The past year has brought about a recurring theme of the 'Do-Nothing Congress,' a historic lack of legislation with even greater lack of House leadership. Washington is having trouble getting along, even more trouble passing laws, and the public has certainly taken notice.

But that isn't the case for Rep. Braley - he's busier than ever because he is working hard with both sides of the aisle to get things done for the people of Iowa.

Braley has been compiling quite a few accomplishments in the last year that may not garner the overwhelming attention of the 'Do-Nothing Congress,' but he is leading the way to make a real difference for veterans, families, and Iowans. Braley has been successful in passing legislation that will help veterans, prevent military sexual assault and domestic violence, keep kids safe, change how government communicates with the public, and protect Iowa jobs.

With that, here are Bruce Braley's Top 10 Legislative Accomplishments of the past year:

BRALEY'S TOP 10 LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR:

-Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act passed into Law: The bipartisan H.R. 1627, including Braley's Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act, was signed by President Obama on August 6, 2012. The bill will extend the adaptive housing grant program for disabled veterans for ten years, through December 31, 2022.  The legislation also increases the adaptive housing grant limit for temporary housing to $28,000, and increases the total adaptive housing grant limit from $63,780 to $91,780. The legislation was inspired by Andrew Connolly, a veteran from Dubuque whose family benefited from a VA housing grant program through Braley's help, who lost his battle with cancer last year. http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Andrew-Connollys-Widow-Talks-About-New-Vet-Housing-Act-165222236.html

http://iowaindependent.com/56570/u-s-house-gives-unanimous-backing-to-connolly-bill

-"Kadyn's Amendment" passed out of House: In June 2012, Braley added an amendment to a transportation funding bill requiring the federal government to devote at least $10 million to helping states enforce traffic laws that punish reckless drivers for illegally passing stopped school buses. The amendment was named for 7-year-old Kadyn Halverson, who was fatally struck by a pickup truck in May 2011 as she crossed the street to board her school bus near Northwood, Iowa.  The provision devotes $10 million of federal funding for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to strengthening the enforcement of existing state laws prohibiting drivers from passing stopped school buses that have warning lights flashing and stop arms extended. http://www.thonline.com/blogs/tri_state_politics/article_142c7ffe-777d-11e1-ba3d-0019bb30f31a.html

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/06/27/kadyns-amendment-passes-u-s-house/

-Combat Veterans Back to Work provisions passed into Law: In August 2011, Congressman Braley introduced the Combat Veterans Back to Work Act.  The bill was incorporated into two new tax credits that were signed into law by President Obama in November 2011.  The first, known as the Returning Heroes tax credit, provides up to $5,600 in tax credits for every unemployed veteran hired by an employer.  The second, called the Wounded Warrior tax credit, doubles the existing tax credit for firms that hire unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities.  Iowa businesses are currently taking advantage of these credits and hiring Iowa veterans and National Guard Members. http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Incentives-Help-for-Veterans-to-Find-Work-134288473.html

-Implementation of Payments to Underpaid Iowa Hospitals: Braley has continued to work on the implementation of his Geographic Equity payments for Iowa hospitals, which he passed in 2010.  Twenty different Iowa hospitals have now received payments in 2011 and 2012 to account for long-term underpayments by Medicare.  As of April 2012, Braley had secured over $33 million in additional Medicare reimbursements for these Iowa hospitals, which will help improve access to care for Iowa patients.  These Iowa hospitals have historically been underpaid because Medicare bases payments largely on geography. http://thegazette.com/2012/04/17/affordable-care-act-helps-iowa-hospitals-receive-medicare-reimbursement/

-Preventing Closure of Iowa Post Offices: Braley successfully amended the Postal Reform Act in October 2011 to require the Postal Service to report on the number of jobs eliminated by their proposed post office closures, including the number of veterans jobs affected. Then, Braley helped to prevent the closures of many of Iowa post offices by opposing such efforts to close them, and working with the Postal Service on behalf of Iowa post offices. http://qctimes.com/news/local/postal-service-offers-plan-to-keep-rural-post-offices-open/article_87e35c52-9a5e-11e1-a2bd-0019bb2963f4.html

