Grants awarded to organizations in Clinton, Van Buren, and Henry Counties

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that the Office of National Drug Control Policy has awarded Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grants totaling $374,998 to the Van Buren County Safe Coalition, the Henry Healthy County Communities, and the Clinton Substance Abuse Council (also known as the Gateway ImpACT Coalition).

"I have been a strong supporter and advocate for the Drug Free Communities Support Program.  This funding will allow these valuable programs to continue their work to better protect the health and safety of our children," said Congressman Loebsack.  "The Drug Free Communities Support Program uses a successful community level approach to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use.  I have met Iowa students involved with these programs and applaud each of these community coalitions for the great work they do."

The Drug Free Communities Support Program works to increase citizen participation in order to reduce youth substance use by creating a local coalition of community leaders, parents, adolescents, teachers, business leaders, law enforcement and the media.  These grants will provide the necessary funds to continue the work of the drug free community coalitions and keep young people informed and safe.

Details of the funding are below:

• Van Buren County Safe Coalition, Keosauqua, $125,000
• Henry Healthy County Communities, Mt. Pleasant, $125,000
• Clinton Substance Abuse Council, Clinton, $124,998

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Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today sent letters to United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad urging them to use unspent highway funds to advance the Quad Cities' I-74 Bridge.  According to the Federal Highway Administration, $6,931,453.04 in unspent highway funds could be made available to the state of Illinois, and $2,330,683.79 could be made available to the state of Iowa.

On Friday August 17, Secretary LaHood announced that the Administration is making this money available for states to create jobs and improve crumbling roads and bridges.  By October 1, states must identify projects on which they intend to use the funds.  The U.S. Department of Transportation will have to approve the projects before states can move forward.

"We specifically support the inclusion of I-74 in the announced plan by the Administration to use unspent funds to help move transportation projects forward in each state," the Congressmen wrote. "This bridge fits the important criteria of fixing our crumbling infrastructure, creating jobs and supporting our economic recovery, and we encourage you to include the I-74 Bridge in this plan for funds in each state that will not be used for their original purpose."

Secretary LaHood joined the Congressmen in viewing the I-74 Bridge in May, when he called it "one of the worst bridges [he's] ever seen." Loebsack and Schilling worked to include an authorization for $500 million in transportation reauthorization for the Projects of National and Regional Significance program to fund large, interstate bridge projects such as the I-74 Bridge.  Loebsack and Schilling called on House Appropriators to fully fund this program while crafting future appropriations bills to ensure I-74 can compete for funding and move forward as quickly as possible.

In 2005, the I-74 Bridge became the most traveled bridge in the Quad Cities with an average of 77,800 vehicles crossing daily.  This is despite the fact that it was built for 48,000 such crossings.  The Bridge itself is functionally obsolete, however, and has never met Interstate standards.  In addition to improving travelers' safety, the I-74 Bridge project would spur economic growth, create construction jobs, reduce traffic backups, and improve air quality.

The full text of the lawmakers' letter to Secretary LaHood can be found here, and their letter to Governors Quinn and Branstad can be found here.

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Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Loebsack toured farms affected by the drought to speak with farmers about how they have been impacted.  After viewing the conditions firsthand, Loebsack called on Speaker John Boehner to call Congress back into session to pass a long-term farm bill.  The current farm bill expires on September 30th and the House of Representatives has yet to take action on a measure to provide certainty to farmers and livestock/poultry producers.  Loebsack has called on Congress to stay in session multiple times to get critical work done.

"I call on you to immediately bring the House back into session and pass a reformed farm bill that reduces the deficit and also contains disaster relief for farmers and livestock/poultry producers," wrote Loebsack.  "I have been walking the rows with farmers since the heat wave and drought began to affect Iowa and now nearly all the counties I represent are experiencing extreme drought.

"Rural communities and small businesses throughout Iowa are heavily dependent on agriculture thriving - everything from coffee shops to manufacturers to equipment dealers.  A reformed farm bill that also addresses rural development is critical to the farm economy's prosperity and its contribution to economic recovery."

To view a copy of the letter click here.

Renews call for extension of Wind Tax Credit

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today welcomed the release of a report from the U.S. Energy Department that highlights the surge in manufacturing and jobs directly related to the wind energy sector.  Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of wind energy programs and has been leading the fight in Congress to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC).  He has visited wind energy plants across Iowa to see firsthand the need for stability that an extension of the PTC would provide and has repeatedly urged the House and Senate leadership to protect these good Iowa jobs.  Loebsack was also named a USA Wind Champion by the American Wind Energy Association for his ongoing support of wind energy in Iowa and working to extend the PTC.

"The release of this report confirms what many Iowans already know - that the wind energy industry across the state is strong and provides good jobs in our local communities," said Loebsack.  "Congress must get its act together and pass a long-term extension of the Production Tax Credit and not block the continued growth of the wind industry here in Iowa.  If the tax credit is not extended on a long-term basis, it will create uncertainty and put Iowa jobs and the Iowa economy in jeopardy."

A copy of the report can be found here.