The annual benefit sale for Humility of Mary Housing that started in a garage 22 years ago and eventually moved to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds has moved again. The new location is 3805 Mississippi Avenue, the new office building and donation center of Humility of Mary Housing. This building is off Kimberly, between Bridge and Eastern, just north of Habitat ReStore and east of Dahl Ford.

There will be two sales a year, one in the spring and another in the fall. The first semi-annual benefit sale will be Saturday, May 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m

This sale continues to carry a large selection of gently used or new items, all in working condition, including house wares, bedding, toys, jewelry, gift items, furniture, books, games and much more. This year clothing has been added to the sale. The sale is staffed by a growing number of fantastic volunteers who turn the sale into a social event. One is sure to go away with some special treasure.

All proceeds from this sale are used by Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. to provide housing and program services for single parents and their children who have been homeless. Through the program lives get turned around, children learn there is a different way to live, parents are provided with opportunities upon which they build the foundation for a greater future for their families.

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Braley, DeLauro Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Middle Class

Comprehensive Bill Makes Investments, Creates Stability, Restores Fairness Necessary to Rebuild America 

Washington, DC - Representatives Bruce Braley (D-IA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), co-chairs of the Populist Caucus, today introduced the Rebuild America Act, comprehensive legislation to rebuild the American middle-class.  The bill invests in our future through three main tenants: investment to foster jobs and growth, creating financial stability for middle-class families and restoring fairness to the tax code.  This stands in direct contrast to the vision for America Republicans are pushing today: slashing the social safety net to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

"The Rebuild America Act is the kind of comprehensive plan we need to strengthen the middle class, grow America's economy, and invest in the future," Braley said.  "From the modernization of America's schools to the expansion of renewable energy, from a national manufacturing strategy to raising the minimum wage, this bill is the kind of bold vision that will put America back on a path to prosperity and progress.  Congress has been paralyzed by inaction, but I believe this common sense plan can appeal to people regardless of partisanship."

"The debate in Washington has gone on for too long.  We need to stop talking and start implementing solutions to get America back to work," DeLauro said.  "The Rebuild America Act makes bold, critical investments in our future to create jobs and promote the financial stability so crucial to middle-class Americans.  These families have been facing pressures on all fronts, from struggling schools to declining manufacturing to the squeeze on pensions and retirement security.  This bill will help both individuals and businesses start to pull themselves out of the morass we have been in and prepare our economy for future challenges."

The Rebuild America Act has three overarching principles:

1. Investing in America to Create Jobs and Future Growth
2. Creating Financial Stability and a Better Future for Middle-Class Families
3. Restoring Fairness to the Tax Code and Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility

Investing in America to Create Jobs and Future Growth

Creating solid middle-class jobs that cannot be outsourced will lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.  To do this, we need to move from being a nation that consumes to one that builds and exports.  The Rebuild America Act invests in our schools and teachers, renewable energy and roads, bridges and infrastructure.  It also rebuilds our manufacturing power through expanded tax credits and access to credit for business.

Creating Financial Stability and a Better Future for Middle-Class Families

Middle-class families are facing enormous financial pressures, both during their working years and in retirement.  The Rebuild America Act helps ease this stress by strengthening social security, establishing a fair minimum wage and ensuring paid sick days are available for workers across the country.

Restore Fairness to the Tax Code and Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility

Our current tax system is unfair, too complex and keeps us on a path of perennial deficits.  The Rebuild America Act takes action to level the playing field for all Americans.  The bill includes the Buffet Rule, ends tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and makes Wall Street take responsibility for their irresponsible actions that led to the 2008 financial collapse.  Crucially, the Rebuild America Act protects the pensions that workers are counting on to get through retirement by encouraging employers to continue to provide pensions and creating additional protections for people whose pension is a casualty of bankruptcy.

The following organizations support the Rebuild America Act:

SEIU

AFSCME

AFL-CIO

AFT

Building Trades Unions

Machinists Union

UAW

NEA

IAFF

USW

IUPA

Main Street Alliance

American Sustainable Business Council

Campaign for America's Future

American Dream

National Women's Law Center

National Partnership for Women and Families

National Employment Law Center

Urban League

US Action

Community Change

Moms Rising

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Children's Defense Fund

Young Invincibles

Social Security Works

Coalition on Human Needs

Family Values at Work

ADA

First Five Years Fund

NAEYC

CLASP

NWLC

PEW

PreKnow

Independent

NACCRAA

ECE Consortium

Zero to Three

Head Start

First Focus

Voices

NAWB

Workforce Alliance

JAG

American Progress

Knowledge Works

Alliance for American Manufacturing

American Small Manufacturer Coalition

Industrial Unions Council

United Spinal Association

The Arc

Formed in 2009, the House Populist Caucus is the only caucus in Congress dedicated soley to strengthening America's middle class.  The Populist Caucus has 28 members.

Bill would reverse regulation threatening Marshalltown refrigeration manufacturer

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today joined Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03) to introduce a bipartisan bill that would remove burdensome government regulations on refrigerated deli-style display cases that threaten the future of their manufacture in the United States.

The Department of Energy has interpreted a 2005 energy efficiency law passed by Congress to include refrigerated deli display cases in the same category as standard refrigerators.  However, the Department of Energy acknowledges that the inherent design of display cases makes it impossible for them to reach the minimum efficiency standards established in the 2005 law, effectively outlawing their manufacture.

Braley and Westmoreland's Better Use of Refrigerator Regulations Act will simply create a separate product category for refrigerated deli-style display cases, effectively reversing the Department of Energy regulation.

Lennox Industries, Inc., manufactures the deli-style display cases covered by the regulation in their Marshalltown, Iowa, facility.

Representative Bruce Braley (IA-01) said: "When government regulations defy common sense and put jobs at risk, it's time for a change.  With their regulation, the Department of Energy has effectively outlawed refrigerated display cases commonly found in grocery stores, delis, ice cream shops, and restaurants.  This regulation is unfair and harmful to manufacturing in Iowa and America.  Our bipartisan bill will reverse this misguided regulation and protect American jobs.  I'm proud to work with Representative Westmoreland to create a common sense solution that will appeal to people on both sides of the aisle."

Representative Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03) said: "Sometimes smaller issues, like this one, are overlooked in a federal government as large as ours.  But that doesn't mean they aren't important and don't impact the livelihood of many Americans, including many of your friends and neighbors here in Georgia.  By creating a separate product class for these display cases, we are allowing American manufacturers to continue to make and sell them - saving American manufacturing jobs - and we can do so at no cost to the American taxpayer.  It's bipartisan bills like this that show both sides of the aisle are opposed to the overregulation that has become commonplace in Washington.  The more regulations and red tape created by bureaucrats in Washington, the harder it is for American companies to succeed, making it harder for them to expand and hire new employees.  By eliminating unnecessary regulations, we are able to encourage job creation and economic growth.  I'm proud to have joined Congressman Braley in introducing the bipartisan BURR Act and encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in eliminating this unnecessary regulation."

A copy of the Better Use of Refrigerator Regulations Act can be downloaded at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/VAq

A photo of the refrigerated deli-style display cases manufactured by Lenox in Marshalltown can be viewed below: