U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Joins Governor on 40th Anniversary of Clean Water Act to Announce Major Water Infrastructure Overhaul 

CHICAGO - October 18, 2012.  Governor Pat Quinn was joined by United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, labor leaders, environmental activists and local government officials today to launch the governor's $1 billion Illinois Clean Water Initiative, which will overhaul Illinois' aging water infrastructure.

Announced today on the shore of Lake Michigan, Governor Quinn's Clean Water Initiative will create 28,500 jobs, protect public health, and drive community and business growth across Illinois. Today's announcement delivers on Governor Quinn's commitment -made during his State of the State address earlier this year- to rebuild and repair Illinois' aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

"On this anniversary of the landmark Clean Water Act, we renew our commitment to ensuring that every resident in Illinois has access to safe, clean water," Governor Quinn said. "Illinois is defined geographically and historically by waterways. Our Clean Water Initiative will put thousands of Illinoisans back to work, protect and improve our drinking water, and preserve this precious, irreplaceable resource for future generations."

"Today, as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, I'm proud to join Governor Quinn and others to launch the Illinois Clean Water Initiative to repair and rebuild Illinois' aging water infrastructure," said Administrator Jackson, who was named in Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" list in 2010 and 2012. "This historic commitment will keep water resources clean and safe, protect the health of Illinois families and create thousands of jobs, showing yet again how an investment in clean water is an investment in both our health and our economy."

Governor Quinn's Clean Water Initiative will create 28,500 jobs, including 9,700 construction jobs; 4,600 indirect jobs in supplier industries (mining, manufacturing and services) and 14,300 jobs supported by growth in related businesses, according to Associated General Contractors. Pipefitters, plumbers, operating engineers, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers and others will go to work replacing broken water mains, building treatment plants, upgrading sewers and cleaning up environmental threats. The Administration expects to use the winter months to drive applications into the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency so projects can begin next spring.

The Clean Water Initiative will allow the state to meet the high demand by local governments for safe drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure funding. The IEPA reports that more than 350 local governments have already expressed need for the program. Currently, many Illinois residents are receiving water through aging water mains that are nearly a century old and scores of wastewater treatment facilities are in dire need of repair.

"Many of us often take for granted how much infrastructure and government investment goes into providing a reliable water source to millions of homes in Illinois," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). "Upgrading this infrastructure through Governor Quinn's Clean Water Initiative will not only improve public health, but it will create thousands of good-paying jobs in Illinois. Today's announcement is a reminder of how successful the Clean Water Act has been over the last 40 years in ensuring that the water we use in our daily lives is safe and clean."

"Governor Quinn's Clean Water Initiative adds the muscle of the state of Illinois to the skilled muscles of Illinois working men and women to build a water system that will serve Illinois residents for decades," said Thomas Villanova, president of the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 100,000 union workers. "This will put thousands of our members to work in the coming years and that is good for every worker trying to put food on the table."

The Clean Water Act - enacted in 1972 - fortified federal-state partnerships to tackle polluted lakes and rivers by funding construction of sewage treatment plants, toughened penalties on polluters, and provided new protections to watersheds, waterways and wetlands. Building on that progress, the Clean Water Initiative will fortify state-local partnerships to tackle the state's crumbling water infrastructure, protect public health and ensure access to clean drinking water in communities across Illinois.

"Safe and plentiful drinking water is an absolute essential for local communities. At a time when local revenues are flat, the availability of low interest loans for critical investments in our local water infrastructure is extremely beneficial to the health and welfare of Illinois communities," said Larry Frang, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League.

"The Illinois Clean Water Initiative invests in a better Illinois future by advancing clean-up of our lakes and rivers and protecting vulnerable groundwater resources," said Howard A. Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. "These clean water infrastructure investments will help our communities achieve upgraded systems for safer drinking water and recreational enjoyment."

Governor Quinn has directed the IEPA and Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) to expand the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program to $1 billion in long-term, low-interest loans to local governments for drinking water and wastewater systems. Since the SRF's inception in 1989, IEPA has lent $4.3 billion to 472 local Illinois communities. There has never been a defaulted loan during the program's history.

The SRF is funded with annual federal grants, a one-time infusion in ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) funds, a federally required state match, plus the principal and interest from loan repayments. No new state tax dollars will be used for the project. Needed equity will be provided by the existing loan portfolio and future federal capitalization grant dollars.

To learn more about the Illinois Clean Water Initiative, visit CleanWater.Illinois.gov.

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FURSTENFELDBRUCK, GERMANY (10/18/2012)(readMedia)-- For one intense week in September, more than 40 junior officers from seven countries participated in the International Junior Officer Leadership Development Course (IJOLD) 2012 at the German Air Force Officer School to enhance and refine their leadership skills, cultural understanding and military officership.

Capt. Stacey Rieger of San Jose, Ill., with the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Air Mobility Operations Squadron in Springfield was among four Air National Guard members selected by National Guard Bureau to participant in IJOLD 2012.

"There are not many leadership development programs available for junior officers," said Rieger. "This was an incredible opportunity to broaden my management and leadership skills with other company grade officers in a multi-national setting."

The Air Force Reserve Command sponsored IJOLDS program began in 1994 at the NATO school in Oberammergau, Germany with 18 participants from five countries. Since then, the annual event has expanded to include more than 60 students with briefings on international leadership, team building, cultural diversity, international relations and cross-cultural mobilization issues. This is the first year the National Guard Bureau has sponsored lieutenants and captains for the course.

"IJOLD is a great forum for junior officers from many countries to build relationships early in their careers," said Maj. Gen. Donald Ralph, mobilization assistance to the commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe and chairman for the Committee on Leadership Development. "Joint leadership training is essential in today's global arena, where working with multinational forces and partner nations is the standard."

