Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today questioned the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Deputy Secretary of Defense at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the impacts of sequestration on our military.  Loebsack continued to express his opposition to letting the automatic, across the board spending cuts contained in sequestration take effect. He has concerns about the affects of sequestration on national security, including the operations at the Rock Island Arsenal and the Iowa Army Ammunition Plants.  He questioned General Ray Odierno, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, about the impact of these arbitrary cuts on the Army's arsenals and depots.

"I was opposed to these arbitrary, across the board cuts, known as sequestration, since they were first proposed last year.  They do not make sense for our budget and they certainly do not make sense for our nation's defenses.  I strongly believe we must reduce the unsustainable deficit, but this is not the way to do it. I am greatly concerned about the long-term effects of sequestration on our readiness and the workforce at our nation's arsenals and depots, including the Rock Island Arsenal and the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant.  The organic industrial base and its workforce are critical to our readiness and ability to respond to a national security contingency.  As a military parent, we have to ensure our troops serving overseas have the best equipment available to them.  We cannot allow these cuts to take place," said Loebsack.

Video of the discussion can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjrGfhTGBeg

The longest, most heavily guarded border in the world, the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea, could easily steal American and world headlines as the issue of the day, and most of us would be caught blindsided, says Ian R. Kelley, who served 35 years in the U.S. Department of Defense.

"Sure, there are plenty of competing issues out there, but I don't think our leaders or media give proper attention to the two Koreas - neither the immediacy of their issues nor the long-term potential consequences," says Kelley, author of "UNCIVIL SERVANTS," (www.ianrkelley.com), a political thriller that fictionalizes an attempt to open borders at the 38th parallel, uniting North and South Korea.

He reviews the five major ways the two Koreas may affect the United States, and the rest of the world:

• U.S. military personnel: More than 30,000 U.S. military, Department of Defense civilians and contractors live and work under constant threat from the last remnant of the "Bamboo Curtain," says Kelley. With ongoing conflicts and threats continuing throughout the Middle East and North Africa, a renewed shooting war between the two sides would stress an already stretched-thin military.

• Same as the old boss? Global uncertainty: Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader since his father Kim Jong-il died in 2011, made a surprise New Year's broadcast on state media. He called for an end to confrontation between the two Koreas - still officially at war without a peace treaty ending their 1950-53 conflict. But this will not be the first olive branch from the North; past statements have been used for tactical purposes only. Very little is known about the new leader, furthering the guardedness of regional neighbors.

• A reunited Korea - the good: Most agree the world would be a safer, more humane place when, and if, North and South Korea unite. Putting an end to famine and starvation in the North, dramatically reducing the threat of nuclear war and preventing weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorist organizations is an imperative.

• A reunited Korea -the bad: Some in the Japanese government fear the industrial might of a reunited Korea. The abundance of the North's natural resources coupled with the South's technology and innovation could have devastating results for Japan's economy. China worries about the new border and how that nation's security will be guaranteed. Even some labor union leaders in South Korea worry about the consequences if millions of workers flock south seeking a better life.

• Friends & enemies (a delicate balance): Should hostilities flare up between the North and South, powerful allies on both sides would be drawn into the fray. The U.S. would almost certainly side with the south, damaging any negotiations with those who may side with the North, including Russia.

Reunification of the Koreas is inevitable, Kelley says, but the many unknowns about the North compound the potential negative effects.

"Remember, there are still shots being fired in the DMZ - most recently, an unconfirmed report that North Korean soldiers killed two 'defectors' who were trying to cross to the South," Kelley says. "It is not a stable area."

About Ian R. Kelley

Ian R. Kelley retired from the Department of Defense in 2005 after 35 years service. For many years, he lived and worked in South Korea teaching English and communications skills to Korean and U.S. military personnel. He worked as a professor at Keimyung College University in Daegu, South Korea. He currently resides in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

State-Federal Partnership Created by the Affordable Care Act Will Deliver Quality Health Care to Hundreds of Thousands in Illinois by End of First Year

CHICAGO - February 13, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that Illinois has been conditionally approved to operate a State Partnership Marketplace, which will be ready for open enrollment in October 2013. This federal approval of the partnership, which was announced in a joint appearance at the Erie Health Center in Chicago, will allow Illinois to select health insurance carriers and tailor the marketplace to local needs and market conditions.

Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to increase access to decent healthcare and ensure Illinois reaps the benefits of the Affordable Care Act.

"Here in the home state of President Barack Obama, we are forging ahead to make the promise of the Affordable Care Act a reality," Governor Quinn said. "Access to decent healthcare is a fundamental right. Hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois will gain quality health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. They will also gain the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the care will be there if they need it. We are going to be working very hard between now and October 1 to educate the people of our state about the health care coverage options they will have through the marketplace, thanks to President Obama's leadership."

"I applaud Illinois' work to build a new health insurance marketplace," Secretary Sebelius said. "Illinois has made significant progress, and will be ready in eight months for open enrollment when Illinoisans will be able to use the new marketplace to easily purchase quality, affordable health insurance plans."

A key feature of the Affordable Care Act, the marketplace will be accessed through a robust, user-friendly website where individuals, families and small businesses will be able to compare health care policies and premiums and purchase comprehensive health coverage. Individuals and families with income between 133 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level will receive subsidies on a sliding scale if they obtain coverage through the marketplace. Illinois officials estimate that 500,000 people will secure coverage through the marketplace in the first year of operation, and up to one million people will be covered by 2016.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, as of January 2014, consumers and small businesses will have access to a new marketplace that will deliver access to quality, affordable private health insurance coverage. These comprehensive health plans will provide consumers with the same kinds of insurance choices as members of Congress, and ensure they are not denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Consumers in every state will be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans directly through these marketplaces, and may be eligible for tax credits to help pay for their health insurance.

For more information on the new health insurance marketplace, visit www.healthcare.gov/exchanges.