Story by Larissa Wurm and Nathan Erickson
Photos by Luke Nankivell
Iowa’s first district congressman, Bruce Braley, visited Drake University’s campus Thursday to talk about his run for the United States Senate in 2014. The event took place in Levitt Hall in Old Main.
About 50 people attended to hear Braley speak about why he is running for current Senator Tom Harkin’s seat.
Harkin will retire next year.
State representatives Ako Abdul-Samad (D-Polk) and John Forbes (D-Polk) also attended the event.
In an interview before the event, Braley said one of the reasons he is running for Senate is to better serve Iowans.
“In the Senate, because of the size of the body, I would have more opportunities to serve on multiple committees and therefore influence, public policy that affects the lives of Iowans,” Braley said.
Currently, he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is an exclusive committee, meaning that those who are on it cannot serve on any other committee.
“Because of some of the procedures in the Senate, you have more ability to fight for your state,” he said.
Braley said in the House, Iowa has only four representatives, of 435.
“The Senate has more equal opportunity to serve Iowa because there are two senators for each state,” he said.
The congressman also spoke on the current situation of Syria, including the congressional vote to authorize strikes against President Bashar al-Assad’s military forces.
“I believe war crimes were committed by the Assad regime against its own people, in violation of the Geneva Convention,” Braley said. “This regime needs to be held accountable by the international community.”
Braley returns to Washington, D.C., today for a classified briefing with national security experts to review all current intelligence and formulate his opinion and vote for the bill President Barack Obama has proposed.
The congressman also said he had set up a website for Iowans to give their opinions on the conflict in Syria.
Within an hour of the site’s launch, thousands of Iowans had given their input on the situation.
“I have a responsibility to consider their input when considering what is best for citizens of the first district and the United States as an entire country,” Braley said.
About his vote this week, Braley said he has a “very high bar to convince (him) that military intervention at this point is in the national security interests of the United States.”
In later clarification of his position, Braley said, “I am undecided, but leaning no. The burden of proof (needed) is very high.”
He believes intervention would lead to other conflicts in the region, and the potential for escalation is enormous.
“Iran is their closest ally,” Braley said. “This cannot be taken lightly. We have to be very careful in what we start and be mindful of the long term consequences for the United States.”
“I didn’t come here today to talk about these things,” Braley said. “But [Syria] is what is on people’s minds right now.”
He also commented on the public’s perception that Congress is ineffective. “I feel your pain, and I agree with you,” he said. “One of the things I will be talking about in this election is the work I’ve done to bridge that partisan divide and pass effective legislation.”
Braley cited the New Era Act and the Plain Language Bill, both bills he introduced, as examples of his willingness to work across party lines.
Moving to the campaign trail and his senate run, Braley said he is “excited, motivated and losing [his] voice … but it’s worth it.”
He said he is honored to run for such an important senate seat, the one currently filled by a “friend, mentor and hero.”
“But we have to start now,” he said. “We can’t wait ‘til Labor Day of an election year to get out the vote.”
“If you stand by my side, I will work tirelessly to ensure that a proud Democrat will be walking into Senator Harkin’s seat.”
After taking more questions regarding Syria and immigration reform, Braley ended his speech with a quote from his favorite movie, “The Shawshank Redemption,” saying it’s a movie about hope, suffering, survival and redemption: “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
talk about these things,” Braley said. “But (Syria) is what is on people’s minds right now.”
He also commented on the public’s perception that Congress is ineffective. “I feel your pain, and I agree with you,” he said. “One of the things I will be talking about in this election is the work I’ve done to bridge that partisan divide and pass effective legislation.”
Braley cited the New Era Act and the Plain Language Bill, both bills he introduced, as examples of his willingness to work across party lines.
Moving to the campaign trail and his senate run, Braley said he is “excited, motivated and losing (his) voice … but it’s worth it.”
He said he is honored to run for such an important senate seat, the one currently filled by a “friend, mentor and hero.”
“But we have to start now,” Braley said. “We can’t wait til Labor Day of an election year to get out the vote.”
“If you stand by my side, I will work tirelessly to ensure that a proud Democrat will be walking into Senator Harkin’s seat.”
After taking more questions regarding Syria and immigration reform, Braley ended his speech with a quote from his favorite movie, The Shawshank Redemption, saying it’s a movie about hope, suffering, survival and redemption: “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
