Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today on the gaveling in of the new 115th Congress. Loebsack also comments on the House Republicans’ efforts to gut the independent Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) in their first act of the new Congress. “I am once again honored to represent the people of Iowa and to be their voice in Washington. I look forward to continuing to fight on behalf of Iowa’s hard-working families. From creating jobs here at home to boosting the rural eco...
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Congressman Dave Loebsack today called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency responsible for granting the State of Iowa the waiver to privatize its Medicaid program, to rescind the waiver. A report published today by the Des Moines Register shows that payment shortages have created a 'catastrophic experience' for the program’s private managers. This new report comes on top of continued complaints from patients about access to services and providers about del...
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Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (S. 216), which included provisions to expedite the construction of flood protection measures in Cedar Rapids, among other water infrastructure projects. The Cedar Rapids flood control measures were previously authorized, but have not yet been built. Additionally, this legislation authorizes Corps of Engineers funding for improvements to ports, waterway...
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Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and Senator-Elect Tammy Duckworth voted in favor and applauded the passage of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This was the final House passage of the bill, which will now go to the Senate for approval before the President can sign it into law. Representatives Bustos and Loebsack worked with Duckworth, who led this successful effort through the House Armed Services Committee, to include se...
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Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations for 2017. Loebsack, who serves as the co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, has led the fight for a strong RFS and highlighted its importance to Iowa. “Today’s announcement is good news for Iowa’s farmers, rural communities and consumers. I am pleased the EPA followed the mandate set for them by Congress to ensure ethanol a...
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Iowa City, IA – Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today following the shooting of two Des Moines area Law Enforcement officers. “The shooting of two law enforcement officers from Des Moines and Urbandale early this morning is beyond tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and fellow police officers of those who were killed. Police officers are sworn to protect and defend our communities and an attack on any of them is unconscionable. I commend the ...
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Representatives Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Chris Gibson (NY-19) today introduced legislation that will reauthorize the leasing authority at Department of Defense arsenals for unused office space to outside tenants. In 2012, arsenals lost their leasing authority. This legislation, the Arsenal Installation Reutilization Authority, authorizes arsenals to be able to approve 25 year leases until September of 2019, which will help produce jobs and generate inco...
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Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) today introduced bipartisan legislation along with Congressman Steve Stivers (OH-15) to ensure no veteran seeking in-patient psychiatric care at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center is ever denied such care again. Earlier this summer, Sgt. Brandon Ketchum, a veteran from Davenport, Iowa, was turned away from a VA facility after seeking psychiatric help. After being denied care, he tragically took his own life. Sgt. Ketchum’s tragic death reinforced the need fo...
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Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after receiving a response to his questions from Judith Johnson-Mekota, the Director of Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS). On July 12th, Loebsack wrote to Director Johnson-Mekota seeking answers in regards to the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Sgt. Brandon Ketchum on July 8th, a day after he reportedly sought care at the ICVAHCS. In light of this tragedy, Loebsack is drafting legislation to ensure all veterans who seek ...
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Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after legislation he helped introduce, the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act, was signed into law this week by President Obama. The bipartisan legislation was included as part of a larger bill, H.R. 2576, the TSCA Modernization Act. Specifically, Loebsack’s bill makes skilled nursing facilities eligible to receive funds through the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Healthcare Program. This is a $400 million program that provides disc...
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