“As the President has said, as I have said, and more importantly, as Iowan after Iowan has said, health care reform is long overdue, and doing nothing while health care costs skyrocket is unacceptable. Tonight’s address reminded all Americans that this issue is about much more than political points and posturing – it is about people’s lives. “People like Darlyne Neff, a 75-year old retired teacher from Iowa City, and a guest of the First Lady at tonight’s address. A cancer survivor, and an avid ... Read more

Reps. Leonard Boswell, Dave Loebsack, and Bruce Braley today announced a major breakthrough on the issue of Medicare payment reform as the healthcare reform debate continues to intensify in Congress. Boswell, Loebsack, and Braley have been outspoken advocates for changing the way Medicare pays healthcare providers for services, from its current fee-for-service system into a quality and value-based system. Boswell, Loebsack, and Braley helped negotiate a compromise adding language to the healthca... Read more

Today, Congressman Loebsack added critical provisions to the Health Care reform bill that will create long term cost saving measures, help Iowa grow and retain its already strong base of quality health care providers, and give families peace of mind and stability with their health insurance. The Education and Labor Committee, one of the three committees charged with authoring health care reform, passed the bill this morning. “I have been working day in and day out on health care reform. We need ... Read more

Today, the Education and Labor Committee, one of the committees charged with authoring the bill, began considering the Health Care reform bill that was introduced in the House of Representatives this week. In his opening statement, Congressman Loebsack highlighted the need for comprehensive, lasting reform that provides stable health care coverage that can't be taken away, with greater choices, and the peace of mind that health care bills won’t destroy lifetime savings. The Congressman also vowe... Read more

Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that $1,812,810 for construction and equipment will be distributed to the Second District’s Health Centers. These funds come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “When it come to quality health care, Iowa is consistently ranked one of the best,” said Congressman Loebsack. “These funds will help upgrade facilities and allow our health care professionals to purchase new equipment so that our community health centers can continue to offer high ... Read more

Congressman Loebsack announced today that the Second District will receive an additional $900,686 in funding from the Recovery Package for community health centers. The funding will be used to help families coping with unemployment keep their health insurance. Health centers provide comprehensive primary and preventative health care services for uninsured and underinsured citizens. “This critical funding will help provide affordable, accessible health care to hardworking Iowa families,” said Con... Read more

“I am pleased that President Obama is going to issue an executive order today that reverses President Bush’s directive on embryonic stem cell research. By lifting the ban on federally funded stem cell research, President Obama brings hope to the many people whose quality of life could be vastly improved through research and innovation. “Since I have been a member of congress, I have signed onto The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 873) each year. There are more than 100 million individua... Read more

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released $1.3 million in funding over two years for the River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa. These funds are available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law on February 17, 2009 by President Obama. In these difficult economic times, health centers provide comprehensive primary and preventative health care services for uninsure... Read more

Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack delivered the following statement on the floor of the United States House of Representatives in strong support of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization, H.R. 2. The improvements to Children’s Health Insurance made through this legislation will ensure continued health benefits for the children currently enrolled in Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (HAWK-I), and will provide coverage for the tens of thousands of low-income children in I... Read more

Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack voted in support of the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act, H.R. 5613, to place a moratorium until March 2009 on seven Administration-imposed Medicaid regulations. If these regulations were allowed to go into place, they would jeopardize needed services and protections for millions of vulnerable beneficiaries and severely impact state budgets at a time when states are already financially struggling. “Having access to affordable quality health care is critical... Read more