Blog
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Posted by
Mark Schauer
on
October 23, 2009
 In case you missed it, there was a great story in today's Lansing State Journal about how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping create jobs in Eaton County: The federally backed loan was seemingly small - a meager $12,500 compared with the multimillion dollar grants D.C. lawmakers handed out this year elsewhere in mid-Michigan.This is why I supported the Recovery Act - to help small businesses owners like Diane Brabon save and create jobs in communities like Delta Twp. To learn more about how the Recovery Act is helping your county, click here.
Posted by
Mark Schauer
on
October 22, 2009
The Citizen Patriot ran an article today about local efforts to weatherize homes in the Jackson area with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Here's an excerpt from the story, in case you missed it:
Rose Kemmer is looking forward to a warmer winter.I supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create Michigan jobs and get our economy back on track. Investing more than $243 million in Michigan’s Weatherization Assistance Program will create good-paying jobs in our communities, help families lower their energy bills, and move America towards energy independence. Turning our economy around won’t happen overnight, but this is an important step in the right direction. Below you can watch a video clip of me discussing how weatherization programs will help create local jobs:
Posted by
Zack Pohl
on
October 20, 2009
Last week, Congressman Schauer made the following statement during a meeting of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials about the potential for high speed rail to create jobs in Michigan.
You can read more about the hearing and watch video from the entire meeting on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's website.
Posted by
Mark Schauer
on
October 19, 2009
 In case you haven't signed up to receive email updates from my office yet, you can read a copy of our latest email newsletter by clicking here. This week's topics included: a measure to help dislocated workers complete their degrees, a bill I co-sponsored to make a $150 payment to seniors in lieu of a 2010 Social Security COLA, and other interesting tidbits. To have the latest news from Congress sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up for email updates by clicking here.
Posted by
Zack Pohl
on
October 15, 2009
In case you missed the latest news about Congressman Schauer's recent announcement of $1 million in funding for the International Food Protection Training Institute, here is a video clip from Monday's press conference in Battle Creek:
Posted by
Zack Pohl
on
October 15, 2009
JACKSON CITIZEN PATRIOT: Community Action Agency in Jackson awarded federal grant for housing counseling services
The Community Action Agency in Jackson has been awarded a $47,724 federal grant for housing counseling services for Jackson, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties. "The Community Action Agency provides an important public service to local consumers through their housing counseling programs," U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, said in a news release. "This funding will strengthen these critical efforts and help more families in our area experience the American dream of homeownership." The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), will support the agency's free services like homebuyer education, financial management education, budgeting and credit counseling and foreclosure prevention. "We know the need is out there," said Jessie Murray, spokeswoman for Community Action Agency. "We want to be that local support that people can count on." CITIZEN PATRIOT OP-ED (JOHN ZAREBSKI, POSTAL WORKERS UNION): Economics don't justify closing Jackson postal center Considering the Postal Service's economic predicament, it is natural to assume that its motives are purely economic. But closer inspection does not bear that out... We are concerned about the ability of the Postal Service to uphold the current service standards should this action take place, especially in light of the projected plan to consolidate Saginaw's operations into Lansing. We believe there are little or no cost savings associated with this action, only a cost shift to other facilities. We fear the Postal Service, in its fervor to demonstrate it is taking steps to cut costs, will implement ill-advised plans that would gain little but lose much. And once put into operation, it is doubtful that this consolidation would be reversed if found lacking... While the Postal Service's "business review," secured by U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, is a step in the right direction, we have not yet been informed of the scope of this review. We are disturbed that an Area Mail Processing feasibility study — the standard process for examining the full impact of actions such as these — is not being considered. The Postal Service is in trouble; no one disputes that. But the "any action is better than no action" approach is foolhardy and not in the best interest of the Postal Service, its employees or the public.
Posted by
Zack Pohl
on
October 14, 2009
In case you weren't able to attend Congressman Schauer's Service Academy Expo in Jackson this week, we wanted to let constituents know that you can find more information about our nomination process by clicking here on our website.
If you are interested in applying for a congressional nomination, click here (PDF) to download our application. If you have additional questions about the academy nomination process, we encourage you to contact our District Office for more information: (877) 737-6407.
