David Loebsack

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Lt. Col. Danny Curtis of Hills, Iowa, who passed away on October 24, 2020. Lt Col. Curtis joined the Army in 1964, serving one tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. While in service, he led teams to build Blackhawk helicopters, taught military science at the University of Notre Dame, and received numerous commendations, including one Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and three Bronze Stars. Lt. Col. Curtis is survived by his son, Clayton (Laura) Curtis, and two grandchildren, Annmarie and Evelyn. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Slaughter Curtis, mother Ester Buline Curtis, father Lloyd Curtis, and sister Nina Jean Curtis. Danny Curtis did not tend to shine a light on his own accomplishments, though numerous they were. Instead, he highlighted experiences that demonstrated the best of man in comradeship. He led by this principle later in life, being a steady advocate and friend to fellow veterans, and a fixture in his community. Known by his friends and family for his wit and his ability to weave a story, he will be greatly missed. So, on this, the week of Veterans day, let us remember his sacrifice, and the sacrifice of all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc package, which includes my amendment to increase investment of distributed wind technologies and research within the Department of Energy's Wind Energy Program. Distributed wind is the use of typically smaller wind turbines owned primarily by rural and local entities, such as homes, farms, businesses, and public facilities to offset all or a portion of onsite energy consumption. This type of energy production strengthens American communities by helping them become more energy independent while lowering costs for consumers. Distributed wind also strengthens domestic manufacturing, and, in fact, American-made wind turbines can be found in well over 100 countries around the world. The funding provided over the past few fiscal years has helped unleash distributed wind power's vast potential, but continued investment is needed to support the critical research and development that will further reduce costs and maximize the benefits of distributed wind power. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I missed the vote on H.R. 2382. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 37.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Doyle for yielding 5 minutes to me. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today to speak in support of my bill, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, or the Broadband DATA Act, which I introduced with my colleagues Representatives Latta, McEachin, and Long. I have spent my time at the Committee on Energy and Commerce advocating for the people of Iowa's Second District and for all rural Americans. I have had good partners on this committee. Congressman Latta and I have worked together on numerous issues, not just this one, and I appreciate the time and energy that Chairman Pallone and Chairman Doyle have spent on ensuring the issues important to Iowans get attention and because they understand that in 2019 it is simply unacceptable that many families and small businesses, farmers, educators, and healthcare providers in rural areas don't have the necessary access to high-speed internet. I have often said that there are two things needed to connect rural America to high-speed broadband, and that is dollars and data. Without reliable data, the dollars don't matter. As I have often said: garbage in is garbage out. You have to have good data to know where the problems exist, otherwise--maybe even more importantly--it is a waste of taxpayer dollars as well. When this bill becomes law, we will finally begin to fix the bad broadband maps that for too long have often misstated speed and availability throughout these rural areas in America. In order to actually fix the problem and get high-speed broadband in rural areas, we absolutely must have the best data available. It really is that simple. Without knowing where the high-speed broadband problems truly exist, we cannot properly invest in building out that access. That is why I am proud that the Broadband DATA Act will, first, require the FCC to collect granular service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers; second, it will require strong parameters for service availability data that we collect from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy; and, third, it will create a challenge process. This is very important for consumers; State, local, and Tribal governments and other groups to challenge FCC maps with their own data. It requires the FCC to determine how to structure the process without making it overly burdensome on these challenges. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairmen Pallone and Doyle and Ranking Members Walden and Latta and all of the staff, in particular my staff over here, Scott. I urge all of my colleagues in this body to support this bill so that we can finally fix the maps and build broadband out to rural America. I have only been on the committee a short time relative to some others, and they have been talking about this for years. I thank Chairman Doyle and Representatives Latta and Walden for all the great work they provided on this.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Iowa Safe Schools' second annual Pride Camp. This week-long event invites LGBTQ youth and allies from across Iowa to participate in a summer camp where they have the opportunity to learn new skills, connect with their peers, share their experiences, and grow as individuals while also having fun. This year, over 100 LGBTQ youth from across the State will be attending Pride Camp, despite this only being the camp's second year. This truly goes to show the importance of programs like Pride Camp, and I am proud that Iowa is a leader in the fight for acceptance and equality for everyone. I want to extend my sincerest thanks to Iowa Safe Schools for creating this wonderful opportunity and for all of their efforts advocating for Iowa's LGBTQ youth. Their work in developing a safe and inclusive summer camp is making a difference in the lives of so many young Iowans, and I am honored to recognize them here today.