Bruce L. Braley: “I rise this evening as a proud resident of Waterloo, Iowa. Recently, Forbes named the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area as…”

“I rise this evening as a proud resident of Waterloo, Iowa. Recently, Forbes named the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area as the ``13th best place for business and careers'' among small metro areas in the United States. There is nothing unlucky about this number 13. I have lived in Waterloo for almost 25 years, and I can tell you from experience that the people of the Cedar Valley have made all of the difference there. The last decade has brought a renewed commitment to civic improvement, and these investments have paid off. Investments in things like good schools, an expanding workforce and an improved infrastructure have clearly played a big part of this recognition. Businesses are attracted to the skilled, smart and hardworking workforce of the Cedar Valley, ranked number 49 because of educational attainment. It is clear to me that more and more people are catching on to what the Cedar Valley has to offer. I congratulate my neighbors in Waterloo and Cedar Falls.”