09 Sep 2012

In New Braley Ad, Bill Clinton Debunks Lange's Lies

By Braley for Congress - Jeff Giertz
Lange and his Washington friends falsely claim Braley endangered Medicare


WATERLOO, IA -- In a new TV ad launching today, titled "Brass", Rep. Bruce Braley has enlisted the help of former President Bill Clinton to debunk the latest false claim leveled by Ben Lange and his allies.

The Washington, DC-based National Republican Congressional committee began running a false attack ad yesterday against Braley claiming that Braley "voted to slash Medicare [by $716 billion] to pay for Obamacare."

The claim has already been labeled by independent fact-checkers as "questionable" and "false."
"The truth is simple: Bruce Braley voted to save Medicare billions by cutting subsidies to insurance companies.  The savings were used to close the donut hole gap in the Medicare prescription drug program and add eight years to the life of the Medicare trust fund," said Jeff Giertz, Braley for Congress campaign manager.

"Ben Lange and his Washington friends are working overtime to distract from his support of Paul Ryan's plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program, ending guaranteed Medicare benefits for workers under age 55 and raising out-of-pocket costs for Iowa seniors by $6,000 per year.  Ben Lange is a prescription for trouble for Iowa seniors."

Braley's ad features President Clinton setting the record straight on this false claim at the Democratic National Convention.  The ad can be viewed at the following link: http://youtu.be/76qh7GlzWfo
09 Sep 2012

Governor Quinn Honors Illinois Silver Star Recipient

By Leslie Wertheimer

Ceremony Highlights Heroism and Bravery of Illinois Servicemembers

TROY - September 8, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today joined Gold Star families and local leaders at a ceremony honoring Senior Airman Bradley Smith with the Silver Star, the third-highest military decoration that can be awarded to any branch of the United States Military. The posthumous award is in recognition of Smith's heroic acts to protect other airmen following an attack in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan on January 3, 2010.

"Airman Smith made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and the debt we owe him can never be repaid," Governor Quinn said. "This award is a testament to his bravery and his loyalty to his unit and his nation. His memory shall live on in our hearts and in every measure of support we can give to those who have borne the battle."

According to the Air Force, Smith was on patrol in a village in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan when his unit came under attack. When another part of his team triggered an IED (improvised explosive device), Smith led the wounded airmen to safety. After rejoining the fight, Smith volunteered to recover the body of one of the fallen soldiers, which he did successfully with the assistance of Army Medic Brian Bowman. After they reached the casualty collection point, a second IED exploded, killing both Smith and Bowman.

Today's ceremony will be held at the beginning of the third annual Bradley Smith Memorial/Scholarship 5k run established in his memory by the Smith family, which has attracted more than 800 participants and provided more than $20,000 in scholarships to students of Triad High School in Troy and to the children of active duty and retired servicemembers. The Silver Star Medal is being delivered to Smith's family by members of the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, who also fought bravely alongside Smith that day. The airmen, some of whom were gravely injured in the attack, made a week-long march on foot from Fort Riley, Kansas to Troy.

Governor Quinn is encouraging Illinois residents to honor the servicemen and servicewomen who have lost their lives fighting for democracy by supporting programs that benefit Gold Star Families, including the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, Operation Hero Miles, and Operation Support Our Troops. For more information about programs for our Veterans, visit www.operationhomefront.org or call the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs at 217-782-6641 or 312-814-2460.

09 Sep 2012

Loebsack Statement on Department of Labor's August Jobs Report

By Rick Martin

Personally calls on President to push Congress to act

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor's announcement that the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in August and 96,000 jobs were added.

"The ongoing political games have gotten us nowhere. Today's report serves as another reminder that in order for anything to get accomplished that actually improves our economy, Congress must work together.

"The House Republicans have shown an utter lack of leadership. It isn't leadership when you continually put politics before people and refuse to bring a comprehensive jobs package up for a vote.  Leadership isn't holding hostage tax cuts for middle class families when we all agree they must be passed.  Leadership isn't taking our economy up to the brink of collapsing last summer by refusing to deal with the debt ceiling, and pushing it up against a fiscal cliff this fall. Leadership isn't taking a five-week vacation when Iowans are dealing with the worst drought in 60 years without passing a reformed farm bill.  Iowans expect their leaders to work until the job is complete and the leaders of this Congress have refused to even begin their work.  The games must end and the work must begin."

