ST. LOUIS, Mo. (October 24, 2013) - Bob Miller was elected Pilot/CEO of the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) at their annual meeting in St. Louis, MO September 18-20, 2013.

Mr. Miller has served on the Executive Committee for the past three years. In the past Miller served as chair of the MRPC Environment, Recreation and Agriculture Committee and the Endowment Foundation Committee, and spent seven years as the Wisconsin Commissioner.

"It is an honor to have been selected to lead this great organization," Miller said. "I've enjoyed being a part of it for many years and I'm excited to bring that experience to this new position."

In addition to his dedication and contributions to the MRPC, members also chose Miller for his instrumental role in developing a 10-state agritourism promotion funded in part by a National Scenic Byway grant.

The Mississippi River Parkway Commission was formed in 1938, made up of the 10 states that parallel the Mississippi River on both sides, for the purpose of developing the Great River Road.

The MRPC continues to support, preserve and enhance the resources and economic opportunities of the Mississippi River Valley and to develop highways and amenities of the Great River Road. The road stretches nearly 3,000 miles from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

For more information about the MRPC, log on to experiencemississippiriver.com or call (866) 763-8310.

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Q:  What is the status of the farm and food bill?

A:  The clock is ticking for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to renew the federal farm and food bill that would set public policy for agriculture, nutrition, conservation, disaster assistance and rural development for the next five years.  In fact, nearly 80 percent of the funding is geared towards nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or food stamps), the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program, and other food-assistance programs for seniors and children.  Only about 20 percent of the funding for the farm and food bill is directed towards agriculture programs.  Farm and food policy have been linked for decades in order to secure political support for both.  That pairing is likely to continue, at this point, but I don't like farmers getting the blame for the spending in the bill when agriculture programs receive a minor percentage of the funding. The most recent law expired September 30, and until Congress reaches an agreement, a quirk in the law automatically reverts federal farm policy to permanent Depression-era laws adopted in 1938 and 1949.  Lawmakers now must iron out the differences between their respective versions before Congress sends a final bill to the White House for the President's signature.    It's time to get the job done.  Congress needs to pass a farm and food bill that will give farmers the certainty they need to plan for the next planting season and maintain sound stewardship of financial and natural resources upon which their livelihood and way of life depends.

Q:        What needs to happen?

A:        U.S. farm and food policy needs to maintain a sufficient 21^st century farm safety net that supports rural America and America's food producers who grow the safest, most affordable and most abundant food supply in the world.  We can't afford to let federal farm and food policy unravel into uncertainty.  The next farm and food bill also needs to protect taxpayers.  America can't tax, spend and borrow its way to prosperity.  Reckless federal spending is piling up to unsustainable levels of national debt.  The public purse needs to protect the public good, from national security to food security.  Lawmakers need to make sure taxpayers get the most bang from every buck, including spending for American agriculture and nutrition.  I'm leading the effort for reforms that end automatic federal farm payments and tighten loopholes that are harming the integrity of federal farm programs.  Consider nationally that 10 percent of payment recipients receive 72 percent of farm program payments.  The farm safety net needs to empower farmers and producers to better manage their risk and protect soil and water quality.

Q:        Which payment reforms do you consider untouchable in negotiations on the farm and food bill?

A:        As one of two working family farmers serving in the U.S. Senate, I work to give a strong voice to American agriculture.  I'm also committed to getting Washington to do a better job of tightening its belt.  This year I secured two reforms that are included in both the Senate and House versions of the farm and food bill, including a fixed maximum annual payment limitation of $250,000 per married couple and an explicit directive that gives teeth to the definition of "actively engaged in farming."  Unfortunately, federal farm payments have flowed to non-farmers gaming the system. These types of shenanigans are indefensible and have no place in the farm and food safety net.  An investigation I requested by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office exposes flaws in the system, including a legal loophole that gives the program a black eye.  In its 60-page report, the GAO cited an example of a farm that received $400,000 in farm subsidies in 2012.  In a complex legal arrangement, the farm was organized as a general partnership, with six corporations and 11 members of the same family, ages 18-88.  The legislative reforms I championed in the Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013 are mirrored in the farm bill currently being negotiated in Congress.  It would change the definition to allow only one off-farm manager, which would help to crack down on general partnerships that are created to exploit the system to qualify for farm payments.  The farm safety net is intended to help those who grow our food to stay afloat when times are tough.  It's not intended to allow gougers to help themselves to feed at the taxpayers' trough.  By closing these loopholes and limiting lopsided farm payments, we can strengthen America's farm safety net.