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained because of weather. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 399; NAY on Roll Call No. 400; NAY on Roll Call No. 401; and NAY on Roll Call No. 402.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I appreciate that very much. My amendment will ensure level funding for distributed wind technologies and research within the Department of Energy's wind energy program. Distributed wind is the use of typically smaller wind turbines owned primarily by rural and local entities, such as homes, farms, businesses, and public facilities, to offset all or a portion of onsite energy consumption. This type of energy production strengthens American communities by helping them become more energy independent while lowering costs for consumers. Distributed wind also strengthens domestic manufacturing, as 90 percent of all small wind turbines sold in the U.S. last year were made in America. The funding provided over the past few fiscal years has helped unleash distributed wind power's vast potential, but continued investment is needed to support the critical research and development that will reduce costs and maximize the benefits of distributed wind power throughout the United States. Madam Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of SSgt. Robert Stanton of Davenport, Iowa. On December 11, 1942, at just 18 years of age, Robert enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went on to serve as a Gunner in Marine Scout Bomber Squad 142. On March 24, 1945, while flying over the Philippines, engine trouble caused a forced landing on Panay Island. SSgt. Stanton was taken as a prisoner of war by Japanese forces and killed soon after. SSgt. Stanton left behind his loving family, including his father, Bryan Jennings Stanton, and mother, Harriett Elizabeth Conley. As a military parent, I am honored to recognize the bravery of a fellow Iowan who answered the call to serve at just 18 and tragically died as a prisoner of war. Before serving his country in World War II, Robert Stanton was an amateur boxer known for his knockout punch. A fighter to the end, SSgt. Stanton made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. For his sacrifice, and the sacrifice of all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, we must never forget their service and remain eternally grateful.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote on January 22, 2019 due to weather, but I strongly support the NATO Support Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 44, and YEA on Roll Call No. 45.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I was unexpectedly detained from votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 207; YEA on Roll Call No. 208; and YEA on Roll Call No. 209.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and ranking member for working to bring this bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see the RAY BAUM'S Act moving forward. This bill really is a good example of compromise. No one got everything that they wanted, but we worked together to find common ground. I think it represents what we need to be doing more of in Washington and in this body and what people and I want to see happen more often, namely, that Members of Congress come together in a bipartisan manner to reach a commonsense agreement. But today I come to the floor to talk about a piece of legislation, the Rural Wireless Access Act, which I was pleased to help introduce and incorporate into the larger FCC Reauthorization Act. I want to thank, in particular, my friend Mr. Costello for working with me on this bipartisan bill. I also want to thank Mrs. Blackburn, chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, for helping to move this forward. This bill, which I introduced last year, would require the FCC to establish standards for collecting wireless coverage data. Everyone at some point has been driving through places in rural America that don't get wireless coverage. Unfortunately, the maps that the FCC uses to fix coverage gaps are often inadequate. Currently, the standards that define how wireless coverage is determined are not sufficient, meaning the coverage maps can be incomplete or inaccurate. Without accurate coverage maps, resources needed to improve wireless access will not be directed to the areas that need the most help, including rural areas. I am pleased that the Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to include this legislation, the Rural Wireless Access Act, as part of the larger package so that we can improve wireless voice and mobile internet services and ensure the resources go to the areas that need it the most. In order to fix the problem, we have to get the data right. I am hopeful that the passage of the FCC Reauthorization Act will help folks in rural areas get the wireless coverage they need.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2872, the Promoting Hydropower Development at Existing Nonpowered Dams Act. Iowa has become a national leader in renewable energy. Currently, my State provides over 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, including over 37 percent from wind power alone. But there is a lot of potential. