FREMONT, OH – In Case You Missed It: A Fremont News Messenger article highlighted U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) visit on Thursday to the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership in downtown Fremont, where he discussed infrastructure needs with local government leaders and advocates. Brown discussed his support of the American Jobs Plan, which would make historic, much-needed investments in improving our nation’s infrastructure, including affordable housing, school facilities, manufacturing and skills training, and more – all while creating good-paying American jobs. 

“As Congress considers a massive infrastructure funding plan that includes money for traditional transportation items like roads, bridges and waterways, Brown said he and other congressional Democrats view the term "infrastructure" as more expansive, with urban and rural broadband improvements, child care and other areas also falling within the plan's parameters,” wrote Daniel Carson for the News Messenger.

Communities around Ohio need bold infrastructure investments to reach their full economic potential. Brown is pushing for investment in Ohio communities that would:

  • Fix highways, rebuild bridges, and upgrade ports, airports and transit systems
  • Deliver clean drinking water, a renewed electric grid, and high-speed broadband to all Americans
  • Revitalize manufacturing, secure U.S. supply chains, invest in R&D, and train Americans for the jobs of the future
  • Create good-quality jobs that pay prevailing wages in safe and healthy workplaces while ensuring workers have a free and fair choice to organize, join a union, and bargain collectively with their employers
  • Solidify the infrastructure of our care economy by creating jobs and raising wages and benefits for essential home care workers, the majority of whom are women of color

Brown believes we should pay for these critical investments by ensuring this country’s largest corporations pay their fair share in taxes and are encouraged to create jobs here at home. A recent study found that 91 Fortune 500 companies paid $0 in federal taxes on U.S. income in 2018, and that the average corporation paid just 8 percent in taxes. Brown has been pushing for major corporations to pay their fair share for years, and believes they should be encouraged to invest in workers here in the U.S rather than shifting jobs and production overseas.

Read the Fremont New News Messenger’s full article HERE or below:

Sen. Sherrod Brown, local officials talk infrastructure at roundtable discussion 

By Daniel Carson

July, 1, 2021

FREMONT - When Mayor Danny Sanchez thinks of the city's infrastructure needs, he considers dilapidated, vacant houses within Fremont as one of his biggest concerns.

The mayor told Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, on Thursday that there were about 250 vacant homes within Fremont, as the city tries to attract new industries and retain residents.

Brown and local officials talked about housing needs, broadband access and other infrastructure needs during a roundtable discussion at Great Lakes Community Action Partnership's (GLCAP) downtown Fremont office.

As Congress considers a massive infrastructure funding plan that includes money for traditional transportation items like roads, bridges and waterways, Brown said he and other congressional Democrats view the term "infrastructure" as more expansive, with urban and rural broadband improvements, child care and other areas also falling within the plan's parameters.

"We will pass something big, for sure," Brown said at the roundtable.

A bipartisan group of Democratic and Republican senators announced the framework for a proposed eight-year, $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal had been reached in June, according to USA Today.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Congress would not vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill until the Senate passes its budget bill and sends it to the House in July.

Brown said he's doing roundtable discussions in several Ohio cities to get feedback from mayors and other public officials about what's most needed in their communities.

The senator visited Defiance on Thursday before traveling to Fremont.

Discussion topics include housing, CARES funds, minority issues

He said housing is a top priority everywhere.

"Housing is just fundamental. It just affects everything," Brown said.

Brown asked Kenneth Frost, the city's safety service director, about CARES Act stimulus funds.

Frost said the city used its first round of CARES funding to help schools and local businesses, with some of the funds going toward personal protective equipment and air systems.

The safety service director told Brown the city had not gotten clear guidance on how it could spend a second round of CARES funds, which is expected to be about $3.2 million.

Fremont has not received that second round of funding yet, Frost said.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, listens to Fremont and Sandusky County officials discuss their infrastructure needs at a roundtable discussion Thursday at the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership office on S. Front Street.

Ruthann House, GLCAP's executive director, said there was a need in the area for affordable housing in all income levels, with a particularly critical need for funding to help lower-income, first-time homebuyers.

Brown acknowledged there had been an ongoing racial gap in homeownership that hadn't changed in the last 40 years.

Regina Vincent-Williams, president of Fremont's NAACP branch, asked Brown what it will take to get minorities in greater numbers to an increased income level where they can afford to own their homes.

Vincent-Williams said, in terms of infrastructure, she's also like to see better access to Internet services and more things for children to do in Fremont.

After the roundtable discussion, Brown said he thought the congressional bill would include increased funding for rural and urban broadband infrastructure.

Chris Liebold, a Fremont City Council member, said he was glad the senator had taken an expansive approach to infrastructure, including broadband access and electric vehicle recharging stations.

Liebold said federal dollars for infrastructure improvements would help communities like Fremont a lot, particularly since the state of Ohio had dramatically cut local funding to cities in recent years.

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