David Loebsack

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, while I oppose the underlying bill, I am offering this final amendment on a topic that I know is important to all of us--our Nation's seniors. Our seniors have worked hard all their lives. Many of them have lived through some of the most trying times in American history, including the Great Depression and two world wars. They have also been a part of some of our country's proudest achievements and moments, like putting the first man on the Moon. Along the way, our seniors have made incredible sacrifices for their families and for their country. My own grandmother helped take care of me while I was young, making sure that my siblings and I had a safe place to live and food on the table. That is why our seniors deserve the best care and treatment available as they age. I have visited seniors all across my district in Iowa, delivering Meals on Wheels in Cedar Rapids and Muscatine, serving lunch at senior dining in Marion, and hosting events at senior centers and retirement communities like Westgate Towers in Ottumwa and Cedar County Senior Center in Tipton where this photo was taken. One of my proudest moments in Congress in fact was when I met with a group of World War II veterans who were here from Iowa on an honor flight tour. I was privileged to thank them for their service. When I talk to seniors in my district, I hear far too often that many of them are struggling. This is unacceptable. No senior should retire into poverty or have difficulty paying their medical bills. While we may disagree on the Republican budget, which would end Medicare as we know it, I think we can all agree that we owe seniors access to the preventive health care and public health efforts that the underlying bill would repeal. I am determined to fight for our seniors and to make sure that we keep our promises to them. That is why this final amendment will ensure that the repeal of the Prevention and Public Health Fund will not apply to prevention, wellness, and public health activities for individuals 65 years of age or older. This funding can be used for programs that promote wellness, that empower seniors to take personal responsibility for staying healthy as they age. It can also be used for prevention, including screenings for cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The fund can also be used for public health activities to ensure that seniors have the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their health. These funds can also be used for research, so we can find ways to prevent health problems associated with aging. What's more, by focusing on public health and prevention, this fund can reduce costs in the long run. We all know that early detection improves patient outcomes and saves money, and successful public health campaigns have demonstrated that we can decrease unhealthy behaviors by equipping people with good information. That is why I believe the underlying bill, itself, is penny wise but pound foolish. In the long run, the underlying bill only serves to hurt the Nation's seniors. It is unfortunate that some are choosing to make this shortsighted decision when the health of our seniors is at stake. Madam Speaker, the American people, we should keep in mind, sent us here not to fight with each other over critical issues such as the one before us today but to fight together for them. I urge all Members to join me in ensuring that our Nation's seniors have access to the preventive health care that will keep them healthy, allowing them to enjoy their friends and families and remain active in their communities. We owe the seniors in our districts at least that much. The passage of this amendment will not prevent the passage of the underlying bill. If the amendment is adopted, it will be incorporated into the bill and the bill will be immediately voted upon. I believe, Madam Speaker, that now is the time to show the American people that we as a body can indeed work effectively for them, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this commonsense final amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I mistakenly cast my vote on rollcall vote No. 209 on Representative DeFazio's Amendment No. 9 to H.R. 658 as a ``no'' vote. I intended to cast an ``aye'' vote on this measure.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chair, I mistakenly cast my vote on this measure as a ``no'' vote. I intended to cast an ``aye'' vote on this measure.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the chair for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to come to the floor today to say that I think this debate is a distraction. I have spent a lot of time visiting schools and talking with teachers and parents in my district, and this debate does nothing to address what they tell me they need. What they want is for us to work together to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and to fix the things that we know are wrong with No Child Left Behind. If we care about improving their education, we should be working to make our system more flexible and less punitive, which is something that both sides of the aisle agree needs to happen. I urge my colleagues to come together to work on the pressing education issues: America's decline in international education rankings; unacceptable dropout rates and achievement gaps; and the need to create a smart, innovative workforce prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding. Madam Speaker, I am particularly honored today to join my friend and colleague, Congressman Latham, in offering this resolution. Tomorrow, the Iowa delegation will join the Chief of Staff of the Army, General George Casey, and Senator Inouye to honor and recognize Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. Staff Sergeant Giunta is from Hiawatha, Iowa, at the moment--although he was born and raised in Clinton. Hiawatha is a town I am proud to represent in the Second District. I first had the honor of meeting Sergeant Giunta--or Sal--while visiting our troops stationed overseas during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, and I was able to have Thanksgiving dinner with him at Vicenza. What immediately struck me about Sergeant Giunta was his humility. He made sergeant in just 4 years. He was a veteran of two tours in Afghanistan