Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement today after voting against a Republican bill that would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA):

"I voted against repeal today for the sake of thousands of Iowans like my nephew, Tucker.  Tucker survived a fight with liver cancer at age 2 because he had health insurance.  But his parents lived in constant fear of losing their jobs because if they did, Tucker would be denied new insurance due to his pre-existing condition.  The healthcare reform law ended those fears - but repealing the law would roll back this important reform and many more.

"Because of the Affordable Care Act, 18,000 young Iowans can stay on their parents' insurance up to age 26, insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage due to preexisting conditions, screenings for diseases like breast cancer are covered 100 percent, and 42,000 Iowa seniors are saving an average of $615 per year on their Medicare prescription drug benefits.

"Iowans can't afford to go back to where we started."

New legislation would roll back Bush tax cuts for rich Americans making over $250k per year

Washington, D.C. - July 11, 2012 - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) introduced legislation today that would extend middle class tax cuts for two years and allow the Bush tax cuts for rich Americans making over $250,000 per year to expire at the end of 2012.

According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, in tax year 2010, 99.2 percent of Iowa taxpayers reported income under $250,000.

On Monday and again yesterday in Cedar Rapids, President Obama called on Congress to renew middle class tax cuts while allowing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire.

"The Bush tax cuts for the rich a decade ago are a big reason why we're facing record budget deficits today," Braley said.  "Extending middle class tax cuts will keep money in the pockets of more Iowa families, helping to drive job creation and economic growth.  Rolling back the Bush tax cuts for wealthy Americans making more than $250,000 will help close the deficit.

"With this bill, we're trying to bring Democrats and Republicans together around a fiscally responsible compromise.  It deserves bipartisan support."

Unless Congress acts by the end of 2012, the Bush tax cuts will expire completely.  Braley's Middle Class Tax Cut Protection Act would extend through 2014 the tax cuts for American families making less than $250,000 per year.  Braley's bill would protect a reduced capital gains tax rate for these taxpayers.

For rich families making more than $250,000 per year, the Bush tax cuts would expire.  The capital gains tax rate for these taxpayers would revert to a top rate of 20 percent.

Braley's bill also protects the American Opportunity Tax Credit (a $2,500 tax credit for college expenses), expanded child tax credits, and the Earned Income Tax Credit for families that work and have children.

The cost of extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans (those making over $250,000 per year) is estimated at $850 billion over 10 years.

Full text of the Middle Class Tax Cut Protection Act can be downloaded at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/wFL

Senate passed bipartisan bill year ago; House has not acted to keep flags made in USA

Washington, D.C. - On the eve of the Independence Day holiday, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) - the authors of the All-American Flag Act, which would require the federal government to purchase 100 percent made-in-America flags - urged the leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to move the bill forward to it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.

Braley said, "It's just common sense: Americans' tax dollars should be used to purchase flags made in the USA.  The Senate has agreed in a bipartisan vote.  Now, it's time for the House to act.  I urge the Oversight Committee to protect America's greatest symbol and support manufacturers right here in the United States by immediately considering this bill."

Brown said, "Under current law, the American flags that fly from federal buildings?on July 4th and every day of the year?may be up to fifty percent foreign-made. Many American companies, including Annin and Company in Coshocton, proudly produce the American flag right here in the United States.  With strong bipartisan support in the Senate, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee should move to discharge the All-American Flag Act and send it to the House floor for a vote. We should do all we can to support American manufacturing and job creation, especially when it comes to our most treasured of patriotic symbols?the American flag."

The All-American Flag Act unanimously passed the US Senate in July 2011, but the House has failed to schedule a vote for its companion bill, H.R. 1344, which was introduced by Rep. Braley. The bill must be approved by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in order to be voted on by the full House. Two years ago, the Braley-authored All-American Flag Act passed the House unanimously.

For more information on the All-American Flag Act, visit: http://go.usa.gov/wWU

Braley and Brown made the request in a letter to Oversight Committee leadership.  The text of that letter follows:

The Honorable Darrell Issa

Chairman

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

2157 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Elijah Cummings

Ranking Member

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

2471 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings:

As we approach the 4th of July, we are reminded of the importance of the American flag as the symbol of our nation.  Unfortunately, current law requires the government to purchase flags made of only 50 percent American-made materials.  We strongly believe that U.S. flags should consist of only American made materials.

