Davenport, IA- The German American Heritage Center is proud to announce two
fantastic genealogy workshops on Sunday, October 21st presented by Theresa Liewer.
Session one will be covering the topics of Naturalization and Passenger lists from
12:30-2:00 and session two will discuss Military Records from 2:30-3:30. Preregistration
is required. The cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers per session. Call
563-322-8844 or email kelly.lao@gahc.org to sign up today!

Theresa Liewer has been a member of the Iowa Genealogical Society for over 35
years, is a past president, and teaches classes there on a volunteer basis. She'll take
you on a step by-step journey through the naturalization process in the 19th and early
20th centuries, the records that are created, and where they can be found. She'll also
discuss immigration records where they can be found, with emphasis on online locating
tips! Military record essentials from the Revolutionary War through WW II will be
reviewed. Theresa combines information with just a touch of humor to send you away
enthused about finding your family records!

October is German American Month! Let's Celebrate!
Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today released the following statement regarding legislative priorities still needing to be addressed by Congress:

"There's still time to work together and find solutions to the big problems facing our country.  The House has passed a plan to avoid sequestration, a plan to keep taxes low for all Americans, more than 30 jobs bills, the defense authorization bill for next year, and two budget proposals to help change the conversation in Washington from 'how much can we spend?' to 'how much can we save?'  The Senate has failed to act on these priorities, and is scheduled to leave town soon.  The Senate should not leave town until it has taken up all of these important issues.

"It was this Congress that passed a multi-year transportation bill that prioritizes our roads and bridges, three Free Trade Agreements, the Jumpstart our Business Start-ups jobs bill, repealed the health care reform law's onerous 1099 tax reporting requirement and the 3 percent withholding tax on small businesses, passed the VOW to Hire Heroes veterans' jobs bill, the STOCK Act, a four-year FAA reauthorization, and a defense bill that will promote workload and jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal, all on a bipartisan basis.

"In addition, I've been working hard over the last several months to advance the bipartisan Farm Bill that passed the House Agriculture Committee.  Legislation I introduced, H. Con. Res. 82, would prevent Congress from leaving town before passing a budget and getting its work done.  I stand ready to return to Washington with willing partners in the Senate and the Administration so we can work together.  There is much more work to do."

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WASHINGTON - In light of recent press reports of White House personnel involvement in the Colombia prostitution scandal that plagued the Secret Service last spring, Senator Chuck Grassley is pressing for answers to previous inquiries that the White House has ignored.

 

Grassley sent the White House a letter on April 23, 2012 asking questions about the review conducted by the Office of the White House Counsel into allegations of involvement of White House staffers in the prostitution scandal.  Grassley has yet to receive a response from the President.

 

In a new letter sent to the White House late yesterday, Grassley renewed his original request and posed several more questions, including inquiries about contacts that White House personnel has had with the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General conducting a review of the Secret Service's involvement in the scandal.

 

Here is a copy of the text of Grassley's letter.  A signed copy can be found here. The April 23, 2012 letter can be found here.

 

September 20, 2012

 

Via Electronic Transmission

 

Kathryn H. Ruemmler

Assistant to the President and White House Counsel

Office of the White House Counsel

Executive Office of the President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington D.C., 20500

 

Dear Ms. Ruemmler:

 

I write to follow up on a letter dated April 23, 2012 (attached), that I sent to you regarding the
"review" conducted by the Office of the White House Counsel into allegations of the involvement of White House staffers in the prostitution scandal that occurred in Colombia in April 2012.  In my letter, I sought information in response to statements by the White House press secretary, Jay Carney, that your office had reviewed these allegations and concluded that there was "no indication of any misconduct" by White House staffers.[1] Mr. Carney failed to elaborate further about the "review" conducted by your office.

 

In my letter, I asked you detailed questions regarding how you conducted this "review" and what specific conclusions you drew about White House staff involvement in this scandal.  I have yet to receive a response.  However, the White House spokesman quickly told the public, without further explanation, that he was confident that there was no such involvement.

 

Now more allegations have arisen regarding White House personnel procuring prostitutes during the President's trip to Colombia.  Yesterday, an article on Foxnews.com quoted an unnamed "high-ranking Secret Service official" as stating, "Three U.S. delegation members that stayed at the Hilton brought prostitutes back as overnight guests.  One of them was ours [Secret Service] and the other two were White House staffers."[2] Furthermore, according to the article, multiple law enforcement sources speculate that the forthcoming report to be issued by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS/OIG) has been delayed in order to cover up this involvement by White House staff.

