State Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) today was named Ranking Member on the Finance and Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, the House Minority’s highest ranking official on the legislative panel.

State Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) released the following statement today in response to U.S. Steel’s announcement of temporary layoffs due to steel plants being idled in Lorain, Ohio and Dallas, Texas:

“I am deeply concerned with the economic and social challenges any potential layoffs could present to our community. These are not just numbers in a ledger or an economic forecast, these are families faced with the possibility of losing their path to opportunity, security, stability and a fair shot at a higher quality of life.

“In the coming days and weeks, I will continue talking with the company, union, and state, local and federal officials so that we can be prepared to minimize the devastation this announcement may pose to working families in our state. I am hopeful we can come together to turn challenges into opportunities while getting people back to work.”

State Reps. Mike Foley (D-Cleveland) and Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) Friday discussed the suppression of a green jobs report that showed Ohio had significantly more jobs tied to renewable energy than the number estimated during the debate to freeze renewable energy standards.