2011 Great Mississippi River Clean-Up

Comes Home to the Quad-Cities

Quad-Cities/ July 10th, 2011 - A massive volunteer effort to clean the mighty   Mississippi   is about to begin its third phase in the place where it all began.  The Great Mississippi River Clean-Up (GMRC) is a volunteer effort coordinated by Living Lands & Waters (LLW), an East Moline, IL-based non-profit environmental group.  Last year, LLW coordinated the first-ever simultaneous clean up of the  Mississippi River .   This year, the initiative has expanded from 22 to 30 cities and has grown into a summer-long campaign.    Living   Lands   & Waters (LL&W) will launch the third phase of the 2011 Great Mississippi River Clean Up on Saturday, August 13^th. Volunteers from the Quad-Cities through Keokuk will help pull garbage out of the waters and onto the shores of Muscatine ,  Burlington ,  Ft.   Madison  and  Keokuk ,  Iowa  and Oquawka, New Boston and   Nauvoo ,  Illinois  .  This year's Great Mississippi River Clean-Up began on June 11^th along the shores of  Wisconsin ,  Minnesota  and  Northern Iowa , where volunteers pulled truckloads of discarded materials from the waters so that it could be disposed of properly.   Clean-ups previously scheduled in   Saint Paul   and Red Wing, MN and Prairie duChien, WI had to be re-scheduled because high water and fast-moving debris made it too hazardous for volunteers.

The phenomenal growth of the Great Mississippi River Clean-up, with the addition of eight more cities this year, required organizers to broaden their efforts to monthly clean-ups across the summer.  In all, 1200-1500 volunteers are expected to take part in this year's clean-up of this iconic waterway.  The final phases of the GMRC will begin September 17^th and involve volunteers from  Canton ,  MO  through   St. Louis ,  MO.   Please note the dates are subject to river flood conditions

LL&W Founder and President Chad Pregracke says flooding is something LLW adapts to almost every year.  "The river is constantly changing, and because of that, we must always be prepared and able to respond."  Pregracke, who was recently recognized as a 'Service Hero' at the Points of Light Foundation's tribute to former President George H.W. Bush, Sr.  Pregracke adds that doing the clean up in phases will help bring our important message to more people.  Said Pregracke, "That's part of what Living Lands and Waters is all about:  bringing the health of our rivers to the attention of everyone who depends upon them, and then working to improve it."

The Great Mississippi River Cleanup will remove debris such as tires, barrels, propane tanks, appliances, plastic bottles and more from the waterway. Volunteers will be needed to assist in debris collection on the day of the cleanup. If possible, LL&W is also looking for people who are willing to haul debris in their boats to the boat launch where roll-off dumpsters or other disposal facilities will be in place.

 Living   Lands  and Waters is a 501(c) (3) environmental organization established in 1998 and headquartered in   East Moline ,  Illinois  .  LL&W has removed more than six million pounds of trash through cleanup efforts along the  Mississippi ,  Missouri ,  Ohio ,  Illinois  and  Potomac  rivers since its launch over 12 years ago. LL&W also coordinated flood relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina and the historic floods in  Cedar Rapids ,  Iowa  and   Lake Delton ,  Wisconsin   in 2008. 

For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, please visit www.livinglandsandwaters.org.

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CHICAGO - July 14, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:  

   

Bill No.: HB 103  

Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to post a report on their website by pharmaceutical manufacturers and group purchasing organizations by September 30, 2013 as required by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Action: Signed                           

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 144  

Allows a municipality to dissolve their police or fire pension fund if there are no active participants.  

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits  

Action: Signed                           

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 177  

Removes paper copies of library registration records from the definition of public records once the information is transferred into a secure electronic format and checked for accuracy.  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Action: Signed                           

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 179  

Allows library districts to obtain insurance policies to protect against financial malfeasance and loss as an alternative to a personal surety bond posted on the library district treasurer.  

An Act Concerning: Libraries  

Action: Signed                           

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 274  

Provides recourse against the license of a dentist or dental hygienist who violates an existing probationary status.

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 275

Prohibits the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) from employing persons with specified criminal backgrounds in child care facilities licensed and operated by DCFS.

