18 Sep 2012

October 15th Deadline to Submit Military Academy Nomination Applications

By Amanda Bowman

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today announced that he is accepting applications from high school students for nominations to the United States armed services academies from Iowa's 1st District for the class entering in fall 2013.

"I am looking for highly motivated and qualified students to nominate to our country's service academies," said Braley. "The academies provide a world-class education that helps grow our nation's next generation of leaders. I encourage Iowa's best and brightest young people to apply."

Interested students should contact Braley's district office in Waterloo to request an application packet to be considered for a service academy nomination.  The application packet includes specific instructions on the accompanying forms and required documents, including an application form, an essay, high school transcript, ACT/SAT scores, and letters of recommendation.  These materials take time to compile, so interested students are strongly encouraged to start obtaining the materials needed for the packet as soon as possible.

The deadline for submitting a completed nomination packet to Braley's office is Monday, October 15th.

Braley nominates up to 10 candidates from Iowa's First Congressional District for each available vacancy at the four service academies: the US Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy.  Applicants are judged on the basis of character, scholarship, physical aptitude, medical fitness, and motivation.

For further information as well as an application packet, contact the Waterloo office at (319) 287-3233.

More information can also be found at http://braley.house.gov.

 

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18 Sep 2012

Walk for Lupus Now

By Lupus Foundation of America, Iowa Chapter
Join the Lupus Foundation of America-Iowa Chapter's Walk for Lupus Now scheduled for September 29, 2012 from 8:00-11:30 AM in Des Moines at Merle Hay Mall to make a difference in the lives of those affected by lupus.

Walk for Lupus Now is an opportunity for people with lupus and their loved ones to come together and support each other. The walk raises both funds and awareness.

We will also be having a raffle this year full of 15 different themed baskets, including incredible merchandise, gift cards and signed sports memorabilia.

We walk for many reasons, but mostly to support and serve the estimated 15,000 Iowans with lupus and their families. You can show your support by forming a team or walking as an individual.

For more information contact 515-279-3048 or 888-279-3048. You can register online at www.iowalupuswalk.org.
18 Sep 2012

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Tours Iowa Biodiesel Plant; Discusses How Biofuels Are Reducing Need for Foreign Oil, Creating Jobs in Rural Communities

By USDA Office of Communications
Highlights EPA Action to Increase Use of Biodiesel

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa, September 14, 2012 - TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussed how the increased use of biofuels is helping to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil during a tour of AGP Biodiesel. During the tour, Vilsack highlighted today's action by the Environmental Protection Agency to establish the volume of biodiesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets.

"President Obama's all-of-the-above energy plan is working - today, we are importing less foreign oil than we have in nearly two decades and we are creating jobs by producing more of our energy here at home, said Vilsack. "A key part of the President's strategy is the development and promotion of biofuels and bio-based products, which are helping us fuel our cars and trucks and displacing petroleum used in the manufacturing of household products. Over the past three years, we have doubled generation from renewable energy and today's announcement by EPA will ensure that we are continuing to utilize biodiesel to help meet our energy needs, create jobs and strengthen the rural economy."

Today's action by EPA sets the 2013 volume of biodiesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets at 1.28 billion gallons under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) which established the second phase of the Renewable Fuel Standards program. EISA specifies a one billion gallon minimum volume requirement for the biomass-based diesel category for 2012 and beyond. It also calls on EPA to increase the volume requirement after consideration of environmental, market, and energy-related factors. Today's final action follows careful review of the many comments and additional information received since EPA proposed the volume last spring.

President Obama has laid out a bold goal of reducing oil imports by half by 2020 and in his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future released in March, 2011 the Administration laid out an all-of-the-above energy plan to achieve that goal by developing domestic oil and gas energy resources, increasing energy efficiency, and speeding development of biofuels and other alternatives. Domestic oil and gas production has increased each year the President has been in office, while renewable energy generation from wind, solar, and geothermal has doubled.

Creating new markets for the nation's agricultural products through biobased manufacturing is one of the many steps the Administration has taken over the past three years to strengthen the rural economy. Since August 2011, the White House Rural Council has supported a broad spectrum of rural initiatives including a Presidential Memorandum to create jobs in rural America through biobased and sustainable product procurement, a $350 million commitment in SBA funding to rural small businesses over the next 5 years, launching a series of conferences to connect investors with rural start-ups, creating capital marketing teams to pitch federal funding opportunities to private investors interested in making rural and making job search information available at 2,800 local USDA offices nationwide.

Since taking office, President Obama's Administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council - chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack - the President is committed to a smarter use of existing Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

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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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18 Sep 2012

Biodiesel -- RFS Volume Increase announcement

By Grassley Press
Friday, September 14, 2012

Senator Chuck Grassley commented today about the final number released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the Renewable Fuels Standard volume increase.  Senator Grassley joined other senators six months ago in sending the attached letter urging OMB to act on this decision.