   

Today, in a face-to-face meeting, Loebsack also personally urged President Obama to use his position to push Congressional action on multiple critical issues that affect our economy, including the farm bill, a comprehensive jobs package, wind energy tax credit, sequestration, and middle class tax cuts.  He stressed the importance of action and the dire consequences if no action is taken.  A copy of the letter he presented to the President can be found here.   

###

09 Sep 2012

American Jobs Act Continually Blocked by Republicans. And Here Are The Results:

By Maureen Groah

Exactly a year ago, President Obama laid out a series of policy proposals known collectively as the American Jobs Act. The plan included stimulus spending in the form of immediate infrastructure investments, tax credits for working Americans and employers to encourage consumer spending and job growth, and efforts to shore up state and local budgets to prevent further layoffs of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public safety officials.

The American Jobs Act never became law, however, because Republicans opposed it from the start, blasting it as another form of "failed stimulus" that wouldn't help the economy. (They ignored the fact that the first "failed stimulus," the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, wasn't a failure at all.) One month later, the GOP blocked the bill in the Senate, preventing the creation of more than a million jobs and the added growth that multiple economists predicted would occur if the bill passed:

-Moody's Analytics estimated the American Jobs Act would create 1.9 million jobs and add two percent to gross domestic product.

-The Economic Policy Institute estimated it would create 2.6 million jobs and protect an addition 1.6 million existing jobs.

-Macroeconomic Advisers predicted it would create 2.1 million jobs and boost GDP by 1.5 percent.

-Goldman Sachs estimated it would add 1.5 percent to GDP.

The American economy has continued to recover since the American Jobs Act failed. It added 96,000 jobs last month, according to today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report, making August the 30th consecutive month in which the private sector has grown. But growth could have been faster: the public sector shed 7,000 jobs in August, adding to the more 700,000 it has lost since 2009. That includes hundreds of thousands of teachersand educators, firefighters, and police officers. Had the public sector spent the last three years growing at its previous rate, unemployment would be at least a full point lower than it is now.

The American Jobs Act and policies like it would have unquestionably boosted job creation and economic growth, a stark contrast to the tax-cutting policies put forth by congressional Republicans, whose "job creation" bills would have actually destroyed thousands of jobs. Republicans nevertheless continue to ignore economists and basic economics, instead pushing supply-side tax policies that have repeatedly failed to boost job creation and economic growth.

09 Sep 2012

Americans Can Take Lessons in Surviving the Economy from 1800s Immigrant

By Ginny Grimsley

A Century Ago, Self-Reliance Wasn't an Option - It Was a Requirement, Translator Says

While the current recession continues to hit millions hard, a researcher says the example of our ancestors should inspire us.

"We have become so accustomed to the fruits of our forefathers' labor that many of us have forgotten just how tough they had it," says Sigrid Wilshinsky, translator of "My Life in America Before, During and After the Civil War" (www.amazon.com). She translated numerous letters from German immigrant Louis Hensel, who wrote about life in the United States throughout the mid-1800s to his German granddaughter, Emma, whom he had never met.

"Reading Hensel's letters is like peeking through a rip in the curtain of history and seeing through the eyes of one who had experienced so much," Wilshinsky says.

That includes meeting Abraham Lincoln in the White House while pretending to be a translator to various Native American tribes; life in New York City in the mid 1800s; training the Union Calvary as a master horseman; the adventures of a traveling opera company, and various intimate details of an America that was still untamed yet quickly ascending as a world powerhouse.

Today's economic troubles are serious and we don't know exactly where they are heading, Wilshinsky says, "but imagine losing a well-to-do business in France, thanks to a revolution, another in Long Island 10 years later, and yet another in Williamsburg (in Brooklyn) because of illness."

Wilshinsky provides tips for surviving today's economic woes via inspiration from Hensel's example:

• A jump-starter: Hensel writes that many immigrants who landed in New York took a few weeks to settle in, sightsee, and get accustomed to city life in America before seeking work. Not him; he writes that after acquiring comfortable lodgings - procured by a friend -- he immediately walked the streets to find work, which he found at the end of his second day in the United States.

