Loebsack addresses veterans, VA policies

When U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack showed up at American Legion Post 111 in Newton on Friday afternoon, some local residents had probably already started their three-day weekends.

However, a handful of Jasper County residents were gathered in the post’s ballroom to meet with Loebsack, the five-term District 2 representative since 2006. Loebsack has made a pattern of visiting many communities in his district just before the Fourth of July, with a focus on veterans issues.

The Democrat is seeking election to a sixth term this November, but he was adamant he was only in Newton to discuss official business related to Congress, and not as part of a campaign effort in any way.

Loebsack said there are several issues concerning veterans that either have been addressed recently in Congress or are part of pending legislation. He said there is an active House mental-health bill that includes a provision to “loosen HIPPA laws” in a way that would allow medical and/or law enforcement to talk to each other about patient diagnoses that affect public safety.

“That bill could see the House floor this week,” Loebsack said.

Loebsack also said he is concerned about recent news regarding garbage fire pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, knowing U.S. soldiers could have been exposed to the burning of hard-to-determine combinations of toxic chemicals. He asked a Jerry Nelson, a member of the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission who served in Iraq, about the accuracy of some details of burning garbage, which Nelson confirmed.

Nelson said he hasn’t had any sort of health issues yet that he thinks are related to inhalation of burning chemicals. Loebsack he planned to look into exactly how the veterans administration addresses such health issues, and he encouraged any veteran who is having trouble obtaining or clarifying benefits or other VA policies to contact one of his staff.

Nelson also said the dental benefits offered to veterans are “pitiful.”

Doug Bishop, a member of the Jasper County Veterans Memorial Committee, said he knew of a decorated World War II veteran who was recently moved to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, despite the efforts of people in his life to make other arrangements. He and Loebsack seemed to agree there need to be more options for aging veterans who need various levels of inpatient health care and everyday assistance.

Loebsack said he was surprised when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Iowa’s privatization plan for Medicaid. He also said if a vote is before Congress to send military forces into combat, that decision needs to incorporate the veterans post-service health and other welfare that goes along as a consequence.

“If we send 100,000 troops to Syria, we’ve got to be willing, as Congress, to support our military once they come home,” Loebsack said. “So it’s always a long-term decision.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com