Ohio

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 »

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, and regional and local leaders today joined GE Aviation President and CEO David Joyce for an announcement of a $161 million investment at the company’s global headquarters in Evendale near Cincinnati.

The project will revitalize the headquarters and is expected to retain more than 5,000 Ohio jobs.    » read more »

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today issued a statement applauding President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress for their support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The initiative, which was signed into law by President Obama on October 30, allocates $475 million to respond to a plan of action prepared by the Great Lakes states in cooperation with 16 federal agencies.

Funding is available for the most significant problems facing the Great Lakes, including invasive aquatic species, wildlife habitat restoration, non-point source pollution, contaminated sediment clean up, water quality monitoring, and beach monitoring/clean up, all issues that Lake Erie and Ohio have experienced.

Governor’s statement:    » 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 »

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 »

15 October 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Representative Steve Driehaus today welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) of a $1,885,000 award through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. The EECBG Program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), helps communities improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and invest in green jobs.

“This is great news for Butler County and another example of the Recovery Act bringing critical resources into our community. Efficiency projects help to reduce energy costs and cut down on harmful emissions while creating the new, clean energy jobs that will help carry our economy forward,” said Rep. Driehaus.    » 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 »

Bill Will Extend County of Origin Labeling to Dairy Products

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food, Nutrition, and Family Farms, joined U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to introduce the Dairy Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Act, which would extend mandatory country of origin labeling to dairy products.

“Ohioans and all Americans have a right to know where their food was produced,” Brown said. “This bill supports both families and farmers by requiring country of origin labeling on all dairy products. With increasing dairy imports, country of origin labeling provides critical information as households decide how to feed their families.”    » read more »

Thousands of Jobs Created or Retained

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Office of Budget and Management Director Pari Sabety today announced that Ohio has met the first federal reporting requirement for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) loans, grants and contracts spending data.

Of the more than $8.5 billion that the state is expected to receive during this multi-year program, approximately $1.6 billion has been expended – only $335.6 million of which falls within the requirements to be reported during this period, the first of quarterly reporting periods (through September 30).    » read more »

10/13/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Zack Space (OH-18) today marked the beginning of construction on Phase II and III of the Nelsonville Bypass, which received $150 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The project – ODOT’s single largest ARRA-funded project in the state – is estimated to create over 4,800 jobs [Source: Ohio Department of Transportation].    » read more »

October 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food, Nutrition, and Family Farms, announced that Agriculture Appropriations Act of 2010 includes $350 million in emergency support for our nation’s dairy industry.

“The dairy sector plays a key role in the economic vitality and success of Ohio’s small towns and rural communities,” Brown said. “It’s imperative Ohio dairy farmers have the support they need to withstand this time of high production costs and plummeting farm-level prices.”    » read more »

Washington, Oct 7 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today sent a letter requesting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct an investigation of the potentially unfair and anti-competitive forced sale of light bulbs by FirstEnergy to their customers in Northern Ohio. Kucinich also requested the FTC examine the issue of FirstEnergy’s plan to charge a fee for the energy that was not used by the consumer because they installed the light bulbs.

The full text of the letter follows:

October 7, 2009

Mr. Jon Leibowitz
Chairman
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580

Re: The need for an FTC investigation of FirstEnergy’s unfair and anti- competitive forced sale of 3.75 million light bulbs at excessive prices    » read more »

Brown Releases County by County Analysis Showing How Many Ohioans Will Run out of Unemployment Insurance This Month if Senate Does Not Pass Benefits Extension

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. –More than 158,000 Ohio adults lost their health coverage because of job loss in 2009 according to a new report released today by Families USA. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) discussed this report on health care and job loss entitled “One-Two Punch: Unemployed and Uninsured.” He also outlined efforts to pass meaningful health reform and to extend unemployment insurance for workers in hard-hit states like Ohio.    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced Ohio will receive $4.7 million in brownfield redevelopment grants. The federal funds, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and allocated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are specifically designated for remediation and development of brownfield sites around Ohio.

“Ohio’s brownfield sites can be opportunities for redevelopment and new growth,” Brown said. “These funds will help support clean-up and de-contamination efforts critical for the safety and economic success of communities across the state.”

More information about projects receiving EPA funds is included below:

City of Barberton- $200,000 for Petroleum Assessments    » read more »