David Loebsack

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 126, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Title VI international education programs within the Department of Education. Under the Office of Postsecondary Education, the International Education Programs Service, IEPS, manages a total of 14 such programs. These programs provide grants to individuals, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to build and strengthen international cooperation and enrich our students' cultural experiences. International education has long been an important part of strengthening the capability and performance of American educational programs in foreign languages and in area and international study. International education programs also help our Nation's students, teachers, and researchers interact with other cultures and languages, train our specialists, and inform general understanding of peoples of other countries. On the 50th anniversary of the Title VI programs, we honor the contributions and benefits of international education programs to science, culture, government, and business. International education programs were originally authorized as Title VI of the National Defense Education Act of 1958, in part as a response to the launch of Sputnik and with the recognition that a stronger and broader engagement with foreign language and area studies would strengthen American national security. Title VI was later incorporated into the Higher Education Act of 1965 and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of today's students. A well-rounded international education is also critically important to a globally competitive workforce. Title VI program grants help address business needs for international expertise, strengthen undergraduate education and research at National Research Centers, and improve foreign language training and assessment at Language Resource Centers. In the academic setting, institutions have used title VI grants to establish or operate overseas research centers, support more than 800 graduate fellowships in foreign languages and area studies, and improve business curriculums, especially as it concerns U.S. trade and global competitiveness. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Watson for introducing this resolution, and once again express support for House Concurrent Resolution 126, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of title VI international education programs within the Department of Education. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

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 1219 into the record.

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

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1219, which supports the designation of the month of September as Child Awareness Month and encourages us to focus on children and youth nationwide as the school year begins. There are more than 75 million children in the United States today, and they represent the hopes and future of our country. Throughout America, thousands of individuals, organizations, and schools are working to enrich the lives of our children and youth, and they deserve our thanks. Child Awareness Month raises awareness of these organizations and charities that provide access to health care, social services, education, the arts, sports, and other services for our kids. We know today how a child's early years are truly critical to their development as adults, and how important it is to ensure that our children have access to quality health care, positive educational experiences, opportunities to participate in sports and healthy activities, and safe and nurturing home environments. Our Nation's child- and youth-serving organizations link children to the arts, encourage them to set new fitness goals, engage in school activities, and teach them to care for their communities. During Child Awareness Month, corporations and businesses will join with national and local nonprofit groups to focus on children and youth returning to school. Some will provide free back-to-school supplies, while others will support fall athletics programs. While this nationwide focus is just 1 month long, it reminds us of our year-round commitment to build a better future for our children. Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for Child Awareness Month, and I thank Representative Calvert for bringing this bill forward. I urge my colleagues to join in support of this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I again express my support for Child Awareness Month. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of 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 resolution (H. Res. 1491) congratulating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on winning the 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1491, which congratulates the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series--their very first such title. On June 29, 2010, the Gamecocks played a tough game against the UCLA Bruins at the historic Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. Tied at the top of the 9th, the Gamecocks hit their final run at the bottom of the 11th inning and secured their win. Although the team had sustained a first-round loss in the College World Series, they went on to win six consecutive games and secure their first national title. For head coach Ray Tanner, it was his 14th season with the University of South Carolina and his fourth at the College World Series. During this season, Coach Tanner recorded his 1,000th win of his career and became the 44th Division I coach to reach this milestone. He was named 2010 National Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball, and we congratulate Coach Tanner on his impressive record. The entire Gamecocks lineup demonstrated excellence this season. I would like to especially recognize junior outfielder Whit Merrifield, who drove the final run home with a sharp single to right field that scored teammate Scott Wingo from third base and lifted USC to their victory. Over 40,0000 fans greeted the Gamecocks at their victory parade in Columbia, South Carolina; and we join them in their celebration. Madam Speaker, I express my support for House Resolution 1491 and congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on their 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series victory. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt).

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I once again show my support for House Resolution 1491, in particular, my support and congratulations to our two South Carolina colleagues who are here today as well. I know it is a very happy day for them. I want to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on their 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series victory, and 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 pass the bill (H.R. 1855) to promote industry growth and competitiveness and to improve worker training, retention, and advancement, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, in closing, I do want to thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his support and the Members from the other side of the aisle for supporting this bill. It has been a true bipartisan effort, and I really do appreciate that. I do want to say that according to a multiyear study conducted by public-private ventures, participants in SECTORS-based training programs earned an average of 18.3 percent, or about $4,500, more than a control group over a 24-month period of study. In addition, participants in SECTORS programs were more likely to work in jobs with benefits, including health insurance and paid time off, and were more likely to find consistent work, about 1.3 additional months of employment, over the 2- year period than the control group average. This legislation will put in place additional SECTORS partnerships, as I said before, between business, employees, and education and training providers that lead to collaborative planning, resource alignment, and training efforts for current and potential workers to improve our Nation's business manufacturing and industry outlook. It is supported by a broad-based nationwide coalition of workforce and vocational organizations, manufacturing associations, colleges and universities, chambers of commerce, and training and human services organizations nationwide, and it does have the dual benefits of helping businesses and employees, and it has strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. I urge support for this legislation.