 

Accordingly, I request you respond to my questions in the April 23 letter, and also respond to the following additional questions:

 

1.      Has the White House been in contact with the DHS/OIG? If so, what has been the nature of that contact?

 

2.      Has the White House seen a copy of the draft DHS/OIG report?  Whether or not the White House has seen a copy of the report, is the White House aware of the findings of the report, specifically regarding the allegations of involvement of White House staffers?

 

3.      Has the White House had any input into the drafting of the report, including providing edits to the final version? If so, provide information regarding the nature of the edits.

 

4.      Was any contact between the White House and the DHS/OIG, including review and editing of the report, responsible for the delay in the DHS/OIG's meeting his target date of July 2, 2012 for release of the report?

 

5.      Has your office or any other office in the White House conducted a new review of the allegations in response to any findings by the DHS/OIG? If so, what did that new review consist of? What were its findings?

 

6.      Was the U.S. Secret Service aware of the alleged involvement of the White House staffers?  Have you been in contact with the U.S. Secret Service regarding these allegations? Has the U.S. Secret Service provided the DHS/OIG any information regarding these allegations?

 

7.      What will happen to these staffers if they are in fact found to have procured prostitutes while on official travel?

 

8.      If the report includes the findings that are being reported, how did your initial review fail to uncover the involvement of these staffers?  Do you concede that your initial review was performed in haste and without sufficient care?

 

9.      If the report includes the findings that are being reported, will Spokesman Carney issue a retraction or correction to his public comments denying any White House staff involvement?

 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. I would appreciate your response by September 27, 2012.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Charles E. Grassley

Ranking Member

 

Attachment

 

[1] Steven T. Dennis. "WH Finds No Staff Involved in Secret Service Scandal." Roll Call.   April 23, 2012.

 

2 Jana Winter, "Probe of Secret Service Prostitution Scandal May Cite White House Advance Staff Involvement," Fox News.com, Sept. 19, 2012, available at http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/19/probe-may-cite-white-house-advance-team-involvement-in-prostitution-scandal/?test=latestnews.

Saturday, September 22 @ 7pm




Join us as we journey to a galaxy far, far away. For one night only
the Rugby Field at Centennial Park will be host to our very own
Drive-in theater! Star Wars will begin ½ hour past sunset.
Concessions will be available for purchase, so please no outside food or drink.
FREE! This Saturday at 7:00 PM at Centennial Park Rugby Field
(At River Drive and Marquette Street in downtown Davenport)

Funding Helps Localities Create, Maintain 1,500 Jobs

 

Kansas City, KS - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded Iowa $1,278,637 in grants to help public and assisted housing residents connect with local services to obtain education and training to find jobs.  The funding allows these local grantees to retain or hire 1,500 service coordinators to work directly with HUD-assisted families to connect them to the supportive services that meet their individual needs to become gainfully employed.

 

IOWA

 

City of Sioux City Housing Authority

$138,000

City of Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency

$201,973

Iowa City Housing Authority

$121,721

Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs, Iowa

$24,338

City of Cedar Rapids

$138,000

Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority

$66,746

Muscatine, City of d/b/a Muscatine Municipal Housing Agency

$55,309

Waterloo Housing Authority

$17,500

City of Dubuque

$178,260

Municipal Housing Agency of the City of Fort Dodge

$51,383

Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority

$43,850

Region XII Regional Housing Authority

$22,500

Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority

$138,000

Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority

$57,529

Mid Iowa Regional Housing Authority

$23,528

State Total

$1,278,637

 

"This funding ultimately links individuals to childcare, computer access, job training and other basic skills individuals need to compete for jobs that pay a living wage," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "To continue to grow America's economy, we must see to it that every American has the skills and resources they need to become gainfully employed."

 

"These grants are a win for both the grantee and Iowa families who participate in HUD rental assistance programs," said Regional Administrator Derrith Watchman-Moore.  The grantee can keep or can hire an employee whose job is to help hundreds of individuals here find employment."

 

The funding announced today includes $15 million through the Public Housing-Family Self-Sufficiency Program (PH-FSS); and $60 million through the Housing Choice Voucher- Family Self-Sufficiency Program (HCV-FSS).

 

The service coordinators, retained or hired through both of these programs, work directly with residents to connect them with local organizations that provide education and job training and placement opportunities; as well as childcare, counseling, transportation and computer and financial literacy services available in their community.  Both programs encourage innovative strategies that link public housing and Housing Choice Voucher assistance with other resources to enable participating families to find employment; increase earned income; reduce or eliminate the need for rental and/or welfare assistance; and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.

