"USDA can help ensure there is a first line of defense against animal diseases across the United States by placing qualified veterinarians in areas where there is a critical need," Vilsack said. "This program will help reduce veterinary shortages, especially in the area of food animal medicine, which will reduce stress on producers and improve the health of the livestock industry."

USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which was established in the National Veterinary Medical Services Act of 2003. NIFA issued an interim rule for the program on July 9, 2009. Implementation of the program began on Jan. 22, 2010 when NIFA released a Federal Register notice asking for comments and nominations for shortage situations from the chief animal health official from each state and insular area and appropriate federal animal health officials. Guidance on what constitutes a shortage situation and nomination forms can be found on the NIFA Web site. Nomination forms are due March 8, and can be returned via email to vmlrp@nifa.usda.gov .

NIFA will convene a panel of federal and state animal health experts to recommend submitted nomination packages for official designation as a veterinary shortage situation. The public will be able to review designated veterinary shortage situations in list and/or map form, along with information describing the nature of the shortage situation.

NIFA expects to begin accepting applications from veterinarians wishing to participate in the program on April 30, 2010. In return for a commitment of three years of veterinary services in a designated veterinary shortage area, NIFA may repay up to $25,000 of student loan debt per year. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received for the attendance at an accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. NIFA projects applications will be due June 30, and that offers will be made by September 30.

Veterinarians are critical to the national food safety and food security infrastructures, and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans; however, major studies indicate significant and growing shortages of food supply veterinarians and veterinarians serving in certain other high priority specialty areas. A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which can average between $130,000 and $140,000. Congress established the VMLRP as a way to remedy this growing need.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

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Audio Available: New Era Expansion Act will invest in clean energy job training

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) introduced legislation today to authorize the Secretary of Labor to invest in clean energy job training at Iowa's community colleges. The New Era Expansion Act would build on the success of Braley's New Era Act of 2007, which established a recurring grant program at the US Department of Agriculture to provide grants to community colleges and advanced training facilities that train the next generation of agricultural-based energy professionals.

"Investing in clean energy job training is an important step to preparing Iowa's workforce for the 21^st Century economy," Braley said. "In this difficult economic climate, legislation like this is key to generating job opportunities for Iowa's middle class families.

"The New Era Expansion Act allows Iowa to continue to lead the way in clean energy production by creating a workforce education program in clean energy technology.  This bill is an important step toward equipping our state's workforce with the skills they need to fill clean energy production and manufacturing jobs that are being created throughout Iowa and the Midwest."

The New Era Expansion Act would authorize the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges so they can establish a grant program for community colleges to start wind energy and energy efficient construction workforce training programs.

Under the bill, the Department of Labor would be charged with overseeing the implementation and scope of the training program.  Funding for the program would be determined through Congressional appropriations to the Department of Labor to satisfy the demand for and requirements of the program.

In his recent budget, President Obama requested $85 million for the Department of Labor to prepare more than 120,000 workers for work in the clean energy sector by June of 2012.

In the first year of the original New Era program, Braley was able to secure $276,318 in two-year grants from the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grant Program for Eastern Iowa Community College and Hawkeye Community College.

Audio of Braley's weekly reporter conference call is available here.

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Survey project finds Main Street small business owners at odds with big banks and DC business lobby on financial reform, consumer protection agency

IOWA - On Thursday, on the heels of a State of the Union address certain to feature the Obama Administration's new proposals for Wall Street reforms, the Iowa Main Street Alliance will hold a press conference call to release a new report on small business experiences with the financial crisis and views on financial reform. The call will begin at 1:30 pm, conferencing details below. The report is based on a survey of more than 1,200 small business owners from 14 states, including Iowa.

Small businesses, key to job creation strategies and economic recovery, could prove a pivotal voice in an unfolding debate where the DC-based business lobby has sided with the country's biggest banks in opposing financial reforms even as small businesses continue to pay the price in lost business and frozen credit for the reckless Wall Street activities caused the financial crisis.

The House of Representatives has passed a financial reform bill, HR 4173, the "Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act of 2009." The Senate Banking Committee is readying a bill for markup in the coming weeks.

DHCU Community Credit Union recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest location at Southpark Mall in Moline.

The new office has a fesh look with updated technology, including eight drive-up and four lobby service windows. HomeBranch, DHCU's Internet banking service, is available along with a self-service Change Exchange machine.

"We're excited about the new location," says Terry Brahm, President and C.E.O. of DHCU. "It is more convenient for our members and highly accessible to people traveling on John Deere Road. After more than 25 years inside of Southpark Mall, this mondernized facility combines DHCU's traditional service delivery with today's electronically oriented consumer, mixing the best of both worlds in one conveniently located facility."

Hours at the new location are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Saturdays 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and DHCU offers extended drive-thru hours on Friday night until 6:00 p.m.