Mr. LOEBSACK. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank Congresswoman Waters for bringing this bill to the floor today. It will help address concerns all of us have likely heard from our constituents about the flood insurance program and flood map modernization efforts. In Iowa, flood insurance is an issue we are all too familiar with. Two years ago this issue was brought to our attention with terrible effects. Iowa was devastated by the floods of 2008, which left 85 of our 99 counties Presidentially declared disaster areas and caused billions of dollars in damage. The National Flood Insurance Program was and remains an important program and has helped many homeowners recovering from the floods. Unfortunately, due to a lack of notification during the process of updating the flood insurance rate maps to digital maps, many homeowners continue to be surprised when they find out that their homes may be newly placed in a special flood hazard area and they will be required to purchase flood insurance. Many homeowners don't even know that new proposed flood elevations have been made and a flood rate map update is, in fact, taking place. My amendment is simple. It will help to ensure communities and homeowners that might be affected by new maps are made aware of the process taking place from the beginning. Currently, FEMA is only required to publish notice of new flood elevations in a local newspaper. For one community in my district, this translated to roughly a 2-inch by 2-inch paragraph in the legal notice section of the newspaper. My amendment will require FEMA to notify not only the local paper, but also a local television and radio station of the proposed flood elevations. It will also require FEMA to notify a local television station and radio station in communities that are still in the middle of the flood map modernization process so they are fully informed of the process taking place. This amendment will ensure the homeowners have the information they need to make informed decisions and to participate in the process while also ensuring media outlets for disseminating information, important information, so the public is made aware as well. The more homeowners that are aware of new flood elevations, I think, the more participation there is in the process. It would also serve the purpose of making more people aware of the National Flood Insurance Program itself and in general, hopefully increasing voluntary participation rates as well. I think we can agree that simply notifying a local television and radio station in addition to the local newspaper is a commonsense change and will help get the word out about flood map changes. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment on behalf of homeowners in all of our districts. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank the Fraternal Order of the Eagles for their pledge to donate $25 million over the course of the next five years in order to support diabetes research at the University of Iowa. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles has recognized that diabetes has become an increasingly serious problem in this country, affecting over 23 million Americans. Their pledge to fund diabetes research at the University of Iowa represents an extraordinary commitment to researching better prevention and management techniques to improve the health of our nation. The University of Iowa is consistently at the forefront of innovative research, and through this new partnership with the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, I am confident that we can discover new ways to reduce the devastating effects of diabetes.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My amendment is simple. It states that farmers and rural communities should receive equal consideration through lending activities for small businesses, particularly our Nation's small- and mid-sized farms and agriculture operations, which make up the majority of our agriculture community. It also states that we should give attention to ensuring that there is adequate credit and financing available in the agriculture and farming sectors. While the amendment itself is simple, the issue is not. Throughout this economic downtown, our rural communities and farmers have been struggling, just as our major metro areas have been. Many areas in my district in Iowa have unemployment rates above the national average. I have also seen examples of agriculture operations having a difficult time finding financing, and I have worked to try to assist such operations. Unfortunately, our farmers and rural communities are often not discussed in the broader debate on how to encourage economic recovery. The persistence of rural poverty and hunger and the lack of rural development often go underreported as well. On a positive note, I was pleased to recently hold a series of rural development roundtables in my district with the under Secretary for Rural Development, Dallas Tonsager. I hope we can continue to build momentum nationally and ensure our farmers in rural communities can contribute to continued economic recovery. Agriculture and our Nation's farmers are consistently strong contributors to the economy and are certainly vital for the survival of our rural communities and vice versa. Many of our rural areas were struggling even before the downturn, and we continue to see a decline in the number of farmers and rural businesses. Often the loss of one rural business can have a domino effect throughout the community and surrounding areas. I think we need to be vigilant in bringing rural and farming issues to the forefront of the debates we have on economic development and, additionally, look at policies to promote access to and the development of new food market and supply chain improvements and related rural businesses. I hope my colleagues will agree on the need to bring attention to expanding the opportunities for agriculture and farming to contribute to the national and local economic recovery. