KANSAS CITY - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide     $81,517 to the Davenport Housing Commission to supply permanent housing and case management for 15 homeless veterans in Davenport, Iowa.

This funding, from HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), is a coordinated effort by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans.  Davenport is one of 18 communities to receive the remaining $2.4 million appropriated for 2011 that will support 435 vouchers.

This funding to local housing agencies is part of the Obama Administration's commitment to end Veteran and long-term chronic homelessness by 2015.  Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and local communities to confront the root causes of homelessness, especially among former servicemen and women.  Since 2008, HUD-VASH has provided more than 33,000 homeless veterans permanent supportive housing and supportive services.

"During this season of giving, I'm thrilled to announce that we have evidence that this funding is making a real difference to get homeless veterans off the street and into homes they can call their own," said HUD Secretary Donovan.  "Thanks to the work done by HUD, and agency partners across the Obama Administration, the most recent homeless estimate shows veteran homelessness fell by nearly 12 percent in just one year."

"This program provides critical assistance to those who have worn our nation's military uniforms and are in need of a home," said VA Secretary Shinseki. "VA and HUD will continue to work in partnership to end homelessness among veterans."

Today HUD also released its latest estimate on homelessness in America and found, veteran homelessness fell by nearly 12 percent (or 8,834 people) since January 2010.

The vouchers awarded today are part of the $50 million appropriated for Fiscal Year 2011 to support the housing needs of 7,250 homeless veterans.  VA Medical Centers (VAMC) provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans. Earlier this year, HUD awarded $46.2 million in HUD-VASH funding.

Homeless veterans are referred to the public housing agencies for these vouchers, based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the need for case management services. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff provides.

Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.  VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.

Ten communities of Catholic Sisters based in the Upper Mississippi River Valley are calling on President Obama and Congress to work together to enact comprehensive immigration reform.

To make their point, they have issued a statement on "Welcoming Communities," they are placing billboards in the Quad Cities, Des Moines, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Clinton, Iowa, this month in advance of the Iowa caucuses to make sure delegates, potential candidates and voters remember this critical issue, and they are holding prayer services at the billboard sites and at their headquarters on December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the day the billboards will be posted.

The billboards with the message: "I was a stranger an immigrant and you welcomed me" (see attached) will remain through early January.  The message, based on the words of Jesus, is taken from the Gospel of Matthew.

"We declare ourselves 'Welcoming Communities' in affirmation of our Catholic tradition that holds sacred the dignity of each person," the Sisters said in the official statement, "and we invite other communities and people of faith to join us in becoming 'Immigrant Welcoming Communities' through prayer, reflection, education and action."

"Our 'Welcoming Communities' stance is a direct response to the government's 'Secure Communities' program which has transformed local police officers into a primary gateway for deportation," explained the Sisters.  "The results have been hundreds of thousands of detentions and deportations, serious civil and human rights concerns, due process violations and damaged trust between immigrant communities and local police."

They further noted that "the 'Secure Communities' process was marketed to local law enforcement agencies as a way to deal with serious and dangerous criminals. In fact, low-priority, non-violent offenders or even lawful permanent residents are being funneled into this program which is breaking up families, promoting racial profiling, and fueling a fear-filled and hateful anti-immigrant atmosphere."

National immigration reform organizations assert that the "Secure Communities" program has actually made communities less safe because many individuals are afraid to report crimes that they experience or witness for fear of being deported or having neighbors, family members or friends deported.  As a result, they state, crimes are going unreported and communities, rather than becoming "secure" are living in fear.

"Failure on the part of the federal government to reform the present unworkable immigration system has resulted in states passing legislation that is punitive and harmful to human rights," noted the Sisters.

"We understand that enforcement of law is part of any immigration policy," the Sisters emphasized.  "However, the present policy of involving state and local law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of federal immigration law, such as in the 'Secure Communities' program, is not achieving that goal.  True security lies in building relationships and respecting human rights and only true, comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform can deal with the crisis in our nation.  Therefore, we are declaring ourselves Immigrant Welcoming Communities."

