Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner asking them to provide a plan to avoid raising the debt ceiling. Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner has stated that the U.S. will reach its debt limit sometime in April or May - and Speaker Boehner has indicated that the House will take a vote on raising the debt limit soon.

"Our national debt is around 14 trillion dollars and growing. That's unacceptable," said Braley. "Voters across the country spoke loud and clear last November - they want us to get spending under control. The President and Speaker are giving Congress and the American people a false choice - vote to raise the debt ceiling or vote to shut down the government. I know there's a better way. We must put forward a common sense, middle-of-the-road plan to bring down our debt and avoid having to make this false choice in April or May. That's why I hope the President and Speaker Boehner will propose a plan to avoid this scenario.

"I know, and the American people know, that we will have to make tough choices and tough cuts. I look forward to this process and to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get our spending under control. But I cannot accept a situation where we kick the can further down the road. If we don't stop borrowing and spending now, when will we?

"In December, I voted against the $850 billion package of Bush tax bonuses for the rich because I know those tax bonuses are such a significant part of our national deficit. Both the President and Speaker Boehner supported them. Now, I want to hear their plan for cutting government spending in a way that doesn't force us to raise the debt ceiling once again.".

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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Senators Ask for Next Steps on Agriculture Competition

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley, along with Senator Patrick Leahy, today asked for the next steps planned for agricultural competition issues by the Departments of Justice and Agriculture.  The two agencies held joint workshops over the last year to learn about the key competition issues facing the agriculture industry.   Grassley and Leahy are respectively Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal antitrust policy.  Both senators are also members of the Senate Agriculture Committee which has jurisdiction over the Packers and Stockyards Administration.

"The agriculture industry has consolidated to the point where family farmers, independent producers and other smaller market participants do not have equal access to fair and competitive markets.  Increased concentration in agriculture will lead to fewer product choices and higher product prices for the American consumer," Grassley said.  "The workshops offered a chance for people involved in the ag industry to voice their concerns and provide comment.  It was a strong signal that the two agencies were communicating about this important issue.  Now, it's time to take another step forward.  I look forward to hearing what the Justice Department and Agriculture Department have in mind.

Grassley is a strong advocate for increased competition in agriculture and has sought to ensure healthy competition in the agriculture industry for all market participants by taking legislative action and conducting aggressive oversight.  The 2008 farm bill included positive steps in market transparency and increased competition, based on legislation sponsored by Grassley, but he has reiterated the need for additional action.

Here is a copy of the text of the letter sent to Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

February 9, 2011

The Honorable Eric Holder                 The Honorable Tom Vilsack

Attorney General                                Secretary

U.S. Department of Justice                U.S. Department of Agriculture

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW          1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20530                      Washington, DC 20250

Dear Attorney General Holder and Secretary Vilsack,

We are writing in regard to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) competition workshops which were held throughout 2010.  From March through December 2010, workshops were held in Iowa, Alabama, Wisconsin, Colorado, and the District of Columbia covering seed, poultry, dairy, livestock, and price margins.  In addition, written and public comments were also accepted on these topics.

These workshops brought many of the key players on agricultural competition together and we thank you for this proactive step in beginning a dialogue on vertical integration, buyer power, market transparency, concentration, and retail prices. Producers, economists, academics, and government and elected officials were all able to participate in this process.

With the conclusion of the last workshop on December 8, 2010, we would appreciate an update as to what the DOJ and USDA plans for its next steps.  As Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Judiciary, please provide to us an outline of any plans or further action items that DOJ and USDA intend to take in this area.  While making the workshop transcripts and comments available to the public has been helpful, we would also like to know what your Departments have learned from this process and whether any additional follow up is warranted.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Patrick Leahy                 Chuck Grassley

Chairman                      Ranking Member

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/08/2011)(readMedia)-- The Augustana College Symphonic Band will travel to Italy to perform four concerts in mid-February. The nine-day tour includes stops in Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome, in addition to other cities. The concerts will feature both American and Italian music and will be performed for a variety of audiences, ranging from townspeople to college students. This is the first time the Symphonic Band has traveled to Italy to perform.

Grace Drenth is a sophomore from Davenport, IA majoring in psychology.

Luther Hughes is a first year from Silvis, IL majoring in liberal studies.

Gaetano Iaccarino is a junior from Davenport, IA majoring in music general and anthropology.

Audrey Taylor is a senior from Moline, IL majoring in teaching biology.

Anne VanSpeybroeck is a sophomore from Rock Island, IL majoring in liberal studies.

Jennifer Youngs is a junior from Taylor Ridge, IL majoring in psychology.

"We hope that through this cultural sharing of our common love of music that our students will be able to interact and touch the lives of Italians," said Dr. James Lambrecht, director of the Symphonic Band. "This kind of experience enables our students to learn firsthand about Italy, its people, culture,and history-one of the richest in Western Civilization."

The Augustana Symphonic Band will play in a variety of venues; one that is particularly interesting will be the concert in Lucca, a city enclosed by walls in the Tuscany region. The 80-member band will perform at the Auditorium San Romano in Lucca, which used to be the main church home of Napoleon's sister. The elevated box where she attended mass is still standing. Lucca also is the birthplace of the famous Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini. In honor of their host city's history, the band members will perform an arrangement of melodies taken from Giacomo Puccini's final opera, Turandot. This will include the most famous aria"Nessun Dorma," most notably performed by the world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

The Symphonic Band will wrap up its tour with a home concert in Centennial Hall at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 12. Admission is free.

(Kansas City, Kan., February 8, 2011) - EPA has awarded $868,000 to the City of Clinton, Iowa, for improvements to its wastewater system. The construction project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2012.

EPA Region 7 Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said, "This is an investment in environmental protection and infrastructure that will provide long-term economic and health benefits. This grant will partially fund the construction project which is estimated to cost $3.9 million."

The construction improvements include a lift station and 17,200 feet of new sewer pipe to convey wastewater from the nearby City of Low Moor, Iowa, to the new wastewater treatment plant. This project will improve water quality which will protect community health.

EPA is working with community leaders and the public to meet the growing needs and demands of limited water resources. EPA remains committed to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for managing and financing infrastructure with public and private partners.

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