Summary

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About

Source: Government page

Congressman Dave Loebsack, who grew up in poverty and was raised by a single parent, is living proof of how community support can make a difference in people’s lives. He faced many challenges but with hard work and help from teachers, friends and mentors he was able to overcome his many hardships. As a result, Dave has dedicated his adult life to helping people find opportunity and hope.

Dave grew up in Sioux City, where he attended East High School. After graduation, Dave attended Iowa State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree. Dave then went on to earn a PhD from the University of California, Davis. In 1982, Dave moved back to Iowa and became a teacher at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon. Today, Dave has the honor to serve as a Professor Emeritus at Cornell College.

Dave and his wife Terry, a retired school teacher after 35 years, are the proud parents of four grown children. Jennifer, a graduate of Beloit College, earned her Masters in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and now works for a library software company in Seattle. Sarah, a graduate of Kirkwood Community College, is now a nurse at Unity Point in Cedar Rapids. Marcos Melendez III, Terry’s son, and his wife Michelle are both Naval Academy graduates (class of 2000) and are assigned to Camp Pendleton in California.  Madeleine Melendez, Terry’s daughter, attended Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls and now resides in Springfield, Missouri. Dave and Terry are also the proud grandparents of three grandchildren.

Dave is currently serving his seventh term in the United States House of Representatives. He represents Iowa’s Second Congressional District which encompasses much of Eastern and Southern Iowa. Since being elected by the Second District, Dave has been a relentless advocate for Iowans, addressing critical issues that are facing hard-working, Iowa families.

In 2015, Dave began serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is the oldest standing committee in the House. It has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues, including energy policy; healthcare policy; trade policy; telecommunications and the internet; environment and air quality; and consumer affairs and protection. Having a seat on this committee will allow Dave to make a greater impact on job creation, growing the economy, making sound investments in renewable energy such as wind, solar and biofuels and growing the Middle Class in Iowa and across the country. Previously, Dave served as a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the House Armed Services Committee.

Dave is committed to job creation, growing our middle class by ensuring that our children receive a first-class education, ensuring higher education is available to all those who wish to pursue it, and focusing on training for  Iowa workers. He has also worked to ensure that our troops have the training and equipment necessary to safely complete their missions, that our military families receive the support they deserve, and that our nation’s veterans are served by a grateful nation with the same dignity and honor with which they served our country.  He has worked tirelessly in support of the Iowa National Guard to improve training facilities, invest in equipment, and ensure they receive the benefits they and their families deserve

He is also a member of the Center Aisle Caucus; the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine; the Congressional Rural Caucus; the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues; the Congressional Military Families Caucus; the House Manufacturing Caucus; and the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus, amongst others.

Experience

Work Experience

• Professor

  Political Science

Education

• B.A.
  Iowa State University
  1974
• M.A.
  Iowa State University
  1976
• Ph.D.
  UC Davis
  1985

Personal

Birth Year: 1952
Place of Birth: Sioux City, IA
Gender: Male
Race(s): Caucasian
Religion: Christian: Methodist
Spouse: Terry Loebsack
Children: Sarah Loebsack, Jennifer Loebsack

Contact

Email:

• Government

Offices

Iowa City Office
125 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 351-0789
Fax: (319) 351-5789

Davenport Office
209 W. 4th Street, #104
Davenport, IA 52801
Phone: (563) 323-5988
Fax: (563) 323-5231

Washington D.C. Office
1211 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6576
Fax: (202) 226-0757

Web

Government Page, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook

Politics

Source: none

Recent Elections

2018

Source: Ballotpedia

Finances

LOEBSACK, DAVID WAYNE (DAVE) has run in 5 races for public office, winning 5 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $8,042,732.

Source: Follow the Money

Committees

Committees

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Subcommittees

Communications and Technology
Energy

Voting Record

See: Vote Smart

New Legislation

• Sponsored
• Cosponsored

Source: Congress.gov

Issues

Governance

Cleaning up Washington

Since coming into office, Dave has set out to change the culture of Washington. He believes greater transparency, changing the way DC does business, and adequate oversight are all essential elements to reforming Washington.

