February 10: Congresswoman Kaptur Delivers on Promise to Get $2 Million Restored to Cleveland’s Lead Paint Efforts

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur today announced the extension restoration of over $2 million in federal funding for the City of Cleveland to use for the removal of hazardous lead from area homes contingent on the City meeting certain obligations to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"The restoration of eligibility for this critical federal funding is great news for the City of Cleveland and, more important, for the safety and well being of Cleveland area families," Congresswoman Kaptur said.

On January 11, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it would terminate $2 million for Cleveland over concerns related to the program's management by the Department of Public Health.

That same day, Kaptur organized a call to speak personally with the Assistant Secretary of State for Intergovernmental Affairs and the Director of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. A representative from the office of U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge and the Cleveland Mayor's office also participated in the call at Kaptur's invitation.

"As soon as the story broke, I picked up the phone to talk with HUD officials in Washington to see what could be done to restore these funds to Cleveland," said Kaptur, a senior Member of HUD's funding committee in the House.

Kaptur raised the matter directly with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan at President Obama's State of the Union speech stressing the need to rectify the loss of funds to the city. Kaptur and her office stayed in daily contact with HUD officials...

February 9: Congresswoman Kaptur Meets with Ohio National Guard and the Ohio Congressional Delegation to Protect Jobs and Military Facilities

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur met with senior leadership of the Ohio National Guard and members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation at a briefing on Ohio's response to a possible Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC).

Kaptur discussed ways in which the National Guard and the Ohio Delegation and can work together to protect jobs and military instillations in the region.

"The world-class installations in Northern Ohio are some of the first to respond to threats against our nation," said Kaptur. "We must be vigilant and proactive in confronting this challenge."

"There are 1200 jobs at risk at the Toledo Air National Guard Base should the U.S. Air Force decide to recommend changes at the 180th Fighter Wing. Excellence at that base and in its deployments will make that indisputable case that the 180th is a star in the Pentagon's constellation," the congresswoman added.

"During the last BRAC process in 2005, I successfully defended the 180th Fighter Wing and maintained the jobs and critical defense capabilities that unit and its personnel provide to our nation. We must renew those efforts now," Kaptur said.

BRAC is an independent commission that is required to review and analyze DOD's recommendations for military installation closure or realignment. BRAC submits a report to the President with findings and conclusions that accept, reject, and or modify DOD's recommendations.

The President reviews BRAC's Commission report, and upon acceptance of the recommendations, submits it to Congress.

Congress then has the opportunity to disapprove of the recommendations through the enactment of a joint resolution. If the President fails...

February 8: Kaptur Meets with Cleveland Clinic to Discuss Regenerative Medicine Research

Congresswoman Kaptur met with researchers from the Cleveland Clinic to discuss the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM) program that was created by the Department of Defense. The institute works on developing clinical treatments for soldiers and veterans suffering from traumatic injuries. It also serves as a training facility to develop experts in treating trauma through regenerative medicine.

Recent achievements for the AFIRM program include:

• Significant progress in the validation of a new bone regeneration technology by ISR and Carnegie Mellon.

• Development of a living human ear replacement has advanced from rodents to sheep.

• A scar-less wound healing dressing clinical trial that has been approved for the second set of trials.

• 11 clinical trials so far involving more than 100 patients.

• 60 new products in the pipeline.

The following representatives met with Congresswoman Kaptur:

• Linda M. Graham, M.D., Staff Vascular Surgeon, Department of Surgery Staff, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic

• Dr. Paul Murray, Ph.D., Researcher, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Government Relations Department Liaison to AFIRM

• Maureen Peckman, the Chief Emerging Business Officer of Cleveland Clinic Nevada

• Maria Siemionow, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Plastic Surgery Research, Head of Microsurgery Training, Cleveland Clinic

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