David Loebsack

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, we have voted for similar SCHIP measures in the past, but those efforts were thwarted time and time again. I believe today is a new day. Today, we will send a clear message to those who need our help the most--our children. This Congress and the new administration will tell the 38,000 uninsured children in Iowa and the millions more across the country that we care and that we will no longer leave them without the health care they need. I look forward to casting my vote in strong support of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my sincere congratulations to the City of Iowa City for its designation as a City of Literature by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Iowa City is only the third city in the world to receive such designation, and the first in the United States. This recognition is well-deserved and rightly honors a city which has long been dedicated to literature and the arts. The City of Iowa City alone has produced more than 25 Pulitzer Prize winners in literature since 1955, as well as four recent U.S. Poet Laureates. I am proud of all who contributed to Iowa City receiving this designation, including Christopher Merrill, the current director of the University of Iowa International Writing Program. I trust future residents and generations to come will not only recognize the importance of this designation, but also continue to carry on the city's tradition of literary excellence.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to speak about the natural disaster that has hit Iowa, first tornados and then floods, in the most recent weeks. This is a natural disaster obviously that also hit other parts of the Midwest. Some 10 States in the Midwest have been struck by massive flooding since June. First of all, I want to commend my colleagues from Iowa in the House and in the Senate. We have worked together, I think, in stellar bipartisan fashion since the floods struck Iowa, and I commend my colleagues. I am very proud of the fact that we have come together to do what we can for our great State. I have every confidence that we are going to continue to work together in the coming months and indeed in the years ahead. The people of Iowa are self-sufficient and self-reliant. We are strong. We are the salt of the earth. We do not believe in asking for much. We would rather earn things on our own. When faced with a disaster, Iowans stand together to move forward and rebuild. Our commitment to community and resilience may lead some to believe that the tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding which hit the State of Iowa was only a minor event. However, having spent the majority of my time back home, I can assure you that this is anything but a minor event. Indeed, in my district alone, the Second District of Iowa, we have several rivers, and in virtually every case they flowed out of their banks in early to mid June. Whether it's Cedar Rapids that saw the Cedar River rise 50 percent above its previous record and overflow its banks and displace 20,000 to 25,000 individuals; or the Iowa River in Iowa City, where it again spilled over the Coralville Reservoir and exceeded its previous record level by 3 feet and caused some $232 million damage to the University of Iowa; or whether it was the Iowa River coming together with the Cedar River in Columbus Junction and engulfing much of that city, and particularly its commercial areas; or whether it was the Iowa River that split off just before it hit Oakville, the tiny town of Oakville, and formed two channels but included the town of Oakville really in one large channel, a town of just over 400 people; or the Mississippi from Muscatine on down to Keokuk; or the Des Moines River from Ottumwa on to Keokuk. All of these rivers flowed out of their banks and caused massive damage in Iowa during this period. I have gone to every one of the counties. I have seen the damage, from urban areas to rural areas. We have probably close to $10 billion worth of damage, if not more, in the State of Iowa. We did get an initial $2.65 billion package that included Iowa and other States affected by the flooding. But, Madam Speaker, it's time to do more. It has been 2 months and 5 days since this disaster struck our State. Next month, I have flood assistance meetings set up in all of my flood- related counties, and I am going to do everything I can obviously to help my constituents. I am committed to working every hour of every day to get the necessary assistance to my constituents. I am, of course, disappointed that this Congress has yet to move forward on a second disaster package, and indeed it looks as though we are not going to move forward before this weekend. That has caused me great disappointment and displeasure. But I am also committed to working with the leadership on both sides of the aisle, and the President, to provide them with any information they need for us to move forward. As I said before, I am committed to working with my colleagues in the House and in the Senate from Iowa, and others in the Disaster Working Group, which my office helped to create, a bipartisan working group that includes 19 Members of the House of Representatives. I know that, working together, we can provide the relief that Iowa and these other States deserve.