MOLINE - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will visit the Quad Cities on Wednesday and Thursday to chair meetings of the Mississippi River Coordinating Council and the Governor's Rural Affairs Council.

Before the river council meeting Wednesday afternoon, Simon will discuss the state's response to recent drought conditions, the status of Governor Quinn's request for a nearly statewide disaster declaration that includes Rock Island County, and the impact the drought is having on navigation along the Mississippi River. To date, 26 counties have been declared federal disaster areas due to drought and Quinn has requested 76 more be added to the list.

At the rural affairs council meeting Thursday morning, Simon will release the findings of her rural listening posts, which collected quality of life data from Illinois residents in six rural communities earlier this year (Carbondale, Freeport, Gibson City, Mattoon, Peoria and Quincy).

More than half of participants in the rural listening posts predicted their quality of life will improve in the next five years and cited job creation, education funding and affordable healthcare as top priorities.

EVENT: Mississippi River Coordinating Council meeting

DATE: Wednesday, July 25

TIME: 1:15 p.m. media availability, 1:30 meeting start

LOCATION: WIU Quad Cities Riverfront Campus, Rock Island County Board of Supervisors Room, 3300 River Drive, Moline

EVENT: Governor's Rural Affairs Council meeting

DATE: Thursday, July 26

TIME: 9:45 a.m. media availability, 10 a.m. meeting start

LOCATION: WIU Quad Cities Riverfront Campus, Rock Island County Board of Supervisors Room, 3300 River Drive, Moline

Crop and Livestock disaster relief programs expired in Fall of 2011 !!!

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today led the entire Iowa delegation in introducing legislation to extend agriculture disaster programs that were created in the last farm bill through 2012.  The Loebsack authored Agriculture Disaster Assistance Act will help farmers and livestock producers with drought losses beyond insurance until a new farm bill is signed into law.  Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) has introduced similar legislation in the Senate.

"I have seen firsthand the damage this drought has already caused to crops and livestock.  With no end in sight to the current conditions, we must move quickly to ensure farmers and producers in Iowa and across the country who are struggling have access to a safety net.

"I am pleased the rest of the Iowa delegation joined me in introducing this legislation and hope they join me in calling on House leadership to quickly bring up and pass it.  Until a new farm bill is passed and signed into law our farmers and producers need to know that they are not in this alone and that 2012 won't be the year that sinks their farm."

Specifically, the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act will extend the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Livestock Disaster Forage Program (LFP), Tree Assistance Program (TAP), and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) temporarily through 2012.

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after the US Department of Agriculture temporary changes to their major conservation programs to help livestock producers as this summer's drought intensifies.

"The efforts announced today by the USDA are good first steps to start helping Iowa farmers affected by this summer's drought.  If this drought continues, farmers will need more help.

"That's why I'll keep working with the USDA to ensure we're doing everything possible to stand behind farmers during this challenging time.  The drought not only threatens the livelihood of countless Iowa farmers, it will have incredible effects on Iowa's economy.  That's why it's so important we do everything we can to keep Iowa farmers on their feet.

"And with many of the disaster recovery programs from the 2008 Farm Bill already expired, it's more important than ever we quickly get a new Farm Bill passed into law."

The assistance announced today takes advantage of the Secretary of Agriculture's existing authority to help create and encourage flexibility within four USDA programs: the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

More details on the USDA steps announced today can be found at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/fEp

Calls for Congress to Stay in Session Until Farm Bill Passes

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack is visiting four farms in Appanoose, Davis, Lee and Wayne counties today to see firsthand the impact the recent drought has had on crops and livestock. Loebsack is touring the farms with local FSA officials to meet with farmers, community members and representatives from the Farm Bureau.  During the tour, Loebsack also announced that he will introduce legislation on Monday to extend agriculture disaster programs created by the previous farm bill through 2012.  The Agriculture Disaster Assistance Act will help our farmers and livestock producers with drought losses beyond insurance until a new farm bill is signed into law.

"We must move quickly to ensure farmers and livestock producers have a safety net as drought and heat conditions persist throughout many critical agricultural and livestock producing areas," said Loebsack.  "My legislation will extend agriculture disaster assistance and is intended to help our farmers and livestock producers with drought losses beyond insurance until a new farm bill is signed into law."

Loebsack also called on Congress to remain in session until this, job creation and other important issues are dealt with.

"In light of seeing firsthand the devastation already caused by the drought, I am more convinced than ever that Congress must stay in session until a farm bill is passed so our farmers can have comfort that this disaster will be fully addressed.  In less than two weeks, Congress will break for five weeks.  Just because Congress isn't voting does not mean the needs of Iowans will go away.  I have previously called for Congress to work every day until Iowans have some confidence that Congress is working in their best interest.  Taking off for an entire month will only make things worse and does nothing to create jobs, boost the economy, or help drought-stricken farms."

Earlier this week, Loebsack joined a bipartisan group of 79 lawmakers in calling on House leadership to bring a Farm bill to the floor before it expires on September 30^th.  In addition, Loebsack urged Speaker of the House John Boehner and the leader of the House Agriculture Committee to address the expiration of critical USDA disaster relief programs when the Farm Bill is brought to the floor. Loebsack has also asked the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to determine whether or not he has the authority to extend the SURE program or the Livestock Indemnity Program for 2012 if Congress is unable to complete a reauthorization of the farm bill. He also urged the USDA to consider emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program land in Iowa when appropriate.