• Capitalize on all your talents: Before fleeing Paris, Hensel had a thriving engraving company. He was able to use this skill to immediately land a job. Hensel continually honed his knowledge in order to work in a variety of capacities, Wilshinsky says. He learned equine veterinary medicine in his spare time, made nightly runs to the fruit and vegetable market in New York for produce sales, joined local theater groups and was hired by the German Opera Company, with whom he traveled the United States during the winters.

• An indefatigable work ethic: For Hensel, not working was never an option. While writing his letters to Emma during his later years - he lived to be 91 - he discussed life as a music teacher to locals, which meant plenty of traveling. Always an active man, Hensel loathed physical inactivity, and work was a way of life for him.

• A helping spirit: Although Wilshinsky says Hensel may have "bragged a bit" about his deeds, he was nonetheless heroic in his aid to others during numerous incidents.

• An open heart/open mind: Hensel naturally gravitated toward well-educated people, and he learned from them. He valued honesty and integrity in his business dealings, which earned him trust, respect and a strong network of friends and colleagues.

About Sigrid Wilshinsky

Born in Berlin, Germany in 1943, Sigrid Wilshinsky's family escaped into West Germany in 1952. She benefited from a world-class education in Berlin, where she focused on art, and immigrated to the United States in 1962. She has since traveled the world as a stewardess and eventually became a resident of the Pocono Mountains, where she has befriended the local wildlife. Like Louis Hensel, the German-born renaissance man of the 1800s whose letters she translated, Wilshinsky is a multitalented individual with many interests.

09 Sep 2012

More Cost Overruns for FBI Computer Upgrade

By Grassley Press

Friday, September 7, 2012

Senator Chuck Grassley issued the following statement after the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Justice released the ninth interim report on the implementation of the FBI's Sentinel Project, the FBI's attempt to upgrade its computer system.  Grassley is Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over the FBI.

"More than a decade after the FBI began upgrading its computer system, we're still talking about cost overruns, hidden fees and delayed results.  In its latest report, the Inspector General detailed that the cost of Sentinel is at least an additional $60 million over budget. In addition, looking ahead, the report shows that the FBI has failed to include costs such as the $30 million annual operating fee, and costs to continue operating legacy systems that were originally slated for incorporation into the Sentinel Project but were eliminated.  Costs like this are sprinkled throughout the project's future budgets.  Unfortunately, it looks like this isn't close to the end of the taxpayers' commitment to this project, which has already been hundreds of millions of dollars."

 

 

09 Sep 2012

Loebsack Expresses Importance of Clinton Social Security Office Directly to SSA Commissioner

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today spoke with Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Michael Astrue to express the importance of the Clinton Field Office and repeated his calls that the office be kept open.  

 

The office currently serves 49,000 residents in Clinton, including 10,000 current Social Security beneficiaries.  An office consolidation would force seniors to travel up to 40 miles to receive services.

"I have opposed the closure of the Clinton Social Security Office since day one," said Loebsack.  "Many local community officials and citizens have reached out to me to express their concerns as well, and I asked the Commissioner to ensure that their input is heard though a public meeting.  I also stressed the importance of the office to our local seniors, and pushed him to stop the closure."

###

09 Sep 2012

Schilling Hits on Absent Sequestration Report

By Andrea Pivarunas

White House ignores deadline to detail devastating defense cuts it proposed
Moline, Illinois - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today released the following statement as the White House is ignoring the deadline to comply with H.R. 5872, the Sequestration Transparency Act, legislation President Barack Obama signed into law requiring his Administration to detail the impact of the sequester.  Administration officials including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have repeatedly described the cuts' impact on our national security as "devastating," though they have been keeping plans for its implementation hidden from public view as the date of implementation looms. 

"These cuts are set to begin in just four months, but defense manufacturers and folks at the Rock Island Arsenal have yet to learn if or how they will be impacted," Schilling said. "We need the President to lead and present the American people with his plan for these defense cuts as required by the law he himself signed."

