04 Jan 2010

SENATOR HARKIN ANNOUNCES OVER $1 MILLION IN EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER ASSISTANCE FOR IOWA

By Harkin Press Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that Iowa has been awarded $1,153,346 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).  Senator Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"This program has proved to be an essential social safety net, providing basic food and shelter for Iowans in times of need," Senator Harkin said. "I am pleased that we will have this funding available to assist victims in the critical moments following an emergency."

EFSP funds were first authorized by Congress in 1983 and are appropriated annually under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  EFSP funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs for people with non-disaster related emergencies.

The EFSP is administered by a national board of voluntary agencies and chaired by FEMA.  Member agencies of the National Board include a diverse cross section of social service organizations.  The National Board qualifies local jurisdictions for annual EFSP awards based on criteria involving current population, unemployment and poverty levels.  Awards are then disbursed to local nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the eligible jurisdictions.  The state set-aside allows Iowa to address pockets of homelessness or poverty particularly to help areas that undergo economic changes like plant closings, or assist communities where levels of unemployment or poverty do not quite rise to the required threshold for a direct allocation.

A full list of Iowa's funding follows.

Appanoose County               $7,002
Black Hawk County             $58,925
Cass County                         $6,765
Clinton County                     $26,673
Crawford County                  $5,771
Davis County                         $4,792
Des Moines County              $22,460
Johnson County                     $44,728
Marshall County                    $20,161
Page County                         $8,857
Polk County                         $190,778
Scott County                         $80,851
Story County                         $28,661
Union County                        $5,949
Wapello County                    $21,570
Webster County                    $18,855
Woodbury County                 $41,019
State Set-Aside Committee, IA     $559,529

Iowa Total                          $1,153,346
11 Dec 2009

FIRST BANK IN KNOXVILLE, GALESBURG STEP UP FOR TROOPS

By Greg Severin

Thanks to strong community support, Operation Support Our Troops a big success in both cities

Thanks to strong community support in both cities, the Knoxville and Galesburg First Bank offices collected a total of 51 boxes of packaged food and other items as part of the "Illinois Has Not Forgotten" collection drive for Operation Support Our Troops - Illinois, Inc. (OSOT-IL).

First Bank's Knoxville branch collected 31 boxes and raised nearly $1,000 for the troops while the Galesburg offices collected 20 boxes.

More than 272 boxes of food and other items (totaling four tons) were collected from the 61 First Bank locations that served as collection drop off points. In addition, 196 Operation Support Our Troops T-shirts were sold as well as $1,487 in cash donations.

First Bank firstbanks.com helped successfully launch the "Illinois Has Not Forgotten" collection drive for OSOT-IL in early November at the bank's 20 N. Clark St. office in downtown Chicago.

Since its founding in 2003, OSOT-IL has sent out over 25,000 care packages to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and has raised enough money to fund the purchase of two specially equipped vans for wounded soldiers.  They also support Fisher House, which is to Veteran Hospitals what Ronald McDonald House is to Children's Hospitals.  For more information about OSOTIL, go to their website at: www.osotil.org.

First Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with more than $10.3 billion in assets and 209 locations in Illinois, Missouri, California, Florida and Texas.

###

11 Dec 2009

Braley Secures Over $11.5 Million for Iowa Programs in House Funding Bill

By Amanda Crawford

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today that he has secured over $11.5 million in funding for Iowa programs in the 2009 omnibus bill, which pass in the House by a vote of X-X. This bill provides funding for the entire US Government's operations during the 2010 fiscal year.

"The Iowa funding in this bill will help create jobs in Iowa and will directly benefit the people I represent," Braley said. "I'm pleased to have secured funding for these critical Iowa priorities. This funding will help expand access to healthcare, improve Iowa infrastructure, and save and create jobs throughout eastern Iowa."

A list of Braley-secured projects follows:

  • $2 million for Iowa National Guard in Davenport. This project will fund additions and alterations to the Army Aviation Support Facility, providing space needed for all personnel to train to mission standard and to provide maintenance of the assigned aircraft to the facility.

