Members of the Illinois and Iowa QC Chambers of Commerce voted today to merge the two organizations into a single, unified Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. In separate membership meetings at the iwireless Center, chamber members overwhelmingly approved a recommendation from the two chamber boards to merge staff and operations by September 1st.

Iowa Quad Cities Chamber Chairman John Roche characterized the move as a big step forward for the region. 

"Business members - small and large, from all parts of the Quad Cities community - came together today to state that the river is not a barrier but an opportunity for their companies. We heard loud and clear that members want access to more customers, vendors, suppliers and business associates and that it makes business sense to develop that larger network right here in the Quad Cities," said Roche.

Illinois Quad City Chamber Chairman Steve Bahls expressed confidence that the two chambers will make a smooth transition to the new organization.

"With any merger, there is a transition phase where cultures and practices are blended and refined.  We've taken steps to ensure there is a solid operational plan in place to guide our staff and member services over the next several months. We expect the new Quad Cities Chamber Board of Directors will have a CEO in place within the next several weeks to add even more stability to what we expect will be a smooth transition," said Bahls.

"Beyond the operational plan, the more significant document is the strategic plan that is designed to grow the economy of the region and fortify each of our communities as critical elements of regional growth," said Bahls. "A bi-state plan, staff and board will be well positioned to deliver results for the region and can be more readily accountable to the business community they serve."  

The merger follows last year's merger of DavenportOne and the Bettendorf Chamber and the creation of a chamber-led Quad Cities First, the public-private partnership focused on marketing the region to companies and site selectors outside the area. The Quad Cities Chamber will be one of the largest business organizations in the region, with approximately 2,000 member businesses, 85% of which employ 50 or fewer people.

###

Wild Edibles Program Planned

On Saturday, August 7 at 11:00 A.M. the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will host a wild edible program.  Join Amy Newman, AmeriCorps Naturalist, to learn about wild foods found at the Wapsi River Center.  Learn how to identify various "food stuffs" and prepare some easy to make recipes.  Bring your taste buds for this delicious edible presentation.  Call (563) 328-3286 to register.

Back-to-School Program: Scholastic Recyclables

On Saturday, August 7 at 1:30 P.M. the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will host a back-to-school program: scholastic recyclables.  Going "green" when it comes to back-to-school supplies is easier than you think and very cost effective!  Learn how to convert cereal boxes, chip bags, food wrappers, soda boxes, juice pouches and t-shirts into functional back-to-school supplies.  These trash treasures will be a guaranteed hit!  This program will offer lots of fundraising ideas for scout troops, environmental clubs and church youth groups.  Registration is required by calling (563) 328-3286 by Thursday, August 5.

The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center can be found 6 miles south of Wheatland or 1 mile northwest of Dixon, Iowa by taking County Road Y4E.  Then turn north at 52nd Avenue and follow the signs for about 1 mile.

Prepared Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley

Homegrown, Renewable Biofuels

Mr. President,

It's that time of year again.

Without fail, every few months or so the Big Oil and Big Food interest groups start their misinformation campaign in an effort to denigrate the U.S. biofuels producers.

Last week, as if almost on cue, a group opposed to domestic efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil began their usual song and dance.

A press conference led by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and other special interest groups was held to malign the benefits of homegrown renewable fuels.

Don't forget, this is the same group of folks who, a few years ago, waged a high-priced, inside-the-beltway smear campaign against ethanol for allegedly leading to higher food prices.

That myth was roundly dispelled.

Economists proved what farmers knew to be true - the higher cost of corn was responsible for just a tiny fraction of the increase in food prices.

So, while food manufacturers wanted consumers to believe that corn ethanol was doubling or tripling their grocery prices, non-biased observers knew the corn input costs were just pennies of the retail price of food.

However, with dozens of multi-billion dollar corporations and profits to protect, it's not surprising to see them attack our country's farmers and ranchers who are working to produce our nation's food, feed and fuel.

After all, they have a bottom line to look out for and pockets to line.

And now these same groups are at it again.  They see a new opportunity to undermine our domestic biofuels industry.

They're now arguing that our nation cannot afford government policies to foster further growth.

In other words, they're arguing that the cost of energy independence is too high, and we can't afford it.

They'd prefer we increase our reliance on fossil fuels and imported crude oil.  The unfortunate outcome of such attacks, however, is that less informed individuals begin to believe them.

I think it's important to review the true costs of imported fossil fuels.

In 2008 Americans sent over $450 billion to foreign countries to satisfy our demand for oil.  At $80 a barrel, we'll send nearly $350 billion overseas this year.

We rely on foreign oil to meet 60 percent of our oil demand.  And don't forget, much of the world's oil reserves are located in the Middle East.

According to the Energy Information Administration, oil price shocks and price manipulation by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have cost our economy about $1.9 trillion between 2004 and 2008.

Our need for oil accounts for half of our trade deficit.

The federal government's support for homegrown ethanol equals less than 2 percent of the money we'll send to Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, Nigera, and others.

The domestic ethanol industry supports 400,000 green jobs here in the United States.  Last year, ethanol contributed over $50 billion to our Gross Domestic Product.

It contributed $8.4 billion in tax revenue for the federal government.

The incentives we provide for ethanol production leads to a surplus of tax revenue for the federal treasury.

So, which is a better bargain?  Being dependent of foreign countries for 60 percent of our energy needs at a cost of $350 billion?  Or, keeping this money at home, creating green jobs, and increasing our national and economic security?

The choice is obvious.

So far I've only considered the economic costs.

Mr. President, this chart depicts just a small example of the environmental costs of our dependence on fossil fuels.

The first photo is one that we're all too familiar with by now - the explosion and ensuing oil spill at BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

The other photo depicts land in Canada where oil is being extracted from tar sands.