by the time he was 22 years old. And while surrounded by Taliban fighters in the Korengal Valley in 2007 and having been hit twice himself, he ran directly into gunfire in order to save his wounded comrades and prevent a U.S. soldier from being captured. Yet since being awarded the Medal of Honor, Sergeant Giunta has insisted that what he did to save his fellow paratroopers was nothing any other soldier wouldn't have done. He has insisted time and again, whether at the White House, the Pentagon, or at the State house in Des Moines, that he holds the Medal of Honor on behalf of his fellow servicemembers. After being inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, Sergeant Giunta refused to let the spotlight rest on him alone. Instead, he saluted those who had come before him and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. He said, ``To all the ones that can't be here--not just one or two, but all of them--not just from the 173rd, not just from Battle Company, but from all services, from the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marines, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, the Reserves: Everyone who has ever given so much more than I ever know, I want to say thank you, right now, to those men and those women because without them, I'm nothing. I haven't given anything compared to those who have given everything.'' So I think it is especially appropriate that we have come together to pay tribute not just to Sergeant Giunta, and not just to his fellow Medal of Honor recipients of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but to each of the 3,448 men and one woman who have received the highest military honor since President Lincoln signed into law legislation offered by a fellow Iowan to create the medal in 1861. The Medal of Honor is reserved for those who are distinguished ``conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.'' It seems only appropriate that we, the people's House, honor their bravery, their service, and their sacrifice today by directing that the United States flag be flown over the Capitol in their honor. For nearly a decade, the men and women of our All-Volunteer Force, as well as their families, have answered the call of duty and have served our Nation on two fronts often making great sacrifices and carrying out acts of unimaginable bravery that those of us here at home never read about here on the front page. So even as we come together to honor the bravest of the brave, let us also honor every man and every woman who wears our Nation's uniform and who has deployed time and again, in many instances, to defend our Nation, missing moments large and small with their families in order to ensure that our freedom endures. While he may not think of himself as such, to me, Sergeant Giunta is a true American hero. He is who I want my grandkids to grow up looking up to. And that is a sentiment shared by thousands of Iowans who are so tremendously proud of the soldier we've come to think of as our hometown hero. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation as a small token of our appreciation for the incredible bravery demonstrated by Medal of Honor recipients of today and those of past times and past conflicts.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank my colleague and friend from Iowa for recognizing me. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues, my constituents, and all Americans in mourning for those who lost their lives in this weekend's heinous event and in praying for those, including our dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Giffords, who are fighting to recover. I have had the honor to serve with Gabby, like many in this body, on the Armed Services Committee since we were both elected in 2006, and I've always been struck by her intelligence and by her commitment to her constituents. When she and her constituents were attacked on Saturday, she was carrying out the most central of our responsibilities as elected representatives, as was already mentioned, and that is making ourselves available to our constituents. That this horrific attack occurred in the middle of a gathering that is the basis of our representative democracy is a reminder to us all that we must all remain constantly committed to upholding the principles upon which our great Nation was founded. As we come together to offer our prayers to all those involved, I hope that we will carry forward the sentiment that so many have expressed in the last few days, including on the floor of this House of Representatives, that our country's commitment to passionate debate is the heart of our democracy, but that debate must also be rooted in civil discourse and mutual respect. We can, and we should, debate with vigor the pressing challenges facing our Nation, but we must do so in a way that moves our country forward and that is constructive. In part, that will require us to recommit ourselves--recommit ourselves--to civil discourse and honest debate as well as to remaining accessible to our constituents and listening to all viewpoints. We are a Nation, I believe, that rejects violence. And on a day when we saw really the very worst of humanity, we also saw the very best: individuals who were willing to lay down their lives to save others. Let those folks serve as our inspiration, and let us continue to keep all those affected in our thoughts and prayers and continue to move forward in America in a constructive, positive, and mutually respectful manner.