U.S. Rep. Fudge Call on Senate Colleagues to Pass Robust Jobs Bills

Washington DC – On the heels of a difficult fight in the Senate to overcome Republican objections to extending unemployment benefits for millions of struggling Americans, U.S. Representatives Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH11), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH10), and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH9) joined with the group, Americans United For Change in a press conference call today. They urged their Senate colleagues to now get to the business of passing a robust jobs bill that helps ease the burden on states facing difficult budget shortfalls. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, if Congress does not extend provisions of last year’s Recovery Act, the economy will lose 900,000 public-and private-sector jobs.

Representative Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH11): “Ending cloture on the unemployment extension in the Senate was pivotal, not only for Northeast Ohioans struggling to find work, but for all Americans who expect their elected officials to act in good faith and address our jobs crisis. Soon these Senators will have a chance to prove they really care about the deficit – and not about scoring cheap political points on the backs of the unemployed. The Senate is poised to consider a jobs bill that will keep teachers in their classrooms, police on the beat and nurses on the job. These provisions are fully paid for by closing tax loopholes that benefit only a select few Americans. Of course, creating and maintaining jobs and rebuilding the tax base is the best way to reduce our deficit. As such, there is no reason any Senator should stand in the way of this job-creation legislation. I challenge the Senate to offer their support, or at least get out of the way.”

Fudge, Kucinich Request Investigation into Possible Discriminatory Practices at DFAS

CLEVELAND -U.S. Representatives Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) today called on the Acting Comptroller General of the United States and the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate possible violations of fair labor practices and possible discrimination against African American employees at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). A significant number of employees at the Cleveland and other DFAS locations have been indefinitely suspended or terminated, despite long-term employment with the agency.

“We are writing to apprise you of a policy at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service…which may be discriminatory, in violation of fair labor practices, and otherwise illegal,” wrote Fudge and Kucinich. “The DFAS employees who were fired have allegedly gotten behind on some of their personal credit payments. However, very few employees could withstand the scrutiny DFAS has imposed, especially during the current recession and the financial and housing crisis which caused it.”

“It is noteworthy that 85% of the DFAS employees suspended or terminated…are African Americans. The African American community in Cleveland and elsewhere has been disproportionately affected by predatory lending and the foreclosure crisis which followed.”

Congressman Kucinich and Congresswoman Fudge are expected to hold a joint press conference on Monday to discuss these actions and other actions that will be taken.

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