{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"OH\" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402257", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Lattas Bipartisan Bill to Combat Robocalls", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Robert Latta", "L000566", "latta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Americans will have the security of knowing their incoming calls are legitimate because yesterday, the President signed into law a bipartisan bill, the TRACED Act, to combat the illegal robocalls that are hounding Americans across the country. The TRACED Act is a collaborative legislative package authored by members of the Senate and the House, including Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5), Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA).\r\nOur phones that connect us to the world should be used for good, not for manipulative and illegal spam calls that have tricked countless people out of time and money. The TRACED Act takes significant steps to protect consumers from scams and fraud. This is a shining example of when Members of Congress are committed to working together in order to solve real problems facing our country, progress can be made that will better the lives of Americans in every state,said Congressman Latta.\r\nRobocalls are continuing to harass Americans in Ohio and beyond, and last year alone, there were almost 48 billion robocalls made to people across the country, compared to just over 30 billion robocalls made the year before in 2017. In 2016, 22 million Americans, including senior citizens who are some of our nation's most vulnerable residents, lost $9.6 billion in robocall scams.\r\nWith the TRACED Act signed into law, phone companies will be required to verify and authenticate incoming calls so consumers can identify which calls are legitimate.\r\nAccording to the FCC, they receive over 200,000 complaints a year from residents receiving predatory robocalls.Congressman Latta worked with Energy and Commerce Members and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Ajit Pai, to focus on possible solutions in order to best combat these unwanted scam calls.Congressman Latta introduced the STOP Robocalls Act and shortly thereafter, theFCC voted to allow phone companies to block illegal robocalls.Read about their work in an op-ed they wrote in the Plain Dealer.\r\nOne of the bills included in the TRACED Act is the STOP Robocalls Act, which gives phone companies andtheFCCthe tools they need to fight back against robocalls. The STOP Robocalls Act ensures consumers can identify which calls are being blocked  similar to the spam filter in email  and create a pathway to stop wanted calls from being blocked.This would ensure consumers' access to desirable, and at times, life-saving calls and text messages are preserved while also protecting them from bad actors who fraudulently spoof caller ID information to make illegal robocalls.Italso improves information sharing to enhance the FCC's ability to track and stop illegal robocall and spoofing operations. As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics that bad actors use to illegally spoof numbers to make fraudulent robocalls. It is important to allow these companies and the FCC to keep pace.\r\nCongressman Latta is the Republican Leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology where he worked with his colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, in order to get the TRACED Act through the legislative process in order to provide relief to Ohioans who received 1.7 billion robocalls in 2018.\r\nTo read an op-ed in the Washington Examiner authored by Congressman Latta in 2018 focused on the need for Congressional action in order to combat robocalls,click here.\r\nCongressman Latta has served on all six Energy and Commerce subcommittees. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402765", "Bill Johnson Announces Nominations to  United States Service Academies", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Bill Johnson", "J000292", "billjohnson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) today announced his Service Academy nominations for students residing in Ohio's 6th Congressional District: \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) today announced his Service Academy nominations for students residing in Ohio's 6th Congressional District:\r\nI am honored to nominate these 13 impressive young men and women to represent Eastern and Southeastern Ohio at one of the United States Military Service Academies, said Rep. Bill Johnson. Each of these students went through a rigorous application process and demonstrated that they possess the necessary qualities to succeed at one of our service academies, and to perform as one of America's future military leaders. \r\nJohnson added, I am so proud of these exceptional young people, and I wish them all the best as they continue through this process. I also thank everyone who applied and expressed a desire to serve the United States through military service.\r\nThe following students were nominated to a United States Service Academy:\r\nMadelyn Adkins, Zanesville (John Glenn H.S.): United States Military Academy \r\nChloe Eicher, Nashport (Tri-Valley H.S.): United States Air Force Academy\r\nJonas Epp, Canfield (Canfield H.S.): United States Military Academy; United States Naval Academy\r\nTimothy Hill, Gallipolis (Gallia Academy H.S.): United States Naval Academy\r\nAugustus Kennedy, Tuppers Plains (Meigs H.S.): United States Naval Academy \r\nBenjamin Pasiuk, Carrollton (Carrollton H.S.): United States Military Academy\r\nScore Perkins, New Concord (John Glenn H.S.): United States Military Academy \r\nRaymond Salzbrun, South Webster (South Webster H.S.): United States Air Force Academy; United States Naval Academy \r\nConrad Schuetz, Tiltonsville (Buckeye Local H.S.): United States Naval Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy\r\nAudrey Spiker, Dresden (Tri-Valley H.S.): United States Military Academy\r\nKatheryn (Rose) Stephens, South Webster (South Webster H.S.): United States Naval Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy \r\nNoah Wentworth, Gnadenhutten (Garaway H.S.): United States Air Force Academy, United States Naval Academy\r\nJoseph Whealdon, Senecaville (Meadowbrook H.S.): United States Merchant Marine Academy\r\nCongressman Johnson was assisted in the nomination process by a five-member, non-partisan, all-volunteer 6th Congressional District Service Academy Nomination Board. The board conducted interviews in November at Zane State College in Cambridge. After applications and test scores were reviewed by Rep. Johnson and the entire board, 13 students from Eastern and Southeastern Ohio were recommended for nomination. Even though these exceptional candidates are receiving nominations from Congressman Johnson, each service academy will make the final decision on who receives an appointment of admission for the Fall of 2020. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.\r\nRep. Johnson entered the U.S. Air Force in 1973 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1999 after a distinguished military career of over 26 years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-encouraging-ohioans-to-apply-for-local-2020-census-jobs", "Brown Encouraging Ohioans To Apply For Local 2020 Census Jobs", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Previously Urged Passage of Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize Critical Role of Census, Importance of Fair and Accurate Count\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 27, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is encouraging Ohioans to apply for open positions with the 2020 Census, that are available in their local communities. The Census Bureau is offering flexible hours and competitive wages, for Ohioans across the state to help with the 2020 Census count. Ohioans interested in applying for a position with the Census Bureau, can apply at 2020census.gov/jobs\r\nThe 2020 Census is a constitutionally mandated undertaking and the data collected is used to properly allocate seats for the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures. It also directs more than $800 billion annually in federal funding to state and local communities.\r\nAs we enter the next decade, it is critical that all Ohioans are accounted for in the 2020 Census, said Brown. Our government relies on the Census to evaluate needs and allocate resources. I encourage Ohioans to apply for this unique opportunity to ensure their communities are accounted for and receive the assistance they need.\r\nLast week, Brown joined his colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution highlighting the importance of the 2020 Census. The resolution encourages individuals, families, and households across the United States to take part in the Census so that all communities can be counted. The resolution also recognizes the importance and significance of the 2020 Census and encourages all people to participate. It concludes that it is the civic duty of every person to ensure that the 2020 Census is as accurate as possible. The resolution passed the Senate on December 18, 2019.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-applauds-trump-administration-announcement-drug-free-communities", "Portman Applauds Trump Administration Announcement of Drug-Free Communities Grants to Combat the Drug Crisis in Ohio", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Applauds Trump Administration Announcement of Drug-Free Communities Grants to Combat the Drug Crisis in Ohio\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      New Drug-Free Communities Grants Announced for Warren, Clinton, Union & Wood Counties \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 27, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  CINCINNATI, OH U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today welcomed the announcement of Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant recipients, both new and continuation, in the state of Ohio. In 1997, Portman authored theDrug-Free Communities Act,which supports evidence-based, community-oriented drug prevention programs. TheDrug-Free Communities Actis designed to improve effectiveness and accountability in these programs by capping the amount spent on administrative and overhead expenses, requiring all coalitions that receive grants to have experience in drug abuse prevention, and to match federal funding with local funds. No other drug prevention program has achieved the same reduction in youth drug use that has been achieved consistently by the DFC program. Portman issued the following statement on today's announcement:\nThe Drug-Free Communities program is a proven, evidence-based, and community-oriented program that reduces substance abuse among our nation's youth. I authored this legislation more than 20 years ago during my time in the House of Representatives, and it remains today the most effective program for consistently reducing youth drug use. I founded the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati, now PreventionFIRST!, as a comprehensive effort to address youth substance abuse, and it's something I care deeply about,said Portman.I have seen firsthand that prevention is a powerful tool to counteract drug use in our community, and this funding helps youth throughout Ohio make better, more healthy choices. These grants will help those on the frontlines in Ohio combat this crisis as we work together to turn the tide of addiction. I'm pleased that the Trump administration has taken a leading role in combating this crisis of addiction gripping our country, and I will continue working with them to turn the tide of this drug epidemic.\nNOTE:In addition to the DFC grant awards announcement earlier in October, the following new grant awards for Ohio can be found below and atthislink.\n \n\t$125,000 for the Mental Health Recovery Services of Warren & Clinton County\n\t$125,000 for The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Union County\n\t$125,000 for The Wood County Educational Service Center\n \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-honors-ohioans-celebrating-chanukah", "Portman Honors Ohioans Celebrating Chanukah", "2019-12-24", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Honors Ohioans Celebrating Chanukah\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 23, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement honoring Ohioans who are celebrating Chanukah:\nAs friends and loved ones in Ohio and around the world celebrate the first day of the Festival of Lights, Jane and I want to wish our friends in the Jewish community a very Happy Chanukah.\nOn Chanukah we reflect on religious freedom, on the miracles that took place in ancient times and the rededication of the Temple that followed. Today we can embrace that theme of rededication by rededicating ourselves  to our families, our neighbors, our communities, and to the important work we have yet to complete here and abroad on the issues we care about.\nThis is also a holiday when we think about exercising our religious freedom in safety and how that ability has been tragically threatened in recent years. In the last week, I'm proud to say we have made great progress in our efforts to better secure faith-based institutions here in the United States, including at synagogues. Just last week, working with many friends in the Jewish community across Ohio, the Senate passed my legislation formally authorizing the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) for the next five years. This important program provides grants to nonprofits and faith-based organizations to help secure their facilities against a potential terrorist attack.This bill is now ready to be signed into law. In addition, the finalFY 2020 funding bill, which the president signed into law last Friday, includes $90 million for these nonprofit security grants  a funding level I advocated for and the most ever allocated to this program. The threats to houses of worship and other religious community sites are increasing and we must do everything we can to protect them in Ohio and across our country. It is meaningful to me to be in the lead in the Senate on this issue, but I would love for a time to come when we have defeated hate and anti Semitism and such funding is no longer necessary.\nSpeaking of safety, security, and freedom, this holiday also reminds us of the importance of American leadership in the world. American leadership allows us to protect the values we cherish and to strengthen our alliances with countries who share those values. There is no better example of this than our friends in Israel, with whom we share such deep democratic and emotional bonds.\nJane and I want to wish you and your family a very Happy Chanukah, and may we all look forward to a 2020 of peace, health, and happiness.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/announcements/congresswoman-beatty-votes-to-protect-voting", "Congresswoman Beatty Votes to Protect Equal Access to Voting", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty recently joined with 227 of her congressional colleagues to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4, critical legislation to restore the full strength of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), following the disastrous Supreme Court Shelby v. Holder decision, which gutted the VRA's ability to combat voter suppression and discrimination. Since the Shelby v. Holder decision, at least 23 states have enacted voter suppression laws, including voter purges, strict ID requirements, poll closures, and curtailing of early voting hours. \nNearly 55 years after the Voting Rights Act enshrined the sacred right to vote into law, access to the ballot box is under unprecedented threat, Beatty said. We have seen numerous, partisan voter suppression campaigns spring up across America, silencing the most vulnerable and underrepresented communities. Beatty exclaimed,That is why I joined my colleagues to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act and to restore vital voter protections so that every eligible Central Ohioan voter can have their voice heard.\nThe Voting Rights Advancement Act reestablishes full protections for voters in states with a recent and long history of discrimination. Among its key provisions, the bill:\n provides a new coverage formula that determines which jurisdictions are subject to preclearance to better ensure that every eligible American voter has full access to the ballot box; and\n\talso establishes practice-based preclearance, focusing administrative or judicial review on practices that are most likely to be tainted by discriminatory intent or to have discriminatory effects, as demonstrated by a broad historical record.\n The right to vote is the very foundation of our democracy, Beatty continued.Generations of brave, patriotic Americans have fought, marched, and shed blood to safeguard and expand that right.In passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act, House Democrats are honoring our promises for the people' to safeguard the right to vote for generations to come.\nH.R. 4 is supported by a wide range of nonpartisan organizations, including the NAACP, American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters of the United States, National Education Association, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and Native American Rights Fund.\nThe Voting Rights Advancement Act is now awaiting further consideration in the U.S. Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-nyt-endorses-browns-ban-conflicted-trading-act", "ICYMI: NYT Endorses Brown's Ban Conflicted Trading Act", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NYT: Brown's Bill Includes Necessary Reforms' that are Long Overdue'; Senator's Legislation would Prohibit Members of Congress and Senior Congressional Staff from Abusing their Positions for Personal Financial Gain\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 23, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  In Case You Missed It, the New York Times Editorial Board today endorsed U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Merkley's (D-OR) Ban Conflicted Trading Act, legislation that would bar members of Congress and senior congressional staff from buying or selling individual stocks and other investments, and from serving on any corporate boards, while in office.\r\nA bill that would impose such a banwas introduced earlier this yearby Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, and Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, wrote the Times. It would require members to put holdings in blind trusts, or else to refrain from any trading until they leave Congress. The bill also would bar members of Congress from serving on corporate boards.\r\nThese are necessary reforms, and they are long overdue.\r\nIn 2012, Brown introduced an amendment to the STOCK Act which would have required Senators to divest themselves of company stocks that would be affected by their actions as a Senator. The amendment was left out of the final bill.\r\nA copy of theBan Conflicted Trading Actcan be foundhere.\r\nThe New York editorial can be found here and below.\r\nNew York Times: Editorial: Make Laws, Not Money\r\nMembers of Congress should not be allowed to buy and sell stocks, or to serve on corporate boards.\r\nThe case of Chris Collins, the New York Republican whoresigned from Congress and pleaded guilty to insider tradingearlier this fall, was a rare victory in the long-running battle to ensure that members of Congress do not take improper advantage of their privileged positions.\r\nIt also underscored the need for stronger rules.\r\nMr. Collins is going to jail because he called his son seven times from the White House lawn to share the private news that a small drug company's flagship product had failed a key clinical trial. Those phone calls prompted the son to dump his shares.\r\nBut in the years before that flagrant act of insider trading, Mr. Collins already was deeply involved in the affairs of the company, Innate Immunotherapeutics, even as he served on various congressional committees that played a role in directing federal health care policy.\r\nMr. Collins was the company's largest shareholder. He served on the company's board. He solicited investments in the company, including from other members of Congress. (Tom Price, who served as a Republican representative from Georgia and then as secretary of health and human services in the Trump administration,was among the buyers.)\r\nMr. Collins wrote legislative language to expedite drug trials, potentially benefiting Innate, and he pressed a staff member at the National Institutes of Healthto meet with the companyabout its clinical trial.\r\nHe also invested in other health care firms, some of which held federal contracts.\r\nNone of this was clearly illegal. But it should have been.\r\nMembers of Congress serve in positions of privilege and power. They have the opportunity to shape public policy for their own benefit, and to profit from information not available to the general public  and it is clearly too much to expect that all of them will resist temptation.\r\nCongress tookan important step in 2012, passing a law that bars members and their aides from trading on the basis of confidential information that they receive as lawmakers. The law also strengthened disclosure requirements. It has made a difference. The volume of stock trading by members of Congress declined by 65 percent in the three years after it took effect, compared with the three years before its passage, according toa 2017 study by Public Citizen.\r\nBut the 2012 law is insufficient.\r\nWhen the Securities and Exchange Commission began its first investigation under the new law, in 2013,Congress went to courtto prevent the S.E.C. from obtaining documents. The two sides eventually reached a deal, but the case showed that Congress remained unwilling to play by the same rules as everyone else.\r\nCongress also passed a bill in 2013 reversing some of the disclosure requirements that it had established and celebrated just one year before. The original bill, for example, mandated the creation of a searchable online database of trades by members and aides. The 2013 law made it harder to identify wrongdoing, allowing members of Congress to submit disclosures in a form that is not easily searchable.\r\nAnd the narrow ban on insider trading does not go far enough. Members still may be tempted to cast votes that are personally profitable but not in the public interest. And because insider trading is a very difficult crime to prove, it is likely that they still have ample opportunity to profit from their privileged positions.\r\nAs if to underscore these problems, members continue to buy and sell shares in companies that have business before Congress.\r\nSenator James Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who chairs the Armed Services Committee,bought stock in the defense contractor Raytheon last yearwhile pushing for an increase in federal spending on defense. The senator said the decision was made by a financial adviser, and after its public disclosure, he said he would make no further investments in the industry.\r\nInhofe's declaration of abstinence amounts to a tacit acknowledgment of the need for stronger rules that apply to all members of Congress. Public Citizen and other groups have argued for a narrow rule barring members from trading in the shares of companies that have business before their committees. Such a rule, however, would not go far enough. The work of Congress encompasses the entirety of the economy.\r\nThe most comprehensive solution would be to require people who are elected to Congress to divest holdings in public companies within a reasonable period following their election. But such a requirement could impose significant costs on people entering public service. It would be nearly as effective, and less burdensome, to bar members from buying or selling shares.\r\nA bill that would impose such a banwas introduced earlier this yearby Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, and Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio. It would require members to put holdings in blind trusts, or else to refrain from any trading until they leave Congress. The bill also would bar members of Congress from serving on corporate boards.\r\nThese are necessary reforms, and they are long overdue.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/portman-difference/portman-secures-40-legislative-victories-ohio-end-year-legislation", "Portman Secures 40+ Legislative Victories for Ohio in End-of-Year Legislation", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Secures 40+ Legislative Victories for Ohio in End-of-Year Legislation\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 23, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Portman Difference\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  Last week,Senator Portman helped secure more than 40 key legislative victories for Ohio and the country in the final FY 2020 funding measure as well as the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. These legislative accomplishments  which include many of the bills he's previously introduced this year  support economic growth, job creation, and greater retirement security, support Ohio's military installations, bolster efforts to protect our environment, including our Great Lakes, combat the addiction epidemic, make health care more affordable and accessible, and increase cybersecurity. The president signed into law both the final FY 2020 funding measure as well as the FY 2020 NDAA conference report on Friday. In addition, several other Portman bills passed the Senate last week as well that are now waiting for the president's signature as well.\nPortman secured the following key wins for Ohio and the country:\nSUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RETIREMENT SECURITY\n1. A one-year extension of the New Markets Tax Credit which helps economically-distressed communities attract private capital for community redevelopment purposes, and Cincinnati and other cities in Ohio have been a significant beneficiary. \n2. A one-year extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides employers with a tax credit for hiring and retaining veterans, ex-felons, disabled individuals, summer youth employees, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Supplemental Security Income recipients. \n3. A one-year extension of the Craft Beverage Tax Relief, which provides excise tax relief to thegrowing craft beverage industry, helping these entrepreneurs reinvest more in their businesses and our communities. Ohio ranks number four in the country in craft beer production and the industry supports 15,000 jobs in the state. \n4. A one-year extension of the CFC Look-Through Rules so that U.S. multinational companies can efficiently to bring back money and resources trapped overseas to invest in the American economy. \n5. The SECURE Act, which includes reforms sponsored by Portman designed to help more Americans save for their retirement, including marquee provisions to encourage small businesses to offer retirement plans to their workers, ensure millions of part-time employees can access 401(k) plans, and increase the age for required minimum distributions from 70 and a half to 72.\n6. Portman's bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands Act to preserve jobs and encourage infrastructure development by expanding tax-exempt cooperative organizations' access to government grants and assistance, including rural broadband grants and FEMA disaster relief. This legislation provides certainty for co-ops looking to utilize government resources to deliver critical services to their members, such as broader access to high-speed internet or repairs to the electrical grid.\n7. Helped secure pension benefits for nearly 6,000 Ohioans whose pensions would have been reduced dramatically beginning next year  through the inclusion of the Bipartisan American Miners Act, which Portman cosponsored and fought for.\nSUPPORTING OHIO'S DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS\n8. Authorizing $1.7 billion in funding to upgrade 165 Abrams tanks, increasing the rate of production of the upgraded Abrams tanks Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima in order to ensure that our forward deployed tanks have the most cutting-edge capabilities. Portman has been astaunch supporter of the JSMCand visited the JSMC recently. While the Obama administration proposed shuttering the plant in 2011, Portman has made a commitment to ensuring the long-term viability of the JSMC since taking office and protecting Lima's skilled workforce that provide a unique capability to our national security and defense industrial base.\n9. Authorizing $394 million for upgrading Stryker Vehicles at the JSMC.\n10. Authorizing $523 million for purchasing 152 Stryker A1 Vehicles to be built at the JSMC. \n11. Authorizing $120.9 million in funding to upgrade the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) located at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report authorized $182 million for the modernization effort at NASIC. This measure authorizes $120.9 million to finish construction.\n12. $300 million in security assistance to fund additional training, equipment, and advisory efforts for Ukraine's forces.Portman hasled efforts in the Senate to ensure these Ukraine security assistance funds were authorized and obligated pending critical defense reforms at the Ukrainian parliament.\n13. Expanding existing financial protections for Gold Star military families' residential and car leases.\n14. The posthumous promotion of Lt Col Richard Cole to Colonel, the last of the living Doolittle Raiders until he passed away earlier this year at the age 103.\n15. The production of four highly capable C-130J's, which Portman will advocate to be assigned to one of our very deserving, hardworking Ohio squadrons.\n16. Allowing fallen heroes to be honored at their gravesite with a replica of the Battlefield Cross. The Battlefield Cross is a memorial marker typically consisting of a soldier's helmet, rifle, identification tag, and pair of boots that serves to honor and respect servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.\nCOMBATING ADDICTION\n17. $658 million for Portman's CARA grant program, which provides resources for evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help people overcome their addiction. This is the largest investment in his CARA grant program since it was enacted into law.\n18. Portman's bipartisan Combating Meth & Cocaine Act to give states more flexibility to use federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of psychostimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine.\nMAKING HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE\n19. Securing lifetime health care benefits for 3,119 miners in Ohio who would have lost their benefits entirely by March through the inclusion of the Bipartisan American Miners Act, which Portman cosponsored and fought for.\n20. A one-year extension of the Medical Expense Deduction Expansion ensuring that more Americans have access to this deduction designed to reduce the tax costs of out-of-pocket medical expenses and long-term care.\n21. A one-year extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), which helps subsidize the cost of continued coverage for retirees and other individuals who lost their health care coverage  in addition to their pensions and other benefits  when their employers either entered into bankruptcy or laid off workers due to foreign trade. The HCTC is critically important for many hardworking Ohioans, including as many as 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees in Dayton, the Mahoning Valley, and Sandusky. In addition, a few hundred workers from the Lordstown General Motors plant have applied for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and would benefit from the HCTC as well.\n22. A five-month extension for his bipartisan Money Follows the Person Program, which helps transition Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing homes to long-term care in their homes.\n23. A five-month extension the Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act, which will remove accessories to complex wheelchairs from Medicare's competitive bidding, and thus improve access to those accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors.\nPROTECTING OUR GREAT LAKES AND ENVIRONMENT \n24. $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the largest investment in the health, ecosystem, and water quality in the Great Lakes.\n25. $4.9 Million for Portman'sMigratory Birds of the Americas Act,which provides the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the resources it needs to protect the migratory bird populations that make Lake Erie one of the nation's premier birdwatching destinations.\n26. $1.68 Million for Portman's bipartisanGreat Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act,which provides critical resources to conserve and restore fish and wildlife populations in the Great Lakes. \n27. Funding for the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) and reauthorizing the HABHRCA program through FY2023, which has served as the federal government's research and response toolkit for harmful algal blooms.\n28. Enabling the U.S. Geological Survey to continue to conduct research to help support the over $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industries. \n29. Protecting Lake Erie from dredged materials by prohibiting the Army Corps of Engineers from dumping material dredged from the Cuyahoga River shipping channel into Lake Erie without the approval from the State of Ohio that it is environmentally safe.\n30. $15 Million for the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial Challenge, which was authorized by Portman's National Park Service CentennialAct. The NPS Centennial Challenge provides funding to help preserve our national parks for generations to come.\n31. $15 million for his bipartisanTropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act, which has saved more than 67 million acres of tropical forest by allowing developing countries that meet certain criteria to be relieved of debt owed to the United States in exchange for their conservation efforts.\n32. Improving coordination across the federal government in identifying and responding to emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bipartisan Portman bill also provides support and resources to states dealing with the health challenges posed by these potentially harmful materials. \n33. Reauthorizing funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area through September 30, 2022.\n34. Requiring the U.S. Postal Service to sell the approximately 50 million remaining Saving Vanishing Species Stamps left in stock.\n35. $367 million for the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio; $51 million for the onsite disposal cell; and $40 million as part of a three-year demonstration project to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium.\nPROTECTING FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS\n36. $90 million, as Portman requested in December, for the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides grants to faith-based and other nonprofit organizations to help secure their facilities against a potential terrorist attack.\n37. Authorizing Nonprofit Security Grant Programs for the next five years through Portman's Protecting Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations From Terrorism Act.\nBOLSTERING CYBERSECURITY\n38. Directing the Department of Defense to brief Congress on how they are developing and prioritizing explainable artificial intelligence. \n39. Directing the Department of Defense to provide Congress with a comparative analysis and briefing on U.S. and Chinese artificial intelligence capabilities.\n40. Ensuring the armed forces prioritizes the recruitment and retention of individuals with computer science and digital engineering skills to bolster artificial intelligence expertise in the military.