Newsletter: 08/17/2014

Statement

Friends,

It was a busy week in OH-14, but the most important day was definitely Monday when Kelly and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary! Here's a photo of us right after our son Trenton was born:

We haven't changed a bit, right?

Here are some other events from the past week:

Equipping our Coast Guard

It was an honor to celebrate the grand opening of the new Coast Guard Station Fairport on Friday. The men and women who serve our state and country there as members of the U.S. Coast Guard are vital to keeping our waters safe.

My father was a World War II veteran and a Purple Heart recipient who was left for dead on the battlefield. I have his Purple Heart in my office and look at it every day as a reminder of all those who choose to bravely serve our country. They all deserve nothing less than our greatest respect and gratitude.

Protecting the Great Lakes

I met with Captain David Spangler and representatives from the National Wildlife Federation on Wednesday to discuss the impacts of the algae bloom on Lake Erie. The recent water ban in Toledo was yet another example of why Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding is so crucial.

The Great Lakes hold 85 percent of the North America's surface fresh water, providing drinking water to 40 million. They also have 1.5 million jobs directly connected to them. Protecting our Great Lakes is crucial because of both their economic and environmental significance.

Supporting Local Industry

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to visit Gabriel Performance Products in Ashtabula. Following a plant tour, I sat down for a roundtable discussion with employees to talk about healthcare costs, excessive regulations and pro-growth energy policies.

It's always encouraging to see innovation on display at our local Northeast Ohio industries. Gabriel Performance Products is already an important job creator in Ashtabula, but the company is also training the next generation of employees through partnerships with local schools. These types of programs are exactly what we need to grow our economy and connect people with good jobs

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