Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today marking the tenth anniversary of the Iraq War.  Loebsack is the only member from the Iowa delegation to serve on the Armed Services Committee and has traveled to Iraq three times.  During his visits, Loebsack met with troops and commanders on the ground and brought a touch of home to the troops by presenting them with care packages made by Iowa students.

"As we reflect on the tenth anniversary of the Iraq War we thank the men and women who served for their bravery and selflessness.  We must also remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country and honor their memory. We must pay tribute to the families of the more than one million troops who served in Iraq.  Though the war has ended, we still have a great responsibility here at home.  We must ensure that our servicemembers, who served with such dedication and honor, receive nothing but the best medical care and support, and that those looking for civilian jobs are able to find them."

"After ten years, 4,475 lives lost, more than 32,000 injured and more than a trillion dollars spent, there are many lessons that we as a nation must take away from the war.  But none is as important as making sure our troops have the tools necessary to stay safe on the battlefield and those who have returned have access to the services they need when they come home.  As a member of the Armed Services Committee and a military parent, I work every day to ensure our men and women who volunteer to defend our country are taken care of, whether here at home or when they are overseas."

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack and a bipartisan group of Members that serve on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) have demanded answers from the Secretary of Defense after a sexual assault conviction and sentence were overturned.  Loebsack is the only member of the Iowa delegation to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, which has oversight of policies concerning sexual assault prevention and prosecution.  As a member of the committee and the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, Loebsack has worked to strengthen sexual assault and harassment prevention and response policies, including provisions signed into law as part of the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act requiring independent reviews of how sexual assaults are prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

"As a parent of a step-son and daughter-in-law who serve our nation in the military, ensuring their safety on both the battlefield and on base is one of my top priorities. Sexual assault in our Armed Forces is unacceptable.  A zero-tolerance policy must include effective prosecution and support for victims.  I have worked to make improvements to sexual assault and harassment prevention and response policies in our military, but we still have a long ways to go to protect victims and to better prosecute these cases.

"I have very serious questions that remain unanswered in the recent case where a sexual assault conviction and sentence were overturned.  As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will work to ensure adjudicated cases cannot be overturned without proper oversight and evidence and to ensure better prosecution of these cases."

The letter was in response to the overturning of a conviction of an Air Force officer for sexual assault.  Last year, Air Force Lt Col James Wilkerson was found guilty of sexual assault by a panel of military officers and a judge sentence him to a year in prison and dismissal from the Air Force.  However, Lt Gen Craig Franklin, who was the convening authority for the court-martial and reviewed the finished case and sentence, dismissed the charges against Lt Col Wilkerson under a rarely used provision of the UCMJ.

A copy of the letter sent to the Department of Defense can be seen here.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack will meet with members of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce on MONDAY, March 11^th.  They will discuss economic development issues, as well as the recent announcement that three companies will expand their businesses in Clinton adding 200 jobs and bringing in $25 million in investments.  Loebsack and members of the Chamber of Commerce will meet with the media at 3:00pm.  After the meeting, Loebsack will tour Data Dimensions, one of the companies that will be expanding.

Note: Due to company policies, press will not be allowed to tour the Data Dimensions facility.

Media Availability with Rep. Loebsack and Clinton Chamber of Commerce

3:00pm

Clinton Chamber of Commerce

721 S. 2nd Street

Clinton

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Loebsack released the following statement today after the House of Representatives left for the weekend only hours before the automatic, across the board spending cuts known as sequester go into effect.  Loebsack has been opposed to these drastic cuts since they were created by the Budget Control Act, which he voted against.  Earlier this week, he called on House leadership to keep the House in session and working until a bipartisan way to stop the cuts is reached.

"There are many things that go on in Washington that are baffling to both me and the American people. The fact that Congressional leaders and the White House have not yet sat down to discuss how to avert this self-imposed mess is only the latest.  Since the New Year, after the proverbial can was kicked down the road for two months, I called on everyone involved to come to the table and find a bipartisan solution.  But yet, we remain in the same position that got us here.  The American people deserve better and are demanding better.  These cuts will have real life effects on Iowans.  Congress should not be leaving town until a real, commonsense solution is reached."