Legislation Boosts Enrollment;
Increases Agricultural Exposure to Urban Communities

CHICAGO - February 6, 2012. As part of his commitment to strengthening education in Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn today visited Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS) to discuss recently adopted legislation that will allow more students in urban areas to pursue opportunities in Illinois' vital agricultural economy.

"One of Illinois' biggest economic engines is our mighty agriculture," Governor Quinn said. "Our urban students and those who live in rural communities should have the educational opportunities to prepare them for jobs in an industry that keeps food on our tables and makes our state more competitive in the global economy."

The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences is a public magnet school that was opened by the Chicago Public Schools in 1985 with the goal of bringing agricultural education to urban students. The 72-acre campus includes a 40-acre working farm that allows students to get hands-on experience as well as summer internships in agricultural-related fields, which leads to many entering college to pursue agricultural and food science fields. Students are selected for the school via a lottery that chooses 150 students out roughly 1,000 applicants each year for the freshman class.

Senate Bill 1226, sponsored by Sen. Ed Maloney (D-Chicago) and Rep. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) changes the enrollment cap for the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences from 600 to 720 students and requires that 50% of enrollment reside within a 2.5 mile radius of the school, which is located on a 72-acre campus on the far South Side.

As highlighted by Governor Quinn in his State of the State Address, Illinois exports rose 30 percent in 2010 and the state is on track to double its exports by 2014. In 2010, Illinois' farm economy had total cash receipts of $15 billion, supporting for tens of thousands of jobs. Agriculture exports alone supported nearly 50,000 jobs in 2010.

PLATTEVILLE, WI (02/01/2012)(readMedia)-- University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted its largest winter graduation on Dec. 17 held at Williams Fieldhouse. 586 graduate and undergraduate students received degrees.

Among those receiving degrees, with their hometowns and majors, were

Matthew Randall a Industrial Technology Management major from Bettendorf,IA

Melissa Hillebrand a Business Administration major from Davenport,IA

Derek Cappaert a Broad Field Science major from Taylor Ridge,IL

University of Wisconsin-Platteville is settled in a historic mining town near the Iowa and Illinois borders and enrolls nearly 8,000 students. It is an institution whose mission is to produce intellectually astute individuals who will participate in society as competent professionals and knowledgeable citizens. For more information on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, visit www.uwplatt.edu.

Unless Congress acts, American Opportunity Tax Credit will expire at the end of 2012

Washington, DC - After hosting a series of campus forums at colleges across eastern Iowa last week, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) returned to Congress today and introduced a bill to extend a $2,500 tax credit for middle class families sending children to college.  Unless Congress acts, the existing tax credit will expire at the end of 2012.

The College Tax Cut Extension Act would extend for four years the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides up to $2,500 in tax credits to offset the cost of tuition, fees, and course materials for undergraduate students at two- or four-year colleges and universities.

"In the last 10 years, the cost of tuition at Iowa's public universities has increased by 83 percent," Braley said.  "Our colleges and universities are avenues of economic opportunity.  If America is to compete in a global economy, we need to keep college within reach for everyone who wants to attend.

"This tax credit makes a college education more affordable for thousands of Iowa families.  Congress needs to act now to keep this tax cut from expiring so the dream of college doesn't slip out of reach."

Braley spent Thursday and Friday of last week hosting campus forums at colleges in eastern Iowa.  Braley visited St. Ambrose University, Coe College, the University of Northern Iowa, and Grinnell College to hear about college affordability, student debt, and employability after graduation.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit was first passed into law in 2009 and set to expire at the end of 2012 if Congress fails to act.  Braley's bill is the first legislative effort to extend the tax credit.  For more information on the American Opportunity Tax Credit, click the following link: http://go.usa.gov/nv1

Last week, Braley introduced legislation to indefinitely keep the interest rates for federally subsidized Stafford loans at 3.4 percent, their current, low rate.  Without Congressional action, college loan interest rates are set to double to 6.8 percent in July, a fact that President Obama highlighted in his State of the Union address.

More information about this bill can be found at this link: http://go.usa.gov/nbh

Full text of Braley's bill can be downloaded here: http://go.usa.gov/n7B

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