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Sen. Brown Holds Listening Session with African-American
Clergy in Cleveland
Special to The Truth
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) held a forum with
African-American ministers at University Hospitals’ Otis
Moss Jr. Center in Cleveland on Saturday, January 10. The
listening session focused on relationships with law
enforcement, jobs, infant mortality, education, and other
issues important to northeast Ohio.
“The people of Cleveland care about their neighbors,” Brown
said. “And our diverse citizens have the strength, insight,
and commitment to address the needs of this community.
Meeting with clergy and community leaders helps re-establish
trust and respect between law enforcement and the community
while advancing our mission of strengthening the economy,
improving access to healthcare and education, and protecting
civil rights.”
Brown has held more than 300 roundtables around the state
since 2007 and meets with groups of clergy multiple times
per year. Brown is working to ensure that all Ohioans –
regardless of their zip code – have equal access to
opportunities to live healthy, safe lives and pursue
good-paying careers.
With Ohio ranking worst in the nation for African-American
infant mortality, Brown is working to prevent these
tragedies. Last month, President Obama signed Brown’s
legislation to help doctors and researchers better
understand the causes of stillbirths, Sudden Unexpected
Infant Deaths (SUID), and Sudden Unexplained Deaths in
Childhood (SUDC). The Sudden Unexpected Death Data
Enhancement and Awareness Act will enhance the current
system used to report on infant and childhood deaths so that
patterns become clear and we can better prevent these
deaths.
Last week, Brown introduced a proposal to give an
alternative to millions of Americans turning to payday loans
to make ends meet by providing short-term cash advances
through their employers while bypassing high interest rates
that keep consumers trapped in a cycle of debt. Brown’s bill
would create an Early Refund Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
as an alternative to payday loans – which can carry hidden
fees and annual interest rates as high as 500 percent. The
Early Refund EITC is an alternative to costlier, predatory
lending options. Brown’s plan would allow working Americans
to draw upon already-earned EITC benefits before tax day.
Instead of receiving traditional lump sum payments at tax
time, workers who are eligible for EITC could opt to receive
the Early Refund EITC – a zero-interest, zero-fee advance on
the tax credit for which the worker has already qualified.
Earlier this month, Brown introduced legislation that would
bridge the achievement gap and address the inequities that
undermine learning. The Core Opportunity Resources for
Equity and Excellence (CORE) Act aims to tackle existing
disparities in public education by establishing
accountability requirements that compel states and school
districts to give all students equitable access to the core
resources necessary to achieve college and career readiness
by high school graduation. |
