DAVENPORT, Iowa - Sept. 16, 2014 -- The Genesis Foundation will present two free seminars on wills and estate planning in October.

Topics of each seminar will include the importance of a will, what can happen if someone dies without a will, how existing wills can be changed, and whether wills can be self-written.

Here is more information about the seminars:

When? -- Tuesday, Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m. Where? - Larson Center, Meeting Room A, Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, 801 Illini Drive, Silvis; Featuring - Mary Ann Brown, elder law and estate planning specialist, Nash Nash Bean & Ford.

When? - Tuesday, Oct. 21, 12:30 p.m.; Where? - Annunciata Meeting Room, Pavilion 2, Genesis Medical Center, 1401 West Central Park, Davenport. Featuring - Curt Oppel, tax, estate planning and trust specialist, Stanley, Lande & Hunter.

There is no fee for these seminars, however, advance registration is required.

Please make your reservation by contacting Deb Hughes at hughes@genesishealth.com, or calling (563) 421-6861. If you have questions, contact Steve Goebel, CFRE at goebels@genesishealth.com, or at (309) 281-4392.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.–Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Bobby Scott (D-VA), senior members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statements today upon the House's passage of a bill to improve and reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act.

"The Child Care and Development Block Grant is an indispensable resource for millions of children and families nationwide," said Rep. Miller, senior Democrat on the committee. "CCDBG enables parents to send their kids to safe, high quality and affordable child care so that they can work or attend a training program and provide for their families. Meanwhile, the program helps to place children in the sorts of environments they need for healthy growth and development. The bipartisan, bicameral agreement passed today by the House improves child care access, makes critical new investments, and helps to ensure children are safe and are receiving quality care. These updates to CCDBG are vital for our children, our families, and our nation's future."

"I am pleased the House acted swiftly to pass the reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant. This bipartisan effort shows that when Congress comes together with a spirit of compromise and a common goal that we are able to actually get things done and accomplish what the American people sent us here to do," said Rep. Loebsack, ranking member on the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. "This revamp of the CCDBG will bring important safety and quality improvements to child care delivery in our country and support working families as they strive to enter the middle class."

"Quality child care offers children vital early learning experiences that will set them on a path toward success in school, in the workforce and in the rest of their lives," said Rep. Scott, a senior committee Democrat. "This long overdue update of the Child Care and Development Block Grant program will significantly improve services, quality and access for our nation's children."

The legislation includes commonsense reforms to:

·         Promote high-quality child care by increasing state-level investments in activities to improve the quality of care, enhancing states' ability to train providers and develop safer and more effective child care services.

·         Strengthen health and safety requirements in child care programs and providers.

·         Improve access to child care by expanding eligibility for participating families and helping families connect with quality programs that meet their needs.

The full text of the bill is available here.

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 15, 2014) - "Brew City" recently became "Soy City" as more than 270 representatives of major international companies interested in importing U.S. soy came together for the second annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Milwaukee. Areas represented included China, the Middle East, Vietnam and many others.

"Every other row of U.S. soybeans is exported, so it is imperative to build and retain strong relationships with our international customers," says Jim Call, soybean farmer from Minnesota and United Soybean Board (USB) chairman. "The Global Trade Exchange gives U.S. soybean farmers a great opportunity to meet face to face with these valuable customers and prospective buyers as they commit to buying millions of bushels of our soybeans."

International representatives committed to buy $2.8 billion worth of U.S. soy during last year's U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa.

In the most recent marketing year, U.S. soybean farmers exported more than 1.7 billion bushels of U.S. soy to customer beyond our borders. The value of these exports set a record of more than $28 billion.

The event, which is co-sponsored by USB, the American Soybean Association (ASA), the checkoff-funded U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Midwest Shippers Association, continues through Thursday, Sept. 18. Besides meeting with U.S. soy farmer-leaders, attendees will also attend a variety of presentations to learn about the sustainability and quality of U.S. soybeans.

"This event offers a taste of American ag that they don't get every day," Call says. "This experience should give them a better understanding of the pride we take in our farms and product and how U.S. soybeans will benefit them for the long haul. Choosing U.S. soy is a win-win situation for all of us."

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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