As someone who grew up in poverty, I know that education can change lives and I wouldn't be here today had it not been for the great public education that Iowa offers. Access to a quality education for all should be one of our nation's top priorities and the best ideas for how to improve education come from those working on the ground. That is why I recently visited schools across Iowa on an "Our Schools, Our Future" tour.

During these visits, I had the opportunity to meet with students, teachers, and school administrators to hear their thoughts and concerns about education in Iowa. As a former educator I firmly believe that for our country to continue to be the great power that it is, we must ensure all children have access to a high-quality education from preschool to college.

You may also have heard that I was recently chosen by my colleagues to serve as the Ranking Member, which is the senior most minority party Member, of the House Education and Workforce Committee's Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. In this role, I will work on a bipartisan basis to ensure our students and teachers have the resources they need to succeed.

Every Iowa child deserves to receive a world class education that prepares them for success for years to come. I look forward to bringing the insight provided by Iowa students and teachers on the "Our Schools, Our Future" tour back to Washington.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack
Iowa's Second District

ABC of Iowa Apprenticeship & Training Trust is now offering welding skills assessments. Welding training will be offered starting in the fall 2014.

Several different types of welding training will be available: Structural Welding for Fabrication (Stick), Structural Welding for Manufacturing (MIG), Pipe Welding (Stick), Structural Welding for Fabrication/Maintenance (MIG), Structural Welding for Fabrication/Maintenance (TIG), "Sanitary" Structural Welding for Fabrication/Maintenance (TIG) and "Sanitary" Pipe Welding for Fabrication/Maintenance (TIG).

Each class will have a maximum of eight people. The training will be customized to each individual trainee. The instructor will speak with each employer or trainee to tailor their training to their goals.

"The ABC of Iowa Apprenticeship & Training Trust has taken a major step in helping the construction industry resolve the national shortage of skilled welders with the opening of its new welding training facility," said Mike McCoy, ABC of Iowa Apprenticeship & Training Trustee Chair.  "The new welding lab is equipped with the latest Miller Welding Technology, which allows students to learn Stick, MIG and TIG welding for both structural steel and piping in a controlled environment. Under the instruction of one of the area's top welding instructors, students can achieve their welding certifications and join the racks of the nation's best skilled tradesmen!"

Assessments will be held July 25 and 26. The training will begin in the fall. Please contact Ginny Shindelar at ginny.shindelar@abciowa.org or 515.985.1175 or visit http://apprenticeshiptrust.abciowa.org/Welding_Program.aspx.

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WAUKESHA, WIS. (June 27, 2014) - Katie Noble of Bettendorf and Allison Courville of Davenport were recently named to the dean's list at Carroll University for the spring 2014 semester. To be named to the dean's list, students must have a grade point average for the semester of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale.

Carroll University was incorporated in 1846, making it Wisconsin's first four-year institution of higher learning. The independent, co-educational university is grounded in the liberal arts tradition, and offers 61 undergraduate programs, eight graduate programs, and a clinical doctorate in physical therapy. For more information, visit www.carrollu.edu<http://www.carrollu.edu>, and follow us on Twitter<https://twitter.com/carrollu> and Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/carroll.university>.

Decision Affirms Right of Blind People to Enter Chiropractic Medicine Field

Des Moines, Iowa (June 27, 2014): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) today applauded the Iowa Supreme Court for its decision in the landmark case of Aaron Cannon and Davenport Civil Rights Commission v. Palmer College of Chiropractic. In a five to two ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court reinstituted the decision of the Davenport Civil Rights Commission, which found that Palmer College of Chiropractic violated Aaron Cannon's rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Iowa law by requiring that chiropractic students possess sight and by not providing Cannon the reasonable accommodation of a sighted reader. The commission also ordered that Palmer reinstate Cannon and pay economic damages.

"We know that blind men and women have successfully obtained chiropractic degrees and practiced chiropractic medicine for decades," said Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "Today's ruling affirms the right of all blind people to an equal education, specifically regarding the ability of the blind to pursue medical careers."

"For a long time, courts have given academic institutions almost absolute deference in determining whether to provide accommodations to students with disabilities. Today's decision makes a critically important statement that even though educational institutions have the right to determine their curricula, they still must provide equal opportunity and accommodations," said Scott LaBarre, the attorney for Aaron Cannon who argued the case before the Iowa Supreme Court.

Aaron Cannon was represented by attorneys Scott LaBarre and Susan Rockwood Gashel of the Denver firm LaBarre Law Offices and by Alan Olson of Olson Law Offices from Des Moines, Iowa. Mehgan Sidhu, general counsel for the Federation, filed an amicus brief on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind.

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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.