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. My amendment to this bill is simple. It requires the Secretary, in consultation with States, to study the risk to bridges posed by a 500- year flood and to report the results to Congress not later than 2 years after the enactment of this legislation. In this study, consideration is to be given to safety, serviceability, essentiality for public use and for public safety, including the potential impacts to regional and national freight and passenger mobility if the serviceability of the bridge is restricted or diminished. As the Nation became aware after the tragedy in the State of Minnesota in August of last year, our transportation infrastructure and especially our bridges are deteriorating. The State of Iowa, among others, has experienced devastating flooding these past 2 months, which in portions of my district continues even today. Numerous cities in my district experienced flooding well beyond the predicted 500-year flood level, leading to what will be the worst natural disaster in the State's recorded history. As of Friday of last week, one bridge in my district was still closed, and even today, eastbound traffic on a major bridge in one city remains closed because of a sinkhole. It is likely that these bridges have sustained damage that could endanger individuals and families in my district. These risks are real, and I commend Chairman Oberstar and the ranking member for crafting this legislation and also for creating a risk-based prioritization system for the replacement and for the rehabilitation of deficient bridges. One very real risk to bridges is a major flood event. It is essential that we authorize the study to further examine the danger to bridges from a devastating flood like Midwestern States have experienced in recent months. It is my hope with this study that the more information we have to identify safety issues which may endanger people's lives the better prepared Federal, State and local governments will be to cope with flood disasters and to make adjustments to transportation policy to further ensure the public's safety. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to yield now to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare) for 2 minutes.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleagues for their consideration of this amendment today, and I want to thank them for their support of this amendment. I urge its passage. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of reauthorization of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. As a cosponsor of the House version of this bill, I am pleased that this legislation will reauthorize a program that is vital not only to my District, but to Iowa, and States across the country. Byrne JAG is one of our country's most effective law enforcement tools. It is the only source of federal funding for multi- jurisdictional efforts to prevent, fight, and prosecute drug-related and violent crime. The program funds drug treatment; keeps our communities safe by increasing the number of officers on the street; and gives local law enforcement officers the tools they need to shut down the production and distribution of illegal drugs. With the help of Byrne JAG funding, State and local law enforcement officers across the country have made tremendous strides in combating illegal drugs. A recent study found that Byrne JAG funded programs have led to 220,000 arrests, the seizure of 54,000 weapons; the destruction of 5.5 million grams of methamphetamine, and the elimination of almost 9,000 methamphetamine labs. In Iowa, reported methamphetamine labs have dropped 90 percent since their peak in 2004. Meanwhile, meth treatment admissions have increased and Iowa now has the third highest rate of meth treatment in the country. Child abuse due to meth labs is in decline, and three recent Iowa Youth Surveys have shown steady decline in substance use among 6th, 8th, and 11th grade students. What these statistics make clear is that Byrne JAG is proven, effective, and critical to public safety. This reauthorization lays the groundwork for robust funding for Byrne JAG through 2012, and I urge my colleagues to not only support adoption of the bill but to also support full funding for the program in this and coming years.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere sympathy for individuals and families in my district, people across Iowa and throughout the Midwest who have experienced and in some cases are still experiencing severe flooding, record-setting water levels and other threatening weather conditions, including the tornadoes that swept through Northeast and Western Iowa. My thoughts are also with those individuals and families who are beginning the difficult task of assessing the extreme damage to their homes and businesses and just now starting the recovery process. To date, the Governor of Iowa has issued emergency declarations for 86 of 99 Iowa counties and the President has declared 78 of those counties major disaster areas. Despite these dire circumstances, just days ago when back in my district, I saw home and business owners who saw their life's work washed away come together to rebuild a stronger and a better community. I was especially moved by a business owner whose company had been damaged. He was in tears talking about the situation, but his only concern was for his employees, their families and their homes. The storms have devastated much of the Midwest, but Iowans and other Midwesterners have not lost their enduring spirit. I am extremely thankful to the thousands of volunteers who have sacrificed their free time to help their neighbors in these difficult times. I have spent time myself helping with the flood fighting and cleanup efforts and have been touched by the intensity and the commitment of the residents and volunteers, despite the circumstances. I commend them for their perseverance. I am also extremely thankful for the hard work of Iowa's Governor's Office, local city officials, first responders, Iowa Homeland Security, the Departments of Human Services, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Public Health and Transportation, the Incident Management Team and the Iowa Insurance Division. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island Division has also been an integral partner in the flood response efforts, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and the Red Cross in their response and assistance. The Iowa National Guard deserves special attention. Many of these servicemembers had already served their country overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan in combat roles. Now they were called upon to perform their domestic function of helping tens of thousands of Iowans battle the raging floodwaters. These men and women deserve our gratitude and respect. Through the cooperation and bipartisan work of the House and Senate, the delegations of the affected States, the Appropriations Committees, and the party leaderships, we were able to provide a meaningful down payment of Federal assistance for the victims of this immense natural disaster. I want to thank all of you for your support so far, especially those colleagues who have offered their sympathy and assistance to me and my district personally. We have only just begun to assess the magnitude of damage in Iowa and across the Midwest. As the recovery process continues, I hope the House and Senate will continue to work together in a bipartisan fashion to address the needs of individuals, families, communities, and businesses in all the affected States. I remain committed to working together to necessary Federal support to my fellow Iowans. The road to recovery for Iowa and other Midwestern States will be long and difficult, but the commitment of local, State, and Federal Governments, combined with the steadfast resiliency of our Midwest families, will enable our communities to rebuild, move forward, and thrive once again.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere sympathy for residents in my district and around Iowa who are currently experiencing severe flooding at record setting levels. Just this weekend I went to two neighborhoods to help sandbag and protect homes. I spoke with a man who pointed to his home and said, ``This is the only thing I have.'' It was a very emotional setting. I was touched by the intensity and good spirits of many of the residents and volunteers despite the circumstances, and I commend them for their perseverance. The Governor of Iowa has already issued emergency proclamations for many of Iowa's counties, and four counties have been declared Presidential disaster areas. I understand that the National Guard has been activated to assist in the flood control efforts. I am grateful for their assistance. I continue to stand ready to help my fellow Iowans in any way possible.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Miller for his really great work on this legislation. I also want to thank Mr. Chandler for his commitment to this issue, and Mr. Kildee, of course, for his longstanding work on this issue, and for his partnership in offering the substitute amendment to this bill during committee mark- up. Mr. Kildee's and my amendment combined important provisions from Mr. Chandler's legislation and provisions from my own legislation, the Public School Repair and Renovation Improvement Act and the Green School Improvement Act, and it also contained suggestions from many members, many other members of our committee who have prioritized green school construction over the years. Schools across this country are deteriorating. Problems vary region by region, State by State and even district by district. I can see the problems in my own district in Iowa, especially in our rural schools. In Iowa, these schools serve close to 170,000 students. This bill will help Iowa by directing over $35 million to the State. This Federal investment will help leverage additional local dollars and create over 560 new jobs. This bill also focuses on the importance of ``greening'' schools. Research demonstrates that green school technology can lead to increased health, learning ability and productivity. This includes improved test scores, attendance, teacher retention and satisfaction. This legislation is a much needed investment in the education and safety of our students. Today, when we pass this bill, Congress will tell our students they matter. Congress will tell the American people that our economy and good jobs and good wages matter. And Congress will tell all of us that maintaining a healthy environment for all matters. Madam Chairman, I urge the bill's passage.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an amazing team from the 2nd District of Iowa, which I represent. I'm proud to stand before my colleagues today and commend the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team for winning the 2008 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championship. As many wrestling fans know, the University of Iowa has a celebrated history of exemplary wrestlers and coaches that have allowed the University of Iowa, the city of Iowa City, and the entire State of Iowa to boast numerous Big Ten Titles and NCAA championships. In total, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team has won 32 Big Ten Conference Championships, and since 1975, a total of 21 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships. The current team has kept the Hawkeye record strong and it's my privilege to congratulate them on the 32nd Big Ten Title and 21st national championship for the school. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team is led by Head Coach Tom Brands who, in addition to this championship win, was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and the National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Under Coach Brands' leadership, along with his assistants and strength coaches, the team also had two individual national champions. Mark Perry won his second national title while overcoming a knee injury during his match, and was also awarded his fourth all-American honor. Brent Metcalf won his first national title. He was also awarded his first all-American honor, the Dan Hodge Trophy, was named as the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, was crowned a Big Ten Champion, finished the season with a 32-match winning streak, was named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA and Big Ten Championships, and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Division I NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. Including the two individual national champions, the team had a total of seven all-Americans and six Academic All-Big Ten wrestlers. With the wrestling program starting in 1911, the current University of Iowa Hawkeyes Wrestling Team has built upon past successes to continue the teams and schools winning tradition. As wrestling fans know, much of this past success was made possible by the leadership of former head coach, and Olympic Gold Medalist, Dan Gable, who continues to provide guidance and leadership to the program. Congratulations to the entire University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team, the University of Iowa, the city of Iowa City, and to my home State of Iowa for this great victory.