2021: A Year in Review

Brown helped write and pass the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which helped more than 200,000 Ohio businesses throughout Ohio. Brown visited many of Ohio’s stores, restaurants and entertainment venues that used the funding to keep staff members employed and to stay afloat during the pandemic. The investment in these mom and pop businesses means investment in workers and communities.  

Brown led successful efforts to expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC), delivering the largest tax cut for working families ever. For the last six months of 2021, parents received $250 a month in tax cuts for every child ages 6 to 17 and $300 a year for every child under age 6.

Brown traveled around Ohio, holding roundtables both in person and virtually, with parents and community leaders to learn more about what the CTC means for working families. Ninety-two percent of Ohio kids’ families qualify for the CTC.

The American Rescue Plan included assistance Brown fought for that kept people in their homes and avoid eviction during the pandemic. As Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Brown led efforts to keep roofs over Americans’ heads, and since assuming the chairmanship of the committee in January, he has made bringing down the cost of housing a key part of the committee’s agenda. During this year, he also held historic hearings on the state of housing in America, the legacy of racial discrimination in housing, the pernicious role of private equity in housing markets, and the need to invest in housing and other infrastructure in communities across the country.

Brown helped pass and wrote key provisions of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that will invest in and create jobs in Ohio communities. The bill will create good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced, building and upgrading critical infrastructure like bridges, broadband, waterways, and public transit—all without raising taxes on working families.

The Bridge Investment Act

After pushing for this legislation since 2018, Brown’s Bridge Investment Act will provide $12.5 billion in funding to repair and replace nationally and regionally significant bridges, like the Brent Spence Bridge in Ohio. The package also provides Ohio $9.8 billion of formula funding to repair, replace, and upgrade roads and bridges throughout the state.

The legislation will establish a competitive grant program to assist with the repair and replacement of deficient and outdated bridges and ease the national bridge repair backlog.

Brown’s legislation will accelerate aid to Ohio’s 3,200 bridges that need repairs. Brown visited communities with crumbling bridges across the state to including the Riverside Bridge in Dayton, the State Street Bridge in Struthers, or the High Level Bridge in Akron.

Build America Buy America

Brown’s Build America Buy America Act will apply strong Buy America rules to all taxpayer-funded infrastructure and public works projects Brown first introduced the bipartisan bill with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) in 2017, to ensure American tax dollars support American jobs.

Brown’s legislation will implement Buy America rules across the board – ensuring American taxpayer dollars are used to purchase American-made products for all federally-funded infrastructure projects – closing loopholes and securing major investment in American-made iron, steel and manufactured products. That means jobs for Ohio workers in Ohio companies like Cleveland Cliffs, McDonald Steel and Gradall.

Investing in Ohio Public Transit

As Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over public transportation, Brown worked with senators on both sides of the aisle to secure record resources for Ohio transit agencies to expand and improve service, upgrade infrastructure, train workers, and transition to new pollution-free buses.

Bus and metro rail replacement programs will also be subject to Brown’s strong Buy America provisions. This means more  American jobs making our transit system more reliable so more people can get to work, school or that important appointment.

Brown traveled around the state meeting with workers, riders, and local leaders to discuss how Ohio communities plan to use this investment. Public transit in the Columbus area, for example, is expected to receive $149 million in investment, the Akron METRO Regional Transit Authority is expected to receive $64.7 million, and more than $50 million is expected to go to Toledo-area public transit for things like job training and new, pollution-free vehicles.

Brown continued to fight to protect American workers from unfair trade practices. He introduced the Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act with Senator Portman, bipartisan legislation to build on the success of their Leveling the Playing Field Act. It would strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws and ensure they remain effective tools to fight back and protect American workers. The administration also followed Brown’s lead in negotiating agreements that work to secure the jobs of Ohio workers.  

Brown led the continued expansion of the My Brother’s Keeper Program in Ohio. Since helping launch the statewide coalition of MBK in Columbus in 2018, the program has expanded to now encompass 12 chapters throughout the state. In an effort to help address opportunity gaps young men of color face, in 2021, MBK members were able to participate in programs throughout the year including a unique leadership event with the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark and to speak in a small roundtable with newly-elected mayors about their goals and opportunities to succeed. 

The Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which included key provisions from Brown to make a once-in-a-generation investment in American science, technology and innovation to help the U.S. preserve its competitive edge. He visited several sites in the state that would benefit from the legislation as a part of his dedication to innovation in Ohio.

Brown’s office is here to help Ohioans – whether it is helping seek trade relief for Ohio companies, drawing investment and jobs to the state, or helping veterans get their medals. Brown’s office routinely works on behalf of Ohioans for help with federal agencies from the IRS to Veterans Affairs. 

•  An Ohioan from Ashland County needed help. Her health insurance plan was cancelled without her approval and she needed to get it reinstated. After reviewing the Ohioan’s materials, Sen. Brown’s team successfully worked to reinstate her health insurance without any gaps in coverage.

• An Ohioan from Hamilton County reached out to Sen. Brown’s Office after discovering an error in his employment records that didn’t properly credit him for his time served in the military, which would significantly impact his monthly benefits. Following an inquiry sent by Sen. Brown’s office his employer acknowledged there had been a mistake and corrected the error in a timely manner. 

• An Ohioan from Muskingum County was trying to make sure her grandfather received the Purple Heart he had earned in World War I. After verifying his service record, Sen. Brown’s office contacted the Army, secured the medal and sent it to the man’s family.

Ohioans can reach out to Brown’s office for help with federal matters by visiting his website here or calling his Cleveland office at 216-522-7272.

After a dark start to 2021, which saw domestic terrorists attack and loot the United States Capitol, Brown spent the year working to protect democracy, prioritize Ohioans’ health, safety and economic security and continue to fight to get the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic under control. Brown introduced 57 pieces of legislation, and cosponsored an additional 359 pieces of legislation. He participated in more than 60 in-person and virtual events with his constituents in 2021 and looks forward to continuing to work for Ohioans in 2022.