David Loebsack

I believe that this is not the time to make cuts in education.

These funds are integral to the mission of keeping the American people safe in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

I do not support the President's decision to request a $68 million reduction in funding for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program and a $104 million reduction for the Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program.

I view those benefits as a sacred promise this government has made and that my constituents and yours have paid into over their lifetimes in good faith.

Make no mistake about it. This responsibility falls to us, Republicans and Democrats alike.

Social Security has not added one dime to today's current deficit.

If we are going to stay competitive and we are going to out-innovate around the world, we have to invest and we have to provide access to capital for those small businesses.

I would urge us to continue to invest in and reduce the cuts to would be Community Development Block Grants, Pell Grants, and Head Start.

Instead of a government by lobbyists dedicated to the wellbeing of the rich and the privileged, we must recommit our nation to a government by the people.

We must meet the bipartisan commitments to fight global AIDS that Congress and President Bush made in 2008.

No one, especially a veteran, should ever have to live without a roof over his or her head.

Taking care of our service members, veterans, and their families, especially in times of war, is of the utmost importance.

It is important that our men and women who serve our country receive the world-class care and benefits they have earned.

We have got to talk about persistent poverty in our country.

I urge this committee to support fully funding firefighter grants, the Community-Oriented Policing grants, and other funding to better protect urban areas from these types of emergencies.

I urge this committee to make sure that we continue our research and development funding, especially in manufacturing and advanced vehicle research.

Funding for Title 1, which is the foundation of our young people learning, is very important.

We must come together to make thoughtful decisions that eliminate unnecessary spending and prioritize job growth, economic recovery, and the long-term fiscal health of our Nation.

It is vitally important for not only my district but districts across the country that FEMA be provided adequate resources to respond to natural disasters.

I am therefore deeply troubled by the proposed cut of $93 million (58 percent!) in funding for international cargo screening.

I strongly believe that we should substantially increase funding for the Fire Station Construction Grant Program.

Cutting Seniors' benefits in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will have devastating effects on seniors and their children and grandchildren.

We can kick the can down the road again and tell the American people that everything is fine and there is nothing to worry about, or we can step up to the plate and do what our predecessors should have done long ago.

Social Security and seniors didn't cause the current deficit, and destroying Social Security will not fix it.

We cannot and should not judge the success of our country by the size or health of the stock portfolios of the super rich.