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/braley-waterloo-cedar-rapids-mail-processing-operations-staying-open/article_fbe986c2-5e44-11e1-a3c7-001871e3ce6c.html

-Holley Lynn James Act protections passed into Law: Braley has championed reforms in the Department of Defense to protect victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. In April 2011, Braley introduced the Holley Lynn James Act to strengthen the legal process for preventing and addressing claims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the military. Since then, Braley has passed a number of these provisions into law, including: 1) the bill's improvements on oversight of the DOD's sexual assault policy; 2) ensuring that victims have access to counsel; 3) implementation of the bill's "elevated disposition requirements," requiring sexual assault cases be considered by senior officers with greater experience; and 4) supporting victims of sexual assault in filing disability claims with the VA by requiring retention of documentary evidence. The bipartisan bill is named after Holley Lynn James, a Dubuque native who was killed by her husband while both were in the service.  James had filed complaints against her husband, who was supposed to be restricted to his barracks the night he murdered her. http://go.usa.gov/GGK

-Marshalltown Jobs Amendment passed out of House: In June 2012, Rep. Braley passed a bipartisan amendment that would remove burdensome government regulations on refrigerated deli-style display cases that threaten the future of their manufacture in the United States.  Lennox Industries, Inc., which makes the deli-style display cases covered by the regulation, has a manufacturing facility in Marshalltown, Iowa, that employs about 1,000 people.  The adoption of the amendment will help protect Iowa manufacturing jobs. http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/550541/Braley-helps-remove-red-tape-impeding-manufacturing.html?nav=5005

-Implementation of Plain Writing Act; Report Card Released: In July 2012, Rep. Braley joined the Center for Plain Language to unveil the Center's first-ever "Plain Language Report Card," a letter-grading of federal agencies' implementation of the Plain Writing Act. The Plain Writing Act, authored by Braley and signed into law by President Obama in 2010, requires government agencies to write forms and other public documents in simple, easy-to-understand language.  Braley continues to ensure its full implementation to change the way government communicates with citizens and businesses. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120719006341/en/USDA-VA-Plain-Writing-Act-Report-Card 

-Cost of War Amendment passed out of House: In May 2012, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Braley's "True Cost of War" amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Braley's amendment would require a full account of the human and financial costs of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya from the Departments of Defense, State and Veterans Affairs. http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=554&stoplayout=true&print=true

-Housing for Blinded Veterans passed into Law: Braley introduced HR 5999, the Housing for Blinded Veterans Act, that will apply the American Medical Association and federal government's 20/200 standard for blindness to the VA's adaptive housing program.  Before Braley's bill, veterans could be considered "legally blind," but not blind enough to apply for the VA adaptive housing program.  Braley's law will expand eligibility for the program to more blind veterans and create a more uniform standard for blindness across federal agencies. This fix was signed into law on August 6, 2012. http://nlihc.org/article/housing-blinded-veterans-act-introduced

 --- John Davis, Chief of Staff, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01)

Des Moines, IA -- Today, small business owners and middle class families in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque and Sioux City respond to an independent report, which found that in order for Mitt Romney to pay for his $5 trillion in tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, he'd have to raise taxes by $2,000 on middle class families with children.

