DES MOINES - Last week, former Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge hosted rural roundtables in Adel, Indianola, Carroll and Fort Dodge.  Judge is a member of the Rural Iowans for Obama Steering Committee that was launched by former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack.

The roundtables had several themes, but the clear takeaway was the contrast between President Obama and Mitt Romney's approach to rural America.  President Obama is working to build stronger and more diverse economies in rural Iowa through investments in renewable energy, manufacturing, education and agriculture, while Romney has shown little understanding of rural America and agriculture

The Associated Press ran a story from Carroll IA on Saturday about rural Iowa and how the success of the state's farm economy will impact the election. Click here to read.

"Too often campaigns are about winning Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, and there isn't enough conversation about smaller towns in statewide campaigns, but in this election the Obama campaign will have the largest presence in rural Iowa that any campaign has ever had," said Judge. "There is a real contrast to Mitt Romney's campaign that doesn't have a large presence in Iowa and that will bombard the airwaves with ads funded by billionaire-backed super PACs"

One participant in Carroll talked about how proud he was of the number of jobs and funds that renewable energy is pumping into rural Iowa. He wants to make sure that we protect rural interests and that rural Iowans have a voice at the table because they provide a lot of what makes this country run.

Key issues facing rural Iowans that were discussed at these roundtables include :

Jobs

Today, we need to focus on growing our skilled workforce because rural Iowans want quality, high paying jobs.

Education:

Education is an important and prevalent issue in Iowa. Having a strong education system is vitally important to ensuring that our children are prepared for the future.

Community colleges should be congratulated for their vocational training programs, which often draw in and feed businesses with skilled workers.

Today, the cost of college is unsustainable; we need to make college affordable because it hampers young people and the growth of our middle class.

While President Obama is working with Congressional leaders to fight Congressional efforts to double interest rates, Mitt Romney has said that students should just "shop around" for a cheaper college or "borrow money from their parents" to pay for school.

Renewable Energy

There is no one size fits all approach to our nation's energy needs, but renewables like wind and biofuels have a lot of advantages and need to be developed.

Renewable energy is an important part of the state economy and a critical source of income for rural communities.

The commitment that President Obama has to rural Iowa is very clear. We don't see that commitment from Romney and he certainly hasn't been a champion of the renewable industry.

Transportation:

In this day and age everything is about speed and efficiency. In the future, access to broadband and a good transportation infrastructure will be essential to rural communities

We need to have the ability for farmers to bring their goods to markets because it's important to marketing, production of agriculture and interstate commerce.

Government:

The truth is the government has been a good partner for rural Iowa. The Rural Electrification Act is an excellent example of that and USDA made it possible.  We have good clean water in rural Iowa because of the rural water system that the government helped install. And broadband will come to rural Iowa because the government is choosing to make the investment in us and our future.

Young farmers:

The decline in the farm population impacts rural communities; and we need to find new ways to get young people into farming. Agriculture has changed, farms have changed, but we need to maintain the vitality of our rural communities.

Health Care:

Two big impacts the Affordable Care Act has on rural Iowans is the fact that children can now stay on their parents' health insurance until they are 26 and it is helping to close the Medicare donut hole.

If the Affordable Care Act is taken away, rural Iowans will suffer because so many people make a living through a combination of several part-time jobs and those with pre-existing conditions will struggle to pay for affordable health care insurance.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that the City of Clinton has received $2.7 million to reconstruct 1.77 miles of Camanche Avenue/Highways 30 & 67.  The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's TIGER grant program.   Loebsack wrote a letter in support of this project and his office also met with the Department of Transportation together with the City to discuss the application.

"This announcement is great news for the people of Clinton and their efforts to revitalize the river area, which brings with it continued economic growth," said Loebsack.  "I had the opportunity to meet with community leaders about the importance of this project and was happy to support the proposal.  I am excited to see the improvements that will be made and the valuable local jobs that will be created."

Americans Remain Complacent as Devastating Disasters Strike

New Study Finds Many Americans Largely Unaware of Local Emergency Communications

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Embargoed) - June 19, 2012 - Despite a record-breaking year of federally declared disasters in 2011, including floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires, many Americans still lack basic awareness of their local emergency communications systems.  At the BE Safe America Congressional Briefing presented by Safe America Foundation at the U.S. Capitol, Federal Signal Corporation today announced the findings of the 2012 Public Safety Survey, which takes a hard look at how knowledgeable and prepared Americans are for emergencies.  While the survey found that more than 56 percent of Americans believe they are aware of the steps they need to take should disaster strike, the results uncover a shocking lack of knowledge?and even indifference?surrounding emergency alerts and notifications.

"Not only is it necessary to create a  thorough preparedness and response plan for an emergency or disaster, it's critical that people are as educated as possible about the emergency communications systems in place within their communities?which can prove lifesaving," said Len Pagano, president and CEO, Safe America Foundation.  "We were surprised to see just how many people remain unaware of the alerting systems in their area, and even more disconcerting, how many are apathetic in their response to emergency scenarios and communications."

Conducted for the third consecutive year by Zogby International, the survey found that 71 percent of Americans are unsure if they have a personal alerting and notification system (ANS) in their area, which includes a combination of options for calls, text and email message notifications.  Yet, respondents said they would be more motivated to take action in an emergency by ANS alerts than any other communication, ahead of traditional warning sirens, radio and TV public services announcements and even word-of-mouth communication from friends and family.

