It is not about what political party a member Congress belongs to, it is about accountability for government to do what is right.  The Blue Water Navy Agent Orange Act has failed.  House Bill HR-543 was stalled in the VA committee even though there were 258 co-sponsors in support of the Bill enough for a House vote. 

More Vietnam vets will die, many cannot pay medical expenses some are forced to take second mortgages on their homes or sell their homes.  Does Congress care, most do not.  However we vets do have a few caring friends in Congress, they are a minority.       

There are those in Congress so full of greed to fill their own pockets for the next election rather than provide proper VA benefits to our veterans who come home sick and broken.  This is especially true of the Vietnam War veterans.  With the 2014 Congress in session will our Vietnam veterans be once more denied what they have earned?  The dollars needed for VA benefits is a trifle amount compared to the hundreds of billions we give away.  Perhaps our Congress should serve on the front lines in war let them know how it feels to dodge bullets and be sprayed with herbicides.

In time of war the enemy does not care about race, creed, or political party.  Our Congress discriminates against those who served our Country, there is no accountability.  To our Members of Congress, in ten more years there will be no Vietnam vets left living for you to contend with, what a shameful legacy

It is no secret to cattle operators that health status of cattle dramatically impacts profit/loss margins, and thus sustainability for the enterprise. With the price of calves now at record highs, keeping one's cattle healthy may be the difference between hedging a profit and absorbing a large financial loss. Both cattle health and profits in the beef industry will be addressed at the Driftless Region Beef Conference in Dubuque Jan. 22-23.

Featured speaker Mark Hilton, DVM and clinical professor of beef production medicine at Purdue University, will help producers explore improving the health of feedlot cattle. One way is through his presentation, "Ensuring feedlot health -- Where does it all begin?"

The importance of health throughout the life cycle, from fetal programming to slaughter, will be highlighted "because everything impacts health," Hilton said.

Hilton is a trusted resource for all things related to animal health in the beef industry, and is well known as a regular contributor to Beef Magazine, authoring feature articles and serving as an expert on the Vet's Opinion blog.

Hilton will add to the conference discussion on health issues with a breakout session on the second day. He'll highlight the value of a solid preconditioning program to the cow-calf operation's bottom line. Because many producers may question the value of a preconditioning program in a market like the current one, he will outline why the "preconditioning bonus" plays only a minor role in the overall profitability of a well-executed preconditioning program.

Conference attendees also can learn about enhancing profitability and reinvesting beef operation profits in sessions presented by Lee Schulz, Iowa State University extension livestock economist.

He'll describe and explain the use of decision tools to enhance profitability of the beef enterprise in one session, followed by a presentation on strategies for reinvesting profits from the beef operation.

The ability of beef producers to grasp the profitability and overall risk situation of their operations and broader industry trends is critical for long-term business success. The size of the U.S. beef cow herd is at historically low levels and prospects for national herd expansion continue to grow. However, producers who are considering expansion need to make sound decisions to make sure their operations are economically sustainable and well positioned to succeed. In addition, opportunities exist for integration of young producers and future generations into cattle production, but these individuals need knowledge and tools to help them thrive in the industry.

To hear more about these as well as other timely topics presented by prominent figures in the beef industry, producers are encouraged to register soon for the Driftless Beef Conference that runs from 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22 through 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23. The Thursday afternoon program focuses on improving efficiency and profitability of beef production in the upper Midwest, followed by an evening discussion focused on opportunities to capitalize on the diversity in the beef industry. The Friday morning agenda includes four breakout sessions each for feedlot operations and cow-calf producers.

The early registration fee for the conference is $85 per person and must be received prior to midnight, Jan. 14. The price increases to $115 after that date. More information about the conference, including topics, speakers, and lodging is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/beef.

The Driftless Region Beef Conference is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the University of Minnesota Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension. The planning team strives to deliver the latest in research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Denise Schwab, ISU Extension Beef Specialist, at 319-721-9624.

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Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours during a semester and maintain a GPA of 3.9 or higher to meet the President's Honor Roll requirements.

Founded in 1904, Oklahoma City University is a non-profit, comprehensive, private United Methodist university that is consistently ranked among the best in its category. OCU students pursue academic excellence through a rigorous liberal arts & sciences core curriculum that focuses on their intellectual, moral and spiritual development.

For more information visit www.okcu.edu

Oklahoma City University is a coeducational, urban private university located in Oklahoma City, in the Uptown district. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a wide variety of degrees in the liberal arts, fine arts, sciences and business. The only Oklahoma institution listed in the top tier of the regional, master's-level university category by U.S. News and World Report, Oklahoma City University is also listed in Forbes' "Best Christian Colleges" & "100 Best College Buys." OCU offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and 23 graduate degrees (including a law degree, MBA and doctoral programs in nursing).

Davenport, Iowa - Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz announced today that her office will sponsor a special training opportunity for the Clerks and Trustees of Scott County's thirteen (13) political townships. The special training will occur on:

Monday, January 12, 2015 - 9:30 a.m.

Board Room, first floor

Scott County Administrative Center

600 West 4th Street

Davenport, Iowa

The training will be conducted by Alan Vandehaar of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Also available to answer questions will be Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz, Wes Rostenbach, Accounting and Tax Manager and Richard Bauer, Elections Supervisor from the Auditor's Office. Members of the Scott County Board of Supervisors have also been invited. In addition to the training clerks and trustees will receive a special reference manual prepared by ISU Extension and Outreach for use by township officials.

This training opportunity is the first of its kind to be offered in Scott County. "My office deals directly with township officials on a regular basis for processing their budgets, payment for maintenance of veterans' graves, elections and other matters, so it was a natural fit for the Auditor's Office to sponsor this event," said Moritz. "My staff fields a lot of questions from township clerks and trustees, so we hope that this program will help answer some of those questions and aid township officials in carrying out their duties," said Moritz.