April 2009 Update from Washington
Statement
April 2009 Update from Washington
Dear Friends,
April marked another busy month in Congress as we continued to invest in our nation's middle class and work to turn around our economy. This month's newsletter provides highlights of my April travels across Ohio and my work on your behalf in Washington. The newsletter also updates you on the government's response to the H1N1 flu outbreak.
Throughout the month, I saw firsthand how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is creating opportunities for workers and businesses in Ohio. I also met leaders of Ohio's colleges, universities, and industries to discuss ways to prepare our talented students for the 21st century workforce.
Together, we will continue working to ensure Ohio has the resources to rebuild our economy and renew Ohio's prosperity.
Updates on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
From March 30 to April 7, my staff held statewide workshops on the economic recovery program. These workshops connected Ohio's businesses, workers, and communities with federal agencies that administer the recovery funds. More than 1,500 people statewide attended the seven workshops held in Portsmouth, Zanesville, Youngstown, Elyria, Mansfield, Lima, and Springfield.
On my website you'll find presentations from the workshops prepared by the federal agencies that attended. You'll also find a guide to the recovery package and updates on funding deadlines.
In addition to holding recovery workshops, on April 13, I joined representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Cleveland to discuss important funding information with hundreds of Ohio small business owners.
The $730 million in loan guarantees and tax relief from the recovery package will help businesses hire new workers and allow business owners to plan for future growth. Additionally, the SBA has valuable resources, such as small business counseling and training that can help strengthen Ohio's small businesses.
April Travels Across Ohio
Throughout April, I held several community events where I spoke with Ohio workers, business owners, and educators about ways to turn around our economy.
In Dayton, I visited the house of 73 year-old Ona Bowman, whose home was recently weatherized. Not only does weatherization keep Ms. Bowman - and thousands of Ohioans - warm during the winter and cool in the summer, it also reduces energy costs and employs Ohio workers across the state.
Ohio is slated to receive $267 million in economic recovery funds for the weatherization assistance program, the largest increase in funding since weatherization assistance was first provided in 1976. Ohio has five weatherization training centers in Dayton, Athens, Akron, Fremont, and Newark.
In Zanesville, I joined homeowners, newly-employed workers, and leaders of Community Action Agencies and other non-profit groups to discuss the job creating potential for Ohioans seeking certification in weatherization techniques.
Mark Richards from Marietta, a former construction worker, now has a job with good wages and benefits as a weatherization technician. Mark's family received weatherization assistance when he was growing up in Marietta. He said he feels fortunate to be able to help families today in the same way weatherization helped his own family.
Since January 2007, I've held more than 140 roundtables in Ohio's 88 counties. Wherever I travel in Ohio, workers and employers alike tell me we need to do a better job connecting prospective workers with new job opportunities.
On April 17, I discussed these issues at a groundbreaking Clean Energy Summit in Columbus. More than 250 Ohio energy businesses, experts, and entrepreneurs from across the state were connected to federal funding opportunities for clean energy development.
Events like the Clean Energy Summit serve as a catalyst for economic growth in our state. Clean energy production is one way that Ohio can galvanize our innovation, commercialization and competitiveness to make our communities strong again.
I am confident that Ohio can lead our nation by maximizing its greatest strength - the entrepreneurship of our workers and our industries.
Second Annual Ohio College Presidents Conference
On April 1, 2009 I convened the second annual Ohio College Presidents' Conference in Washington, D.C.
Presidents from 46 Ohio colleges and universities heard from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairwoman of the Senate Health Education Labor, and Pension (H.E.L.P.) Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), also a member of the H.E.L.P Committee.
The conference also coincided with the U.S. Department of Education's release of $44 billion in recovery funding for critical educational reforms for schools in Ohio and around the nation that will save jobs and bolster the state education system against budget cuts. Ohio will receive more than a $1 billion in education funding to help ensure all children have access to an education that maximizes their potential.
During last year's conference, presidents shared best practices and established strategies for future collaboration. As a result, the presidents began meeting regionally after the conference to further discuss ways to leverage government investment in education.
In response to these regional roundtables, I introduced the SECTORS Act of 2009, legislation that would support the development of specialized workforce training programs to meet regional workforce needs of emerging industries and economic sectors.
During this year's conference we discussed how federal investments, such as the recovery package and SECTORS, can promote educational priorities and forge state-wide partnerships.
After the conference, I traveled to Cleveland and Youngstown to visit with displaced workers, industry leaders, and community college educators who would benefit from the SECTORS. The Act would help train Ohioans for good-paying jobs within high-tech industries.
I will continue to look for ways to work with Ohio college presidents so we can pave the way for rebuilding a secure future for our state and for our next generation.
Federal Response to the H1NI Flu
I am closely monitoring the H1NI flu outbreak. My staff and I are briefed regularly by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services.
On April 29, 2009, I presided over a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing entitled, "Swine Flu Epidemic and Federal Response." I heard testimony from Richard Besser, Acting Director of the CDC, and Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH). I will continue coordinating with federal and state officials to keep Ohioans safe and informed on the H1N1 flu.
You can find updates on my website as well as on the CDC website.
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your comments, concerns, or questions by visiting www.brown.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
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