BETTENDORF - Former Rock Island Arsenal Attorney Maria Bribriesco has filed nominating petitions for Iowa Senate, District 47.

District 47 includes the cities of Bettendorf, Riverdale, Panorama Park, part of eastern Davenport and Pleasant Valley Township.

"I've contacted voters in District 47 and its clear they want to see more from their elected officials," said Bribriesco. "People are very tired of the divisive, partisan attitude of today's politicians. They want a representative in the Iowa Senate who will do the right thing for the people–not the party."

Bribriesco spent twenty-seven years as a civilian attorney with the U.S. Army at Rock Island Arsenal, rising to the position of Chief Counsel to TACOM before retiring in 2011. She's active in Ministry Gardens, an organization dedicated to supplying local food pantries, homeless shelters and meal sites in Scott County.

"I come from a background where I was taught that if I worked hard and played by the rules, that I would succeed. I did work hard. And I played by the rules. I believe that it takes an entire community to provide the right environment for people to succeed."

Maria Bribriesco was born in south Texas. Her father was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean Conflict. Her parents both worked as migrant farm workers and various other labor intensive jobs. In spite of the financial obstacles, she pushed ahead and worked her way first through high school, then college and law school. Her success was facilitated by the financial aid policies that existed at the time. She received aid in the form of grants (Basic Educational Opportunity Grant and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), student loans at low interest rates, scholarships and work study programs.

"With education, there is hope of a productive future," said Bribriesco. "I want everyone to have the same opportunity to obtain the best education possible without getting into overwhelming debt."

Maria and her husband William have three grown sons: Alex, Anthony and Andrew. They also have four grandchildren: Ava, Liam, Marissa and Caliana. The Bribriescos are active members of Our Lady of Lourds Catholic Church in Bettendorf.

"I hope I get a chance to talk with every voter in this district. I've been knocking on doors and attending community events in Bettendorf, Riverdale, Davenport and Pleasant Valley. I welcome anyone interested in my campaign and interested in adding your voice into State Government, to contact me at (563) 332-0416 or email me at maria4ia@gmail.com."

More than 175,000 homes purchased; 120,000 broadband connections made; 1,000 community facilities funded

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today issued a report highlighting the impact of more than $33 billion in USDA investments to support rural businesses, infrastructure and housing in 2013.

"This report tells the story of how USDA support has made a tremendous difference in the lives of rural Americans," said Vilsack. "Our investments help create jobs and opportunity for rural residents, provide affordable housing, support modern infrastructure, and build essential community facilities. I am proud of the role that USDA has played to grow rural economies and help make rural America a place of opportunity, innovation and economic growth."

USDA Rural Development's $193 billion portfolio is making lasting investments in rural communities. The report highlights several initiatives that are helping to address persistent rural poverty, expand health care for Mississippi Delta residents, and develop stronger partnerships between government, private-sector and community-based organizations.

Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA business programs have provided more than 18,000 guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants to help more than 74,000 businesses create or save more than 375,000 jobs. USDA is increasingly becoming the lender of choice for many Native American tribes throughout the country.

USDA programs support research into new energy sources and help protect the environment. During the two last quarters of fiscal year 2013, USDA made payments to operators of 56 anaerobic digesters that produced almost 173 million kilowatt hours of electricity - enough to power more than 17,000 homes annually. For example, Clover Hill Dairy in Campbellsport, Wis., received a $6,200 payment through the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program to operate its anaerobic digester, which was commissioned 2007. The digester produces 2.7 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year. The dairy's herd provides the manure to produce biogas, which fuels the generators that produce electricity. The excess electricity is purchased by a local utility and delivered to customers.

USDA broadband infrastructure loans awarded in FY 2013 will result in new or upgraded broadband service for about 120,000 rural households, businesses and community institutions once the projects are completed. The Department also continued to make great strides to bring distance learning and telemedicine infrastructure to rural areas. In 2013, one-third of USDA's distance learning grants went to rural areas where the minority population is 30 percent or higher. Another third went to areas were poverty rates have been consistently high over long periods. All of the awards went to rural areas where residents lacked access to medical services.

