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KEOSAUQUA, IOWA -- Congressman Dave Loebsack of the Second District of Iowa was at the Van Buren Telephone Company in Keosauqua Tuesday morning.

He was there to listen and to respond to what concerned constituents and area leaders had to say. This is part of Loebsack’s tour of locally owned businesses that directly affect rural economies.

“I have concerns about certain aspects of things that are happening in Washington D.C. related to rural areas, whether it's the universal funding -- how that’s being allocated -- or whatever the case may be and I’m making my views known about that as well,” said Congressman Loebsack.

Loebsack acknowledged that effective broadband service is necessary for economic development in rural areas. He was quite complimentary of the effort to provide such service in Van Buren County.

“There are so many cottage industries in so many rural areas in Iowa that in particular that I think need rural broadband and it’s companies like Van Buren Telecom that are out there servicing these folks,” said Congressman Loebsack.

Constituents also asked the congressman to look into ways the federal government could make it easier for locally grown organic foods to find space on supermarket shelves year-round.