienced especially long tours of duty.

Once the Respite Leave program was announced, however, there were significant delays before its implementation.  The Department of the Army, for example, didn't issue its corresponding policy for implementing Respite Leave until more than six months after the Pentagon's January 2007 announcement of the program.

Because of this gap, thousands of soldiers from the Army National Guard did not receive proper Respite Leave compensation.

Braley first introduced the Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act in July 2008.  The bill, which will allow the Pentagon to retroactively grant up to $200 per day to affected troops, has previously passed the House as part of the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act and as part of a Department of Defense appropriations bill.

The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for passage and then onto President Obama to be signed into law.

# # #

 

09 Oct 2009

Braley Announces Eastern Iowa Community College District and Hawkeye Community College to receive $276,318 for Renewable Energy Job Training

By Amanda Crawford

Braley created 'New Era' program which provides funding for grant.

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced that the Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD) and Hawkeye Community College have been awarded $276,318 in grant money from the Department of Agriculture for curriculum in ag-based renewable energy programs. The grant is made available through the New Era Rural Technology Program established by Braley.

"Community colleges in Eastern Iowa will now be able to enhance their courses and training for students entering the renewable energy field," Braley said. "This grant will not only promote higher education in the field of bio-energy, but give students the resources to be highly-qualified in the competitive job market."

Specifically, the money will go toward the EICCD Agriculture-based Renewable Energy Center (AREC), in partnership with Hawkeye Community College. Its vision is to advance curriculum, programs and resources to increase the number of rural students who pursue and complete a two-year postsecondary degree in ag-based renewable energy.

"I want to thank Congressman Braley for his role in securing the funding for this great opportunity at the college," Eastern Iowa Community College District Chancellor Dr. Pat Keir said. "Through the years, EICCD has become a leader in the area of new and renewable energies. This grant provides us with the ability to tie that into the heart of Iowa and the Midwest, agriculture. Thanks to this funding we will be educating students, other educators and current workers throughout the country in ag-based renewable energy opportunities."

The New Era Rural Technology Program was originally proposed by Braley when he introduced H.R. 872, the National Endowment for Workforce Education in Renewables and Agriculture (NEW ERA) Act, in 2007.  Braley passed these provisions into law in 2008, creating the grant program.

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