(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced he has named current assistant director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Judy Bradshaw as the director of the academy effective tomorrow, July 1, 2015. Bradshaw, 56, was appointed as current director Arlen Ciechanowski retires from the Academy effective at close of business today.

"The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy serves the important role of training Iowa's peace officers and preparing them for their career of service," said Branstad. "I believe Judy Bradshaw possess the leadership, knowledge, temperament and communications skills to effectively lead the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy."

The ILEA was created by an act of the Iowa Legislature in 1967 with its purpose being to upgrade law enforcement to professional status. The specific goals were to maximize training opportunities for law enforcement officers, to coordinate training and to set standards for the law enforcement services.

"In interviewing Judy Bradshaw, I was impressed to learn more about her ability to bring individuals of diverse backgrounds together to better serve the community," said Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. "Judy Bradshaw's career of distinguished service and her years of law enforcement experience make her an ideal choice to lead the training of the next generation of Iowa peace officers."

The ILEA, in addition to maximizing training opportunities for all Iowa's peace officers, is responsible for providing basic and in-service training for all county and city jailers and Iowa telecommunication specialists.

"I appreciate the confidence Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds have placed in me as I transition into my new role of director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy," said Bradshaw. "Our role at the academy is to prepare men and women to protect Iowans and I look forward to the opportunity to assist in teaching future peace officers best practices to effectively serve their communities."

In her 35 years of law enforcement - most with the Des Moines Police Department - 27 years have been within management. She is a graduate of Ankeny High School and Drake University. She has a Master's Degree in Public Administration. For 10 years, Bradshaw taught Criminal Justice Studies at Grandview University and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).

The governor's appointment of Bradshaw is subject to Iowa Senate confirmation. For more information on ILEA, please visit https://ileatraining.org.

###

(KANSAS CITY, Kansas) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today delivered testimony before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Kansas City, Kansas, in support of a robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  The full text of the testimony is below or available to read here.

"The EPA has a choice - protect the deep pockets of Big Oil and their monopolistic practices or nurture consumer choice, renewable energy growth and a healthy rural economy. Unless you advance a robust RFS, you will constrain growth in the rural economy, negatively impacting family farms, agri-business and the biofuels industries, and the citizens and businesses that are part of our nation's rural fabric," Branstad said at the testimony.

The hearing was held in response to the EPA's proposed renewable volume obligation levels.

"The EPA's decision will affect the lives of many Iowans, Midwesterners and consumers nationwide.  I hope that the EPA shows Midwesterners that the Federal Government has not abandoned its commitment to a robust RFS and revitalizing rural America," Branstad concluded.

In written comments submitted to the EPA, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said, "In rural America, supporting the RFS is not a partisan issue.  Supporting a strong RFS is good for farmers who add value to their agricultural products.  A robust RFS is good for workers in the biofuels industry, including those that have rewarding careers at Iowa's 42 ethanol plants, 13 biodiesel plants, and agricultural equipment manufacturing facilities and dealers.  Iowans know the importance of a strong Renewable Fuels Standard and we hope the multitude of testimonies today convince you of its importance as well."

The governor's full testimony, as prepared for delivery, are as follows:

Written Testimony from Governor Terry Branstad (Iowa)

EPA Hearing on Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Proposal

June 25, 2015

Good morning, my name is Terry Branstad and I'm honored to serve the people of Iowa as their Governor. On August 15, 2013, I welcomed EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, to Iowa at the state fair, and discussed with her the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, to our state.

That day:

• the price of corn was $6.00 per bushel;
• but now it has fallen to $3.45 a bushel, well below the cost of production, and
• Iowa farmland prices dropped 15 percent last year,  and
• USDA estimates that farm income will decline 32 percent this year.

Since that time, I have participated in numerous meetings focused on the importance of a robust RFS to a healthy economy in rural America. For example, in January of 2014, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, Members of the Iowa congressional delegation, and I hosted interested citizens from across Midwest and from both political parties for a "Hearing in the Heartland".

During that open public hearing, 83 individuals testified in support of a robust RFS and only 2 people testified in favor of scaling back the RFS.  I had hoped to welcome you all to Iowa for today's hearing, but appreciate that you have at least chosen a Midwest venue outside the Beltway and further from the reach of Big Oil's army of well-paid lobbyists.