Posted by
Zack Pohl
on
October 13, 2009
WWMT: Federal funds to train food inspectors in Battle Creek
An organization in Battle Creek is getting federal funds to help train state and local food inspectors. Congressman Mark Schauer was at the International Food Protection Training Institute Monday afternoon for the big announcement. The Battle Creek institute got a one million dollar grant. The money is part of a $48 million grant for 18 different projects across the state. On Monday, Schauer said that schools like the institute are key in cutting down on recent illness outbreaks connected to tainted food. The money was approved earlier in 2009 by both houses of Congress. The Kellogg Foundation is also putting two million dollars into the project. ENQUIRER: Food institute gets $1 million New federal support is expected to help bring 1,000 food safety professionals to Battle Creek next year. U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Bedford Township, announced Monday that the International Food Protection Training Institute will receive $1 million to help train food safety officials from around the country. Speaking at Western Michigan University's Kendall Center, Schauer said the funding he initially requested shows there's federal backing to handle the food safety concerns of Americans and the federal government. "We are in discussions with the White House to get some longer-term funding," Schauer said. "We know we've got $1 million to get us started." The money is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2010 spending bill approved by both the U.S. House and Senate. President Barack Obama could sign the bill this week... Benoit said the institute's goal is to train 1,000 people in Battle Creek next year, and with ongoing support that number could reach 4,000 annually. Benoit said the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation was critical in winning federal help. "It didn't look like a handout that someone was requesting," he said. "It actually looked like the partnership that it is." Schauer said support for the institute had been his top funding priority because of its potential to bring skilled jobs to Battle Creek. ANNARBOR.COM: Washtenaw County students get advice from congressmen The students - from Ann Arbor’s Pioneer, Huron and Community high schools, along with Chelsea, Dexter and Saline high schools - gathered at Pioneer to hear from Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, and Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek... A panel of students spent time Monday asking questions of the representatives. Pioneer's Heather Hoopaw led off with a question about how the representatives weigh their personal views on a issue, their constituents' views and what's best for Michigan and the nation when voting. “I don’t go there as an empty vessel,” Schauer said, adding he carefully weighs the opinions of those he’s been elected to represent - even though he knows not all the people in his district will agree with his vote. WILX: Unemployment Extension? As things stand now, unemployment benefits last through 79 weeks. The idea on the table in the US Congress, would extend those benefits an additional 20 weeks in the hardest hit states, like Michigan. If nothing happens, 100,000 people in this state will lose their benefits at the end of this year. Most of Michigan's congressional delegation voted "for some type of extension including Rep. Mike Rogers and Rep. Mark Schauer. Schauer told Newsten he considers this extension a type of stimulus -- money that helps unemployed families and the economy in the process. But not everyone is so sure... In September, the US House voted to extend unemployment benefits to the hardest hit states by 13 weeks. The Senate's agreement includes a 14 week extension for all states, plus six extra weeks to the hardest hit states like Michigan, for a total of 20 weeks. The Senate is expected to vote on that version next week. Then the House would have to vote on it too. Congressman Schauer expects it to pass and be on the President's desk in a few days. Also, in case you missed it... WLNS: Report: Stimulus Created, Saved 19,500 Jobs In Michigan State officials say federal stimulus money has saved tens of thousands of Michigan jobs. The numbers are based on the first Recovery Act reports filed with the federal government. Michigan is counting on nearly $3.7 billion in federal stimulus money to jump start it's slumping economy. Leslee Fritz, Director, Michigan Economic Recovery Office, "The spending has really just begun." Fritz just filed the first reports with the federal government required to receive the money... She says the impact can be measured in more than 19,000 jobs saved or created, most in education.
Posted by
Zack Pohl
on
October 08, 2009
In case you missed it, there were two recent stories about the International Food Protection Training Institute in Battle Creek. Congressman Schauer has been leading the charge in Congress to secure funding for the Institute this year - you can read more about his efforts here.
ENQUIRER: Officials dig into food courses in B.C. Food inspectors and law enforcement officials from around the country are converging on Battle Creek to learn how to keep the national food supply chain safe. Some of the first students of the newly created International Food Protection Training Institute are meeting this week at Western Michigan University's Kendall Center in downtown Battle Creek. Some are food inspectors who are brushing up after their first year on the job, said Gerald Wojtala, a founding board member and project director the institute. Others are meeting there, in support of the institute, to learn how to protect food from intentional contamination by disgruntled workers or terrorists. WWMT: Training food inspectors in Battle Creek FDA food safety courses are currently underway in Battle Creek at the new International Food Protection Training Institute. A training session Newschannel 3 dropped in to see was going over the basics. Part of that is looking at the labels, where you can never tell what secrets you might find. Instructor David Lepkofker brought in examples of products that he found, incorrectly labeled, and possibly dangerous to the consumer. Lepkofker is helping the new inspectors by sharing his years of experience. "They may not come across the same items, but they'll come across similar items with similar labeling issues," said Lepkofker. The three day session is the third for the training institute that started at WMU's Kendall Center over the summer. Through a grant with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, states and local cities are reimbursed for costs. With so many areas struggling for cash, and no mandatory training required for state and local food inspectors, board members have big goals for the program. "Hope to integrate international food inspection system, that links the federal FDA investigators with state, local inspectors and investigators," said Chief Operating Officer Stephen Benoit.
Posted by
Zack Pohl
on
October 06, 2009
DAILY TELEGRAM: Developing story: Lenawee County to receive funds for school safety
The Lenawee County Sheriff's Department and Lenawee Intermediate School District will receive $104,028 from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS), according to a statement released Monday afternoon by U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer's office. According to Schauer's office, the grant will allow the sheriff's department and the LISD to improve security systems in LISD buildings as well as in three local school districts: Sand Creek Community Schools, Britton-Macon Area School and Clinton Community Schools. The grant is part of the Secure Our Schools (SOS) program operated by the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services. According to Schauer's office, Lenawee is one of three Michigan communities to receive funding from the 2009 SOS program. WTVB AM: Veterans Education Benefits Coming Congressman Mark Schauer says numerous veterans in Branch County and elsewhere in Michigan’s 7th District are reporting that they’re not receiving their due benefits. That’s why he wants to make sure they know that last Sunday, the Department of Veterans Affairs authorized advance checks for up to $3,000 be given to eligible students who have applied for educational benefits but had not yet seen those payments. The vets are being urged, if possible, to go to the Detroit Regional VA office to obtain their advance checks, which became available there starting Friday. Since this may be too far for some students to travel, the VA expects to send representatives to schools with large veteran-student bodies and work with Veteran Service Organizations to help students with transportation needs. The veteran must bring a drivers license or military ID for identification, as well as proof of school enrollment. Any veteran who is receiving education benefits - not just Post-9/11 benefits - who has not YET received payment for their housing and book allowance is eligible. NOTE: For more information on this subject, please click here. Veterans can now apply online. HILLSDALE DAILY NEWS: Poll: How do you feel about Rep. Schauer's first term? |
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Phone: (202) 225-6276
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- District Office
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Phone: (517) 780-9075
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Toll-Free: (877) 737-6407
