Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack, joined by the other four members of the Iowa House Congressional delegation, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters respectfully requesting additional assistance to repair the critical highway infrastructure destroyed by the recent floods. Specifically, the letter requests the U.S. Department of Transportation to waive the requirement of matching local funds, streamline administrative processes, and provide relief of regulato... Read more

At the request of Congressman Dave Loebsack, Senator Tom Harkin, and Senator Charles Grassley, the Judicial Conference of the U.S. Courts Executive Committee announced today the Cedar Rapids Courthouse has moved up on the priority list of courthouses in-line to receive federal funding for the construction of new facilities. Congressman Loebsack released the following statement in response to this announcement. “The need for a new courthouse facility in Cedar Rapids has been a priority in the com... Read more

The Iowa House delegation announced today that at their urging the House Appropriations Committee has included $2.65 billion dollars in emergency funding in the Emergency Supplemental bill that will be voted on today. This $2.65 billion will be distributed between the following federal accounts: FEMA, the Army Corp of Engineers, SBA Disaster Loans, and Agricultural Assistance. “The devastating effects of these floods can be seen throughout Iowa,” said Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02). “By worki... Read more

Today, while traveling through the Second Congressional District with President George W. Bush and Governor Chet Culver, Congressman Dave Loebsack worked with Senator Tom Harkin to secure federal funding for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Economic Development Disaster Assistance Grants. “As I toured Cedar Rapids and Iowa City today with President Bush, I was encouraged by the clean-up efforts that have already begun, however we all understand the road to recovery will be long,” sa... Read more

Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement upon passage of the House Emergency Supplemental bill that included $2.65 billion in emergency funding to assist the communities, residents, and businesses affected by the floods in Iowa and throughout the Midwest. “Iowa has been hard hit by the recent flooding, and I appreciate my colleague’s cooperation in providing immediate funding to allow our state to begin to address the devastating effects the floods have had on the Second Distri... Read more

Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, H.R. 3021. This legislation, which was authored by Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Congressman Ben Chandler (KY-06), and Congressman Dale Kildee (MI-5), provides schools with access to funding for modernization, renovation and repair projects and encourages energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources in schools. “The condition of our nation’s school fac... Read more

Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack voted in strong support of legislation to help families unfairly hit by the ISO-AMT tax, including June and Ron Speltz of Ely, Iowa. Congressman Loebsack has championed this tax reform and played a critical role in getting this provision included in the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act, which was approved by the House 263-160. This legislation will also help expand the production and use of renewable energy, create new green color jobs in Iowa, and extend vi... Read more

Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack voted in support of an emergency supplemental bill that would restore full GI benefits for soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. This new GI Bill for the 21st century is a key step in honoring the service and sacrifice of our troops by restoring the promise of the GI Bill to pay for a full four-year college education. “For too long our country has not lived up to our promise of serving our nation’s veterans with the same honor, commitment and dignit... Read more

Today, as Iowans are paying record high gas prices, Congressman Dave Loebsack joined an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in support of legislation that would temporarily suspend the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) until the end of the year and bring down the cost of gasoline. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act was approved by a vote of 385-25. The U.S. Senate passed a similar provision by a vote of 97-1. “H... Read more

Today, a substitute amendment offered by Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa and Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan during committee mark-up of the 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, H.R. 3021, was accepted by the members of the House Education and Labor Committee. The Loebsack-Kildee Amendment revised the base bill, and allows for new federal investments in green school construction. “The environment in which our students learn and educators teach can have an immense impa... Read more