WHEREAS, Kerry Lee Wood was born on June 16, 1977 in Irving, Texas; and,

WHEREAS, Kerry Wood began his professional baseball career in 1995 when he was drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Cubs. After playing for three years in the minor leagues for both the Daytona Cubs and Iowa Cubs, he joined the Chicago Cubs during the 1998 season; and,

WHEREAS, Kerry Wood, known by many as "Kid K" quickly became one of the most successful players in the history of the Chicago Cubs as well as the National League. He became the Cubs' starting pitcher in his first season and during his fifth career start threw a one-hit, no-walk, 20-strikeout game against the Houston Astros. During this game he tied for the MLB record of most strikeouts in a single 9-inning game; and,

WHEREAS, Kerry Wood was named as the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1998, finishing the season with a 13-6 record; and,

WHEREAS, Kerry Wood also holds two MLB records for quickest to reach 1,000 strikeouts by appearances (134 games) and innings pitched (853 innings); and,

WHEREAS, Kerry Wood currently lives in Chicago with his wife, Sarah, son Justin and daughters Katie and Charlotte; and,

WHEREAS, Kerry and Sarah Wood began hosting the annual "Kerry Wood's Strike Zone" Celebrity Bowling Tournament in 2006 to raise money for Chicago Children's charities; and,

WHEREAS, continuing their work with children in the Chicagoland area, Kerry and Sarah Wood established the Wood Family Foundation in June 2011 in order to raise funds for their programs as well as other children's charities they support; and,

WHEREAS, Kerry Wood is known not only for his tremendous talent in baseball, but also his dedication to various children's causes. His enthusiasm for the sport of baseball and for the City of Chicago remains apparent in his many philanthropic contributions to non-profit organizations throughout the City; and,

WHEREAS, Kerry Wood will be honored on September 23^rd by the Chicago Cubs during a gathering to honor his career and achievements following his retirement from baseball in May; and,

THEREFORE, I Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim September 23, 2012 as KERRY WOOD DAY in Illinois, in honor of one of the City of Chicago's truly great treasures.

###

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Tom Latham of Iowa today asked the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for details of the federal regulations that are meant to protect consumers from financial fraud but might be penalizing bank employees for old, minor infractions that are not a threat to current financial customers.

"Indications so far are that the FDIC's guidance to banks might be problematic," Grassley said. "We're asking for the guidance directly to try to determine whether that's the case.  The rules have to make sense and have their intended effect of protecting the public from bank fraud.  They can't be so rigid that they result in the firing of workers for petty crimes that are decades-old and have nothing to do with financial fraud.  And they can't be applied unfairly so they result in a double standard for executives and rank-and-file workers."

"Good citizens are more than willing to follow the rules.  But in typical Washington fashion, the FDIC isn't sharing what those rules are," Latham said.  "This creates uncertainty, frustration, and costs everyone involved time and resources.  America's citizens and businesses deserve better than that from Washington."

In addition to seeking the regulatory guidance the FDIC has given to banks, Grassley and Latham also are seeking the details of the process by which individuals seek waivers from the criminal background regulations.  Grassley and Latham asked for information including the guidance given to FDIC employees on processing waivers; the number of waivers sought, granted and denied; the number of FDIC employees assigned to process waivers; and a list of the documents prospective applicants are asked to provide.

Grassley and Latham began reviewing the effects of the banking regulations meant to weed out employees with criminal histories presenting risk of financial fraud after the Des Moines Register reported that Wells Fargo has fired workers including a 68-year-old customer service representative in Des Moines for putting a cardboard dime in a washing machine 49 years ago.  Other constituents have written with similar stories.

The text of the Grassley-Latham letter is available here.

-30-

(DES  MOINES) - Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will promote economic opportunities in Germany during a mission beginning September 23, 2012.  She will meet with the German Vice Chancellor and other economic affairs leaders to discuss trade, transportation, energy, health care and education.

"Germany is the largest economy in Europe and the world's fifth largest national economy," said Reynolds.  "With a population of 82-million, many consider Germany the largest and most important market in Europe.  This mission will result in valuable contacts and visibility across Germany for the state and its business opportunities."  Time magazine writes Germany has forged the most competitive industrial sector of any advanced economy.  And, the New York Times writes, "The German economy has been one of the wonders of the world over the last couple of years."

Reynolds will meet with German Vice Chancellor Dr. Philipp Rosler, U.S. Ambassador to Germany Philip Murphy, a federal minister to the Chancellor, a leader of the Saxon state legislature, the Saxon Minister of Economic Affairs and Transportation, and with energy researchers, university and high school teachers and administrators, business owners, and a hospital medical director.  Meetings take place in Dresden, Lommatzsch, Leipzig, and Berlin.

"We will have several discussions with business owners regarding business conditions and the German apprenticeship program," said Reynolds.  "At one of Germany's largest universities, we will be briefed on renewable energy projects and hear about how German universities and elected officials are working to address education funding gaps."

Reynolds will tour the largest hospital in Dresden and have opportunities to discuss comparative health care and financing with the medical chair of that hospital and with the German Deputy Minister for Health.  She will be introduced to German approaches to immigration and other urban affairs and then visit a village of 5,000 people to hear about rural challenges and opportunities.

"I will get an underground tour of the "Big Dig" rail tunnel project in Leipzig, currently one of Europe's largest transportation infrastructure projects," said Reynolds. The project is considered one of the most challenging geotechnical construction projects of its time and, when complete in 2013, will create a long awaited connection to Europe's largest rail terminal (Leipzig) resulting in greatly enhanced transportation and rail efficiency across that region of Europe.

"Lieutenant governors will also be featured at a public forum discussing the U.S. Presidential elections," said National Lieutenant Governors Association Director Julia Hurst.  "The electoral event will be moderated by an editor of Germany's largest business daily newspaper."

Organized by the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), the 7-day mission includes five U.S. lieutenant governors and is hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

# # #