Advocates, I finally have some good news to report!

The Senate passed its Health & Human Services appropriations bill yesterday, which includes $5.3 million for tobacco prevention and cessation programs compared to $0 in the House bill and $2.8 million this year.  It also includes $350,000 for additional funds for Quitline for this year to address an anticipated shortfall of $450,000 due to increased call volume.

We are thrilled with this development. The Senate took to heart the mountains of scientific data that showed these services are effective. If Iowa plans to be the healthiest state in the nation, these services will be a key component of achieving that goal.

The bill now goes to the House, and it is expected that it will end up in conference committee to work out the many differences between the chambers. We will continue to work with legislative leaders and the Governor to ensure the tobacco prevention and cessation programs are funded and effective.

Also, our K-12 tobacco-nicotine-free schools bill has been incorporated into the Senate education reform bill, which also passed this week. The bill now goes to the House, and is also expected to end up in a conference committee to work out the many differences between the Senate and the House.

Stay tuned for future action alerts on these issues and others as the Legislature wraps up the 2012 session in the next few weeks, and as always, feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns - peggy.huppert@cancer.org.

DES MOINES - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that his staff will return to all 99 counties this summer to discuss how ideas obtained from Iowans last year on how to rebuild the middle class have influenced legislation introduced by Harkin.  The mobile office tour begins this month in schools in 30 counties.

"Last year, my staff and I heard from too many Iowans who were working hard, playing by the rules, but still seeing the American Dream slip away.  It was clear from those conversations that our country needed a comprehensive strategy to reverse that course," said Harkin.  "The Rebuild America Act puts policies in place that will repair the engine that drives our nation's economic growth: the middle class.  It creates the good jobs families need now through robust investments in America and will help grow the middle class in the long term by building economic opportunity for families.  I am proud that my staff is able to return to areas they visited last year to tell Iowans how legislation they influenced could benefit their families."  

The Rebuild America Act, unveiled in March, tackles the problem of the shrinking middle class in four ways: by taking immediate steps to create jobs and kick-start the economy, by investing in our roads, bridges, schools, and other critical infrastructure needs, by implementing policies that will help families achieve financial security and peace of mind, and by paying for these new investments through a balanced tax code that reduces inequality and fosters economic growth.  It comes after a year of hearings and events in Washington and Iowa conducted by Senator Harkin, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and his staff.

This year's mobile office tour will highlight various aspects of the bill, beginning with provisions that modernize America's schools.  Harkin has long believed that too many of our nation's schools are not equipped to meet the needs of 21st Century students and teachers. His legislation provides $20 billion in formula grants for the modernization, renovation, and repair of early learning facilities, K-12 public schools, and community colleges.

Each summer, Senator Harkin's staff visits each Iowa County to talk to Iowans about the issues impacting them and their families.  Staff will then post information on their visits on Senator Harkin's web site (http://harkin.senate.gov/)

A full list of events for this year's tour is still coming together, but all events will be advised to media by county.

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Braley highlighting new legislative effort to renew, expand tax cut for families who adopt 

Washington, DC - On Thursday in Davenport and Dubuque, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will hold events to discuss a legislative effort he's launching to renew and expand a tax credit for families that choose to adopt children. Braley will be joined at the stops by local adoption agency representatives.

When Congress returns next week, Braley will introduce the Making Adoption Affordable Act, a bill to permanently extend a federal tax credit for qualified adoption expenses.  The legislation also expands the tax credit to $13,360 and makes refundable, allowing more families to take full advantage of it.

Braley will also attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Camanche Fire and Police station.  Braley secured funding for the department to purchase a new emergency generator.

Thursday April 12^th, 2012

10:00am               Braley Event to Discuss Adoption Tax Credit Bill

Bethany for Children and Families

1202 W. 3^rd St.

Davenport, Iowa

11:30am               Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Camanche Fire and Police Station

917 3^rd St.

Camanche, Iowa

3:00pm                 Braley Event to Discuss Adoption Tax Credit Bill

Hillcrest Family Services Clinic

220 W. 7^th St.

Dubuque, Iowa

Project Will Pave Way for NTN-Bower Corporation Expansion; Create 80 New Jobs

MACOMB, IL - April 6, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $1.4 million roadway improvement project along Bower Road in the city of Macomb. The project supports economic growth in West Central Illinois by paving the way for NTN-Bower Corporation to expand its Macomb facility, creating 80 new jobs over the next two years.

"Illinois has one of the best transportation networks in the country, and we are committed to strengthening our infrastructure," Governor Quinn said. "This project will help ensure the city of Macomb and the entire West Central Illinois region can continue to compete and attract investment."

"When I visited NTN-Bower a few months ago, I was impressed by its strong leadership and potential for growth. Strengthening the infrastructure around this growing company is the right thing to do. By upgrading the roads to manage the increased heavy truck traffic in the area, the state of Illinois and the federal government are helping to lay the groundwork for the company's expansion and the good paying jobs it will create," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).

The roadway project includes widening and resurfacing an intersection of Bower Road and U.S. 136 (Jackson St.), adding signals, a south leg, and a turn lane for traffic on U.S. 136. Work also involves extending the right storage lane for southbound traffic on Bower Road and resurfacing a shoulder northward on Bower Road to support increased traffic brought on by NTN's expansion.

NTN, a manufacturer of tapered and cylindrical roller bearings, is investing $100 million to construct a new plant directly east of their existing operations at 711 North Bower Road in Macomb.  Additional production lines will also be purchased and installed in the new plant. The new plant will be approximately 200,000 square feet and will create 80 permanent, full-time jobs. Construction on the building is scheduled to begin in May 2012, with completion slated for April 2013. Roadway construction is expected to begin in mid-August 2012, weather permitting, and is scheduled to be complete by the end of November.

"I am pleased NTN-Bower's expansion will receive funding from the Community Development Assistance Program, the Truck Access Route Program, and the Economic Development Program.  This expansion will create jobs, which is my top priority," stated Sen. John Sullivan (D-Macomb).

Funding for the project is made possible through nearly $1.2 million in grant funds from the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Economic Development Program and Truck Access Route Program. The city of Macomb also received a $231,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) Community Development Assistance Program.

"The city of Macomb is grateful for the funding assistance provided by the Illinois Departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Transportation for improvements to U.S. 136 and Bower Rd," said Macomb Mayor Michael Inman. "These improvements were important in securing the expansion of NTN-Bower's operations in Macomb. The funding will allow Macomb to meet the increased demand for traffic volume, brought about by NTN's expansion."

DCEO administers Illinois' CDAP program, which is known nationally as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, and provides federal funding for a variety of community-based projects to communities with populations of 50,000 or less.

"This project demonstrates the power of federal, state, community and private partnerships," said Antonio R. Riley, HUD's Midwest Regional Administrator. "We are pleased to see CDBG funds being leveraged to create jobs and spur economic development in Illinois."

The purpose of IDOT's Economic Development Program (EDP) is to provide state assistance in improving highway access to new or expanding industrial distribution or tourism developments, and to create new employment opportunities. The department's Truck Access Route Program (TARP) is combined with funding for Economic Development Program projects and helps local governments upgrade roads to accommodate 80,000 pound truck loads.

For more information on why Illinois is the right place for any business, visit www.illinoisbiz.biz.