  • $2 million for the city of Parkersburg to improve the intersection of Highways 14 and 57.

  • $1.6 million for projects at the University of Northern Iowa. This includes funding for National Institute for Early Math and Science Education, the Center on Literacy, Language and Disability Studies in Early Childhood Education, the National Ag-Based Lubricants Center and MyEntreNet, a national rural entrepreneurship development system.     

  • $1 million for the I-74 Corridor Construction leading up to the I-74 bridge. This project extends from 53rd Street in Davenport, Iowa to Avenue of the Cities in Moline, Illinois.      

  • $681,800 for the design and construction of a transit maintenance garage in Davenport, as recommended by the 2002 transit study of the Iowa Quad Cities.   

  • $600,000 for St. Ambrose University to construct a Center for Health Sciences Education. The money will also help equip the facility for occupation and physical therapy and nursing programs that will allow for interdisciplinary learning, research and clinical practice.

  • $500,000 to complete the extension of the 10th Avenue South Corridor in Waverly

  • $500,000 to complete the "Rivers to the Sea" museum as part of the National Missisissippi River Museum and Aquarium for the Great Rivers Center in Dubuque. This is one of the top priorities of the City of Dubuque and the number one priority for the Envision 2010 process.

  • $400,000 for Clarke College to transition to a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, mandated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing by 2015 for advanced practice nurses.

  • $400,000 for Hawkeye Community College to develop and deliver training to additional instructors, to provide tuition assistance for qualified trainees, to procure training equipment and supplies and for staff development to train and certify through its program. 

  • $400,000 for a Flight Training Device for the University of Dubuque's Aviation Degree program. This will ensure the pilots are provided with sufficient training on the most current technology available.

  • $389,600 for Dubuque's Southwest Arterial. This will help fund the final design and development of final construction documents, complete property acquisition and to complete the archaeological and cultural resource mitigation work. 

  • $340,900 for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank to construct a food warehouse and distribution center to house a regional Food Bank and its multi-county programming efforts. 

  • $250,000 for the Iowa Dental Association's Dental Home Demonstration Project in Scott County.

  • $200,000 for Loras College to strengthen student faculty research by upgrading and equipping the environmental microscopy and human physiology/anatomy research and teaching center in the school's science hall.

  • $194,000 for Homeward, Inc. to expand a construction finance program that has provided low interest loans to communities to encourage development of new housing in rural communities.

# # #

25 Nov 2009

HARKIN COMMENDS NCCC VOLUNTEERS RECENTLY DEPLOYED TO IOWA

By Tom Harkin

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today saluted the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) teams that were recently deployed to Iowa.  NCCC is a full time service program for men and women ages 18-24 who work in teams to respond to local needs identified by community-based organizations.  The teams will be based out of the AmeriCorps NCCC Vinton campus and will assist with projects in Cedar Rapids, Marion, Coon Rapids and Des Moines.  All of the teams were deployed on Nov. 18 and will finish their services on Dec. 15.  Harkin established the Vinton NCCC site in the 2008 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill.

"As we approach the holiday season, many of us will gather with loved ones and give thanks for our many blessings.  During this time, however, it is also important to remember our friends and neighbors in need- especially in parts of Iowa still recovering from last year's floods," said Harkin. "AmeriCorps NCCC teams are being deployed around Iowa to do just that, and I salute these young men and women for serving others and helping to improve our state and country."

Harkin has been a long-time supporter of national service efforts.  One of his top priorities as chairman of the Appropriations panel that funds AmeriCorps has been to secure appropriate resources for the organization.   Harkin was also a cosponsor of the Serve America Act, legislation that sets out a vision to more than triple, to 250,000, the number of full-and part-time national service volunteers eligible to serve.  The legislation passed Congress and was signed into law by President Obama earlier this year.