\n41. Requiring that the Department of Homeland Security make permanent cyber hunt and cyber incident response teams to work to help prevent cyberattacks at all levels of government and the private sector, and help mitigate the impact of such attacks when they occur.\nADDITIONAL WINS\n42. Prohibiting the federal government and federal contractors from asking about criminal history of a job applicant prior to a conditional offer of employment. \n43. Imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign banks and companies that facilitate illicit financial transactions for North Korea. This sanctions legislation, named in honor of Otto Warmbier, will hold North Korea accountable for their actions and human rights abuses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-bill-that-includes-brown-provision-with-record-investment-in-researching-non-addictive-methods-for-pain-treatment", "President Signs Bill That Includes Brown Provision With Record Investment In Researching Non-Addictive Methods For Pain Treatment", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Helped Create Defense Department's Opioid Alternative Research Program Last Year; Helped to Secure Record $15 Million in Final Appropriations Bill This Year\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Late last night, the President signed into law a spending package that includes several key wins for Ohio that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure. In the package, Brown helped secure a record investment of $15 million to support the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). Brown helped create the program last year by securing $10 million in funding. The program allows the Department of Defense (DOD) to research opioid alternatives or non-addictive methods to treat and manage chronic pain for servicemembers.\r\n\r\nWhen it's easier for Americans to get their hands on opioids than it is for them to access non-addictive alternatives and treatments, we have a serious problem. This bill continues critical investments to help solve the addiction crisis through important research and creative, new approaches. Opioid addiction is a chronic disease and even our brave servicemembers are not immune  so we need to ensure that there are a variety of non-addictive methods available so we can help prevent addiction before it takes hold, Brown said.\r\n\r\nLast year, Brown fought to include $10 million in the Defense Appropriations Bill to create the CDMRP at the DOD to research opioid alternatives or non-addictive methods to treat and manage chronic pain. Earlier this year, Brown led a letter urging the Appropriations Committee to include these funds in their bill. CDMRP aims to drive innovation in the medical community and seeks to find solutions for medical challenges facing servicemembers. This year, the $15 million in funding will help the research program focus on chronic pain management as well as treatment for service-related injuries and stress, as well as developing therapies to prevent dependence on opioids and other addictive substances.\r\n\r\nServicemembers can suffer from chronic pain that is often attributed to a multitude of factors, both combat-related and stress-related as a result their service to our country. With few options outside of prescription opioids, members of the military can be reliant on highly addictive substances, such as opioids, to manage this pain. The Department of Veterans Affairs released a study in 2016 that shows veterans who receive the highest doses of opioid painkillers are twice as likely to die by suicide as those who receive lower doses. Over the past 12 years, there has been an increase in prescriptions for opioids among veterans by over 270 percent, which shows the growing use of these highly addictive substances. The risks of servicemembers and veterans becoming addicted to opioids are both a combat readiness challenge and a significant challenge for family and communities that rely on and support them while serving and after.\r\n\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-bipartisan-foster-care-bill-with-key-brown-provisions-into-law", "President Signs Bipartisan Foster Care Bill With Key Brown Provisions Into Law", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Cosponsored Legislation that Includes Provisions from His Family First Transition and Support Act; Bill Would Increase Support for Ohio Children, Help Family Members Raising Children Due to Addiction Crisis\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced his Family First Transition Act, which includes a number of key provisions Brown secured from his Family First Transition and Support Act, has been signed into law. His legislation increases investment and support for child welfare as Ohio counties struggle to make sure children are cared for, especially in light of the addiction crisis. Brown worked closely with the Senate Finance Committee to ensure his provisions were included in the bipartisan bill.\r\nAs a society, we simply leave too many children behind. Child welfare agencies are overwhelmed by the number of kids entering the system, and the addiction crisis is only making it worse. For one third of all the children entering the system in Ohio, parents' substance abuse is listed as one of the causes. We have to do better, said Brown.\r\nThe Family First Transition Actbuilds on the Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First) that was signed into law last year, by:\r\n \r\nGiving states more time and resources to build a wider range of evidenced-based foster care prevention programs to keep families safe at home. Such programs include substance use treatment and prevention, in-home parent training, and family mental health services.\r\n \r\n \r\nProviding states with flexible funding to transition to Family First, allowing states to use the funds to address the needs of their communities, including foster parent recruitment, training for child welfare workers, support for parents and kinship caregivers, including $18 million for Ohio programs.\r\n \r\n \r\nProviding additional funds for states like Ohio, that were operating under a federal child welfare demonstration program that ended in September. These funds would guarantee that Ohio service providers are able to continue to serve children and families without a gap in funding.\r\n \r\nThe Family First Transition Act is led by leaders of the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR). Chairman Danny Davis (D-IL) and Ranking Member Jackie Walorski (R-IN) of the Ways and Means Worker and Family Support Subcommittee also led the bill in the House of Representatives.\r\nSenator Brown has shown immense leadership fighting for children and families in Ohio and across the country, and I'm proud to have worked with him to develop this important proposal, said Wyden. This bill will ensure that states have the support they need to implement Family First and build a better child welfare system that provides children what they deserve  the best chance at living in a safe and nurturing home.\r\nIn May, Brown introduced the Family First Transition and Support Act, which would:\r\n \r\nCreate a new kinship placement program fund to expand funding for kinship support services, which help family members raising children pay for essential needs and services, such as childcare, and transportation. This is especially important with the rise of family members raising children due to the addiction crisis.\r\n \r\n \r\nInvest in child welfare caseworker training and development.\r\n \r\n \r\nWork to enhance the child welfare Court Improvement Program and provide new resources to help recruit and retain foster parents.\r\n \r\nThe Family First Transition and Support Act is co-sponsored by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) has introduced companion legislation in the House.\r\nThe bill has the support of over 100 organizations, including The Public Children Services Association of Ohio, Ohio Children's Alliance, Child Welfare League of America, Family Focused Treatment Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Children's Defense Fund, Generations United, Boys Town, Within Our Reach, Children's Advocacy Institute, Children and Family Futures, National Children's Alliance, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, Children's Home Society of America, National Organization of State Associations for Children, and Foster America.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-spending-package-that-includes-key-agriculture-environmental-and-interior-wins-brown-secured-", "President Signs Spending Package That Includes Key Agriculture, Environmental And Interior Wins Brown Secured", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured a Number of Provisions for Ohio Agriculture, Rural Infrastructure, Lake Erie, and Dayton's Aviation Heritage Area and to Support Clean up at Piketon Plant\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Last night, the President signed into law a spending package that includes several key wins for Ohio that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure. In the package, Brown secured provisions to support investments in Ohio agriculture, rural infrastructure, Lake Erie, Dayton's Aviation Heritage Area and to support clean up at the Piketon plant. The package includes Energy and Water appropriations, Agriculture Department appropriations and Interior Department appropriations.\r\nThis bill makes critical investments that our state needs, including helping treat opioid addiction, bolstering local agriculture, and supporting infrastructure improvements and economic growth, said Brown.\r\nBrown helped secure the following investments:\r\nEnergy and Water Appropriations \r\n \r\n$320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). \r\n\r\nGLRI is a results-driven program, and this funding ensures that it has the resources it needs to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic wellbeing of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. This $320 million is the largest annual investment in the Great Lakes' health, ecosystem restoration, and water quality, and has already helped combat harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and pollution in the Great Lakes.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nFunding to Support Ongoing Cleanup at Piketon Plant\r\n\r\nBrown ensured the final package included more than $400 million in funding for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, which will ensure that cleanup continues as planned.\r\nBrown fought to ensure that workers at Piketon receive the necessary funding to maintain workforce levels and keep cleanup on pace.\r\nBrown has worked with Sen. Portman to keep jobs at the plant and maintain ongoing cleanup efforts in previous spending bills.\r\nMoreHERE.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nExtended Funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area\r\n\r\nIncludes Brown and Portman's legislation to reauthorize funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) through September 30, 2022\r\n\r\nNAHA spans eight counties throughout western Ohio, with a large presence in Dayton, the home of the Wright Brothers. There are a variety of cultural sites within the NAHA, including the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park, Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and Grimes Flying Field, as well as resources related to the Wright Brothers.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nAgriculture appropriations\r\n \r\nKey investments for 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, including:\r\n\r\nAn additional $6 million for research at 1890 Land-Grant institutions, which are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that are land grant universities. Brown secured this through an amendment. The funds will go toward research at Centers for Excellence on campuses like Central State University in Wilberforce. Browntook to the Senate floorearlier this year to demand inclusion of this amendment in the Senate bill, which he introduced with Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL).\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nRural Opioid Addiction Training: Brown helped secure $4 million for Rural Health and Safety Education Programs to combat opioid abuse in rural communities. In addition, the bill includes report language that recommends not less than $1 million for competitive external grants for eligible institutions to support the utilization of telehealth, telemedicine, distance learning, and virtual and augmented reality experiences for opioid education and training in minority rural communities. There is also prioritization language for treatment/recovery services under the Community Facilities loan/grant program at USDA. Brown encouraged this as part of the Farm Bill.\r\n \r\n \r\nAgricultural Research Service (ARS):Brown helped secure $1.4 billion in funding, which is $121 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $221 million above the President's budget request.As the USDA's in-house agricultural research unit, ARS has major responsibilities for conducting and leading the national agricultural research effort.\r\n \r\n \r\nNational Institute of Food and Agriculture:Brown helped secure $962 million for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is $13 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $93 million above the President's budget request. Included in this increase is $8 million for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and an increase of $10 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The NIFA helps fund extension services and promotes research at The Ohio State University (OSU).\r\n \r\n \r\nFarm Service Agency (FSA):Brown helped secure $1.112 billion for FSA for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs important to the nation's farmers and ranchers. This includes $35 million to assist with implementation of the 2018 farm Bill. It also prohibits the closure of FSA county offices and provides resources for information technology (IT) improvements and personnel across county offices.\r\n \r\n \r\nWater and Waste Disposal Programs:Brown helped ensure Water and Waste direct loans are maintained at $1.4 billion, and Water and Waste grants are funded at maintained at $659 million. These programs increase the availability of clean water and sanitary waste disposal systems to small, remote rural communities.\r\n \r\n \r\nCommunity Facilities Loans and Grants:Brown helped ensure the Community Facilities loan program was funded at just under $3 billion. These loans and grants can be used for any essential community facility, including hospitals, health clinics, schools, public buildings, health and safety vehicles and equipment, etc.\r\n \r\n \r\nIncreased Investments in Rural Broadband: Brown helped secure $555 million for the ReConnect Program, a USDA pilot program that funds the expansion of broadband internet services into underserved rural areas. USDA will finish announcing awards from its first round of ReConnect funding by December 31st, and will begin accepting applications for its second round on January 31st, 2020.\r\n \r\n \r\nSpecial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Brown helped ensure the bill provides full funding for the program, which will serve over 6 million mothers and children each month. The funding level also includes $80 million for breastfeeding support services.\r\n \r\nInterior Department appropriations\r\n\r\n \r\nLead Testing:Brown helped secure $26 million for lead testing in schools, and $19.511 million for reducing lead in drinking water.\r\n \r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-spending-package-that-includes-key-commerce-justice-and-science-wins-for-ohio-secured-by-brown", "President Signs Spending Package That Includes Key Commerce, Justice And Science Wins For Ohio Secured By Brown", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions to Support NASA Glenn in Cleveland and Sandusky, Bolster Economic Development Projects, Make Public Safety Improvements, and More  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  Late last night, the President signed into law a spending package that includes several key wins for Ohio that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure. Brown helped secure these wins as part of the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill.\r\nThis bill makes critical investments that our state needs to do everything from bolstering our infrastructure and economic growth, to making investments that improve public safety for Ohioans while also allowing law enforcement officers to better and more safely serve their communities, to supporting our NASA Glenn facilities in Cleveland and Sandusky. These projects and programs help advance our state and help make it a better place to live.\r\nThe wins for Ohio include:\r\n \r\nCritical funding for NASA programs in Ohio, including:\r\n\r\n$1.4 billion forNASA's Orion project. An Orion module is being tested at NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky.\r\n$22.6 billion for NASA, including $784 million for aeronautics research. A portion of that funding will go toNASA's Glenn Research Centerin Cleveland.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nKey investments for law enforcement programs, including:\r\n\r\n$335 million for theCommunity Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The COPS program invests in local law enforcement by helping police departments bolster their community policing efforts and hire new officers. The COPS program was designed to advance public safety by addressing the full-time officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.\r\n$545 million forByrne JAG, which provides grant funding for local law enforcement agencies to fund various programs including, drug treatment and enforcement programs, crime prevention and education programs, and crime victim and witness programs. The funding is administered through DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance.\r\n$22.5 million for theBody-Worn Camera Partnership Program. Body cameras have been found to reduce the use of force by officers by as much as 60 percent, reduce citizen complaints by as much as 88 percent, assist in resolving complaints against the police, and reduce the likelihood of false complaints against the police.\r\n$22.7 million for DOJ Office of Justice Program (OJP) Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. Brown led bipartisan efforts to secure funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, a program through the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) that provides funding for local and state law enforcement to acquire bulletproof vests for officers. In April, Brown led a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee asking for full funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nCensus Funding: $7.558 billion for the Census Bureau, including $6.696 billion for the decennial census.\r\n \r\n \r\nManufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program funding:Brown secured $146 million for this program, is a public-private partnership consisting of MEP centers throughout all 50 states. Brown has been a strong supporter of the MEP, which provides approximately $5 million a year to Ohio's seven MEP centers. These centers help small and medium-sized manufacturers increase sales and achieve cost-savings.\r\n \r\n \r\nSecond Chance Act grant funding:Senator Brown secured $90 million for this program enacted in 2008. The Second Chance Act has provided funding for programs that have proven to reduce recidivism, help former inmates reintegrate successfully into society, and save prison costs for states. In 2011, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Brown fought to reinstate funding for the Second Chance Act after it had been eliminated earlier in the federal appropriations process. This year, Brown applauded the Senate passage of the First Step Act, which includedprovisionsfrom Brown's 2008 Second Chance Act.\r\n \r\n \r\nViolence Against Women Act (VAWA):Brown helped secure $500 million for VAWA. This vital program saves lives and provides substantial benefits to those who are victims of abuse and children who witness instances of abuse against family members. The programs is critical for effective community responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.\r\n \r\n \r\nVAWA Transitional Housing program: Brown helped secure $36.5 million to assist domestic violence victims obtain a safe place to rebuild their lives.\r\n \r\n \r\nOffice of Justice DNA Initiative:Brown helped secure $136 million to fund the DNA initiative. This program assists states and local governments with the timely DNA processing of victims of crime and the DNA of criminal offenders. Brown introduced bipartisan legislation with Sen. Portman last year, theJustice Served Act of 2018, which would provide funds to prosecute the rape kit backlog and justice for victims of heinous crimes like sexual assault by resolving cold cases and exonerating those wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit.\r\n \r\n \r\nDOJ Community Teams to Reduce Sexual Assault Kit Backlogs:Brown helped secure $48 million that would support the creation of a coordinated community response, with a victim-based approach, to high numbers of submitted Sexual Assault Kits in the future.\r\n \r\n \r\nDOJ Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP):Brown helped to secure $35.5 million in funds that support adult and child victims secure counseling, medical and legal counseling and other forms of support for victims in underserved communities.\r\n \r\n \r\nNational Institute of Justice Human Trafficking Initiatives:Brown helped secure $37 million that would fund expanded research into human trafficking victims and perpetrators. Brown has long been an advocate on this issue and reintroduced bipartisan legislation this year to crack down on addiction-driven human trafficking. HisProtecting Rights of Those Exploited by Coercive Trafficking (PROTECT) Actwould specifically address the use of drugs to facilitate human trafficking and protect vulnerable victims of trafficking.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe John R. Justice Act prosecutor and defender loan repayment program:Brown helped secure $2 million for the creation of a student loan program for attorneys who serve as state or local criminal prosecutors or public defenders for at least 3 years. The program would help bolster the ranks of attorneys in the criminal justice system.\r\n \r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-spending-package-that-includes-key-ohio-tax-wins-secured-by-brown", "President Signs Spending Package That Includes Key Ohio Tax Wins Secured By Brown", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions to Help Individuals Experiencing Lapses in Health Insurance, Low-Income Communities, Craft Brewing Industry, Churches Negatively Impacted by Trump's Tax Bill, and More  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Late last night, the President signed into law a spending package that includes several key tax wins for Ohio that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure.\r\n\r\nBrown also said there is still more work to be done to fix the tax code in a way that puts working families first. Brown vowed to continue fighting to secure an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit, which are two of the most effective tools we have to put money in the pockets of working people and pull children out of poverty.\r\n\r\nPutting hardworking Ohio families first is my top priority, said Brown. This spending bill includes several tax wins that will help put more money in the pockets of working Americans and help our communities continue to grow. I'm glad to see these important initiatives receive broad bipartisan support.\r\n\r\nBrown continued, At the same time, families are working harder than ever but have less and less to show for it. Congress must do more to help put money back in the pockets of working families and help pull children out of poverty  and that means expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit. I will never stop fighting to expand these vital programs and set children up for future success.\r\n\r\nBrown secured tax wins for Ohioans in this year-end spending bill, including:\r\n\r\nExtension of Health Coverage Tax Credit \r\nSen. Brown worked with Sen. Portman (R-OH) to include a short-term extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) through the end of 2020. This credit helps subsidize the cost of continued coverage for retirees and other individuals who lost their health care coverage  in addition to their pensions and other benefits  when their employers either entered into bankruptcy or laid off workers due to foreign trade. Earlier this year, Portman and Brown introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend for five years the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The HCTC is critical for many hardworking Ohioans, including as many as 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees in Dayton, the Mahoning Valley, and Sandusky. In addition, a few hundred workers from the Lordstown General Motors plant have applied for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and would benefit from the HCTC as well.\r\n\r\nElimination of the Tax on Fringe Benefits for Charities, Places of Worship and Nonprofits \r\nBrown worked with Reps. James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), and Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04) to secure the inclusion of a tax fix in the Appropriations bill that would eliminate the tax on fringe benefits for charities, places of worship, and other nonprofit organizations. Last Congress, the Republican-passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 raised nearly $1.7 billion from places of worship and other nonprofits by applying the 21% unrelated business income tax to the value of certain so-called fringe benefits, such as parking and transit, provided to their employees. This tax would cost charities and places of worship tens of thousands of dollars each. Earlier this year, Brown introduced the Stop the Tax Hike on Charities and Places of Worship Act, which aimed to repeal the provision. Reps. Clyburn, Horsford, and Suozzi introduced companion legislation in the House.\r\n\r\nExpansion of New Markets Tax Credits\r\nBrown fought to secure an extension of the New Markets Tax Credit, which was set to expire at the end of this year. The one year extension includes a higher allocation for the program: $5 billion, up from $3.5 billion last year. The NMTC Program was established in 2000 with the goal of spurring revitalization by providing tax credit incentives to Community Development Entities (CDE) so they can invest in low-income communities. Under the program, CDEs apply to the U.S. Treasury Department for the authority to raise a certain amount of capital from investors. Awardees are then given a tax credit that equals a percentage of their investment output over the span of seven years. Since its inception, Ohio has seen billions of dollars in investment through the NMTC program. Brown has been a strong supporter of NMTC and helped secure a five-year extension of NMTC in December 2015.\r\n\r\nExtension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program \r\nBrown successfully secured the extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which encourages employers to hire individuals who face significant barriers to employment. The program was extended through 2021. The WOTC provides an employer tax credit of between $1,200 and $9,600 per employee for hiring and retaining individuals that are part of certain targeted groups representing populations that have a difficult time finding work, or are often out of the labor force altogether. The credit amount is based on the qualified wages paid to those employees within the targeted groups. These targeted groups include: veterans, long-term unemployed, ex-felons, the disabled, summer youth employees, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Supplemental Security Income recipients. Brown has fought to make the WOTC program permanent and will continue to fight for permanence.\r\n\r\nFunding for Black Lung Disability Trust Fund\r\nBrown secured higher funding levels for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which helps coal miners who have been deemed disabled due to black lung disease. The excise tax on coal that supports the trust fund was allowed to revert to lower levels at the beginning of 2019, which would result in lower resources in the fund over time. Brown fought to restore the excise tax to its previous level, helping to ensure that disabled coal miners have the support they need from the fund.\r\n\r\nLower Taxes on Craft Beverages\r\nBrown is a cosponsor of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019, and helped secure a one-year extension of the current tax rates on beer, wine, and distilled spirits. Without this extension, Ohio's local breweries could have seen their taxes double in January. Ohio's 298 breweries help to employ nearly 6,000 people and since the first passage of these tax rates two years ago, a majority of those breweries have hired new employees, purchased new equipment, and upgraded their facilities.\r\n\r\nIncrease in Grant Funding for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program\r\nFinally, Brown secured a $7 million increase to the VITA program. Brown secured $25 million in grant funding for FY2020, up from the $18 million previously secured. The VITA program provides support to free tax preparation sites that help individuals and families file their income tax returns. During the 2019 income tax filing season, VITA programs nationwide filed more than 1.5 million federal income tax returns, including more than 419,000 returns for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This helped Americans claim approximately $1.8 billion they'd earned over the tax year. VITA sites aren't just a lifeline for those who cannot afford a paid tax preparer  they also have a strong record for accuracy and help reduce IRS administrative costs. According to the IRS, returns claiming the EITC prepared by VITA preparers are 98 percent accurate  the best of any in the tax preparation industry. VITA sites are also more likely to file electronically, helping to save taxpayers money in the process. Brown has long fought to secure funding and support for the VITA program.\r\n\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-spending-package-that-includes-priorities-for-veterans-and-servicemembers-secured-by-brown", "President Signs Spending Package That Includes Priorities For Veterans And Servicemembers Secured By Brown", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions for Ohio Military Installations, Language to help Reduce Veteran Debt, Requirements for Trump Administration to Act on Agent Orange  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Late last night, the President signed into law a spending package that includes wins for Ohio's servicemembers and veterans that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure.\r\nThe funding that these bills provide will help the servicemembers and veterans who have dedicated their lives to our country, Brown said.These bills provide funding for the critical work being done at JSMC and Wright-Patt  who work to keep our troops safe overseas and strengthen our national security  as well as language to hold VA accountable and take action to improve the lives of veterans who have given so much for our country.\r\nThe bill includes:\r\n \r\nLima's Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) \r\n\r\n$513.8 million to continue Stryker vehicle upgrades\r\nMore than $1.74 billion for upgrades to the Abrams Tanks\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nWright-Patterson Air Force Base \r\n\r\n$1.62 billion to support critical research and development programs run out of Wright-Patt's Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)\r\n$120.9 million to support military construction of Wright-Patt's new National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC)\r\n$35.7 million to support improvements and rehabilitation efforts for Wright-Patt's historic Brick Quarters Housing District\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nVeteran Debt Fairness provisions\r\n\r\nBrown secured language in the appropriations bill that builds on his earlier work to help reduce overpayment errors by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), thereby reducing veteran debt to the Department.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nAgent Orange provisions\r\n\r\nBrown was able to secure language in the bill to require the VA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a report within 30 days outlining any delays in making a determination on adding conditions to the list of service-connected presumptive illnesses.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nLima JSMC \r\nBrown has long fought to ensure Lima's JSMC has the funding it needs to support its missions involving the Stryker vehicles and Abrams Tank.\r\nIn May, Brown toured the JSMC after leading efforts to secure investments for JSMC and fighting for its workers.\r\nIn 2018, Brown worked to secure more than $1.79 billion to protect critical manufacturing jobs at Lima's JSMC in the FY 2019 defense appropriations bill.\r\nIn March 2017, Brown met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to highlight the importance of continued funding for the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle. In May 2017, Brown wrote to his Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committee colleagues to support inclusion of the Abrams Tank and Stryker Vehicle in both the NDAA and the Defense Appropriations bill.\r\nWright-Patterson Air Force Base \r\nAFRL Funding\r\nThe bill would authorize more than $1.62 billion for research and development programs run out of the Air Force Research Lab's (AFRL) Materials, Human Effectiveness, Propulsion, Aerospace Systems, Sensors and Manufacturing Directorates at Wright-Patt. This funding is critical to addressing emerging threats and strategic challenges that our men and women in uniform face.\r\nNASIC Military Construction Funding\r\nThis bill would also appropriate $120.9 million to support military construction efforts for Wright-Patt's National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC).\r\nLast year, Brown was able to help secure more funding for NASIC construction than ever before, when the NDAA authorized $182 million for phase one and two of NASIC's expansion. The project received an appropriation authorization of $61 million for Fiscal Year 2019 to begin construction.\r\n \r\nIn 2018, Brown wrote to then-DOD Secretary Jim Mattis calling for an investment at NASIC, along with other Ohio priorities. In 2017, Brown spoke to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson about investing in construction needs at the base.\r\nPrior to that, in 2017, Brown  as co-chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus  brought his Republican caucus co-chair John Boozman (R-AR), Armed Services Committee Members Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and tour the facility. Together, Brown and Portman highlighted critical research and development work done at the base in support of the Air Force and national security.\r\nBrown also met with Sec. Mattis in 2017 to outline Ohio military priorities. During the meeting, Brown invited Mattis to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air National Guard 178th Wing in Springfield.\r\n \r\nHistoric Brick Quarters Housing District at Wright-Patt\r\nThe bill also appropriate $35.7 million to support improvements efforts for 29 of Wright-Patt's historic Brick Quarters Housing District units. This housing on the Wright-Patt campus is in need of rehabilitation to meet current safety standards and this funding will ensure the buildings are updated to best support those living in the historic homes on the base. The Brick Officer housing was built in 1930s and was designed in the Tudor Revival style.