"We are a typical middle class family. We work full-time to provide for our son, Cooper, and a second child on the way. We had the opportunity to talk to President Obama about the $4,900 in tax relief we have received over the course of his first term. We told him the tax relief is vital to supporting our family whether it's finishing our basement for more space for our growing family or putting money towards Cooper's college education fund. That's why we are disappointed to hear about an independent, non-partisan report finding Mitt Romney's plan would hike taxes for families who have children and make less than $200,000 would see their taxes go up an average of more than $2,000. And Romney is raising taxes on middle class families to pay for a $5 trillion tax plan skewed to the wealthiest. To some people, $1,000 or $2,000 might not seem like that much. But to us, that's a big deal. A thousand dollars is a big deal. Five hundred dollars is a big deal. Our family literally can't afford Mitt Romney." --Jason and Ali McLaughlin, middle class family in Cedar Rapids

"President Obama plans to extend middle class taxes that would prevent a tax increase for 97 percent of small businesses.  As a small, independent business owner in Iowa, that's music to my ears. The President is looking out for the best interests of the middle class (many of whom are my regular customers), while Mitt Romney tax hike plan for the middle class gives huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. The President believes that relieving millions of American families by extending middle-class tax cuts is the best way to grow our economy. That's why I will be backing the President in the fall." --Kevin Perkins, independent business owner/Clean Sweep QCA LLC in Davenport

"As a middle class Iowan and a Republican, I am standing by President Obama again this election. We tried Mitt Romney's formula for the past decade, and it crashed our economy and punished the middle class. The President,  meanwhile, believes that relieving millions of American families by extending middle-class tax cuts is the best way to grow our economy. President Obama has provided the necessary health care for us, and the tax cuts will allow savings for education and funds for purchasing American goods and services. Working families just can't afford Mitt Romney and neither can America. "  -- Keith Uhl, lawyer in Des Moines

"My husband and I are proud to have had the opportunity to grow our small business and support our family right here in Iowa, and we couldn't have done it alone. From support from my family and friends, to help from the Small Business Administration to write my small business plan, that support has helped my business succeed. Meanwhile Mitt Romney is looking to hike taxes on the middle class, while giving away more tax breaks for the wealthy. President Obama understands that, and that's why he has helped small businesses like mine. He's cut taxes for small businesses, helped them invest and grow, and his jobs plan will help them keep creating two out of every three new jobs. And the President has made it easier for small businesses to access credit, which is vital to adding small businesses to our economy. I know President Obama has my business's back."    --Anne McDonough, owner of Plane Art Designs in Dubuque

"Romney's tax breaks for the wealthy are so large that to pay for them, he'd have to cut some of the most important tax benefits for the middle class. That could force my family to pay higher taxes on my home mortgage. President Obama's plan reduces the deficit in a balanced way while Mitt Romney's tax hike on the middle class would be detrimental to my family. That's way I am supporting the President this election season." --Andrew Emanuel, father/husband/small business owner in Sioux City

CHICAGO - Today, Friday, August 3, Obama for America will hold two events to talk with working families and middle class Iowans about the choice in this election between two fundamentally different visions of how to grow the economy, create middle-class jobs and pay down the debt.  The President believes the only way to create an economy built to last is to build it from the middle out, not the top down.

The events in Davenport and Dubuque will highlight President Obama's plan to restore middle-class security and discuss the stark contrast between President Obama's push for tax relief for middle class families and Mitt Romney, who supports raising taxes on millions of hardworking families to finance tax breaks for the wealthy.

A nonpartisan report out Wednesday found that in order for Romney to pay for his $5 trillion of tax cuts weighted toward millionaires and billionaires, he'd have to raise taxes by an average of $2,000 on a middle-class family with children. The Obama campaign also released a new web video and digital tool to underscore Americans have a clear choice in this election between two fundamentally different visions of how to grow the economy, create middle-class jobs and pay down the debt. President

View the new OFA video HERE, and check out the new digital calculator HERE.

Friday, August 3

1:00PM

WHAT: Middle Class Tax Cut Roundtable with Mayor Bill Gluba

WHERE: Davenport Public Library - Eastern Avenue Branch, Meeting Room A

6000 Eastern Avenue
Davenport, IA 52807

3:15PM

WHAT: Middle Class Tax Cut Roundtable with Senator Pam Jochum

WHERE: Home of Ken Kraus

2635 Renaissance Dr. Unit 2

Dubuque, IA 52001