The details of the projects the recently deployed NCCC members will assist with follows:

• In Cedar Rapids, the teams will work with the Community Corrections Improvement Association to rebuild neighborhoods affected by last year's intense flooding.  Their work will include rebuilding the interiors of homes affected by the disaster, volunteer recruitment and mobilization, and need assessment.

• In Marion, teams will work alongside the Flood Recovery Office of the United Methodist Church - Block-by-Block Project to help rebuild homes participating in the project.  Their duties will include drywall, painting, landscaping and installing trim.

• In Coon Rapids, the AmeriCorps teams will work with the Whiterock Conservatory to help with oak savanna restoration in the area.

• In Des Moines, volunteers will work with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for residents in the community.

18 Nov 2009

Rapid Response Tea Parties Against Amnesty Bring Unity

By William Gheen
November 17, 2009

by William Gheen
President, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC ALIPAC

Our Tea Parties Against Amnesty outmatched the opposition with less funds and media support, we have the momentum, and opposition attempts to thwart our events have backfired on them!

After President Obama's key ally Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) announced he would file Amnesty legislation this year to turn millions of illegal aliens in America into voters, immigration enforcement groups such as ALIPAC and NumbersUSA, and Rightmarch sprang into action.

While our strategies and efforts played a key role in defeating Amnesty legislation in 2006 and 2007, and we have dominated the pro-illegal immigration factions in almost every state legislation battle in 2008 and 2009, we know that it will take something truly historic for the American public to triumph over Amnesty this time. 

Read Entire Article At...
10 Nov 2009

5th Annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ with the Honorable Tom Vilsack

By Caitlin Legacki

(Waterloo, IA) - Congressman Bruce Braley will host the 5th Annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ this Sunday, November 15th from 2:00-3:30 pm at the UAW Hall Local 838 in Waterloo, Iowa. The Honorable Tom Vilsack will be the keynote speaker at the event. The event is open to the public.

For ticket information or to learn more about the BBQ, visit www.brucebraley.com or call (319) 290-6516.

WHAT: 5th Annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ with the Honorable Tom Vilsack

WHEN: Sunday, November 15th from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm

WHERE: UAW Hall Local 838, 2615 Washington Street, Waterloo, IA

CONTACT: Caitlin Legacki @ 919.442.8098

# # #

09 Nov 2009

Governor Quinn Encourages Residents to Support Illinois Military Family Relief Fund

By Jen Ceyala

Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Donates

$50,000 to Important Fund as Veterans Day Nears

CHICAGO - November 8, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today joined with representatives from the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to accept a $50,000 donation to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.

"I salute the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for supporting this important cause for more than three years," said Governor Quinn. "When our brave men and women answer the call to duty, they should not have to worry that their families are suffering financially at home. All of us in Illinois can help our military families by donating to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund this Veterans Day."

Thanks to many generous donations by Illinois residents, the fund has distributed more than $10.4 million for more than 19,000 applications from Illinois military families to date. Donations to the fund can be made by visiting OperationHomefront.org. Checks can be made payable to the Illinois Military Family Relief and mailed to: The Illinois Department of Military Affairs, ATTN: IMFRF, 1301 N. MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield, Illinois 62702-2399

The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund legislation was drafted by then-Lt. Governor Quinn, passed unanimously by the General Assembly and signed into law in 2003. It established a check-off box on the Illinois income tax return that allowed residents to make tax-deductible donations directly to the fund. More than 35 states have passed legislation modeled after the Illinois fund.

On Wednesday, Governor Quinn spoke at the National Press Club in Washington, D. C. to advocate for the passage of a National Military Family Relief Fund. The legislation, House Resolution 1175, was announced by Governor Quinn and Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) in April and is based on the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. It would allow taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the fund by filling in an amount on their federal income tax forms. Active-duty servicemen and servicewomen fighting in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and veterans and their families would be eligible for grants.

Governor Quinn was joined by Director Dan Grant, Director, Department of Veterans Affairs; Frank J. Kirby, President, Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; Gregory S. Szymski, Executive Director, Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and an Army Bronze Star Vietnam Veteran; and SGT Michael Devlin, a beneficiary the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.

