Sherrod Brown

Following New Report from USDA Showing Unprecedented Rise in Hunger, Brown Emphasizes Need to Enroll More Children in Nutrition Programs

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms, attended a hearing today of the Senate Agriculture Committee entitled, "Opportunities to Fight Hunger and Improve Child Health."

Brown emphasized the need to pass his Hunger Free Schools Act, which would help enroll more students who qualify for nutrition assistance in the school lunch program by increasing the program's efficiency through technology improvements and paperwork reduction.    » read more »

At Columbus Couple’s First Home, Senator, CHP Underscore How Federal Credit Can Help Strengthen Columbus Real Estate Market

November 16, 2009 -- COLUMBUS, OH – At the soon-to-be new home of Mike Decker and Katie Arends, who used the first-time homebuyer federal tax credit to build their first house, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today discussed how the newly extended federal tax credit can help other Columbus community members purchase new homes. Brown fought in Congress to extend the tax credit through April, which the president signed into law earlier this month.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown issued the following statement in response to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) unveiling of the discussion draft of comprehensive financial reform legislation.

“Across the nation, middle class families like those in Loveland and Toledo and Painesville are still suffering from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

“We need regulatory reform to protect consumers from the bad actors in our financial system. Too many banks are reaping billions from overdraft and other banking fees, with consumers learning about the excessive charges afterwards.    » read more »

In Advance of Veterans’ Day, Brown Discusses Issues Affecting Ohio Veterans

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown today announced a new initiative to improve veterans access to the benefits they have earned. Brown's Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements (BRAVE) Act would create a new fast-track system for veterans with disabilities to qualify for benefits from both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Social Security Administration (SSA).    » read more »

Bill Would Extend and Expand COBRA Subsidy Included in Recovery Act; Subsidy Set to Expire on December 1 without Legislative Action

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced a bill today to extend the “COBRA” subsidy which helps unemployed workers and their families afford temporary health care coverage. Many Families will lose this temporary assistance which will begin to expire on Dec. 1, 2009, if Congress fails to act. The bill is also cosponsored by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN).    » read more »

Brown Says Report Shows How Ohio is Poised to Become National Leader in Clean Energy Manufacturing; How Clean Energy Policy Can Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal clean energy legislation could create more than 51,000 jobs at existing Ohio manufacturing firms, according to a new report released today. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined labor and clean energy leaders to announce the report, which also shows that Ohio is in the top five states for potential job creation.    » read more »

Bill Would Provide Extra Unemployment Assistance for Workers in States like Ohio and Would Expand Homebuyer Tax Credit

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced Senate passage this evening of a bill that would provide for an extension of emergency benefits to unemployed workers and expand the homebuyer tax credit. Brown is a cosponsor of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which would extend unemployment insurance by 14 weeks (with an additional six weeks for workers in high unemployment states like Ohio) and expand the first-time homebuyer tax credit to include existing homeowners who have not moved for five years or more.    » read more »

New bill by key Senators to reinvigorate ‘Super 301’ authority for U.S. agency

Washington, DC (Nov. 3, 2009) – Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW) today announced strong support for the ‘Trade Enforcement Priorities Act of 2009’ (S. 1982) introduced by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that would breakdown foreign barriers for exports to help create American jobs.    » read more »

Bill Would Provide Extra Unemployment Assistance for Workers in States Like Ohio and Would Expand Homebuyer Tax Credit

November 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced his support for a bill that would provide for an extension of emergency benefits to unemployed workers and expand the homebuyer tax credit.

Brown is a cosponsor of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which would extend unemployment insurance by 14 weeks (with an additional six weeks for workers in high unemployment states like Ohio) and expand the first-time homebuyer tax credit to include existing homeowners who have not moved for five years or more.    » read more »

Bill Aims to Prevent Credit Card Issuers from Squeezing Americans in Final Months Before New Consumer Protections Take Effect

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Although landmark legislation protecting consumers from abusive and predatory practices used by credit card companies was enacted in May, credit card companies across the nation have been jacking up rates in an effort to squeeze customers before all of the new bill’s provisions can take effect.

In response, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has joined his colleagues on the Senate Banking Committee in introducing a bill that would immediately freeze credit card interest rates, fees, and finance charges on existing balances.    » read more »

Partnership Aimed at Bolstering Ohio's Aerospace Industry through More Contracts with Airbus

October 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Airbus Americas Chairman Allan McArtor announced the formalization of a partnership between Airbus and Ohio suppliers aimed at growing Ohio’s aerospace industry. They were joined by leaders from Ohio’s aerospace and technology communities, including the Ohio Aerospace Institute and Ohio’s Edison Technology Centers. These partners will co-host a set of procurement conferences to help facilitate more business between Ohio companies and Airbus.    » read more »

October 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) issued the following statement in response to Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) announcement that a public option will be included in the draft health insurance reform legislation that he sends to Congressional Budget Office (CBO).    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to announce the introduction of The Fairness and Accountability in Receiving (FAIR) Overdraft Coverage Act. This legislation would protect Americans from excessive checking account overdraft fees.

“Taxpayers helped stabilize the financial services industry – big banks should not return the favor by slamming consumers with billions of dollars in overdraft fees,” said Brown, who chairs the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy. “In Ohio alone, it’s estimated that consumers paid nearly $900 million in overdraft charges last year. This is about putting consumers first.”    » read more »

Senator Tours the OSU Student-Built Clean Energy House in DOE Solar Decathlon Competition

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today met with the Ohio State University student competitors at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon, a challenge to design, build, and operate the most hospitable, energy-efficient solar-powered house. Brown toured The OSU house on the National Mall, which is currently displayed alongside 19 other structures engineered by competing teams from around the world.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today joined U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) to introduce the Reducing Emergency Department Utilization through Coordination and Empowerment (REDUCE) Act (S. 1781), which would address Emergency Room (ER) overuse, improve quality of care, and save taxpayers' money. The legislation would establish pilot programs to better coordinate care for frequent ER users.    » read more »