Working together and understanding differences was a key aspect of the training.

Capt. Sam Stephens, of Tulsa, Okla., an F-16 pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard in Tulsa said, "Foreign militaries may have different customs, courtesies, and cultures, but people, as individuals, desire the exact same guidance and motivation to both follow and lead."

"Leadership is important to junior officers because of the responsibility of their rank, making them leaders from the start," said Col. Jim Kerr, Air Force Reserve Command Professional Development Center Chief. "IJOLD, and other programs like it, provide opportunities to bring young officers together to develop leadership skills."

IJOLD events ranged from lectures on German military structure and history to tours of the Bavarian state capital and German Air Force base. During the field exercise at the German Airborne Training School, participants worked together, overcoming leadership differences and communication challenges to accomplish various tasks. Communication was essential to accomplishing tasks, including a land navigation that required completing unique tasks at each waypoint.

Second Lt. Doug Carlson of Lincoln, Neb., from the 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, said listening was the one leadership skill he enhanced during IJOLD.

"Overcoming the language barrier creates the perfect opportunity to learn to listen rather than talk," said Carlson

Throughout activities, IJOLD participants shared their experiences with each other.

"One of my favorite aspects of IJOLD was having the time to talk to so many people from many different backgrounds. Since all the participants were reservists, everyone had at least two stories to tell - their military story and their civilian story," said Rieger. "Not only did I learn about the structure and history of the German military, I heard the personal element. For example, it was great to hear what some of our German counterparts thought about the wall coming down, reunification between East and West Germany and the challenges they are still working through, even after more than 20 years."

Those conversations enhanced the cultural understanding and supported international relations, which along with developing friendships and partnerships were main goals of IJOLD.

"It was sad to leave at the end of week," said Rieger. "I learned a great deal about our NATO partners, but more importantly, I have a new network of colleagues and friends that I look forward to seeing again in the future."

That sentiment is shared, not only by the participants, but by senior leaders who see the value in IJOLD and programs like it.

"I was amazed at the friendships that were made by the end of the week. It was almost weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, as the expression goes, when it came time to go home," said Kerr, who attended IJOLD in 2011.

Each year IJOLDS is conducted in a different NATO country. Past seminars have been held in Switzerland, Canada, the United States and the Netherlands. Next year England will host their international counterparts.

The Quad City Health Initiative (QCHI) is proud to announce that Dr. Joe Rives, vice president of Western
Illinois University Quad Cities and Planning, has been elected to serve on the QCHI Board.

"QCHI works to create a healthy community by developing cross-sector collaborative partnerships and
Joe's selection as a Board Member provides a critical link between our healthy communities work and the
higher education sector," says Denise Bulat, QCHI Board Chair. "Joe is known for his dedication to
community improvement and his collaborative spirit. His expertise in planning and fundraising will be a
tremendous asset to our Board."

Rives oversees Western's Quad Cities campus and University planning for both campuses. He joined
Western's administration in 2005 after serving at Illinois State University since 1990. Rives is the
University's point of contact for Quad Cities economic development issues; provides leadership for
University-wide planning; and is responsible for institutional accreditation for the Higher Learning
Commission-North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

"I'm honored to be asked to serve on this community board," Rives says. "Our community's vitality
depends upon securing the health and well-being of its community members. QCHI's collaborative
infrastructure sustains work across organizational and geographic boundaries. Together, we can make
great improvements in our community's health status and quality of life."

The Quad City Health Initiative is a community partnership working to create a healthy community. A 25-
member community Board that was established in 1999 oversees the organization. The Initiative seeks
to be our community's recognized leader for creating collaborative action on health and abides by the
core values of commitment, collaboration and creativity. Major financial support of the Quad City Health
Initiative is currently provided by the generous direct and in-kind investments of Genesis Health System
and Trinity Regional Health System. In 2012, additional financial support is provided by St. Ambrose
University, KJWW and Midland Information Resources.

For more information, please call 563-421-2815 or visit our website at www.qchealthinitiative.org.

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Scientists ID Key Genetic Structure, Expect it to Help Fight Biggest Yield Robber

ST. LOUIS (October 18, 2012) - Research funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) and soy checkoff has made a breakthrough that could strengthen the soybean plant's resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). This disease is U.S. soy's biggest yield robber, causing more than $1 billion worth of yield losses annually.

"SCN has been devastating soybeans ever since I've been involved in the industry," says Jim Schriver, chair of USB's production program and a farmer from Indiana. "This is a great use of biotechnology that can help farmers break through yield barriers so we can continue to increase production and meet demand."

For years farmers have been planting soybeans containing a genetic structure called Rhg1, the top defense against SCN. But ways to further improve that resistance have eluded plant scientists.

In a study recently published in the journal Science, however, researchers reveal that Rhg1 is actually three genes located next to each other on the chromosome, that work together to make a plant more resistant to SCN. Even more intriguing, SCN-resistant varieties carry multiple copies of this multi-gene block. This discovery allows researchers to quickly find soybean varieties that include these repeated three-gene blocks. It also allows researchers to work with those genes to develop new SCN-resistant varieties.

Andrew Bent, professor of plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the finding "opens the gate for us to walk in" and take SCN resistance to the next level.

"It's been a goal of biologists for nearly 20 years to identify this Rhg1 gene," says Bent, who has been working on the project for about six years. "The United Soybean Board knew it was important work, and they were very supportive. The real value of the work will be seen in the next few years."

Bent, who collaborated on the study with several other researchers, including Matthew Hudson of the University of Illinois, said funding from the soy checkoff was vital to the research.

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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