An Act Concerning: State Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 276

Amends the County Jail Act and provides that when - in the opinion of the warden - the lives or health of the prisoners are endangered, or when the security of the penal institution is threatened, that the warden may move an individual or a group of prisoners to some suitable place within the county or to the jail of some convenient county where they can be confined until they can be safely returned.

An Act Concerning: Corrections

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 991

Requires that all energy policy statements adopted by homeowners associations shall address the location, design and architectural requirements of any allowed composting, rainwater collection, solar energy or wind energy collection systems.

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1093

Eliminates two cost-ineffective methods of emissions testing from the Vehicle Code, known as the steady state idle exhaust gas analysis ("idle exhaust"), and the evaporative system integrity test ("gas cap").

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1096

Requires each nursing home to have a staff member trained as an infection control professional to help prevent the spread of institutional infections.

An Act Concerning: Health Facilities

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1112

Allows victim and witness assistance centers to help families of victims of fatal injury crashes obtain roadside memorials, and adds offenses from which penalties can be assessed for deposit into the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund.

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1220

Provides municipalities with the authorization to impose administrative fees for impounded vehicles.

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1255

Allows birth parents of adopted or surrendered children born before Jan. 1, 1946 to use the same Birth Parent Preference form as birth parents of adopted children born after that date, and also provides clean-up language to adoption reform language from last session.

An Act Concerning: Families

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1259

Requires the Department of Public Health to send death records to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services every three months.

An Act Concerning: Public Health

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1279

Strengthens the requirements for renewing a license to inspect fire sprinkler systems.

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1287

Defines "webinar" in the Insurance Code and allows insurance producers to attend webinars to satisfy continuing education requirements.

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1303

Allows the Fire Prevention Fund to be used for the maintenance, operation and capital expenses of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.

An Act Concerning: Safety

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1311

Allows local corporate authorities to enact ordinances regulating sound devices.

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1316

Creates interest-bearing accounts for moneys received from federal grants received by the Illinois State Police and Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

An Act Concerning: State Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1338

Codifies the state immunization registry (ICARE) to keep track of child immunizations as an opt-out system, rather than opt-in.

An Act Concerning: Health

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1379

Amends the Registered Titles (TORRENS) Act to repeal the Act on Jan. 1, 2014 instead of July 1, 2037.

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1490

Creates a regulatory framework for the boxing and mixed martial arts professions.

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1513

Amends the Wage Payment and Collection Act to allow municipalities with populations of less than 500,000 to make deductions from employee wages or final compensation that do not exceed 15 percent of the net amount of the payment for an excess payment made due to, but not limited to, a typographical or mathematical error made by the municipality or to collect a debt owed to a municipality after notice to the employee and an opportunity to be heard.

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 1524

Allows qualified examiners to examine a respondent and testify at a hearing before a person can be found subject to involuntary admission to a mental health facility.

An Act Concerning: Health

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1684

Changes the requirements for lifting patients to minimize the risk of injury to patients and nurses.

An Act Concerning: Health Facilities

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1706

Changes the qualification standards for children who receive home or hospital instruction. 

An Act Concerning: Education

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1760

Reforms the evaluation system for employees of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. 

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1857

Permits commissioners and employees of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to engage in political activities on personal time.

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 1877

Allows the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital to request registration from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Controlled Substances Act.

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 2019

Repeals the Community Senior Services and Resources Act.

An Act Concerning: Aging

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 2043

Provides that the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review Committee (SPARC) shall meet and provide reports as deemed necessary.

An Act Concerning: Aging

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 2101

Permits a county to deposit public funds into credit unions and allows the county to make certain other interest-bearing investments.

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 2936

Codifies a federal notification requirement pertaining to transferring persons found subject to involuntary submission from one mental health hospital to another hospital.

An Act Concerning: Health

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 2993

Amends the election schedule for filling unexpired park district governing board terms.

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 3019

Requires duck hunters in Alexander, Union, Williamson and Jackson counties to observe 100-yard setback from any commercially-licensed hunting property when placing duck hunting blinds, unless they have permission from the property owner.

An Act Concerning: Wildlife

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 3050

Clarifies the powers and duties of credit unions and agencies under the Credit Union Act.

