WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) introduced the Homeless Children and Youth Act, which provides a more accurate system for the federal government to understand the problem of youth homelessness and help better serve this population.  The Senate companion bill is sponsored by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA).

"As someone who was raised in poverty by a single mother who struggled with mental illness, I know firsthand how community support can help make a difference in people's lives" said Loebsack. "In order for our children to excel, especially those who are homeless or have nowhere to go, we must make it easier on them to access homeless assistance programs. The Homeless Children and Youth Act will help communities best provide for those who are most in need."

"No child should ever be without a home, let alone be forced to navigate bureaucratic red tape just to prove that they are actually homeless," said Stivers. "My bill would streamline the definition of 'homeless' to enable us to fully understand the problem, so that as a society we can get them the help they need."

Currently, the Housing and Urban Development Department's (HUD) definition of "homeless" is inconsistent with other federal agencies.  This legislation would expand HUD's definition of "homeless" to include all children and youth who are already verified as homeless by several other federal educational and social services programs.

The Homeless Children and Youth Act is a bi-partisan bill. It is supported by First Focus, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, the National Parent Teacher Association, the National Network for Youth, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare.

Bipartisan Bill Will Help Rural Fire Departments Recruit and Retain Volunteers

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressmen Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and David B. McKinley (R-WV) introduced bipartisan legislation to help volunteer firefighters and other first responders who keep our communities safe. The bill creates a tax deduction for volunteer first responders and will help Volunteer Fire Departments and other public safety organizations recruit and retain volunteers.

"I'd like to thank Representatives McKinley and Loebsack for introducing this important legislation," said Chief Philip C. Stittleburg, Chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council. "The services donated by volunteer emergency response personnel are valued at more than $140 billion annually and the average responder donates services worth more than $18,000 each year. At the same time, local agencies are increasingly struggling to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and EMTs. This common sense bill would help bolster staffing in volunteer public safety agencies by allowing responders to claim a portion of the value of the services they donate each year as a charitable donation."

"Our volunteer firefighters stand ready to serve us the moment disaster strikes. They donate their time and energy to keep us safe, and we can do more to support their critical role in our communities," said Loebsack. "Over 90% of Iowa's firefighters are volunteers, and this tax credit would provide an important recruitment tool for Fire Departments to maintain the level of staffing that they need to do their jobs. I am pleased to work on a bipartisan basis with Rep. McKinley to advance this important legislation."   

"Small towns across West Virginia and the country rely on volunteers to respond to fires, accidents, and other emergencies," said McKinley. "Yet these same men and women are often forced to raise money to simply have adequate equipment and training. We can do more to help them."

"We've had a number of meetings with Volunteer Fire Departments across West Virginia, and the number one issue they have is recruiting volunteers and keeping them," said McKinley. "This solution will help fix that problem and demonstrates the respect earned by volunteer emergency personnel."

The bill provides a tax deduction for hours of service each year volunteered for fire-fighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, ambulance services, civil air patrol, and emergency rescue services.

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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack recently continued his fight against misguided cuts to Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) that provide care to many Iowans living in rural areas. Loebsack helped lead a bipartisan effort with 45 Members of Congress in calling on the President to refrain from including arbitrary cuts to CAH in his upcoming budget proposal.

"(Critical Access Hospitals) play an important role in communities by providing access to primary, emergency, and acute care services," the lawmakers wrote. "As you consider the FY 2016 budget, we believe that indiscriminate cuts to CAHs, similar to those included in previous budgets, are not the answer."

A copy of the letter can be seen here.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement commemorating the 13th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

"Even thirteen years later the scars from that fateful day remain. That morning I was teaching a class on International relations and remember trying to explain to my students what was going on and why this was happening. But I also remember in the immediate aftermath and in the years since how our nation came together in ways never imagined. We honor this day by dedicating ourselves to service and improving our communities. We must also take time to pay tribute to those we lost; to the firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel who risked their own lives to save others; and to the men and women of our Armed Forces who have fought overseas for the last decade so that we may live in peace here at home.

"Let us come together again on this solemn anniversary to redouble our commitment to honoring the legacy of those we lost by making our great nation event stronger and more steadfast."