SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Seven members of the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing, 217th Engineering Installation Squadron in Springfield were awarded Bronze Star Medals while serving in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from September 2010 through July 2011. Six of the Airmen received their medals during a ceremony at the 183rd Fighter Wing Aug. 6. The seventh Airmen will receive his medal at a later date. All seven members were key decision makers who had pivotal roles not only for themselves but for all 80 combined unit members who deployed.

"Receiving the Bronze Star is quite an honor," said Lt. Col. James Loux of Springfield, the 217th commander. "It represents the challenges our members faced from a long deployment and a deployment to a combat area."

Loux received a Bronze Star Medal for his service as the deployed commander of 80 Airmen during their first mobilization as Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airmen.

The Joint Expeditionary Tasking supporting the U.S. Army was comprised of Air Force members from three different Air National Guard units from around the United States. The team formed a cohesive group of engineers, cable and electronics teams and management teams based out of Bagram and Kandahar Airfields in Afghanistan. The primary mission while deployed was to install the centralized, strategic fiber optic network at 15 sites in support of the Technical Control Facility program. In addition, the team worked on various communication projects, including both engineering and installations, at more than 27 forward operating bases in Afghanistan.

Capt. Christopher Treff, of Mascoutah, received a Bronze Star Medal for his service as the lead engineer for all northern tier forward operating bases. He designed five technical control projects and more than 20 outside plant projects. He provided engineering expertise to the command staff for all projects within the combined joint operations area.

Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Keyfauver, of McHenry, received a Bronze Star Medal for his service in managing more than 90 communication projects from engineering to installation at more

than 20 separate sites in Afghanistan. The joint effort included teams of two to 10 Army technicians at various sites.

Senior Master Sgt. James Wynn, of Chicago, received a Bronze Star Medal for his service as the team chief for the first technical facility installation. He led a nine-man team who completed an $8 million project at Spin Buldak, a forward operating base in Afghanistan. In addition he installed 14,000 feet of copper and 46,000 feet of fiber, bringing 17 buildings online to the Afghan network.

Master Sgt. William Barnes, of Riverton, received a Bronze Star Medal for his service in deploying all 80 members in to and out of the theater of operations. He moved equipment, personnel and resources to 27 locations within Afghanistan. His efforts required constant communication with the host nation trucking, military and civilian airlift, and heavy equipment units and operators. He successfully shipped more than 2 million pounds of material, tools, equipment, vehicles and personnel within theater of operations.

Master Sgt. Scott Reynolds, of Chatham, received a Bronze Star Medal for his service as the supply material manager. He provided all logistical support for more than 50 members who deployed from Kandahar, Afghanistan. He ensured all members were fully outfitted, equipped and billeted.

Master Sgt. Michael Brennecke of Fenton, Mo., will receive a Bronze Star Medal for his service in support of the logistics management team. He was key in the engineering of 23 C4 infrastructure projects throughout the theater of operations. Brennecke will receive his medal at a later date since he was unable to attend the ceremony.

Under Loux's command, the unit completed more than 90 command and control communications projects at 27 locations throughout Afghanistan.

Individual photos of each Airman are available upon request. Please email ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil.

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Shaun Kerr, 183rd Fighter Wing/(Left to right) Master Sgt. Scott Reynolds of Chatham, Master Sgt. William Barnes of Riverton, Senior Master Sgt. James Wynn of Chicago and Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Keyfauver of McHenry, stand beside the 183rd Fighter Wing Commander Col. Michael Meyer, just before receiving their Bronze Star Medals during a presentation, Aug. 6 at the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield.

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Former Treasurer to Advance Higher Education in Illinois

CHICAGO - August 10, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today appointed Alexi Giannoulias to serve as chairman of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) as it works to increase graduation rates at the state's community colleges and advance Illinois' competitive edge in the global economy. Giannoulias will lead the non-paid, voluntary 11-member board, which governs the state's 48 community colleges - the third-largest system in the country.

"For Illinois to continue to grow jobs and advance our economic competitiveness, we must prepare our students for the jobs available in a 21st century economy," Governor Quinn said. "As a former State Treasurer with a longtime passion for education reform, Alexi is the right leader to shepherd our community college system towards higher graduation rates and better job placement in Illinois."

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, Giannoulias will focus on increasing graduation rates to achieve the state's "60 by 25" goal, which calls for 60 percent of Illinois' adult population to hold a college degree or career certificate by 2025, up from about 40 percent today. Giannoulias will also develop success standards in terms of degrees awarded and job placement; seek to better prepare high school students who enroll in community colleges for college-level work; increase access to community colleges for low-income and rural residents; and boost the number of credits that can transfer from community college to public universities.

"Community colleges play a vital role in creating the workforce of the 21st century by providing economical, flexible and effective training degrees," Giannoulias said. "Since putting Americans back to work is the single greatest challenge facing our country, a well-trained, well-educated workforce is absolutely crucial to America's future. To ensure that every young adult has the tools for gainful employment, our community college system must help students graduate with a meaningful degree that will enable them to find a job."