"This decision was too long in coming, especially with the negative impact the lack of certainty about policies in Washington is having on America's economy.  Biodiesel is a very good example of the impact that regulatory decisions and tax policy have on jobs and the economy.  Biodiesel has been a highlight of the Renewable Fuels Standard so far, so moving ahead with this increase is good news for plant workers going forward.  Along with creating jobs, biodiesel helps to expand renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on foreign oil."

18 Sep 2012

Grassley Works to Root Out Fraud and Abuse from Student Visa Program

By Grassley Press
WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Chuck Schumer, Claire McCaskill and Dianne Feinstein, introduced legislation, known as the Student Visa Integrity Act, to help reduce fraud and abuse in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.  Under current law, educational institutions must be a part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program before enrolling students from abroad.

 

Congress mandated that a system be developed to track and monitor foreign students when it learned that one of the people responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing was in the United States on an expired student visa.  The system, the Student Exchange Visitor Information System, was finally implemented in 2002 and is currently being modernized.  The Student Visa Integrity Act builds on the Student Exchange Visitor Information System to shut down sham schools and make it even more difficult to commit fraud with a student visa.

 

"An independent investigation confirms that the Department of Homeland Security isn't adequately monitoring schools, especially flight schools.  Educational institutions should be held accountable for enrolling people who haven't met the requirements of our immigration law," Grassley said.  "This is a national security matter, and a lesson should have been learned in 1993 and on September 11."

 

Once a foreign student has been accepted to an approved U.S. educational institution, the school issues a form I-20 for the student to present to the U.S. consulate when applying for a visa.  The Student Exchange Visa Program requires educational institutions to input certain data into the Student Exchange Visitor Information System when the student arrives on campus. That information, such as courses of study and attendance of the foreign students, is then relayed to the Department of Homeland Security to help the agency monitor schools, programs and students.

 

Specifically, the Student Visa Integrity Act:

·         makes it a criminal offense, subject to a two year mandatory sentence, if a person makes a materially false statement or provides materially false information when petitioning to bring in foreign students;

·         allows for the immediate withdrawal of a participant in the SEVP program if there's reasonable suspicion of fraud, requires the Secretary to withdraw a school if a school official is indicted for fraud, and permanently bars those convicted of being Designated School Officials in other institutions;

·         requires background checks on Designated School Officials, and training for these officials every three years;

·         requires the Department of Homeland Security to prohibit any flight school that is not FAA accredited (with Part 141 or Part 142) from bringing in foreign students, and prohibits schools that have not been licensed by the state to participate;

·         limits the program to accredited schools, prohibiting unaccredited schools from participation unless they are a "candidate" by an accrediting agency;

·         Requires the Secretary to report to Congress in 6 months on progress made to improve the program, and implement SEVIS II within two years.

As of January 2012, more than 850,000 active foreign students were in the United States and 10,000 schools are approved to be enrolled in the Student Exchange Visa Program.

 

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18 Sep 2012

Davenport Man Sentenced on Drug and Firearm Charges and for Violating Federal Supervised Release

By Val Quast
DAVENPORT, IA - On September 14, 2012, Sedrick McKinley Hall, age 32 of Davenport, was sentenced to 54 months imprisonment for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and violating federal supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge John A. Jarvey also ordered that Hall serve a term of three years supervised release following imprisonment.

In 2008, Hall was prosecuted in United States District Court for possessing a firearm as a felon and sentenced to 27 months imprisonment. After his release, and while under supervision by the United States Probation Office, Hall was arrested by Davenport police and Iowa DNE agents in connection with an investigation of marijuana trafficking. After using an informant to make buys of marijuana from Hall, police executed a search warrant at his residence, finding a quantity of marijuana, a Russian- made SKS 7.62mm assault rifle along with ammunition, and a quantity of synthetic marijuana. Hall subsequently was indicted in United States District court on drug and firearms charges. He also was charged with violating the terms of his supervised release. Hall pleaded guilty to all charges.

The case was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
18 Sep 2012

Beer Tasting at the GAHC

By Kelly Lao

Davenport, IA- You will find beer, music, German food, and more beer at the first annual Suds! Beer Tasting at the German American Heritage Center on Saturday October 13 th from 5-8pm! Local, regional, German, and even homebrewed beer will be sampled and enjoyed as we celebrate the final days of the exhibition Suds! on the brewing process, German drinking traditions, and Quad City brewing heritage.

Get your tickets now! $18 for members and $20 for non-members in advance and $25 at the door. Must be 21+. This event is sponsored by Vanguard Distributing Company. Call 563-322-8844 or visit GAHC at 712 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA to get
you tickets!

18 Sep 2012

Braley's Discharge Petition Gaining Steam

By Rick Martin

24 hours in, ¼ of Signatures Collected

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today announced that he has gathered a quarter of the 218 total signatures needed to bring the Farm Bill up for a vote. The signatures have been collected in less than 24 hours of the discharge petition being filed.

Yesterday, after 65 days of the Farm bill being held by Speaker Boehner, the bill was finally reported out of committee. Braley immediately filed the discharge petition that would force the Farm Bill to the House floor for a vote if 218 signatures are collected.