The survey also showed that the public is largely unaware of their local warning sirens.  More than half (57 percent) of those surveyed do not know when sirens in their area are tested, and 70 percent are unaware of the sounds and sirens associated with various warnings.  In fact, more than one in four respondents did not know if their community has a warning siren system at all.

"With all of the options available to keep the public informed of nearby disasters or emergencies, we were alarmed to see how many people aren't aware of the existing notification systems in their communities," said Joe Wilson, president of the Industrial Systems Division, Safety and Security Group at Federal Signal.  "In times of crisis, people need to act fast?or risk waiting until it's too late.  Now more than ever, it is essential that we educate communities on the emergency communications options available to them, and to drive the sense of urgency surrounding swift response to emergency alerts."

Even severe weather conditions do not motivate Americans to take action.  Less than one half (47 percent) of survey respondents would take action based on a potential severe weather warning and one-third (33 percent) of respondents would require actual property damage or injury in order to care strongly about public safety awareness.  Further, one in four respondents (28 percent) would require confirmation of severe weather, such as an actual tornado sighting, flood waters or a visible fire in order to take immediate action.  A shocking 1 in 12 people said that nothing would cause them to care.

"We were shocked to see that the public could be so complacent when it comes to awareness and response to emergency communication," said Wilson.  "The fact that people could receive a warning that wouldn't motivate them to action is extremely concerning, particularly with 99 FEMA major disaster declarations issued last year alone."

Survey findings show that the public continues to rely on community officials to ensure public safety.  In fact, results found that more than half of respondents (58 percent) trust local and regional government to ensure sufficient public safety standards, communication and planning in their area.  Yet, only 29 percent feel that their community officials currently are investing in, or giving government attention to, their public safety.  In terms of potential contributing factors, more than one-third feel that the economy has had a negative impact on the level of investment in their community.

"Preparedness starts with awareness," said Wilson. "As emergency managers strive to support their community with effective programming and planning, it's imperative that the public stay informed of what communications systems local officials and emergency managers currently have in place?and more importantly, that communities are prepared to respond efficiently and effectively."

For more information on the 2012 Federal Signal Public Safety Survey, visit http://www.alertnotification.com/.

About the Survey

Zogby International was commissioned by Federal Signal to conduct an online nationwide survey of 2,059 adults. All surveys were completed June 1 through June 4, 2012. A sampling of Zogby International's online panel, which is representative of the adult population of the U.S., was invited to participate.

About Federal Signal

Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE:FSS) enhances the safety, security and well-being of communities and workplaces around the world. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and institutional customers. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the Company operates four groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions, Federal Signal Technologies, and Fire Rescue. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: http://www.federalsignal.com.

About the Safe America Foundation & BE Safe America

LOMBARD - June 15, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law that makes it easier for public safety officers to raise money for charity. The new law ensures that counties or municipalities allow police officers and firefighters to collect charitable donations from motorists as they work along the roadside. The Governor signed the law at the Associated Firefighters of Illinois' (AFFI) 39th Biennial Convention in Lombard, making Illinois the sixth state in the nation to enact such a law.

"The men and women who protect us are known for serving their communities in and out of uniform," Governor Quinn said. "It is fitting that we salute the AFFI with a new law that will allow them to continue supporting organizations that improve the quality of life for the people of Illinois."

Senate Bill 3518, sponsored by Sen. John Mulroe (D-Chicago) and Rep. Donald L. Moffitt (R-Galesburg), was an initiative of the Associated Firefighters of Illinois. A number of communities have begun passing bans prohibiting firefighters and police officers from collecting charitable donations along roadways, citing safety concerns. Under the law signed today, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other public safety officials cannot be denied permits from municipalities or counties to collect donations in their communities and along roads, provided certain requirements are met.

For more than 50 years, the International Association of Firefighters and their members have "filled the boot" to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). During the annual national campaign, participating firefighters visit retail locations and stand along roadways to collect donations from passersby and motorists. Donations go toward finding a cure for muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular diseases, including ALS (known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

"Illinois firefighters have supported important organizations like the MDA for decades by filling their boots with donations that save lives," Sen. Mulroe said. "I would like to thank Governor Quinn for signing this law that will help them continue their work on behalf of individuals who have muscular dystrophy."

"I would like to thank Governor Quinn for signing this into law so quickly," said Rep. Moffitt. "The men and women who put their lives on the line to serve their communities have a long history of giving back, and this law will enable them to continue their outstanding efforts for this very worthy cause to fight muscular dystrophy and other neurological disorders."

"The Associated Firefighters of Illinois and the Muscular Dystrophy Association truly appreciate the work and support of Sen. Mulroe, Rep. Moffitt and Governor Quinn. Their efforts will allow all firefighters in the state of Illinois to 'fill the boot' in their respective communities," said Chuck Sullivan, legislative representative for the AFFI. "The legislation will strengthen our 58 year partnerships, and for that we are very thankful."

Funding to MDA also helps individuals and families affected by muscular dystrophy receive medical care at the seven MDA clinics throughout Illinois. And as summer gets underway, money raised by the AFFI will enable children and adults living with muscular dystrophy to attend summer camp. This new law will help firefighters continue to serve their communities by supporting organizations such as the MDA.

Illinois would be the 6th state in the nation to pass a law such as this one, following Florida, Nebraska, Texas, California, and North Carolina. The law takes effect immediately.