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. Madam Speaker, there are currently 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer's, and the prevalence of the disease is expected to increase rapidly as the baby boomer generation, my generation, begins to age. As a degenerative disease that affects memory and other cognitive functioning, Alzheimer's can be very frustrating, both for the person afflicted and for family, friends, and caretakers. Far too many of us have lost a loved one because of this disease. It is time we find a cure for Alzheimer's. This bill is an extremely important contribution to the search for that cure. It will establish a coordinated national and international effort and accelerate research and development efforts for new treatments to prevent, stop, or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease. The information these efforts provide will, in turn, inform priorities for future work to end this disease. I wholeheartedly support what is clearly a bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank Chairman Filner, and I want to thank Democrats and Republicans alike who have worked on this bill and folks in the Senate who have worked on this bill as well, both Democrats and Republicans. Mr. Speaker, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is an expression of our Nation's gratitude to those who have served our country since the 9/11 attacks. As a former college professor, I know firsthand the impact a post- secondary education can have. It opens doors and it broadens opportunities, and it is critical to the strength of our military and the future of our economy. I have had the honor to meet many members of the Iowa National Guard. I have seen them respond to the floods that hit my district in 2008, and I have visited them in Iraq and Afghanistan. The dual role of the National Guard in our homeland and national security is unique, and it has only increased since the 9/11 attacks. The National Guard is no longer a strategic reserve. It is an operational one. These soldiers and airmen secure our airspace, respond to disasters, protect our borders, and deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet the Post-9/11 GI Bill did not recognize this dual role. It counts only service overseas and overlooked the role the National Guard plays in federally funded homeland security missions. That is why I introduced the National Guard Education Equality Act, which has over 100 bipartisan cosponsors and has been endorsed by a number of veterans service organizations. I am very proud that my bill has been included in the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act. As a result, tens of thousands of National Guard members will receive benefits they are due for their service to our country. While this bill is not perfect and more needs to be done, it is an essential step forward. Among its many other improvements for our veterans, it will recognize and it will honor the contributions of the National Guard to both our homeland and our national security. I urge support for this critical legislation. I again thank Chairman Filner and Members for all their great work on this, Democrats and Republicans alike.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Thank you for yielding, Mr. Pomeroy, and for your great leadership on this issue as well. Mr. Speaker, what I hear time and again from Iowa seniors is that their expenses are rising. They pay too much for prescriptions and other health-related costs, transportation, and heating for their homes. To make matters worse, seniors' other retirement income has lost value in this recession. Despite this fact, as was mentioned, there will be no COLA again for our seniors and veterans in 2011. This is simply unfair. No senior should retire into poverty after a lifetime of hard work. That is why I strongly support the Seniors Protection Act, which will provide our seniors with $250 to help defray the cost increases they are experiencing that aren't recognized by the COLA formula. I am an original cosponsor of this bill, and I have strongly advocated for its passage. I plan to vote for it today because I believe it is the right thing to do for our seniors.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I want to thank Chairman Miller and staff for working to move the reauthorization of this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, this really is a historic bill; and while not perfect, it is nonetheless a vast improvement over the status quo. As was mentioned already a number of times, it passed unanimously in the Senate. I am pleased that this legislation includes provisions from legislation that I introduced to ensure that over 110,000 more children receive school meals and are automatically enrolled for those meals, saving parents and schools time and money and cutting red tape, while also ensuring that our Nation's children are, in fact, getting adequate nutrition. It also includes provisions that will improve the quality and healthfulness of school food products and processing, and it will give schools a new option to provide universal free meals. This bill also makes a strong commitment to healthy foods through the Farm to School program, as was just mentioned, and it provides the first increase in the meal reimbursement rate in over 30 years. I urge support for this legislation, not only for our children's current health, but for their future health as adults as well. I urge the passage of this legislation. I want to first thank Chairman Miller and Chairwoman Lincoln and their staff for working to pass this bill and moving child nutrition reauthorization forward. This is a historic bill, and while not perfect, is a vast improvement over the status quo. I am pleased that a number of provisions from legislation I introduced are included in this legislation. I was happy to introduce in the House, along with Chairwoman Lincoln in the Senate, the Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act, which is included in this bill. I am also pleased that this bill includes a number of provisions from the Hunger Free Schools Act I introduced in the House and Senator Brown introduced in the Senate. The primary goals of the Hunger Free Schools Act are to increase access to the school meals programs, enhance children's learning, support a robust farm and food economy, and also lessen the administrative cost and burden on our schools. Even in this day and age, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that in 2009, over 450,000 families with children had one or more children who did not get enough to eat. In my eyes, this is simply unacceptable in the wealthiest and most advanced nation on earth. I truly believe this legislation takes major steps to address these issues in the place where our children learn and grow. In order to prepare our children to compete in an increasingly global economy, we must make childhood nutrition a priority. By automatically enrolling low-income children for free school meals to ensure that no hungry child misses out on critical nutrition, we are taking important steps to address these issues. That is also why, in the Hunger Free School Act, we included