Washington, DC - Tomorrow, Tuesday May 22nd, 2012, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will visit North Fayette High School to recognize the 2012 winner of the Iowa First District Congressional Art Competition, Kelsey Feldman.

The Congressional Art Competition, first held in 1982, is a nationwide high school arts competition sponsored by the US House of Representatives.  One winning piece of artwork from each House district is selected to be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the US Capitol Building in Washington for the following year.  In addition to having her artwork displayed in the Capitol, Feldman will receive two round-trip airline tickets to Washington, DC.

Kelsey's painting, Streetlight, was selected from 64 entries as the best eastern Iowa has to offer.  Kelsey is a junior at North Fayette High School.  The winning artwork, a list of winners, and a gallery of all the submissions can be viewed here: http://braley.house.gov/art-competition

TOMORROW, Tuesday May 22^nd, 2012

 

3:00pm Recognize Kelsey Feldman, 2012 Congressional Art Competition Winner

North Fayette High School

600 N. Pine St.

West Union, Iowa

 

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By: Rep. Bruce Braley

The Farm Bill is arguably the single most important piece of federal legislation that affects Iowa jobs and the Iowa economy.  From renewable energy to conservation programs, from crop insurance to agricultural research and rural development, the Farm Bill has an enormous impact on our state.  There just isn't much that the Farm Bill doesn't touch here in Iowa.

Every five years, Congress has the opportunity to improve the Farm Bill so that it more effectively enables American farmers to provide for themselves and produce high quality, affordable food for Americans and people all over the world.  The current Farm Bill expires on September 30^th of this year, meaning Congress is due to debate and pass a new bill this summer.

I've embarked on a series of Farm Bill listening sessions with the USDA's Iowa Rural Development Director, Bill Menner, in communities across eastern Iowa to listen to Iowans and get their feedback on what needs to be included in this important bill.  Maybe I've already seen you in Independence, Vinton, Marengo, Grinnell, Toledo, or Marshalltown.  Or maybe I'll see you soon in your area.

I've gotten a lot of good feedback from the sessions already.

I've heard a lot about the recent successes of Iowa's agriculture economy.  Even in the face of the economic downturn that began in 2009, U.S. farm exports have enjoyed double digit gains every year. American agricultural exports to China alone have increased by 50% since the last Farm Bill in 2008.   In 2011 agricultural trade resulted in a net positive balance of nearly $43 billion, and total exports are expected to exceed $136 billion in 2012.  So the next Farm Bill must ensure our farmers are able to continue working in the face of market fluctuations, to both safeguard our domestic food supply but also to sustain this growing international competitiveness.

Another frequent concern is the crop insurance program.  In 2011, devastating flooding on the Missouri River caused an estimated $207 million in losses for Iowa farmers in just six counties along the river. Cases like this highlight the importance of crop insurance in protecting farmers during unexpected catastrophes.  Maintaining and strengthening the crop insurance program is important to many, many Iowans.

Congress has a lot of work to do to create a bill that will benefit both producers and consumers by the September 30^th deadline, but doing nothing is just not acceptable.  There's a lot of division and disagreement in Washington, but the Farm Bill isn't a political game.  Both parties in Congress should rally around farmers and agree on a Farm Bill framework that expands opportunities in the growing agriculture industry.

In the meantime, I hope to see you at my Farm Bill listening sessions in the near future.

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Braley signing on to bipartisan Business Cycle Balanced Budget Amendment today 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will hold his weekly press conference call with Iowa reporters this morning at 10:30am CDT.

Braley will announce his support for a balanced budget amendment sponsored by Republican Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), the Business Cycle Balanced Budget Amendment (H. J. Res. 81).

