Congressman writes open letter to Secretary of State John Kerry

Washington, D.C. - After months of pressuring the Congolese and American governments to make progress on an impasse that halted all adoptions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United States, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today called on Iowans to help him pressure Secretary of State John Kerry to make solving this issue a top priority.

Braley paid special attention to case of Michael and Erin Peat of Dubuque, who had the adoption of their two children halted during the final stage of the process.

"I want the State Department and the Congolese government to understand that this is an issue that people care deeply about throughout our entire state," Braley said. "Iowa stands behind the Peats and hundreds of other families that are being kept apart from their children?and I'm going to continue doing everything I can to keep up the pressure until this issue is resolved."

Braley is asking Iowans to co-sign his letter to Secretary Kerry on his website at braley.house.gov.

"No child should be denied a loving home because of bureaucratic paperwork," the letter reads.

The State Department announced this week that the Congolese government would issue a total of 62 'exit letters'?15 of which would be issued to American families?but the overwhelming majority of U.S. families have received no update from the Congolese government and their adoptions remain in limbo.

Approximately 460 families have had their adoptions suspended, but the Peats are one of only about 50 families that have had it occur at such a late stage in the process. They were granted their adoption visa by the United States. However, the DRC suddenly refused to issue exit letters, which is the final step allowing families to bring their children to the United States.

Braley has written the Congolese Prime Minister, The Congolese Ambassador to the United States, and Secretary of State John Kerry calling for a resolution to this issue.

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after an announcement that the Obama administration will support a plan to keep 9,800 troops stationed in Afghanistan beyond the end of the year.

"Thousands of our brave severicemembers have sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan, and tens of thousands more have sustained serious injury. We should be bringing all of our troops home, not continuing to put nearly 10,000 of them in harm's way halfway around the world. It's long-past time the Afghan people were in control of their own future."

Congressman asks Navy Secretary for full review of Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt's records, after heroic efforts aboard USS Oklahoma

Washington, D.C. - During the attack on Pearl Harbor, while attempting to evacuate those aboard the USS Oklahoma, Dubuque-area Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt told those trying to pull him to safety, 'Please let go of me, and may God bless you all'. Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) is today asking the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus for a full-review of Chaplain Schmitt's records with the belief that his service and sacrifice make him eligible for some of the Navy's highest awards for valor.

"It's never too late to do the right thing," Braley said. "The actions Chaplain Schmitt took that day?and the lives he saved?continue to have a positive effect on Iowa and our nation, so it's only right that we ensure his sacrifice is honored to the fullest extent."

Schmitt, the first Chaplain of any faith killed in World War II, was aboard the USS Oklahoma as Japanese aircraft launched their assault on Pearl Harbor. While he was ministering to the dying and wounded in the ship's sick bay, the Oklahoma was struck by a torpedo causing the ship to capsize. Rather than evacuate the badly damaged ship, Schmitt remained on board, repeatedly directing others to safety before the Oklahoma sank.

Braley is asking the Navy to review Schmitt's records to see if he qualified for awards for valor, the criteria for which include actions taken at great danger and at great personal risk. Braley's letter details several other individuals aboard the Oklahoma that received awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor.

"The United States of America, the state of Iowa, and the residents of Dubuque are eternally grateful for the sacrifice made by this brave man," Braley wrote.

A copy of Braley's letter is available below:

April 30, 2014

The Honorable Ray Mabus

Secretary of the Navy

1200 Navy Pentagon

Washington, DC 20305-1000

Dear Secretary Mabus,

I am writing to you today on behalf of the community of Dubuque, Iowa regarding the service of Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt. He was the first Chaplain of any faith killed during World War II. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Chaplain Schmitt was aboard the USS Oklahoma as Japanese aircraft launched their assault on Pearl Harbor. While he was ministering to the dying and wounded in the ship's sick bay, the Oklahoma was struck by a torpedo causing the ship to capsize.