Starting in 2007, he worked to pass the largest ethics reform since Watergate. When these ethics reforms were signed into law, Dave said, “Trust in government begins with citizen access to information and increased public disclosure of political activities and contributions,” and he has not stopped working to increase transparency and hold government accountable since.

In the following years, Dave has proudly authored the CHIP IN and Cut Congressional Pay Act. This bipartisan legislation would cut the salary of Members of Congress by ten percent and prevent the automatic pay raises for members of Congress. This pay cut would mark the first time in eight decades that Congress’ salaries would be reduced.  Dave has also voted multiple times to bar automatic congressional pay increases and cut congressional office budgets, including for his own office.

The most meaningful reform in Washington is ending the revolving door between Congress and the special interesting lobbying shops on K Street. Dave has led by example and pledged to never become a lobbyist. Members of Congress should not profit from their elected position. On top of his personal pledge, Dave has helped introduce legislation that would prohibit former Members of Congress from ever engaging in lobbying activities.

As a member of the Congressional Transparency Caucus, Dave has fought to ensure that the work Congress does is open and transparent for the American people. That is why Dave is a strong advocate and cosponsor of the No Budget, No Pay Act. Passing a budget is one of the most important things for Congress to do each year and this piece of legislation is simple; if Congress doesn’t pass a budget, Members of Congress don’t get a paycheck. This is an important initiative that must be put in place to make sure Congress is actually doing its job.

Whether it is cutting member pay, ending the revolving door between lobbyists and Congress, or getting budgets passed on time, Dave will keep fighting to hold Members of Congress accountable for actually doing what they were sent to Washington to do.

Economy

Economy & Jobs

As a child who was raised in poverty and knows what it is like to sit around the kitchen table and have to choose between paying the bills and putting food on the table, Dave has long believed that his most important priority is to help foster an environment that creates jobs and grows the economy here at home. That means building a strong economic environment in order to expand the middle class in Iowa. Small businesses and manufacturing companies are important job creators here in Iowa. Dave has consistently worked to provide Iowa businesses with skilled labor and resources that are needed to succeed in the 21st century economy.

To help ensure our hardworking men and women have access to the training necessary for the jobs that are available, Dave worked to get large segments of his bill, the SECTORS Act, signed into law. This legislation closes the gap between the kinds of skills that workers already have and the skills that growing businesses require, creating more opportunities for work.

Across Iowa, small businesses make up over 97% of all businesses and nearly half of all Iowans are employed by small businesses. It is vitally important that Congress work to support small businesses as our nation continues to recover. As a member of the Congressional Small Business Caucus, Dave has worked to give small businesses tax relief  and access to investment to ensure they have what they need to grow, hire, and invest in our communities.

Manufacturers are also major employers in Southeast Iowa. The Second Congressional District is home to a number of large manufacturing companies as well as countless small and midsize companies. As a member of the House Manufacturing Caucus, Dave has helped introduce legislation, such as the Investing in America’s Small Manufacturers Act, which would support manufacturing in Iowa.

Education

Education

Dave escaped poverty because of the opportunity to attend Iowa’s public schools in Sioux City and go to college at Iowa State. Access to a quality, affordable, education is one of the greatest equalizers we have. As a former teacher, Dave takes the education of our future generation of leaders very seriously, and believes that a strong educational foundation for all students is vital for our country’s future competitiveness.

As the co-chair of the Rural Education Caucus, Dave has focused on improving education for Iowa students no matter where they live. Dave helped forge the way for the creation of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant program in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which provides resources to rural schools to improve their education technology programs.

Students must have access to the education needed to compete in our job market. As a co-chair and founder of the 21st Century Skills Caucus, Dave is focused on closing the skills gap and getting Iowans to work by introducing the New Jobs Training Act. This legislation will promote partnerships between community colleges and businesses to build a workforce that has the skills needed for today’s economy.