The fact is, fossil fuels are getting more expensive to extract, and are likely to come at a greater environmental cost.

The alternative is homegrown, renewable biofuels.

Today, ethanol accounts for 10 percent of our transportation fuels.  No other fuel alternative comes close to ethanol's contribution.

Domestically produced ethanol contributes more to our fuel supply than all foreign imports except Canada.

More ethanol means less greenhouse gas emissions.  A University of Nebraska study found that ethanol reduces direct greenhouse gas emissions by 48 to 59 percent compared to gasoline.

Ethanol production continues to improve and increasing crop yields mean we're producing more fuel from less grain and fewer acres.

Ethanol producers are reducing their energy and water usage.

Finally, Mr. President, it's important that we consider the national security cost of our dependence on foreign oil.

Oil from the Middle East accounts for 20 percent of U.S oil imports.

Seventeen million barrels of oil are shipped each day through the single most important shipping chokepoint - the Strait of Hormuz.

Fifteen crude oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz on average every day, with much of the oil headed to the United States.

Two of the other largest oil shipping chokepoints are at the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen.

To determine the true cost of America's dependence on foreign oil, it's important to understand the costs to the taxpayer of defending and protecting these shipping lanes.

A New York Times editorial in the late 1990's calculated the true cost of a gallon of gas, including military costs, at $5 a gallon.

Last week, I questioned four-star retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark on the true cost of gasoline.  He estimated it to be around $7 to $8 dollars a gallon.

Homegrown ethanol produced in the Midwest doesn't need a military escort to gas stations on the East or West coast.

Homegrown ethanol doesn't need the Department of Defense to protect its transport from farm fields to consumers.

Again, our nation's investment in ethanol is a bargain, and it's increasing our economic and national security.

That's why it's important that we continue our support of this industry.  Some have claimed that it's a mature industry, and it no longer needs our help.

One organization estimates that a lapse in the tax incentive for ethanol would shut down 40 percent of the industry and result in the loss of 112,000 green jobs.  Let me repeat - 112,000 jobs that rely on the production of ethanol.

We can't allow the ethanol industry to follow the path of the biodiesel industry, which is essentially shut down because this Congress has failed to extend their tax incentive.

While President Obama spoke in his address on Saturday about investing in homegrown, clean energy, 45,000 biodiesel jobs have vanished because of the lapse in the biodiesel credit.

It's inexcusable.

President Obama touted the goal of creating 800,000 clean energy jobs by 2012.  Why not take action today to extend the lapsed biodiesel tax credit and immediately put 45,000 Americans back to work?

The same thing could happen to the ethanol industry if we fail to extend the tax incentive.

If you undermine ethanol, you're putting out the welcome mat for dictators like Hugo Chavez.

Last week, the senior Senator from Arizona questioned the wisdom of our domestic renewable fuels incentives.

He was quoted as saying, "Maybe we will stop doing this damned foolishness called ethanol subsidies.  It's one of the greatest rip-offs that takes place on the American taxpayers."

To those who would do away with our domestic ethanol production, I have one question:  Which country should we look to for 10 billion gallons of fuel - Saudi Arabia? Venezuela?  Nigeria?

Who would you rather support with your hard-earned money?

Hugo Chavez or the American farmer?

Supporting Chavez is insanity.  Sending money to people who buy guns to fight us is insanity.

We shouldn't be reducing our use of renewable fuels.  We should be increasing it.

We should produce all we can from corn, crop residues and other biomass.

We should increase the use of biofuels by mandating the production of flex fuel vehicles and increasing the availability of blender pumps.

Ethanol is here today.  It's creating a cleaner environment, keeping money at home in our economy and increasing our national security.

Mercury Poses Significant Environmental, Public Health Risks

CHICAGO - July 26, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law three bills that will further reduce the amounts of mercury in the environment that can be harmful to residents, especially young children. Illinois already leads the nation in reducing the public's exposure to mercury.

"Mercury exposure poses a threat to our waterways and environment, and to the public's health," said Governor Quinn. "These bills expand our efforts to significantly reduce the amounts of mercury in our environment by eliminating non-essential uses."

Senate Bill 3346, sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Karen May (D-Highwood), requires thermostat manufacturers to maintain a statewide program to collect, transport and manage mercury-switch thermostats for recycling when they are taken out of service. Senate Bill 3347, also sponsored by Sen. Steans and Rep. May, phases out the sale and use of lead and mercury wheel balancing weights in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2012.

House Bill 6201, sponsored by Rep. May and Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan), extends the sunset date to for the automakers' current state program that collects and recycles mercury light switches from end-of-life vehicles before they are processed as scrap metal to Jan. 1, 2017.

Mercury can escape into the environment when improperly disposed or burned. If a mercury-containing device breaks and the spill is not cleaned up properly, the mercury forms into an odorless vapor, potentially reaching dangerous levels in indoor air. Methylmercury, an organic form of mercury, can accumulate up the food chain in lakes, streams and rivers, which results in high concentrations in the tissues of older and larger fish.

People are most frequently exposed to mercury through the consumption of contaminated fish or by inhaling vapors from spilled mercury or leaking equipment. Mercury poses a significant health risk, especially to young children and fetuses. Prolonged, low-level exposure may cause learning disabilities by impairing children's ability to think and read. Adults who have been exposed to high levels of mercury may experience trembling hands and numbness or tingling in their lips, tongues, fingers and toes.

Acute mercury poisoning, especially through ingestion, can damage the brain, liver, kidneys and even cause death. Mercury can harm wildlife that eats contaminated fish, particularly bald eagles, loons and other fish-eating birds and mammals.

All three laws go into effect immediately.

###