\r\nVeteran Debt Fairness provision\r\nBrown was also able to secure language in the appropriations bill that builds on his earlier work to help reduce overpayment errors by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), thereby reducing veteran debt to the Department. This legislation would require VA to submit a plan and timeline to Congress to track the cause of veteran debt. VA currently does not have a way to track individual veteran debt. The legislation also states that a delay or mistake by VA or a VA employee is considered a Department error for the purposes of tracking debt.\r\nIn March, Brown introduced the Veterans Debt Fairness Act to reduce overpayment errors and require VA to hold itself, and not veterans, accountable for its mistakes. Brown's amendment is based on his bill and represents a first step toward full implementation.\r\nAnnually, VA sends as many as 200,000 overpayment notices totaling thousands of dollars to veterans and their families, sending them into crippling debt and withholding future benefits payments until the debt is paid. These overpayments are often a result of VA's own accounting errors, but VA puts veterans and their families on the hook for repaying the debt.\r\nVA benefit overpayment notices have been steadily increasing, sometimes for a payment period dating back as far as five years. Many of these debt overpayments are at no fault of the veteran or their dependents, but rather VA accounting errors and record mismanagement. Currently, VA can send out debt repayment notices to veterans requesting the full amount due within 30 days while freezing all benefit payments until the debt is repaid.\r\nAgent Orange provision\r\nFinally, Brown was able to secure language in the appropriations bill that would require the VA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a report within 30 days outlining any delays in making a determination on adding conditions to the list of service-connected presumptive illnesses. They will also need to include the estimate of adding to the list, and the date the Secretary anticipates promulgating new regulations associated with adding to that list.\r\nBrown has been leading his colleagues in urging the President to take action on behalf of thousands of Vietnam veterans across the country living with chronic health conditions, by expanding the VA's list of medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, Bladder Cancer, Hypertension, and Hypothyroidism. Republicans rejected Brown's most recent measure.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-spending-package-with-browns-pension-healthcare-fix-for-miners", "President Signs Spending Package With Brown's Pension, Healthcare Fix For Miners", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Saturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Late last night, President Trump signed a spending package that included U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) Bipartisan American Miners Act -- which will help secure pensions and healthcare for Ohio miners and their families.\r\nBrown is an original cosponsor of Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-WV) Bipartisan American Miners Act, which would shore up the 1974 Pension Plan, which is headed for insolvency due to coal company bankruptcies and the 2008 financial crisis. The Bipartisan American Miners Act would also ensure that miners, who are at risk due to 2018 and 2019 coal company bankruptcies, will not lose their healthcare.\r\n\r\nWhat Washington doesn't understand is that Ohio coal miners gave up raises at the negotiating table because they were counting on these pensions when they retired. This important fix will ensure these workers and their families receive the full benefits they earned over a lifetime of backbreaking work, said Brown. I am grateful to the Ohio mineworkers and retirees whose tireless efforts have brought us this far, and I am committed to continuing to fight until Congress passes a comprehensive pension solution that all Ohioans deserve.\r\n\r\nBrown has led the fight to find a bipartisan solution to the overall pension crisis that faces 60,000 Ohioans, thousands of whom are retired mineworkers, as well as thousands of small businesses across the country. \r\n\r\n\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-spending-package-with-key-ohio-health-wins-secured-by-brown-into-law", "President Signs Spending Package With Key Ohio Health Wins Secured By Brown Into Law", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions to Increase Addiction Funding, Research Gun Violence and Reduce Maternal, Infant Mortality\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Late last night, President Trump signed a spending package into law that includes key health wins for Ohio that U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure, including funding to fight the addiction crisis, to help study ways to prevent gun violence and to reduce maternal and infant mortality.\r\nKeeping Ohio families safe and healthy is one of the most fundamental roles of government, said Brown. The funding that Congress passed today represents an investment in our state  from funding to fight the addiction crisis to creating jobs at the NIOSH project in Cincinnati. I'm glad to see these initiatives pass with broad bipartisan support and signed into law.\r\nSpecifically, Brown helped secure:\r\n \r\n$3.8 billion to address the ongoing addiction crisis, including: $1.5 billion to states to address the opioid epidemic and mental health; $476 million for opioid overdose surveillance and prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); $90 million to address the needs of children affected by the opioid crisis; and $100 million to help affected rural communities.\r\n \r\n \r\nFor the first time in decades, the bill includes $25 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research gun violence. In 2017, gun violence killed nearly 40,000 people in the United States.\r\n \r\n \r\n$53 million -- an increase of $3 million  for programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration and CDC for the initiative aimed at reducing the nation's alarmingly high maternal mortality rate. More women in the U.S. die from pregnancy-related complications than in any other developed nation, and the maternal mortality rate rose by 26 percent from 2000 to 2014. This funding will help support improved surveillance and help expand programs that are proven to be successful at reducing maternal mortality.\r\n \r\n \r\n$125.5 million for the Healthy Start program, a $3 million increase. Healthy Start aims to reduce the national infant mortality rate by identifying and supporting communities with infant mortality rates that are at least one and a half times the U.S. national average or increasing above the national average.Ohio is home to five Healthy Start grantees.\r\n \r\nBrown also secured provisions within the spending package to increase funding for the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program and to protect funding for the NIOSH project in Cincinnati, funding to advance the firefighter cancer registry that Brown helped create, funding for vaccinations and funding to address the public health risk posed by the dramatic increase in e-cigarette use by minors.\r\nBrown will continue leading efforts to ensure Ohioans have the resources and the investments they need to stay healthy and safe.\r\n\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/president-signs-spending-package-with-key-transportation-wins-secured-by-brown", "President Signs Spending Package With Key Transportation Wins Secured By Brown", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured a Number of Provisions to Increase Investment in Ohio's Transportation Infrastructure  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 21, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Last night, the President signed into law a spending package that includes several key wins for Ohio's transportation infrastructure that U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure.\r\nIt's time to put Americans to work across Ohio and around the country rebuilding our roads and bridges. This funding measure is a good step toward the infrastructure investment our nation needs, said Brown. Ohio is positioned to be a leader in zero-emission transportation solutions, and this bill expands work by The Ohio State University to research and test zero-emission buses.\r\nThe Ohio transportations wins include:\r\n \r\nSupplemental Highway and Public Transportation Investments:Brown helped secure $781 million of supplemental funding for eligible projects under the Surface Transportation Block Grant program, which can be used for highway repairs, local transportation improvements and alternative fuel corridors. Ohio's share of the additional $781 million will be based on current formula programs.\r\n\r\nBrown also supported the $1.15 billion for bridge replacement and rehabilitation to repair and replace deficient bridges, a portion of which will be allocated to Ohio bridges. Brown has led bipartisan efforts to secure much larger federal investments in repairing and replacing deficient bridges. Ohio has more than 6,000 bridges that need structural repairs or other updates to make them safer and reduce congestion.\r\nThe bill also includes $1 billion for investments in surface transportation infrastructure that are awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact that is commonly referred to at the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program (formerly the TIGER program). \r\nBrown also successfully urged the Committee to provide $510 million from the general fund for transit infrastructure grants, which will support efforts by Ohio transit agencies to the replace buses and vans that have reached the end of their service life.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nOSU and the Transportation Research Center (TRC): Brown secured $3 million of additional funding for the testing of low-emission and zero-emission buses. The Ohio State University (OSU) and the university-affiliated Transportation Research Center (TRC) in East Liberty operate one of just two testing centers in the nation that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will utilize to undertake the work. Brown  who serves as the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees FTA has secured funding for low and zero-emission bus testing for the past two fiscal years. Allowing OSU and TRC to conduct bus testing will speed the delivery of low-emission buses to public transportation agencies working to reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality.Brown was previously instrumental in obtaining agrant for The Ohio State Universityfor testing components of zero-emission buses.\r\n \r\n \r\nAmtrak Station Agents:In June 2018, Amtrak closed the ticket window and removed ticket agents from all of its stations that had an annual ridership of fewer than 40 passengers daily. Cincinnati's Union Terminal fell below that threshold and lost its ticket agent, leaving only maintenance staff. Brown and Portman wrote to Amtrakurging them to reverse this decision, and Brown has led legislative efforts to reverse the decision. The FY19 bill partially restored staffing at some stations, and in this year's bill, Brown helped secure language that directs Amtrak to re-staff all stations that were staffed in FY 2018 and instructing them to improve communication and collaboration with local partners and consider the unique needs of each community when making decisions related to staffing Amtrak stations.\r\n \r\n \r\nPrevented Harmful Cut to Ohio transit funding: Brownhelped leadefforts to pass the Jones-McSally amendment on the Senate floor to prevent a$1.2 billioncut to public transportation funding, and the amendment is included in the final bill. The Senate passed the Jones-McSally Amendment by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 82-11. The amendment prevents implementation of an unnecessary, across-the-board funding cut of 12% to all public transportation formula programs administered by USDOT's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Ohio transit agencies would have lost more than $24 million of funding if the cut had been implemented.\r\n \r\nBrown will continue leading efforts to ensure Ohioans have key investments in transportation and infrastructure.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402896", "Keeping Americas Promise", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "During Operation Iraqi Freedom, I had the honor to serve alongside incredible soldiers who were prepared to make huge sacrifices for the United States and our freedoms. Men and women alike were willing to take on enormous risks for our cause, some of whom were not even U.S. citizens. Nonetheless, they stood, shoulder to shoulder, alongside one another to defend our liberties. Now, as a Member of Congress, one of my top priorities is to make sure that the promises made to my fellow veterans in exchange for their sacrifices are kept. Thankfully, the recently-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) does just that.\r\nIn addition to rebuilding our military readiness and giving our troops a well-deserved pay raise, two of my priorities were included in the final bill, both of which were directly influenced by my experience in the Ohio National Guard and my work with fellow veterans.  \r\nEvery day in Iraq, I was surrounded by many Iraqi individuals who served as incredible allies willing to make tremendous sacrifices for the benefit of America. These courageous interpreters, support staff, servicemen and women never turned their back on our mission: to protect the freedoms Americans enjoy daily. Now, we must keep our promise to them - we must have their backs.\r\nI cosponsored the Afghan Allies Protection Act, H.R. 2796, to make sure we don't abandon the thousands of Afghan and Iraqi individuals who supported our mission. When I served as Battalion Commander, I saw firsthand how crucial their support was. Now, as a result of their support of American forces, they, and their families, are facing continued threats and violence from extremist groups, and they are seeking refuge in the U.S.\r\nThis legislation will provide 4,000 additional Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), available exclusively to those foreign allies facing persecution for serving U.S. military force as interpreters or other support staff. It will also work to ensure the State Department is operating efficiently to admit qualified applicants and would require the State Department to report to Congress on the obstacles to protecting Iraqi and Afghan allies, and to make suggestions for improving the program.\r\nNot only is this the right thing to do, but it is a matter of national security. Our allies must know that they can trust the United States to keep its promises and that their sacrifices will not be in vain.\r\nThat is also true for many of our female servicemembers. Every soldier is prepared to make sacrifices, but they should not be forced to needlessly sacrifice their health, and their children's health, to preventable circumstances.\r\nUnfortunately, despite record numbers of women in the Armed Forces, and nearly 2 million female veterans nationwide, very little is reported about the unique impacts of service on their health. It is no secret that the conditions of service, such as exposure and stress, take a toll on the health of all of our soldiers, but more information is needed about the specific effects it takes on issues like gynecological health, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and reduced fertility. I offered an amendment to the NDAA to ensure we have that information. In 1999, Congress authorized the Millennium Cohort Study to evaluate data on the health conditions of all members of the Armed Forces throughout their enlistments in the military. This amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report on the findings of the study relating to women's health including completed, ongoing, and future projects. The Secretary must also identify areas for improvement and courses of action to address shortcomings. Both the report and courses of action must be submitted every year for three years.\r\nFor over thirty years in the Ohio Army National Guard, I have served with incredible women, and they should not be expected to continue to sacrifice their health when the information we need is available. Even today, I am fortunate to have a Wounded Warrior serving on my Congressional staff, and her disability status is directly related to the circumstances she faced in the service while pregnant. We owe it to her, and to all women and their families to better understand the unique impact of service on their health and to find solutions that will best protect them. This legislation will create that battle plan.  \r\nI am grateful that Congress was able to put aside politics and do the right thing for those individuals who made tremendous sacrifices for our freedoms. These are commonsense promises, and we owe it to our veterans to keep them. If you would like to learn more about my amendments, the SIV program, or other efforts to improve health, contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2015, my Hilliard office at (614) 771-4968, my Lancaster office at (740) 654-2654, or my Wilmington office at (937) 283-7049.\r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402897", "Stivers Applauds Announcement of Head Start Grant", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) applauded the announcement of a nearly $1.6 million grant to the Lancaster community for Head Start programs that will provide comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.\r\nThis program is a proven success, it has already transformed the lives of millions of children nationwide and I am excited that it will now help more kids in Ohio's 15th District, said Stivers. With this funding, our kids will have the tools and resources to succeed and our community will benefit. Afterall, they are our most valuable natural resource.\r\nEarlier this year, Representative Stivers led a letter with 33 Members of Congress to the House Committee on Appropriations specifically to secure robust funding for Head Start. This spending bill includes a $550 million increase for Head Start, to make sure that every child nationwide has the opportunity to receive a strong education from the very beginning.\r\nI am committed to empowering students with the well-rounded education necessary to compete on a global scale, that is why I am proud to fight for funding for Head Start at the federal level, Stivers continued. Just last week, we passed, with bipartisan support, appropriations packages that included a $550 million increase for these programs so that we can continue to help children get a running start in life.\r\n\"Head Start children and families thank Congressman Stivers for his steadfast leadership on their behalf,\" NHSA Executive Director Yasmina Vinci said. \"Head Start continues to set the standard for quality early intervention and early learning, providing children birth-to-five and their families with comprehensive services. Thanks to champions like Congressman Stivers, more of Ohio's most vulnerable children and families will have the support of Head Start on their paths to success in school and life.\"\r\nBarbara Haxton, Executive Director of the Ohio Head Start Association also expressed appreciation for Congressman Stivers work on behalf of Head Start adding, He is our hero and staunch supporter and we value his help enormously.\r\nHead Start cuts through red tape by working directly with local community systems. Together they provide unique experiences for students and their families that will best prepare them to succeed in early education, and at every stage of life. Specifically, resources are directed to prioritize high quality, evidence-based early education for children and their families based on their specific needs and preferences.\r\nChildren enrolled in this program are more likely to graduate high school, less likely to be incarcerated or unemployed, and more likely to achieve a higher quality of life as adults.\r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://anthonygonzalez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=191", "Gonzalez legislation to combat academic espionage signed into law", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Anthony Gonzalez", "G000588", "anthonygonzalez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Congressman Anthony Gonzalez's (R-OH) legislation to combat academic espionage at institutions of higher education is set to be signed into law Friday as part of the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. Congressman Gonzalez first introduced the Securing American Science and Technology Act (SASTA) alongside Rep. Mikie Sherril (D-NJ) and Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) in May of this year. Academic espionage is a real threat we are experiencing at universities in Ohio and across the country. said Congressman Gonzalez. I am thrilled to see my legislation included in the final version of the fiscal year 2020 NDAA to secure our cutting-edge research from nations we know are actively working to steal it, like China and Russia. Ohio State strongly supports the Securing American Science and Technology Act (SASTA), and we are pleased that it is included in the final FY20 National Defense Authorization Act. We're grateful for Representative Gonzalez's leadership on this important national security initiative that will contribute to a stronger working relationship between federal agencies and higher education, said Dr. Morley Stone, Senior Vice President for Research at The Ohio State University. SASTA works to address academic espionage at U.S. colleges and universities by promoting the standardization of federal agency approaches to academic espionage while maintaining collaboration and a welcoming environment for foreign talent at our academic institutions. Universities throughout the state of Ohio are on the cutting edge of innovation and advancement, which has made their research programs a top target for nations like China, who are actively stealing intellectual property and world-renowned research and development. SASTA works to secure this ground-breaking and sometimes sensitive research by establishing an interagency working group of science, intelligence and security agencies to evaluate existing mechanisms of control for federally funded research and develop a policy framework to address the security needs of agencies and grant recipients. It also facilitates an ongoing dialogue among federal science and security agencies and academia to share best practices on protecting this important research and keeping our universities safe.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://timryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-tim-ryan-urges-major-baseball-commissioner-and-cleveland-indians", "Congressman Tim Ryan Urges Major Baseball Commissioner and Cleveland Indians Owner to Continue Affiliation with the Scrappers", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Tim Ryan", "R000577", "timryan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today urged Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred and Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan to abandon MLB's plan to end its affiliation with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and 41 other Minor League teams. Congressman Ryan had previously joined 105 of his Congressional colleagues in a letter to Manfred, underscoring the damage this move would cause to the Mahoning Valley and communities across the country where the at-risk teams are located.\nA copy of the letter was also provided to Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan.\nThe letter can be found below and here:\nDecember 20, 2019\n\nMr. Rob Manfred  \n\tOffice of the Commissioner of Baseball  \n\t1271 Avenue of the Americas  \n\tNew York, NY 10020\nDear Commissioner Manfred,\nI am writing to express my firm opposition to Major League Baseball's radical proposal to eliminate numerous Minor League Baseball clubs. In my Congressional District, it would lead to the loss of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a pillar of our community for over 20 years, providing an affordable and fun way for families to spend time together. I am deeply concerned by the news that the MLB is discussing a reorganization that would eliminate the traditional affiliation with Major League Baseball held by the Scrappers and 41 other teams. This decision should be immediately reversed. If enacted, it would undermine the health of the minor league system that undergirds talent development and encourages fan loyalty. It would particularly be felt in areas far from a major league team or where tickets to a major league game are cost-prohibitive.\nTens of millions of fans attend Minor League Baseball games each season. These professional baseball clubs are vital components of our communities because they provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment to members of our communities, support scores of allied businesses, employ thousands of individuals, donate millions of dollars in charitable funds, and connect our communities to Major League Baseball. A number of these Minor League clubs operate at a loss but continue to persist due to strong fan support and club ownerships' commitment to their communities and America's Pastime.\nThe abandonment of Minor League clubs by Major League Baseball would devastate our communities, their bond purchasers, and other stakeholders affected by the potential loss of these clubs. We want you to fully understand the impact this could have not only on the communities we represent, but also on the long-term support that Congress has always afforded our national pastime on a wide variety of legislative initiatives. For over a century, Congress has taken numerous actions specifically designed to protect, preserve, and sustain a system and structure for both Major and Minor League Baseball to flourish.\nThe Scrappers allow our community to see future-major league all-stars up close, including Scrapper alumni Francisco Lindor, Victor Martinez, Jose Ramirez, and CC Sabathia. The owners of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are committed to the team and to the Mahoning Valley. They continue to make investments in what is already a great facility, recently replacing the entire playing surface and building an addition to the clubhouse with a weight room and area for the players at a cost of almost $600,000.\nIt is my hope that Major League Baseball continues to provide needed support to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in keeping the great American pastime in our community. As a member of Congress who recognizes the tremendous value of the Minor League system, I ask Major League Baseball to strongly reconsider this decision and do all that it can to ensure the continuation of affiliated baseball in the Mahoning Valley and in communities across the country.\nSincerely,\nTim Ryan  \n\tMember of Congress\nCC: Paul Dolan, Cleveland Indians  \n\t   Jordan Taylor, Mahoning Valley Scrappers", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-blumenthal-urge-consumer-product-safety-commission-to-address-child-risk-and-safety-concerns-of-high-powered-magnets", "Brown, Blumenthal Urge Consumer Product Safety Commission To Address Child Risk And Safety Concerns Of High-Powered Magnets", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following Increase in Child Injuries Caused by Ingesting High-powered Magnets, Senators Urging Consumer Safety Commission to Strengthen and Prioritize Protections for Children \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 20, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to address child risk and safety concerns of high-powered magnets, ahead of the holidays. In a letter to CPSC, the Senators pushed the CPSC to strengthen and prioritize protections for children, after an increase in reports of child injuries resulting from the ingestion of high-power magnets. The Senators are specifically requesting CPSC take measures to address health and safety concerns of high-powered magnet sets, after a Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling vacated the CPSC's rule to remove high-powered magnet sets from the market, and remanded it to the CPSC to pursue further proceedings consistent with accurate and representative data requirements.\r\nIn 2014, a 19-month-old from Columbus, Ohio was misdiagnosed with a virus after ingesting multiple magnets and passed away the following day.\r\nThe CPSC's initial intent was to ban high-powered magnet sets, as they present a significant threat to the safety of children. However, since these products have been reintroduced to the market, to our knowledge, the CPSC has not revisited its efforts to restrict these products despite receiving countless correspondences from reputable pediatric professionals, advocates, and organizations, expressing concern regarding the dangers these products continue to present to children. Given the rise in pediatric emergencies involving high-powered magnet ingestions, the emotional and financial burdens placed on children and their families, and the expert opinion of members within the pediatric field, it is past time to take action on this matter, the Senators wrote.\r\nAccording to the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, ingestion of high-powered magnets is more likely to cause injury to a child than ingestion of most other consumer products. While most ingestion cases result in children receiving an x-ray and letting the object pass naturally, high-powered magnet ingestions may result in additional x-rays, surgery consultations, transfers to pediatric hospitals, and multiple invasive surgeries, resulting in an increased financial and emotional burden to the patient and their family.\r\nThe Senators also urged CPSC to provide an update on its current strategies to strengthen and prioritize protections for children, revisit a ban on these dangerous products, and engage in rulemaking as quickly as possible to ensure the strongest consumer protections possible to protect future children from the dangers associated with this product. And lastly, the Senators urged CPSC to work with Congress to provide guidance on legislative text that would enhance protections.\r\nA copy of Brown's letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, can be found here and below.\r\nDear Acting Chair Adler:\r\nPediatric experts and advocates have reported a substantial increase in the number of child and adolescent injuries since the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) safety standard for round, high-powered magnets. We urge the CPSC to provide our offices and relevant stakeholders with an update on data collection and other monitoring efforts the CPSC has engaged on since the safety standard was vacated, plans for future rulemaking related to this product, and whether the Commission believes additional statutory authority is necessary for the Commission to fully address the critical product safety hazard.\r\nAs you are aware, in September 2014, CPSC issued a safety standard for high-powered magnet sets that pose serious, and potentially deadly, risks to children. This safety standard restricted the sale of high-powered magnet sets. According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, magnet ingestions after the 2014 CPSC ban decreased by nearly 80 percent. However, in November 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated the CPSC's rule on high-powered magnet sets and remanded it to the CPSC to pursue further proceedings consistent with accurate and representative data requirements.\r\nSince the CPSC's rule was vacated and these products reintroduced to the market, medical data suggests an uptick in the number of related injuries. For example, the National Poison Data System (NPDS) indicates that in 2017 about 300 cases of severe magnet ingestions were reported each year. However, after 2017, the same year CPSC lifted the ban on high-powered magnets, the total number of cases reported increased to approximately 1,600, an increase of 490 percent. The data also shows the number of related hospitalizations reported increased by 420 percent, and that the population most affected by this increase are between the ages of 6 years and 12 years. Children who ingest high-powered magnets can suffer from morbid conditions including respiratory depression and hypotension.\r\nSeveral medical organizations  including the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition  have expressed grave concern about the hazards presented to children by these magnets and have recommended these magnets be banned from the market again. In August 2019, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) published an article warning about the number of magnet-related injuries that required medical intervention, citing 54 magnets that required medically necessary removal from pediatric patients in just over a month.\r\nAccording to members from the pediatric gastroenterology community, ingestion of high-powered magnets is more likely to cause injury to a child than ingestion of most other consumer products. While most ingestion cases result in children receiving an x-ray and letting the object pass naturally, high-powered magnet ingestions may result in additional x-rays, surgery consultations, transfers to pediatric hospitals, and multiple invasive surgeries, resulting in an increased financial and emotional burden to the patient and their family. In 2014, a 19-month-old from Columbus, Ohio was misdiagnosed with a virus after ingesting multiple magnets and passed away the following day.\r\nThe CPSC's initial intent was to ban high-powered magnet sets, as they present a significant threat to the safety of children. However, since these products have been reintroduced to the market, to our knowledge, the CPSC has not revisited its efforts to restrict these products despite receiving countless correspondences from reputable pediatric professionals, advocates, and organizations, expressing concern regarding the dangers these products continue to present to children. Given the rise in pediatric emergencies involving high-powered magnet ingestions, the emotional and financial burdens placed on children and their families, and the expert opinion of members within the pediatric field, it is past time to take action on this matter.\r\nTherefore, we request that you provide us with an update on the actions CPSC has taken to address the health and safety risks presented by high-powered magnet sets after the Tenth Circuit ruling. We also urge the CPSC to provide an update on its current strategies to strengthen and prioritize protections for children, revisit a ban on these dangerous products, and engage in rulemaking as quickly as possible to ensure the strongest consumer protections possible to protect future children from the dangers associated with this product. Finally, if the Commission believes it lacks appropriate statutory authority to address this serious hazard, we request guidance on legislative language that would provide such authority.\r\nThank you for your prompt consideration on this critical issue. We look forward to receiving your written response.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/social-security-administration-heeds-casey-brown-request-puts-end-to-proposal-that-sought-to-monitor-americans-social-media-accounts", "Social Security Administration Heeds Casey, Brown Request, Puts End To Proposal That Sought To Monitor Americans' Social Media Accounts", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Wrote Letter Earlier This Year, Following NY Times Story on White House Proposal to Monitor Social Media Activities of Americans who Claim Disability Benefits\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 20, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  This week, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that the Trump Administration heeded their request and put an end to their invasive and controversial proposal that sought to monitor and follow the social media accounts of Americans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.