DES MOINES - Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison was recently elected to the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) Board of Directors. The election was held during NCSHA's 43rd Annual Conference, October 19-22 in New Orleans, LA.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve on the NCSHA Board of Directors to support their exceptional work in communicating the importance and far-reaching benefits that affordable housing programs have all across the country," said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. "Affordable housing is central to thriving neighborhoods and communities as it provides many economic benefits and provides families with a stable place to call home, often resulting in higher educational achievement for children, proud neighborhoods and strong communities."

The National Council of State Housing Agencies - known as NCSHA - is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan association that advocates on behalf of housing finance agencies (HFAs) before Congress and the Administration for affordable housing resources. It represents the HFAs of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Membership also includes more than 300 affordable housing industry partners.

"I look forward to working with Dave Jamison, Executive Director of the Iowa Finance Authority and the other Board officers and directors as we continue our efforts on behalf of all of our members to protect and strengthen federal housing programs in response to the wide range of housing needs HFAs serve," said Barbara Thompson, Executive Director of NCSHA.

Prior to being appointed Executive Director of the Iowa Finance Authority in 2011, Jamison served as Story County Treasurer for sixteen years. Jamison is an Iowa native, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of Iowa State University, where he received a BBA in Management.  He also holds a Finance Master certificate from the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers and Finance Officers (NACCTFO) through the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

While Treasurer, Mr. Jamison was President of the Iowa State County Treasurers Association, Co-Chair of the ISCTA web site task force that established the IowaTreasurers.org web site for all 99 county treasurers and Chair of the Education Committee for NACCTFO.

The Iowa Legislature created The Iowa Finance Authority, the state's housing finance agency, in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of housing for low-and moderate-income Iowans.

NCSHA Board of Directors

President

Brian A. Hudson, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

Vice President

Thomas R. Gleason, MassHousing

Secretary/Treasurer

Grant S. Whitaker, Utah Housing Corporation

Immediate Past President

Gerald M. Hunter, Idaho Housing and Finance Association

At-Large Executive Committee Member

Richard L. McQuady, Kentucky Housing Corporation

Board Members

Stephen P. Auger, Florida Housing Finance Corporation

Anas Ben Addi, Delaware State Housing Authority

Dean J. Christon, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

Kim Herman, Washington State Housing Finance Commission

Dave Jamison, Iowa Finance Authority

Mary Kenney, Illinois Housing Development Authority

Douglas A. Garver, Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Ralph Perrey, Tennessee Housing Development Agency

Dennis Shockley, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

Raymond Skinner, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Mary Tingerthal, Minnesota Housing

Cris White, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– The Visitor Center at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will close on Friday, November 8 while the park installs a new permanent exhibit. The Visitor Center will reopen on Saturday, November 23.  This closure will not affect the U.S. Post Office operations in West Branch.

Visitors to Herbert Hoover National Historic Site seeking information about the park or to buy federal recreational passes may go to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. A national park ranger will be available at a temporary information desk in the museum lobby daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors needing information over the telephone may still call (319) 643-2541. Additional information about the park is on the Web at www.nps.gov/heho.

"We understand that closing the Visitor Center may be of some inconvenience to our visitors," said National Historic Site Superintendent Pete Swisher. "However it is a necessary step in what we hope the public will find to be a much better interpretive experience."

The new exhibit will use artifacts, archival photographs and documents, exhibit panels, and audio-visual programs to tell the stories of Herbert Hoover's childhood in West Branch and his later involvement in developing the park which commemorates his life. Along with the park's map and guide, audio tour, and introductory film, the new exhibit will complement visitors' exploration of the restored buildings and commemorative landscape of the historic site and the extensive galleries of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS