Davidson: Trump’s visit to Lima made economic sense
Rep. Warren Davidson, appearing on Fox Business News with Maria Bartiromo last week, said President Donald Trump’s visit to Lima Wednesday was well-timed to a “phenomenal” econ- omy and said a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico will only help that.
“Virtually everyone I speak with says the USMCA is better than NAFTA,” he said, referring to the U.S.-Mex- ico-Canada Trade Agree- ment. “We would like to get that locked-in and certain. We’re optimistic about the results with China, but it’s not done yet, so having certainty around that would be tremendous.”
USMCA, the Troy Repub- lican said, “isn’t a partisan issue.” The deal has been signed but not ratified.
“I’m not closed to the idea of taking something that’s already better and continuing to improve u pon it,” he s aid. “We don’t want to see thisfall apart, and I think that’s the risk when you tinker with it when it’s already cooked.
Workplace violence bill has Brown’s support
Sen. Sherrod Brown last week signed onto a bill that would direct the federal government to require employers in the health care and social service sector to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence plan.
The bill directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue an enforceable federal standard.
It’s a response to rising workplace v iolence instances, particularly in health care and social ser- vices. The Obama administration asked OSHA to begin to create the standard but the Trump administration has yet to follow suit.
“Healthcare and social service workers already face some of the toughest work- ing conditions without also having to worry about the threat of workplace vio- lence,” said Brown. “Every worker deserves a safe work- ing environment, and this legislation is an important step toward creating national standards and protections that will keep workers safe on the job.”
Brown, an Ohio Democrat, is cosponsoring a bill authored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin.
Pelosi to headline Columbus dinner
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will keynote the Ohio Democratic Party’s annual Legacy Dinner on May 17 in Columbus.
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper made the announcement last week.
“Democratic women are leading the way forward, at the Ohio Statehouse and in the halls of Congress, and we could think of no one better to help us celebrate our annual Legacy Dinner,” he said. “As the Democratic candidates gear up for 2020, Pelosi is showing us all what it means to stand up to this president and make him respect the People’s House. We can’t wait to hear from our Madam Speaker.”
Ohio gets $10.3M grant for mines
B r o w n l a s t week announced that U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has awarded the Ohio Department of Natural Resources a $10.3 million Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation grant.
The grant will help pay for reclamation and restoration projects in previously mined sights across the state, including closing dangerous mine shafts, eliminating highwalls, reclaiming unstable slopes, treating acid mine drainage, and restoring water supplies damaged by mining. In a statement, Brown said the funds will ensure that Ohio coal communities “have the resources they need to restore the land and keep their communities safe.”