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy found that there is over 12,000 megawatts of untapped hydropower potential in the Nation's existing dams. That is enough electricity to power 4 million homes. That same report ranked Iowa 10th in available energy capacity in the United States if these nonpowered dams were converted, with the potential to generate 427 megawatts. Renewable energy development like hydropower has created thousands of good-paying jobs across Iowa. My district is the home of three hydroelectric generation plants and will soon be the home of the second largest hydro plant in the State, the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project. Upon completion, Red Rock will produce upwards of 36 megawatts of energy. That is enough electricity to power the nearby city of Pella, and it has led to hundreds of jobs across the State of Iowa. However, projects like Red Rock and others have been slowed by a cumbersome licensing process as has been mentioned by folks on both sides of the aisle here. Congress must work to streamline the hydropower licensing processes so that more clean, renewable energy and domestic energy can be brought onto the grid for the American consumer, while also ensuring that these projects do not harm the environment. This is why I am proud to have worked with Mr. Bucshon and my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to bring this commonsense, job-creating, bipartisan legislation to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a group of Vietnam veterans from my district. I stand to thank the Jasper County Vietnam Veterans for their honorable service to our great nation. While serving, these patriots fought for, protected, and renewed the liberties and values upon which our great country was founded; fundamental values and freedoms that make our country the greatest nation on earth. The Jasper County Vietnam Veterans group works to honor all of those that have served. It is a privilege and honor to represent the fine Jasper County Vietnam Veterans, along with all the veterans in Iowa's second district.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Rush) for yielding time to me today to speak on this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of S. 920, the National Clinical Care Commission Act. S. 920, as was mentioned already, creates a commission comprised of clinical endocrinologists, other physician specialists, primary care physicians, healthcare professionals, patients, and representatives from the Federal agencies most involved in diabetes care. The commission is charged with making recommendations to streamline Federal investments in diabetes, to improve the coordination and clinical care outcomes for people with diabetes, prediabetes, and other insulin-related metabolic and autoimmune diseases. Passage of this legislation will help the Nation undertake more and innovative approaches to diabetes and its disease complications, for which the United States spends some $322 billion annually. I urge the Secretary also to move expeditiously to set up the commission so it can begin its important work as soon as possible. Clinical training and expertise in diabetes and other insulin-related diseases will be needed to lead the commission, and it is my hope that a clinical endocrinologist will be chosen to serve as the chairperson of the commission. I think that is very important. With a clinical endocrinologist as chair and representatives from other medical specialities, healthcare professions, and patient advocacy groups, serving alongside with Federal diabetes experts, the commission created under S. 920 will help to ensure that new innovative medications and devices are effectively translated to the clinical setting for the benefit of patients. That clinical translation is so important. The work of the commission will help improve the lives of the tens of millions of Americans living with diabetes while simultaneously beginning the process of reducing the staggering impact of diabetes and its disease complications and the dollars that, as has already been mentioned, are associated with that. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank in particular Representative Olson for his persistence, as was already mentioned, and for sponsoring this bill in the House. I was very happy to lead the way as the Democrat on this side of the aisle on this bill, and for my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who supported this bill that enabled House passage of the legislation earlier, as was mentioned, and now we are finally going to get it over the finish line. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Olson in particular for his efforts on this.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a group of firefighters from my district. Millions across the country watched Hurricane Harvey hit parts of Texas in late August, causing tragic loss of life and devastating damage to areas such as Houston. A group of Iowa first responders with a history of helping out during national disasters knew they had to help. On Thursday, September 14th, members of the New Sharon Fire and Oskaloosa Fire Departments loaded up materials and drove twenty-two hours to Rockport, Texas to help a community in need. Over the course of their time in Texas, these volunteers worked tirelessly to help their fellow first responders clean up and recover from this storm. In a time of disaster, Iowans step up to help out those in need. To the volunteers from the New Sharon and Oskaloosa Fire Departments, I am in awe of your selflessness, and you have undoubtedly made a significant impact on a community devastated by Hurricane Harvey

