Grants will help recovery from 2008 flooding

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $40.6 million to help repair power lines damaged throughout Iowa during the 2008 flood.

The FEMA grants will help repair hundreds of miles of power lines that sustained damage in 2008 due to a series of severe storms, tornadoes and heavy rains.

"This funding will help repair and replace power lines that were damaged during the 2008 flood," Braley said.  "Not only will these grants restore the use of these power lines and improve infrastructure, they're an investment in future economic growth across Iowa."

A list of grant beneficiaries follows:

KANSAS CITY - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide     $81,517 to the Davenport Housing Commission to supply permanent housing and case management for 15 homeless veterans in Davenport, Iowa.

This funding, from HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), is a coordinated effort by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans.  Davenport is one of 18 communities to receive the remaining $2.4 million appropriated for 2011 that will support 435 vouchers.

This funding to local housing agencies is part of the Obama Administration's commitment to end Veteran and long-term chronic homelessness by 2015.  Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and local communities to confront the root causes of homelessness, especially among former servicemen and women.  Since 2008, HUD-VASH has provided more than 33,000 homeless veterans permanent supportive housing and supportive services.

"During this season of giving, I'm thrilled to announce that we have evidence that this funding is making a real difference to get homeless veterans off the street and into homes they can call their own," said HUD Secretary Donovan.  "Thanks to the work done by HUD, and agency partners across the Obama Administration, the most recent homeless estimate shows veteran homelessness fell by nearly 12 percent in just one year."

"This program provides critical assistance to those who have worn our nation's military uniforms and are in need of a home," said VA Secretary Shinseki. "VA and HUD will continue to work in partnership to end homelessness among veterans."

Today HUD also released its latest estimate on homelessness in America and found, veteran homelessness fell by nearly 12 percent (or 8,834 people) since January 2010.

The vouchers awarded today are part of the $50 million appropriated for Fiscal Year 2011 to support the housing needs of 7,250 homeless veterans.  VA Medical Centers (VAMC) provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans. Earlier this year, HUD awarded $46.2 million in HUD-VASH funding.

Homeless veterans are referred to the public housing agencies for these vouchers, based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the need for case management services. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff provides.

Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.  VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico.

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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.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is asking the top government health care agency whether it gave special access to hedge funds and consultants "who seek to profit from government information."  Grassley is concerned about a specific meeting in 2009, as alleged by a whistleblower, and in general, because of increased Wall Street interest in gaining information from government agencies and Congress.

"The bottom line question for anything government employees do on the clock is what's in it for the taxpayers," Grassley said.  "If government employees are spending hours providing inside information to hedge funds or companies that consult for hedge funds, it's hard to see how that helps the public.  In fact, it robs the taxpayers of these employees' full value.  It raises concerns about whether hedge funds get special access to information above other Americans just because of who they are.  The public's business ought to be public, not parceled out behind closed doors."

This week, Grassley wrote to the acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, asking for details of the agency's dealings with hedge funds and others who seek to profit from government information.  Grassley cited allegations from a then-agency employee who said nearly one dozen agency employees were made to have a lengthy meeting with a Wall Street firm in 2009 over reimbursement policy for certain medical devices.  The whistleblower said the Wall Street firm peppered the agency employees with questions about decision-making and agency processes.

The agency controls billions of dollars of federal spending through Medicare and Medicaid and has significant power over issues of interest to Wall Street, including whether the government health care programs will pay for certain medical devices and procedures and if so, to what extent.  An agency decision on coverage can make or break the success of a medical device, for example, and investors have great interest in gaining insight into coverage decisions so they can plan accordingly.

Grassley asked the agency to explain whether it has any policies governing employee interaction with Wall Street and other outside groups and for any records of how often such interactions occur.

Grassley's inquiry comes amid increased exposure of contact between Wall Street and government agencies, based on his own inquiries and reporting from The Wall Street Journal and the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group, and others.

In December 2010, the White House received attention for organizing private meetings with the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with outside groups, including those with lobbyists, on the implementation of the controversial health care law.

At the Department of Education, Grassley wrote to Education Secretary Arne Duncan regarding contacts with hedge funds and top staff members over whether the government would crack down on the for-profit education industry.

Grassley's letter this week to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is available here.  A Wall Street Journal piece on the inquiry is available here.  A piece from the Project on Government Oversight on Wall Street interest in government is available here.

BOSTON– Each year, more than two million men, women, and children die in the United States, leaving behind loved ones who mourn them. The holidays are often the most difficult time of the year for people who are grieving.

"If the grief is fresh, holiday cheer can seem like an affront and celebrations may underscore how alone people feel," notes Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. The following strategies, explored in depth in the December 2011 issue, may help people who are grieving to cope with the holidays.

Start a new tradition. During a holiday dinner, place a lighted candle on the dinner table, leave an empty chair, or say a few words of remembrance.

Change the celebration. Go out to dinner instead of planning an elaborate meal at home. Or schedule a trip with friends.

Express your needs. People who are grieving may find it hard to participate in all the festivities or may need to let go of unsatisfying traditions. It's all right to tell people you're just not up to it right now or to change plans at the last minute.

Help someone else. It may also help to volunteer through a charitable or religious organization. Make a donation to a favorite cause in memory of the person who died.

Give yourself time. The grieving process doesn't neatly conclude at the six-month or one-year mark. Depending on the strength of the bond that was broken, grief can be life-long. Nevertheless, grief does usually soften and change over time. With time, the holidays will become easier to handle.

Read the full-length article: "Handling holidays and difficult times"

Also in this issue:

• The normal process of grieving
• Beyond the five stages of grief
• How people can help themselves while grieving
• Coping with complicated grief
• How long does grief last?

The Harvard Mental Health Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $59 per year. Subscribe at www.health.harvard.edu/mental or by calling 877-649-9457 (toll-free).

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