\r\nThe proposal to monitor people with disabilities through social media is a horrible precedent, Senator Casey said. I am pleased that the Social Security Administration ended consideration of this proposal, and I will continue my work to advocate for the disability community. People with disabilities deserve to enjoy life without fear of losing their SSDI benefits.\r\nPeople with disabilities should be able to experience the joys of life without fear of losing their SSDI benefits because of moments they post on social media, said Senator Brown. I'm glad the Trump administration listened to Senator Casey's and my concerns and put a stop to this invasive proposal.\r\nIn March, following a New York Times report that outlined this proposal, the Senators penned a letter to raise several questions about the proposal related to the privacy of American citizens, the already limited resources available to Social Security Administration (SSA) workers, and plans to increase the scope of the social media monitoring program.\r\nIn April, following a vague explanation from the Trump Administration regarding this proposal, the Senators continued pushing for answers and greater transparency.\r\nThis week, the SSA wrote to Sens. Casey and Brown saying it did not plan to pursue the policy after all.\r\n###\r\n\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-applaud-senate-passage-fallen-warrior-battlefield-cross", "Portman, Brown Applaud Senate Passage of Fallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Brown Applaud Senate Passage of Fallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 20, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the Senate passage of theFallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act, legislation that allows fallen heroes to be honored at their gravesite with a replica of the Battlefield Cross. The Battlefield Cross is a memorial marker typically consisting of a soldier's helmet, rifle, identification tag, and pair of boots that serves to honor and respect servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.Representative Anthony Gonzalez' (R-OH) companion legislation passed the House of Representatives in November. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nThe Battlefield Cross is an important symbol of the service and sacrifice of thousands of fallen American heroes both in combat zones and here at home, said Portman. I am pleased the Senate passed this legislation to help ensure that veterans buried in Ohio and around the country can be properly honored with the Battlefield Cross. These memorials stand as a constant reminder of the cost of our freedom and I urge the president to sign this legislation quickly.\nThe Battlefield Cross is a sacred tradition of American servicemembers, and government bureaucracy shouldn't keep Ohio veterans and their families from honoring those who served with this powerful symbol, said Brown. Let's ensure that this tribute can continue at all national veterans' cemeteries.\nNOTE:The legislation responds to a 2017incidentat Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery (OWRNC) in Rittman, Ohio, where OWRNC administrators infuriated veterans by removing a Battlefield Cross replica from the cemetery. The replica wasreplacedsoon after Portman and former Congressman Jim, Renacci's (R-OH) office got involved. The measure is supported by the entire Ohio congressional delegation. Text of the bill can be found here. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-floor-portman-highlights-senate-passage-his-combating-meth-cocaine", "On Senate Floor, Portman Highlights Senate Passage of His Combating Meth & Cocaine Act", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Senate Floor, Portman Highlights Senate Passage of His Combating Meth & Cocaine Act\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) delivered remarks on the Senate floor praising passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes his Combating Meth & Cocaine Act. This legislation will give state and local governments greater flexibility with federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of meth and cocaine affecting our communities. Specifically, the bill expands the use of the State Opioid Response Grant funding to address rising use and overdose deaths attributed to the abuse of methamphetamine and cocaine.Progress is being made in Ohio and nationwide in reducing overdose death rates due in part to some of his legislative priorities like his Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA), the 21st Century CURES Act, and the STOP Act, but overdose death rates for certain drugs like fentanyl, psychostimulants like methamphetamine, and cocaine have all continued to rise. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for his signature.\nTranscript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here.\nI'd also liketo talk for a moment about the legislation we just passed on the appropriations side. There were two bills, one focused more on the national security defense side -- a lot of good things in there forOhio, including for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and also for the Lima Tank Plant. Also, much more importantly, it's good for our military, our men and women in uniform who are on the front lines every day sacrificing for us. We have shown through this legislation we just passed that we appreciate them, not only a pay raise but also providing them the equipment and the modern technology they need to be able to be successful. But I also notice in the agreement that just passed, the first appropriations bills, that there's really important language with regard to the drug crisis that we face in this country. \nI see my colleague, Sheldon Whitehouse is on the floor. I have worked with him over the years on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Now we have a CARA 2.0 bill we'd like to see passed. But the bottom line is that this House and Senate and the presidents -- Obama and now President Trump -- have begun to address this problem different ways over the last three or four years. And it's beginning to work. We're finally beginning to see, with regard to the opioid crisis, some success. And recall, the opioid crisis is the worst drug epidemic we've ever faced in this country. In 2017, 72,000 Americans lost their lives to overdoses. That's more than we lost in the entire Vietnam War. Last year we had a little better number. After 12 years of increases every year in overdose deaths, finally, last year, we had a slight decrease, and I think it's because of a lot of the good work that's been done here, particularly with regard to the opioid crisis. \nInOhio, unfortunately, we have been at the center of the storm. We've been one of the top two or three states in the country in terms of overdose deaths. Last year, in 2018, because of all the hard work we've been doing, here at the federal level, at the state level, at the local level, we actually saw a decrease. We led the country with a 22 percent decrease in overdose deaths. So that's the good news. And it's because of the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act that's bipartisan, that's working to provide more treatment and recovery services, provide better prevention, provide more Narcan to reverse the effects of overdoses. \nIt's also because of the 21st Century CURES Act which provides funding for evidence-based programs for the states, and the states decide how it is spent. I was back home just this past week meeting with people who are getting the benefit of those programs. On Monday, I was at a home in Dayton,Ohiothat provides residential treatment for women who are addicted and pregnant and helps their children be able to overcome the neonatal abstinence syndrome when they're born to a mother who is using. It's beginning to work. I met two mothers who have turned their lives around, and I saw a beautiful baby who at five weeks old is going into the world brighter and cheerier with more opportunity because of the work we've done here to provide funding to help. \nBut I will say we have found, having made progress on opioids, that other drugs are starting to come into our communities. This is not just an opioid problem. This is an addiction problem. And addiction is a disease that must be treated like other diseases. And although we have made progress, we can't rest on our laurels, because when I talk to those on the front lines, as I did on Monday in Dayton with law enforcement  the sheriff was there for Montgomery County  but also to treatment providers, those who are in the trenches, talking to those who are recovering addicts who were there, they tell me about what's happening, which is that increasingly other drugs, including psychostimulants like crystal meth and cocaine, are making a horrible comeback in those communities. \nCrystal meth coming in from Mexico is more pure and less expensive than ever. In fact, law enforcement tells me that on the streets of Columbus or Dayton, Cleveland, Cincinnati, that crystal meth is sometimes less expensive than marijuana and yet much more powerful and much more dangerous. So it is important that here in Congress we focus on how to respond to that. And although, again, we've got some great legislation out there with regard to opioid addiction, treatment, recovery, how to deal with this, we have not done as well with regard to these new drugs coming in. Part of the solution, of course, is to build up our security on our southern border where we've seen larger and larger quantities of crystal meth, manufactured in Mexico, being brought into our country by these cartels from super-labs, as they call them in Mexico. \nBy the way, there were crystal meth labs over the years, but the volume was not nearly as high and the cost was much higher. Now that it's cheaper and there's higher volume, you see the meth labs in our communities closing down but for the wrong reason. It is not being made here anymore because the stuff coming from Mexico is so much more pure, more powerful, more deadly, and less expensive. So for the people already struggling with methamphetamine or cocaine addiction, it is important that they have access to treatment, too -- that they can get help. And what I've heard at the local level is, We appreciate the funding on opioids, but we want more flexibility now to be able to use this funding to combat what is in many of our communities inOhioeven a bigger problem, which is crystal meth, and sometimes cocaine.' \nSo I'm pleased to say that in the legislation we just passed here this evening, legislation that provides appropriations to deal with this addiction issue, we have provided that flexibility. We have said, Yes, we're going to continue to provide grants to help with regard to prevention and treatment and recovery and help with regard to getting people back on their feet and helping law enforcement, but we're going to allow local communities to use this funding both for opioids and for crystal meth and other drugs.' So my hope is that what we will see is some of the same progress we made on opioids now happen with regard to some of these other substances. \nI've introduced a bill called the Combating Meth and Cocaine Act, introduced it in June of this year to allow this kind of flexibility. That's an authorization bill that's already been introduced and we've got good, bipartisan support for that. But we went ahead today in the appropriations bill and did it for this year. So for this fiscal year, essentially that legislation will be in effect. So for 2020, we're going to provide that flexibility. \nI applaud the House and Senate appropriators for doing that. And again, I'm proud of Congress for showing that we can be flexible and continue to fight a many-front war on this addiction issue. It is not just about opioids. It is about addiction. We also need to pass, though, the authorization bill, the Combating Meth and Cocaine Act. And I hope we will be able to do that after the first of the year to ensure that we can continue to address these public health threats and we can continue to provide for those whose future is so dim because of the addiction and instead that they be able toachieve their God-given purpose in life.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-floor-portman-highlights-usmca-victory-american-people", "On Senate Floor, Portman Highlights USMCA as Victory for the American People", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Senate Floor, Portman Highlights USMCA as Victory for the American People\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) highlighted the economic benefits of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement, which will strengthen our economy and support American workers, farmers, and manufacturers. Portman supports the more modern USMCA to the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in part because it includes new and enforceable environmental and labor standards, a new section on digital trade, expanded opportunities for agricultural trade, and new opportunities for auto jobs in America. Portman applauded the bipartisan passage of USMCA in the House of Representatives and called the agreement a win for the American people.\nI'm here on the floor again for the third time in three weeks to talk about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, USMCA. Just a few moments ago, this trade agreement passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 385-41. That's extraordinary, Portman said. There are a lot of folks I hear talking who say one side won or one side lost in the negotiations over USMCA. I don't think that's it. I think because of the hard work of U.S. Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer and the Trump administration and President Trump himself supporting this and pushing it, I think neither side won, but the American people won. And isn't that nice to see. \nA transcript of his remarks is below and a video can be found here:\nI'm here on the floor again for the third time in three weeks to talk about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, USMCA. Just a few moments ago, this trade agreement passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 385-41. That's extraordinary. Trade agreements sometimes tend to be pretty controversial, and more recently in our history, pretty partisan. In this case, Republicans and Democrats alike helped negotiate a good agreement, and Republicans and Democrats alike supported it. Let's now get that agreement over here. Let's not wait. The people in Ohio and all around this country who are going to benefit from it need those benefits now, so I'm very pleased that the president and his Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer patiently negotiated with Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats and were able to get something done, and now that it's close to becoming the law of the land, all it needs is a vote over here in the Senate and the president will sign it into law. \nThanks to important measures designed to strengthen our economy, create more jobs, and increase market access, this new agreement, the USMCA, actually helps level the playing field between the United States and Canada and Mexico. First of all, it's going to result in more jobs. The independent International Trade Commission has said, over 170,000 new jobs. That's a mid-range. It could be a lot more than that. But they've also said that these are good-paying jobs  jobs in trade tend to pay about 15 percent higher on average, they have better benefits. So this is a bunch of good jobs. By the way, they estimate at least 20,000 jobs in the auto industry will come to the United States that would not have come otherwise. And I come from Ohio, a big auto state. It's a state that cares a lot about manufacturing and specifically autos, and they're both going to be helped by this agreement. \nPart of the way it's going to create jobs here is by leveling the playing field on labor standards and enforcing those standards. Also it has higher content requirements for U.S.-made steel, and for auto parts that go into an automobile. As an example, USMCA requires that 70 percent of the steel going into cars comes from North America. There's no provision like that in the status quo, in the NAFTA agreement. So this is a big improvement for us to drive more jobs here in America with regard to the steel production that goes into automobiles. But, second, it says that 75 percent of the overall content in USMCA automobiles that are sold through this agreement have to be from North America. That's a big jump. In the current agreement, instead of 75 percent, NAFTA has 62.5 percent. \nWhat does that mean? It means that if you make a car, say, in Mexico, and it has a bunch of parts that come from other countries -- say, Japan, or China, or Germany -- they can't take advantage of the USMCA lower tariffs unless they have at least 75 percent North American content. So, that's a big difference. Now, there are some, including on my side of the aisle, that have criticized this provision and said that somehow this is a protectionist provision. Let me just make this point -- we are agreeing with Canada and Mexico that we're going to have a new agreement with them that lowers barriers  tariff and non-tariff barriers  on our borders with Canada and Mexico. We're taking advantage of that, each other, trading back and forth. That's why we'll have more trade, more jobs. If other countries want to take advantage of that by coming into Mexico or Canada and adding parts to the cars, they're free riders because they're not giving us the reciprocal access to their markets, as Canada and Mexico are. That's why I think this agreement makes sense.\nNow, I think it'll incentivize two things. One, it'll incentivize more jobs here, auto jobs, manufacturing jobs, steel jobs. But second, it will incentivize those other countries to enter into a trade agreement with us. We've talked about this with Japan, we've taken the first step in starting to put together what is considered a broader free trade agreement. I hope we get to one  it would be important. But if they can simply free ride on existing agreements, by having their stuff be transshipped from another country into the United States to take advantage of the lower tariffs that we're providing to Canada and Mexico, they wouldn't have that incentive to trade with us, with their own agreement. \nSo I think this is a good thing for encouraging more trade agreements and more trade openness. The International Trade Commission also tells us that the USMCA is going to grow our economy. In fact, they say it's going to grow our economy by double the gross domestic product of that that was projected under the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Some may remember that agreement, the TPP, many of my colleagues, particularly on the other side of the aisle, held that agreement up as one that would have been great for America and that we should be part of it. I think it is important that we trade with our neighbors in Latin America and in the Pacific Rim, but frankly that agreement that was touted as being so great had less than half of the economic growth that we're talking about here. So this is more than double the economic growth we saw in the TPP. \nSecond, the USMCA means new rules of the road for online sales. This is really important. So much of our economy today and our commerce takes place online. And yet there's nothing in NAFTA on it. You think about it  25 years ago there was no significant online commerce, and so there's nothing in the agreement. Whereas in this agreement there are a few things that are very important, and for my state of Ohio and really our entire country, a lot of our commerce is done online now. We have a lot of small businesses engaged in it. They want to do business with Mexico and Canada, but they have no protections. No protection from tariffs that can be assessed on that trade. This says no tariffs. \nAlso, data localization is something some countries are doing to American online companies. So if you're an online commerce in America, another country may say, You know what? You can do business in our country only if you localize your data. Meaning the servers have to be in our country, in Mexico or Canada, for example.' This agreement says No.' It prohibits that data localization requirement, which allows us, again, to sell more to those countries without having to place our servers there. It also says that the de minimis level on customs duties for sales online is increased. This saves money because people can now be involved in commerce with Canada and Mexico and not pay as much in terms of the customs duties and tariffs. But also just an incredible administrative burden being lifted, not having to worry about that. So this is good for us, because we do a lot of online commerce here. \nAnd third, I would say that American farmers are strongly behind this agreement for a good reason, which is that it opens up more markets for them, and adds more certainty for them. Again, the NAFTA accord is 25 years old. And we had hoped during the last 25 years we would get at some of the protectionist policies, particularly with regard to Canada and dairy and with regard to wheat, other issues but we didn't have much success until now. Now with the USMCA we've got the ability to send more of our stuff to these countries, and that's why the ag community is so excited about it. Between bad weather, low prices, a shrinking China market, our farmers have been hit hard, and this is a light at the end of the tunnel. That's why, by the way, over 1,000 farm groups have come out in support of USMCA. \nThere are a lot of folks I hear talking who say one side won or one side lost in the negotiations over USMCA. I don't think that's it. I think because of the hard work of U.S. Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer and the Trump administration and President Trump himself supporting this and pushing it, I think neither side won, but the American people won. And isn't that nice to see? I think that's why you saw today on the floor of the House of Representatives a vote of 385-41. I think now more people are going to be able to benefit from trade with these two countries. \nFor Ohio, Canada is by far our largest trading partner. Mexico is number two. So this is a big deal. More modernized trade that will replace an agreement that's shown its age with unenforceable labor standards and environmental standards, nonexistent digital economy provisions, outdated rules of origin provisions -- this changes all of that. We've waited long enough. It's time, now that the House has voted this evening -- which was great news -- to get that legislation over here to ensure that we do have a great victory for American farmers, for small businesses, for our manufacturers, for our online businesses, and so many others. I look forward to the opportunity, Mr. President, to be able to vote for it over here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-portman-bill-improve-federal-procurement-save-taxpayer", "Senate Passes Portman Bill to Improve Federal Procurement, Save Taxpayer Dollars", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Portman Bill to Improve Federal Procurement, Save Taxpayer Dollars\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 20, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the Senate passage of his bipartisan Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act, which prohibits the use of reverse auctions to ensure federal construction projects are done in the most cost-effective manner. Portman issued the following statement:\nThe federal governmentneeds to work better for the American people and my bipartisan Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement is a big step in that direction. This legislationwill make sure that federally-funded construction projects are competitive both for cost and quality. American taxpayers deserve a streamlined, less costly and more accountable federal government and passage of this bill will help to ensure that. I urge the House to pass this common-sense legislation quickly.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/robs-rundown/robs-rundown-week-december-16-december-20-2019", "Robs Rundown: Week of December 16  December 20, 2019", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rob's Rundown: Week of December 16  December 20, 2019\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 20, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Rob's Rundown\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  This week,Senator Portman secured a number of key wins for Ohio and the country in the final FY 2020 funding measure as well as the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. These legislative accomplishments support economic growth, job creation, and greater retirement security, support Ohio's military installations, bolster efforts to protect our environment, including our Great Lakes, combat the addiction epidemic, make health care more affordable and accessible, and increase cybersecurity. The president signed into law both the final FY 2020 funding measure as well as the FY 2020 NDAA conference report on Friday, and Portman has several other bills now waiting for the president's signature as well.\nIn addition, Senator Portman delivered remarks on the Senate floor highlighting the economic benefits of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement, which will strengthen our economy and support American workers, farmers, and manufacturers. Portman supports the USMCA because it will create new jobs, expand opportunities for agricultural trade, encourage new opportunities for auto jobs in America, and add a new section on digital trade to make online sales easier. Portman has actively called for Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to bring USMCA to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives and he released a statement earlier this week after a deal was reached to bring USMCA to a vote in the House.\nAlso, Portman delivered remarks on the Senate floor praising passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes his Combating Meth & Cocaine Act. This legislation will give state and local governments greater flexibility with federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of meth and cocaine affecting our communities. Specifically, the bill expands the use of the State Opioid Response Grant funding to address rising use and overdose deaths attributed to the abuse of methamphetamine and cocaine.\nFinally, in Dayton on Monday, Portman visited Promise to Hope Maternal Recovery Housinga program that provides medication-assisted treatment for the moms, and withdrawal treatment for infants to improve health outcomes for newborns exposed to opiate drugs during the fetal period. Following a discussion with Housing leadership, Montgomery County ADAMHS leadership, and residents, Portman toured Promise to Hope. \nFor a more detailed look at Senator Portman's week, please see the following:\nMonday, December 16, 2019\nPortman, Casey Introduce SENIOR CARE Act to Ensure Working Seniors with Disabilities Keep Medicaid Coverage\nSenators Rob Portman and Bob Casey introduced the bipartisan Supporting And Empowering the Nation to Improve Outcomes That Reaffirm Careers, Activities, and Recreation for the Elderly (SENIOR CARE) Act to lift the Ticket To Work Program's Medicaid age restriction and to allow for seniors over the age of 65 to continue to work and keep their Medicaid coverage. Representatives Steve Stivers (R-OH) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. \nThe Ticket To Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 brought in new opportunities to increase workforce participation, including the ability for people with disabilities to maintain their Medicaid coverage when they accept higher-paying jobs and exceed Medicaid's income eligibility limits. As the largest payer in the nation for long-term services and support, Medicaid remains a vital program for supporting daily living needs for people with disabilities. Over the past two decades, the program has allowed people with disabilities to independent and successful participants in the workforce by allowing them to continue to receive through Medicaid daily long-term care services that most employer-sponsored insurance plans do not typically cover. The 1999 law, however, capped the participation age at 65, thus preventing people with disabilities to continue to work past age 65 and retain the Medicaid coverage.The SENIOR CARE Act would remove the age limit and ensure an individual's ability to personally decide when they would like to retire, as opposed to being forced into retirement just to keep their Medicaid coverage.\nI believe that every disabled American over age 65 should have the opportunity to work and maintain Medicaid coverage, Portman said.The Ticket To Work program's arbitrary age limit at 65 forces working disabled seniors to make an impossible choice between maintaining their independence and livelihood or their Medicaid coverage.This is unacceptable and that's why I'm proud to work with Senator Casey to introduce this important legislation to remove this unnecessary and obsolete barrier to working seniors with disabilities.\nIn Dayton, Portman Visits Promise to Hope Maternal Recovery Housing\nPortman visited Promise to Hope Maternal Recovery Housinga program that provides medication-assisted treatment for the moms, and withdrawal treatment for infants to improve health outcomes for newborns exposed to opiate drugs during the fetal period. Following a discussion with Housing leadership, Montgomery County ADAMHS leadership, and residents, Portman toured Promise to Hope. In partnership with the Miami Valley Hospital and Montgomery County ADAMHS, Promise to Hope has received more than $75,000 in federal grant funding from the 21st Century CURES Act and subsequent State Opioid Response Grant (SOR) program, legislation Portman championed.\nI had a great visit today seeing how 21st Century CURES Act dollars are helping to fund Hope Maternal Recovery Housing. In addition, I had a productive meeting with Housing leadership, Montgomery County ADAMHS leadership, and residents, said Portman. The Housing leadership is making fantastic use of the grant money they were awarded, and they provide a wonderful example of how community leaders are working together to find innovative ways to address this crisis in meaningful ways. I will continue to work with local communities across Ohio to help ensure they have the support and funding they need to continue their good work.\nWidespread Praise for Portman's Bipartisan Eviction Crisis Act\nNational and Ohio based housing, civil rights, and homelessness groups have announced their strong support for Senator Portman's new bipartisan legislation, theEviction Crisis Act, to address the national housing crisis that is undermining the efforts of millions of Americans to rise into the middle class. The bipartisan legislation will shed light on the root causes of the eviction crisis, reduce preventable evictions, and limit the devastation to families when eviction is unavoidable. Here's what they are saying about Portman's bipartisan evictions legislation.\nFinal FY 2020 Funding Measure Includes Portman's Combating Meth & Cocaine Act\nPortman announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes his Combating Meth & Cocaine Act, legislation that will give states more flexibility to use federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of psychostimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine.Specifically, the bill expands the use of the State Opioid Response Grant funding to address rising use and overdose deaths attributed to the abuse of methamphetamine and cocaine.\nWhen I talk to law enforcement, treatment providers and others on the frontlines of the drug crisis, I am increasingly hearing about the resurgence of methamphetamine and cocaine overdoses across Ohio, said Portman. I'm pleased that Congress has provided significant flexibility to support the efforts of states and local communities. Unfortunately, the State Opioid Response Grants cannot be used to combat the drug crisis beyond opioids. This legislation gives states more flexibility to use this funding to address the resurgence of methamphetamine and cocaine, which will better address the on-the-ground reality of addiction in my state and many others.\nPortman Praises Inclusion of SECURE Act in FY 2020 Funding Bill\nPortman announced the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act legislation that Portman has championed  is included in the year-end, FY 2020 bipartisan funding bill.TheSECURE Actincludes a set of reforms designed to help more Americans save for their retirement, including a number of incentives designed to encourage small businesses to offer retirement plans to their workers as well as an increase in the age for required minimum distributions from 70 and a half to 72. TheSECURE Actalso includes Portman'sRetirement Security Preservation Act,which would reform pension nondiscrimination laws to prevent more than 400,000 Americans from having their pensions frozen through no fault of their own.Several components of Portman's bipartisanRetirement Security & Savings Act,which he introduced with Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), are also included in theSECURE Act. Portman issued the following statement:\nIncluding the SECURE Act in the FY 2020 funding bill is a big victory that will help ensure that all hard-working Americans have a chance to build a nest egg for their retirement. Many of the provisions in the SECURE Act have been under consideration by the Senate for multiple years and multiple sessions of Congress, dating all the way back to the Senate Finance Committee markup in 2016. I'm particularly pleased that this legislation includes legislation I've introduced to help protect the retirement security of hundreds of thousands of dedicated older Americans who are at risk of losing future retirement benefits this year. It also includes two provisions I've championed to help expand access to 401(k)s and allow individuals choosing to work later in life to keep saving for retirement. I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law quickly to strengthen the retirement security of the American people.\nThere is still more that we can do to help more Americans save for their retirement.I believe that passage of the SECURE Act can help pave the way for bolder reforms in legislation I have introduced with Senator Cardin called the Retirement Security and Savings Act. I believe the Senate Finance Committee should hold hearings and a markup on this legislation, and I will work closely with Senator Cardin to move it forward.\nPortman Announces Final FY 2020 Funding Bill Includes Funding for Cleanup and Redevelopment of Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant\nPortman announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill released includes $367 million for the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio as well as $51 million for the onsite disposal cell, which is $10 million above FY 2019 enacted levels.This funding is needed to maintain current employment levels and continue the decontamination and decommissioning work at the Portsmouth site, which is critical for redevelopment, jobs, and economic development in the region. The site is now fully funded through appropriations after the Department of Energy suspended its barter program in FY 2019, which provides more funding certainty for the site. \nThe final FY 2020 funding bill also includes $40 million as part of a three-year demonstration project to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). HALEU canbe the fuel source for advanced nuclear reactors, technology that can be used to improve our nation's energy security. A domestic enrichment capability is also needed for national security purposes. Portman issued the following statement:\nThe cleanup and redevelopment of this plantis critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of Southern Ohio, and this funding is another milestone in the effort to get the site cleaned up and ready for redevelopment. I'm committed to ensuring there are sufficient resources for the cleanup work at Portsmouth now and in the future. I am also pleased that the final bill includes funding for the centrifuge demonstration project, which this administration supports and agrees is necessary for our national security. I will continue to work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure this site gets cleaned up and ready for redevelopment.