Rural Development is a key player in the recovery of the nation's housing market, particularly in rural areas. For many realtors, USDA Rural Development loans account for most of their business. In 2013, nearly 163,000 rural families became homeowners through loans from private lenders that were guaranteed by USDA, and more than 7,000 families bought homes through direct loans from USDA.

USDA's homeownership program is complemented by assistance that helps rural residents find affordable rental housing. Tenants pay no more than 30 percent of their income on rent for decent, safe housing. Last year, USDA provided rental assistance to nearly 280,000 rural residents. Including the residents who get rental assistance, more than half a million rural Americans live in rental housing financed or directly supported by USDA.

USDA's Rural Housing Service invested in more than 1,000 essential community infrastructure projects with $1.4 billion in direct loans, guaranteed loans and grants in Fiscal Year 2013.

In other areas, the report indicates that USDA's Rural Utilities Service helped meet the power needs of 8.7 million rural customers last year by providing nearly $5 billion in loans to electric utilities. These loans helped build and expand transmission and distribution systems. During fiscal year 2013, USDA helped bring new and improved electric infrastructure to more than 80,000 Native Americans and Alaska Natives and invested a record amount - $275 million - on infrastructure projects benefitting them.

One of the many examples of how USDA investments are helping rural businesses and communities is the bio-based startup company Laurel Biocomposites, LLC, in Laurel, Neb. USDA partnered with Security Bank in Laurel to provide a $5 million loan guarantee that helped Laurel Biocomposites buy equipment and provide working capital for its first year of operation. Today, the company is operating one production line and is expected to begin full-scale production later this year. When full-scale production begins, the company plans to double its work force from seven currently to 13 to 15 workers on the plant floor.

The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative in Madison, Wis., is using a $150,000 USDA Value Added Producer Grant to help start a regional fresh produce food hub and packinghouse to improve producers' access to local wholesale markets. The hub will create private-sector jobs and aggregate local produce sold under the "Wisconsin Farmed" brand.

Eleven families in Reedley, Calif., became homeowners in 2013 after moving into houses they jointly built through USDA's Mutual Self-Help Housing program. The group worked with oversight from Self-Help Enterprises, a pioneer in the "Sweat Equity" concept of homebuilding.

For additional information on Rural Development projects, please visit Rural Development's new interactive web map featuring program funding and success stories for the past four fiscal years. The data can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html.

View the report here.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.

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Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963, a traveling exhibition opening at the Moline Public Library on Monday, March 24^th, examines the relationship between two great people's movements that resulted in the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and the March on Washington in 1963. Both grew out of decades of bold actions, resistance, organization, and vision. One hundred years separate them, yet they are linked in a larger story of liberty and the American experience - one that has had a profound impact on the generations that followed.

"We are pleased to have been selected as a site for this exhibition," said library Director, Lee Ann Fisher.  "The dramatic story of how these two pivotal events came into being, a century apart, and how each helped put the nation on a course toward fulfilling its commitment to liberty and justice for all, is one that can inspire all Americans. Decades of work, struggle and sacrifice by many dedicated individuals and groups preceded both of these events. The exhibition tells the story of these struggles and their impact on American history and on the extension of equal rights to all Americans."

The exhibition will travel to 50 venues across the nation, accompanied by public programming that will help audiences understand and discuss the relationship between these two great people's movements.

The Moline Public Library is sponsoring free programs and other public events in connection with the exhibition. Changing America will be on display at the library until April 30^th

The exhibit is presented as part of the six-week series with Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle which explores our nation's civil rights history through film, discussion, and presentations.  More information about Created Equal and Changing America can be found online at molinelibrary.com/createdequal, by visiting the library at 3210 41^st Street, or by calling 309-524-2470.

Changing America is presented by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle is made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Local support for Created Equal and Changing America has been provided by Friends of the Moline Public Library, WQPT, and The Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus/QCOnline.