President Signs Judiciary-Passed International Adoption Assistance Bill

WASHINGTON - Bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to help families facing challenges with international adoptions was signed into law late Friday. Grassley moved the Adoptive Families Relief Act through the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year.

"Hundreds of American families who have opened their homes to vulnerable children overseas now face roadblocks to bringing those children home. Through no fault of their own, American families remain separated from their adopted children, but are still responsible for their care. The Adoptive Families Relief Act will help minimize the financial strain on these families as they wait to be united with their children.  I am grateful for the work of my colleagues in Congress to support these families and their adopted children along their journey home," Grassley said.

The bill provides financial relief to families who have adopted children from other countries, but who are unable to bring them home because of factors beyond their control. Specifically, it allows the State Department to waive visa renewal fees for adopted children whose entry into the United States has been delayed.

Delays could be caused by foreign governments' decisions to stall the adoption process.  For example, more than 350 children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been successfully adopted by American families, but since 2013 the government there has refused to issue exit visas necessary for the children to be united with their families in America. As a result, the adoptive families face challenges and added expenses of caring for the children while they remain stuck in a foreign country. In the meantime, the child's U.S.-issued visa needed to enter the United States expires after six months. Families must then continually renew the American visas, a process that can cost up to $550 each time.  The bill allows the visa fees to be waived or refunded for families facing adoption delays in any foreign nation for any reason beyond the family's control.

The bill, which was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Ron Johnson, passed the Senate by unanimous consent in July and cleared the House of Representatives by voice vote earlier this month.

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Foster Youth Caucuses to Host Panel Discussion on Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children

WASHINGTON - The Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth on Wednesday will host a panel discussion on the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children who advocate for children in the child welfare system.  The event is open to the public and the media.  Details follow.

The Congressional Caucus on Foster Youthand the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth

invite you to a panel discussion on

Court Appointed Special Advocates: Champions for Child Victims of Abuse or Neglect 

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

10:00 am

Capitol Visitors Center (SVC) Room 208

Approximately 400,000 youth are in the foster care system today and face uncertainty and trauma as they struggle to understand why they are separated from the people they love most.  As the youth make their way through the child welfare and court system, they depend on guidance and advocates to look out for their best interests.  This briefing will highlight organizations like CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) who volunteer and work with children until they are placed in loving and permanent homes.  This event will be an open forum for advocates, child welfare organizations, providers and congressional staff to learn about and discuss policies affecting foster youth.

Sponsored by

Representatives Bass, Marino, Langevin, Black, McDermott, Franks, Senators Grassley and Stabenow

Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth & the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth

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The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre is holding a Trivia Night on Friday, November 6th. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Showboat's 2016 professional Summer productions, educational Intern Program, and summer camps for children.

The event will take place at Gil's Ballroom, 2750 South 27th Street in Clinton.

Teams should consist of six to eight members. Registration begins at 6 pm with play beginning at 7 pm. Fees are $10 per person. Gil's is open for dinner before the contest (come early!) and beverages and snacks are available for purchase during the evening. No food or beverages may be brought in. Mulligans and doublers will be available for purchase and there will be a raffle and door prizes. First Prize for the winning team is $100 and second prize is $50.

The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre will offer a Season of American Classics for the summer of 2016. The upcoming 2016 season includes Neil Simon's The Odd Couple (June 4­11), Meredith Wilson's The Music Man (June 16 to July 4), the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific (July 8­17), Grease ! (July 21­31), and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie (August 4­13). Matthew Teague Miller is Producing Artistic Director for the 2016 season.

Tickets for the 2015 season will be available at the Trivia Night. Visit www.clintonshowboat.org for more information about all upcoming Showboat events

DES MOINES, IA (10/19/2015)(readMedia)-- You don't have to dress up this Halloween to find goodies. State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald wants you to know there are plenty of treats in the form of unclaimed property in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. "There are no tricks, only treats," Fitzgerald stated. "Finding and receiving unclaimed property is an easy process. The thought of losing track of one's assets is what is truly frightening."

"Anybody can have unclaimed property in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, which is why we encourage everyone to search for their name," Fitzgerald added. "We are holding property for a lot of royalty, from Kings to Queens, and even one for the Princess Theatre in Mapleton." The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt also has unclaimed assets for Charlie Brown, a few Batmans, many Sparrows but no Jack, two Monsters, several Sherlocks and a few Angels.

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $199 million in unclaimed property to more than 468,000 people since Fitzgerald created it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report unclaimed property to the state treasurer's office. The assets are then held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits and safe deposit box contents.

(@GreatIATreasure).

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The River's Edge will be hosting a professional indoor soccer exhibition game between the Cedar Rapids Rampage and the Chicago Mustangs!