That is why we introduced the All-American Flag Act.  This bill would require the federal government to purchase flags that contain 100 percent American-made materials.  In the 111th Congress, both of you supported this legislation when it was passed out of the Oversight Committee.  The bill was later adopted by voice-vote in the House.  Last July, the Senate unanimously passed the All-American Flag Act.

As the two primary authors of this legislation, we ask that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee discharge the Senate passed version of the All-American Flag Act so it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.  Given that this legislation has already been passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, we believe that now is the time to see that this legislation is signed into law.

American flags should be made in America using American products.  Allowing the government to purchase flags with foreign-made materials is disrespectful to our country.  We urge you to discharge the All-American Flag Act from the House Oversight Committee so it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.

Thank you for your attention to our request.  We ask that you please reply to our letter within 10 business days with an answer on whether or not the Committee will discharge this legislation.  Please feel free to contact either of us if we can provide further assistance.

The Supreme Court's landmark healthcare decision is dominating headlines across Iowa and the United States today.  Your attention is likely focused on the implications of this historic decision for Iowa and its effect on thousands of Iowans, and rightfully so.

But I wanted to take a break from healthcare for a brief moment to draw your attention to a remarkable series of accomplishments in recent days by Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01).  Even for a representative recognized for his effectiveness, the previous two weeks have been some of the most productive in his Congressional career.

That this string of bipartisan achievements has come at a time of historically bitter division in Washington by a representative in the political minority in Congress makes it all the more impressive.  Simply put, Rep. Braley couldn't have found success on these measures without effectively bringing people together from both sides of the partisan divide.

They may not be accomplishments that will command bold headlines in newspapers or lead the evening news, but they represent the kind of real progress on issues we need to protect jobs in Iowa for middle class families and veterans, keep our kids safer, and create new economic opportunities.

In the words of our Vice President, it's is a big... well, you get the idea.

Without further ado, I bring you Braley's Big Six Bipartisan Accomplishments (of the last 10 days):

BRALEY'S BIG SIX BIPARTISAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS (OF THE LAST 10 DAYS)

1. Better Use of Refrigerator Regulations Amendment. Bipartisan bill introduced May 2012 by Braley and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03); amendment version unanimously adopted by the US House and added to HR 4480, the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012, on 6/21/12.  Measure removes burdensome government regulations on refrigerated deli-style display cases that threaten the future of their manufacture in the United States.  Lennox Industries (facilities in Marshalltown, Iowa) makes the deli cases.  More information: http://go.usa.gov/wa8

·         Marshalltown T-R: Braley Helps Remove Red Tape Impeding Manufacturing

2. Kadyn's Amendment. Bipartisan amendment unanimously adopted by the US House and added to HR 5972, the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, on 6/27/12.  Requires 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.  More information: http://go.usa.gov/wxe

·         Des Moines Register: Kadyn's Amendment passes US House

·         KCRG: Kadyn's Amendment included in Transportation Bill

·         Mason City Globe-Gazette: US House passes Kadyn's Amendment

3. HR 3524, Disabled Veterans Employment Protection Act. Bill introduced November 2011 by Braley was unanimously approved by the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on 6/28/12.  Provides military and National Guard veterans up to 4 weeks of unpaid leave each calendar year for treatment for a service-related injury without fear of losing their jobs.  More information: http://go.usa.gov/vJ0

4. HR 5747, Military Veteran Home Protection Act. Introduced May 2012 by Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-07).  Braley version introduced and unanimously adopted by Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on 6/29/12 expands and improves protections from home foreclosures against military veterans and surviving spouses of servicemembers who died while serving our country.

5. HR 4057, Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act. Introduced February 2012 by Rep. Gus Bilrakis (FL-09). Braley version introduced and unanimously adopted by Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on 6/29/12 targets aggressive and deceptive marketing to service members and veterans by some educational institutions and provides veterans with standard information about post-secondary institutions to help vets make more informed choices about college.

6. HR 3826, Keeping College Affordable Act. Co-introduced by Braley and others in January 2012, was the first legislative proposal to keep college student loan interest rates low.  Blocks the increase in student loan interest rates by indefinitely extending the low, 3.4 percent interest rate on subsidized federal student loans.  Today, the US House approved in a bipartisan vote a compromise version that keeps student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent for the next year.  More information: http://go.usa.gov/waf