Giannoulias' appointment was met with praise from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and the Governor's point person on education, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon.

"I want to commend Governor Quinn for choosing Alexi Giannoulias for this critically important job," Duncan said. "Alexi is a passionate believer in public education and I'm confident that his leadership will help the community colleges of Illinois do a better job of preparing young people to compete in the global economy."

"I look forward to working with Chairman Giannoulias to help more students complete college and find good-paying jobs in Illinois," Lt. Governor Simon said.

Giannoulias served as Illinois Treasurer from 2007 to 2011. He focused on job creation by promoting programs that help small business owners have access to capital, and by working with citizens to promote investments in communities. Giannoulias graduated cum laude from Boston University with a degree in economics and earned a law degree from Tulane University's School of Law. Beginning this September, he will teach a political science course at Northwestern University in Evanston as an adjunct professor.

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Legislation Modernizes Illinois' Recycling Laws

CHICAGO - August 10, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will take a major step to increase e-recycling in Illinois. The new law overhauls the state's Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act by requiring more electronic products to be recycled, increasing recycling goals for Illinois' manufacturers and strengthening penalties for those who do not follow the law.

"This law will keep reusable materials from filling our landfills, and it will help us put people to work giving those materials new uses," said Governor Quinn. "Today's action reinforces our commitment to a green Illinois that continues to be a leader in protecting the environment."

Senate Bill 2106, sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) and Rep. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), expands the types of electronic products that will be subject to the state's landfill ban. Current law requires computer monitors, televisions and printers to be diverted from landfills. Under the new law, the list of items required to be recycled is expanded to include keyboards, portable music devices, scanners, videocassette recorders, video game consoles and more.

"Governor Quinn has made the recycling of e-waste a top environmental priority for the state, which is why Illinois is a leader on removing electronics from our waste stream," said Sen. Garrett.

"This bill not only prevents toxic substances from entering into the ground," said Rep. Biss. "But it also encourages the continued rapid growth of the e-recycling industry, supporting small businesses around the state that have created thousands of new jobs in recent years."

The new law also increases recycling goals for Illinois manufacturers. For example, in 2012 manufacturers will be required to recycle 40 percent of the products they sold in 2010. According to the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the new goals mean that statewide e-recycling will increase from 28 million pounds in 2011 to over 50 million pounds in 2012. The dramatic increase in recycling efforts is expected to create jobs for Illinois residents.

"This legislation will keep toxins out of our air and water while conserving valuable resources and creating jobs," said Melville Nickerson, Policy Advocate for the Environmental Law & Policy Center. "The Environmental Law & Policy Center looks forward to working together with manufacturers to implement this recycling bill and create a cleaner environment in Illinois."

The fine for violations of the new law will increase $1,000 to $7,000. It also gives the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency greater regulatory authority for violations of the act. Additionally, the bill requires manufacturers to maintain consumer education programs designed to inform customers of proper disposal policies for electronic products. The new law takes effect immediately.

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 2001, sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream), which strengthens penalties for criminal disposal of waste. The law, which takes effect immediately, reclassifies the initial and all subsequent violations as felonies, lowers the violation threshold and increases fines to $25,000, up from $5,000.

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Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. Rick Santorum, U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, U.S. Rep. Steve King, IA Lt. Gov Kim Reynolds to Join State-wide Bus Tour

Washington, D.C. ? On Wednesday, August 10, 2011 the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA), along with FRC Action's Faith Family Freedom Fund and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), will stop in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo, Mason City and Dickinson County as part of the "Values Voter Bus Tour" that will cover 1,305 miles in four days with events in 22 cities.

President Obama is the most pro-abortion President in United States history and has threatened individual states for exercising their right to de-fund Planned Parenthood.  SBA List will get the word out to straw poll and caucus goers on which candidates have taken its Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge and can be counted on as a strong leader in defending human life.

Wednesday, August 10  

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Marriott, 1200 Collins Road NE  

Confirmed speakers: Sen. Rick Santorum, Former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (SBA), Connie Mackey (FRC), Brian Brown (NOM), Jenifer Bowen (Iowa Right to Life)

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Dubuque
Washington Park, 351 W 6th Street  

Confirmed speakers: Marilyn Musgrave (SBA), Connie Mackey (FRC), Jenifer Bowen (Iowa Right to Life), Steven N. Brody (Dubuque County Right to Life)  

12:45 PM - 1:15 PM: Waterloo

Lincoln Park, 451 E 4th Street  

Confirmed speakers: Marilyn Musgrave (SBA), Connie Mackey (FRC), Jenifer Bowen (Iowa Right to Life)  

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Mason City
Central Park, 75 1st Street NW  

Confirmed speakers: Marilyn Musgrave (SBA), Connie Mackey (FRC), Jenifer Bowen (Iowa Right to Life)  

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Dickinson County
Barefoot Bar, 24457 178^th Street, Okoboji  

Confirmed speakers: Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, Marilyn Musgrave (SBA), Connie Mackey (FRC), Jenifer Bowen (Iowa Right to Life)  

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of more than 330,000 Americans dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics.  Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

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