Mark your calendars for October 23rd at the River's Edge (7:05 PM). Admission is free.
Davenport, Iowa (Oct. 18, 2015) – Last Saturday a benefit in Cedar Rapids supported two longtime Speedway Fire-Rescue (SFR) volunteer firefighters. They are Scott and Karry Bohannan, a husband and wife who with their fellow volunteers have protected and aided hundreds of eastern Iowa and western Illinois racing competitors and Quad City Air Show participants over the years.
Scott, the SFR president, and Karry, SFR`s treasurer, were hospitalized with smoke inhalation and suffered a huge loss when their portion of a duplex they lived in with their son Brent at 3rd and Oak streets in Davenport burned on Sept. 6. The Bohannans, who were subsequently released from the hospital, escaped the fire with just the clothes on their backs.
Another Bohannan family benefit is set for 3-11 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 23, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 235, 4401 W Locust St, Davenport. Chili will be served. There will be a bags tournament, a deejay, 50-50 drawings, a raffle and an auction. Everyone is welcome.
Donations of items are now being accepted for the raffle and auction. To donate, contact one of these SFR people:
* Sandy Gile...563-320-7688.
SFR also has arranged for The Family Credit Union to accept monetary donations for the Bohannans by mail at any of the following locations:
* 1530 W. 53rd St., Davenport, Iowa 52806
* 1400 Rockingham Road, Davenport, Iowa 52802
* 2238 Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport, Iowa 52807
Please make all checks payable to the Bohannan Family Benefit or the Bohannan Family.
SFR is a non-profit 501C3 organization based in Davenport. Roughly 50 volunteers, who are trained in firefighting, vehicle extrication and emergency medical service serve at a drag strip and more than half a dozen auto race tracks in eastern Iowa and western Illinois each year from April through October. They also work at the annual Quad City Air Show each year in Davenport.
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Few topics have gripped recent global interest as that of the flight of Syrians and others from the tension-filled Mideast as they flee toward Europe with their families. The wave of refugees has reached a level not seen since the end of World War II and shows no signs of stopping. With every new footprint there are questions and challenges - please come and hear the latest perspective from two professionals who have unique views to share. We invite you as a community to listen, respond, and care. This is an international issue with direct local implications.

The German American Heritage Center Presents:

Herbert Quelle, General Consul of the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany, Chicago
Amy Rowell, Director, World Relief, Moline IL

Each will share an overview of their current work with refugees, followed by Q and A.

A freewill donation will be taken to support refugee efforts in three locations:
Kaiserslautern, Germany- Davenport's Sister City
Kronach, Germany- Bettendorf's Sister City
World Relief- Moline, Illinois
Click on the link below to register or RSVP.
Get more information
Register Now!
I can't make it
Examined and Explored: The Syrian Refugee Crisis in Germany and the Quad Cities
Thursday, Oct. 29  12:00 - 1:00 pm
Champions Suite, Modern Woodman Park, Davenport, IA

FREE- Reservations required; lunch provided; seating is limited.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at kelly.lao@gahc.org or call 563-322-8844

John Henley, a Special Olympics Athlete from Marion, Illinois was honored as a Soldier-for-a-Day at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment based in Marion, Illinois, Oct. 16.

Henley suited up in uniform and was put through training Soldiers go through to stay ready for missions that lie ahead. Henley completed a modified Army Physical Fitness test, weapons training in a simulator, vehicle maintenance,along with squad tactics and a patrol.

"My favorite part was hanging out with the big dogs and shooting," said Henley.

Staff Sgt. Beau Detrick of Marion, Illinois, a recruiter with the Illinois National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command based in Springfield, Illinois, said John Henley has been doing great things for the Special Olympics, not just in Marion but nationwide. "Soldiers are out there training, fighting the Global War on Terror and doing other humanitarian missions, but when we can bring it to the unit level and help out a community hero it is a true honor," said Detrick.

Henley, who visits the armory often, said he enjoys coming to see the Soldiers.

During this visit Maj. Casey Kline of Marion, Illinois presented Henley with a certificate making Henley an honorary member of the 2-130th. At the end of the day Henley was honorarily promoted to sergeant by Kline for his outstanding leadership potential.

Henley said he plans to put the certificate next to his more than 125 Special Olympic medals in his room.

Henley's parents, Richard and Jane, and his girlfriend, Stephanie, along with members of Henley's Special Olympics Team also attended the event to support John as he was put through the training.

"This was a thrill of a lifetime. We know this took some work to make this happen for John and we are very grateful," said Richard Henley, John's father. "It is something we will never forget and something John will never forget."

Saturday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.