Dave is also focused on making Pell Grants available year round and ensuring students have access to student loans and grants to help Iowans afford a quality college education. The burden of student loan debt should not force college graduates to put their dreams on hold. That is why Dave has worked to increase our investments in student aid, transform the way our student loan programs operate, and strengthen opportunities through our community colleges. Dave has also helped introduce legislation that would make Pell Grants available year round, not just during the traditional school year. We must also lower student loan interest rates and give hardworking students the tools they need to refinance their loans.

Environment

Climate Change, Energy And The Environment

I have long believed that the science is settled, climate change is happening and we must take steps to mitigate its effects. We continue to face an increase of severe weather events across the country and globe that are threatening the safety of many and deeply costing our families, businesses and communities. The failure to address climate change has also been called a national security threat by Defense Secretary James Mattis. It is critical that we work to address environmental issues occurring right now so that we pass on to our children and grandchildren a livable environment in the future.

Additionally, I have fought to increase investments in renewable energy, such as wind, solar and biofuels. These industries not only help cut down on pollution, but they provide thousands of jobs across Iowa. Wind and solar energy have become a boon for rural communities. The wind industry has created thousands of jobs across Iowa, provides millions of dollars annually in rental income for farmers and landowners across the state, and has helped grow a number of manufacturing companies here in Southeast Iowa. I have consistently fought to protect both the wind Production Tax Credit and the solar Investment Tax Credit to give the industries the stability and certainty that has helped Iowa grow to having over 37 percent of its electricity generated from wind.

Ultimately, our nation must end it reliance on fossil fuels and invest in next generation fuel sources. While working towards creating these new fuels sources, it is important that we continue to curb our reliance on energy from the Middle East. I know Iowans consider themselves the first stewards of land and we must work to improve the environment for our children’s future.

Throughout my time in Congress and as a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus and as a co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, I have and will continue to fight to reduce pollution, promote clean, renewable energy, and limit our greenhouse gas emissions.

Health Care

Health Care

From the beginning of the debate over healthcare, Dave has said that his number one priority is to ensure Iowans have access to affordable, quality healthcare coverage. Dave has worked to improve the overall health and wellbeing of all Iowans.

With a mother who struggled with mental illness, Dave has also made it his priority to expand access to mental health care. Dave has championed legislation, the Behavioral Health Care Integration Act, which would bridge the divide between behavioral and physical health by awarding competitive grants to improve integration of primary and mental health care so providers can work together to best address and treat the whole person.

Dave has also focused on getting quality healthcare to rural communities that are seeing fewer and fewer providers. Dave’s bill, the Access to Frontline Health Care Act, would help encourage providers to move to and work in communities where the need is greatest.

Dave truly believes that rural hospitals are bedrocks of their communities, which provide more than just high quality, local access to health care by stimulating the local economy and creating jobs in the hospital and community. That is why he has fought to address healthcare shortages in rural areas. He has teamed with Rep. Sam Graves to introduce the bipartisan Save Rural Hospitals Act to ensure that the nearly 300 rural hospitals don’t become shuttered in the upcoming years.

Finally, Across the United States, more than 30 million Americans, one in 11 people, have been diagnosed with diabetes. It is estimated that this prevalent disease costs the healthcare industry a staggering $322 billion each year. There is no doubt that diabetes has had a direct impact on families across Iowa. That is why Dave worked to get bipartisan legislation passed through congress and signed into law to establish a National Clinical Care Commission to improve and coordinate our national response to diabetes and other metabolic and autoimmune diseases. This bill will bring together clinical endocrinologists, specialists, health care professionals, patients and representatives from the federal agencies to coordinate and advance the search for a cure.

Infrastructure

Communications

A significant digital divide remains between urban and rural America and Dave is working to close this divide by promoting broadband deployment throughout rural America. Dave serves on the Communications and Technology subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over telecommunications issues.

Having access to high speed broadband is important to all aspects of our lives. From healthcare and education, to farming and local businesses, communities cannot thrive if they are left behind as the rest of the country moves forward. Increased access to broadband helps boost economic development, education opportunities and job growth in rural areas. That is why Dave proudly serves as a co-chair of the Rural Broadband Caucus.

