Press Releases
My prayers are with the people of Haiti during this difficult time. As you know, thousands are feared dead and many more injured from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the already impoverished Caribbean nation on January 12, 2010. There are about 45,000 Americans in Haiti, and a spokesperson for the American Red Cross estimates that as many as 3 million people may be affected by this earthquake.
Xunlight will receive $34.5 million in tax credits while First Solar will receive $16.32 million in credits. A total of $2.3 billion in Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits were announced by President Obama at the White House. Of the 183 projects, seven were located in Ohio, including Circleville (Du Pont), Bedford (Cardinal Fasteners and Specialists), Findlay (Dow Chemical), Bucyrus (General Electric Lighting), and Dayton (AcuTemp).
Kaptur said the project represents a pioneering effort to make U.S. military bases energy independent. The construction efforts outlined today will ultimately produce more than one megawatt of power, or more than a third of the base’s total requirement of electricity.
“Even on an overcast day such as today, this solar energy plant is doing yeoman’s work producing power for the 180th,” Kaptur said. She said the hardware for the array is now 100 percent locally acquired with the addition of a locally manufactured inverter, introduced recently by Toledo-based Nextronex.
Each household will receive a Census form in the mail starting in mid-March. For the first time, every household will receive the short form, which is simple, straightforward and easy to understand. Short forms traditionally have had higher participation rates than long forms.
To qualify for the COBRA subsidy, a worker must have been involuntarily separated between Sept. 1, 2008 and Feb. 28, 2010. Workers who have lost their jobs and meet the qualifications may receive a 65 percent subsidy for COBRA continuation premiums for themselves and their families for up to 15 months.
Eligible workers who elect COBRA and qualify for the subsidy would pay their 35-percent share to their former employers, usually on a monthly basis.
Click on the picture below to watch the Congresswoman's floor speech.
Real reform means breaking up the big banks. Real reform meansempowering community banks and local capital accumulation. Real reformmeans separating speculation and investment. Real reform meansrestoring prudent lending. Real reform means restructuring troubledhousing mortgages. Real reform means rewarding institutions that playby the rules and don't over-leverage. Real reform means prosecutingfinancial white-collar criminals and keeping them out of financepermanently.
Currently, approximately 1.3 million active home loans were obtained using VA's Home Loan Guaranty Program, which protects the lender from loss if the borrower fails to repay the loan. Congresswoman Kaptur noted that more than 90 percent of VA-guaranteed loans are made without a down payment. Nonetheless, VA has the lowest serious delinquency rate in the industry as well as the lowest percentage of loans in foreclosure.
“Building a fully operational solar installation, such as the solar plant at the 180th Air National Guard base, illustrates our region’s commitment to alternative energy as a source of jobs in the future,” Congresswoman Kaptur said. “Developing a local, domestic source for inverters demonstrates that we’re serious about being a leader in green jobs.”
At a time when many communities are facing cuts to basic services due to budget pressure, the Act allows local fire departments to provide training, purchase equipment and vehicles, and hire personnel.
“This bill has provided critical funding to fire departments from Sylvania to Oberlin and numerous other communities in the Ninth Congressional District,” Congresswoman Kaptur said. “It is vital to safeguarding our families and property.”