Newsletter: Dave's Weekly Wrap - November 2, 2014

Statement

Friends,

In my travels around the district, I've had the privilege of meeting many of you. If there's one thing I've heard over and over again, from business owners to employees to moms and dads to college students, it's that Northeast Ohioans are concerned about how we can get our economy and job market back on track.

I certainly understand those feelings. Over the past few years, I've seen families struggling to make ends meet, friends losing their jobs and businesses, and people becoming more and more upset that their government hasn't listened to them. That's why I ran for Congress -- to bring accountability and common sense fixes to Washington.

Encouraging job creation and economic growth in Ohio's 14th district has been my top priority from day one. There's no doubt that we still have a lot to do, but we have made important strides that you likely haven't been hearing about on the news. I'd like to share some of those with you.

Here are a few examples of how I've been fighting for Northeast Ohio jobs:

1. Small businesses generate two out of every three new jobs. In Washington, I am fighting for lower taxes and against unnecessary regulations that inhibit the growth of small businesses. I partnered with freshman Democrat Rep. Patrick Murphy of Florida to introduce the Small Business Investment Act, which extends an important deduction used by small businesses to grow and hire. I also worked with Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi of Ohio to pass America's Small Business Tax Relief Act, which reduces compliance costs and allows small businesses to do what they do best: create jobs and drive our local economy.

2. Every $1 billion spent on infrastructure creates or retains about 35,000 jobs that cannot be outsourced to India or China. Considering that one of the best ways to promote job creation is to rebuild our nation, I joined Democrat Rep. John Delaney from Maryland in introducing the Partnership to Build America Act. The goal of this legislation is to establish the American Infrastructure Fund, which would provide bond guarantees and make loans to states, local governments and non-profit infrastructure providers for investments in qualified infrastructure projects.

3. The Great Lakes are directly connected to 1.5 million jobs that generate $62 billion in annual wages. This year, I helped secure $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through my position on the House Appropriations Committee. I've also introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA), which would authorize comprehensive programs that protect the Great Lakes and boost economic growth in our region. For a healthy economy in Northeast Ohio, it's crucial that we protect our greatest economic and environmental resource.

4. With so many people looking for work and employers needing to fill good jobs, we have to do better closing the unemployment gap. I was pleased to support the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which will improve workforce training programs and connect skilled workers with open positions. This legislation passed both the House and the Senate, gaining the support of major business and labor groups, and was signed into law by President Obama on July 22nd.

Thank you for the privilege of representing you. I've included a few photos below from my district visits this week. As Congress prepares to go back into session, I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight for the needs of Northeast Ohio families and bring jobs back to the Buckeye state.

Sincerely,

Dave

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