WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley said today that fall internships for college-age Iowans are available and applications are due July 15.

These Senate internships are available in Grassley offices in Washington, D.C., Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City, and Waterloo.  The fall session is set to start August 26.

Interns assist staff members with administrative, legislative and communications work, including that of Grassley's staff on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where he serves as Ranking Member.  An internship during the fall semester allows for a wide range of exposure for students on Capitol Hill.  A firsthand account of a Grassley internship can be seen here.

Grassley said he encourages young Iowans who are interested in learning more about the government to apply.  "Working in a congressional office is a good way for college students and new graduates to learn more about the legislative branch of the federal government while gaining valuable work experience.  Internships in my offices are available to students in all areas of study," he said.

HOUSTON, June 17, 2013 - University of Houston students Michael Brooks and Matthew Docimo embarked on a 4,000-mile bike ride in San Francisco, Calif. on June 9. A little more than a week in to their ride, they have made their way to eastern Nevada. Their goal: cycle all the way to Washington, D.C. by Saturday, August 10, in support of people with disabilities.

"People with disabilities face many challenges every day that you and I cannot imagine. But one of the most tragic barriers is a lack of understanding by our society," said Docimo. "A simple message of empathy and acceptance is all it takes to break down this barrier, and I have committed myself to spreading this message this summer."

Docimo, a senior supply chain management major, and Brooks, a junior construction management major, decided to spend nearly nine weeks of their summer break cycling in their fraternity's 68-day Journey of Hope ride.

Both are members of the University of Houston's Beta Nu chapter of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.  Pi Kappa Phi's national philanthropy organization, Push America, organized the ride.

Docimo said Push America's mission is, "To build leaders of tomorrow by serving people with disabilities today.  We try to change the way society perceives those with disabilities."

Docimo and Brooks are riding as a part of a 26-member team of cyclists being supported by a 10-member crew, with a goal of raising more than $650,000 for Push America's efforts to help support people living with disabilities. As of the start of their trek, Docimo has raised more than $9,300 for Push America and Brooks has raised nearly $6,000.

As a member of Pi Kappa Phi, Docimo said the Journey of Hope ride is not the first time he has raised funds on behalf of people with disabilities.

"I was able to participate in Give a Push Weekend (GAP) in Tulsa, Okla. in the fall of 2011. Building a jungle gym for the children of a local church and seeing them play on it was one thing, seeing the families approach the team of us with tears in their eyes will never leave my memory. Since that day, I have been motivated to continue to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Working with the Smarty Pants Academy, a day care center for children with disabilities in Houston, has also made a huge impact," said Docimo.

Brooks, a UH construction management major, is also quick to point out that more than 54 million Americans are currently living with a disability.

"In addition to cycling all the way to Washington, D.C., we will also be reaching out to thousands of people with disabilities along the way, working to spread a message of acceptance and understanding," said Brooks.

Each day during this summer trek, after a full 30 to 120 mile bike ride, the cyclists take part in a friendship visit where they interact with people with physical and mental disabilities.

"The feeling that you get from working with them is indescribable.  To try to convey the feeling we all get with words would do the experience an injustice. This has been the most humbling trip of my life," said Docimo.  "We went into the Journey of Hope with the idea that we would change the lives of those we meet, but, in turn, they change ours."

During one particularly challenging day of riding early in their journey, Brooks, Docimo and their team rode 92 miles over three California mountain passes, climbing a total of 12,000 feet.

"After 13 hours on the bike and upon completion, I couldn't help but let tears roll down knowing what our journey represents. The trip is one big metaphor. Those with disabilities cannot choose to just to give up when faced with hardships. They cannot opt out of their disability. They can only do one thing and that is to push on and endure. We are doing just that, gaining empathy and understanding the whole way," said Docimo.

Push America (http://pushamerica.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that's mission is to serve people with disabilities.  It was founded in 1977 as the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (http://www.pikapp.org) with the purpose of, "instilling lifelong service in its members and enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities."

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following legislation into law:

House File 489: An Act relating to various matters involving insurance and the insurance division of the department of commerce, providing penalties, and including applicability and effective date provisions.

House File 599: An Act relating to beginning farmers by modifying the agricultural assets transfer tax credit, providing a custom farming contract tax credit, and terminating the agricultural loan assistance program, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

House File 602: An Act relating to transportation and other infrastructure-related appropriations to the department of transportation, including allocation and use of moneys from the road use tax fund and the primary road fund.

House File 603: An Act relating to and making appropriations to certain state departments, agencies, funds, and certain other entities, providing for regulatory authority, and other properly related matters.

House File 614:  An Act appropriating federal funds made available from federal block grants and other non-state sources, allocating portions of federal block grants, and providing procedures if federal funds are more or less than anticipated or if federal block grants are more or less than anticipated and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

House File 620: An Act relating to the economic development financial assistance duties and powers of the economic development authority by authorizing and creating fees, affecting the aggregate tax credit limit for certain economic development programs and the tax credit for the endow Iowa tax credit, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions

House File 640: An Act relating to liquids which are flammable or combustible, by providing for the storage, marketing, and distribution of such liquids, providing for the marketing and distribution of liquids classified as motor fuel, including a conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending, and blended and unblended gasoline and diesel fuel, extending the period for determining the rates of the motor fuel tax based on calculating the distribution of ethanol blended gasoline and other motor fuel, including fees and penalties, and including effective date provisions.

House File 649: An Act relating to the liability of a land holder for the public use of private lands and waters for a recreational purpose or urban deer control.

Senate File 435: an Act relating to appropriations and making appropriations involving state government entities involved with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection.

Senate File 442: An Act relating to appropriations to the judicial branch.