 

Participants in both programs sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term. As the family's income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. If the family successfully completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying debts.

 

The Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a long-standing resource for increasing economic security and self-sufficiency among participants.  HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research issued Evaluation of FSS Program: Prospective Study in 2011 that evaluated the effectiveness of the FSS Program. Conducted from 2005 to 2009, the study showed that financial benefits are substantial for participants who remain and complete the program. This study is the second of a three-part series that evaluates the effects of the FSS program.

 

The first study found individuals who participated in the FSS program fared better financially than those who did not enroll in the program.  PD&R is currently working on a follow-up evaluation to the Prospective Study that tracks the outcomes of people who were still enrolled in the program at the end of the study.  The third and final study looks at the effectiveness of the FSS program nationally. This will be the first national study of the FSS program and is part of HUD's Transformation Initiative that uses metrics and research to evaluate programs and gauge performance to encourage more transparency and accountability within the agency.

 

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and  http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv 

Friday, September 21, 2012

 

Grassley: Justice Department Fails to Answer Questions about Alleged Threats to News Reporter

 

WASHINGTON -- Senator Chuck Grassley continues to press Attorney General Eric Holder for a complete accounting of a June incident in Louisiana where a senior civil rights lawyer for the department reportedly threatened a journalist.  Grassley initially asked the Attorney General about the incident in July.

 

Grassley said he was disappointed in the response from the department which failed to answer the vast majority of his questions and to produce the documents requested.  The alleged incident occurred at a meeting advertised as a public event to address the employment practices of a local fire department.

 

"I'm very concerned about what allegedly occurred in New Iberia.  If the news reports are accurate, the conduct by the Justice Department would strike at the very heart of a free press.  The department's failure to answer questions and to produce relevant documents is unacceptable on a subject so fundamental to this country's founding," Grassley said

 

Grassley said he expected complete answers to his letter by September 28.

 

Here's a copy of the text of the letter.  A signed copy can be found here.  Grassley's July 17 letter can be found here and the department's response can be found here.

 

September 20, 2012

 

Via Electronic Transmission

The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.                           

Attorney General                       

U.S. Department of Justice                       

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.                          

Washington, DC 20530                         

 

Dear Attorney General Holder:

 

I write regarding the Department of Justice's letter dated September 4, 2012 from Acting Assistant Attorney General Judith Appelbaum.  Ms. Appelbaum was responding to my July 17, 2012 letter to you.

 

In my letter, I expressed my concern about reports of an incident at a public meeting in New Iberia, Louisiana involving a Senior Trial Attorney in the Civil Rights Division.[1] A letter from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press summarized the reports on the incident as follows:

 

It is our understanding that on [June 12, 2012], Ms. [Rachel] Hranitzky arrived at the meeting and immediately asked if any journalists were present. When a Daily Iberian reporter attending the meeting responded in the affirmative, she informed him that he could neither record the meeting nor quote her statements. According to other attendees, the meeting had been advertised as a public meeting intended to address concerns with the city fire department's hiring and promotion process.  However, citing 'special rules' of the Department of Justice for agency attorneys, Ms. Hranitzky instructed that her statements be neither recorded nor quoted. When the reporter questioned this instruction on the basis that Ms. Hranitzky was speaking at a public meeting, she apparently threatened him with the possibility that the DOJ could call his editors and publisher, and warned that he would not 'want to get on the Department of Justice's bad side.' Furthermore, it is our understanding that Ms. Hranitzky demanded the reporter leave the meeting, although?after making his objection known but agreeing not to quote her?he was ultimately allowed to remain.

 

The reports about the incident in New Iberia and the existence of a DOJ policy or "special rules" which were the cause of the incident are troubling.  Consequently, I wrote you and asked several direct questions and made requests for documents.

 

The September 4 response letter ignores the vast majority of my questions and does not provide all of the documents I requested.  Accordingly, I am attaching a copy my July 17 letter and ask that you directly answer all of my questions and produce all of the documents that I requested.

Also, the September 4 response letter raises a new question.  The letter states that "the [Civil Rights] Division has taken steps to ensure that its employees are fully aware of the Department's consistent policy that public meetings are open to the public, including the press."  Describe in detail each of the "steps" taken.