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fagen Elevator, a family owned and operated business celebrating its 100th year of operation, in Keota, Iowa. Fagen Elevator was established in 1917 by Walter L. Fagen. It has been continually owned and managed by members of the Fagen family since its establishment. Today, Fagen Elevators is operated by the fourth generation of Fagens, Larry and David. The Fagen family has accomplished an incredible amount in the 100 years that they have owned and operated the Fagen Elevator business in Keota. Fagen Elevators has contributed greatly to Keota, and will continue to better the area for many more years to come. Again, I want to offer my congratulations to the Fagen family as they celebrate this exciting milestone and to thank them for their hard work as a pillar of the Keota community.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Thomas E. Starzl of Les Mars, Iowa. A pioneer in the world of science and medicine, Dr. Thomas E. Starzl will forever be remembered as an extraordinary member of our community. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Starzl revolutionized medicine by successfully performing the first ever human liver transplant. Dr. Starzl's work saved thousands of lives, and he became known as ``the father of transplantation.'' On March 4, 2017, Starzl passed away peacefully at his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Thomas Starzl was born in Les Mars, Iowa to a family of first generation Americans. As an undergraduate, Dr. Starzl attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and eventually went on to complete an M.D. and Ph.D. in neuroscience at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Starzl would spend a majority of his early career working at the University of Iowa and the University of Colorado until his move to University of Pittsburgh, where he remained until his retirement. In 2006, President George W. Bush awarded Dr. Starzl the National Medal of Science for his pioneering work in transplantation. He has also received awards from the National Institute of Medicine, the American Liver Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation, and the American Medical Foundation, among others. Dr. Starzl was considered a ``force of nature'' to those who knew and loved him. One of his former students remarked that he came to recognize Dr. Starzl's ``work ethic and pragmatism as characteristics in many of my patients and think that his salt-of-the-earth values must have been instilled at an early age.'' I and other Iowans are proud to call Dr. Starzl one of our own.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I am disheartened by what Congress is doing here today. My number one goal has always been to ensure Iowans have access to quality, affordable care. This legislation does not do that. It implements an age tax, raising costs on older Americans. It cuts nearly $900 billion from the elderly, nursing homes, and disabled children. This is unacceptable. Exactly those who need health coverage the most--middle class families, people with disabilities, and those who are less fortunate--are the ones who lose out in this Republican bill. I remain committed to working to improve healthcare coverage so it works better for Iowans and all Americans. We cannot go back to a time when Iowa families had to choose between putting food on the table and getting medical care for their children. Unfortunately, that is just what this bill does. I urge my colleagues to vote this bill down.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate Representative Collins of Georgia's leadership on this issue. There is really no one in this body--maybe with the exception of Representative Carter of Georgia--who can tell the story of community pharmacists the way Representative Doug Collins does. I thank Representative Collins of Georgia for putting this Special Order hour together. He has been such a strong leader on pharmacy issues. He has been a great partner on the legislation that we will be discussing this evening. I am proud to say that this is a bipartisan issue, one of the few in this Congress at this point. It is one of the few in Washington, D.C., at this point. We have been able to find a consensus on this, at least with respect to one bill, and I think we are probably going to be able to do it with respect to others as well. We know for a fact that pharmacists across the country serve as the first line of healthcare services for so many patients around this country. People count on pharmacists' training and expertise to stay healthy and to stay informed and, most importantly, to stay out of urgent care centers and out of hospitals. That is why I am proud to stand here today with my colleagues to recognize the quality and the affordable and the personal care that pharmacists provide every day. Within that group of pharmacists, we have got a subset of pharmacists, and that is the community pharmacists and their pharmacies. They are also a great source not only of the expertise they provide, but economic growth in rural communities like those in my district and across the State of Iowa. As Mr. Collins mentioned, rural areas are very important in this as well. I am a member of the Small Business Caucus. I recognize how challenging it can be for some of these small pharmacists to compete with the bigger companies. I appreciate their hard work to serve our communities. Like most small-business owners, community pharmacists, they have to face challenges to compete and negotiate on a day-to-day basis with large entities as far as their business transactions are concerned. I frequently visit community pharmacists and I see the great job they are doing. One pressing challenge facing many of our community pharmacists in particular that will be discussed tonight is the ambiguity and the uncertainty surrounding the reimbursement of generic drugs. Generic prescription drugs account for the majority of drugs dispensed by pharmacists, making transparency in reimbursement absolutely critical to the financial health of these small pharmacies. But we know that pharmacists are reimbursed for generic drugs through