A study released in June by the National Association of Manufacturers indicates that across-the-board budget cuts to the Department of Defense scheduled to begin in January 2013 would cost approximately 1 million jobs at a time when the nation's unemployment has remained at or above 8 percent for 43 consecutive months.  According to the NAM study, Illinois, with its 8.7 percent unemployment rate, is among the top 10 states to be impacted by job losses, with more than 35,400 jobs on the line in the next two years alone. 

With Schilling's support, the House of Representatives in May passed H.R. 5652, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act, which would provide mandatory spending cuts to reduce the deficit and replace automatic cuts to discretionary spending in 2013 under the Budget Control Act.  It also passed H.R. 4310, the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.  To date, the Senate has passed neither.

"This inaction by the Senate and by the Administration is just inexcusable," Schilling said. "With the Senate having gone more than three years without a budget, sitting on more than 30 bipartisan House-passed jobs bills, failing to advance a single appropriations bill this year, and not yet passing its version of the defense bill, enough is enough.  I strongly urge folks who care about the future of the Rock Island Arsenal, our region's unbeatable defense manufacturing capabilities, and our national defense to speak up and make your voices heard.  These cuts are avoidable, but only if our leaders put partisan politics aside, come together, and do the job they were elected to do for our community, our state, and the security of our great nation."

# # #
09 Sep 2012

Secretary Vilsack Announces USDA Has Reached Its Goal to Fund $250 Million in Smart Grid Improvements

By USDA Office of Communications
Funds for System Improvements are Provided in North Carolina, Nine other States

RALEIGH, N.C., September 7, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has reached its $250 million goal to finance smart grid technologies, a key component of President Obama's effort to help modernize our nation's electric system. Vilsack also announced nine rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 10 states including North Carolina will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies.

"Grid modernization and deployment of 'smart grid' technology will increase the reliability and efficiency of electric power generation," said Vilsack. "Providing reliable, affordable electrical service contributes to stronger rural economies and is the backbone for a prosperous rural America. These loans will help ensure that rural areas can retain existing businesses, support new ones and have reliable, up-to-date infrastructure."

As part of President Obama's Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, the Administration has outlined aframework for a modernized electric system that will benefit all Americans. This framework lays out a number of public and private initiatives, including a goal of $250 million in loans for smart-grid technology deployment as part of the USDA's Rural Utility Service, which is focused on upgrading the electric grid in rural America.

With today's announcement of more than $27 million in smart grid investments, USDA has met President Obama's goal and has further enabled rural utilities to make efficiency improvements to the electric grid that will help consumers lower their electric bills by reducing energy use in homes and businesses.

Vilsack said this $250 million investment in loan funds for smart grid technologies means infrastructure investment at virtually no cost to the taxpayer. These technologies will facilitate the integration of renewable sources of electricity into the grid, help avoid blackouts and restore power quicker when outages occur, and reduce the need for new power plants. Smart grid technologies also provide a foundation for innovation by entrepreneurs and others who can develop tools to empower consumers and help them make informed decisions. A first generation of innovative consumer products and services?such as thermostats that can be controlled from a smart phone, or websites that show how much energy a house is using?can continue to help Americans save money on their electricity bills.

Vilsack made the announcement during a tour of North Carolina's Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation, which received a $30,000,000 guaranteed loan from USDA to extend its system by 52 miles and help provide service to about 1,000 new member consumers. The cooperative will also increase capacity for 100 current consumers and improve the reliability of about 40 miles of line. The cooperative installed a new automated meter system (AMI) with funds from a previous loan and will invest approximately $150,000 of the funds from this new loan on new AMI meters for the 1,000 new member consumers.

Vilsack also announced that two other cooperatives in North Carolina will receive loan guarantees. Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation will receive a $21,500,000 loan to build and improve 220 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corporation, which serves a rural area in the northeastern part of North Carolina, will receive a $6.4 million loan. Due to its location, the borrower is susceptible to extreme storm conditions, including hurricanes and Northeasters. The firm will use about $1 million of the loan to install automatic meters (AMIs).

The following is a list of rural utilities that will receive USDA funding, which is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement.

Colorado/ Nebraska/ New Mexico/ Wyoming

  • Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. - $140,483,000 loan. Funds will be used to build 50 miles of transmission line and make upgrades to the existing generation and transmission facilities. The loan amount includes $21,756,000 in smart grid projects and $808,780 in environmental improvements.