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, Iowa experienced the worst natural disaster in our State's history as a result of the great flood of 2008. We have made amazing progress, but 2 years later there is still damage in small and large communities like Oakville, Columbus Junction, Palo, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City. Many homeowners are struggling to recover still, and many small businesses have been unable to access relief programs because of red tape, all this on top of an economic downturn. Government-wide, we need to cut down on red tape and approve efficiency. I think we can all agree with that. With disaster relief, this is even more important because effective assistance is absolutely critical to communities' ability to recover. Communities are also trying to mitigate future flooding through a variety of structural and nonstructural means. I will continue to work with city leaders, homeowners, and businesses to ensure that we reduce inefficiency and the chances of another devastating flood like the one we experienced in Iowa 2 years ago.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the fourth annual Americorps Week. I am fortunate to come from Iowa where a sense of community is the norm. In 2008, we were hit by the worst disaster in the state's history. The flooding destroyed homes and businesses, but Iowans pitched in to help their neighbors, and volunteers from across the nation came to assist our communities. Americorps members came to Cedar Rapids and other flood-affected areas immediately after the disaster hit, helping to meet people's basic needs in the aftermath of the emergency. Americorps volunteers continue to work in the area rebuilding homes, coordinating volunteer efforts, and revitalizing local community organizations. To date, about 1,700 Americorps members have volunteered to help with the flood recovery effort. Iowans owe a debt of gratitude to Americorps, VISTA, and NCCC members who have worked so hard for our communities, so I am pleased to have the opportunity to thank them today.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank Chairman Obey for his work on this important legislation. This bill is vital to ensuring FEMA can provide assistance to communities in all of our States that are recovering from major disasters. It is also critical to FEMA's ability to provide life-saving help to communities that might experience a major disaster in the future. In Iowa, we were devastated by the great flood of 2008. Eighty-five out of 99 counties were declared major disaster areas. My district alone had billions of dollars in damage and is still working to recover, including through an estimated $1 billion in FEMA projects. However, there is a current freeze on a multitude of FEMA projects nationwide. According to Iowa's governor, this has put work in jeopardy on $100 million worth of projects in Iowa alone. In fact, Coralville, Iowa, which was hard-hit by flooding, has received low bids on recovery projects but cannot commit because of this freeze. As a result, they may lose a bid that is 20 percent below what was estimated, which would actually save taxpayer money. The National Weather Service says there is an imminent widespread flood risk in the Midwest this spring. We must ensure FEMA has the resources needed to help our citizens who might be hit by flooding again, even as we pray that it won't be needed. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure Iowans and communities nationwide continue to have this important safety net and we allow FEMA to fulfill its prior commitments to recovery.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I am submitting the following statement for the record in support of the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, which would end the anti-trust exemption that currently gives special privileges to health insurance companies. If we do not pass this legislation, American consumers will continue to pay more for health insurance, if they can afford it at all, because of a lack of competition in the insurance market. According to the AFL-CIO, profits at 10 of the country's largest publicly traded health insurance companies rose 428 percent from 2000 to 2007. At the same time, consumers paid more for less coverage. At the root of this problem is the growing lack of competition in the private health insurance industry that has led to near monopoly conditions in many markets. There is no reason why health insurance companies should continue to receive this favored treatment from the federal government while millions of Americans pay the price.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing a Resolution to honor the University of Iowa Hawkeye football team for the great success they had on the football field during the 2009 season. The team began the season by winning its first nine football games, which set a new team record for consecutive wins to start a football season. The Hawkeyes finished the regular season with 10 wins and two losses, leaving them ranked seventh in both the final Associated Press and USA Today rankings, tied for second in the Big Ten Conference, and were invited to play in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The game was very well competed by both schools, but with stellar defense and an exciting offensive performance, the University of Iowa Hawkeye football team won the game 24-14. Through hard work and great success on the football field, the University of Iowa Hawkeye football team received numerous awards and won over many new fans. Through this Resolution, I hope to congratulate the 2009 University of Iowa Hawkeye football program for bringing honor to the team, the University of Iowa, the city of Iowa City, and the State of Iowa.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the volunteers who have worked and continue to work in the flood-ravaged community of Cedar Rapids and all throughout Iowa. On Monday, Martin Luther King Day, we observed a national day of service and volunteerism. I had the honor of working alongside a number of volunteers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is the efforts, dedication, and a sense of shared community like I experienced on Monday that is the heart and soul of Iowa, and indeed our great Nation. While I have been able to work with Congress to provide supplemental disaster assistance toward flood recovery, it is the volunteers from not only Iowa, but all over the country who have offered their hearts and time and made a truly monumental impact in our State. Thank you again, volunteers, for all you do.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 3904.