An Act Concerning: Finance

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 3139

Allows production of switchgrass along highway right-of-ways.

An Act Concerning: Highways

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 3155

Updates numerous statutes relating to public health to reflect current practices.

An Act Concerning: Public Health

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 3360

Provides that the Illinois Department of Employment Security, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Corrections, shall seek to provide proper employment opportunities for discharged convicts or prisoners.

An Act Concerning: State Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 3371

Allows the Pollution Control Board the flexibility to permit higher concentrations of carcinogens to be present in soil used as fill material and permits licensed geologists as well as engineers to certify tests for contamination.

An Act Concerning: Safety

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 3468

Removes a requirement to maintain a record of a patient's menstrual cycle for patients staying in a state mental health facility for fewer than 60 days.

An Act Concerning: State Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 3513

Prohibits the displaying of Social Security numbers on wristbands or files.

An Act Concerning: Business

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1074

Creates the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act to allow courts in Illinois to recognize and enforce certain money judgments in other countries.

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 1361

Extends the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act to sunset Jan. 1, 2016.

An Act Concerning: State Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1555

Authorizes the State to establish a health benefits exchange ("exchange") beginning on October 1, 2013 and requires the State to offer a health savings account ("HSA") program to employees covered by high deductible health plans.

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1603

Exempts certain individuals who provide mortgage loans without having to maintain a commercial license.

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1641

Permits local units of government to pass ordinances allowing low-speed vehicles on streets.

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1643

Allows school districts to increase driver education course fees from $50 to $250.

An Act Concerning: Education

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1686

Changes the publishing rates and requirements for local government entities on all public notices.

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1; Section 12-45 provisions take effect immediately.

Bill No.: SB 1699

Increases penalties for financial crimes.

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 1877

Removes language in the Power of Attorney Act which provides an agent immediate authority over personal health information even if the document specifies agency is to take effect at a future date.

An Act Concerning: State Government 

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2034

Authorizes Office of the State Fire Marshal vehicles as emergency vehicles.

An Act Concerning: Transportation 

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

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IA & IL DELEGATION MEMBERS TO GENERAL: ANY PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE JMTC WOULD FACE BIPARTISAN RESISTANCE IN CONGRESS

Members questioncost savings as Army awaits task force recommendations

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) and the bipartisan delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal made clear to General Ann Dunwoody, the Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command, that any proposal to close or relocate Rock Island Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) would be met with strong resistance in Congress. In a meeting in Washington, Dunwoody reassured the Iowa and Illinois delegation that the Army currently has no plans to close the JMTC, but could not disclose the work of an internal task force that was rumored to have been considering JMTC closure as a cost-savings measure.

Members of Congress in today's meeting - U.S. Representatives Bruce Braley (D-IA-01), Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17), and Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and representatives from Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)'s office - vowed to continue working with General Dunwoody and the Army to secure the long-term future of JMTC at Rock Island Arsenal.

"The Rock Island Arsenal is crucial to the Quad City economy," said Braley. "There are 1,700 jobs on the line at this facility and none of us are willing to jeopardize them. I'm confident that we made that clear to General Dunwoody, and I was reassured by her praise for the Arsenal and its workers. I will continue to monitor this process and work to make sure that we find ways to save and cut back in places where it makes sense ? but not at this crucial facility."

"General Dunwoody understands this delegation's commitment to defending the livelihood of the highly skilled men and women who make up the Rock Island Arsenal," said Durbin.  "It is important that every level of government work to find savings and efficiencies within system, but I firmly believe that closing or relocating the JMTC would be the wrong way to do it.  I am glad we were alerted to this task force early in the process so that we can continue to keep a close eye on it as it moves forward."

"As the Defense Department's only integrated metal manufacturer, the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center at the Rock Island Arsenal is essential to American troops abroad and to the Quad Cities community," Senator Kirk said.  "Given the importance of the JMTC to arms and armor production, as well as to veteran employment, I firmly believe in defending its position and purpose."

"We made clear to General Dunwoody that any proposal to move the work that is currently so expertly done at the Rock Island Arsenal JMTC to other facilities would contribute nothing to the Army's savings target, but would undermine the unique skills and capabilities that have served our war fighters.  We'll have to keep an eye on this task force, but I was pleased to hear the General affirm that the Rock Island Arsenal is a national treasure and express support for our delegation's efforts to ensure more stable workload in the future," Grassley said.

