The bipartisan, bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal today received assurances from Secretary of the Army John McHugh that the Army currently has no plans to close the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) at Rock Island Arsenal. Today’s letter was sent in response to a May 26th letter sent by the delegation that called for a meeting with McHugh to discuss their concerns about the cost associated with conducting such a move as well as the impact it would have on... Read more

Today, Congressman Loebsack issued the following statement after speaking with Secretary of the Army John McHugh about the future of the Rock Island Arsenal and the Joint Manufacturing Technology Center. “I served with Secretary McHugh on the House Armed Services Committee during his time in Congress, and I took this opportunity to discuss with him the importance of the Arsenal to the Quad Cities economy and to the Army. The Arsenal and its workforce have played a vital function in equipping our... Read more

Congressmen Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17), and Bruce Braley (D-IA-01) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Army John McHugh following their conference call held this afternoon to discuss the future of the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) at the Rock Island Arsenal. The call was in response to the members’ request made May 27. While on the conference call the Congressmen expressed to Secretary McHugh their concerns regarding the Army Materiel Command (... Read more

Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack introduced legislation to increase the transparency of FEMA’s flood mapping process to ensure that property owners can more fully participate in the process of mapping and updating flood insurance maps. “I support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and believe it was a vital tool in helping Iowans recover after the devastating Floods of 2008. However, too many homeowners and businesses in Iowa have been caught off guard by new or updated maps and have ha... Read more

In a letter sent today by the bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal, Congressman Dave Loebsack, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Congressmen Bruce Braley (D-IA-01), and Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17) pushed for substantive answers to questions surrounding the future of the Rock Island Arsenal from General Ann Dunwoody, Commanding General of Army Materiel Command (AMC). Following the letter the same group sent yesterday, th... Read more

Today, the House of Representatives passed the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 1540. The bill included Congressman Loebsack’s legislation to improve mental health care services for our National Guard and Reserve units, and language authored by Loebsack and Congressman Bobby Schilling (R-IL) to strengthen the Rock Island Arsenal. “This Memorial Day, Iowans will come together to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom and pay tribute... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Loebsack reintroduced the Reducing Barriers To Learning Act of 2011 to increase student access to critical services and to assist schools in addressing the non-academic factors that may affect students’ ability to learn. “We have to give every student the opportunity to succeed, and for many children that means providing services to address their safety, health, and wellbeing in addition to meeting their academic needs,” said Loebsack. “This legislation will hel... Read more

Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed HR 1627, which included a bill sponsored by Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and the Disability and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Jon Runyan (R-NJ) that would end an unofficial system of “reserved” gravesites for VIPs at Arlington National Cemetery. “Arlington National Cemetery is our nation’s most hallowed ground, and any eligible veteran who has fought for our nation should have the opportunity to be laid to rest there without reg... Read more

Yesterday, the House Armed Services Committee marked up the National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 1540. The bill included Congressman Loebsack’s legislation to improve mental health care services for our National Guard and Reserve units, and language authored by Loebsack and Congressman Schilling (R-IL) to strengthen the Rock Island Arsenal. Loebsack also successfully included amendments that would help upgrade National Guard facilities, reduce energy costs at industrial facilities, and impro... Read more

This morning, the House Armed Services Committee approved provisions co-authored by Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Congressman Bobby Schilling (R-IL) that will significantly strengthen the ability of the region to leverage assets of the Rock Island Arsenal for job creation and economic growth. The provisions, included in the House’s version of the FY12 National Defense Authorization Act, would enable arsenals to enter into more public-private partnerships (PPPs), allowing the Rock Island A... Read more