\nTuesday, December 17, 2019\nPortman, Bipartisan Colleagues Announce Bill to Boost Great Lakes Fishery Research Funding Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill \nSenators Portman, Gary Peters, Debbie Stabenow and Tammy Duckworth announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill will include their bipartisan legislation to authorize Great Lakes fishery funding and help support effective fishery management decisions. TheGreat Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act willenable the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to continue to conduct research to help support the over $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industries. It also will authorize the Great Lakes Science Center, which helps sustain Great Lakes fisheries and reduce threats such as invasive species and harmful algal blooms. Despite holding one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water, the Great Lakes science program does not receive the same level of funding authorization as science centers on the country's saltwater coasts, and this legislation will help decrease the resource gap between the Great Lakes Science Center and other fishery research centers across the nation.\nThe Great Lakes are an invaluable resource to Ohio, critically important to both our environment and our economy, said Senator Portman, co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. By authorizing the USGS's Great Lakes Science Center for the first time, we are prioritizing the research on fish populations and invasive species used by the Great Lakes states as well as Canada to support the health and growth of our $7 billion fishing industry. The inclusion of this bill in the final FY 2020 bipartisan funding agreement will ensure we have the resources to help protect the Great Lakes for generations to come.\nPortman, Brown Announce Final FY 2020 Funding Bill Includes Extension of Health Coverage Tax Credit\nSenators Portman and Brown announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill released includes a short-term extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit through the end of 2020. This credit helps subsidize the cost of continued coverage for retirees and other individuals who lost their health care coverage  in addition to their pensions and other benefits  when their employers either entered into bankruptcy or laid off workers due to foreign trade. Earlier this year, Portman and Brown introduced bipartisan legislation that would extendfor five yearsthe Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The HCTC is critically important for many hardworking Ohioans, including as many as 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees in Dayton, the Mahoning Valley, and Sandusky. In addition, a few hundred workers from the Lordstown General Motors plant have applied for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and would benefit from the HCTC as well. \nThousands of retirees in Ohio and their families depend on the Health Coverage Tax Credit, and I'm pleased the funding bill includes an extension of this credit, even if it is only for one year,Portman said. Since I came to the Senate, I've fought for multiple extensions of the HCTC, including my bill that was included in the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 the last time the credit was extended.These hardworking Ohioans rely on the HCTC for affordable health insurance after their pensions were terminated or after they were adversely affected by foreign trade, and I will continue to work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure the stability of health coverage for these individuals and their families. While this short-term extension is less than the five years I called for in my legislation with Senator Brown, I'm still pleased that we were able to prevent the expiration of this credit, providing certainty to thousands of Ohioans.\nPortman Praises Tax Extenders Package in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill\nPortman praised the addition of the tax extenders package that will be included in the final FY 2020 funding bill, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the Health Coverage Tax Credit, CFC Look-through, the Medical Expense Deduction, and the Craft Beverage Tax Relief. Portman has seen firsthand how these incentives help Ohio, boosting the economy, economic development, jobs, and innovation in the state. Portman released the following statement:\nI support the tax extenders' package that will be included in the year-end funding package and I want to thank President Trump for his support for this proposal. Many of these tax incentives  including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the Health Coverage Tax Credit, CFC Look-through, the Medical Expense Deduction and the Craft Beverage Tax Relief  are critical to continuing middle-class tax relief and generating more investment and economic development in Ohio.I fought to preserve them in the tax reform law because they drive more economic growth and job creation, and that's good for our country.\nAlthough I believe it was necessary to pass this extensions package to avoid the economic dislocation that would have occurred, I believe Congress must have a serious and thorough discussion next year on the future of these provisions, making permanent the ones that work for our economy and ending or phasing out the ones that are unnecessary. Too often, Congress refuses to make the hard choices with these temporary tax provisions, resulting in short-term, ineffective policy that we constantly have to revisit.I will continue to work with Chairman Grassley, my colleagues in the House and Senate, and the administration next year to help bring all sides together on a long-term agreement on these tax extenders and other fixes to the tax reform law.\nPortman Praises Senate Passage of NDAA Conference Report that Includes Funding for Wright Patterson Air Force Base's National Air and Space Intelligence Center\nPortman praised the Senate passage of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which includes $120.9 million in funding to upgrade the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) located at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Last year's NDAA conference report authorized $182 million for the modernization effort at NASIC. This measure authorizes the remaining $120.9 million to finish construction.NASIC's main campus facilities are overcrowded and require modernization to meet today's missions. With significant total force growth that has outpaced their facility growth, NASIC has been forced to utilize antiquated World War II-era facilities on base and temporary structures. This investment in NASIC infrastructure will provide the command with much-needed secure spaces that meet the demands of the growing workforce and the associated information technology requirements of modern facilities. The conference report will now head to the president's desk for signature. Portman released the following statement:\nI am pleased the Senate passed this conference report, which supports the mission of NASIC and Wright-Patt by providing the funding they need to finish upgrading their facilities to do their important work. I believe it will make a difference to our Airmen and Air Force Civilians at Wright-Patt and to our troops around the world who rely on NASIC for accurate and timely intelligence.I've had the opportunity to visit the base and meet with the men and women serving in the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. I've seen firsthand NASIC's most recent military construction project for their Foreign Military Exploitation mission, as well as some of the groundbreaking analysis they are doing to keep our skies and our country safe from foreign threats. However, I also saw many of our intelligence professionals performing highly technical, 21st-century work in World War II-era facilities. NASIC plays a critical role in helping the leadership of our country understand foreign threats to U.S. air and space operations and deserves modern facilities reflective of its work.\nPortman Announces Senate-Passed NDAA Conference Report Upholds Americans' Commitment to Assisting Ukraine\nPortman, co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised the Senate passage of $300 million in security assistance to Ukraine in the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report to fund additional training, lethal and non-lethal equipment, and advisory efforts for Ukraine's forces. This bill also includes Portman's provisions, included in previous NDAAs, which condition large portions of U.S. security assistance on critical defense sector reforms in Ukraine, including strengthening civilian control of the military and improving sustainment capabilities, inventory management, and security of sensitive foreign technologies. The conference report now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nIn May, Portman visited Ukraine to meet with newly-elected Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Ruslan Khomchak, Minister of Finance Oksana Markarova, and other Ukrainian leaders. During his visit, Portman congratulated the new government on its peaceful, free, and fair elections, pledged continued support from the U.S. Senate,and encouraged them to continue the anti-corruption efforts and structural reforms of the economy and the military.\nThe Senate-passed NDAA conference report sendsa clear message that America stands with the Ukrainian people in their struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future in the face of Russian aggression,said Portman.When I was in Ukraine earlier this year, I met the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Khomchak. The Ukrainian military has fought bravely against Russian aggression in the Donbas and has made tremendous strides. I assured him that my colleagues in the Senate would make sure the Ukrainian military has the capabilities it needs to defend its sovereign territoryon the land, sea, and air. As co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, I'm glad the Senate-passed NDAA conference report will help the Ukrainians defend themselves against Russian aggression.\nSenate Passes Portman, Heinrich, Ernst, and Schatz Amendment on Explainable Artificial Intelligence Included in NDAA Conference Report\nSenators Rob Portman and Martin Heinrich, the co-founders of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, along with Caucus members Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), announced that the Senate passed their briefing requirement on explainable artificial intelligence (AI) that was included in the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act conference report. Explainable AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that allow human users to understand, trust, and characterize the strengths and weaknesses of the system's decision making process. Deploying explainable AI will have profound implications for society and the economy, including the use of autonomous weapons and vehicles, as well as efforts to mitigate the bias that may result from automated decision making. This requirement included in the NDAA conference report would require the Department of Defense to brief Congress on a number of factors related to its use of explainable AI, including the extent to which the Department of Defense currently uses and prioritizes the use of explainable AI, the limitations of explainable AI, and potential roadblocks to the effective deployment of explainable AI. The conference report now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nExplainable AI has a lot to offer. As we deploy autonomous systems, we also should understand why those systems make the decisions they do. By requiring our military to think about the uses of explainable AI, the capabilities and limitations of the technology, and the obstacles to the deployment of explainable systems, the inclusion of this requirement in the NDAA conference report is a step towards that goal, said Senator Portman.\nPortman Praises Senate Passage of NDAA Conference Report Including Funding for Abrams Tanks and Stryker Vehicles\nPortman praised Senate passage of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which includes $1.7 billion in funding to upgrade 165 Abrams tanks, increasing the production of the upgraded Abrams tanks at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima in order to ensure that our forward deployed soldiers have tanks with the most cutting-edge capabilities. The bill also includes $394 million for upgrading Stryker Vehicles and $523 million for purchasing 152 top of the line Stryker A1 Vehicles.Portman has been a strong advocate for both Lima and the Abrams and Stryker programs, ensuring that our men and women of the military have the best and most lethal weapons systems while keeping good, high-paying jobs in Lima. The conference report now heads to the president's desk for signature. Portman released the following statement:\nThis funding is a big win for Lima and the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, which supports our troops both at home and around the globe.The newest Abrams tank is a vital investment for our soldiers to meet the realities highlighted in the latest National Defense Strategy and they come off the line at JSMC in Lima.This increased funding will ensure that more tanks are produced at Lima and get to our forward deployed soldiers.This is a significant improvement when not long ago the workforce was only funded for one tank per month.This is important for our armored formations and for Lima and its irreplaceable workforce.\nI am also pleased the NDAA conference report increases funding for producing Stryker A1 vehicles and upgrading older vehicles to the A1 standard.This authorization will help provide long-term stability to the industrial base and ensure our soldiers are rapidly provided with the most capable and survivable vehicle coming off the line.\nPortman Announces Senate-Passed NDAA Conference Report Includes Amendment to Study U.S.-China Competition in Artificial Intelligence\nPortman praised the Senate passage of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which includes an amendment he co-authored with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) directing the Department of Defense to provide a comparative analysis and a briefing of U.S.-China artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to Congress. The amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to undertake a comprehensive and national-level review of current trends in AI developments in both the U.S. and China, and an assessment of predicted implications to national security should the current trends continue. It also pushes the Department to consider what types of relationships  in both the public and private sector  they need to develop in order to ensure the U.S. keeps pace with global AI development trends. The conference report now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nAs the co-chair of the Senate AI Caucus, I'm pleased my amendment to ensure we are cognizant of the threat that increased Chinese investment in and development of AI poses to our national security was included in the Senate-passed NDAA conference report. This amendment would push the Department of Defense to be forward-thinking about their investments in AI and how to strategically work with the public and private sector to develop and mature our own capabilities.\nPortman Applauds Senate Passage of NDAA Conference Report that Includes Sanctions Against North Korea\nPortman applauded the Senate passage of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which includes the Otto Warmbier Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act to strengthen and expand mandatory sanctions on foreign banks and companies that facilitate illicit financial transactions for North Korea. This will hold North Korea accountable for their actions and human rights abuses against Cincinnati-native Otto Warmbier as well as other illegally held prisoners. Portman traveled to the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea earlier this year and invoked the memory of Otto Warmbier on several occasions, including in the demilitarized zone, with South Korean government officials, and with a North Korean defector, with whom he met to discuss North Korean human rights abuses. Portman is a cosponsor of the Otto Warmbier BRINK Act along with Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). The conference report will now head to the president's desk for his signature. \nThis bipartisan sanctions legislation will help hold North Korea accountable for their actions and human rights abuses against Cincinnati-native Otto Warmbier as well as others they've illegally held captive. I'm glad these sanctions were included in the NDAA conference report and we must continue to work together to confront the threat that North Korea poses. Fred and Cindy Warmbier and their family have been through so much. I'm proud to be their friend and support their efforts to hold North Korea accountable and ensure that Otto is never forgotten. \nPortman Announces Miners' Pensions and Health Care Solution Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill\nPortman announced the Bipartisan American Miners Act  which will help secure pensions and health care for 92,000 coal miners across the United States and their families  has been included in the final FY 2020 funding bill. The Bipartisan American Miners Act, which Portman cosponsored, secures lifetime health care benefits for 3,119 miners in Ohio who would have lost their benefits entirely by March, and the nearly 6,000 Ohioans whose pensions would have been reduced dramatically beginning next year. Portman released the following statement:\nOur miners worked hard, played by the rules, and earned these health care and pension benefits, whichwithout this agreementwould be reduced dramatically or lost altogether. This bill gives our miners the secure health care and pension benefits they have earned, and peace of mind to their families. This is a victory for our miners and for Ohio, and I'm proud to have worked to ensure this bipartisan solution gets done.\nPortman, Smith Announce Final FY 2020 Funding Bill Includes Their Bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act\nSenators Rob Portman and Tina Smith announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes their bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act to preserve jobs and encourage infrastructure development by expanding tax-exempt cooperative organizations' access to government grants and assistance, including rural broadband grants and FEMA disaster relief. This legislation provides certainty for co-ops looking to utilize government resources to deliver critical services to their members, such as broader access to high-speed internet or repairs to the electrical grid. \nIn today's technology-dependent world, we must do more to bring high-speed internet and stronger grid infrastructure to the rural areas of our country. Tax-exempt rural co-ops provide these important services to parts of the country where access to reliable electricity and high-speed internet is the most limited, and they rely heavily on grants to perform these services. Without this legislation, many co-ops may miss out on grant income or disaster assistance, hurting our efforts to promote economic development and job creation in these rural areas, said Portman.\nPortman, Brown Announce Final FY 2020 Funding Bill Includes Legislation to Extend Funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area\nSenators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill released includes their legislation to reauthorize funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) through September 30, 2022. NAHA spans eight counties throughout western Ohio, with a large presence in Dayton, the home of the Wright Brothers. There are a variety of cultural sites within the NAHA, including the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park, Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and Grimes Flying Field, as well as resources related to the Wright Brothers. \nThe National Aviation Heritage Area in Dayton is home to our nation's aviation history and I am proud the final FY 2020 funding bill includes this legislation to help ensure it is preserved and enjoyed by future generations, said Portman. It tells the story of the Wright Brothers' development of the first airplane, which has led to a strong aviation industry in the region today. This site is a public-private partnership that has generated significant economic growth for the region. It supports 1,500 jobs and generates $35 million in economic impact from the more than two million visitors per year.\nPortman, Warren Applaud Senate Passage of Proposal to Enhance Financial Protections for Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers in NDAA Conference Report\nSenators Rob Portman, Elizabeth Warren, Thom Tillis, Kyrsten Sinema, Deb Fischer, Jon Tester, Martha McSally, Marsha Blackburn and Todd Young applauded the U.S. Senate's passage of the bipartisanGold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act as part of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. The conference report will now head to the president's desk for his signature. \nPortman, Warren, Tillis, Jack Reed, and Sinema introduced the legislation in April, and Fischer and McSally joined them as co-sponsors. Representatives Cheri Bustos and Brad Wenstrup are the lead sponsors of companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\nMilitary spouses dealing with the death or catastrophic disability of a loved one as the result of their service should have the ability to end leases without incurring high termination fees,said Senator Portman. I'm glad this bipartisan bill was included in the Senate-passed NDAA conference report as it will provide much-needed relief for these families.\nFinal FY 2020 Funding Bill Includes Portman, Udall Bill to Ensure Remaining Stamps to Promote Wildlife Conservation Are Sold\nSenators Portman and Tom Udall announced the final FY 2020 funding bill includes their bipartisanMultinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act, legislation which would require the U.S. Postal Service to sell the approximately 50 million remaining Saving Vanishing Species Stamps left in stock. When the program began in 2011, the U.S. Postal Service printed 100 million stamps to help promote wildlife conservation and this legislation will require the U.S. Postal Service to sell the approximately 50 million remaining stamps left in stock. \nWe owe it to our future generations to preserve our planet's rich wildlife and natural resources so that they can continue to be enjoyed, said Portman. This successful stamp program has raised millions of dollars to fund conservation without any taxpayer money. I'm glad this bipartisan was included in the final funding bill and strongly urge the president to sign this legislation into law to ensure that every last stamp is sold. \nPortman, Brown Announce Final FY 2020 Funding Bill Includes $320 Million for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative \nPortman, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and Sherrod Brown announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). GLRI is a results-driven program, and this funding ensures that it has the resources it needsto addressthe most serious issuesthatthreatenthe ecological and economic wellbeing of theGreat Lakesbasin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination.This $320 million is the largest investment in the Great Lakes' health, ecosystem, and water quality, and has already helped combat harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and pollution in the Great Lakes.\nThe Great Lakes are an invaluable resource to Ohio, and GLRI has been a successful public-private partnership that helps protect both our environment and our economy,said Senator Portman.The Great Lakes arecritical to Ohio's fishing industry,provide drinking water for 40 million people, contribute billions in tourism each year, and support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the region. Funding this critical initiative at $320 million this fiscal year is a strong statement of support for the program, and I'm grateful for the backing we've received from the administration and my bipartisan colleagues. I will continue to help lead efforts intheU.S. Senate to support this critical bipartisan initiative.\nPortman, Shaheen Praise Passage of NDAA Conference Report that Includes Their Bipartisan Bill to Boost EPA Response to PFAS Passes Senate\nThe Senate passed the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which contains a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Rob Portman and Jeanne Shaheen aimed at combating exposure to emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act will improve coordination across the federal government in identifying and responding to emerging contaminants.The bill also expedites analysis of these chemicals and provides support and resources to states dealing with the health challenges posed by these potentially harmful materials. PFAS chemicals have emerged in drinking water sources in several communities across the nation, including New Hampshire and Ohio. The conference report now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nWe must ensure that our drinking water remains safe for all Ohioans, and that's why I am pleased the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act was included in the Senate-passed NDAA conference report today. Passage of the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act will improve federal efforts to identify the health impacts of unregulated contaminants found in our drinking water sources, said Portman. This will help the federal government more efficiently and effectively analyze the impacts of, and respond to, emerging contaminants through greater coordination among federal agencies, and will provide states with the resources they need to monitor, test, and respond to potential risks posed by emerging contaminants.\nFinal FY 2020 Funding Measure Includes Key Portman Priorities to Protect Great Lakes & National Parks\nPortman praised the finalFY 2020 funding bill that includes funding for several of his key priorities to protect the Great Lakes and National Parks: theGreat Lakes Restoration Initiative(GLRI), theNational Park Service (NPS) Centennial Challenge,the Migratory Birds of the America's Act, theGreat Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act,theHarmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA), and language prohibiting the Army Corps from dumping sediment dredged from the Cuyahoga River shipping channel into Lake Erie unless the State of Ohio approves that it is environmentally safe. The bill also includes his bipartisan legislation with Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), theGreat Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act as well as his legislation with Senator Brown (D-OH) to extend the authorization for the National Aviation Heritage Area through September 30, 2022.Notably,the bill includes $320 million in funding for GLRI for FY 2020, the largest investment in the health, ecosystem, and water quality in the Great Lakes.The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature. Portman issued the following statement:\nI'm pleased this final FY 2020 funding bill will benefit Ohio's national parks and Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie. I'm proud that this legislation includes the largest investment in funding for GLRI, a successful public-private partnership to protect the water quality and ecosystem of our Great Lakes. It also includes funding for several programs to protect fish populations, migratory birds, and other wildlife species that depend on the Great Lakes. I am also pleased that it extends the authorization for the National Aviation Heritage Area and includes funding for my bipartisan NPS Centennial Challenge program to ensure our national parks receive the resources they need in order to preserve our nation's treasures for generations to come. I will continue to work to deliver results for Ohio and I look forward to the president signing this measure into law.\nFinal FY 2020 Funding Bill Includes Portman Priorities to Help Vulnerable Elderly and Disabled Get Care They Need\nPortman announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes his priorities to help vulnerable groups like the elderly and the disabled get the care they need. The package includes a five month extension for Portman's bipartisan Money Follows the Person Program, which helps transition Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing homes to long-term care in their homes; and the Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act, which will remove accessories to complex wheelchairs from Medicare's competitive bidding, and thus improve access to those accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors.\nI'm pleased that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes my legislation to help to ensure that the most vulnerable among us have better access to quality care,Portman said. The legislation helps support seniors with disabilities by improving access to vital accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors, and it includes a five-month extension of Money Follows the Person (MFP), which helps transition Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing homes to long-term care in their homes. This extension of the program will mean that MFP can continue to support the more than 10,000 Ohioans that the program has helped to receive the home and community-based care that they need. I will continue working for a longer extension like the permanent extension Senators Grassley and Wyden included for the Money Follows the Person Program in their Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.\nPortman, Brown & Senate Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of NDAA that Includes Legislation Posthumously Promoting Ohio-Native and Doolittle Raider, Lt Col Dick Cole to Col.\nSenators Portman, Sherrod Brown, John Cornyn, Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz applauded the Senate passage of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, that includes legislation calling for the posthumous promotion of Dayton, Ohio native Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Cole. This bipartisan legislation also recognizes the accomplishments, sacrifices, and legacy of Lt Col. Cole, the last of the living Doolittle Raiders until he passed away earlier this year at the age 103. The Doolittle Raiders consisted of 80 U.S. Military volunteers, commanded by Lt Col. James Doolittle, who led the first strike on mainland Japan in World War II, bolstering morale back home and changing the tide of the war in the Pacific. Lt Col. Cole served valiantly as Lt Col. James Doolittle's co-pilot and together they led the Squadron of 16 Army Air Force bombers from the U.S.S. Hornet to Tokyo. The conference report will now head to the president's desk for signature.\nDick Cole was a son of Dayton, Ohio and an American hero, said Portman. During a dark time in our history, he and the Doolittle Raiders launched an audacious attack that succeeded against all odds and provided a spark to the morale of the American people that carried us through to eventual victory in the Pacific. The Doolittle Raid had a strategic effect on World War II, and flying in the lead plane as the co-pilot to Jimmy Doolittle, Dick Cole was a key factor to the mission's success. Dick went on to live a rich and full life and was a beloved hero to all airmen. I am proud to have led this effort to provide Dick with the recognition he so deeply deserves.\nPortman, Senate Colleagues' Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill\nPortman. along with Senators Tom Udall, Richard Burr, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Brian Schatz, announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes $15 million for their bipartisanTropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act(TFCA). This program has saved more than 67 million acres of tropical forest by allowing developing countries that meet certain criteria to be relieved of debt owed to the United States in exchange for their conservation efforts. To date, the TFCA program has sequestered 56 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 11.8 million cars off the road.For the first time since its inception in 1998, Portman's legislation expands TFCA to include the protection of coral reef ecosystems. \nI'm pleased that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes $15 million for this bipartisan conservation effort which is making significant strides toward building stronger relationships with countries around the world while ensuring our natural resources are protected and preserved for the next generation,said Senator Portman,co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus.Since 1998, this common-sense and proven approach has protected millions of acres of tropical forest from deforestationa leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions.\nPortman Request for $90 Million in Security Resources for Faith-Based Communities & Institutions Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill\nPortman announced the final FY 2020 funding bill includes the $90 million he requested in December for the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides grants to faith-based and other nonprofit organizations to help secure their facilities against a potential terrorist attack. Of the $90 million total, $50 million will be available for nonprofits located within high-risk urban areas, and the remaining $40 million will be available for organizations that fall outside of those areas. \nI am pleased that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes $90 million for nonprofit security grants so that synagogues, religious and cultural facilities, and other nonprofits across our country that are at a high risk of a terrorist attack have access to the resources they need to secure their facilities,said Portman.As we've seen recently, the threats to houses of worship and other religious community sites are increasing and we must do everything we can to protect them in Ohio and across our country.\nBipartisan Portman-Hassan Legislation to Strengthen Public and Private Sector Cybersecurity Efforts Included in Government Funding Agreement\nBipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Maggie Hassan to bolster cybersecurity in the public and private sector is expected to be signed into law as part of the final bipartisan budget agreement to fund the government for the next fiscal year.\nThe bipartisanDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Actwill require that the Department of Homeland Security make permanent cyber hunt and cyber incident response teams to work to help prevent cyberattacks at all levels of government and the private sector, and help mitigate the impact of such attacks when they occur. Local and state governments, as well as businesses, hospitals, and other entities, will be able to request assistance from the teams in the event of an attack.The bill also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to include private sector experts on the teams in order to bring to bear their non-governmental cyber expertise.