Fun questions - entertaining categories!  Have a great time while adding to your stockpile of "useless information".  Don't miss this event!

by Volunteers for Symphony
all proceeds to benefit the QCSO

TRIVIA NIGHT!

Grassley Completes Annual 99 County Meetings for 2015

WASHINGTON– Sen. Chuck Grassley today completed his 35th annual 99 county meetings with a question and answer session (Q&A) with the senior class at Greene County High School in Jefferson.

"Representative government is a two-way street.  I'm one half of the process and Iowans are the other half.  Open communication between those of us elected and the people we represent is essential to representative government.  That's why I hold these meetings every year and encourage Iowans to keep in touch with me.  When I hold meetings in Iowa, I like to do a mix of open town meetings along with Q&As with businesses, schools, and service clubs.  That way, I can also talk with people who might not otherwise be able to attend a town meeting," Grassley said.

Grassley has held a meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was elected to the U.S. Senate.  He kicked off this year's meetings in Butler County with a town meeting in Allison on January 3, 2015.

Topics covered in the meetings included everything from the avian flu to ISIS, Social Security to ethanol, and health care to agriculture policy and federal regulations.

For a complete list of Grassley's county meetings in 2015, visit his website here.  To view Grassley's photos and tweets from the meetings, search #99countymeetings on Twitter and Instagram.

Iowans can see if Grassley will be in their area by checking the Grassley events calendar on his website.

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Grassley to Hold Hearing on Historic Sentencing Bill

Witness List

Hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary On

" S. 2123, Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015"

Monday, October 19, 2015

Hart Senate office Building, Room 216

3:00 p.m.

 

Panel I

 

The Honorable Sally Quillian Yates

Deputy Attorney General

United States Department of Justice

Washington, DC

 

Panel II

 

The Honorable Michael Mukasey

Former Attorney General

United States Department of Justice

Partner

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

New York, NY

 

Mr. Hilary O. Shelton

Washington Bureau Director

Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy

NAACP

Washington, DC

 

The Honorable Brett L. Tolman

Former United States Attorney for the District of Utah

Shareholder

Ray Quinney & Nebeker PC

Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mr. Steven Cook

President

National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys

Assistant United States Attorney

United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

 

Mr. Marc Mauer

Executive Director

The Sentencing Project

Washington, DC

 

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Judiciary Chairmen: Criminal Immigrants Allowed to Reenter Country Pose 'Serious Problem'

 

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte are raising new questions about decisions to release immigrants with long rap-sheets who repeatedly reenter the country following deportation.

In a letter today to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the lawmakers are seeking details related to the release of Luis Golberto-Molina, a fugitive who reportedly has nine prior felony and 11 prior misdemeanor charges.  Golberto-Molina was arrested while attempting to illegally reenter the country for a fifth time, but was released from custody despite efforts to extradite him to Colorado for a 14-year-old felony warrant.

"This case shows the serious problem of criminal aliens who reenter this country repeatedly.  As was the case in Kate Steinle's murder, this fugitive alien reentered the country five times, but was subsequently released," the lawmakers said in their letter to Johnson.

The Senate will soon be voting to take up legislation to target criminal immigrants who have previously been deported and illegally reenter the country.  The legislation also seeks to improve cooperation between federal immigration authorities and state and local law enforcement to ensure that people who illegally enter the country and commit serious crimes are brought to justice.

The full text of the Grassley-Goodlatte letter

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Mindi Feilmeier, DPM, FACFAS, of Ankeny, Iowa was elected President of the Iowa Podiatric Medical Society (IPMS) during the organization's annual Business Meeting on October 1st. The organization represents Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) in Iowa who serve an important role in keeping Iowans on their feet so that they can continue to be active and healthy.

Dr. Feilmeier has been a director on the IPMS Board since 2010 and is on faculty at the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University. She has recently completed a term serving on the American Podiatric Medical Association Board of Directors as the Young Physicians Liaison.

Dr. Feilmeier is Board Certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) and is a diplomate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). 

After completing her undergraduate work at the Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Dr. Feilmeier earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University in 2005. Dr. Feilmeier is on staff at the Des Moines University Foot and Ankle Clinic. She previously practiced with Trimark Foot and Ankle (now UnityPoint Clinics) in Ft. Dodge, IA.

The Iowa Podiatric Medical Society (IPMS) is the professional organization representing over 130 medical and surgical specialists of the foot and ankle, located throughout the state of Iowa. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) are physicians and surgeons who provide comprehensive services ranging from routine foot care to sophisticated foot surgery. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine are also involved in examining and treating patients diagnosed with diabetes, and those at risk for the disease, to assist them in avoiding possible complications, such as foot ulcers and amputations. For more information on IPMS, call 515-282-8192 or visit www.ipms.org.

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