 

I ask that you provide written answers and documents by September 28, 2012.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Charles E. Grassley

Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee

 

Cc: Hon. Patrick J. Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

 

[1]  Matthew Beaton, "'DOJ practice' slammed by politicos, group," The Daily Iberian  (July 8, 2012) (available at http://www.iberianet.com/news/doj-practice-slammed-by-politicos-group/article_32a8d028-c8b7-11e1-aa3d-0019bb2963f4.html).

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the Republican led Congress closed up shop until November to go home and campaign. From August 3rd through November 13th, the House leadership only scheduled a total of eight days of voting, while a mountain of critical work was left on the table.  Among the issues that have not been dealt with include :

  • Farm bill,
  • Middle class tax cuts,
  • Wind energy production credit,
  • Sequestration,
  • Comprehensive jobs package,
  • Research and development credit,
  • Violence Against Women Act,
  • Postal reform,
  • Sustainable growth rate,
  • Biodiesel credit,
  • Unemployment insurance,
  • National Defense Authorization Act, and
  • Expiration of Midwestern Area Disaster Bonds, to name a few.

 

"When the Republicans came into Congress two years ago they made a lot of promises, but in the end, all the American people got was a lot of hot air.

"Iowa farmers are suffering from the worst drought in decades and what has the Republican Congress done? Nothing.  Middle class families are facing a tax increase and what has the Republican Congress done? Nothing.  Iowa's wind energy economy is facing uncertainty and instability and what has the Republican Congress done? Nothing. Folks are still in need of finding work and what has the Republican Congress done? Nothing.  The list of inaction really does go on and on and on.

"The fact that Republican Leaders in Congress are putting the 'closed' sign on the door of the Capitol is just another one of the games they have continued to play, but frankly, it is just irresponsible.  There is too much critical work to get done before closing down.  I have been calling on Congress to remain in session since early this summer and I remain committed to getting done the work that Iowans are demanding."

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Exec Producer Shares How His Vision Helped
the Dark Knight Take Wing

It's been more than two decades since Batman was resurrected - rebranded - to the mainstream world, and it's largely due to a boy and his dream.

"I wasn't just rejected from every studio in Hollywood; I was emphatically rejected because Batman was known only as a punch line to a joke," says Michael Uslan, who became one of the highest-grossing movie executive producers of all time with the Batman film franchise. He writes about his personal journey in rebranding his hero to the world in his memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman (www.theboywholovedbatman.com).

"When I watched the sitcom in 1966, I was both thrilled and horrified - the former because my idol was on TV with a cool car, and the latter because people were laughing at Batman and that just killed me. I knew then that my purpose in life was to show everyone who the Dark Knight really was."

Uslan reviews some of the reasons the Batman franchise became one of the most successful in film history:

• A talented team: Thanks to genius filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton, super producers, daring execs, amazing casts, and incredible crews, the rebranding of the character became so strong that the word "Batman" wasn't even included in the titles of the last two films, "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises."

• Branding - a built-in narrative: A cool symbol, check; tall, dark and handsome, check; a relatable origin story (no superpowers) check; great technology for the character to use against villains, check ... You know a brand has hit the mark when a logo conveys all of the key points. But rebranding can be tricky. Uslan knew about the innate potential, but Hollywood couldn't see Batman as the Dark Knight after the 1960s sitcom, which is why it took a decade after acquiring the rights to Batman to actually start production. Rebranding is often the art of uncovering a product's past, he says.

• Branding - a safer investment: Other successful movies this year -- Marvel's "The Avengers" and "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Hunger Games" - all carry strong brands. Most successful products, in and out of Hollywood, have successful brands behind them, Uslan notes. When a brand has been established, it becomes a safer risk for investors and opens multiple revenue streams across many platforms.

• Unwavering conviction: How does a middle-class kid in his 20s, the son of a stonemason and a bookkeeper, buy the film rights to Batman? How does that same guy create the comic-to-film craze that society has witnessed in the past two decades when no one believed in his vision? Every time his resolve was questioned, it came down to the same answer, "I had 100 percent confidence it would work," Uslan says.

"Branding is absolutely the most important aspect to marketing any product these days," Uslan says. "We succeeded. I believed 100 percent in a vision that involved my favorite super-hero of all time, a character the world recognized and responded to across borders and even cultures. Batman needed to be presented in a way he'd only been seen in the comic books - as the Dark Knight."

About Michael Uslan

Michael Uslan, (www.theuslancompany.com), is the Originator and Executive Producer, along with his partner Benjamin Melniker, of the Batman franchise of motion pictures. In his 36 years in the film and television industry, he has been involved with such projects as "National Treasure," "Constantine," and countless animated projects. His projects have won Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. He is the author of "The Boy Who Loved Batman," his autobiography, now in bookstores and at amazon.com.