\nOur cyber hunt and incident response teams play an important role in protecting against cyber threats, reducing cybersecurity risks, and helping to get our cyber infrastructure back up and running after an attack occurs,Senator Portman said.I am glad that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes our bipartisan legislation so that we can strengthen our response and recovery efforts in the event of a cyberattack.\nPortman Announces $658 Million for CARA Grants in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill\nPortman announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill includes $658 million for grants through his bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA), which became law in 2016. This funding marks the largest investment in Portman's CARA grant program since it was enacted into law. Portman released the following statement: \nI'm pleased the final FY 2020 funding bill includes the largest investment in CARA grants yet as too many Ohioans of every age continue to suffer from addiction. This $658 million will help state and local health officials, prevention experts, treatment providers, and law enforcement to work together to address this epidemic.I'm grateful for the progress that we have made in combating this epidemic thanks to CARA and will continue to make thanks to this funding and the inclusion of my Combating Meth and Cocaine legislation to give states more flexibility in how they use federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of meth and cocaine. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to make sure those on the ground, our community leaders, first responders, and family members have the support and funding they need to continue their work to fight this epidemic.\nPortman's Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Establish Military Workforce of Digital Engineers Ready to be Signed Into Law\nSenators Rob Portman and Martin Heinrich, along with U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan and Mark Meadows, are applauding the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report that included key provisions of the Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act (S. 1471), a bill they introduced tomodernize the Department of Defense (DoD) workforce by adding a recruitment focus and establishing military career tracks for individuals with digital expertise and software development skills.\nThe NDAA incorporated important provisions taken from the Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act that recognize the importance of individuals with aptitude and experience in digital expertise and software development to the armed services, and requires the Secretary of Defense to devise an implementation plan to recruit and develop digital engineering specialists. The bill also requires the Secretary of Defense to create a digital engineering capability for the development and deployment of acquisition programs and software support. The bill also requires a demonstration of digital engineering capabilities and policy guidance to promote the use of said capabilities. \n\"Computer science and digital engineering competency have become increasingly important for the success of the American warfighter,\" said Portman, co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus. \"This bipartisan legislation ensures we prioritize servicemembers with digital skills and expertise and put them in roles where they can best put those unique skills to work.\"\nPortman: Senate-Passed NDAA Conference Report Includes Wins for Ohio, Increases Troop Pay\nPortman praised Senate passage the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which includes a number of initiatives to support Ohio's military installations, increase troop pay, and provide additional assistance to Ukraine. He released the following statement:\nThis defense bill provides needed resources to continue rebuilding our military, support our troops and increase their pay, and provide upgrades and support to Ohio's defense installations. Our country faces significant security threats around the world, and this bipartisan legislation helps ensure that our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines and Department of Defense civilians have the vital resources they need to accomplish their national security missions. Ohio is home to some of the best and brightest serving our country, and some of our nation's premier defense installations.I'm proud of their work.This bill also takes additional steps I've fought for to help Ukraine defend themselves against Russian aggression.This security assistance package sendsa clear message that America stands with the Ukrainian people in their struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future.\nWednesday, December 18, 2019\nOn Bloomberg, Portman Highlights Wins for Ohio in Funding Bills & How Passing USMCA Will Strengthen Our Economy & Create Jobs\nIn an interview with Bloomberg's Daybreak Americas with David Westin, Senator Rob Portman discussed the wins he helped to secure in the final FY 2020 funding bills and FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. Among other things, Portman secured an important tax extenders package that will help small business in Ohio and boost the economy; the bipartisan SECURE Act, which includes a number of Portman's initiatives designed to help more Americans save for their retirement; the bipartisan RURAL Act, which will help to preserve jobs and encourage infrastructure development by providing certainty to tax-exempt cooperative organizations that accept government dollars for services such as the deployment of rural broadband; and important funding for Ohio's military installations and operations. \nSenator Portman also highlighted the economic benefits of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement, which will strengthen our economy and support American workers, farmers, and manufacturers. Portman supports the USMCA because it will create new jobs, expand opportunities for agricultural trade, encourage new opportunities for auto jobs in America, and add a new section on digital trade to make online sales easier. Portman has actively called for Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to bring USMCA to a vote in the House.\nFinally, Senator Portman discussed the upcoming impeachment vote in the House of Representatives. Portman has made clear that he plans to listen to both sides as a juror in the Senate, but based on what has been presented there is nothing that rises to the level of removing a president from office and the extreme measure of overturning an election. Meanwhile in Ohio, early voting in the presidential primary begins mid-February and the general election is less than a year away, so those who want to remove the president from office should do it through the democratic election process. \nExcerpts of his interview can be found here and a video can be found here. \nPortman, Brown Announce Senate Confirmation of Judge Matt McFarland to Serve on U.S. Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio\nSenators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown announced the Senate confirmation of Judge Matt McFarland to the position of U.S. Federal District Court Judge for the Southern District of Ohio. Portman and Brownrecommendedthe president nominate Judge McFarland for the vacancy which was created upon the retirement of Judge Thomas Rose. The Southern District has court locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton and serves more than five million Ohioans in 48 counties.\nI applaud the Senate for confirming Judge Matt McFarland to be the next federal judge in the Southern District,said Portman. Judge McFarland has been a dedicated public servant on the state court of appeals. His esteemed reputation is well deserved and I am confident he will continue make Ohio proud with his distinguished service on the bench.\nPortman, Bipartisan Colleagues Applaud North Korea Sanctions Named After Otto Warmbier in Final NDAA Package\nSenators Rob Portman, Van Hollen, Pat Toomey, and Sherrod Brown celebrated the inclusion of the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions and Enforcement Act in the final FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. They were joined at the event by Fred and Cindy Warmbier, whose son Otto died after being imprisoned in North Korea for over a year and for whom the bill is named. \nThe legislation, which is now at the President's desk for his signature, will offer foreign banks and firms a stark choice: continue business with North Korea or maintain access to the U.S. financial system. It does this by imposing mandatory sanctions on the foreign banks and companies that facilitate illicit financial transactions for North Korea.\nThis bipartisan sanctions legislation will help hold North Korea accountable for their actions and human rights abuses against Cincinnati-native Otto Warmbier as well as others they've illegally held captive. I'm glad these sanctions were included in the NDAA conference report and we must continue to work together to confront the threat that North Korea poses. Fred and Cindy Warmbier and their family have been through so much. I'm proud to be their friend and support their efforts to hold North Korea accountable and ensure that Otto is never forgotten, said Senator Portman.\nSenate Passes Portman, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Save Taxpayer Dollars on Federal Vehicles\nSenators Rob Portman and Gary Peters applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan bill to help save taxpayer dollars by updating policies to help federal agencies adopt electric vehicles, which are more fuel efficient than traditional gas-powered vehicles. The Charging Helps Agencies Realize General Efficiencies Act (CHARGE Act) directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to allow vehicle charge cards to be used to pay for electric vehicle recharging at commercially-available charging stations.\nIf federal employees are required to pay for gas with travel charge cards, they should also be allowed to fill up' at a charging station when operating an electric vehicle, said Senator Portman. I'm pleased that the Senate passed this bipartisan, common-sense bill and urge the House to take it up soon.\nThursday, December 19, 2019\nPortman Praises Key Tax Incentives Passed by Senate, Ready to be Signed Into Law\nPortman praised Senate passage of key tax incentives, included in the final FY 2020 funding bill, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the Health Coverage Tax Credit, CFC Look-through, the Medical Expense Deduction, and the Craft Beverage Tax Relief. These tax incentives now head to the president's desk for his signature. Portman has seen firsthand how these incentives help Ohio, boosting the economy, economic development, jobs, and innovation in the state.\nThese tax incentives are important to Ohio and I want to thank the president for his support, said Portman. Many of these incentives  including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the Health Coverage Tax Credit, CFC Look-through, the Medical Expense Deduction and the Craft Beverage Tax Relief  are critical to continuing middle-class tax relief and generating more investment and economic development in Ohio.I fought to preserve them in the tax reform law because they drive more economic growth and job creation, and that's good for our country.\nAlthough I believe it was necessary to pass this extensions package to avoid the economic dislocation that would have occurred, I believe Congress must have a serious and thorough discussion next year on the future of these provisions, making permanent the ones that work for our economy and ending or phasing out the ones that are unnecessary. Too often, Congress refuses to make the hard choices with these temporary tax provisions, resulting in short-term, ineffective policy that we constantly have to revisit.I will continue to work with Chairman Grassley, my colleagues in the House and Senate, and the administration next year to help bring all sides together on a long-term agreement on these tax extenders and other fixes to the tax reform law.\nSenate Passes Portman Priorities to Help Vulnerable Elderly and Disabled Get Care They Need\nPortman (R-OH) applauded the Senate today for passing the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes his priorities to help vulnerable groups like the elderly and the disabled get the care they need. The package includes a five-month extension for Portman's bipartisan Money Follows the Person Program, which helps transition Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing homes to long-term care in their homes; and the Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act, which will remove accessories to complex wheelchairs from Medicare's competitive bidding, and thus improve access to those accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for his signature.\nI'm pleased that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes my legislation to help to ensure that the most vulnerable among us have better access to quality care,Portman said. The legislation helps support seniors with disabilities by improving access to vital accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors, and it includes a five-month extension of Money Follows the Person (MFP), which helps transition Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing homes to long-term care in their homes. This extension of the program will mean that MFP can continue to support the more than 10,000 Ohioans that the program has helped to receive the home and community-based care that they need. I will continue working for a longer extension like the permanent extension Senators Grassley and Wyden included for the Money Follows the Person Program in their Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. \nPortman, Brown Announce $320 Million for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to be Signed Into Law\nPortman, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today praised Senate passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill that includes $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). GLRI is a results-driven program, and this funding ensures that it has the resources it needsto addressthe most serious issuesthatthreatenthe ecological and economic wellbeing of theGreat Lakesbasin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination.This $320 million is the largest investment in the Great Lakes' health, ecosystem, and water quality, and has already helped combat harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and pollution in the Great Lakes.The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nThe Great Lakes are an invaluable resource to Ohio, and GLRI has been a successful public-private partnership that helps protect both our environment and our economy,said Senator Portman.The Great Lakes arecritical to Ohio's fishing industry,provide drinking water for 40 million people, contribute billions in tourism each year, and support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the region. Funding this critical initiative at $320 million this fiscal year is a strong statement of support for the program, and I'm grateful for the backing we've received from the administration and my bipartisan colleagues. I will continue to help lead efforts intheU.S. Senate to support this critical bipartisan initiative.\nPortman Solution to Miners' Pensions and Health Care to be Signed Into Law\nPortman today announced that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding package, which includes the Bipartisan American Miners Act to help secure pensions and health care for 92,000 coal miners across the United States, and their families. The Bipartisan American Miners Act, which Portman cosponsored, secures lifetime health care benefits for 3,119 miners in Ohio who would have lost their benefits entirely by March, and the nearly 6,000 Ohioans whose pensions would have been reduced dramatically beginning next year. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature. \nOur miners worked hard, played by the rules, and earned these health care and pension benefits, whichwithout this agreementwould be reduced dramatically or lost altogether, said Portman. I'm pleased that the Senate has passed this legislation to give our miners the secure health care and pension benefits they have earned, and peace of mind to their families. This is a victory for our miners and for Ohio, and I'm proud to have worked to ensure this bipartisan solution gets done.\nPortman, Brown Praise Senate Passage of Extension of Health Coverage Tax Credit\nPortman and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) praised Senate passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill which included a short-term extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit through the end of 2020. This credit helps subsidize the cost of continued coverage for retirees and other individuals who lost their health care coverage  in addition to their pensions and other benefits  when their employers either entered into bankruptcy or laid off workers due to foreign trade. Earlier this year, Portman and Brown introduced bipartisan legislation that would extendfor five yearsthe Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The HCTC is critically important for many hardworking Ohioans, including as many as 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees in Dayton, the Mahoning Valley, and Sandusky. In addition, a few hundred workers from the", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402763", "By opposing a sham impeachment, I upheld my oath of office", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Bill Johnson", "J000292", "billjohnson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "No! I said no. I voted no.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      The Hill\r\nBy Bill Johnson\r\nPublished December 19, 2019  \r\nNo! I said no. I voted no.\r\nAfter months of partisan and fabricated investigations, House Democrats voted to impeach our president, despite the fact they didn't have the evidence or facts to comply with the Constitution. But they were as predictable as the showoff at the backyard barbecue who asks you to hold his beer while he attempts a feat of strength. In both cases, the brag is bold, but the result is painfully pathetic.\r\nDemocrats wanted to impeachPresident Trumpin the worst way. Literally. They wanted to impeach him before he took the oath of office. They've called for impeachment every day he's been on the job. They've even claimed they can impeach him multiple times. No doubt, a decade from now when he's happily in retirement somewhere, they'll call for him to be retro-impeached.  \r\n\r\nThe reasons for canceling the votes of the 63 million Americans who put him into office have morphed faster and more frequently than the weather. First it was a gaggle of lies about Russia. When that collusion delusion fizzled out like a wet firecracker, Democrats clumsily switched scripts to spurious charges dealing with Ukraine. Yet every clear-eyed review of the facts shows nothing the president did was impeachable. But relying on facts and evidence is old school thinking for some people.\r\nYet, as a member of Congress, I knew I was going to vote on the two articles of impeachment that were being jammed through the people's House. I decided early on that I would speak during the debate, to give voice to the men and women I represent and the other Americans who are furious about this fiasco.\r\nOne idea I had for my speech on the impeachment issue was to point out a few facts that Democrats are desperate for Americans to forget. And it would be straight out of the history books. Here are some of those historic facts.\r\nSeveral of our presidents owned slaves. No Democrats voted to impeach them for it.  \r\n\r\nOur28th president re-segregated the federal governmentand showeda Ku Klux Klan (KKK) propaganda film in the White House. No Democrats voted to impeach him.\r\nOur 32nd presidentput more than 100,000 American citizens into internment camps, including children. No Democrats voted to impeach him.\r\nAnd now, Democrats want to impeach our 45th president because they didn't like one of his phone calls.\r\nBut, while I knew I wouldn't have enough time to make those historical points, I focused my speech on another important perspective.\r\nFrom the well of the House of Representatives, where some of the giants of American history have called our nation to action on issues large and small, I used my time to offer a solemn moment of silence.\r\nYou read that right. I called for a moment of silent reflection, and for all those in the House chamber to stand for those 63 million Americans whose voices the Democrats want to silence with this sham impeachment. That's 63 million people across 50 states, and it includes the overwhelming majority of hardworking people in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, which I represent.\r\nThose who hate America's duly-elected president took to their social media accounts to whine, and some called my office, senselessly screaming. Sad, but not surprising.\r\nAfter the moment of reflection, I ended my speech with these words: Disenfranchising 63 million voters gives me 63 million reasons to vote no.\r\nAnd then I voted no.\r\nI cast that vote for the 63 million. I cast it for my constituents. And I voted no for the World War II veterans, the Korean War veterans, the Vietnam War veterans, and our generation's current conflict heroes across the United States who gave their vote for President Trump and then later died, with the hopeful notion that the commander in chief in whom they placed their final political trust would serve for the full four years they gave him.\r\nAnd, perhaps most importantly, I voted no to vindicate the solemn oath I took to support and defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. I took that oath seriously as a military officer, and it means just as much to me now as a member of Congress.\r\nOne part of the oath in particular gives meaning to what I do every day as an American leader. I pledged to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution. Since the Democrats woefully failed in their constitutional obligation to provide clear evidence of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors, bearing true faith and maintaining allegiance can only bring about one principled vote. And that's exactly the vote I registered.\r\nNo.\r\nBill Johnsonrepresents the Sixth District of Ohio. Prior to being elected to Congress, he served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402764", "Johnson Statement on House Passage of USMCA Trade Deal", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Bill Johnson", "J000292", "billjohnson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after voting for H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. The measure passed the House by a vote of 385-41: \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after voting for H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. The measure passed the House by a vote of 385-41: \r\nAfter months of pressure from House Republicans and President Trump, Democrats finally allowed the full House to vote today on the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. This could have - and should have - happened long ago, but Speaker Pelosi was too busy plotting to impeach the President. \r\nBut make no mistake, USMCA is good news for the American people and those in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio. Reports estimate that it will create over 170,000 new jobs and add over $60 billion to our economy in six years. In Ohio alone, over 100,00 jobs depend on exports to Mexico and Canada. This agreement opens markets to our manufacturers and farmers and reduces trade barriers, creating freer markets, fairer trade, and strong economic growth. It will also bring our trade policy into the current century; it was way past time for the outdated NAFTA pact to be replaced.\r\nThank you to President Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and all those behind the scenes who worked so hard to make this campaign promise a reality. I was excited to support this trade agreement, because I know it will have tremendous benefits for my hard working constituents in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402249", "Latta Applauds Passage of the USMCA, A Landmark Trade Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Robert Latta", "L000566", "latta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in voting to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Once the USMCA is signed into law, the United States can expect $68 billion in new economic activity. Canada is Ohio's leading trade partner where 39% of the state's exports totaled to more than $21 billion in revenue in 2018.\r\nWe are finally one step closer to creating over 176,000 American jobs because of the passage of the USMCA, said Latta. NAFTA had to be modernized for the 21st century with stronger enforcement provisions including those dedicated to digital trade, expanding free trade, and allowing for a stronger American economy.\r\nImportantly, the USMCA prioritizes the American worker and allows our manufacturers to remain globally competitive, concluded Latta. Ohio businesses need to be able to continue to sell their products cross-border and I am encouraged that this modernized agreement will facilitate higher levels of regulatory coherence and cooperation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402894", "Statement from Rep. Stivers", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Statement from Rep. Stivers \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 19, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The following may be attributed to Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH), regarding recent comments made about Congressman John Dingell:\r\nWhile we did not agree on everything, John Dingell was a serious policymaker, dedicated to improving the lives of those he represented, and his wife, Debbie, now does the same. Insulting his legacy is completely inappropriate. \r\n-30-\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402895", "Stivers Applauds Passage of USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) joined 384 of his colleagues to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and provide market access for American suppliers and support jobs across the country. \r\nThe passage of the USMCA has been a long time coming, and finally, the House has taken steps to give hardworking Americans the tools they need to succeed in a global marketplace, Stivers said. Already, Ohio's 15th District has seen the benefits of the USMCA, with Magna International announcing hundreds of new jobs in Lancaster because of the promise of this agreement. With today's vote, we can expect to see many more announcements like Magna's across the nation. \r\nThe USMCA takes steps to rebuild American manufacturing, investing $34 billion in new auto plants and is expected to create over 76,000 new American automotive sector jobs, like those at Magna International. It also allows American farmers and ranchers to compete on an even playing field, giving access to Canadian markets for products like dairy, wheat, chicken, eggs, and turkey. \r\nThe USMCA builds on the principles of NAFTA, strengthening pre-existing policies on goods like agricultural and manufacturing products, while introducing new policies on innovative products and services with agreements for the digital marketplace and data protection in order to respond to the 21st century reality businesses are encountering. \r\nIn 2017, trade between Ohio and Mexico surpassed $14.7 billion, and trade between Ohio and Canada topped $21 billion. Partnerships with these two countries support over 249,000 jobs, and the USMCA will allow for further expansion and benefit for Ohio's economy. \r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://anthonygonzalez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=190", "Congressman Gonzalez cheers vote on USMCA trade deal", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Anthony Gonzalez", "G000588", "anthonygonzalez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Congressman Anthony Gonzalez (R-Rocky River) voted in favor of the long-awaited United States  Canada  Mexico trade agreement on Thursday after advocating for the agreement both publicly and among his colleagues since being sworn in to office. Today is a great day for the Northeast Ohio economy. Passing the USMCA trade deal is a major success for Northeast Ohio and communities like ours across the country. This trade deal will lift all boats and bring new jobs, higher wages, and better opportunities to farmers and manufacturers across the 16th district, said Congressman Gonzalez. Passing USMCA was one of the first goals I set out for my office, and I am proud to have lent my voice to moving this trade agreement forward in the U.S. House of Representatives. According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, USMCA would raise U.S. real GDP by $68.2 billion and employment by 176,000 jobs with the largest percentage gains in outputs, exports and wages going to the manufacturing industry. Northeast Ohio's strong manufacturing roots means an economy that relies on trade partners to produce and export numerous top-quality products. Last year alone, Ohio exported $21 billion in goods to Canada, representing 39 percent of the state's total exports. Ohio's second largest market was Mexico, with $6.9 billion in exports last year. Ohio farmers would also benefit from USMCA with the removal of trade barriers to Canada's dairy market, among other key provisions. According to estimates from the Farm Bureau, the U.S. will gain more than $2 billion in additional farm exports. Congressman Gonzalez has authored op-eds in the Canton Repository and The Post Newspapers calling USMCA the single most important near-term piece of legislation that Congress can realistically pass between now and the end of the year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/announcements/beatty-on-impeachment-congressional-record", "Beatty on Impeachment | Congressional Record", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On December 18, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump on abuse of power and obstruction of justice. U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03)'s speech printed in theCongressional Recordis as follows:\n\"Thank you, Madam Speaker\nI rise today a day that will certainly be looked back upon by future generations.\nMany years from now, when conspiracy theories are put aside and the truth made plain, the American people will know that President Trump broke his oath, abused the power of that great office, and thought himself above the law.\nBut they will also know that many members of this body  the People's House  kept their oath to defend the Constitution and held President Trump accountable.\nHistory will note each of our names and where we stood today  for democracy, for justice, and for this great country.\nWhen we vote to impeach this president this evening, I can tell you that I will do so with a clear conscience and with the full confidence that future generations will judge us on the right side of history.\nThank you, and I yield back.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/announcements/nbc4-beatty-votes-for-impeachment", "NBC4: Beatty Votes for Impeachment", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On December 19, 2019, NBC4 highlights Congresswoman Beatty's vote and other members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation's decision on impeaching President Donald J. Trump. An archived recording can be viewed on Beatty's YouTube page.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davidson.house.gov/2019/12/congressman-warren-davidson-praises-long-awaited-passage-usmca", "Congressman Warren Davidson Praises Long-Awaited Passage of USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Warren Davidson", "D000626", "davidson.house.gov", "davidson", "https://davidson.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C.\u2014Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). This bipartisan vote (385-41) advances the USMCA to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.\n\nPresident Trump led the effort to improve NAFTA and complete this trade deal, which puts U.S. companies on better footing for trade in North America and offers better protections for workers across the continent.\n\nCongressman Warren Davidson (R-OH), member of the USMCA Whip Team and ardent supporter of the deal, made the following comments after the vote:\n\nI\u2019m thrilled that the House did something that will benefit the American people. America\u2019s farmers and businesses have waited in limbo for Congress to finish this trade deal. USMCA gives American companies the certainty they need to plan for the future and make strategic investments that will grow our economy. This is wonderful for Ohio\u2019s 8th District\u2014our farmers and manufacturers needed this action for a long time\u2014and it will certainly boost businesses across the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2124", "Rep. Fudge Statement on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcia Fudge", "F000455", "fudge.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today,Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed legislation to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal:\r\n\r\n\tToday I voted no' on the USMCA because it neither adequately enforces labor standards nor sufficiently curbs the outsourcing of American jobs to other countries. The USMCA does not live up to the Administration's promises to improve upon the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and ensure a significant number of jobs return to America. The trade agreement also fails to address climate change in a meaningful way.\r\n\r\n\tNAFTA devastated industries in Northeast Ohio and communities across the country. I do not want us to find ourselves in the same situation after five years of USMCA.\r\n\r\n\tProtecting our workers and their collective bargaining rights and addressing climate change in a way that supports workers in frontline communities like Cleveland and Akron are very important to me.\r\n\r\n\tOur trade deals must be enforceable and secure, increase American job opportunities, and serve to protect our world environment. Unfortunately, this one leaves too much to chance.\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=541", "Joyce Votes to Provide Certainty for Ohio Workers, Farmers and Manufacturers, Ratifies USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Dave Joyce", "J000295", "joyce.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONToday, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) voted to replace theoutdated North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA, with the new, bipartisan United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. USMCA is a long-overdue, bipartisan win for Ohio's workers, farmers and manufacturers,said Dave. Not only does it bring our trade policies into the modern age, it also puts the American worker first especially those who have been impacted by bad trade policies of the past that outsourced jobs and opportunity abroad.It revolutionizes the way we do business with our top trading partners, keeps American jobs here at home andsets the stage for greater economic growth across America, especially in Ohio. USMCA is a trade deal worthy of the American worker. USMCA is estimated to bring over $68 billion in new economic activity and 176,000 new jobs here in the U.S. That includes 76,000 new American automotive sector jobs to contribute to the $34 billion expected in new auto manufacturing plants. Furthermore, Canada and Mexico are the first and third largest markets for U.S. food and agricultural exports. These exports support more than 325,000 American jobs, 11,230 of which are in Ohio. In 2018 alone, there were $1.9 billion in agricultural exports from Ohio to Mexico and Canada. Under USMCA, U.S. agricultural exports alone are expected to increase by more than $2 billionannually, helping to build on those jobs that are already reliant on our nation's exports to Mexico and Canada.    