provisions to make it easier for high-poverty schools to offer free meals to all students through community eligibility and to make it easier for low-income students to get free meals no matter where they attend school. The legislation before us today includes a number of these provisions from the Hunger Free Schools Act. I would like to share some specifics about what S. 3307 will do with respect to community eligibility and automatic enrollment. This legislation includes new options designed to make it much easier for high-poverty schools and districts to focus their efforts on educating children rather than administrative burdens and paperwork. The new options, which are known as community eligibility options, draw on reliable data to replace paper applications, significantly reducing administrative hassles and even costs for families and for schools. Schools that participate in community eligibility options would serve all meals free of charge to students in exchange for the simplifications of not having to process applications or track eligibility in the cafeteria. We have to make sure, however, that we don't replace one bureaucratic process that plagues schools with another process of complicated formulas and reimbursement rates. The community eligibility provision included in this bill is targeted at the poorest schools in America. The goal is that these schools are able to serve all kids free meals so that no low-income child feels a stigma for needing these meals, they all get the meals they need to learn, and we help streamline the operation of the meal program. This should allow schools to spend time on teaching and improving school meals rather than paperwork. While implementing the community eligibility portion of this legislation after it is signed into law, USDA should work to make it as easy as possible for schools to participate and should avoid unnecessary barriers or complexities. We need to focus on the goal of getting high-poverty schools to participate to make progress on reducing hunger. Another important provision included in S. 3307 I was happy to work on is an expansion of automatic enrollment and direct certification. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 phased in a requirement that schools automatically enroll children in households receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) for free school meals so that families that have already sought help and provided detailed information will not have to go through a duplicative application process, thereby saving school districts time and money. Obviously the goal was to have every school district automatically enrolling every one of those children. For a number of reasons, states miss nearly three in ten children who could benefit from automatic enrollment and some states miss half the children who could benefit. While we have not yet achieved the goal of automatically enrolling every child, schools have made good progress and this legislation will put in place incentives for further progress. S. 3307 will put in place performance standards beginning with reaching 80 percent of children eligible for automatic enrollment based on SNAP data and increasing to 95 percent. States that have trouble meeting this standard will develop improvement plans and states that perform especially well or show dramatic improvement will receive performance bonuses. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that an average of 4,500 low-income children will receive free school meals for the first time as a result of these changes. While not as strong as provisions I included in the Hunger Free Schools Act, S. 3307 will importantly launch a demonstration project to expand direct certification through the use of Medicaid data for automatic enrollment for free school meals. Due to the funding situation we are faced with, the demonstration project focuses on the use of Medicaid data by selected school districts around the country. CBO estimates that 115,000 children each year will receive free school meals for the first time as a result of this demonstration project and many more who are already receiving free meals will be automatically enrolled for the first time by using the new Medicaid data. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, due to funding constraints, there are millions more children who are eligible for free school meals and receive Medicaid, but who will not benefit from this expansion of direct certification. Fortunately, the USDA can do a great deal to reach them within the Department. I urge USDA to use its standing authority to conduct additional demonstration projects to explore the use of Medicaid data to enroll low-income children for free school meals. Granted, the use of Medicaid data for direct certification is more complicated than SNAP data because states may set income limits for children receiving Medicaid that are higher than the income limits that apply to free meals offered through the school meals programs. To take Department-level steps to remedy this situation, USDA could study an array of different approaches to using Medicaid data for school meals enrollment, including statewide approaches. Alongside my enthusiasm for these provisions, however, is concern that this bill is partly funded by reducing future SNAP benefits that were increased above normal levels as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As we all know, SNAP benefits stave off hunger for millions of low-income families, including many of the same families and children we try to help through the child nutrition programs. I am pleased the Administration has stated their intention to work toward the restoration of this SNAP funding in the future and their intention to take additional steps to make improvements on a Department-level to the child nutrition programs. I hope USDA will look at provisions in the Hunger Free Schools Act for some ideas on potential improvements. Despite the issue with SNAP benefits, this bill provides numerous benefits for children and schools and is truly a historic commitment to child nutrition. The bill also makes a strong commitment to healthy foods through the Farm to School program and provides the first increase in the meal reimbursement rate in over 30 years. The provisions of the Hunger Free Schools Act that are included will make important strides to modernize the school meals program and make it easier for low-income children to get the school meals they need, while providing a base upon which USDA may build. By the time we begin work on the next child nutrition reauthorization, I hope these provisions I have discussed will have ensured that schools sewing low-income children are providing free meals to all students using community eligibility options, every student in a household receiving SNAP benefits are automatically enrolled for free school meals, and thousands more children are directly certified through Medicaid data. Most importantly, I hope children will be healthier, will have a better learning environment, and that our child nutrition programs will be fulfilling our commitment to ending childhood hunger.