WHAT: Bruce Braley's weekly press call with Iowa reporters

WHEN: TODAY, Wednesday May 16th, 2012 at 11:30am EDT // 10:30am CDT

Braley, DeLauro Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Middle Class

Comprehensive Bill Makes Investments, Creates Stability, Restores Fairness Necessary to Rebuild America 

 

Washington, DC - Representatives Bruce Braley (D-IA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), co-chairs of the Populist Caucus, today introduced the Rebuild America Act, comprehensive legislation to rebuild the American middle-class.  The bill invests in our future through three main tenants: investment to foster jobs and growth, creating financial stability for middle-class families and restoring fairness to the tax code.  This stands in direct contrast to the vision for America Republicans are pushing today: slashing the social safety net to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

 

"The Rebuild America Act is the kind of comprehensive plan we need to strengthen the middle class, grow America's economy, and invest in the future," Braley said.  "From the modernization of America's schools to the expansion of renewable energy, from a national manufacturing strategy to raising the minimum wage, this bill is the kind of bold vision that will put America back on a path to prosperity and progress.  Congress has been paralyzed by inaction, but I believe this common sense plan can appeal to people regardless of partisanship."

 

"The debate in Washington has gone on for too long.  We need to stop talking and start implementing solutions to get America back to work," DeLauro said.  "The Rebuild America Act makes bold, critical investments in our future to create jobs and promote the financial stability so crucial to middle-class Americans.  These families have been facing pressures on all fronts, from struggling schools to declining manufacturing to the squeeze on pensions and retirement security.  This bill will help both individuals and businesses start to pull themselves out of the morass we have been in and prepare our economy for future challenges."

 

The Rebuild America Act has three overarching principles:

 

1. Investing in America to Create Jobs and Future Growth
2. Creating Financial Stability and a Better Future for Middle-Class Families
3. Restoring Fairness to the Tax Code and Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility

 

Investing in America to Create Jobs and Future Growth

Creating solid middle-class jobs that cannot be outsourced will lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.  To do this, we need to move from being a nation that consumes to one that builds and exports.  The Rebuild America Act invests in our schools and teachers, renewable energy and roads, bridges and infrastructure.  It also rebuilds our manufacturing power through expanded tax credits and access to credit for business.

 

Creating Financial Stability and a Better Future for Middle-Class Families

Middle-class families are facing enormous financial pressures, both during their working years and in retirement.  The Rebuild America Act helps ease this stress by strengthening social security, establishing a fair minimum wage and ensuring paid sick days are available for workers across the country.

 

Restore Fairness to the Tax Code and Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility

Our current tax system is unfair, too complex and keeps us on a path of perennial deficits.  The Rebuild America Act takes action to level the playing field for all Americans.  The bill includes the Buffet Rule, ends tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and makes Wall Street take responsibility for their irresponsible actions that led to the 2008 financial collapse.  Crucially, the Rebuild America Act protects the pensions that workers are counting on to get through retirement by encouraging employers to continue to provide pensions and creating additional protections for people whose pension is a casualty of bankruptcy.

 

The following organizations support the Rebuild America Act:

 

SEIU

AFSCME

AFL-CIO

AFT

Building Trades Unions

Machinists Union

UAW

NEA

IAFF

USW

IUPA

Main Street Alliance

American Sustainable Business Council

Campaign for America's Future

American Dream

National Women's Law Center

National Partnership for Women and Families

National Employment Law Center

Urban League

US Action

Community Change

Moms Rising

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Children's Defense Fund

Young Invincibles

Social Security Works

Coalition on Human Needs

Family Values at Work

ADA

First Five Years Fund

NAEYC

CLASP

NWLC

PEW

PreKnow

Independent

NACCRAA

ECE Consortium

Zero to Three

Head Start

First Focus

Voices

NAWB

Workforce Alliance

JAG

American Progress

Knowledge Works

Alliance for American Manufacturing

American Small Manufacturer Coalition

Industrial Unions Council

United Spinal Association

The Arc

 

Formed in 2009, the House Populist Caucus is the only caucus in Congress dedicated soley to strengthening America's middle class.  The Populist Caucus has 28 members.

 

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