Welcome Secretary LaHood and Urge Further Movement Toward Construction

Washington, D.C. - The very day that United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is viewing the I-74 Bridge at the invitation of Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bobby Schilling (IL-17), it became public that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has instructed the Illinois Department of Transportation to devote $22 million in FY2017 and $50 million in FY2018 for the I-74 Bridge.

This follows the Iowa Department of Transportation's announcement from earlier this week about its intent to continue moving forward on planning and acquisition funding but take I-74 Bridge construction funds out of its long-term plans as a result of a lack of construction commitment from ILDOT. The Illinois Department of Transportation had previously announced April 30 had allocated minimal funds for the project.  Loebsack and Schilling also wrote members of the House and Senate negotiating a comprehensive highway bill urging them to prioritize funding for large interstate projects such as the I-74 Bridge.

"We are pleased that the state of Illinois is joining the Quad Cities team, and the Iowa DOT, and is working to move this project forward," the Congressmen said.  "Though it doesn't appear to be on the same timeline as was previously planned for, it's a step in the right direction.  We encourage the Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation to ensure they are moving forward on the same timeline so the groundwork is laid for this project to move to construction, and work with us to advance the I-74 Bridge."

Previously, Loebsack has met with representatives from the Iowa DOT about the importance of the I-74 Bridge and has urged the IADOT to preserve construction funding for I-74.  He has also expressed the need to replace the bridge to Secretary LaHood and Speaker of the House John Boehner, as well as urged the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to take action.

Schilling had previously pushed the Illinois Department of Transportation for information as to where on the Department's priority list the I-74 Bridge project resides and the criteria being used to prioritize Illinois' infrastructure needs, noting that "projects totaling millions of dollars around the state, especially in the Chicago area, continue to be funded" which "suggests the state is capable of moving forward on projects it deems a priority."

In 2005, the I-74 Bridge became the most traveled bridge in the Quad Cities with an average of 77,800 vehicles crossing daily.  This is despite the fact that it was built for 48,000 such crossings.  The Bridge itself is functionally obsolete, however, and has never met Interstate standards.  In addition to improving travelers' safety, the I-74 Bridge project would spur economic growth, create construction jobs, reduce traffic backups, and improve air quality.

"These are the results we can achieve when we work together and bring attention to important issues for the Quad Cities and this development should allow Illinois to be ready to move to construction at the same time as Iowa when funding becomes available," Loebsack and Schilling said.  "We will continue to work for results and make sure folks in our state capitals and Washington don't overlook the voice of our region and Congress advances on a long-term transportation bill that will help move construction forward."

Legislation does not authorize BRAC; Requires DOD to develop strategy for industrial bases

Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bobby Schilling (IL-17) announced today that the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act does not authorize additional rounds of Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) in either FY 2013 or FY 2015 as had been called for by the Department of Defense (DOD).  The Congressmen also were successful in adding a provision to the committee report that directs the DOD to identify the critical manufacturing capabilities provided by arsenals and determine the amount of work that is required to maintain them in peacetime.

"One of the greatest assets provided by the arsenals is an ability to readily surge manufacturing capacity and to quickly and efficiently manufacture needed items.  That capability has proven essential time and again to our ability to supply our troops rapidly with the equipment they need.  It is essential that the arsenals maintain the ability to respond to a national security emergency and that we maintain our ability to rapidly equip our troops for a future contingency," said Loebsack. "I strongly question the wisdom of BRAC rounds at this time and their impact on our national security.  I was proud to vote to ensure they were not included in this bill and to work with Congressman Schilling on these provisions."

"Arsenals like ours in Rock Island have repeatedly proven their worth to our national security over the years," Schilling said. "I'm pleased that we are building this year on our successes of last year, and also pleased that this defense bill does not include any BRAC-authorizing language.  It is absolutely critical to keep the industrial base warm and ready in order to secure its future, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with Congressman Loebsack in protecting the interests of the Quad Cities and the Rock Island Arsenal.  I am hopeful that our colleagues in the Senate will work to include provisions supporting the arsenal in their defense package, and that they will support the final package when it comes before them for a vote."