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of this Resolution honoring our National Guard on the occasion of its 374th anniversary. The National Guard was formed on December 13, 1636 and has fought in every major American conflict since that time. Today's National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are an operational reserve that has served our country admirably in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. In fact, as we honor the National Guard today, almost 3,000 Iowa National Guard Soldiers are deploying to Afghanistan--the largest deployment for our state since World War II. They have stood up an Agricultural Development Team which is helping to move the Afghan economy away from poppy production and they will help train the Afghan National Security Forces so that the Afghan people can provide for their own security. Indeed, today's National Guard is deploying in unprecedented numbers, and our National Guard families are coping with multiple deployments. And they are doing so while continuing to carry out their homeland security mission here at home--protecting our country's airspace and our communities from disasters such as the flooding that hit Iowa in 2008. So, as we honor the men and women of the National Guard today, let us thank our Citizen Soldiers, Airmen, and their families for their service to our Nation. And, during this holiday season, let us remember all of our sons and daughters who are defending our freedom overseas.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1645, designating the week of November 8th as National School Psychology Week. I introduced this Resolution in support of National School Psychology Week because, were it not for caring adults in my school and my community, I would not be where I am today. I know from my own childhood how circumstances outside school can affect a student's performance in the classroom, so I believe it is extremely important that our schools have professionals trained to meet students' nonacademic needs. School psychologists perform a myriad of functions within schools. They work with students to improve social, emotional, and behavioral problems that may affect their ability to succeed in school, assess barriers to learning, and design and implement behavioral interventions that help teachers create positive classroom environments. That is why I would like to take this opportunity to honor and recognize the professionals that work so hard for our children and grandchildren in schools across the country. Your efforts on behalf of our nation's students are appreciated.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1472) expressing support for designation of the week of September 13, 2010, as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1472 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1472, which supports the designation of the week of September 13 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. This week recognizes the importance of adult education and family literacy programs to the success and well-being of those who strive to improve their and their children's education. Adult education and literacy programs provide millions of Americans with the skills needed to lead productive and self-sufficient lives, boost their academic achievements, and engage in our 21st century workforce. These programs emphasize basic skills such as reading, writing, and math, prepare adult learners to take GED tests, and assist nonnative speakers in gaining English proficiency. According to the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, the literacy skills of 90 million adults in the U.S. are currently considered ``basic'' or ``below basic.'' Adult literacy programs address this national need for improved literacy. These programs also help participants obtain the skills they need to reenter the education pipeline and transition to college, a critical part of creating an internationally competitive workforce and meeting the President's goal of a nation with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. Family literacy programs work with entire families to offer education opportunities to improve life skills and improve literacy. These programs help break cycles of poverty and illiteracy that affect some of our Nation's most vulnerable families. Most importantly, family literacy programs provide parents with the knowledge and skills they need to be full participants in their child's education and development. For children, family literacy programs help ensure that children start school ready to learn and on an equal footing with their peers. Adult Education and Family Literacy Week is an opportunity for educators, advocates, and participants in these important programs to elevate adult education and family literacy nationwide with policymakers, the media, and the community. It is important for States, localities, schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, community- based organizations, consumer advocates, institutions of higher education, labor unions, and businesses to all work together to support increased access to these adult education and family literacy programs. The outreach which occurs during this week is critical to reaching many of those who would benefit from these programs. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Polis for introducing this resolution and once again express my support for the designation of the week of September 13 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LOEBSACK. I again express my support for the designation of the week of September 13 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 126) recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title VI international education programs within the Department of Education, as amended.