All eligible blood donors asked to make and keep appointments

PEORIA, Ill. (July 11, 2011) - Due to a critical shortage of donated blood across the nation, the American Red Cross - the single largest supplier of blood products in the United States - is asking eligible donors of all blood types to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible.

With many donors busy or traveling, and with school out of session where up to 20 percent of donations are made during the academic year, donations have dropped dramatically. In fact, during May and June 2011, while the need for blood products remained steady, donations were at the lowest level the Red Cross has experienced in more than 12 years.

The Red Cross needs blood donors - now more than ever - to roll up a sleeve and give as soon as possible. All blood types are needed, but especially O negative, B negative and A negative. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

The American Red Cross has responded to more than 40 major disasters in over 30 states during the past three months - delivering help and hope to people affected by floods, tornadoes and wildfires. But there's another, more personal, kind of disaster which can happen to any of us at any time if we need blood and it's not available.

"As a physician, I have seen firsthand how blood transfusions can truly help save lives," said David C. Mair, M.D., chief medical officer of the Mid-America Blood Services Division of the American Red Cross which provides blood products and specialized laboratory services to more than 326 hospitals in the Midwest and central U.S. "However, a critical blood shortage like the one we're experiencing right now could have a devastating effect on patients whose survival may depend on blood being there when and where needed. Blood donors can help ensure a readily available blood supply locally as well as throughout the country."

A year and a half ago, 15 year old Cora Peters of Princeton, Illinois was diagnosed with stage 4 synovial sarcoma. Since her diagnosis, Cora has gone through three surgeries and countless lifesaving blood product transfusions to replace the blood cells that her body was no longer able to make.

Cora's story highlights the importance of each and every blood donation. Because of that, the Red Cross is reaching out to eligible blood donors, sponsors and community leaders to ask them to recruit blood donors to help meet the needs of patients in communities across the United States.

A blood donor card or driver's license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half of the nation's blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY

7/11/2011, 11:00 am- 4:00 pm, DHL Global Forwarding, 3100 69th Ave #2, Moline

WHITESIDE COUNTY

7/12/2011, 1:00 pm- 5:15 pm, Old Fulton Fire Station, 912 4th Street, Fulton, IL, Whiteside

7/13/2011, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm, Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St., Rock Falls, , IL, Whiteside

7/14/2011, 3:00 pm- 8:00 pm, Fairfield Amish Mennonite School, 29467 425 E. Street, Tampico, , IL, Whiteside

7/15/2011, 11:30 am- 6:00 pm, Sterling National Manufacturing Education Center, 1 First Avenue, Sterling, , IL, Whiteside

7/16/2011, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm, Culver's, 1901 Harley Davidson Drive, Rock Falls, IL, Whiteside

Laws Will Help Car-Sharing Organizations to Purchase Electric Vehicles; Explore Ways to Increase Electric Vehicles Usage  

CHICAGO - July 9, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed two bills into law that will encourage greater use of electric vehicles in Illinois. Together, these new laws will promote the use of energy efficient vehicles, help reduce emissions produced by gasoline-powered vehicles, and support the development of advanced electric vehicle technology.   

"We must do everything we can to encourage sustainable and affordable transportation," said Governor Quinn. "By expanding the use of electric cars, we are creating high-tech jobs, saving consumers money and protecting our environment."  

House Bill 2903, sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago), establishes a grant program that will help eligible car-sharing organizations purchase and use electric cars in their fleets. Car-sharing organizations are membership-based services that allow members to drive cars by the hour, which takes cars off of the roads and benefits our environment.   

The new law authorizes the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to make grants of up to 25 percent of a project's total cost to eligible car-sharing organizations for the purchase of electric vehicles for their fleets. These vehicles must be registered in Illinois, and remain registered in Illinois for at least five years after the purchase. House Bill 2903 takes effect immediately.  

The grants will be funded through the Alternate Fuels Fund, which currently provides rebates to Illinois vehicle owners who use renewable fuels, such as 85 percent ethanol blend fuel, or up to $4,000 for the cost of certain electric-powered vehicles. For more information regarding the fund, visit www.illinoisgreenfleets.org.  

"Promoting the use of electric cars boosts our efforts to encourage the use of alternate fuels, which will help improve our environment for years to come," said IEPA Interim Director Lisa Bonnett.    

House Bill 2902, sponsored by Rep. Williams and Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Chicago), creates the Illinois Electric Vehicle Advisory Council, which will explore and recommend strategies to encourage the use of electric vehicles. The new law takes effect immediately.  

