WASHINGTON - The job-creating immigrant investor visa program, known as the EB-5 Regional Center program, is set to expire in just one week if Congress does not move to reauthorize it.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) are urging Congressional leaders to support a bipartisan, bicameral proposal that would provide much-needed reforms to the program and reauthorize it for four years.

"The EB-5 program is not working how it was intended to by Congress.  The EB-5 program has serious vulnerabilities, is loaded with fraud and abuse, and isn't nearly the job-creator it has been purported to be.  We need to be sure that the EB-5 Regional Center program is not only creating economic stimulus and jobs in areas that need it the most, but also not jeopardizing the nation's security or harming U.S. investors," Grassley said.  "The program needs an overhaul with the common sense reforms that we've put together in a bipartisan, bicameral way.  The status quo is unacceptable."

"The EB-5 Regional Center program has generated investment and created jobs in distressed communities, but the program is facing some pressing challenges. Reports of rampant fraud and abuse raise serious concerns and threaten the program's mission. The incentives Congress established to spur investment in high unemployment and rural communities are also routinely abused, undermining a core objective of the program," Leahy said. "The Regional Center should be reauthorized, but only if reformed.  There is now bipartisan consensus around these reforms, and we cannot squander this opportunity."

Since launching in 1993, this program has generated capital investment and created jobs across the country.  But the program has also experienced significant problems in recent years, underscoring the need for Congress to restore the program to one that transforms local economies in impoverished areas as well as rural states.

To improve the program and ensure its reauthorization, Grassley and Leahy on Friday released the text of a carefully-crafted compromise with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), and House Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The proposal modifies legislation the lawmakers unveiled earlier this year to bolster the Department of Homeland Security's authorities to administer the program, and provide investors with greater protections and more information about their investments.

Additionally, the bipartisan proposal increases transparency and oversight and provides DHS the ability to proactively investigate fraud, both in the United States and abroad, using a dedicated fund paid for by certain program participants. It raises the amount of investment required and helps to restore the program to its original intent, by ensuring that much of the capital generated and jobs created occur in rural areas and areas with high unemployment.

The bipartisan compromise has the support of Invest in the USA (IIUSA), by far the largest association of regional centers and EB-5 stakeholders, as well as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

An outline of the bipartisan proposal can be found here.  Text of legislation can also be found here.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington today introduced legislation to reform and extend the biodiesel tax credit.  The legislation is similar to the provision that passed out of the Finance Committee in July.

"This provision should be included in the tax extenders package under discussion," Grassley said.  "Converting to a production credit would improve the biodiesel incentive in many ways.  It would make the biodiesel incentive easier to administer.  Also, a credit for domestic production would ensure that we're incentivizing a domestic industry rather than subsidizing imported biofuels.  The goal is to meet the country's biodiesel needs and support domestic producers at the same time.  And it would save money over the current biodiesel tax incentive."

"Investing in America's clean energy economy is the smart thing to do for our environment and America's energy security," Cantwell said. "The biodiesel tax credit has been an extremely successful energy tax policy, allowing biodiesel to become America's first advanced biofuel. Since the credit was created in 2005, 8.2 billion gallons of biodiesel have replaced traditional diesel, the equivalent of removing nearly 16 million vehicles from our roadways. This bill gives businesses the certainty they need to invest in biodiesel, create jobs here in America, and continue the development of affordable, domestic alternatives to fossil fuels."

The senators' Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015 would modify the biodiesel fuel blenders credit to a domestic production credit and extend the credit through 2018.

The change would offer numerous benefits, Grassley and Cantwell said.  The blenders credit can be difficult to administer, because the blending of the fuel can occur at many different stages of the fuel distribution.  This can make it difficult to ensure that only fuel that qualifies for the credit claims the incentive.  It has been susceptible to abuse because of this.

A credit for domestic production would ensure that the United States is incentivizing the domestic industry rather than subsidizing imported biofuels.  It's projected that imports from Argentina, Singapore, the European Union, South Korea and others could exceed 1.5 billion gallons over this year and next.   In many cases, foreign biodiesel is already heavily subsidized, so U.S. taxpayers should not be providing a subsidy to such imports.

Grassley and Cantwell said modifying the credit would have little to no impact on the consumer.  Much of the credit would continue to be passed on to the blender and ultimately, the consumer.  Additionally, the U.S. biodiesel industry is currently operating at only 60 percent of capacity.  The domestic biodiesel industry has the capacity and access to affordable feedstocks to meet the demand of U.S. consumers, the senators said.

The Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015 would allow the nation to continue enjoying the significant benefits of biodiesel since Congress created the biodiesel tax incentive in 2005.  As a result of this incentive, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and consumer interest, biodiesel is providing significant benefits to the nation.  Domestic biodiesel production supports tens of thousands of jobs.  Replacing traditional diesel with biodiesel reduces emissions and creates cleaner air.  Homegrown biodiesel improves U.S. energy security by diversifying  transportation fuels and reducing dependence on foreign oil.  Biodiesel itself is a diverse fuel that can be produced from a wide array of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean and other plant oils, and animal fats.

The text of the Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015 is available here.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, UnityPoint Health and Genesis Health System all reach agreements with a managed care organization

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced three major hospital systems, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, UnityPoint Health and Genesis Health System have all come to agreements with a managed care organization (MCO's).  Iowa's Medicaid Modernization plan will improve quality, access, and health care outcomes and create a more predictable and sustainable Medicaid program that begins Jan. 1, 2016.

"I'm very pleased with today's announcement that three major hospital systems have signed contracts to serve Iowa Medicaid patients and partner with Medicaid plans," said Branstad.  "These hospitals have signaled they are ready to provide quality care to Medicaid patients all over Iowa on Jan. 1, 2016.  We appreciate the commitment these hospitals are showing to Medicaid patients and their willingness to put politics aside and put sound policy and patients first."

Lt. Gov. Reynolds added, "We have learned a great deal from 30 other states who have taken steps to modernize how they serve Medicaid patients.  Our phased-in approach ensures a smooth transition on day one for all Medicaid patients.  The news today of three major hospital systems signing contracts is a clear signal we will be ready to serve our patients on Jan. 1, 2016."

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, UnityPoint Health and Genesis Health System represent over 3,300 Medicaid providers.  The over 3,300 Medicaid providers represent 28 different types of providers including doctors, nurses and specialists.

Senator Chuck Grassley's regional director based in Davenport, Penny Vacek, will be holding open office hours in Scott, Cedar, Clinton and Jackson counties on Monday, Dec. 14, and Thursday, Dec. 17.  The office hours provide an opportunity for Iowans to obtain casework assistance or to express views.

Vacek's schedule is as follows:

Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

2:30-3:30 p.m.
Scott County
Walcott City Hall
128 Lincoln St.
Walcott

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015

8-9 a.m.
Cedar County
Cedar County Courthouse
Basement Meeting Room
400 Cedar St.
Tipton

10-11 a.m.
Clinton County
DeWitt City Hall
Council Chambers
510 9^th St.
DeWitt

3-4 p.m.

Jackson County
Maquoketa City Hall
Council Chambers
201 East Pleasant St.
Maquoketa

Grassley's offices in Iowa regularly help constituents contact federal agencies to sort through problems with Social Security payments, military service matters, immigration cases and other issues.  His state offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo.

Here is a comment from Grassley about his staff's upcoming office hours:

"Open office hours are designed to help more Iowans access the assistance that is available from the office of their United States senator.  I hope anyone with federal agency-related casework will take advantage of Penny's visits."