We have officially set the re-opening date and time for the John Deere Pavilion.

We will re-open the all-new Pavilion to the public on Wednesday, February 15 at 1:00 p.m.

Here is information about Senator Grassley's schedule this week in Washington.  The Senate is in session.

·         Senator Grassley will meet during the week with Iowans from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the National League of Postmasters, the ALS Association, the National Rural Health Care Association, the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Communications Workers of America, the Iowa State Troopers Association, officials and community leaders from the Dubuque area, and the American School Counselor Association.

·         Senator Grassley will meet during the week with an Iowa family visiting Washington from Council Bluffs.

·         On Monday, January 30, at 2:30 p.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will meet with Marilyn Tavenner, who has been nominated to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Department of Health and Human Services.  Her appointment must be considered and approved by the Senate Finance Committee.

·         On Tuesday, January 31, at 8:15 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will speak to the National Rural Health Care Association at the Capitol Hilton.  He will address uncertainty in health care policy, as well as pending legislation for Medicare doctor reimbursement rates and expiring rural health care provisions, including reimbursement raises for ambulance services and an outpatient hold-harmless provision.

·         On Tuesday, January 31, at 10 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee titled "Extenders and Tax Reform:  Seeking Long-Term Solutions."

·         On Tuesday, January 31, at 4:30 p.m. (ET), Senate Grassley will attend, if possible, an event at the Department of Justice marking the 25th anniversary of enactment of a major update of the False Claims Act.  In 1986, Senator Grassley and Representative Howard Berman of California authored the legislation with provisions to empower private-sector whistleblowers to come forward with valuable information about fraud by government contractors.  Then focused on defense contract fraud, these qui tam provisions today have become the government's most effective tool against health care fraud, especially in Medicare.  In 25 years, the whistleblower provisions have recovered more than $30 billion for taxpayers that otherwise would have been lost to fraud.  Experts estimate the deterrent effect of the law to be billions of dollars more. Senator Grassley continues to safeguard and strengthen the provisions legislatively and through oversight.

·         On Tuesday, January 31, at 6:30 p.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will answer questions via Skype from a UNI journalism class taught by Waverly Independent editor Anelia Dimitrova.

·         On Wednesday, February 1, at 2:30 p.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate as Co-Chair in a hearing of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control titled "Caribbean Basin Security Initiative."  The hearing will examine drug-related violence in the Caribbean and U.S. security assistance.  The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica have been named by President Obama as major drug-transit counties.

·         On Wednesday, February 1, and Thursday, February 2, Senator Grassley will meet with community leaders and city officials traveling with the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce to Washington to discuss economic development initiatives and other public policy matters as they relate to the Dubuque area.

·         On Thursday, February 2, at 10 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate as Ranking Member in a business meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  These nominations are on the calendar for possible consideration:  Paul J. Watford to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit and Dennis J. Erby to be United States Marshall for the Northern District of Mississippi.  Additionally, the committee will begin consideration of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011, S.1925.

What:              Dress for Success Quad Cities Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Reception

Date:               Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012

Time:               5:15 p.m. (with a reception between 4 and 6 p.m.)

Location:        Union Arcade Building, 111 E. 3rd St., Ste. 710, Davenport

Description: Dress for Success^® Quad Cities, the new local affiliate of the international not-for-profit organization, will host a Grand Opening reception and ribbon cutting event with the Quad Cities Chamber Ambassadors and the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

The new affiliate opened its doors in November and now is inviting the business community to celebrate its mission to empower women toward economic stability. Dress for Success has served more than 600,000 women internationally by providing them with business-appropriate clothing, mentoring and professional development programs.

Royal Neighbors of America will be recognized for its donation of 200 "Totes for Hope." These totes will be distributed to women completing the Dress for Success Quad Cities program. The colorful bags, which include a daily planner, will serve as a functional accessory for the women in their new roles.

The organization's relationship with the business community will serve to further assist its clients.

"It's a natural fit to invite local businesses to learn who we are and what we do," said Regina Haddock Clewell, founder and executive director of Dress for Success Quad Cities. "As our clients work toward economic independence with the support we provide along the way, a relationship with area businesses is that essential next step."

About:            Dress for Success® Quad Cities is one of more than 115 affiliates around the globe. Each Dress for Success client receives one interview suit in her first visit, and once she finds work, receives additional attire, and an invitation to join the Professional Women's Group (PWG). The PWG program, along with career center and mentoring services, provides ongoing support to clients as they grow professionally, strive to turn their jobs into successful careers and journey towards economic independence.

www.dressforsuccess.org/quadcities

Half-million dollars projected in revenue

CHICAGO - January 27, 2011. The nation's "seconds-in-command" will convene in Chicago this summer at a conference expected to generate more than a half-million dollars in revenue for the state.

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon announced today that she will host the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) annual meeting July 18-20 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. The NLGA estimates the meeting will generate $612,000 in hotel, food, entertainment, transportation and other expenditures in Illinois.

"More than 200 people are expected to attend the conference, including many of the nation's lieutenant governors," said NLGA Director Julia Hurst. "The meeting will focus on issues impacting the economy, and the people of the states and territories, from education to energy, health care and more."

Lt. Governor Simon is seeking Illinois businesses to sponsor conference sessions to "showcase the best that Illinois has to offer." Chicago was selected to commemorate the NLGA's 50th anniversary as it was the site of the inaugural annual meeting in 1962 when Samuel Shapiro was the Illinois Lieutenant Governor.

"The association is delighted to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the very city in which it was founded - Chicago," said NLGA Chair and Nebraska Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy. "We thank Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon for hosting this bi-partisan group, and we look forward to the energy that she and the Windy City will add to our gathering."

The NLGA is a nonprofit, professional organization for elected officials who are first in line of succession to the governors in the United States and five territorial jurisdictions. Since 2000, at least 20 lieutenant governors have succeeded governors, including former Lt. Governor and current Governor Pat Quinn.

"We welcome the opportunity to host these influential policymakers and generate tourism dollars for our state," said Simon, the NLGA Midwest Regional Chair.

For more information on NLGA, see www.nlga.us or contact 859-283-1400. To inquire about sponsorship, contact 312-814-5240.