DALLAS - Oct 2, 2013 - The Energy Professionals Association (TEPA), a non-profit organization 501 (c)(6) committed to upholding the integrity of the deregulated retail energy market, has announced that it will host its annual conference on November 13-14, 2013, at the Hotel ZaZa - Dallas.  More than 300 of the nation's top brokers, providers, executives, thought-leaders and policymakers will attend the conference to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the energy procurement industry.

"Our annual conference plays an important role in the health of the retail energy market," said Michael Harris, president of TEPA. "Energy procurement is continually evolving based on a host of market variables.  Our TEPA conference creates a critical common ground for energy providers and brokers to meet and identify the challenges and opportunities that will make working with REPs easier for consumers.   Part of the conference will include the presentation of important research related to the availability, reliability, sustainability and profitability of the market."

The 2013 conference will feature presentations by recognized experts from the Texas legislature, private energy sector, leading brokers and representatives from the retail energy sector.  This year's conference will also introduce a new breakout session, "Energy 101" for new brokers.  This breakout session will help new brokers understand how the energy market functions, as well as the importance of following ethical standards when representing buyers and providers during an energy procurement deal.

"This year TEPA has taken its first steps to become a national organization," said Harris.  "In August, we met with brokers and providers in the Northeast to introduce them to TEPA.  As a result, we've created our first national chapter outside of Texas.  The new Northeast TEPA Board will be announced during our annual conference."

The 2012 conference will feature exciting social events in addition to hosting some of the industry's most dynamic speakers. Registration is $300-$350 per person; group rates may apply. Those interested in attending can register online by clicking the link. More information about the 2013 annual TEPA Conference can be found at www.tepaUSA.org.

The Energy Professionals Association (TEPA) is a 501 (c)(6) organization that establishes a standardized code of conduct, serves as an educational resource and advocates legislative initiatives for the Texas deregulated energy market. TEPA members include Aggregators, Brokers, and Consultants (ABCs), Retail Electricity Providers (REPs) and affiliate members. TEPA members exhibit expertise, ethical practices and a high level of professionalism to help consumers buy electricity in the restructured Texas marketplace. For more information contact Aaron Cook at ACook@TPRM.com,

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Prepared Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee

Hearing on "Continued Oversight of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act"

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today's hearing on the continued oversight of the FISA intelligence gathering programs that have been the subject of ongoing media attention.

Although the government has been partially shut down due to partisan differences over various issues, we are continuing our bipartisan oversight of this important matter here today.

We last held a hearing on this topic a few months ago, in late July.  At that time, I expressed the view that the reports in the media had called into serious question whether the law and other regulations currently in place strike the right balance between protecting our civil liberties and our national security.  This was especially so concerning the public revelation that under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, the government is collecting Americans' phone records in bulk.

Additional public disclosures since our last hearing have underscored my concern.

Indeed, since that time, the Administration has declassified legal opinions reflecting significant errors by the government before the FISA court in implementing both the Section 215 and 702 authorities.  The good news is that these appear to have been, for the most part, unintentional mistakes that the government brought to the court's attention on its own accord.  The bad news is that, even with all the checks and balances built into the system, these kinds of errors can still occur.

Even more unsettling, other reports since July have suggested that there have been cases of intentional and willful misuse of intelligence authorities by NSA employees to spy on their spouses and neighbors.

These disclosures have created a broader crisis of trust in the legitimacy of our intelligence gathering methods generally.  In my view, had these programs been more transparent from the start, this trust deficit wouldn't be as severe as it is now.

This brings me to the President's response to this crisis, which has been baffling.  The President held a news conference in early August in which he defended the bulk collection of phone records as "an important tool in our effort to disrupt terrorist plots," and suggested some areas for reform.  Since then, as far as I know, he hasn't said a word in public about these issues.  If the President truly believes in the importance of these programs, he should be publicly defending them as part of our national debate.  He shouldn't be contracting out that job solely to the intelligence community.  Simply put, as in so many other areas, the President is failing to lead where he wants others to follow.

In any event, I'm pleased that we've taken a number of steps to follow up on some of these disturbing reports since July.  A bipartisan group of members of this committee requested that the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community conduct a thorough review of the implementation of these authorities.

Additionally, I wrote to the NSA Inspector General and received a public accounting of the handful of documented instances where NSA employees intentionally abused their authorities.  It was heartening to see how few cases of intentional misconduct exist.  But on the other hand, it is alarming to know that the possibility of employees engaging such behavior is very real.

The NSA Inspector General's response to my letter reflected that many of these cases were referred to the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution.  I was planning on following up about how those referrals were handled with Deputy Attorney General Cole at this hearing.  However, the Chairman chose not to invite an Administration witness to provide a legal perspective on these matters.  Therefore, I will be following up with the Department of Justice about these cases with a letter to the Attorney General today.

