Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was voted on by the House of Representatives.  Loebsack authored a bipartisan amendment that blocked retirement of the Iowa National Guard's 132nd Fighter Wing in the House-passed version of the bill and fought against allowing the proposed cuts to move forward in the final bill. For the first time, Loebsack did not sign the conference report and opposed passage of the bill. Click here to view Loebsack's floor speech.

"The men and women of the 132nd have fought for our nation time and again and are one of the most experienced and cost-effective units in the country.  When the Pentagon initially announced their short-sighted plan to retire the F-16s, I spearheaded the bipartisan effort to stop it because they could not demonstrate why it was a good deal for taxpayers or our national security. They still have not provided that justification.  I strongly opposed this decision and therefore could not support the bill.

"I am also strongly opposed to a provision that would affect the Pentagon's civilian workforce, possibly including positions such as those at Rock Island Arsenal.  The men and women at Rock Island Arsenal work every day in support of our troops and make essential and cost-effective contributions to our national security.  While savings and efficiencies can be found in the defense budget, arbitrary reductions without strategy or analysis, like what this proposal calls for, undermines national security efforts like those at Rock Island Arsenal and hurts good jobs and the local economy in the Quad Cities.

"While I cannot support the underlying bill because of these misguided proposals, I am proud to have worked to include many provisions that will support our military families, National Guard and Reserve, and the Rock Island Arsenal."

Specific Loebsack initiatives in the bill include :

Stops BRAC

• Congressman Loebsack fought against the approval of new BRAC rounds since the proposal was first announced.  The final bill prevents DOD from carrying out new BRAC rounds.

Rock Island Arsenal Workload

• Congressmen Loebsack worked to include language that directs DOD to identify the critical manufacturing capabilities provided by arsenals and determine the amount of work that is required to maintain them in peacetime which will be incorporated into a national security strategy for our industrial base.  It also requires the creation of a strategic workload plan to maintain arsenals' critical capabilities.

Housing Benefits Fix for National Guard

• Also included in the NDAA, was Loebsack's legislation that prohibits reductions in the rate of Basic Allowance for Housing for members of the National Guard who transition from full time National Guard duty to active duty or from active duty to full time National Guard duty. Under current policy, some National Guardsmen who make this transition see their benefits reduced at a time when they and their families can least afford it because of a policy that changes how their benefits are calculated.  This issue was raised with Loebsack by the Iowa National Guard Officers and Enlisted Associations and he acted to fix it.

National Guard Counterdrug Schools

• The legislation reauthorizes the National Guard Counterdrug Schools like the Iowa Guard runs at Camp Dodge (the Midwest Counterdrug Training Center). The Center provides critical training to local law enforcement from across Iowa and the country to help keep drugs off of our streets.

Travel Benefits for National Guard and Reserve Retirees

• The legislation includes a provision similar to bipartisan legislation Loebsack co-introduced to allow expansion of full Space Available travel benefits on military aircraft to "gray area" retirees (National Guard members or Reservists who are eligible for retirement but under the age of 60) and surviving spouses. This issue was also raised with Loebsack by the Iowa National Guard Officers and Enlisted Associations, and Loebsack has worked on a bipartisan basis to provide these benefits.

Pay Raise for troops

• As a member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, Loebsack worked to provide a 1.7 percent pay increase in pay for our troops.

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NFPA reminds the public to properly store and dispose of seasonal decorations

December 20, 2012 - While the winter months are the leading time of year for home fires, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says the post-holiday season presents its own set of fire hazards. Dried out Christmas trees and holiday lighting are among the leading culprits.

"As time goes by, Christmas trees continue to dry out and become increasingly flammable," said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Communications for NFPA. "For trees decorated with holiday lights, the risk increases because they're in direct contact with an electrical source."

Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they have a higher chance of being deadly. On average, one of every 66 reported home structure Christmas tree fires resulted in a death compared to an average of one death per 144 total home structure fires.

A video demonstration created by NFPA and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) underscores just how quickly a dried-out Christmas tree fire can grow and spread.

According to Carli, you can tell when the tree is drying out by the number of needles that drop each day. "Once you start to see more fall, the tree is no longer fresh, and it's time to get rid of it."

Dried trees should not be kept in the home, garage, or placed outside against the home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program.