It is also clear to anyone who lives in Iowa, or has traveled across the state, that wireless coverage can be lacking. As folks drive through southeastern Iowa, they often have calls dropped or cannot get a strong signal. Unfortunately, the data that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uses to improve coverage doesn’t tell the same story. That is why Dave has championed legislation to ensure the FCC has the proper data to be able to address the problem. We can’t invest in greater wireless access without accurately understanding the problem.

Rural Development

As a lifelong Iowan Dave knows how important agriculture and renewable energy is to our rural economy. Southeast Iowa has some of the most productive farmland in the world and agriculture remains a cornerstone of Iowa’s economy. Supporting rural communities is a top priority of Dave’s.

Dave is proud to be a co-founder of the House Biofuels Caucus and is one of the most passionate supporters of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the House of Representatives. Over the years, Dave has opposed attempts to modify, undermine, or repeal this effective program. The RFS has created over 43,000 in Iowa alone. Dave is proud that Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production, producing nearly 30% of all American ethanol. Dave will continue to push for the expansion of the use of biofuels in the United States in order to cut down on our reliance on foreign oil, create jobs, and to lower the price at the pump for Iowans.

Wind energy has been a boon for rural communities. Iowa is in a strong position for wind energy because of large wind generation potential and a storied history of investments in wind generation capacity. The wind industry has created thousands of jobs across Iowa, provides millions of dollars annually in rental income for farmers and landowners across the state, and has helped grow a number of manufacturing companies here in Southeast Iowa. Dave has consistently voted to protect the wind Production Tax Credit to give the industry the stability and certainty that has helped Iowa grow to having over 37 percent of its electricity generated from wind.

We all know how devastating floods can be to our rural communities. Since the Floods of 2008 Dave has worked tirelessly to help the affected communities recover, and work to prevent similar disasters in the future. That is why Dave worked closely with FEMA in 2008 to deliver millions of recovery dollars to Eastern Iowa. Additionally, Dave has proudly introduced the National Flood Research and Education Act. This bill would create a National Flood Center dedicated to developing new and better comprehensive methods to predict, prepare, prevent, and recover from flooding.

Social Security

Social Securtiy & Medicare

As someone who was raised in poverty by his grandmother who relied on Social Security survivors benefits to put food on the table for him and his siblings, Dave knows how vital this initiative is for both seniors and their families. Dave has been fighting in Congress to make sure no Iowan retires into poverty, or has to choose between putting food on the table and paying for their medication.

That is why Dave has staunchly opposed efforts to privatize Social Security and end the guarantee to seniors that a lifetime of work will be rewarded with the peace of mind, certainty, and sense of security  that a stable retirement provides. Dave knows what it feels like to sit around the table and wonder how to pay the bills each month.  He firmly believes that we must keep the promise that we’ve made to our seniors, who should never face the possibility of retiring into poverty.

Dave has consistently voted against cutting Social Security benefits for seniors, and has fought for increases in Cost Of Living Adjustments (COLA) and to ensure the COLA accurately reflects spending needs for our state’s ’s aging Iowans

In addition, Dave has fought against proposals to cut Medicare benefits for Iowa’s seniors and has stood against efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher program. Dave has also worked to strengthen and expand Medicare’s coverage including strongly supporting efforts to have  Medicare cover dental, optometric, and audiological procedures to get seniors the care they need and deserve

Veterans

Veterans

As the parent of Marine children, Dave stands committed to ensuring our nation’s veterans are served by our country with the same dedication and honor with which they have served us. In order to ensure veterans get the care and assistance they need, each year Dave hosts a series of roundtables called “Serving Those Who Served” across Iowa to meet face to face with veterans and their families.

A major part of ensuring the overall health and wellbeing of our veterans is by providing mental health care. It is a sad fact that 22 veterans each day commit suicide. That is why Dave has championed the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act, which would require the VA to provide mental health care to any veteran who asks for it.

Additionally, Dave has fought to eliminate the “widow’s tax”, and fought against proposals to increase TRICARE fees and co-pays, and to reduce military retirement benefits.