This bipartisan effort has been supported by Republican Representatives Berg, Gibson, and Noem and Democrats Boswell, Loebsack, and Welch as well as many others.

 

"We are gaining support from Democrats and Republicans who all see the need for the Farm Bill to be passed before September 30th," said Braley. "This is a bipartisan effort that desperately needs to happen. I cannot believe it took so long for the bill to be reported out of committee by Speaker Boehner, but now that it has, I am working with my colleagues to gain as many signatures as we can to get this bill to the floor for a vote."

 

A link of the petition's signatures can be found here: http://clerk.house.gov/112/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0005.xml

 

 

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18 Sep 2012

NAACP To Host 75th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet

By Shirleen Martin
Local Chapter Looks to Empower Voters During This Important Election Year
SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 DAVENPORT, IA - The Davenport NAACP will hold it's 75th annual Freedom Fund Banquet Saturday, September 15th at The Lodge,located at 900 Spruce Hill Road in Bettendorf.  The theme for this year's banquet is "Your Power.  Your Decision.  VOTE." and the keynote speakerwill be Dr. Jerome Reide, Regional Field Director of the NAACP, prominent lawyer, and leading social advocate.  There will also be a Youth Forum held Fridayat the Carriage House in Moline, IL starting at 3:30.
The Freedom Fund Banquet will start promptly at 6:00 PM with a social hour, followed by the dinner at 7:00 PM.  Single seat tickets for the event are $40.00per person and can be purchased by contacting Shirleen Martin at (563) 386-1500 or (563) 386-7096.
About The NAACP
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.  Our vision is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.
18 Sep 2012

Illinois launches new 'STEM' learning exchanges to prepare students for 21st Century workforce

By Rick Martin

$10.3 million public-private partnership to boost careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) 

 

CHICAGO - September 14, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today unveiled a unique $10.3 million public-private partnership that will better prepare thousands of Illinois students for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Joined by Illinois business, high-tech and education leaders at the innovative "1871" digital start-up center in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, Governor Quinn announced that eight organizations will be awarded contracts to develop "STEM Learning Exchanges" that link educational opportunities with business resources to prepare students to compete in the global economy. The partnership is part the governor's commitment to improve education in Illinois.

"Our mission is to prepare our students for the 21st Century workforce," Governor Quinn said. "These new Learning Exchanges will provide students with real-world experience and advanced educational opportunities to ensure they are ready to compete for the jobs of tomorrow."

The funding package is comprised of $2.3 million in federal Race to the Top (RTTT) funds, which leveraged another $8 million in business resources. The eight STEM Learning Exchanges, coordinated through multiple state agencies in partnership with the Illinois Business Roundtable, will be established through contracts with the Illinois State Board of Education. Applicants were required to commit cash or in-kind donations, bringing more than $10.3 million of business resources and cash to this unique public-private partnership.

The eight learning exchange organizations were selected by an expert review committee that considered each applicant's plan and experience in coordinating statewide public-private partnerships, and the matching or in-kind matching contribution. These statewide Learning Exchanges will work together with regional, educational and business networks to aggregate curricular resources, assessment tools, professional development systems, work-based learning opportunities and problem-based learning challenges. They will support performance evaluation across the P-20 education and workforce system, and result in better prepared students for a 21st century workforce. For the complete list, see attached document.

"This exemplifies a great public-private partnership as education and business forces work together to pave the way for a brighter future in Illinois,'' said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "Giving students access to professionals and showing them how knowledge can be applied on the job is a proven strategy for keeping students engaged in high school and mindful of their future."

A 2011 report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that Illinois will have an estimated 319,000 STEM-related job openings by 2018. About 93 percent of those jobs will require post-secondary education or training.

"The true wealth of our nation is produced by manufacturing things that people throughout the world wish to purchase because of our advanced technology and reputation for quality. That technology and quality can only be sustained with a pipeline of young people who are stimulated by such innovative approaches as these learning exchanges," said Fred Young, CEO of Forest City Gears which made 75 gears for NASA's Curiosity Rover mission to Mars.

"STEM occupations are critical to bolstering our state's competitive edge and ability to be successful in the global economy," said Jeff Mays, President of the Illinois Business Roundtable. "We not only need more professional scientists and mathematicians, but also qualified technicians and skilled workers in manufacturing and other technology-driven industries. By participating in the STEM Learning Exchanges, business is stepping up to better coordinate programs and investments that connect students to careers."

The RTTT funds supporting the STEM Learning Exchanges are drawn from the nearly $43 million awarded to Illinois last year to implement education reform initiatives across the state.

Last year, Gov. Quinn launched Illinois Pathways, an education initiative to support college and career readiness. Coordinated through a partnership between the State's education and economic development agencies, Illinois Pathways supports local programs that empower youth and adults to explore academic and career interests in STEM fields while supporting Learning Exchanges that coordinate investments, resources and planning for those programs. To learn more about Illinois Pathways, please visit: www.illinoisworknet.com/ilpathways.

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