In 2006 to 2010, holiday lights and other decorative lighting were involved in an annual average of 160 home fires, 9 civilian deaths, 13 related injuries, and $9 million in direct property damage. To reduce the risk of holiday light fires and keep equipment in good condition for next year, follow these storage suggestions:

• To unplug electric decorations, use the gripping area provided on the plugs. Never pull the cord to unplug a device from electrical outlets. Doing so can harm the cord's wire and insulation and even lead to an electrical shock or fire.
• As you're putting away electrical light strings, take time to inspect each for damage. Throw out light sets if they have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires.
• Do not place a damaged set of lights back into the storage box for next year's use.
• Wrap each set of lights and put them in individual plastic bags, or wrap the lights around a piece of cardboard.
• Store electrical decorations in a dry place where they cannot be damaged by water or dampness. Also, keep them away from children and pets.

NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) have teamed up again to remind everyone about ways to keep warm and safe throughout the winter months. Their joint safety campaign, "Put a Freeze on Winter Fires," includes a wealth of heating, cooking and holiday fire safety tips.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

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Please click here if you wish to unsubscribe:  nfpaheadlines@nfpa.org.

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Technology Under the Tree? Try These Free Programs!

Getting Started with Downloading eBooks:

2:00 pm, Wednesday, Jan. 2, MAIN Library, and

5:30 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 15, SOUTHWEST Branch

From smartphones to tablets, there are all sorts of devices that will allow you to check out eBooks and eAudiobooks  for free at the Rock Island Library. We'll show you how! Free, no registration required.

And if Santa brings a new computer, try this class:

Getting Started with Computers:

1:30 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 29, MAIN LIbrary. Whether you've never touched a computer before or just want to learn some new things, this class will help you get more comfortable. Space is limited; registration required for this class only. Call 309-732-7341 to sign up.

More Events for the first week of January 2013

Thirty-something Adele is devastated after a painful breakup. With no close friends or family, her distant cousin, Rachel, reluctantly takes her in and graciously attempts to salvage Adele's personal and professional lives.

Teen Fun @ Your Library

Read to Survive, Survive to Read Teen READ challenge is Jan. 6-Jan. 26. Forms will be available by Friday, Jan. 4 at all Rock Island Library locations. Read, survive and win!

After you pick up your challenge form, take part in a Teen Read Scavenger Hunt, at 6:00 pm on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Rock Island Main Library.  Test your survival skills and see if you have what it takes to follow the clues and stay alive in this battle of endurance and wits! Come and try your luck for a chance to win great prizes! Ages 12-18.

Chicago Bike Swap 2013 anticipates more than 75 bike shops, businesses, nonprofits, bike clubs, bike teams and bike people to exhibit and sell bikes, bike parts, gear, clothing, bike event registrations and more.

Chicago's only downtown bike expo?the Chicago Bike Swap organized by the nonprofit Active Transportation Alliance, and also benefiting Chicago Bike Winter and The Chainlink.org?will take place at the University of Illinois at Chicago Physical Education Building, 901 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2013. Visit www.chicagobikeswap.org for more information.

Admission is $10 (cash only) or $5 for members of the Active Transportation Alliance and students, staff and faculty of UIC. Kids 12 and under free. The public is welcome to bring up to three bikes per person to sell in our giant Bike Corral. The service is admission plus $5 per bike. You set the price and we call you when a buyer is interested.

For only $30, you'll get admission to the swap and a one-year Active Transportation Alliance membership, which includes the Chicagoland Bike Map (a $10 value!).

In addition to affordable bike merchandise, you can expect presentations on topics like biking safely with children, updates on Chicago's new biking infrastructure and performances by the Racketeers, a women's BMX bike dance troupe.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. The Active Transportation Alliance is North America's largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by nearly 7,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 40 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

Bike Winter ( http://bikewinter.org) is a Chicago-based campaign aimed at promoting the bicycle as year-round transportation by facilitating social and educational events to build confidence and enthusiasm for all-weather cycling. Bike Winter began with the efforts of a dedicated group of Chicago cyclists in 1999 and now includes efforts in Milwaukee, Madison and St. Louis.

The Chainlink, www.thechainlink.org, is the one-stop Chicagoland resource for connecting cyclists to share info on bikes, routes, rides, and events.