I've been a relentless supporter of biofuels dating back to the 1970s, when we called it "gas-a-hol". It's truly incredible to see how the industry has grown and provides diverse benefits to farmers, rural communities, and workers.

With a state that has over 92,000 farmers, dozens of thriving international agri-business companies, and a large variety of bio-science leaders, it's easy to see that the growth is a result of the hard work and innovation of our farmers and the technological advancement in the use of corn, soybeans and other biomass products.

There are many benefits that flow from the RFS and the use of biofuels, including:

o   Diversifying our nation's energy portfolio and reducing our dependence on overseas oil,

o   Reducing transportation fuel emissions,

o   Giving consumers choices at the pump, and

o   Helping grow family incomes in rural America.

In fact, biofuels have enabled value-add opportunities for a variety of biostocks including corn, corn stalks, soybeans, and woody biomass. And, renewable fuels have created high-paying jobs and rewarding careers in rural America.

In the current RFS proposal, I recognize that EPA has made some changes. For example, there are some encouraging changes to allow for increased volumes of biodiesel. Unfortunately, on the ethanol front, the agency seems to have bought Big Oil's faulty arguments - hook, line, and sinker. Big Oil has polluted the discourse with half-truths and a narrative that rewards their bad behavior of blocking market access for renewables.

The EPA's indecision the last two years, led to market uncertainty that hurt farmers and froze investment in next generation technology. My hope is that the EPA is open to improving the proposal much further and meeting the original congressional intent of significantly expanding the use of biofuels throughout the country.

The EPA has a choice - protect the deep pockets of Big Oil and their monopolistic practices or nurture consumer choice, renewable energy growth and a healthy rural economy. Unless you advance a robust RFS, you will constrain growth in the rural economy, negatively impacting family farms, agri-business and the biofuels industries, and the citizens and businesses that are part of our nation's rural fabric.

The proposed rule by the EPA would have a direct impact on the 42 Iowa ethanol plants and 13 Iowa biodiesel plants and the scores of facilities across the Midwest.  It is estimated that this single EPA proposal would cost thousands of jobs nationally.  That's thousands of families who would face undue financial hardship and stress.

The EPA's indecision and proposed rules have negatively impacted land prices, farm machinery manufacturers, and rippled throughout rural America.

I was Governor of Iowa during the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, a time which brought incredible hardship to farm families and rural communities. I will never forget the challenges endured during those times and it is not an experience I want to revisit.

After decades of efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil, give consumers choices at the pump, and increase family incomes, the EPA's revised proposal would halt further progress. I find it ironic that Big Oil often attacks renewable fuels on environmental grounds through misinformation and half-truths - this from the same industry that was responsible for the MTBE debacle, the 1989 Exxon Valdez, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spills.

I hope that the EPA will use some good Midwest common-sense and continue the progress made since 2005.

The use of co-products, such as DDGs, are also important to the growth of agriculture.  DDGs are an excellent source of protein for cattle and other livestock and have resulted in significant growth in cattle feeding in the Midwest.

States, including Iowa, and the Federal government are providing incentives for investment in renewable fuel infrastructure. Growth in E15, E85, and blender pumps, can help achieve the important goals set by the RFS.  And we are exploring how we might be able to expand those efforts via the recently announced USDA infrastructure initiative.

Retailers in Iowa know the importance of biofuels to our state and have installed blender pumps, which result in higher octane and lower cost ethanol-blended fuels for consumers.

In Iowa, E85 is nearly one dollar cheaper than regular gasoline.  When consumers have the choice, as they do in Iowa, they choose ethanol and other biofuels.  The oil companies are preventing some of these efforts in other parts of the country and consumers are forced to pay more for fuel.

In the last 18 months, there have been encouraging studies and data provided that I believe gives the EPA an opportunity to refine their approach.  Including:

o   Data that shows that there is more capacity to integrate biofuels into our nation's fuel supply, and

o   Data that shows that RIN activity did not affect prices at the pump.

I look forward to hearing from fellow Midwesterners who embrace choices at the pump and a robust RFS.  The EPA's decision will affect the lives of many Iowans, Midwesterners and consumers nationwide.  I hope that the EPA shows Midwesterners that the Federal Government has not abandoned its commitment to a robust RFS and revitalizing rural America.

I am hand-delivering letters from Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa congressional delegation - both Republicans and Democrats - as they join me in urging President Obama and Administrator McCarthy to alter the EPA proposal to support a more robust and effective RFS, as they have in the past.

