Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, where I am the Ranking Member, held a hearing on voter fraud.

One of our most important responsibilities of citizenship is the opportunity to cast ballots.  Part of that responsibility is preventing the dilution of those votes by stopping ineligible voters from casting ballots.  Unfortunately, states that are working to ensure the integrity of elections are being unfairly taken to court.

The lawsuits are often based on the claim that fraud doesn't exist.  But evidence shows fraud does exist.

In Iowa, the Secretary of State compared drivers' license applications with voter registrations.  Iowa's application for a driver's license includes a box where the applicant checks if they are a citizen.  He found that 3,500 foreign nationals were registered in the state since 2008.  All of them were ineligible to vote.  But 1,200 did vote in 2010.

Instances like this show there's a need for voter-ID requirements.  In a Washington Post poll last month, 74 percent of those surveyed expressed support for voter ID requirements at polling places.  Voters overwhelmingly recognize that in a society in which people must show photo ID to board a plane, they should have to show photo ID to vote.  It's common sense.

We've seen close elections where just a few votes make a difference.   The level of fraud that we know exists can determine the outcome of any particular election.  This is as unacceptable as turning away eligible voters.

Legislation would protect students and teachers from radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer 

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today introduced the End Radon in Schools Act, a bill that will protect students, teachers, and school employees from high levels of radon in schools. The bill has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society.  Braley worked with the American Cancer Society and the Radon Coalition, based in Iowa, to craft the legislation.

Radon is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas that is produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. It is a form of ionizing radiation, proven carcinogen, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The gas will often leak through cracks or holes in foundations or walls of buildings if not properly controlled.

All of Iowa's 99 counties are considered at a "Zone 1" risk level by the government, which indicates they have the highest potential for radon exposure in schools, homes, and other buildings.  Iowa is one of only two states in the country that has a statewide "Zone 1" risk level.

"Today, I am very pleased to introduce the End Radon in Schools Act. We need to ensure that our schools are safe from unacceptable levels of this harmful gas," said Braley. "You cannot see, taste, or smell radon, but it poses a real risk to Iowans. Iowa has one of the highest levels of radon radiation in the country, and I introduced this legislation to ensure that Iowa kids, teachers and employees are safe from harmful levels of radon when they go to school."

The End Radon in Schools Act would give grants to states to work with school districts to test the radon levels in their school buildings. If the school building has an unhealthy radon level, the school would be given funding to mitigate or diminish the high radon levels. Schools awarded the grant funding would conduct the testing with the assistance of a licensed radon mitigation specialist.  The school would work with a specialist to determine the best way to mitigate the school building.

Today, Braley also met with Iowa members of the American Cancer Society, as well as University of Iowa Men's Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery, to discuss his bill and other issues related to cancer research, care and prevention.  A photo from today's meeting is below.

A link to the text of the End Radon in Schools Act can be found here: http://go.usa.gov/rAC9 

Quinn: CHP cuts manufacturing costs, air pollution

CHICAGO - September 13, 2012. Illinois is one of four states chosen by the National Governors Association (NGA) for a prestigious "Best Practices Policy Academy" grant to boost industrial productivity through use of energy efficiency and Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

The bipartisan NGA said Illinois earned the award due to its, "...approach to advancing industrial energy efficiency by engaging a wide range of stakeholders across the state to develop solutions linked to the state's energy efficiency goals."

"Industry is part of Illinois' heritage, from the stockyards and blast furnaces of our parents' generation to the high tech corridors of today," Governor Quinn said. "Manufacturers can trim energy costs and sharpen their competitive edge by using CHP and other homegrown measures."

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is an efficient and clean approach to on-site power generation. Under conventional CHP, fuel is burned in a "prime mover" such as a gas turbine, with the waste heat "recycled" to provide heating, cooling and/or dehumidification. Under "Waste Energy Recovery" (WER), the fuel is burned in a furnace or boiler to provide heat to an industrial process, with excess heat "recycled" to generate electricity on-site.

Following a national trend, energy expenditures by Illinois' 14,700 manufacturers have increased by 25 percent since 2000.

The NGA grant will address ways to enhance Illinois industry through energy efficiency and CHP in nine manufacturing sectors: primary metals, petroleum and coal products, chemical, food, nonmetallic mineral products, paper, fabricated metal products, machinery, and plastic and rubber products.

There are currently 139 CHP units in Illinois - accounting for 1,367 MW of electricity generation - powering factories, farms, schools, hospitals, museums, wastewater treatment plants and more. Large CHP facilities include the Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur and Peoria, University of Illinois campuses in both Champaign and Chicago, Eastern Illinois University and U.S. Steel's Granite City Works. Others include the Brookfield Zoo, M&M Mars Candy Company, Great Lakes Naval Training Center and three veterans' facilities.

Among the newer Illinois CHP installations is a 3 MW CHP system at the Illinois River Energy Ethanol Plant in Rochelle which was installed with the help of Federal stimulus funds and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The DCEO also provided assistance to build CHP plants at a Stephenson County dairy farm, and at wastewater treatment plants in Danville, Decatur, Downers Grove and Fox Lake.

Illinois is a leader in sustainability and energy efficiency, with efforts like the Green Governments Coordinating Council, 'Illinois Energy Now Trade Ally Program' and other energy-saving initiatives. In addition to the $12,000 grant, NGA will provide specialized assistance and work closely with the "Illinois team" to develop an action plan by April 2013 for use in other states. The Illinois team - still in formation - will include the University of Illinois at Chicago's Energy Resources Center, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois DCEO's State Energy Office, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pollution Prevention, Office of the Governor and representatives of the State's manufacturing and power utilities sectors.

The bipartisan National Governors Association has been the voice of the nation's Governors since 1908. The NGA's Center for Best Practices is the research and development arm of NGA that directly serves the nation's governors. Through the Center, governors may learn what does (and doesn't) work, obtain tailored assistance in designing new policy programs and receive timely information about cutting-edge programs in other states.