The Department of Defense's FY 2013 budget request included a request for authorization to carry out two rounds of BRAC - one in FY 2013 and one in FY 2015.  The House Armed Services Committee's FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act explicitly prohibits the use of funds for a BRAC in FY 2013 and does not authorize BRAC in FY 2015, helping reassure Rock Island Arsenal's employees that there is not Congressional support for the BRAC process to move forward.

The language Congressmen Loebsack and Schilling included will help ensure DOD recognizes the critical manufacturing work done at facilities like the Rock Island Arsenal, and reviews how to maintain those skills and therefore the people who do the work.  By requiring arsenals' manufacturing capabilities to be part of the national security strategy, the Congressmen worked to push the DOD to review and recognize arsenals as a critical part of our national security.

WASHINGTON - During an upcoming Senate break, Senator Chuck Grassley will meet with Iowans in Victor, Clinton, Muscatine, West Branch, Eldridge and Maquoketa.

Grassley will speak at the Memorial Day service hosted by the Victor American Legion on Monday, May 28.

On Tuesday, he will tour LyondellBasell and meet with employees in Clinton, address the Muscatine Kiwanis luncheon, tour Acciona Windpower and meet with employees in West Branch, and hold town meetings for residents of Scott and Jackson counties.

"Representative government is a two-way street and depends on dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent," Grassley said.  "I look forward to the events and meetings planned later this month to listen to comments and respond to questions.  I like to have town meetings, and I also appreciate the opportunity to go to workplaces to talk with people who couldn't otherwise get to a town meeting."

Grassley has held at least one meeting with Iowans in every one of the state's 99 counties since 1980, when he was first elected to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Below is more information about the schedule.  Grassley will be available to answer questions from reporters immediately following each event.

Monday, May 28

10 a.m.

Speak at the Memorial Day Service hosted by the Victor American Legion

601 3^rd Street in Victor

Tuesday, May 29

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Tour LyondellBasell and Q&A with employees*

3400 Anamosa Road in Clinton

*the Q&A will be in the Employee Recreation Center accessible by the first entrance to the site, and this is where Grassley will be available to reporters following the event

12 noon-1 p.m.

Q&A at the Muscatine Kiwanis Club Luncheon

Button Factory Woodfire Grill

215 West Mississippi Drive in Muscatine

2-3 p.m.

Tour Acciona Windpower and Q&A with employees

Acciona Windpower North America

601 Fawcett Drive in West Branch

4-5 p.m.

Scott County Town Meeting

Eldridge Community Center

400 South 16^th Avenue in Eldridge

6-7 p.m.

Jackson County Town Meeting

Hurstville Interpretive Center, Community Room

18670 63^rd Street in Maquoketa

UPDATE:

We just received additional information from the US Postal Service detailing some of the proposed changes to postal operations in the current First Congressional District of Iowa.

In short, the Postal Service is proposing to keep open post offices that were previously at risk for closure.  Instead, the Postal Service is proposing to limit the hours of operation at a number of post offices.  View a detailed breakdown of the proposal - including the specific post offices affected (in the First District of Iowa only) - at the following link:

http://go.usa.gov/VvP

At 3pm CDT, the Postal Service will release a nationwide list of the proposed changes at the following link:

http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/welcome.htm#

Announcement is "a major victory for rural Iowans"

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement today after the US Postal Service announced that it was abandoning its plan to close thousands of post offices across the county and will instead reduce service hours at as many as a tiird of all post offices:

"This announcement is a major victory for rural Iowans who depend on their post offices to do business and connect with the world.  Post offices are a vital part of the rural Iowa economy, and we've worked for months to protect small town post offices from closure.  I'm glad that the Postal Service has heeded our call and will keep our post offices open.

"However, I am concerned about how severe the service cutbacks will be under the new proposal.  I'm going to closely evaluate its effect on post offices in Iowa."

The Postal Service has faced severe budget shortfalls and has weighed closing thousands of post offices across the United States for the past year.  In December 2011, bowing to public pressure, the US Postal Service announced a moratorium on all post office closures until May 15th, 2012.

The announcement likely means that 234 post offices in Iowa "under review" for closure will remain open.  In Iowa's First Congressional District, 22 post offices "under review" for closure will likely remain open.