One grant, for $875,000 will fund a CSU tutoring program that will include summer math camps for high school students planning to enroll at Cleveland State.
If the 2008 election was about history, 2012 is personal.
The next president of the United States and the next Congress will shape policies and laws that will profoundly affect the lives of most Americans. My friend, Rev. Al Sharpton makes the same point in a colorful way. “This election is not about [President] Obama. It’s about your mama.”
It is crucial we elect leaders who understand the stakes for ourselves, our families, friends and neighbors. The future of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are at stake. For our young people, funding for programs such as Head Start, Pell grants, and interest rates on student loans to make college more affordable are all at risk of being cut to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest people in our nation.
We must not complain about conditions if we fail to vote.
The first step is to register to vote. Please be aware that voter registration in Ohio closes on October 9th. Early in-person voting begins on October 2nd. Eligible voters may also return ballots by mail or go to the polls on Election Day, November 6th.
Decide what method works best for you. Encourage young people to participate in voting, help elderly friends and relatives reach the polls or mail their completed ballots. I was honored to organize and accompany seniors fromElizaBryantVillageto the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to register to vote when I hosted a rally on September 25th.
Don’t agonize, organize.
I am also pleased to announce that on October 12th, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee will convene what is known as a rump hearing with me about potential voter suppression in the State of Ohio. This public event will take place from 1to 3 p.m. in the moot courtroom of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
Join us if you can and let’s prove to the forces that would discourage all Americans from voting that no matter what the hurdles, we will exercise our right to vote.
Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15
The open enrollment period for Medicare is just around the corner. It begins on October 15th and ends on December 7th. This time period provides an opportunity to change your supplemental health and prescription drug coverage. Please be aware that, with some exceptions, there is a monthly premium penalty if you do not have prescription drug coverage and delay obtaining coverage when you are first eligible. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the average estimated basic Medicare prescription drug plan premium is holding steady from last year.
The average Medicare Advantage premium in 2013 is projected to increase by only $1.47 from last year, coming to $32.59. However, if beneficiaries choose lower cost plans at the same rate in 2013, as they did in 2012, the average premium is expected to increase by only 57 cents. Furthermore, since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010, Medicare Advantage premiums have fallen by 10 percent and enrollment has risen by 28 percent. Medicare Advantage differs from traditional Medicare in that it is a type of plan that combines supplemental health and drug coverage. If you have questions about Medicare or Medicaid, please contact Beverly Charles in my district office, (216) 522-4900 and she will be happy to answer your questions or direct you to an appropriate resource.
Recent Grants
Cleveland State University was awarded two grants from the National Science Foundation amounting to a combined $1.32 million. These funds are designed to boost the number of graduates in STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
One grant, for $875,000 will fund a CSU tutoring program that will include summer math camps for high school students planning to enroll at Cleveland State. This program is expected to serve 500 students each year.
A $450,000 grant will go toward scholarships for students in STEM fields. The scholarships are expected to assist 20 students each year, with awards of up to $10,000 per student.
Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) recently obtained a $351,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Upward Bound program. This program supports low-income high school students in building the skills and motivation necessary to complete high school and enter and succeed in a postsecondary education program.