Kansas

  • The Ark Valley Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. - $6,130,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 355 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $2,014,500 in smart grid projects.

Minnesota

  • Stearns Cooperative Electric Association - $23,654,000 loan. The cooperative will improve 147 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $974,085 in smart grid projects.
  • Agralite Electric Cooperative - $5,159,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 61 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $180,968 in smart grid projects.

Missouri/Iowa

  • Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative - $30,093,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 24 miles of transmission line, build three new substations and make other improvements. The loan amount includes $500,000 in smart grid projects.

North Carolina

  • Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corporation - $6,410,000 loan. The cooperative will build and improve 310 miles of distribution line and 2 miles of transmission line and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $1,084,728 in smart grid projects.
  • Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation - $30,000,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 108 miles of distribution line and 5 miles of transmission line and make other system improvements.
  • Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation - $21,500,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 220 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements.

Wisconsin

  • Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative - $6,000,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 88 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $255,833 in smart grid projects.

The $269 million in loan guarantees announced today are provided by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The funding helps electric utilities upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural America's electric infrastructure. USDA Rural Development also funds energy conservation and renewable energy projects.

For additional information on RD projects, please visit Rural Development's new interactive web map featuring program funding and success stories for fiscal years 2009-2011. The data can be found at:http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html.

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. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

#
09 Sep 2012

Iowa 'Red Bulls' recognized for deployment success, sacrifice

By Rick Martin

Army Col. Benjamin J. Corell, the former commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division "Red Bulls" of the Iowa Army National Guard, addresses congressional, military and industry leaders after accepting the 2012 Citizen Patriot Unit Award during a ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., Sept. 5, 2012. The Iowa "Red Bulls" were recognized for their successful deployment and sacrifice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from November 2010 to July 2011 in Afghanistan.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division of the Iowa Army National Guard was awarded the Citizen Patriot Award for its exemplary service while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Accepting the award on behalf of the brigade during a ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., was Army Col. Benjamin J. Corell, the commander of the unit during its deployment from November 2010 to July 2011.

The brigade's outstanding contribution to the security and defense posture of the United States during their deployment set them apart from other applicants, but so did the emotional aspect of losing four soldiers.

"We had twelve nominations from all of the services - Army, Navy Marines, and the Air Force - and what we looked for were units that made the greatest contribution to national security," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Kenneth Bouldin, the president of the Reserve Forces Policy Board Fellows Society, the independent committee who selected the individual and unit Citizen Patriot awardees.

"Of all the nominations that we had, the thing that stood out was that these soldiers had been truthfully in harm's way," he said. "And all of the units had performed magnificently, but this unit had lost four of its soldiers."

Corell said he was humbled to represent the thousands of soldiers who came together to perform a successful mission.

"I also realize that it takes a village to raise a child, and that means our employers and families back at home, the leadership of the Iowa National Guard, and the Nebraska National Guard - tonight I accept this on behalf of all of them," he said.

Their deployment to Afghanistan was the one of the largest deployments of Iowa National Guard members since World War II, said Guard officials.

Guard officials said key accomplishments of the brigade were:

-- Increased capability of the local Afghan government to provide for the essential needs of the Afghan people resulting in 61 percent of the local Afghan population within the Task Force Red Bulls area of operations believing that their government was working to better their lives

--Led one of the largest air assault operations in Regional Command-East and cleared insurgent activity from 400 square miles of the Galuch Valley in Laghman province.

-- Conducted numerous direct and indirect fire missions to support coalition forces and suppress enemy insurgency.

-- Coordinated with local institutions and other multi-national agencies resulting in the increased credibility of Afghan provincial and district institutions.

"As in previous conflicts, the "Red Bulls" lived up to their history and Iowa's citizen-soldier reputation as some of the finest and most dependable soldiers in the Army," said Army Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard.

In attendance to present the award to Corell and the brigade was Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., director of the Army National Guard.

"It is a tremendous honor to have the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard recognized at the national level for their deployment excellence," Ingram said.

"I could not be more proud of these superb soldiers and their families - for their successful deployment, their continued sacrifice, selfless service, and all the things we count on them, as Army guardsmen, to do every day, whether at home or oversees," he said.

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