WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Loebsack issued the following statement after the House Leadership passed its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012. The budget would force Iowa seniors who are in the Medicare donut hole to pay $28 million more for prescription drugs in 2012 alone. It would also cut college aid by 45% for the more than 19,000 students in the Second District who receive Pell Grants. “Far too many Iowa families have had to tighten their belts over the last few years, and just like Iowa... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Loebsack issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Continuing Appropriations Act for FY 2011. “There is no doubt that putting our nation back on a fiscally responsible path demands serious, bipartisan work. I do believe that cutting spending is one part of the solution and I have already supported over $11 billion in difficult but necessary spending cuts from the FY 2011 budget. But, we must promote an economy that works for Iowa fa... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack stood up for Iowa’s seniors against the House Leadership’s effort to end prevention programs and public health initiatives across the country. Congressman Loebsack offered an amendment which would protect individuals 65 years of age or older from being denied access to prevention, wellness, and public health care. “Our seniors have worked hard all of their lives, and I strongly believe no hard-working Iowan should retire into poverty or have to cho... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Loebsack highlighted Equal Pay Day by cosponsoring legislation to close the pay gap between men and women. Equal Pay Day raises awareness of the lingering gender wage gap that continues to this day, long after the Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963. Congressman Loebsack is working to close this gap and is an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which was introduced today. This bill will work to end pay inequity and ensure that there is finall... Read more

“As a government shutdown looms, politicians in Washington are still wrapped up in political Russian roulette where the clear loser is Iowans. Instead of shutting down the government in an effort to restrict women’s access to health care, we need to think about our military families who are worried about how they are going to put food on the table, even while their loved ones are defending our nation overseas. “A government shutdown can still be averted, but the grandstanding and misplaced debat... Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack issued the following statement calling for budget negotiations to move forward. “A government shutdown can be avoided, but it will require politicians in Washington to put our constituents’ priorities ahead of political games. Instead of voting on legislation that is meant to stir controversy over issues like abortion that have nothing to do with our economic recovery or the basic functions of government that our constituents rely on, House Leadership... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Dave Loebsack issued the following statement today as the House of Representatives continues to work toward and FY 2011 Budget. “Like all Iowans, I am deeply frustrated that political posturing is taking precedence over the needs of Iowa families, businesses and our economic recovery. Iowans are continuing to struggle, yet the political games continue and the House Leadership will not even pass legislation, of which I am a cosponsor, to stop Members of Congress and th... Read more

Congressman Dave Loebsack issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor’s announcement that the unemployment rate decreased to 8.8 percent in March and the economy added 216,000 jobs. “I come home every weekend, and what I hear time and time again from constituents is that our country’s unemployment rate is still too high. There are far too many Iowans who are still struggling, and our priority must be job creation and economic development. In order to get our country ba... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack and Congressman Todd Russell Platts (R-PA) reintroduced the bipartisan Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously last year. The SECTORS Act will support “sector” or “industry partnerships”, which allow businesses, unions, educators, and the public workforce development system to develop and implement plans that help workers train for and advance in high-demand... Read more

WASHINGTON - Congressman Dave Loebsack joined a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Loebsack was the senior Democrat on the trip. While in Pakistan, Loebsack and other members of the House Armed Services Committee discussed counterterrorism operations. In Afghanistan, Loebsack met with U.S. officials and military leaders, including General Petraeus and Ambassador Eikenberry, and Afghan officials, including Afghan Supreme Court Justices and local leaders. In addition,... Read more