The bipartisan, bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal today made clear to General Ann Dunwoody, the Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command, that any proposal to close or relocate Rock Island Arsenal’s Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) would be met with strong resistance in Congress. In a meeting in Washington, Dunwoody reassured the Illinois and Iowa delegation that the Army currently has no plans to close the JMTC, but could not disclose the work of... Read more

Today, Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Tom Petri (WI-06) introduced bipartisan legislation that would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to emphasize the importance of 21st Century skills, such as critical thinking, creativity and innovation, and collaboration. The 21st Century Readiness Act (H.R. 2536) gives states and districts added flexibility to develop and enhance these skills as part of their own initiatives. “Today's students will need more than reading, writin... Read more

Washington, D.C.- Congressman Loebsack, along with Congressmen Latham, Boswell, King and Braley wrote to House Leadership to urge them to bring forward common-sense legislation that reforms and continues to provide basic support for biofuels and contributes to deficit reduction. It also references a June 13th letter from Governor Branstad and Illinois Governor Quinn that asks that all energy subsidies be examined on a level playing field, including those for fossil fuels. “Our nation’s and our s... Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack today praised the passage of the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011, which reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years. The legislation contains an amendment authored by Loebsack that will improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood map modernization process. It requires FEMA to inform local television and radio stations that the flood maps are being updated and allows property owners and communities the op... Read more

Congressman Dave Loebsack issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor’s announcement that the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent in June and the economy only added 18,000 jobs. "The Department of Labor’s jobs report released today should be a wakeup call for Washington about the urgent need to focus on our economy and job creation. The bottom line is our economy is still struggling and too many Iowans still can’t find work. When I am not in Washington voting for Iowans, ... Read more

Today, Congressmen Dave Loebsack and Leonard Boswell sent a letter to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure urging them to hold a hearing to discuss the current regulatory and statutory environment guiding Army Corps of Engineers flood management plans and flood control infrastructure and examine the flexibility and resources provided for the Army Corps to perform their duties fully. “Making sure that our flood control infrastructure is well-maintained and that our management plans ... Read more

Congressman Dave Loebsack today released the following statement after President Obama’s visit to Alcoa Davenport Works: “I appreciate the President’s visit to Bettendorf to see firsthand the great work being done here. The economic downturn has hurt far too many Iowa families for far too long, and we must come together to rebuild our economy and put Iowans back to work. I applaud the President for his focus on workforce development and creating manufacturing jobs that will bring high quality, g... Read more

Congressman Dave Loebsack today released the following statement after President Obama announced a $500 million investment to jumpstart the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP). This effort will bring together industry, universities and the federal government to invest in emerging technologies that create jobs and enhance competitiveness. “Today’s announcement is another piece of the puzzle needed to bring to bring high quality, good paying jobs to Iowa. I applaud President Obama’s focus on ... Read more

Members of the bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal, Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and Congressmen Bruce Braley (D-IA-01) and Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17), today sent a letter to President Barack Obama upon learning that the President will be visiting the Quad Cities next week. In their letter, the lawmakers invite the President to visit the Rock Island Arsenal while he is in the area. “One of the features that makes... Read more

Congressman Dave Loebsack today released the following statement regarding President Obama’s plan to start bringing home troops from Afghanistan. Loebsack is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and has traveled to Afghanistan six times to meet with the troops and receive briefings from the commanders on the ground. “Our troops, including the 2,800 Iowa National Guard Soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, have bravely carried out every mission given to them and have made real progress acro... Read more