what is called maximum allowable cost, or MAC. And this is a price list that outlines the upper limit or the maximum amount that an insurance plan will pay for a generic drug. These lists are created by pharmacy benefit managers, as Mr. Collins mentions, PBMs. This is the drug middleman. There are lot of problems, but one of the problems is that the methodology used to create these lists are not disclosed. There is no transparency. Further, they are not updated on a regular basis either, resulting often in pharmacists being reimbursed below what it costs them to acquire the drugs themselves. It is a major problem, because when PBMs aren't keeping the cost of generic drugs consistent, those price differentials can be a serious financial burden for local pharmacies. And we know when they have a financial burden, that will affect their business, that will affect the economy in the area, and that is going to affect their patients as well. And we can't have that as we are moving forward, especially in this country, doing what we can to reform health care. When we talk about reimbursement uncertainty for pharmacies, we are talking about uncertainty for those patients, as I just said. So, look, when we deal with this issue, I think we have to be very transparent about it. We are going to be introducing later this week, on a bipartisan basis, this Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act. Specifically, what this act will do, it will increase transparency of generic drug payments in Medicare part D, in Medicare Advantage, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and TRICARE pharmacy programs, by requiring that PBMs do three things; and Mr. Collins will flesh this out, and I think Mr. Carter will as well. First, provide pricing updates at least once every 7 days. Second, disclose the sources used to update maximum allowable cost--or MAC-- prices. Third, notify pharmacies of any changes in individual drug prices before these prices can be used as a basis of reimbursement. This is commonsense, bipartisan legislation. We are going to hear more about that in just a couple of minutes, but I am very thankful to be here to talk about these issues. There is one more I want to talk about, if I might, Mr. Collins, and that is the importance of access to local pharmacies and Medicaid beneficiaries in particular. We know that Medicaid beneficiaries depend on their pharmacies as a provider of convenient, trusted care in their communities. In addition to dispensing vital prescription drugs, pharmacies provide additional services to Medicaid enrollees, including immunizations, medication therapy management--a really big issue--and point-of-care testing like flu or strep tests. These are preventive and maintenance care services that help to fill in the gaps where provider shortages exist. I know we are looking at reform and maybe replacing the Affordable Care Act, but we have to be very careful, too. We all recognize the importance of Medicaid, I think, going forward, and it is really important, certainly, for these pharmacies and these community pharmacists, and for their patients as well. I thank the gentleman from Georgia. I really appreciate him including me in this process. This is bipartisan. It is important to so many communities, so many patients around America, and I am just happy to be here to say a few words.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. ``. . . nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.''

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to honor one of my longtime district staffers, Virginia Stratton, who retired recently. Virginia had been with my office, serving the people of Iowa, since I first came into office in January 2007. Since then, she has handled more than 3,300 cases for Iowans having issues with the Department of Defense, the Department of Labor, and the Postal Service; but, by far, the largest portion of her cases involved the Veterans Administration. As I travel across my district, all 24 counties, meeting with veterans, it never fails that one of the first things I hear is about how hard Virginia fought on their behalf or on behalf of their loved ones to cut through the redtape at the VA. Whether it was securing medals for veterans who served but didn't receive their proper recognition, or helping expedite a disability appeal, there was nothing--and I say nothing--Virginia would not do to ensure our veterans received the assistance that they needed. I always knew that if Virginia was on the case, there would be no stone left unturned and no question left unasked. She worked every day for the past 10 years to ensure our veterans received the care they earned and rightly deserved. As a military parent myself, I believe we have no greater responsibility as a nation than to ensure our veterans are treated with the same dignity and honor with which they served our country. There is no one--no one, folks--who epitomizes that sentiment more than Virginia. She has been one of the greatest champions for veterans, and there was no issue that was too small or too great for her to take on. In the nearly 10 years that Virginia worked for my office, she literally personally affected the lives of thousands of Iowans. Virginia's retirement is a loss for the people of Iowa, but the efforts and hours she invested in working on behalf of our veterans will never be forgotten. On behalf of the people of Iowa and all of the veterans of America, my wife Terry and I wish Virginia the best in the next chapter of her life.