Recap of our meeting with Congressman Loebsack

In our February 29 meeting with Congressman Loebsack, we were slotted for 30 minutes. Our meeting lasted 45, which is a good sign that he was interested in what we were lobbying on.

After introductions, Diane thanked the Congressman for his co-sponsorship of the Global Poverty Act; his co-sponsorship of the Stop TB Now Act; and especially for his excellent work on the subcommittee which drafted the Head Start Reauthorization Bill. He seemed genuinely appreciative to be appreciated.

Kate talked about the importance of adequate funding for Head Start, and the Congressman said he had just the day before testified before the House Budget Committee. Aide Alicia Trimble sent his testimony today. It is in a post below. The Congressman told us he thought the Administration had under-funded Head Start by $623 million.

Kathy gave a laser talk about the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill and did an excellent job turning her laser talk into a conversation with the Congressman. He said he would talk to the chair of the House conference committee on updating the $1/meal base and on upgrading the asset limitations for receiving Food Stamps. We all thought the conference committee members for the House had not yet been chosen.

Barbara talked about the need to stop the Bush Administration's proposed new regulations for Medicaid. The Congressman said these proposed regulations would move more power to the States, eventually, according to the Administration's hopes, privatizing Medicaid. She asked for a moratorium on new Medicaid regulations. The Congressman said he felt confident the Congress could stop these regulations from taking hold.

Diane explained that of the 100 RESULTS groups, only the Cedar Rapids Area RESULTS Group works on both global and domestic issues and that now we wanted to talk global.

With Paula's difficulties in making the meeting on Friday, Diane did her best presenting PEPFAR Reauthorization for five years at $50B, which the Congressman was well familiar with. He did say he agreed with the Administration on the work they had done in Africa regarding health. He sent a follow-up today, printed below. It is a yes on Paula's ask of $50B.

Leslee talked about education and the Fast Track Initiative. Normally, explained the Congressman, Fast Track refers to trade, so there was some conversation making the distinction that our Fast Track Initiative referred to education. Diane will email Alicia Trimble, the Congressman's aide in the meeting, asking for the House leader on the Fast Track Initiative. The follow-up his office sent today was on trade, so we will need to make the education distinction again.

Polly talked about microcredit, asking for $500M. The Congressman enjoyed Polly's stories about how microcredit had changed lives for the better and we will need to be more active in lobbying the Congressman to attend House World Bank meetings with President Zoellick and to support microcredit letters circulating in the House.

The Congressman said email is a good way to communicate with him, and that we could follow up with Alicia Trimble.

On Tuesday, March 4, Diane will get background on Fast Track Initiative from Leslee and follow through with Alicia to ask if she can let us know who the leader is in the House.