Thursday, July 30th, marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid.  Fifty years ago, 30 percent of seniors lived below the poverty line and only 51 percent of seniors had health coverage. On July 30, 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed into law legislation that has protected the health and well-being of millions of Americans, ensuring that our nation's seniors can enjoy their later years with the security of reliable medical insurance. He also signed Medicaid into law to provide a basic health care safety net for our country's most vulnerable populations.

I grew up in a family that struggled to make ends meet and I strongly believe that no Iowans should ever retire into poverty or have to make the choice between putting food on the table and paying for their medication. Since coming to Congress, I have fought to strengthen and improve Medicare and Medicaid, and today as we celebrate the anniversary of their implementation, I am proud of the security these landmark initiatives have provided to millions of Americans.

Moving forward, I will oppose any proposal that threatens to dismantle Medicare and Medicaid as we know them.  Please be assured that I will always fight to protect these vital initiatives to ensure that no Iowan retirees into uncertainty, and that the promise of health and economic security in retirement will be there for generations of Iowans to come.

Sincerely, 

Dave Loebsack
Iowa's Second District

Loebsack, Mullin Bill Grants Flexibility to Manufacturers and Consumers

WASHINGTON - Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) introduced a bill Wednesday to give manufacturers and consumers more flexibility when it comes to providing and accessing product warranty information. The bipartisan E-Warranty Act of 2015 (H.R. 3154) gives manufacturers the option of fulfilling their warranty notice requirements by posting the information on their website.

Following introduction, the bill passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade unanimously.

"This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense update to our nation's decades old warranty requirements. The bill would allow manufacturers to post warranty information online and give consumers easy access to written warranties," said Loebsack. "I am pleased the E-Warranty Act has been approved by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade and look forward to it moving through the House."

"Warranty requirements ensure consumers get important information when they purchase a product, but our federal warranty regulations were developed nearly forty years ago," said Mullin, a second-term lawmaker who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. "The world has changed since then, and our ability to compete on a global stage depends on our laws keeping pace with innovation."

If manufacturers choose to meet their warranty notification requirements by posting the information on their website, it must be in an accessible, conspicuous digital format. Manufacturers must also provide consumers with information on how to access the online warranty and obtain a paper copy, either by including instructions on the product packaging or in the product manual.

The bill makes no changes to the rules regarding the content of warranty information.

H.R. 3154 is the U.S. House of Representatives companion bill to U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Bill Nelson's (D-Fla.) S. 1359, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously on July 9, 2015. The bill will now move to the full House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Congressman Rod Blum (R-IA) called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to begin construction on the Cedar Rapids flood management project that was authorized by Congress in 2014. A

After the severe flooding of the Cedar River in 2008 -- which resulted in $2.4B in estimated property losses -- Congress authorized $73.1 million in funding towards a flood management and prevention project for Cedar Rapids in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) in 2014.  However, since the project's approval there have been multiple delays keeping the project from moving forward, and the joint letter sent today by Loebsack and Blum requests that the Corps address the delays and expedite construction.

"The residents and businesses in downtown Cedar Rapids have waited too long to get the protection necessary to prevent future devastation. I have been fighting since the Floods of 2008 to get these protection measures approved by Congress and signed into law by the President, as well as delivering more than $4 billion in disaster assistance to help Iowa rebuild. While we can't predict what future weather will bring, we have to get these flood protection measures in place quickly so downtown Cedar Rapids can continue its recovery and thrive," said Congressman Loebsack.

"This project has already been authorized by Congress, and it's my hope that the Army Corps of Engineers recognizes the importance of the project so it can move forward in a timely fashion. Ensuring that the community of Cedar Rapids never again experiences the devastation of 2008 is critical, and I look forward to working with the Corps, my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle, and local Cedar Rapids officials to expedite this process so the city can receive the funds designated by Congress," said Congressman Blum.

Reps. Loebsack and Blum will continue to work together with the Corps, the Administration and the relevant Congressional committees to ensure the completion of the project to protect the lives and property of their constituents that live along the Cedar River.

Loebsack Praises Bipartisan Victory that will Invest in Medical Innovation

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today approved H.R. 6, the 21^st Century Cures Act, by a vote of 344-77.  Congressman Loebsack, as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, was instrumental in the shaping of this bipartisan package.  The 21^st Century Cures Act is designed to encourage biomedical innovation and the development of new treatments and cures.

The bill provides for $8.75 billion in mandatory funding for NIH over the next five years, which is the most significant investment in biomedical research in over a decade.  It also promotes the maintenance of the best biomedical workforce in the world and supports young researchers through increased student loan repayment programs.  The 21^st Century Cures Act also modernizes clinical trials, encourages the development of next generation treatments and makes improvements to how FDA approves new drugs and devices.

Included in the legislation was Loebsack's provision to expand and extend the Medicare Prior Authorization Program for power mobility devices.  This demonstration program is already operating in 19 states and has demonstrated significant savings for the Medicare program while providing certainty to beneficiaries.

Congressman Loebsack delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of this groundbreaking achievement:

"This legislation is proof that we can accomplish great things when we put aside partisanship and unite around a common goal.  To that end I want to thank all the wonderful colleagues here today who worked on this for so long.  I am new to the Committee and coming into this and being able to be a part of this is really a great honor for me.

"I want to thank the Chair and Ranking Member also for my provision to extend and expand the Prior Authorization Program for prior mobility devices in this bill, providing certainty to Medicare beneficiaries that these critical devices will in fact covered.

"I am also excited about the NIH Innovation fund, which entails mandatory funding and will support scientists like those working at the University of Iowa.  As a result, we will have more groundbreaking advances like the University of Iowa researchers' discovery of a biomarker that could lead to early detection for the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women, a discovery that could save countless lives. While I am disappointed that the NIH funding was cut from $10 to $8.75 billion, I am hopeful that we can restore this as the process moves forward.

"And finally, I am really happy that we have finally gotten to a point in this body where we can think long term.  Not just about the costs for this program for this year or even for the next five years, but we can also think about all the savings that this will entail down the road.  I thank my colleagues for their work on this issue. I am really pleased to be a part of the process."

Video of Loebsack's remarks can be found here.

 

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