Thank you for the opportunity to present.

Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds have been engaged in calling for a strong and robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for over a year.

Highlights of Iowa leaders' engagement on the RFS include :

• State and Federal elected officials, including Gov. Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds, participated in a "Defend the RFS" event.
• Gov. Branstad traveled to Washington, DC, joining a group of Iowa farmers and biofuels producers, to testify at the Federal government's only public hearing and met with EPA Administrator McCarthy.
• Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Secretary Bill Northey and the entire Iowa congressional delegation sent a joint letter to Federal leaders advocating for the many benefits that flow from the RFS.
• Gov. Terry Branstad and Gov. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) penned an op-ed in support of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard.
• Gov. Terry Branstad brought together a bipartisan group of six governors to sign on to a letter to President Barack Obama, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack expressing their support for a strong RFS.
• Leaders from across the Midwest joined Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds for their "Hearing in Heartland," which was open to all interested citizens; 83 panelists from across the Midwest Region spoke from the heart about the importance of the RFS to their livelihoods and a healthy rural economy while only two individuals expressed opposition to a robust RFS.
• Gov. Branstad, in his Condition of the State address, called on the Iowa Legislature to pass a resolution in support of a robust RFS. The Legislature unanimously passed bicameral, bipartisan resolutions calling for the EPA to reverse course and support a strong RFS. View the resolutions: House Resolution 101 | Senate Resolution 101
• State of Iowa leaders submitted formal comments to the EPA with current data and analysis that provides Federal leaders the opportunity and obligation to revise their initial volume obligations upward.

###

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced Emmet County has met the criteria to become designated as a Home Base Iowa Community. Today he also announced Iowa Lakes Community College has been designated as a Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMP).  A formal announcement and press conference will be held today in Estherville at the Iowa Lakes Community College at 4:30 p.m.

Emmet County joins eighteen existing communities in becoming a certified Home Base Iowa Communities. To become a Home Base Iowa Community, an area must meet the following criteria: 10% of its businesses with potential to hire sign on as Home Base Iowa Businesses; local government supports the effort; signage indicates the community is a Home Base Iowa Community and the community creates local incentives that offer additional benefits for Veterans and that complement those in the statewide Home Base Iowa Act.

"More than 1300 Veterans hired through Home Base Iowa effort now call Iowa home," said Branstad. "Iowans are embracing the Home Base Iowa initiative to create communities that are welcoming and attractive to Veterans and to provide transitioning military members with every opportunity for success."

"We've seen the momentum build with this program," said Lt Governor Kim Reynolds. "With the support of over 900 businesses, education CHAMPS, our Iowa communities and the aggressive career and recruitment efforts of the program, we are both pleased and excited to know what began as a great idea is now becoming a program recognized as a national model."

Iowa Lakes Community College joins the existing HBI CHAMPs?Upper Iowa University, Mount Mercy University, University of Dubuque, Mercy College of Health Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa Central Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Kirkwood Community College and Northern Iowa Area Community College.  The Home Base Iowa CHAMP program allows Iowa colleges and universities to become certified for their ability to educate and assist Veterans on campus. The certification will help attract Veterans and transitioning Service Members to Iowa. It also helps academic institutions market their campus as Veteran-friendly. To become a Home Base Iowa CHAMP, education institutions must meet criteria in each of the three categories: On-Campus Veteran Resources, Mindfulness of Service Member Transitions and Financial Considerations.

There are over 57 businesses who have committed to hire veterans as part of Emmet County's Home Base Iowa efforts.  Emmet County offers incentives for veterans visiting the county for job interviews and additional incentives for those who choose to relocate to Emmet County. That is in addition to the $5,000 offered through the Home Ownership Assistance Program statewide.

BACKGROUND ON THE HOME BASE IOWA ACT 

Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds launched the Home Base Iowa initiative in November of 2013 at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge. Branstad and Reynolds named Congressman Leonard Boswell and Casey's CEO Bob Myers the co-chairs of the initiative.

The Home Base Iowa Act was signed into law on May 26, 2014. It passed the Iowa Senate 46-0 and the Iowa House 94-2. The Home Base Iowa initiative does the following:

• Fully exempts military pensions from state income tax.
• Gives veterans, their spouses and dependents in-state tuition at Iowa's colleges and universities.
• Allows Iowa's licensing boards to adopt rules allowing credit for military training and experience in the licensing process.
• Allows private-sector companies to follow the public sector's lead by allowing a preference in hiring and promoting veterans.
• Eliminates the special plate issuance fees charged for plates associated with military service.
• Expands eligibility for the Military Homeownership Assistance Program, which provides $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.  Additional funding for the program is provided in a separate appropriations bill.

