Q: How does Social Security measure up 80 years after being signed into law?

A: Generations of Americans have been protected against poverty thanks in large measure to this social safety net signed into law 80 years ago on August 14, 1935. Without question, Social Security is tightly woven into the social fabric of America. The fundamental foundation of the program hasn't changed in the last eight decades. Payroll tax revenues are collected on wages (12.4 percent is evenly divided between employee and employer) that finance retirement and disability benefits. Any excess revenue not used to pay current benefits is invested in interest-bearing government securities. The Social Security trust funds reflect payroll taxes plus interest accrued. The 15-year bonds are managed within the U.S. Treasury. These IOUs are redeemed to pay current benefits.

Although the foundation of Social Security hasn't changed in 80 years, the nation's demographics have changed considerably. Today 58 million people collect Social Security benefits funded by payroll taxes collected from 163 million workers. In 1945, the worker to retiree ratio was 40 to 16.  That ratio has declined to fewer than three workers per beneficiary today. This downward decline presents a challenging situation to policymakers, especially considering the retirement of the baby boom population. When more people exit the workforce than enter or stay in the labor pool, benefits will outpace revenue. In 1983 policymakers took big steps to restore financial solvency to Social Security. Bipartisan reforms were put in place 35 years ago to help strengthen this retirement safety net for millions of Americans to help protect the nation's elderly from impoverishment in retirement.

As Social Security observes an 80-year milestone this summer, it has outlasted plenty of political demagoguery. Those who use the nation's public's retirement program to score political points undermine the public trust. Although plenty of myths and misunderstandings may fray the edges of the safety net, the reality is that Social Security is a social contract among Americans that was built in 1935 and intended to last for generations yet to come.

Q: What are some of the most common myths or questions you are asked about Social Security?

A: With the rapid spread of rumors that circulate on the Internet and ripple across the spectrum of social media outlets, the durability of some misunderstandings is not surprising. The one I hear quite often is posed during town meetings and call-in programs. People believe members of Congress don't pay into Social Security and ask why not. As the lead Senate author of the Congressional Accountability Act, I am a long-time champion for holding lawmakers accountable to the same workplace laws that apply to Main Street.  And the fact is that federal lawmakers do pay Social Security taxes just like everyone else covered by the program. Since the 1983 reforms, all members of Congress pay into Social Security no matter how long they have been in office.

Another common question concerns Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The Social Security Administration also manages this public insurance program for workers who have a medical disability that is expected to keep them from being able to work for at least 12 months. This program has experienced dramatic growth in recent years and it has put a financial toll on the disability trust fund. Nearly nine million workers now qualify for SSDI benefits. Recipients who receive monthly cash benefits are required under federal law to meet strict eligibility standards that are medically determinable physical or mental impairments.  Iowans who have questions about eligibility requirements, backlogged applications or the appeals process often contact my office for assistance navigating red tape.

As the former chairman and a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has legislative and oversight jurisdiction of Social Security, I have worked to weed out fraud in this important program to keep it intact. That includes calling attention to application fraud and backlogs that are choking the system from functioning effectively and hindering the disability insurance program from serving those it was intended to serve. Wrongdoers who game the system weaken the solvency of the cash-strapped SSDI trust fund and foster dependency at the expense of those truly in need of this lifeline.

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

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed a disaster emergency proclamation extension 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 original proclamation, which was signed on Monday, June 15, 2015, was set to expire on July 15, 2015.

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 it has been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 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 County.

The proclamation is effective until December 31, 2015.

The proclamation of disaster emergency can be read below:

WHEREAS, beginning on April 13, 2015, and continuing thereafter, there have been seventy-five 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.

WHEREAS, I proclaimed a State of Disaster Emergency in respect to this matter on June 15, 2015, and circumstances warrant the extension of that same proclamation.

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 July 16, 2015, shall continue for a period of one hundred sixty-nine (169) days and shall expire on December 31, 2015, unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me. Iowa Code § 29C.6 (1).

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) announced today that it has named Dr. Jeffrey Margolis as Vice President of External Engagement. Margolis, a Class of 2000 IMSA alumnus, brings extensive experience with building partnerships and advocating for policies that spark innovation and support the development of next generation tech talent. Dr. Margolis has been a partner and supporter to economic development activities in the Quad Cities, including assisting Representative Bustos in her annual economic summits, connecting the Quad City Manufacturing Lab and Quad Cities Manufacturing Innovation Hub with statewide and federal research and innovation programs, and serving as a resource to Deere & Company.

Dr. Margolis comes to IMSA from the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC), a member-driven nonprofit organization that strengthens Illinois' technology-based economy. At ISTC, he provided leadership within the State's innovation community, including creating a statewide science and technology roadmap, and served on the core proposal team for the development of the successful $320 million Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute.

"Dr. Margolis has a proven ability to develop initiatives and connect education institutions, government, and business to grow Illinois' 21^st century knowledge economy. We look forward to tapping this expertise to further establish IMSA as a global education leader and position the Academy as an important asset and partner?a jewel of Illinois?in building  a world-class STEM workforce," said IMSA President Dr. José M. Torres.

The opportunity to broaden and deepen IMSA's impact is what called Dr. Margolis back to his alma mater. "From the time I was a student here, IMSA's mission of educating future leaders to advance the human condition has inspired my interest in improving society through research and innovation. I am excited to increase visibility for the cutting-edge STEM education IMSA delivers, and to forge partnerships that ensure its sustainability and further integrate its students, educators, and alumni with the community."

IMSA's new VP of External Engagement has received accolades for building White House and State Department STEM partnerships and was founding Vice President of Development for the education nonprofit CollegeSpring that serves low income students. Margolis has also worked as an award-winning researcher, earning a Ph.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine.

Internationally recognized Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a teaching and learning laboratory created by the State of Illinois, IMSA enrolls academically talented Illinois students (grades 10-12) in its advanced, residential college preparatory program, and it serves thousands of educators and students in Illinois and beyond through innovative instructional programs that foster imagination and inquiry. IMSA also advances education through research, groundbreaking ventures and strategic partnerships. (www.imsa.edu)

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Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on the Impact of Obama Administration's Misdirected Immigration Policies

Victims' families invited to testify

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley today announced that he will convene a hearing to explore the ramifications of the Obama administration's lax enforcement of immigration policies and the impact it's having on the families of victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 21, at 10 a.m. (ET), and can be seen live on the Judiciary Committee's website, judiciary.senate.gov.

Grassley said that he has invited family members of victims to testify.  He has also asked the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Sarah Saldana, and the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services Leon Rodriguez to testify.

"Congress has a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight of the executive branch of government to make sure the laws are being faithfully executed and carried out as intended.  Little oversight has been done by the previous majority to ensure the administration is exercising sound judgment and acting within the immigration laws.   It's clear they have taken far too much liberty and are essentially trying to write the laws themselves," Grassley said.  "This hearing is intended to highlight how misguided the Obama administration's lax enforcement policies are and how these policies are putting Americans in harm's way."

Last week, members of the Judiciary Committee pressed Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to rethink his department's immigration priorities.  Grassley also asked Johnson and Attorney General Loretta Lynch to take action to reverse "sanctuary city" policies and restore programs that promote collaboration between local and federal officials.