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I again express support for House Concurrent Resolution 126, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of title VI international education programs within the Department of Education. And I appreciate the support from the other side of the aisle on this resolution as well. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous materials on House Concurrent Resolution 126 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1219) expressing support for designation of September as National Child Awareness Month.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1491 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 1855 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1855, the Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success Act, or the SECTORS Act, legislation that I introduced in the House along with my colleague from the other side of the aisle, Congressman Todd Platts. I want to thank Congressman Platts for his work on this legislation and for recognizing the worthiness of this effort. The SECTORS Act was introduced as bipartisan legislation, and I am pleased that we have gained additional bipartisan cosponsors as well. I also want to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Kline of the Education and Labor Committee, as well as the committee staff, for working with me to move this legislation to the floor of the House. No matter what party you are from, I think we can all agree that we should be supportive of innovative and collaborative strategies that increase the success of American business and improve the employment outlook of our workforce. As our country continues to recover from the economic downturn, we should work toward long-term improvements in our workforce training and resource systems and look at how we can better utilize the infrastructure that is already in place. Given our current economic situation and the fact that we have seen a steep decrease in Federal investment in employment and training over the past 20 years, this effort is all the more needed. Recently, The New York Times ran a story detailing a significant mismatch between the skilled workers needed for many industries and the skill sets of many of the currently unemployed. The story also referenced a survey done last year of 779 industrial companies by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute, and Deloitte which found that 32 percent of companies reported ``moderate to serious'' skills shortages. Sixty-three percent of life science companies and 45 percent of energy firms cited such shortages. Through the SECTORS Act, we are taking serious action to help address these issues and ensure that we build things in America again. In fact, just yesterday, The New York Times had another story entitled ``After Training, Still Scrambling for Employment'' that detailed the struggles our workforce is having finding training to pursue careers in existing and growing fields. It also highlighted some successful existing efforts with sector partnership-based approaches. Some of our industries that are poised for continued growth and expansion and would be strong contributors to economic recovery, such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy technology, and health care and information technology, are struggling. By the nature of the problem, this means our Nation's workforce is continuing to have trouble finding work in these fields because of the mismatch of skill sets. The SECTORS Act addresses these issues by facilitating, nationwide, one of the key elements of successful State and local workforce development efforts: sector or industry partnerships. Sector partnerships organize stakeholders connected to a crucial industry, like manufacturing, for example, and will include multiple firms and businesses, employees, unions, education and training providers, and local workforce and education systems, among others, to develop and implement plans for growing, or saving, that industry. There is a particular focus on building new workforce pipelines where skilled worker shortages exist and improving the ways existing workers are utilized, retrained, and paid. The SECTORS Act will put in place partnerships that lead to alignment of educational institutions, training institutions, apprenticeship programs, and all other training programs to meet industry demand, particularly for higher skill, high-priority occupations. Regularly convening industry players on an ongoing basis to plan and implement strategies to save or expand their industry will help to strengthen connections and aggregate training and education needs of multiple employers. Sector partnerships will also help businesses recruit new workers, retrain dislocated workers, develop and strengthen career ladders across companies, and improve overall job quality. These types of strategies have been highly successful regionally, including in my State of Iowa. The National Skills Coalition, which has been a strong advocate for these strategies for some time, has organized a broad-based, nationwide coalition of workforce and vocational organizations, manufacturing associations, colleges and universities, chambers of commerce, and training and human services organizations that support this legislation and these partnerships. The SECTORS Act is about helping industries access the trained employees they need to expand and thrive, helping employees access the education and training they require to be competitive in the 21st century economy and find quality jobs, and helping workforce development and education providers train employees in the demand of today's industries. In so doing, this bill will help to ensure that our Nation and the American workforce continue to stand at the forefront of the 21st century economy. I would also like to thank Representative Miller, chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, for his support of and work on this bill. I urge support for this bipartisan legislation, Madam Speaker, which also has bipartisan support in the Senate. I reserve the balance of my time.