In addition to the Home Base Iowa Act, Branstad also signed Senate File 2352 in 2014.

Senate File 2352 an Act relating to the additional homestead credit for certain disabled veterans and including effective date and applicability provisions.

For more information on Home Base Iowa, please visit www.HomeBaseIowa.org. Those interested in becoming a Home Base Iowa Business, a Home Base Iowa Community or a Home Base Iowa CHAMP should contact Kathy Anderson at Kathy.anderson@iowa.gov or homebase@iowa.gov.

###

This proclamation would offer an additional option to assist affected producers in disposal of safe, virus-free manure and compost from affected sites

 

(DES MOINES) - On Monday, June 15, 2015, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a disaster emergency proclamation for 18 Iowa counties adversely affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which would assist with disposal and clean-up efforts on affects sites.  The disaster proclamation can be viewed here.

The state of disaster emergency proclamation temporarily allows impacted chicken and turkey producers to dispose of manure and compost generated at a premise infected with HPAI as a Bulk Dry Animal Nutrient under Chapter 200A of Iowa Code. The material can only be moved off-site if the United States Department of Agriculture has certified that the material is virus-free. Normally, only un-manipulated animal manure qualifies for distribution under this code section.

This proclamation only applies to impacted chicken and turkey producers in the 18 counties with confirmed cases of HPAI. Counties included in this proclamation are: Adair, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Hamilton, Kossuth, Lyon, Madison, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Webster and Wright.

The proclamation is effective until July 15, 2015.

The proclamation of disaster emergency can be read below:

WHEREAS, beginning on April 13, 2015, and continuing thereafter, there have been seventy-six confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the State of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious and economically devastating disease that has threatened turkeys, chickens, and other poultry in our state; and

WHEREAS, the spread of this highly contagious disease continues to threaten the public peace, health, and safety of the citizens of the State of Iowa and has the potential to quickly destroy private property and exhaust local resources and capacities unless its spread is stopped.  These facts provide legal justification for the issuance of this Proclamation of a State of Disaster Emergency. Iowa Code §§ 29C.1, 29C.2 (1), 29C.6 (1); and

WHEREAS, Iowa poultry producers typically dispose of animal manure generated by their facilities under the provisions of Iowa Code Chapter 200A, and

WHEREAS, Iowa Code § 200A.3 (6) requires that animal manure must be "unmanipulated" and composed of "primarily of animal excreta" in order to be considered "dry animal nutrient product" to come under the regulation of Iowa Code Chapter 200A.  As defined, Iowa Code § 200A.3 (6) creates a particular hardship for turkey and chicken producers on sites infected by highly pathogenic avian influenza by making them ineligible to dispose of their animal manure under the authority of Iowa Code Chapter 200A, and

WHEREAS, producers with sites infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza in the following eighteen (18) Iowa counties are adversely effected by the definition of "dry animal nutrient product" in  Iowa Code § 200A.3 (6): Adair, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Hamilton, Kossuth, Lyon, Madison, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Webster and Wright County.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TERRY E. BRANSTAD, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by the Iowa Constitution Art. IV, §§ 1, 8 and Iowa Code §§ 29C.6 (1), 163.3A (2) and all other applicable laws, and in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and the authority granted to it under Iowa Code § 163.3A, do hereby proclaim a State of Disaster Emergency specifically for the following eighteen (18) Iowa counties: Adair, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Hamilton, Kossuth, Lyon, Madison, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Webster and Wright and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

SECTION One. I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 200A.3 (6) requiring that animal manure be "unmanipulated" and composed of "primarily of animal excreta" in order to be considered "dry animal nutrient product" as defined by this section.  This suspension shall be effective only to manure and compost generated at a premise infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza and quarantined by the Iowa Department of Agriculture, in the counties delineated above, provided said material has been released for application in writing by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  All other provisions of Iowa Code Chapter 200A shall apply to the above-described material.

SECTION Two. This state of disaster emergency shall be effective on June 15, 2015, shall continue for thirty (30) days, and shall expire on July 15, 2015, unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me. Iowa Code § 29C.6 (1).