"Welcoming Communities" is a project of the Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, Wis., tbuxton@sinsinawa.org;  Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Ia., aconnolly@bvmcong.org;  Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, Ia., (lmartin@chmiowa.org);  Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, Ia., jane@dubuquepresentations.org; Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Ia., sisters@clintonfranciscns.com; Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Ia., brookensp@osfdbq.org; Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, Ill., sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org;  Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, Wis., jcomeau@fspa.org;  Sisters of the Visitation, Dubuque, Ia., tclark02636@yahoo.com;  Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Community, Omaha, Neb., sgoetzinger@mercywmw.org.

Advisory for Iowa Reporters and Editors

Friday, December 9, 2011

During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley discusses a bill he introduced requiring the Supreme Court to broadcast and televise court proceedings.  By allowing cameras in the Supreme Court, the American people would have access to a court that few have the opportunity to see in person. In addition, access to the Supreme Court through audio and video coverage would help provide the public with an educational experience about our federal judicial system and the laws that are debated before the court. Grassley is also the author of legislation to grant federal judges the authority to allow cameras in other federal courtrooms.

Click here for audio.

Here is the text of the address:

This week a Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing about public access to the Supreme Court.  In conjunction with the hearing, I introduced a bill requiring the Supreme Court to broadcast and televise court proceedings.

This new bill goes with legislation I've sponsored for more than 10 years to grant federal judges the authority to allow cameras in other federal courtrooms.  That sunshine legislation has been passed many times by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and it's passed with bipartisan support.

The Judiciary Committee also has supported broadcast coverage of the Supreme Court.  The bill I introduced this week was previously sponsored by former Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.  Just last year, the Supreme Court started releasing audio recordings of its proceedings at the end of every week, a step in the right direction.

In 1947, the Supreme Court said that what transpires in the courtroom is public property.  So, it shouldn't be limited to the 200 people who can fit inside the chamber.

In Iowa, we've had broadcast coverage of the courts for more than 30 years.  The chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court testified at the Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday about the success and value of this access.  He said that "cameras expose the courts to what they are - a proud institution of justice."  In fact, for the Iowa Supreme Court, expanded media coverage includes not only traditional broadcast but also live and archived streams of all oral arguments.

I will work for passage of both pieces of legislation and complete access to the Supreme Court and the federal courts based on what President Lincoln said, that our government is of, by and for the people.  Today, the best way to make sure government accountable to the people is to establish access and transparency.

In a letter to the Corps commander responsible for the Northwestern division, the senators said the Corps plans for an aggressive approach with winter and spring releases is encouraging, but that infrastructure damage also must be a major factor in the Corps management decisions because repairs will not be completed before possibly high water flows in 2012.    The reality of damaged levees means that water releases before March need to be above normal levels and that reservoir reserves need to be maximized, the senators said, noting the risk to communities and farmland.

Click here to read today's letter.

Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Kent Conrad and John Hoeven of North Dakota, and John Thune and Tim Johnson of South Dakota signed the letter, along with Harkin and Grassley.

The Iowa senators are active participants in a Missouri River Working Group, which is comprised of the senators representing states along the river from Montana to Missouri.  Yesterday, the working group asked the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office for a formal review of the 2011 Missouri River flood and the actions taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as recommendations for improving flood control operations along the river system.

In yesterday's letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the senators detailed the record flooding that occurred this summer.  "There are varying viewpoints surrounding the recent flooding of the Missouri River. Various parties have suggested that more water than necessary was being held back in the upstream reservoirs.  Corps officials, on the other hand, contend that the unprecedented amount of rain changed their picture completely, forcing them to release record levels of water through the system.  Given the varying viewpoints on this issue, we are requesting that GAO examine key issues related to the Missouri River Flood of 2011," the letter said.

Click here to read yesterday's letter.