From Senator Brown- O-H Update: Central Ohio

As I visited with Ohio workers across the state this summer, I was consistently impressed with the skill, efficiency, and tenacity of the men and women I met.

However, we know that too many of these workers are working longer and harder than ever before, with less and less to show for it.

It’s time American companies invest in their greatest asset: the American worker.

This summer, I rolled out two pieces of my plan to make hard work pay off once again –two bills that work together to encourage businesses to invest in American workers.

The first is the Patriot Employer Tax Credit, which is simple. Businesses that do things right – that pay good wages and have good benefits, commit to keeping jobs in this country, and treat their employees as vital to their companies – should get a tax cut. That’s how we encourage companies to do the right thing.
 
We also need to crack down on corporations who shortchange their workers. When corporations refuse to pay workers a living wage, refuse them the opportunity to save for retirement, and refuse to provide decent health care, they create a drag on our economy. And its American taxpayers who pick up the tab. That is why my plan creates the Corporate Freeloader Fee.

Americans are working harder than ever, and they expect their elected officials to work hard for them, too.

With all the partisanship and gridlock in Washington these days, it can seem like nothing gets done. But we passed two important pieces of legislation into law this summer: a bill to deliver education opportunities to post-911 veterans and tough new sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Both of these laws are examples of how Congress is supposed to work - Republicans and Democrats putting partisanship aside and working together to get things done for the people we serve.

By supporting Ohio workers, and getting work done for Ohioans, we can continue to move our state forward. I’ll continue working with colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – as I work for Ohioans in the Senate.

Sincerely,


Sherrod Brown,
United States Senator

1. Teaching Licking County Students about Ohio’s Manufacturing Sector
2. Honoring Ohio Law Enforcement
3. Creating Jobs in Marion
4. Moving Legislation Forward to Combat Ohio’s Opioid Epidemic
5. Hosting Third Annual Women’s Leadership Summit in Columbus
6. Sen. Brown's Office is Here to Serve You

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Teaching Licking County Students about Ohio’s Manufacturing Sector

Students learn about manufacturing and teamwork at Sen. Brown’s summer manufacturing camps

Ohioans are proud of our state’s long manufacturing history. To keep up that tradition, we must get a new generation of Ohioans interested in our changing manufacturing sector. Brown’s office has organized summer manufacturing camps throughout Ohio for the past five years, helping students around Ohio learn about manufacturing jobs right here in Ohio. In June, Sen. Brown’s office helped organize a four-day manufacturing camp in Licking County. Local students in sixth through ninth grades learned about careers in their community, toured local manufacturing facilities, and learned from experts. Students toured the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority, State Industrial Products and Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems.

Honoring Ohio Law Enforcement

Sen. Brown and Sen. Portman present Officer Kise with Congressional Badge of Bravery

No matter the cost, when the rest of us run from danger, our public safety officers run toward it. At a ceremony hosted by the Columbus Police Academy in June, Sen. Brown and Sen. Portman presented Columbus Police Officer Keith Kise with the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery. In 2015, Officer Kise risked his life and personal safety to serve a fugitive arrest warrant for the leader of a Columbus street gang, which had been investigated for unsolved homicides and other federal and local offenses. While attempting to apprehend the fugitive, Officer Kise led fellow officers into a barrage of machine gun fire to take down the fugitive and to lead a young child on the scene to safety. The Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery, which Sen. Brown and Sen. Portman presented to Officer Kise, honors law enforcement officers for exceptional acts of bravery.

Creating Jobs in Marion

“With this announcement, POET Biorefining-Marion is not only creating good paying jobs in one of our most important sectors – it is leading the way for future use of biofuels in the ag sector,” said Sen. Brown.

In August, Sen. Brown applauded the groundbreaking of a $120 million expansion at POET Biorefining-Marion that will create jobs and double the size of the facility. The expansion will support corn farmers, who provide corn for the plant. It will increase the demand for corn by 26 million bushels. Brown is a long-time supporter of sensible biofuel production that promotes Ohio agriculture and reduces the need for foreign oil. Renewable fuels have been a bright spot in an agriculture economy marked by low commodity prices and flat farm income.

Moving Legislation Forward to Combat Ohio’s Opioid Epidemic

“I urge the House to pass this bill as we continue working to make sure border agents have the resources they need to stop this deadly drug from entering the U.S. in the first place,” said Sen. Brown.

In September, the House Homeland Security Committee passed Sen. Brown’s bipartisan legislation to help keep the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl out of Ohio communities and provide border agents and other law enforcement with better equipment to protect themselves from deadly opioids in the field. Sen. Brown’s bill is also supported by Sen. Rob Portman and Sen. Brown is supporting Sen. Portman’s STOP Act, which is also endorsed by law enforcement. The two bills work together to help block the deadly synthetic opioid from reaching Ohio communities. Sen. Brown’s bill now moves to the full House and then the Senate for consideration before it becomes law.

Hosting Third Annual Women’s Leadership Summit in Columbus

Sen. Brown speaks at the third annual “Women’s Leadership Summit: Tell Your Story”

All throughout this year, ordinary Ohioans and people across the country have proved that you can make a difference, you can get Washington to listen. In September, Sen. Brown along with several central Ohio partners, hosted the third annual “Women’s Leadership Summit: Tell Your Story” at the Columbus Athenaeum. The one-day program aimed to help inspire women to overcome challenges in their personal and professional lives. Speakers at the leadership summit included Sen. Brown, Pulitzer Prize Winner Connie Schultz, Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Joyce Beatty, and Piper Kerman. Every year, Brown hosts a women’s leadership summit in Ohio. In 2015, Brown hosted the inaugural summit “The Power of You” in Cincinnati. Last year, Brown hosted the summit “Beating the Odds” in Cleveland.

Sen. Brown’s Office is Here to Serve You

Sen. Brown is committed to helping Ohio constituents

Sen. Brown is committed to assisting Ohioans who have encountered difficulties with federal matters. Ohioans can call Sen. Brown’s state offices and work directly with a constituent services representative to obtain information or resolve an issue they are having with a federal agency. Common areas of inquiry include: Social Security and Medicare benefits, veterans’ benefits, military service issues, passport or visa problems, housing matters, IRS issues, and more.

For example, a central Ohio veteran wrote to Sen. Brown concerning $35,000 in bills for medical treatment, which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice Program authorized but never paid. Sen. Brown’s office contacted the VA’s Office of Community Care regarding the bills, and after review, the VA agreed to pay the outstanding medical expenses.

Central Ohioans can contact Sen. Brown’s office by calling (614) 469-2083.