(Rock Island, IL) -More than 100 volunteers from the Royal Neighbors of America Home Office and area chapters are scheduled to observe JOIN HANDS DAY on Saturday, May 3, by "Growing & Giving Together^SM." The group also will include individuals from Girl Scout Troop 5895, Rock Island; the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners; and The Friends of Riverside Park Gardens. Also invited are women and their families who use the services of area social services agencies.

Riverside Park in Moline will be the site of several projects including planting fruit, vegetable, and herb gardens which will benefit the Sacred Heart and St. Mary's Food Pantries; designing a children's garden; and creating make-and-take container gardens. Master gardeners will be on site to teach participants how to plant and maintain the gardens. It is estimated that when harvested, the food will feed nearly 100 women and their families.

WHAT: Planting gardens in observance of JOIN HANDS DAY

WHEN: Saturday, May 3; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Riverside Gardens and Park, 5th Avenue and 34th Street, Moline, IL

CONTACTS: Vickie Sedam (563) 320-1137; Sarah Reemtsma (563) 343-7770

In the event of inclement weather, outdoor garden work will be rescheduled for June.  The make-and-take container garden event will go on as scheduled from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

In its 15th year, JOIN HANDS DAY is sponsored by America's fraternal benefit societies such

as Royal Neighbors of America. The day of service provides an opportunity for adults and young people to build relationships through volunteer activities. As partners, adults and youths work together to plan, organize, and implement activities that improve their neighborhoods.

Royal Neighbors of America, one of the nation's largest women-led life insurance organizations, exists for the benefit of its members. It offers insurance and annuity products to fulfill financial needs of growth, savings, and protection. Members receive valuable benefits and can participate in volunteer activities through the organization's local chapters to help make a difference in their communities. The organization's philanthropic efforts are dedicated to changing women's lives through its national programs, including the Nation of Neighbors^SM Program, and through the Royal Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

Headquartered in Rock Island, IL, with a branch office in Mesa, AZ, Royal Neighbors serves more than 200,000 members and is licensed to do business in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Davenport, Iowa, April 25, 2013 - The delegates of the Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, voted at their April 21, 2014, Labor Council meeting to endorse the following candidates for the upcoming Primary Election on June 3rd:

Scott County:

Democrat Primary - Supervisor James Laird and Brinson Kinzer

Republican Primary - Supervisor William P Cusack

Muscatine County:

Democrat Primary - Supervisor Rob Krysh

Recorder Nancy Long

Treasurer Kas Kelly

The Labor Council believes that these candidates are the best choice for Scott and Muscatine County Working Families. The Labor Council has not made primary endorsements in Louisa County which is also part of the labor council jurisdiction, but will consider making them before the General Election.

We at the Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, realize that voting is a deeply personal matter, and it is the first responsibility of a citizen in a democracy. Therefore we take candidate endorsements seriously and have a vetting process that includes a questionnaire and interview with delegates to the Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO in order to be considered for endorsement for the June 3rd Primary Election.

We hope that you will vote pro-worker by voting in the Primary Election, Tuesday, June 3, or by voting early. Voters may vote from home by requesting an absentee ballot from the County Auditor's Office.

Early voting in person at the Auditor's office is also available starting Thursday, April 24, 2014, through Monday, June 2nd.

After increase in assaults on Iowa campuses, Congressman proposes solution on campus sexual assault reform

Washington, D.C. - After recent reports detailing an increase in sexual assault incidents on the campuses of the University of Iowa and Grinnell College, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today suggested that students convicted of sexual assault should be forced to return any federal aid they'd previously received.

"The government shouldn't be subsidizing the education of those committing sexual assault on our college campuses," Braley said. "We need to do whatever is necessary to protect our students and punish those who commit these types of heinous crimes."

Braley's concern comes after an increase in reports of sexual assault at the University of Iowa, where new policies are being implemented and considered to address the issue. Grinnell College also reported this week that sexual assault reports were nearly as high as schools with far higher student populations.

"Sexual assault is a heinous crime and we should not let convicted criminals benefit from aid meant for law abiding citizens," Braley wrote.

Braley has been a long time champion of sexual assault prevention?recently working for reforms to combat that crime in our military. This year, Braley's guest to the State of the Union Address was Anu Bhagwati, Executive Director of the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)?a group that has been at the center of the national effort to reform the military's handling of military sexual assault.

