Iowa Delegation Press Releases
Congressman Bruce Braley: Braley Offers Plain Language Amendment to House Rules
Washington, DC – January 4, 2011. Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) sent a letter to Republican leaders encouraging a change to their proposed Rules of the House. Congressman Braley asked them to add a provision that would require Committees to post a Plain Language section-by-section summary of all bills on their public websites 72 hours before a bill is considered on the House Floor.
“This Plain Language requirement will give Iowans, and all Americans, a better understanding of what Congress is working on,” said Braley. “Taxpayers have a right to see, in plain, straightforward language, how the federal government is spending their money and to hold legislators accountable.”
Last year, Congressman Braley introduced the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (H.R. 946), which was signed into law on October 13, 2010 with overwhelming bipartisan support. This law requires the federal government to write documents, such as tax returns, federal college aid applications, and Veterans Administration forms in simple easy-to-understand language – making government more transparent and saving taxpayers millions of dollars. The bill’s final version passed the House by a vote of 341-82 and received unanimous support in the Senate.
Congressman Dave Loebsack: Votes to Cut Congress’ Budget; Co-Introduces Legislation to Cut Members’ Salaries
“It’s Time Members of Congress Took A Personal Stake in Our Recovery”
WASHINGTON, DC – January 6, 2011. Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack voted to cut congressional budgets, including individual Member offices, Leadership offices and Committees by five percent. The bill was approved in a bipartisan vote by the House of Representatives.
“Iowa families are continuing to make tough choices with their household budgets and have been making do with less for some time now. I have long argued that Congress must do its part to get our fiscal house in order, and this cut in congressional budgets is a step in the right direction.”
However, Loebsack believes that Members of Congress should demonstrate a personal commitment to getting our fiscal house in order. That is why Loebsack co-introduced the Congressional Pay Cut Act today to cut Members of Congress’ salaries by 5% and to put an end to automatic pay increases that occur unless Congress votes to stop them.
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