The balance between protecting individual liberties and our national security is a delicate one.  Reasonable people can disagree about precisely where that balance is best struck.  I probably don't agree one hundred percent with any member of the two panels of witnesses we have with us today, including Professor Cordero, whom I have invited to share her valuable perspective as a lawyer with hands-on experience in the intelligence community.  But I welcome them all, and I'm pleased to hear their views as we consider various reforms to FISA and related surveillance authorities.

Thank you.

MOLINE, Ill. (October 1, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards have signed centers Gergo Nagy and Gabriel Levesque, the Mallards announced today.

Nagy, 23, has already played six games this season in the MOL Liga- which consists of teams in Slovakia, Hungary and Romania- for Slovak club HK Nove Zamky.  He produced one goal and nine assists in those six outings.

"Gergo is a very good-sized centerman who skates well and is a really good playmaker and goal scorer," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski.  "With his size and experience in pro leagues in Europe, we look forward to him having a great season with us and being a player we can count on."

A native of Dunaujvaros, Hungary, Nagy last season played in his homeland with Miskolci Jegesmedve JSE, for whom he ripped off 16 goals and 42 assists for 58 points in 38 games.  Nagy first joined Miskolci Jegesmedve JSE midway through the 2011-12 campaign after spending the prior three and a half seasons with Szekesfehervar, a Hungarian club in the Austrian Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.  Nagy also played for the Hungarian national team at the 2009, 2010 and 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships.

Levesque, 23, last season scored nine goals and totaled 31 points in 65 games with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder.  The 5' 6", 160-pound Levesque broke into professional hockey with the Thunder in 2012-13, scoring nine times and notching 23 points in 26 games.

"Gabriel is a smaller center who is quick, smart and sees the ice very well," said Ruskowski.  "He's a great playmaker who in his last year in the Quebec [Major Junior Hockey] League was second in scoring."

Levesque played four seasons in the QMJHL.  The Montreal product capped off his junior career in 2010-11 with a superlative season that saw him play 68 games with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and lead the league in assists (70) and finish tied for ninth in goals (37) in addition to finishing second in point scoring (107).  Levesque, who spent his first three junior campaigns with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, recorded 78 goals, 167 assists and 245 points in 253 career QMJHL games.  He helped Rouyn-Noranda to a first overall finish and a berth in the President's Cup Finals in 2007-08 and to a Western Division title in 2009-10.

The Mallards will open their seventeenth season- and their fourth in the CHL- when they host the Rapid City Rush on Saturday night, October 19 at 7:05 p.m.  Tickets for the season opener and all other Mallards regular season home games are now on sale at Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com, through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000 or at the iWireless Center ticket office.  The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

Mallards season tickets as well as half season tickets and flex packs are also still available.  The Mallards offer ticket packages to meet any budget and season ticket holders also receive a host of additional benefits, including a unique season ticket holder Mallards jersey.  More ticket package information is available by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or emailing info@myqcmallards.com.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are approaching their seventeenth season and their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The i wireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards. 

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today accepted the resignation of Iowa Veterans Home Commandant David Worley, effective tomorrow.

Branstad has appointed current IVH COO Gen. Jodi Tymeson as the new commandant at the Iowa Veterans Home.

"I want to thank David for his years of service and important changes at the Iowa Veterans Home, and am pleased General Jodi Tymeson will take on this important role for Iowa's veterans," said Branstad.

Worley served in the previous administration, and was retained by Gov. Branstad to serve in the commandant position.  The text of his letter is as follows:

Dear Governor,

It has been a great honor to serve our nation's bravest citizens as Commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home. During my tenure, my top priority has been to provide the excellent standard of care Iowa's veterans have earned and deserved. Care of our veterans and their spouses always comes first. I worked hard to maintain that standard, and believe we have made a number of positive changes for the betterment of our veterans.

At this time, however, I have made the decision to seek other opportunities. While I am proud of the progress we made, it is with a solemn sense of respect and gratitude for the Iowa Veterans Home that I will be stepping down as the Iowa Veterans Home Commandant effective tomorrow.

I want to thank you for giving me your confidence to serve in this position. It has been an honor to serve the people of Iowa in this role. I want to thank Jodi Tymeson, my fellow staff at the Veterans Home, the volunteers, and families who all contributed to a very positive experience during my tenure.

I will continue to pray for the veterans our home serves. I am thankful for the heroism they provided to defend our nation, and am grateful I had the opportunity to serve them as Commandant. They will have my eternal admiration.

Respectfully submitted,

David G Worley

Commandant, Iowa Veterans Home