"This package of bills is designed to promote and expedite the continued development of the electric car industry in Illinois. We are making important strides forward by increasing the number of environmentally-friendly transportation options for the average Illinoisan," said Rep. Williams. "This is really just the beginning."

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Q.  Why do you support the production of biodiesel?

A.  Too much of America's energy comes from fossil fuels imported from countries that don't like us.  We can reduce dependence on foreign oil, and be better off economically, environmentally, and geopolitically, by encouraging domestic production of renewable, clean-burning biodiesel.  In 2004, Congress passed the biodiesel tax incentive that I sponsored as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to encourage the production and use of biodiesel.  Biodiesel production in the United States increased from 25 million gallons in 2004, to 700 million gallons in 2008.  When Congress allowed the tax credit to lapse in 2009, nearly 8,900 jobs were wiped out, many in Iowa.  Thankfully, in December 2010, the credit was restored retroactively through December 2011. 

Q.  What can be done to encourage the production of biodiesel? 

A.  I've introduced legislation with Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington that would extend through 2014 the $1 per gallon tax for biodiesel.  And, the bill would help small producers by maintaining the additional 10 cent credit for the first 15 million gallons of biodiesel created by producers with an annual production capacity of less than 60 million gallons.  Fourteen of Iowa's 15 biodiesel plants fall into that category.

Q.  Can abuse of the credit be prevented? 

A.  The bill would eliminate potential abuses by changing the incentive from a blender credit to a production tax credit.  This change would gear the credit toward producers who create clean biodiesel, rather than for the blending of biodiesel with petroleum diesel.  By focusing the credit on production, we'll further reduce potential abuses of foreign fuel passing through the U.S. to claim the blender's credit.  

Q.  What affect will extension of the biodiesel tax credit have on jobs and the economy?

A.  A study by an international consulting firm found that if Congress does not extend the tax credit, consumers would be forced to spend an additional $6.6 billion for diesel fuel between 2012 and 2015.  But, with the right incentives, by 2015, biodiesel production could replace 1.9 billion gallons of imported diesel fuel, support more than 74,000 jobs, and generate $4 billion in income and approximately $7.3 billion in gross domestic product.

July 8, 2011

Advisory for Iowa Reporters and Editors

Friday, July 8, 2011

During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley discusses three international trade agreements that can help generate jobs for workers in the United States.

Click here for audio.

The text of the address is available below.  

Grassley Weekly Video Address:

Exports Help Generate Jobs

This week the Senate Finance Committee turned to three international trade agreements that have been ready for action by Congress for four years.  It was a big mistake to let these agreements get sidelined.  Jobs supported by exports pay 15 percent more than the national average.  Manufacturers, farmers, and the service sector need new markets for their products.  So, it's a matter of retaining and creating jobs.  And final approval of these agreements needs to be part of America's economic recovery effort.

Getting to a congressional vote has been a frustrating process.  A year and a-half ago, President Obama said he wanted to double exports within the next five years.  Still, he let the three trade agreements languish.  This spring, the United States Trade Representative said the trade agreements were ready, but then the administration changed the terms and is insisting that the Trade Adjustment Assistance program be passed with the trade agreements.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance program should be voted on separately, rather than used to bog down job-generating trade agreements.  The focus needs to stay on helping to spur manufacturing, services and agriculture-related jobs in the United States.  The opportunities are significant.  Today, U.S.-Colombia trade is a one-way street.  None of our ag products have duty-free access to the Colombian market, but more than 99 percent of Colombian ag exports enter the U.S. market duty-free.  With a trade agreement, Korea is expected to absorb five percent of total U.S. pork production.  The insurance and financial services industry in the United States, including Iowa, says Korea represents the largest insurance market yet in a free-trade agreement and presents enormous opportunities for domestic job growth.  Panama has tariffs on U.S. beef and corn that would go to zero under a trade agreement.

I talked with an Iowa cattleman who took a trip to Korea less than three weeks ago.  He had a tremendous trip promoting U.S. beef.  But one of his takeaways was that all of Asia is watching how the United States handles these trade deals.  And want to know if the United Sates wants to be in a leadership role for international trade.  They want to know if we are people of action, or just words.  They want to know if we will follow through with these agreements or will we let them languish even longer.  This cattleman came away with the message loud and clear.  Either we get this done, or our trading partners will be looking at other places for the trading terms that they desire.

For the sake of U.S. exports, these trade agreements need to be implemented without delay. 

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