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an amazing team from the Second District of Iowa, which I represent. I'm proud to stand before my colleagues today and commend the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team for winning the 2008 NCAA Division I national wrestling championship. As many wrestling fans know, the University of Iowa has a celebrated history of exemplary wrestlers and coaches who have allowed the University of Iowa, the city of Iowa City, and the entire State of Iowa to boast numerous Big Ten titles and NCAA championships. In total, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team has won 32 Big Ten Conference championships and, since 1975, a total of 21 NCAA Division I national wrestling championships. The current team has kept the Hawkeye record strong, and it's my privilege to congratulate them on the 32nd Big Ten title and the 21st national championship for the school. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team is led by Head Coach Tom Brands, who, in addition to this championship win, was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Under Coach Brands' leadership, along with his assistants and strength coaches, the team also had two individual national champions. Mark Perry won his second national title even while overcoming a knee injury during his match and also was awarded his fourth All-American honor. Brent Metcalf won his first national title. He was also awarded his first All-American honor, the Dan Hodge Trophy, was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, was crowned a Big Ten champion, finished the season with a 32-match winning streak, was named outstanding wrestler at the NCAA and Big Ten championships, and was named outstanding wrestler at the Division I NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. Including the two individual national champions, the team had a total of seven All-Americans and six Academic All-Big Ten wrestlers. With the wrestling program starting in 1911, the current University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team has built upon past successes to continue the team's and school's winning tradition. As wrestling fans know, much of this past success was made possible by the leadership of former head coach and Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable, who continues to provide guidance and leadership to the program. Congratulations to the entire University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team, the University of Iowa, the city of Iowa City, and to my home State of Iowa for this great victory.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall vote 221, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, this week is Week of the Young Child, and I stand before you and my colleagues this evening to call for the full funding of Head Start, our Nation's premier early education program, and for Child Care and Development Block Grants. I understand firsthand how important Head Start and subsidized child care programs are for low-income working families. I grew up in poverty, and I had a single mother who suffered from mental illness. I relied on support from my extended family, community, and friends. And as a result of the support that I received, I was able to focus on school, work hard, and achieve the American Dream. However, not all children are fortunate enough to have this sort of support system outside of their homes, and even with this additional support, many of Iowa's children could benefit from attending Head Start. Additionally, many hardworking, low-income parents could more easily push their families out of poverty if provided access to affordable and reliable child care. This is why it is critical that we properly fund Head Start and Child Care and Development Block Grants so we can expand enrollment and provide greater support to working families and opportunity to our Nation's children. For years we have been provided with statistics proving the benefits of Head Start and affordable child care. We know that children enrolled in Head Start will excel academically, have fewer health problems, and adapt better both socially and emotionally. However, to appreciate fully the benefits, Madam Speaker, one simply has to speak with the parents of these outstanding young students. In Iowa's Second District, which I am proud to represent, I have been lucky enough to visit a number of Head Start locations, and I have received letters from the parents of a number of these students. One of these letters was from Trina Thompson, a single, hardworking parent of two. Her youngest child attends Head Start in Iowa City, where she shared with me that ``The staff and the program itself at Head Start are invaluable to my family and many others. It is a well-run program that has been vitally beneficial to my daughter and my family.'' Ms. Thompson went on to say, ``I can go to work every day secure in the knowledge that my daughter is safe in a positive learning environment with amazing people.'' Ms. Thompson is not alone in her praise of these critical programs and the outstanding educators and child care providers. The photo behind me today is a photo of one of these exceptional providers. Kelly Mathews of Iowa City is pictured here with children at the child care center she runs in Iowa. Ms. Mathews works 50 hours a week with the children at this center. Then she spends additional time filling out paperwork, completing continuing education credits, shopping for supplies, and creating a challenging and exciting curriculum for the children under her care. Ms. Mathews does all this for one clear reason: ``to change the world.'' But we know this goal isn't easy, especially when Ms. Mathews is receiving a very modest salary with no benefits and no paid time off. We must do better for Ms. Mathews, better for all the child care providers and Head Start teachers, better for the children in Iowa and across the country, and better for