'Courtroom in the Classroom' program illustrates government impact on students

CARBONDALE - September 21, 2012. As Constitution Week comes to a close in Illinois, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon brought a civics lesson to students at Carbondale Community High School. The "Courtroom in the Classroom" presentation in Carbondale is one of 225 like presentations that the Illinois Judges Association is sponsoring at Illinois high schools throughout the month.

"Each branch of our government has a very real impact on students throughout the state," said Simon, a former Jackson County prosecutor. "The Courtroom in the Classroom program helps to vividly make that connection and engage students in our democracy."

Judge Carolyn Smoot, Judge Christy Solverson and Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier joined Simon in leading a discussion on the U.S. Supreme Court case New Jersey v T.L.O.

The 1985 case involved a female student caught smoking in the school bathroom. The principal searched her purse and found marijuana, paraphernalia and money, implicating the student in drug dealing. The student claimed the search violated her 4th Amendment rights, but the court held that the search was reasonable.

"Not only have students found these presentations to be engaging and educational, but they have been fun," Solverson said. "I'm glad I have had the opportunity to share my work with these students, and I look forward to continuing to spread this message across the state."

Governor Pat Quinn declared September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Illinois in honor of the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The declaration encourages Illinois residents to recognize the importance of the Constitution in our enduring tradition of democracy, and "reaffirm our commitment to the rights and responsibilities of citizenship."

The proclamation was presented to the Illinois Judges Association during a ceremony at the State Supreme Court on September 12.

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Over 130 Projects Connecting Farmers with New Markets

CLEVELAND, Sept. 21, 2012 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced over $9 million in grants to organizations across 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to initiatives that bolster the connection between agricultural producers and their consumers while improving access to healthy food and strengthening local economies. Merrigan made the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) awards announcement while speaking at the Project for Public Spaces Annual Public Market Conference.

"This year's Farmers Market Promotion Program awards are diverse and illustrate the many different ways farmers are directly connecting to communities and consumers," said Merrigan. "From starting up mobile markets to helping new farmers and ranchers, these grants will create new economic opportunities and encourage consumers to eat healthier."

Merrigan made the announcement in Ohio, which has a long tradition of local farmers pursuing direct-marketing opportunities in their operations. More than 6,800 Ohio farms sell directly to consumers. These investments represent USDA's efforts to strengthen local and regional food systems through projects that recruit and train farmers, expand economic opportunities, increase access to healthy foods and use social media to link markets and vendors. This year, almost five percent of total funding will be awarded to six projects in the state.

This year's funding includes:

  • More than 40 projects that connect farmers and ranchers to new customers by establishing new markets and other retail outlets, community supported agriculture programs or extend the market season;
  • Seventeen projects that will support the use of new delivery approaches such as online and mobile markets, broadening the customer base for several businesses;
  • Thirteen projects that reinforce USDA's commitment to new and beginning farmers and ranchers, increasing opportunities, training and support for those just getting started;
  • Twelve projects that focus on initiatives that support American Indian and Alaskan Native communities, and new opportunities for Latino, refugee and immigrant farmers;
  • Ten projects that will help hospitals and health care organizations improve eating habits in their communities through education and the direct marketing of fresh local produce; and
  • Nine projects that support agritourism, bringing visitors and consumers to farms and ranches.

Since 2006, FMPP has awarded over $32 million. FMPP's mission, which was broadened by the 2008 Farm Bill, is to establish, expand, and promote farmers markets and direct producer-to-consumer marketing. FMPP is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The full list of awards granted for fiscal year 2012 is available at www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FMPP.

In 2009, USDA launched the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative to strengthen the critical connection between farmers and consumers and supports local and regional food systems. Through this initiative, USDA integrates programs and policies that stimulate food- and agriculturally-based community economic development; foster new opportunities for farmers and ranchers; promote locally and regionally produced and processed foods; cultivate healthy eating habits and educated, empowered consumers; expand access to affordable fresh and local food; and demonstrate the connection between food, agriculture, community and the environment. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food also leads a national conversation about food and agriculture to strengthen the connection between consumers and farmers.

An interactive view of USDA programs that support local and regional foods, including FMPP, is available at the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass. The KYF Compass is a digital guide to USDA resources related to local and regional food systems. The Compass consists of an interactive U.S. map USDA-supported local and regional food projects and an accompanying narrative documenting the results of this work through case studies, photos and video content.

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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).


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