"Though today's meeting was productive, it is of utmost important that we as a delegation remain vigilant as the task force continues its work," Schilling said. "The Rock Island Arsenal is a national treasure and is of huge economic importance to the Quad Cities. I will continue working to ensure that work or functions at the JMTC and the Rock Island Arsenal are neither reduced nor eliminated as thisprocess continues."

"This was an important opportunity to sit down with General Dunwoody and the Arsenal delegation todiscuss the Army Material Command's review and reiterate that we will fight any efforts to close or reduce work at the JMTC or RIA to ensure jobs stay in the Quad Cities," said Loebsack. "I also believe it was critical that we discussed the need to develop a proactive strategy to keep work at the Arsenal as thedrawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan continue.  The good jobs, economic development and contributions to our national security provided by the Arsenal and its workforce must be protected."

General Dunwoody wastasked by Army Secretary John McHugh to find savings and efficiencies within the Army Materiel Command as part of an Army-wide review to find $3 billion in savings.  A task force within the Army Materiel Command was asked to perform a review and report its findings to General Dunwoody, likely by the end of the summer.

According to the members in today's meeting, it would be difficult to find savings by closing JMTC as the facility is funded through the Army's Working Capital Fund which derives most of its funding from sales revenue on its contracts, and not through regular congressional appropriations.  The members argued that the cost of moving or replicating the many unique capabilities at Rock Island Arsenal would be extensive.

The Rock Island Arsenal JMTC is a one-of-a-kind U.S. Army facility which manufactures critical equipment for our troops around the world. The more than 1,700 highly-skilled individuals - at least half of whom are veterans - employed at JMTC specialize in manufacturing artillery, armor, small arms, and mobile maintenance kits for use on the front lines. The JMTC, perhaps best known for howitzer production, operates the Army's only foundry and since 2003 has produced half of all armor for Army tactical wheeled vehicles. Rock Island Arsenal, the region's largest employer with a 8,600-person workforce anchored by the JMTC, injects $1.3 billion dollars directly into the local economy each year.

In May, after learning that an internal task force at the Army Materiel Command was considering relocating Rock Island Arsenal's JMTC, the bipartisan group of seven lawmakers from both the Illinois and Iowa Congressional Delegations called for a meeting with McHugh, as soon as possible to discuss their concerns about the cost associated with conducting such a move as well as the impact it would have on the Rock Island Arsenal.  A few weeks later, the members received assurances from McHugh that the Army currently has no plans to close the JMTC.  Today's meeting was in response to a similar request sent to General Dunwoody in May.

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WEST BRANCH, IOWA– National Parks are known for their ranger-led programs
and activities. This summer, rangers at Herbert Hoover National Historic
Site in West Branch, Iowa will offer short 10- to 15-minute talks to
visitors enjoying a summer evening in the park. Come and hear "Historic
Preservation: Why, How, and What?" on Wednesday, July 20 at the Friends
Meetinghouse and "Herbert Hoover's West Branch" at the intersection of the
Downey and Penn street traces near the Birthplace Cottage on Thursday, July
28. Meet the ranger at 7:00 p.m. on those evenings to hear some things you
may not have known about Herbert Hoover NHS.

On Saturday, July 16 writer M.S. Coe will help kids ages 4 through 6 flex
their poetry muscles through creative movement, drawing, reading, and
writing at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. "Poetry Sprouts" starts
at the visitor center on Saturday, July 16 at 9:30 a.m. and will last about
one hour. If you are interested in attending, please call (319) 643-2541
before July 16. Parents are invited to stay and participate with their
children. M.S. Coe is the Artist-in-Residence at Herbert Hoover NHS until
July 20.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential
Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are
open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please
allow extra time to find a parking space. For more information go online to
www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
110 Parkside Drive
PO Box 607
West Branch, Iowa  52358

319 643-2541 phone
319 643-7864 fax
www.nps.gov/heho

Photographs may be available upon request.
Herbert Hoover NHS is on Twitter: @HooverNPS.