• Message to Rep. Ray Zirkelbach  

Congressman Bruce Braley and state senators from Iowa's 1st Congressional District met Tuesday to talk about the passage last week of the Iowa Senate's resolution opposing a surge in troop levels in Iraq. The group also filmed a two-minute video greeting for State Representative Ray Zirkelbach of Anamosa, who is currently serving in Iraq. Braley cited Zirkelbach's service to state and country in his speech before the U.S. House prior to approval of a House resolution opposing an increase in troops in Iraq.  

Click here for direct download of video  

 

• Senate Votes Against Troop Surge in Iraq

• Governor signs new support for troops  (February 14, 2007) 

  State Senator Daryl Beall (Fort Dodge), chair of the Senate's Veteran's Affairs Committee, watched today as $4 million in additional aid to veterans which he helped pass was approved by Iowa Governor Chet Culver.  Half will support the Military Service Member Home Ownership Assistance program, and half will go to the Injured Veterans Grant program.  From left to right, Staff Sergeant Mike Levine, who was injured in Iraq; Governor Culver; Senator Beall; and Sergeant First Class Craig Staker, an Iraq veteran who purchased a home in Granger with state assistance.  (Credit: Rusty Martin, 2/14/07)

   

  Bipartisan letter on extended troop deployment (February 5, 2007) 

  Audio: A 1:42 second clip from Tuesday morning’s debate by the Iowa Senate. It features Senator Tom Hancock of Epworth talking about the Iowa Guard unit which recently learned from family and the news media that its tour in Iraq extended, and about the bipartisan letter signed by 39 Iowa State Senators to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asking why the soldiers did not learn of their extended tour first from the military, a request that Iowa Guard members receive the same sort of hardship pay that regular duty soldiers receive for extended tours, and for support services for returning soldiers and their family that are similar to those received by regular duty soldiers.

  MP3       WAV

   

• Legislative Democrats will reactivate housing assistance to members of the Armed Services (January 17, 2007)

  Audio: Cut and Wrap on the military home ownership program with State Senator Steve Warnstadt and Sergeant First Class Lyndsay Thrane.  ((2:35 TRT)

  MP3       WAV    

  News release  WORD  PDF

  Background:  WORD   PDF

   

• Senators condemn funeral protests (April 17, 2006)

• 2006 Veterans Agenda and 2005 Results (1/18/2006)

• Home buyer assistance

• Iowa recognized for National Guard benefits 

• 2003 10-for-10 Service Member Support Agenda