Senate Passes Grassley Resolution Designating National Character Counts Week

WASHINGTON - The Senate this week passed a bipartisan resolution from Sen. Chuck Grassley and five colleagues designating the week of Oct. 18, 2015, "National Character Counts Week."  Character Counts! is an educational program available to help schools teach values and ethics to America's youth.

"Getting a well-rounded education involves more than learning to read, write and do arithmetic," Grassley said.  "Lessons learned at home and in the classroom also should help kids grow into responsible young adults and good citizens. I've visited schools where this program is working. That's why I served as a lead sponsor on legislation to designate National Character Counts Week."

The resolution describes the elements of strong character and calls on the American people to embrace the elements of character identified by local schools and communities and to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, programs and activities.

The text of the resolution is available here.  More about the program is available at http://charactercounts.org/.

WHAT: The state of Iowa is in the process of developing a statewide energy plan. The Iowa Energy Plan will allow the state to set priorities and provide strategic guidance for decision-making around energy policy initiatives.

Co-chairs of the initiative, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Pat Meyer, CEO of Pella Corp., will discuss the purpose and process of the Iowa Energy Plan.

Brief tours of Pella Corporation's main manufacturing facility will be available upon request following the comments.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 6, 2015

1:30PM

WHERE: Pella Corporation - Design Center

102 Main Street

Pella, IA

NOTE: Visitors must check-in at the security desk and provide a photo ID. Parking is available in the visitor lot in front of the building.

SPEAKERS: Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds

Pat Meyer, Pella Corporation

REMINDER: Susan G. Komen Fit for the Cure Event in Davenport, IA - 10/9/2015

--Free bra fittings to help women look good, and do good--

WHAT: Join Wacoal in its mission to help end breast cancer with Fit for the Cure^®! Participate in a Fit for the Cure event and receive a complimentary bra fitting from a Wacoal fit specialist. For every woman that participates, Wacoal will donate $2 to Susan G. Komen® for breast cancer research and community health programs. Wacoal will donate an additional $2 for every Wacoal bra, shapewear piece or b.tempt'd bra purchased at these events.

This season, in celebration of the 15^th anniversary of Fit for the Cure, Wacoal has begun a new initiative inspiring women everywhere to get fit!  Wacoal will donate an extra $1 for each woman who photographs themselves following their fitting with a special "I Got Fit" sign and shares on social media using #IGotFit.

For 15 years, Wacoal has dedicated its efforts to educating more than 741,000 women across 411 cities about the importance of bra fit, foundation and overall breast health. To date, through Fit for the Cure, Wacoal has donated over $4 million to Susan G. Komen® and continues to host more than 1,200 events across America each year.

WHY: Giving back is a major component of Wacoal's business philosophy and an important factor in the growth of the brand.  In 2015, Wacoal will reach two major milestones: 30 years of making women look and feel good and 15 years of raising awareness through Fit for the Cure.

Research shows that 8 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong sized bra. Wearing a bra should not be even slightly uncomfortable.  Women should be professionally fitted for a bra once a year to ensure their bra size has not changed as a result of natural fluctuations in their body.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women age 40-59 and accounts nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed in the U.S.  By taking 15 minutes to meet with a Wacoal fit expert, you're helping to contribute to an important cause. Wacoal encourages women to visit their doctor for monthly breast examinations that could ultimately save their life.  

WHEN: Friday, October 9, 2015

10am-8pm

Dillards - Northpark Mall

320 W Kimberly Rd.

Davenport, IA

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has a long history of making sure tax-exempt organizations fulfill their obligations under the tax law, beginning with his leadership of the Finance Committee with jurisdiction over taxes. In addition to his oversight, Grassley authored additional accountability measures for nonprofit hospitals that were enacted into law in 2010.  Since January, Grassley has been asking questions of a tax-exempt hospital in Missouri.   Mosaic Life Care was the subject of an investigative journalism report over suing low income patients to force them to pay their hospital bills, even when those patients reportedly were eligible for financial assistance and discounted treatment under federal tax laws.  According to the news reports, the hospital, in conjunction with its debt collection arm Northwest Financial Services, filed thousands of lawsuits to seek legal judgment against patients and garnish their wages rather than work with them on financial assistance.  After the news reports emerged, Mosaic said it was reviewing its billing policies.  Over the last several months, Grassley has continued to press the hospital to explain how it would revise its practices to fulfill its legal and ethical obligations to low income patients.  Now, the hospital is announcing a medical debt grace period, running for three months, to allow patients with an outstanding balance to apply for financial assistance, even if the hospital has subjected the patients to collection action and legal action. The hospital also has released a new financial assistance policy.  It said it is more widely publicizing the policy and making it easier for patients to apply for aid, among other positive changes.  Grassley made the following comment.

"The spirit and the letter of the law are pretty clear.  Tax-exempt hospitals are supposed to be in business to help low-income patients.  That means offering financial assistance and helping patients apply for it if they're eligible.  It means working with patients instead of suing them.  It does not mean intimidating patients who should have received financial assistance with aggressive collection practices.  After a long period of discussion and correspondence with my office, and media coverage, Mosaic Life Care appears to be taking the right steps.  This is welcome, but results are what ultimately matter.  I plan to continue to talk with the hospital and ask for data after the financial amnesty period is over to check on the results."