Congressman named 2014 Fueling Growth Award Winner from Growth Energy for championing renewable fuel

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) this week was named a 2014 Fueling Growth Award Winner from Growth Energy. The award "is the highest honor given to Congressional leaders who vigorously advocate for ethanol?America's homegrown, renewable fuel," according to the organization.

"America is at a crossroads when it comes to its energy future. We can keep increasing our dependence on foreign countries for our energy needs or we can invest in biofuels to promote energy independence," Braley said. "I'm proud to be a strong advocate for energy independence and Iowa's renewable fuels and will do everything possible to ensure Iowa remains at the center of energy innovation."

Braley has consistently fought against the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed cuts to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)-- greatly harming Iowa's economy and America's move toward energy independence.

Timeline of Highlights of Rep. Braley's Action to Protect the RFS

·         April-2013: Wrote to leaders of House Committee on Energy and Commerce, discussing the economic benefits of the RFS and its importance in America's energy future and invited them to tour bioenergy facilities in Iowa.

·         May-July-2013: Held a series of four educational briefings on the RFS, whose purpose was to educate members of Congress and their staffs on the RFS and its importance to America's economy and march toward energy independence.

·         June-2013: Introduced Rural Energy Investment Act, which would help develop advanced biofuels, wind and other renewable energy resources and energy efficiency and require the federal government to increase their commitment to purchasing biobased products like cleaners, lubricants, building materials, and other industrial products by 50 percent?and reduce the use of products made with Middle East oil.

·         July-2013: Participated in Congressional committee hearing entitled: "Overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard: Stakeholder Perspectives," which included panelists involved in the production of biofuels and the importance of biofuels to Iowa and the nation's economy. Panel included Iowa native and former National Corn Grower president Pam Johnson.

·         August-2013: Toured the POET Biorefinery in Hanlontown, IA and met with employees to discuss Iowa's leadership on biofuel innovation and the importance of the RFS.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to Farm Bill conference committee encouraging them to include an Energy Title that supports renewable fuel efforts.

·         November-2013: Toured the BioProcess Algae plant in Shenandoah, Iowa to visit with workers and see how ethanol byproducts, such as carbon dioxide, are being used to promote algae growth for use in advancements in a variety of industries.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to President Obama regarding the negative economic impact and shortsightedness of lowering the RFS.

·         November-2013: Co-hosted a Congressional briefing with Rep. Steve King, and ISU professor Bruce Babcock as a panelist, in order to inform Congressional offices of the negative economic impact of lowering the RFS.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to EPA Administrator McCarthy, USDA Secretary Vilsack, and OMB Director Burwell in support of an increase in the biodiesel volume requirement in the RFS.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to EPA Administrator McCarthy urging the Administrator to review the draft proposal for the RFS volume obligations and support an RFS that will support innovation and economic growth, and reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

·         December-2013: Asked Iowans to share their stories of the positive impact the RFS had had on their lives, careers, and communities?later submitting their stories to the EPA during the open comment period.

·         December-2013: Testified in opposition to the reduction at an EPA field hearing in Washington?stressing the economic benefits of the RFS including the value added markets and innovation that come from increased biofuel production. Hearing included other Iowa elected officials (Branstad, Reynolds, and Grassley).

·         January-2014: Met with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to convey the RFS's impact on Iowa's economy and America's energy independence.

·         January-2014: Joined veterans with VoteVets.org to deliver a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to the EPA in opposition to changing the RFS.

·         March-2014: Met with senior White House Advisor John Podesta and Dan Utech, the White House's top climate advisor, to discuss Iowa's position as a world leader in innovation in wind and biofuel energy production, and the important role the RFS played in that innovation.

·         May-2014: Met with House Congressional leaders and senior White House advisor John Podesta to emphasize the need to protect the RFS in order to spur domestic economic growth and enhance America's energy independence.

·         June-2014: Wrote to the EPA Inspector General General Elkins requesting that he investigate the process involved in crafting the RFS proposal?after reports that there may have been inappropriate lobbying efforts made to lower the RFS standard.  The letter echoed a request made by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)?a nonpartisan group dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government.

·         July-2014: Sponsored an educational briefing with Republican Rep. Lee Terry (NE-02) for Members of Congress and their staffs on the importance of the RFS in lowering gas prices and reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.

If you're like jazz trombonist and music producer Delfeayo Marsalis, a member of the acclaimed Marsalis family from New Orleans, you appreciate the "old-school" ways of doing things.

For Marsalis, that means doing without automated music created and played at the push of a button, cooking without a microwave and not being too quick to replace a lost cell phone.

"Some people ask, 'How could you go weeks without replacing your phone?' But for me, I look at it as a much needed vacation," he says.

"At the same time, I'm like most other people: when I have a smart phone on me, I find myself checking it frequently."

While Marsalis isn't anti-technology, he fondly recalls a time when more people interacted with others who are right in front of them, rather than staring at a gadget in their hand - especially when it comes to family. The father of a young teenager, he offers the following tips for improving quality time by doing without the ubiquity of cell phones.

•  Consider a "No Cell Phone Day." In fact, that's the name of his new children's book, (www.KidsTownPress.com), about a tech-entrenched father who spends a happy birthday exploring New Orleans with his daughter - without his cell phone. A monthly "no cell phone day" allows you to fully engage with the people around you, whether they're your kids, your parents, or your friends. Without the distractions of work and spam email, you'll can have meaningful conversations and simply spend time laughing with the people you love. You'll have those memories to cherish for a long time to come. If you really want to connect with yourself and loved ones, plan on a regular No Cell Phone Day.

•  Play dates that don't require cell phones. When Marsalis takes his 13-year-old daughter and her cousins out for a fun day out at the mall, followed by a movie and dinner, he makes a deal with them to leave their phones at home.

"We're all together on these occasions, so there's no concern for safety, and it would be sad to go through all the trouble of spending the day together while, half of the time, they're preoccupied with their phones," he says. "In addition to the occasional outing, we set aside time at home when we can't use cell phones."

•  Make dinner time a cell phone-free zone. While food is especially important to any self-respecting son or daughter of New Orleans, sitting down to eat together is a sacred time for every family. Children and adults alike face significant stress and pressures every day in the world outside the home. Closing the doors on that world and coming together for an hour each evening to relax and refresh in the comparative safety of those who most love us is essential to our well-being.

•  Play "What Do I Know without My Cell Phone?" Research suggests cell phones are compromising the short-term memory of children. More and more of us - children and adults alike - rely on our smart phones, rather than our memories, to retrieve information. Exercising our brains with trivia, math and other cognitive games can help all of us stay mentally sharp.

•  Most importantly - don't be afraid to be bored! Life doesn't have to be a sci-fi movie all of the time. Ask your child to reflect on their greatest memories to date; chances are 0 percent that the content of those memories will involve cell phones.

About Delfeayo Marsalis

While Delfeayo Marsalis (dmarsalis.com) is known primarily for his work as a jazz trombonist and music producer, and has been involved with youth education for many years. In 2000, he founded the Uptown Music Theatre to provide arts education for the youth of New Orleans. UMT has staged 16 of his original musicals. Inspired by his autistic younger brother, Mboya, Delfeayo has volunteered and presented shows at Children's Hospital of New Orleans, including the therapeutic, "Swinging with the Cool School." "No Cell Phone Day" is his first children's book.