Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after the VA Office of Inspector General issued an interim report on alleged misconduct related to patient wait times and scheduling practices at the Veterans Health Administration.

"The preliminary report of the VA's Office of Inspector General has convinced me that it is time for Secretary Shinseki to resign. The safety and health of our veterans is the paramount responsibility of the VA?and the report's damning findings include "systemic" problems with delayed medical care to veterans  and manipulation of records to hide those delays. It is now clear that the only way to restore confidence in the VA's ability to identify and eliminate these problems throughout the entire system is with new leadership.

"I also join House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller in calling on the Justice Department to conduct an investigation into alleged misconduct to determine if any criminal charges should be filed against those involved."

What: Public Form on Age Discrimination in the Workplace

Iowans affected by age discrimination in the workplace and those who are concerned about age discrimination on the job are invited to join AARP for a public forum with state and national AARP leaders, members of the media and the public to illustrate how important this issue is for the financial security of older workers in Iowa. The hearing is timed for Iowans to share their stories of age discrimination in the workplace as Congress considers legislation sponsored by Iowa Senators Tom Harkin (D) and Chuck Grassley (R), the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, (S. 1391, H.R. 2852).

When: Thursday, May 29, 2014

10:00 -10:40 a.m. - official remarks and stories of Iowans

10:40-11:00 a.m. - audience questions/comments

11:00 a.m. or immediately following end of comments - media availability with AARP national and state spokespersons

Where: The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd., SW, Cedar Rapids

Washington, D.C.  - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that the Camanche Fire Department will receive $66,204 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program.

"Our firefighters and first responders stand ready to serve us the moment disaster strikes," said Loebsack. "This funding will ensure that they are able to secure the resources and training they need to respond quickly to emergencies and keep our families and communities safe."

The AFG program allows our first responders to purchase firefighting equipment, implement wellness programs that focus on health, and improve facilities. Funds can be used for a myriad of needs, including new protective equipment, health and safety modifications to stations and training for emergency personnel.

• LSSI's Intouch Adult Day Services Program for Seniors Receives Grant from The Doris & Victor Day Foundation

May 12, 2014. DES PLAINES, IL-Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) received a $3,500 grant from The Doris & Victor Day Foundation, to support the Intouch Adult Day Services- Moline, a program of LSSI. Based in Des Plaines, LSSI is largest social service provider in Illinois, and offers services in communities throughout the state.

The Doris & Victor Day Foundation has been a steadfast partner with LSSI in helping older adults in the Quad Cities lead fulfilling and independent lives. Intouch Adult Day Services-Moline is one of the largest adult day facilities in Illinois, providing personalized attention and stimulating activities in a comfortable, monitored environment to nearly 300 active seniors, socially isolated adults, and medically and psychologically challenged adults. The services also offer caregivers respite from routine mental stressors, and their daily responsibilities.

Adult Day Services staff address individual needs through three areas of care: Active Adults, for clients who are primarily independent, and can participate in the variety of activities Intouch offers, Community Helpers Programming, for individuals who have sustained brain trauma and require programming to address their specific needs, and the Adaptive Services Unit, a secured setting, offering services based on the functional ability of individuals with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, neurologic disorders and/or other diagnoses that require extra care. In addition to assisting clients with activities of daily living, Intouch Adult Day also provides health monitoring by onsite nursing staff.

Great thanks go to The Doris and Victor Day Foundation for this generous grant. The Doris & Victor Day Foundation was established in 1987, with the mission to better their community. It was Doris Day's hope that Rock Island would be "a better place" for future generations. Since its inception, the foundation has continued to meet the human needs in the Quad City Area.

• LSSI Receives a Grant from the Rock Island Community Foundation to Support the Child Trauma Training Program for Foster Parents

May 12, 2014. DES PLAINES, IL- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) received a $2,500 grant from the Rock Island Community Foundation, to support the Child Trauma-Informed Training Program for Foster Parents in the Quad Cities. Based in Des Plaines, LSSI is largest social service provider in Illinois, and offers services in communities throughout the state.

The Trauma-Informed Training program provides foster parents and caregivers with the tools and knowledge to help them succeed in more effective parenting and communicating with a foster child, coping with the effects of trauma. As temporary custodians of children removed from their birth families, foster parents and caregivers must serve numerous roles, while providing safe and loving homes for the children.

Using a curriculum developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, LSSI's Trauma-Informed Training helps foster parents and caregivers recognize the symptoms of child trauma, assist children in understanding and identifying their emotions and behaviors, and support children with basic coping strategies to improve their well-being. After Trauma-Informed Training, foster parents and caregivers report more positive experiences, making their responsibilities worthwhile.

Great thanks go to The Rock Island Community Foundation for this generous grant. Since 1967, The Rock Island Community Foundation has promoted the civic needs and general welfare of the City of Rock Island and surrounding communities, by providing financial support to causes and organizations that help its citizens.

About Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

Founded in 1867, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is a statewide, not-for-profit social service agency of the three Illinois synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), as well as an agency of the United Way. Last year, LSSI served 96,000 people of all faiths through an array of services at 85 program sites across Illinois. For more information about Intouch Adult Day services, call 309.797.0200, visit LSSI.org, or go to LSSI's Facebook page.

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