hardworking families. Unfortunately, this year the President failed to stand up for our country's children. He failed to prioritize their needs, forgetting that these children are the key to our country's future success. This year the President proposes flat funding for child care that will cause 200,000 children to lose access to child care assistance by 2009. The administration also acknowledges that fewer children will be served in Head Start under their proposal. Should these cuts be implemented, the Kelly Mathews of the world will find it even more difficult to make ends meet, and the Trina Thompsons and their young children will find it next to impossible to secure a spot at their local Head Start. And this is simply not acceptable. I urge all of my colleagues to take a moment this week in honor of the Week of the Young Child to think about the tens of thousands of children you represent that could be provided a wealth of opportunity and hope in their lives if we simply reject the President's budget proposal and choose to invest in the future and well-being of our children.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Thank you very much. I would like to thank the gentleman from Washington for organizing this Special Order hour on the award for the contract to build the next generation of air refueling tankers. I want to thank everyone who's here at this point speaking on this issue. Needless to say, I was deeply disappointed that the KCX refueling tanker contract was not awarded to the Boeing team. Rockwell Collins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a part of the Boeing bid and would supply the aviation and electronic sub systems on the KC-767 advanced tanker. The State of Iowa has a well-earned reputation, I believe, as a leader in innovation, and Rockwell Collins is at the forefront of the cutting edge technological development for which our State is known. With 9,200 employees in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor, Rockwell Collins is the largest employer in the Second Congressional District in Iowa. The Boeing bid would bring 1,600 high-paying jobs to Iowa, most of them in the Second Congressional District, and would invest over $60 million annually in the State. Equally important, it would put a program that is absolutely vital to our national security and the readiness of our armed forces in the hands of highly skilled Iowans and American innovators and manufacturers. I think that is an absolutely critical point to make. Rockwell Collins employees are hardworking, they are dedicated, and they are highly qualified workers. They work each day to provide the men and women who wear our country's uniform with the equipment and the tools they need to safely carry out their mission. I am a member of the Armed Services Committee and I know the importance of the aerial refueling tanker to our ability to support, equip and provide medical care to our deployed men and women in uniform. As the Representative of Iowa's Second Congressional District, I know firsthand the impact of putting thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars into Iowa. In light of this and our country's current economic state, I find it difficult to believe that the Air Force has elected to ship thousands of jobs overseas by awarding a key component of the United States Air Force to a heavily subsidized European industry. The aerial refueling tanker contract award must serve the interests of the American people and American national security. I repeat that. It must serve the interests of the American people and American national security. The awarding of the tanker contract to Northrop Grumman and EADS will force the Iowa Air National Guard to use scarce resources to construct new hangars in order to accommodate the larger size of the EADS planes. The estimated cost for the construction of the new hangars would be roughly $45 million. Moreover, the runways currently used by the Iowa Air National Guard are not able to withstand the weight of a fully loaded EADS tanker. Thus, new ramps and runways would have to be constructed. The total cost incurred by the Iowa Air National Guard to house the Northrop Grumman EADS plane would be roughly $50 million to $60 million. I fear that the awarding of this contract to a non-U.S.-based company would not only send tens of thousands of American manufacturing jobs to Europe, it would put important defense manufacturing expertise in foreign hands. I am especially concerned that this would leave our country perilously dependent on foreign contractors for our most important national security needs. And this is unacceptable. The aerial refueling tanker is critical to our national security. We all know that. I strongly believe that American defense should be in the hands of American workers. I urge the GAO to carefully evaluate Boeing's petition and to assure that our men and women in uniform have the best value and the best performing equipment. I thank the gentleman from Washington for allowing me to speak.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that further consideration of the veto message and the bill be postponed until Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Yes, I will.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Skelton for his comments. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. No.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 493) congratulating the women's water polo team of the University of California, Los Angeles, for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Water Polo National Championship, and congratulating UCLA on its 100th NCAA sports national title, making it the most accomplished athletic program in NCAA history, as amended.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to House Resolution 493 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. LOEBSACK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. LOEBSACK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 924) congratulating Iowa State University of Science and Technology for 150 years of leadership and service to the United States and the world as Iowa's land-grant university, as amended.