###

02 Nov 2009

NOMINATION SEASON OPENS FOR 2010 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD

By Pearson Moore

National Guard and Reserve members and families encouraged to nominate supportive employers

ARLINGTON, Va. - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, today announced the opening of the nomination season for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  National Guard and Reserve members and their families are eligible and encouraged to nominate employers who have provided exceptional support of military employees above the federal law requirements.  Nominations will be accepted at www.FreedomAward.mil from November 2, 2009 to January 18, 2010.  The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The 2010 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 15th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 23, 2010.  Recipients of the 2009 Freedom Award met privately with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.  Dr. Jill Biden, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress and senior government and military officials.

Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.  2009 honorees ranged from AeroDyn Wind Tunnel, LLC, a small automotive racing wind tunnel testing company in North Carolina to large businesses including Microsoft and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals to Santa Ana, California Police Department, a public sector employer.  Past recipients of the Freedom Award have provided significant support including full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and family assistance to employees fulfilling their military obligation.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.  "There is much excitement surrounding the 15th anniversary of the Freedom Award," noted acting ESGR Executive Director Ms. Polli Brunelli, "and we're enthusiastic to begin selection of the 2010 recipients from amongst all of the heartfelt nominations that will be submitted by thousands of proud Citizen Warriors."

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflicts through mediation.

For questions regarding the Freedom Award nomination process, please visit www.FreedomAward.mil or contact Maj. Melissa Phillips, ESGR Public Affairs, at 703-380-9262.

# # #

30 Oct 2009

Braley Secures $300,000 for Clinton Wastewater Improvements

By Amanda Crawford

    Funds included in the Department of Interior and Environment Appropriations

    Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today that he has secured $300,000 for City of Clinton Wastewater Improvements. The funding was included in the Department of Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 2996) which passed in the House today with a vote of 247 to 178.

    "I'm proud to announce this funding for wastewater improvements in the Clinton area," Braley said. "At a time in our state's economy, when too many Iowans are facing the challenges of unemployment, it's crucial to promote projects like this that will create jobs for Iowans."

    Specifically, this project will make capital improvements to existing facilities and construct a new remote treatment facility serving Camanche and Low Moor, extending wastewater services to the western industrial development corridor.

28 Oct 2009

Braley Provision to Fix Troop Pay Problem Becomes Law

By Amanda Crawford

Bill signed by Obama allows Pentagon to provide benefits to Iowa National Guard troops

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) today applauded President Obama's signing of his Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act (HR 1222) into law. The Act was included in the final FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act.

Braley's fix will ensure that hundreds of Iowa National Guard members are provided benefits they were promised under the Department of Defense's Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) program, commonly known as "Respite Leave."  Over 20,000 Army National Guard members across the country - including almost 800 members of the Iowa National Guard - did not receive benefits they earned due to delay between the announcement of the leave program by the Department of Defense and the implementation of the program by the individual services.

"As the Iowa National Guard prepares to send over 3,000 troops to Afghanistan in the largest single unit call-up since World War II, it is critical that troops receive the benefits they have earned and deserve," Braley said.  "That's why I'm thrilled that President Obama signed this important legislation into law today.  Now that the Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act has finally been enacted into law, I'll be working to ensure that the Pentagon provides these benefits to National Guard troops in Iowa and across the country immediately."

Respite Leave was designed to provide service members deployed to places like Iraq and Afghanistan for longer than established rotation cycles additional help to reintegrate back to civilian life, as well as to improve the retention of service members who had experienced especially long tours of duty.

Once the Respite Leave program was announced, however, there were significant delays before its implementation.  The Department of the Army, for example, didn't issue its corresponding policy for implementing Respite Leave until more than six months after the Pentagon's January 2007 announcement of the program.

Because of this gap, thousands of soldiers from the Army National Guard did not receive proper Respite Leave compensation.

Braley first introduced the Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act in July 2008.  The bill will allow the Pentagon to retroactively grant up to $200 per day to affected troops.

# # #

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.