Chaplain Schmitt, along with several other sailors, was forced to move to a compartment where only a small porthole offered a method of evacuation from the incoming water. With no regard for his own safety, Chaplain Schmitt helped these men escape, and only after all other personnel had exited, did he try to exit himself. Struggling to get through the porthole, he realized that others had found their way into the compartment. Knowing that time was short, he directed these sailors to escape ahead of himself. As the water continued to rise, the sailors urged him to save himself yet Chaplain Schmitt replied only with "Please let go of me, and may God bless you all."

I have heard from many of my constituents regarding this powerful sacrifice and find Chaplain Schmitt's actions worthy of additional acknowledgment. Given the heroic nature of his actions, many in the Dubuque community have felt that he deserves greater recognition in the form of a valorous combat award.

Chaplain Schmitt's sacrifice was not the only one of its kind that day. Ensign Frank O'Flaherty and Seaman First Class James Ward, also aboard the Oklahoma, were awarded the Medal of Honor for remaining at their post and allowing fellow sailors to escape before the ship capsized. Machinist's Mate First Class Robert Scott and Chief Watertender Peter Tomich were also awarded the Medal of Honor for similar actions.

I ask you today to consider an appropriate upgrade from the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for which Chaplain Schmitt was originally awarded. Department of the Navy guidance requires that an award for valor must be performed in the presence of great danger and at great personal risk, criteria that I feel Chaplain Schmitt's actions certainly meet.

The United States of America, the state of Iowa, and the residents of Dubuque are eternally grateful for the sacrifice made by this brave man. I appreciate you taking the time to consider this request and look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Bruce Braley

Congressman calls on Congress to permanently extend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors

Washington, D.C. - After the expiration of a tax credit that had helped put 1400 Iowa veterans back to work, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today wrote Speaker of the House John Boehner urging him to restore the tax credit and make it permanent.

"Fifty thousand veterans have been helped by this tax credit?1400 of them in Iowa alone?and it's time we made it permanent," Braley said. "Iowa employers have a strong commitment to hiring our highly-skilled veterans and this law would allow them to continue that commitment."

Braley introduced the Hire a Hero Act in December of last year. It was designed to make permanent a temporary tax credit that could be used to hire unemployed veterans.

"Recently I met with veterans and businesses in Ames, Grinnell, and Iowa City. I saw firsthand the individuals and employers that benefited from the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors," Braley wrote.

In 2011, Braley wrote the Combat Veterans Back to Work Act to provide employers with a payroll tax break if they hired recently returned veterans, including members of the Iowa National Guard. The bill was incorporated into new tax credits signed into law in November 2011. The Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors work opportunity tax credits provide anywhere between $2,400 and $9,600 to businesses who hire veterans.

These credits are available to businesses that hire unemployed or returning veterans and qualify for tax credits worth between $2,400 and $5,600. Businesses that hire unemployed veterans with a service-connected disability qualify for tax credits of between $4,800 and $9,600. There is no limit to how many veterans a business can hire, therefore no limit on how many tax credits they can receive.

The letter to Speaker Boehner is available below:

April 22, 2014

The Honorable John Boehner

Speaker of the House

United States House of Representatives

H- 232 The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I'm writing to urge you to quickly bring up H.R. 3648, the Hire a Hero Act of 2013 for a vote in the House.

Recently I met with veterans and businesses in Ames, Grinnell, and Iowa City.  I saw firsthand the individuals and employers that benefited from the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors. Unfortunately, this tax credit expired at the end of 2013. Thanks to the credit, in 2013, the unemployment rate for Iowa veterans fell to 3.4 percent, which was about half the national average. However, there are still significant populations of veterans that are in need of good jobs. For example, in December 2013, the national unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans was 7.3 percent. This remains unacceptably high, and that's why we must renew and extend this important tax credit that helps our nation's veterans find good jobs.

On December 4th, 2013 I introduced H.R. 3648, the Hire a Hero Act of 2013. This bill would make the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors permanent. Over 50,000 veterans have been hired because of this tax credit nationally, 1400 of those in Iowa. These key figures illustrate the need to make the tax credit permanent, which provides a valuable incentive for businesses to hire veterans.

I urge you to swiftly bring up this bill for a vote in the House and I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Bruce Braley