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and it is estimated that, this year, almost a quarter of a million women will be diagnosed with the disease, including, already, a close friend of mine. Thousands of those women live in my home State of Iowa. It is time for action, and passage of the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act is a great next step. This bipartisan bill, which has over 270 cosponsors, would establish a commission aimed at ending breast cancer by January 1, 2020. That commission would look for gaps in the public and private sector where investment is needed and then recommend initiatives and strategies to work toward finding a cure for breast cancer, discovering the cause, and identifying preventative measures. It is an important bill in the fight against breast cancer, and I am proud to support it. I also want to take a moment to recognize the volunteers of Breast Cancer Deadline 2020 for continuing to advocate for these critical issues.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the wonderful work of Table to Table during Food Rescue Awareness Week, which is being held September 24th through 30th. For the last twenty years, Table to Table has been committed to collecting nutritional, high-quality food from donors and distributing it through food establishments, food pantries, meal sites, and shelters to those who need it most in Johnson County. I grew up in poverty, and I know firsthand what it is like to worry about where my next meal might come from. Growing up, my single mom relied on food stamps at times in order to be able to feed my brothers, sister and me. I strongly believe that no Iowa child or family should go to bed hungry or have to wonder how they will afford their next meal. Hunger unfortunately continues to be a major problem in America and for many Iowa families. In Johnson County, one in seven residents relies on nutritional assistance in some way. That is why I am so grateful for Table to Table's efforts to fight food insecurity. Founded in 1996, Table to Table was the first food rescue charity in Iowa. Since then, Table to Table has provided the equivalent of 12.5 million meals consisting of food that would otherwise have been wasted and deposited in the landfill. This great organization has over 100 regular volunteers, collects from over 40 donation sites, and delivers to 36 agency sites. On behalf of all of my constituents, I would like to thank Bob Andrlik, Executive Director of Table to Table, for his years of service, and Table to Table for providing quality nutrition for those who need it. I know I join my colleagues, friends, and fellow Iowans in wishing Table to Table the best of success during this year's Food Rescue Awareness Week and urging folks who can to contribute food or volunteer.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith). We came into Congress at the same time, and it is great we can work on this bill together. It is a commonsense bill. Again, in Iowa, we have over 80 critical access hospitals. The gentleman pointed out the importance that these are small hospitals, 25 or fewer beds. Their resources are limited. I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith) for supporting this bill. I really appreciate it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5613, the Continuing Access to Hospitals Act. I am pleased the House is considering this bipartisan legislation, which I introduced with Ms. Jenkins of Kansas. Many of Iowa's rural hospitals, just like the rural hospitals in Kansas and other parts of America, are struggling in these economic times. I have made it a point to visit all of the hospitals in my district on many occasions in order to hear directly from them about the issues they are facing and how I, as their Congressman, can help. I have seen firsthand that rural hospitals are bedrocks of their communities, providing more than just high-quality, local access to health care. Rural hospitals also stimulate the local economy, creating jobs in the hospital and in the larger community. Without quality local health care, lives and communities are lost. One issue I consistently hear about is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' rule strictly requiring direct supervision of outpatient therapeutic services. The enforcement of this rule will cause rural facilities to reduce therapy services, threatening access to needed procedures for rural Americans. That is why I was proud that, last year, the legislation that Congresswoman Jenkins and I introduced to continue the prohibition on CMS from enforcing the unreasonable supervision requirements for 2015 was signed into law. That bill, however, was only a fix for 2015, as Congresswoman Jenkins pointed out. I am committed to making sure this is also solved in 2016, as well as working toward a permanent fix to provide certainty for our critical access hospitals, again, not just in Iowa or Kansas, but around the country. The services covered by this legislation have always been provided by licensed, skilled professionals under the overall direction of a physician and with the assurance of rapid assistance from a team of caregivers, including a physician. While there is some need for direct supervision for certain outpatient services that pose a high risk or are very complex, CMS' policy generally applies to even the lowest risk services. This legislation will provide temporary relief that will go far in relieving the regulatory burden of direct supervision of outpatient therapeutic services for rural hospitals. This legislation, fittingly, protects hospitals that were providing and are providing quality, responsible care during the period in question. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill today. Again, I thank Congresswoman Jenkins. We have worked together on this now for a couple of years. I think it proves that, if folks from both parties put their heads together and offer commonsense legislation, we can get it passed. Most importantly, it proves that we can help our local hospitals and folks who live in these rural areas who need that access to those local hospitals. I reserve the balance of my time.