In 2011, Braley introduced the Holley Lynn James Act--a bill to help victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the military get justice. The bipartisan bill was named after a constituent of Braley's who was killed by her husband while both were in the service.

A copy of Braley's letter is available below:

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

I am writing to you today regarding the rise of sexual assaults on our nation's college campuses. I am glad to see your enhanced focus on this important issue.

Recently, the University of Iowa along with Grinnell College reported a climb in reports of sexual assaults on campus. Grinnell College, which has a student body of just 1,670 students, had 26 sexual offenses reported between 2010 and 2012. This rise in reporting assaults is prevalent throughout the country. According to a study done by the National Institute of Justice, nearly one in five women will be sexually assaulted in college. A robust and comprehensive plan is needed to combat this issue. One measure that I urge you to consider in that plan would be a clawback of federal student aid received by a student who is convicted of committing a sexual assault on campus. Sexual assault is a heinous crime and we should not let convicted criminals benefit from aid meant for law abiding citizens.

I thank you for your effort to combat this issue and look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Bruce Braley

Senate expected to vote on Fair Tax Act tomorrow; citizens from all corners of the state will demand a 'YES' vote from legislators in both chambers to put Fair Tax on November ballot

Springfield - With just 72 hours until the deadline to pass the Fair Tax Act, over 1,000 citizens from all corners of the state will gather in Springfield tomorrow to demand lawmakers vote 'YES' on resolutions that would put the Fair Tax on the November ballot. A Fair Tax - with lower rates for lower incomes and higher rates for higher incomes - is supported by 77% of Illinois voters.

The first four months of 2014 have seen a robust discussion about abandoning our state's unfair, regressive 'flat' tax - that results in low and middle income Illinoisans paying two to three times the tax rate that the richest 1% pay - and has put the Fair Tax on the brink of passage, which would continue the conversation into November and let Illinois voters have the final say.

Hundreds and hundreds of parents, seniors, small business owners, educators, health care and human service providers; and ordinary taxpayers will hold a rally and press conference at the Lincoln Statue in front of the Capitol Building at 11:30am.  Following the press conference, citizens will participate in one-on-one visits with their legislators to send them one final and resounding message: "We the People" deserve to decide on the Fair Tax for ourselves in November.

Under the Fair Tax rates proposed by Chief Senate sponsor Don Harmon and Chief House sponsor Christian Mitchell in SB350, 94% of Illinoisans earning up to $205,000 would receive a tax cut over what they currently pay - with residents earning the median income of $55,137 receiving a $303 break. The proposal would also avoid draconian cuts to vital services like education, health and human services, and public safety currently on the table if 2011 rates are allowed to simply expire.

Currently, Illinois lawmakers are prohibited?constitutionally barred?from enacting a Fair Tax. The Fair Tax Act simply allows citizens to vote in the upcoming November election on whether or not they want a Fair Tax.  The effective deadline for lawmakers to put a Fair Tax on the ballot is Thursday, May 1^st.

***Media interested in covering the event can RSVP to  neal@abetterillinois.org***

What: With just 72 hours until the deadline to pass the Fair Tax Act, over 1,000 citizens from all corners of the state will hold a press conference and rally demanding their lawmakers vote 'YES' to allow Illinois voters the opportunity to choose for themselves on the Fair Tax on the November ballot

When: Tuesday, April 29^th, 11:30AM

Where: Lincoln Statue, Capitol Building, Springfield

Who: Over One Thousand Illinoisans Voters

Kristen Crowell, Campaign Director of A Better Illinois

Sen. Don Harmon, Chief Sponsor of the Fair Tax Act and SB 350

Rep. Christian Mitchell, Chief Sponsor of the Fair Tax Act

Dan Montgomery, President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers

Chris Dupuis, Small Business Owner from Naperville

Rev. Marilyn Pagan Banks

A Child Care Provider

Others

In addition to the formal program there will be a number of small business owners, faith and community leaders, parents, child care providers, and ordinary taxpayers from all across Illinois available to speak to the media starting at 11:15 AM (and after the program, as well.)  Please contact Neal Waltmire, if you would like to schedule an interview.

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