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-votes-no-usmca", "Kaptur Votes No On USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), released the following statement after voting against the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Rep. Kaptur's floor speech urging her colleagues to vote against USMCA can be viewed here.\nAs a life-long resident of Toledo, and the Representative for many working-class communities from Northern Ohio, I  along with my constituents  have borne witness to the devastating effects of what corporate America has sold to us as free trade,said Rep. Kaptur.Since NAFTA's passage in the early 90's, communities across America, especially in our industrial heartland, have endured the outsourcing of countless middle-class jobs to Mexico, where workers are exploited to produce goods for pennies on the dollar.Because of disastrous trade policies such as NAFTA, our young people have grown up in the shadows of shuttered factories they've never seen in operation. As an outspoken opponent of the first NAFTA, I have always said that any replacement agreement must protect American workers from offshoring more of their jobs, guard against Big Pharma abuses that inflate prescription drug prices, and ensure lock-tight and enforceable labor and environmental standards across North America. USMCA is not the answer working people in Northern Ohio deserve, nor is it safe to assume that USMCA will be anything more than NAFTA 2.0  a boon for corporations at the expense of working families in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.\nJust like NAFTA before it, USMCA was rushed through Congress without so much as a true hearing or amendment. What's more, there is no chorus of consensus among our brothers and sisters in labor. USMCA will not bring back the 155,000 jobs in Ohio that were lost to outsourcing after NAFTA, it does nothing for our small farmers suffering under President Trump's trade wars, and it holds no true labor protections that the Mexican government is capable of enforcing. The bottom line is that I am deeply skeptical of USMCA's capacity to improve the lives of working people in my district. I will not vote for a trade deal that fails to put workers  the people  or our environment first. I will vote against USMCA just as I voted against its predecessor NAFTA, whose disastrous consequences are legend across the American landscape.\nRep. Kaptur submitted the following materials to the Congressional Record following her floor speech debating USMCA: \n###\nkaptur.house.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://timryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-tim-ryan-votes-impeach-president-donald-trump", "Congressman Tim Ryan Votes to Impeach  President Donald Trump", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Tim Ryan", "R000577", "timryan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today voted to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Proceedings now move to the United States Senate. Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over the trial. The Constitution requires two-thirds supermajority of Senators present to convict the President of the United States.\nIt is with a heavy heart that I cast my vote for impeachment today, but we cannot have a President that is above the law. If my constituents do something wrong then they face the consequences. There is overwhelming evidence that the President used his public office and taxpayer money for personal and political gain. His actions threaten our free and fair elections, our national security, and our democracy. Today the House of Representative voted to hold him accountable.\nThe President is not a king. In Article 1 of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers created Congress to write our laws and act as a check on the Executive Branch. This duty is not held lightly. Every member of Congress takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and it is now more important than ever before to remember this pledge. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to remember the sacred oath they swore to uphold and put country before party.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://timryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-tim-ryan-votes-united-states-mexico-canada-trade-agreement", "Congressman Tim Ryan Votes for United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Tim Ryan", "R000577", "timryan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today voted in favor of the renegotiated NAFTA, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Northeast Ohio has been devastated by trade agreements that made it easier and cheaper to ship American jobs overseas, and Ryan came to Washington campaigning on the need to renegotiate NAFTA. From the start, Ryan made clear that any new agreement must prioritize workers' rights and freedoms, include substantive provisions to end outsourcing incentives, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms. This is the first trade agreement Ryan has voted for in his career.\nPresident Trump's first attempt at a revised deal did none of these things. But after months of negotiations between House Democrats, labor leaders, and United States Trade Representative (USTR), Robert Lighthizer, the USMCA now includes many significant improvements to the original NAFTA, including largely eliminating the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), creating stronger labor enforcement and committing resources to these efforts, and strengthening labor standards in Mexico. While Ryan does not believe that the USMCA should be the model for future trade agreements, he believes it is an improvement over the original NAFTA. Since the 1994 NAFTA, Ohio has lost nearly 1 in 3 manufacturing jobs  160,640 Ohio workers are certified as trade job loss victims under the U.S. Department of Labor's program called Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).\nThe reason I first ran for Congress was because I wanted to stop the destruction bad trade deals were inflicting on our community in Northeast Ohio. In my time in Washington, I have opposed every trade deal introduced, regardless of which party was in the White House. But this time is different. Today, I voted in favor of the USMCA, not because it is a perfect deal, but because it makes significant improvements to the original NAFTA which devastated our community and shipped thousands of jobs overseas. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure Mexico follows through with raising wages and allowing workers to organize. And further efforts are needed to stop providing incentives to companies to outsource jobs. This is not going to bring back the jobs we lost or heal the heartache endured, but it will be better deal for American workers and is an important step forward, said Congressman Tim Ryan.\nDemocrats secured the following provisions to improve NAFTA :\n High-standard rules for worker protection that are strong and clear enough to be enforceable\n\tMechanisms and resources to monitor that labor rights are being given to workers\n\tMechanisms and resources to hold actors accountable to this agreement\n\tEliminated giveaways for Big Pharma that would have locked in high prescription drug prices\n Over the past two years, the labor movement, House Speaker Pelosi, and her allies on the USMCA working group pushed to remedy numerous shortcomings in the original USMCA text. The end result is a vast improvement over both the original NAFTA and the agreement negotiated by President Trump last year. The revised USMCA includes a first-of-its-kind facility-specific enforcement mechanism with rapid timelines and meaningful penalties. Developed by Senators Brown and Wyden, this rapid response mechanism will allow complaints to be brought against facilities for violating the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining, including on-site verifications that must be resolved in a timely manner where violations are found, said Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO\nOn behalf of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), I write to express our support for passage of legislation to implement the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).  The modernized agreement is a potentially substantial improvement over past trade agreements that have resulted in increased imports and lost American manufacturing jobs, said Alliance for American Manufacturing.\nThe original USMCA required changes to Mexican labor law that we supported, as they were clearly better than current law. But the agreement had no clear path to ensure that workers' rights would be safeguarded. The updated agreement now has enforcement provisions that can help make a difference.  There were also problematic provisions in the original USMCA that showered U.S. drug companies with huge opportunities for higher monopoly profits. Democrats, working with labor, were able to eliminate this language from the agreement. In addition, the labor movement, working with Democrats and other key allies, was also able to beat back portions of the original USMCA that would have jeopardized our ability to protect a sustainable environment. The revised deal is better than the original USMCA and certainly better than NAFTA. It should be adopted, said United Steelworkers.\nThe USMCA agreement wasn't worthy of ratification a year ago. Since then, the Teamsters Union, House Democrats, our labor brothers and sisters and many other fair trade allies worked to secure improvements to the agreement as signed by the party countries. Now, for the first time, workers' interests are protected by enforceable labor standards. The revised final USMCA is better than the initially signed USMCA agreement and a significant improvement over the original NAFTA, said International Brotherhood of Teamsters.\nThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act,' which would strengthen trade ties that support millions of American jobs.  The case for approval of this legislation is strong. First, it would strengthen U.S. ties with Canada and Mexico, which are by far the most important export markets.  Second, USMCA would modernize North American trade rules.  Third, USMCA would restore certainty to these vital trade relationships.  Implementation of USMCA would be a boon to U.S. companies and the workers they employ as they compete in our top two export markets. We urge the House to approve USMCA expeditiously, said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403880", "Wenstrup Votes to Pass USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Brad Wenstrup", "W000815", "wenstrup.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Representative Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) released the following statement after voting to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) out of the House of Representatives:\r\nToday, our farmers, manufacturers, and workers are one step closer to having a trade agreement that supports their needs in a 21st century economy. USMCA modernizes and rebalances North American trade, boosts our already booming economy, and strengthens our nation's role in the global trading market. USMCA is a win for the United States and a win for North America, said Congressman Brad Wenstrup. Make North America Great Again!\r\nWatch Rep. Wenstrup's floor speech in support of USMCA, HERE.\r\n # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-blasts-trump-renewable-fuel-standard-proposal-as-betrayal-to-ohio-farmers", "Brown Blasts Trump Renewable Fuel Standard Proposal as Betrayal to Ohio Farmers", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) blasted the Trump Administration after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they are setting the 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements at 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol. Today's rule falls short of providing farmers and the biofuels industry the certainty needed to make important business decisions.\r\nOnce again President Trump is choosing oil companies over family farms, said Brown. While farmers continue to struggle with low commodity prices, the oil companies seem to get whatever they want. The Administration's rule and abuse of these waivers is a betrayal to rural America.\r\nIn September, Brown slammed the Trump Administration for abusing the use of federal waivers to help big oil while undercutting farmers and rural economies. The Administration is using small refinery waivers' to grant exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard for some of the world's largest oil companies, driving down demand for biofuels by more than 1.4 billion gallons. Brown joined Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Senate colleagues to send a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler calling on EPA to stop the abuse of these waivers and end the harm to rural economies and farmers across the country.\r\nIn a separate letter to President Trump in September, Brown strongly urged him to help rural Americans, and the environment, by rescinding the 31 recently approved small refinery exemptions (SRE) for biofuels. He also urged the Trump Administration to uphold the intent of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).The letter followedrecent news reportsindicating that the Administration is considering changes to the RFS that would boost biofuel volumes following backlash from farmers after 31 additional SREs were approved on August 8.SREs, or so-called hardship waivers, are intended to help small refineries by exempting them from the RFS, but the EPA has issued dozens of waivers, including for some of the most profitable oil companies in the world.\r\nBrown is a long-time supporter of sensible biofuel production that promotes Ohio agriculture and reduces the need for foreign oil. In 2017, Brownapplauded the groundbreaking of an expansion at POET Biorefining-Marionthat will create jobs and double the size of the facility.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-secures-record-investment-in-researching-non-addictive-methods-for-pain-treatment-expected-to-pass-senate-today", "Brown Secures Record Investment in Researching Non-Addictive Methods for Pain Treatment, Expected To Pass Senate Today", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Helped Create Defense Department's Opioid Alternative Research Program Last Year; Helped to Secure Record $15 Million in Final Appropriations Bill This Year\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the Senate is expected to pass a spending package that includes key wins for Ohio that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure. In the package, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure a record investment of $15 million to support the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). Brown helped create the program last year by securing $10 million in funding. The program allows the Department of Defense (DOD) to research opioid alternatives or non-addictive methods to treat and manage chronic pain for servicemembers.\r\nThese bills are expected to pass out of the Senate today before being sent to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\nWhen it's easier for Americans to get their hands on opioids than it is for them to access non-addictive alternatives and treatments, we have a serious problem. This bill continues critical investments to help solve the addiction crisis through important research and creative, new approaches. Opioid addiction is a chronic disease and even our brave servicemembers are not immune  so we need to ensure that there are a variety of non-addictive methods available so we can help prevent addiction before it takes hold, Brown said.\r\nLast year, Brown fought to include $10 million in the Defense Appropriations Bill to create the CDMRP at the DOD to research opioid alternatives or non-addictive methods to treat and manage chronic pain. Earlier this year, Brown led a letter urging the Appropriations Committee to include these funds in their bill. CDMRP aims to drive innovation in the medical community and seeks to find solutions for medical challenges facing servicemembers. This year, the $15 million in funding will help the research program focus on chronic pain management as well as treatment for service-related injuries and stress, as well as developing therapies to prevent dependence on opioids and other addictive substances.\r\nServicemembers can suffer from chronic pain that is often attributed to a multitude of factors, both combat-related and stress-related as a result their service to our country. With few options outside of prescription opioids, members of the military can be reliant on highly addictive substances, such as opioids, to manage this pain. The Department of Veterans Affairs released a study in 2016 that shows veterans who receive the highest doses of opioid painkillers are twice as likely to die by suicide as those who receive lower doses. Over the past 12 years, there has been an increase in prescriptions for opioids among veterans by over 270 percent, which shows the growing use of these highly addictive substances. The risks of servicemembers and veterans becoming addicted to opioids are both a combat readiness challenge and a significant challenge for family and communities that rely on and support them while serving and after.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-expected-to-pass-spending-package-with-key-ohio-health-wins-secured-by-brown", "Senate Expected To Pass Spending Package with Key Ohio Health Wins Secured By Brown", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions to Increase Addiction Funding, Research Gun Violence and Reduce Maternal, Infant Mortality\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the Senate is expected to pass a spending package that includes key health wins for Ohio that U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure, including funding to fight the addiction crisis, to help study ways to prevent gun violence and to reduce maternal and infant mortality. The spending package passed the House earlier this week and after it passes the Senate, will head to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\nKeeping Ohio families safe and healthy is one of the most fundamental roles of government, said Brown. The funding that Congress passed today represents an investment in our state  from funding to fight the addiction crisis to creating jobs at the NIOSH project in Cincinnati. I'm glad to see these initiatives pass with broad bipartisan support and I urge the President to sign them into law quickly.\r\nSpecifically, Brown helped secure:\r\n \r\n$3.8 billion to address the ongoing addiction crisis, including: $1.5 billion to states to address the opioid epidemic and mental health; $476 million for opioid overdose surveillance and prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); $90 million to address the needs of children affected by the opioid crisis; and $100 million to help affected rural communities.\r\n \r\n \r\nFor the first time in decades, the bill includes $25 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research gun violence. In 2017, gun violence killed nearly 40,000 people in the United States.\r\n \r\n \r\n$53 million -- an increase of $3 million  for programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration and CDC for the initiative aimed at reducing the nation's alarmingly high maternal mortality rate. More women in the U.S. die from pregnancy-related complications than in any other developed nation, and the maternal mortality rate rose by 26 percent from 2000 to 2014. This funding will help support improved surveillance and help expand programs that are proven to be successful at reducing maternal mortality.\r\n \r\n \r\n$125.5 million for the Healthy Start program, a $3 million increase. Healthy Start aims to reduce the national infant mortality rate by identifying and supporting communities with infant mortality rates that are at least one and a half times the U.S. national average or increasing above the national average.Ohio is home to five Healthy Start grantees.\r\n \r\nBrown also secured provisions within the spending package to increase funding for the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program and to protect funding for the NIOSH project in Cincinnati, funding to advance the firefighter cancer registry that Brown helped create, funding for vaccinations and funding to address the public health risk posed by the dramatic increase in e-cigarette use by minors.\r\nBrown will continue leading efforts to ensure Ohioans have the resources and the investments they need to stay healthy and safe.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-expected-to-pass-spending-package-with-key-transportation-wins-secured-by-brown", "Senate Expected To Pass Spending Package with Key Transportation Wins Secured By Brown", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured a Number of Provisions to Increase Investment in Ohio's Transportation Infrastructure  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the Senate is expected to pass a spending package that includes a number of provisions U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) secured to support investment in Ohio's transportation infrastructure. The spending package passed the House earlier this week and after it passes the Senate, will head to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\nIt's time to put Americans to work across Ohio and around the country rebuilding our roads and bridges. This funding measure is a good step toward the infrastructure investment our nation needs, said Brown. Ohio is positioned to be a leader in zero-emission transportation solutions, and this bill expands work by The Ohio State University to research and test zero-emission buses.\r\nThe Ohio transportations wins include:\r\n \r\nSupplemental Highway and Public Transportation Investments:Brown helped secure $781 million of supplemental funding for eligible projects under the Surface Transportation Block Grant program, which can be used for highway repairs, local transportation improvements and alternative fuel corridors. Ohio's share of the additional $781 million will be based on current formula programs.\r\n\r\nBrown also supported the $1.15 billion for bridge replacement and rehabilitation to repair and replace deficient bridges, a portion of which will be allocated to Ohio bridges. Brown has led bipartisan efforts to secure much larger federal investments in repairing and replacing deficient bridges. Ohio has more than 6,000 bridges that need structural repairs or other updates to make them safer and reduce congestion.\r\nThe bill also includes $1 billion for investments in surface transportation infrastructure that are awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact that is commonly referred to at the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program (formerly the TIGER program). \r\nBrown also successfully urged the Committee to provide $510 million from the general fund for transit infrastructure grants, which will support efforts by Ohio transit agencies to the replace buses and vans that have reached the end of their service life.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nOSU and the Transportation Research Center (TRC): Brown secured $3 million of additional funding for the testing of low-emission and zero-emission buses. The Ohio State University (OSU) and the university-affiliated Transportation Research Center (TRC) in East Liberty operate one of just two testing centers in the nation that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will utilize to undertake the work. Brown  who serves as the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees FTA has secured funding for low and zero-emission bus testing for the past two fiscal years. Allowing OSU and TRC to conduct bus testing will speed the delivery of low-emission buses to public transportation agencies working to reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality.Brown was previously instrumental in obtaining agrant for The Ohio State Universityfor testing components of zero-emission buses.\r\n \r\n \r\nAmtrak Station Agents:In June 2018, Amtrak closed the ticket window and removed ticket agents from all of its stations that had an annual ridership of fewer than 40 passengers daily. Cincinnati's Union Terminal fell below that threshold and lost its ticket agent, leaving only maintenance staff. Brown and Portman wrote to Amtrakurging them to reverse this decision, and Brown has led legislative efforts to reverse the decision. The FY19 bill partially restored staffing at some stations, and in this year's bill, Brown helped secure language that directs Amtrak to re-staff all stations that were staffed in FY 2018 and instructing them to improve communication and collaboration with local partners and consider the unique needs of each community when making decisions related to staffing Amtrak stations.\r\n \r\n \r\nPrevented Harmful Cut to Ohio transit funding: Brownhelped leadefforts to pass the Jones-McSally amendment on the Senate floor to prevent a$1.2 billioncut to public transportation funding, and the amendment is included in the final bill. The Senate passed the Jones-McSally Amendment by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 82-11. The amendment prevents implementation of an unnecessary, across-the-board funding cut of 12% to all public transportation formula programs administered by USDOT's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Ohio transit agencies would have lost more than $24 million of funding if the cut had been implemented.\r\n \r\nBrown will continue leading efforts to ensure Ohioans have key investments in transportation and infrastructure.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-passes-brown-spending-package-with-key-agriculture-environmental-and-interior-wins", "Senate Passes Brown Spending Package with Key Agriculture, Environmental and Interior Wins", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured a Number of Provisions for Ohio Agriculture, Rural Infrastructure, Lake Erie, and Dayton's Aviation Heritage Area and to Support Clean up at Piketon Plant\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the Senate is expected to pass a spending package that includes provisions U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) secured to support investments in Ohio agriculture, rural infrastructure, Lake Erie, Dayton's Aviation Heritage Area and to support clean up at the Piketon plant. The package includes Energy and Water appropriations, Agriculture Department appropriations and Interior Department appropriations. The spending package passed the House earlier this week and after it passes the Senate, will head to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\nThis bill makes critical investments that our state needs, including helping treat opioid addiction, bolstering local agriculture, and supporting infrastructure improvements and economic growth, said Brown.\r\nBrown helped secure the following investments:\r\nEnergy and Water Appropriations\r\n \r\n$320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). \r\n\r\nGLRI is a results-driven program, and this funding ensures that it has the resources it needs to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic wellbeing of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. This $320 million is the largest annual investment in the Great Lakes' health, ecosystem restoration, and water quality, and has already helped combat harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and pollution in the Great Lakes.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nFunding to Support Ongoing Cleanup at Piketon Plant\r\n\r\nBrown ensured the final package included more than $400 million in funding for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, which will ensure that cleanup continues as planned.\r\nBrown fought to ensure that workers at Piketon receive the necessary funding to maintain workforce levels and keep cleanup on pace.\r\nBrown has worked with Sen. Portman to keep jobs at the plant and maintain ongoing cleanup efforts in previous spending bills.\r\nMoreHERE.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nExtended Funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area\r\n\r\nIncludes Brown and Portman's legislation to reauthorize funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) through September 30, 2022\r\n\r\nNAHA spans eight counties throughout western Ohio, with a large presence in Dayton, the home of the Wright Brothers. There are a variety of cultural sites within the NAHA, including the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park, Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and Grimes Flying Field, as well as resources related to the Wright Brothers.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nAgriculture appropriations\r\n \r\nKey investments for 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, including:\r\n\r\nAn additional $6 million for research at 1890 Land-Grant institutions, which are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that are land grant universities. Brown secured this through an amendment. The funds will go toward research at Centers for Excellence on campuses like Central State University in Wilberforce. Browntook to the Senate floorearlier this year to demand inclusion of this amendment in the Senate bill, which he introduced with Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL).\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nRural Opioid Addiction Training: Brown helped secure $4 million for Rural Health and Safety Education Programs to combat opioid abuse in rural communities. In addition, the bill includes report language that recommends not less than $1 million for competitive external grants for eligible institutions to support the utilization of telehealth, telemedicine, distance learning, and virtual and augmented reality experiences for opioid education and training in minority rural communities. There is also prioritization language for treatment/recovery services under the Community Facilities loan/grant program at USDA. Brown encouraged this as part of the Farm Bill.\r\n \r\n \r\nAgricultural Research Service (ARS):Brown helped secure $1.4 billion in funding, which is $121 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $221 million above the President's budget request.As the USDA's in-house agricultural research unit, ARS has major responsibilities for conducting and leading the national agricultural research effort.\r\n \r\n \r\nNational Institute of Food and Agriculture:Brown helped secure $962 million for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is $13 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $93 million above the President's budget request. Included in this increase is $8 million for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and an increase of $10 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The NIFA helps fund extension services and promotes research at The Ohio State University (OSU).\r\n \r\n \r\nFarm Service Agency (FSA):Brown helped secure $1.112 billion for FSA for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs important to the nation's farmers and ranchers. This includes $35 million to assist with implementation of the 2018 farm Bill. It also prohibits the closure of FSA county offices and provides resources for information technology (IT) improvements and personnel across county offices.\r\n \r\n \r\nWater and Waste Disposal Programs:Brown helped ensure Water and Waste direct loans are maintained at $1.4 billion, and Water and Waste grants are funded at maintained at $659 million. These programs increase the availability of clean water and sanitary waste disposal systems to small, remote rural communities.\r\n \r\n \r\nCommunity Facilities Loans and Grants:Brown helped ensure the Community Facilities loan program was funded at just under $3 billion. These loans and grants can be used for any essential community facility, including hospitals, health clinics, schools, public buildings, health and safety vehicles and equipment, etc.\r\n \r\n \r\nIncreased Investments in Rural Broadband: Brown helped secure $555 million for the ReConnect Program, a USDA pilot program that funds the expansion of broadband internet services into underserved rural areas. USDA will finish announcing awards from its first round of ReConnect funding by December 31st, and will begin accepting applications for its second round on January 31st, 2020.\r\n \r\n \r\nSpecial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Brown helped ensure the bill provides full funding for the program, which will serve over 6 million mothers and children each month. The funding level also includes $80 million for breastfeeding support services.\r\n \r\nInterior Department appropriations\r\n\r\n \r\nLead Testing:Brown helped secure $26 million for lead testing in schools, and $19.511 million for reducing lead in drinking water.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-set-to-pass-spending-package-with-key-commerce-justice-and-science-wins-for-ohio-secured-by-brown-", "Senate Set To Pass Spending Package with Key Commerce, Justice and Science Wins for Ohio Secured By Brown", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions to Support NASA Glenn in Cleveland and Sandusky, Bolster Economic Development Projects, Make Public Safety Improvements, and More  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  Today, the Senate is expected to pass a spending package that includes key wins for Ohio that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure. Brown helped secure these wins for Ohio in the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill. The package is expected to pass the Senate later today before heading to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\nThis bill makes critical investments that our state needs to do everything from bolstering our infrastructure and economic growth, to making investments that improve public safety for Ohioans while also allowing law enforcement officers to better and more safely serve their communities, to supporting our NASA Glenn facilities in Cleveland and Sandusky. These projects and programs help advance our state and help make it a better place to live.\r\nThe wins for Ohio include:\r\n \r\nCritical funding for NASA programs in Ohio, including:\r\n\r\n$1.4 billion forNASA's Orion project. An Orion module is being tested at NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky.\r\n$22.6 billion for NASA, including $784 million for aeronautics research. A portion of that funding will go toNASA's Glenn Research Centerin Cleveland.\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nKey investments for law enforcement programs, including:\r\n\r\n$335 million for theCommunity Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The COPS program invests in local law enforcement by helping police departments bolster their community policing efforts and hire new officers. The COPS program was designed to advance public safety by addressing the full-time officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.\r\n$545 million forByrne JAG, which provides grant funding for local law enforcement agencies to fund various programs including, drug treatment and enforcement programs, crime prevention and education programs, and crime victim and witness programs. The funding is administered through DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance.\r\n$22.5 million for theBody-Worn Camera Partnership Program. Body cameras have been found to reduce the use of force by officers by as much as 60 percent, reduce citizen complaints by as much as 88 percent, assist in resolving complaints against the police, and reduce the likelihood of false complaints against the police.\r\n$22.7 million for DOJ Office of Justice Program (OJP) Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. Brown led bipartisan efforts to secure funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, a program through the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) that provides funding for local and state law enforcement to acquire bulletproof vests for officers. In April, Brown led a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee asking for full funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program.\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nCensus Funding: $7.558 billion for the Census Bureau, including $6.696 billion for the decennial census.\r\n \r\n \r\nManufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program funding:Brown secured $146 million for this program, is a public-private partnership consisting of MEP centers throughout all 50 states. Brown has been a strong supporter of the MEP, which provides approximately $5 million a year to Ohio's seven MEP centers. These centers help small and medium-sized manufacturers increase sales and achieve cost-savings.\r\n \r\n \r\nSecond Chance Act grant funding:Senator Brown secured $90 million for this program enacted in 2008. The Second Chance Act has provided funding for programs that have proven to reduce recidivism, help former inmates reintegrate successfully into society, and save prison costs for states. In 2011, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Brown fought to reinstate funding for the Second Chance Act after it had been eliminated earlier in the federal appropriations process. This year, Brown applauded the Senate passage of the First Step Act, which includedprovisionsfrom Brown's 2008 Second Chance Act.\r\n \r\n \r\nViolence Against Women Act (VAWA):Brown helped secure $500 million for VAWA. This vital program saves lives and provides substantial benefits to those who are victims of abuse and children who witness instances of abuse against family members. The programs is critical for effective community responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.\r\n \r\n \r\nVAWA Transitional Housing program: Brown helped secure $36.5 million to assist domestic violence victims obtain a safe place to rebuild their lives.\r\n \r\n \r\nOffice of Justice DNA Initiative:Brown helped secure $136 million to fund the DNA initiative. This program assists states and local governments with the timely DNA processing of victims of crime and the DNA of criminal offenders. Brown introduced bipartisan legislation with Sen. Portman last year, theJustice Served Act of 2018, which would provide funds to prosecute the rape kit backlog and justice for victims of heinous crimes like sexual assault by resolving cold cases and exonerating those wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit.\r\n \r\n \r\nDOJ Community Teams to Reduce Sexual Assault Kit Backlogs:Brown helped secure $48 million that would support the creation of a coordinated community response, with a victim-based approach, to high numbers of submitted Sexual Assault Kits in the future.\r\n \r\n \r\nDOJ Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP):Brown helped to secure $35.5 million in funds that support adult and child victims secure counseling, medical and legal counseling and other forms of support for victims in underserved communities.\r\n \r\n \r\nNational Institute of Justice Human Trafficking Initiatives:Brown helped secure $37 million that would fund expanded research into human trafficking victims and perpetrators. Brown has long been an advocate on this issue and reintroduced bipartisan legislation this year to crack down on addiction-driven human trafficking. HisProtecting Rights of Those Exploited by Coercive Trafficking (PROTECT) Actwould specifically address the use of drugs to facilitate human trafficking and protect vulnerable victims of trafficking.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe John R. Justice Act prosecutor and defender loan repayment program:Brown helped secure $2 million for the creation of a student loan program for attorneys who serve as state or local criminal prosecutors or public defenders for at least 3 years. The program would help bolster the ranks of attorneys in the criminal justice system.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-set-to-pass-spending-package-with-key-ohio-tax-wins-secured-by-brown", "Senate Set To Pass Spending Package with Key Ohio Tax Wins Secured By Brown", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions to Help Individuals Experiencing Lapses in Health Insurance, Low-Income Communities, Craft Brewing Industry, Churches Negatively Impacted by Trump's Tax Bill, and More  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the Senate is expected to pass a spending package that includes key tax wins for Ohio that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure. The spending package passed the House earlier this week and is expected to pass the Senate later today. It will then head to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\n\r\nBrown also said there is still more work to be done to fix the tax code in a way that puts working families first. Brown vowed to continue fighting to secure an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit, which are two of the most effective tools we have to put money in the pockets of working people and pull children out of poverty.\r\n\r\nPutting hardworking Ohio families first is my top priority, said Brown. This spending bill includes several tax wins that will help put more money in the pockets of working Americans and help our communities continue to grow. I'm glad to see these important initiatives receive broad bipartisan support. I urge the President to sign them into law quickly.\r\n\r\nBrown continued, At the same time, families are working harder than ever but have less and less to show for it. Congress must do more to help put money back in the pockets of working families and help pull children out of poverty  and that means expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit. I will never stop fighting to expand these vital programs and set children up for future success.\r\n\r\nBrown secured tax wins for Ohioans in this year-end spending bill, including:\r\n\r\nExtension of Health Coverage Tax Credit \r\nSen. Brown worked with Sen. Portman (R-OH) to include a short-term extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) through the end of 2020. This credit helps subsidize the cost of continued coverage for retirees and other individuals who lost their health care coverage  in addition to their pensions and other benefits  when their employers either entered into bankruptcy or laid off workers due to foreign trade. Earlier this year, Portman and Brown introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend for five years the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The HCTC is critical for many hardworking Ohioans, including as many as 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees in Dayton, the Mahoning Valley, and Sandusky. In addition, a few hundred workers from the Lordstown General Motors plant have applied for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and would benefit from the HCTC as well.\r\n\r\nElimination of the Tax on Fringe Benefits for Charities, Places of Worship and Nonprofits \r\nBrown worked with Reps. James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), and Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04) to secure the inclusion of a tax fix in the Appropriations bill that would eliminate the tax on fringe benefits for charities, places of worship, and other nonprofit organizations. Last Congress, the Republican-passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 raised nearly $1.7 billion from places of worship and other nonprofits by applying the 21% unrelated business income tax to the value of certain so-called fringe benefits, such as parking and transit, provided to their employees. This tax would cost charities and places of worship tens of thousands of dollars each. Earlier this year, Brown introduced the Stop the Tax Hike on Charities and Places of Worship Act, which aimed to repeal the provision. Reps. Clyburn, Horsford, and Suozzi introduced companion legislation in the House.\r\n\r\nExpansion of New Markets Tax Credits\r\nBrown fought to secure an extension of the New Markets Tax Credit, which was set to expire at the end of this year. The one year extension includes a higher allocation for the program: $5 billion, up from $3.5 billion last year. The NMTC Program was established in 2000 with the goal of spurring revitalization by providing tax credit incentives to Community Development Entities (CDE) so they can invest in low-income communities. Under the program, CDEs apply to the U.S. Treasury Department for the authority to raise a certain amount of capital from investors. Awardees are then given a tax credit that equals a percentage of their investment output over the span of seven years. Since its inception, Ohio has seen billions of dollars in investment through the NMTC program. Brown has been a strong supporter of NMTC and helped secure a five-year extension of NMTC in December 2015.\r\n\r\nExtension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program \r\nBrown successfully secured the extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which encourages employers to hire individuals who face significant barriers to employment. The program was extended through 2021. The WOTC provides an employer tax credit of between $1,200 and $9,600 per employee for hiring and retaining individuals that are part of certain targeted groups representing populations that have a difficult time finding work, or are often out of the labor force altogether. The credit amount is based on the qualified wages paid to those employees within the targeted groups. These targeted groups include: veterans, long-term unemployed, ex-felons, the disabled, summer youth employees, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Supplemental Security Income recipients. Brown has fought to make the WOTC program permanent and will continue to fight for permanence.\r\n\r\nFunding for Black Lung Disability Trust Fund\r\nBrown secured higher funding levels for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which helps coal miners who have been deemed disabled due to black lung disease. The excise tax on coal that supports the trust fund was allowed to revert to lower levels at the beginning of 2019, which would result in lower resources in the fund over time. Brown fought to restore the excise tax to its previous level, helping to ensure that disabled coal miners have the support they need from the fund.\r\n\r\nLower Taxes on Craft Beverages\r\nBrown is a cosponsor of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019, and helped secure a one-year extension of the current tax rates on beer, wine, and distilled spirits. Without this extension, Ohio's local breweries could have seen their taxes double in January. Ohio's 298 breweries help to employ nearly 6,000 people and since the first passage of these tax rates two years ago, a majority of those breweries have hired new employees, purchased new equipment, and upgraded their facilities.\r\n\r\nIncrease in Grant Funding for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program\r\nFinally, Brown secured a $7 million increase to the VITA program. Brown secured $25 million in grant funding for FY2020, up from the $18 million previously secured. The VITA program provides support to free tax preparation sites that help individuals and families file their income tax returns. During the 2019 income tax filing season, VITA programs nationwide filed more than 1.5 million federal income tax returns, including more than 419,000 returns for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This helped Americans claim approximately $1.8 billion they'd earned over the tax year. VITA sites aren't just a lifeline for those who cannot afford a paid tax preparer  they also have a strong record for accuracy and help reduce IRS administrative costs. According to the IRS, returns claiming the EITC prepared by VITA preparers are 98 percent accurate  the best of any in the tax preparation industry. VITA sites are also more likely to file electronically, helping to save taxpayers money in the process. Brown has long fought to secure funding and support for the VITA program.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-set-to-pass-spending-package-with-priorities-for-veterans-and-servicemembers-that-brown-secured_-", "Senate Set To Pass Spending Package with Priorities for Veterans and Servicemembers That Brown Secured", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Secured Provisions for Ohio Military Installations, Language to help Reduce Veteran Debt, Requirements for Trump Administration to Act on Agent Orange  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the Senate is expected to pass a spending package that includes wins for Ohio's servicemembers and veterans that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped secure. The spending package passed the House earlier this week and is expected to pass the Senate later today. It will then head to the President's desk to be signed into law. Previously, Brown helped secure many of these wins in the House-Senate NDAA conference report. \r\nThe funding that these bills provide will help the servicemembers and veterans who have dedicated their lives to our country, Brown said.These bills provide funding for the critical work being done at JSMC and Wright-Patt  who work to keep our troops safe overseas and strengthen our national security  as well as language to hold VA accountable and take action to improve the lives of veterans who have given so much for our country.\r\nThe bill includes:\r\n \r\nLima's Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) \r\n\r\n$513.8 million to continue Stryker vehicle upgrades\r\nMore than $1.74 billion for upgrades to the Abrams Tanks\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nWright-Patterson Air Force Base \r\n\r\n$1.62 billion to support critical research and development programs run out of Wright-Patt's Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)\r\n$120.9 million to support military construction of Wright-Patt's new National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC)\r\n$35.7 million to support improvements and rehabilitation efforts for Wright-Patt's historic Brick Quarters Housing District\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nVeteran Debt Fairness provisions\r\n\r\nBrown secured language in the appropriations bill that builds on his earlier work to help reduce overpayment errors by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), thereby reducing veteran debt to the Department.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nAgent Orange provisions\r\n\r\nBrown was able to secure language in the bill to require the VA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a report within 30 days outlining any delays in making a determination on adding conditions to the list of service-connected presumptive illnesses.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nLima JSMC \r\nBrown has long fought to ensure Lima's JSMC has the funding it needs to support its missions involving the Stryker vehicles and Abrams Tank.\r\nIn May, Brown toured the JSMC after leading efforts to secure investments for JSMC and fighting for its workers.\r\nIn 2018, Brown worked to secure more than $1.79 billion to protect critical manufacturing jobs at Lima's JSMC in the FY 2019 defense appropriations bill.\r\nIn March 2017, Brown met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to highlight the importance of continued funding for the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle. In May 2017, Brown wrote to his Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committee colleagues to support inclusion of the Abrams Tank and Stryker Vehicle in both the NDAA and the Defense Appropriations bill.\r\nWright-Patterson Air Force Base \r\nAFRL Funding\r\nThe bill would authorize more than $1.62 billion for research and development programs run out of the Air Force Research Lab's (AFRL) Materials, Human Effectiveness, Propulsion, Aerospace Systems, Sensors and Manufacturing Directorates at Wright-Patt. This funding is critical to addressing emerging threats and strategic challenges that our men and women in uniform face.\r\nNASIC Military Construction Funding\r\nThis bill would also appropriate $120.9 million to support military construction efforts for Wright-Patt's National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC).\r\nLast year, Brown was able to help secure more funding for NASIC construction than ever before, when the NDAA authorized $182 million for phase one and two of NASIC's expansion. The project received an appropriation authorization of $61 million for Fiscal Year 2019 to begin construction.\r\n \r\nIn 2018, Brown wrote to then-DOD Secretary Jim Mattis calling for an investment at NASIC, along with other Ohio priorities. In 2017, Brown spoke to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson about investing in construction needs at the base.\r\nPrior to that, in 2017, Brown  as co-chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus  brought his Republican caucus co-chair John Boozman (R-AR), Armed Services Committee Members Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and tour the facility. Together, Brown and Portman highlighted critical research and development work done at the base in support of the Air Force and national security.\r\nBrown also met with Sec. Mattis in 2017 to outline Ohio military priorities. During the meeting, Brown invited Mattis to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air National Guard 178th Wing in Springfield.\r\n \r\nHistoric Brick Quarters Housing District at Wright-Patt\r\nThe bill also appropriate $35.7 million to support improvements efforts for 29 of Wright-Patt's historic Brick Quarters Housing District units. This housing on the Wright-Patt campus is in need of rehabilitation to meet current safety standards and this funding will ensure the buildings are updated to best support those living in the historic homes on the base. The Brick Officer housing was built in 1930s and was designed in the Tudor Revival style.\r\nVeteran Debt Fairness provision\r\nBrown was also able to secure language in the appropriations bill that builds on his earlier work to help reduce overpayment errors by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), thereby reducing veteran debt to the Department. This legislation would require VA to submit a plan and timeline to Congress to track the cause of veteran debt. VA currently does not have a way to track individual veteran debt. The legislation also states that a delay or mistake by VA or a VA employee is considered a Department error for the purposes of tracking debt.\r\nIn March, Brown introduced the Veterans Debt Fairness Act to reduce overpayment errors and require VA to hold itself, and not veterans, accountable for its mistakes. Brown's amendment is based on his bill and represents a first step toward full implementation.\r\nAnnually, VA sends as many as 200,000 overpayment notices totaling thousands of dollars to veterans and their families, sending them into crippling debt and withholding future benefits payments until the debt is paid. These overpayments are often a result of VA's own accounting errors, but VA puts veterans and their families on the hook for repaying the debt.\r\nVA benefit overpayment notices have been steadily increasing, sometimes for a payment period dating back as far as five years. Many of these debt overpayments are at no fault of the veteran or their dependents, but rather VA accounting errors and record mismanagement. Currently, VA can send out debt repayment notices to veterans requesting the full amount due within 30 days while freezing all benefit payments until the debt is repaid.\r\nAgent Orange provision\r\nFinally, Brown was able to secure language in the appropriations bill that would require the VA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a report within 30 days outlining any delays in making a determination on adding conditions to the list of service-connected presumptive illnesses. They will also need to include the estimate of adding to the list, and the date the Secretary anticipates promulgating new regulations associated with adding to that list.\r\nBrown has been leading his colleagues in urging the President to take action on behalf of thousands of Vietnam veterans across the country living with chronic health conditions, by expanding the VA's list of medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, Bladder Cancer, Hypertension, and Hypothyroidism. Republicans rejected Brown's most recent measure.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/658-million-cara-grants-final-fy-2020-funding-bill-be-signed-law", "$658 Million for CARA Grants in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "$658 Million for CARA Grants in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced the Senate passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes $658 million for grants through his bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA) that became law in 2016. This funding marks the largest investment in Portman's CARA grant program since it was enacted into law. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature. \nASOhioans of every age continue to suffer from addiction, I'm pleased that we have been able to continue increasing CARA funding that is making a real difference in our communities, said Portman. This $658 million will help state and local health officials, prevention experts, treatment providers, and law enforcement to work together to address this epidemic.I'm grateful for the progress that we have made in combating this epidemic thanks to CARA and will continue to make thanks to this funding and the inclusion of my Combating Meth and Cocaine legislation to give states more flexibility in how they use federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of meth and cocaine. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to make sure those on the ground, our community leaders, first responders, and family members have the support and funding they need to continue their work to fight this epidemic.\n\nSummary of CARA Appropriations\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCARA Programs \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCARA Authorization in 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCARA Appropriations for FY 2017 \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCARA Funding for FY 2018\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCARA Funding for FY 2019\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCARA Funding for FY 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNational Campaign \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$5 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$10 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$10 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$10 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNaloxone for First Responders\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$12 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$24 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$36 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$36 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$41 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tExpanded Drug Treatment\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$25 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$67 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$95 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$100 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$100 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tRecovery Support Services\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$1 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$3 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$5 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$6 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$10 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTreatment for Women \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$17.9 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$19 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$30 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$30 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$32 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tVeterans Treatment Courts \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$6 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$20 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$22 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$22 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tInfant Plan of Safe Care\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$60 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$60 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$60 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tComprehensive Opioid Abuse Program\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$103 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$103 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$310 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$325 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$325 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tGrants for Co-Prescribing Naloxone \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$1 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$1 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$1 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$1 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$1 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCoalition Enhancement Grant\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$5 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$5 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$5 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$5 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tJason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$50 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$56 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$52 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$52 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTotal\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$180.9 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$ 267 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$608 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$647 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t$ 658 Million \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\nNOTE: Senator Portman has led efforts in the U.S. Senate toprovide more resourcesto combat the nation's drug addiction epidemic. Portmanis the author of the bipartisanComprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA) that became law in 2016 and provides resources for evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help people overcome their addiction. The most recent bipartisan funding agreement funded these CARA programs at $647 million, much higher than the authorized amount. Portman'sCARA 2.0 Actwould increase these authorization levels further.\nIn addition, Portman worked tosecure $1 billionin new funding for state grants to fight opioid abuse in the21st Century CURES Act.He's also fought for more overall funding to fight addiction, helping to secure more than$4 billionin new funding over the last few years between CARA, CURES, and other programs. Portman recently announced that hisCombating Meth & Cocaine Act to give states more flexibility to use federal funding to address the resurgence of meth and cocaine was included in the final FY 2020 funding bill.He also introduced the FIGHT Fentanyl Act to permanently list fentanyl-related substances as criminally scheduled drugs.\n\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/key-portman-priorities-protect-great-lakes-national-parks-be-signed-law", "Key Portman Priorities to Protect Great Lakes & National Parks to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Key Portman Priorities to Protect Great Lakes & National Parks to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) praised the passage of the finalFY 2020 funding bill that includes funding for several of his key priorities to protect the Great Lakes and National Parks: theGreat Lakes Restoration Initiative(GLRI), theNational Park Service (NPS) Centennial Challenge,the Migratory Birds of the America's Act, theGreat Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act,theHarmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA), and language prohibiting the Army Corps from dumping sediment dredged from the Cuyahoga River shipping channel into Lake Erie unless the State of Ohio approves that it is environmentally safe. The bill also includes his bipartisan legislation with Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), theGreat Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act as well as his legislation with Senator Brown (D-OH) to extend the authorization for the National Aviation Heritage Area through September 30, 2022.Notably,the bill includes $320 million in funding for GLRI for FY 2020, the largest investment in the health, ecosystem, and water quality in the Great Lakes.The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature. Portman issued the following statement:\nThis bipartisan legislation will benefit Ohio's national parks and Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie. I'm proud that this bill includes the largest investment in funding for GLRI, a successful public-private partnership to protect the water quality and ecosystem of our Great Lakes. It also includes funding for several programs to protect fish populations, migratory birds, and other wildlife species that depend on the Great Lakes. I am also pleased that it extends the authorization for the National Aviation Heritage Area and includes funding for my bipartisan NPS Centennial Challenge program to ensure our national parks receive the resources they need in order to preserve our nation's treasures for generations to come. I will continue to work to deliver results for Ohio and I look forward to the president signing this measure into law.\nNOTE: Here's how the final bipartisanFY 2020 funding bill benefits the Great Lakes and National Parks:\n \n\t$320 Million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative:Portman hasled efforts to ensure the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a results-driven program, has the resources it needsto addressthe most serious issuesthatthreatenthe ecological and economic wellbeing of theGreat Lakesbasin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. Portman has steadfastly opposedattempts by the Obama administration to cut funding for GLRI and the Trump administration's attempts to eliminate it altogether. This $320 million is the largest investment in the Great Lakes' health, ecosystem, and water quality, and has already helped combat harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and pollution in the Great Lakes.Most recently, Portman introduced new reauthorization legislation, theGreat Lakes Restoration Initiative Actof 2019, whichwill ramp up funding to $375 million in FY 2022and then increase funding by $25 million per year until it hits $475 million inFY 2026.\n\t\n\tFunding for the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA):Portman worked to successfully reauthorize the HABHRCA program through FY2023, which has served as the federal government's research and response toolkit for harmful algal blooms. Senator Portman previously worked to include freshwater bodies, such as Lake Erie, as part of the program. The final bipartisan FY 2020 bill includes funding for HABHRCA through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\t\n\t$4.9 Million for Migratory Birds:Portman'sMigratory Birds of the Americas Actprovides the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) the resources it needs to protect the migratory bird populations that make Lake Erie one of the nation's premier birdwatching destinations.Birding contributes more than $20 million to Ohio's tourism industry and attracts visitors from across the world each year. The bill will help sustain populations of migratory birds that face threats to their health and habitats.\n\t\n\t$1.68 Million for Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act:Portman's bipartisanGreat Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Actprovides critical resources to conserve and restore fish and wildlife populations in the Great Lakes. The legislation, which was signed into law in 2016 as part of theWIIN Act, reauthorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) program to partner with other federal agencies, states, and tribes to develop and execute proposals for the restoration of fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes basin.\n\t\n\tGreat Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act: Portman's bipartisan GLFRA Act enables the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to continue to conduct research to help support the over $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industries. It does so by authorizing the Great Lakes Science Center  which helps sustain Great Lakes fisheries and reduce threats such as invasive species.\n\t\n\tProtecting Lake Erie from Dredged Materials:Portman's bipartisan language prohibits the Army Corps of Engineers from dumping material dredged from the Cuyahoga River shipping channel into Lake Erie without the approval from the State of Ohio that it is environmentally safe.\n\t\n\t$15 Million for the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial Challenge:Portman, a lifelong outdoorsman and a frequent visitor to Ohio's national parks, has long been a leader in the U.S. Senate in effortsto protect our national parks. He is the author of theNational Park Service CentennialAct, legislation signed into law in 2016 that authorizes the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund and the Second Century Endowment Fund, two public-private partnerships that are providing additional funding to help preserve our national parks for generations to come.\n\t\n\tExtending Funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area: Senator Portman's legislation with Senator Brown was included in the final FY 2020 bill to reauthorize funding for the National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) through September 30, 2022. NAHA spans eight counties throughout western Ohio and has more than two million visitors annually, generating $35 million in economic impact and supporting 1,500 jobs in the region. \n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-applauds-senate-passage-90-million-security-resources-faith-based", "Portman Applauds Senate Passage of $90 Million in Security Resources for Faith-Based Communities & Institutions Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Applauds Senate Passage of $90 Million in Security Resources for Faith-Based Communities & Institutions Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced the Senate-passed final FY 2020 funding bill includes the $90 million he requested in December for the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides grants to faith-based and other nonprofit organizations to help secure their facilities against a potential terrorist attack. Of the $90 million total, $50 million will be available for nonprofits located within high-risk urban areas, and the remaining $40 million will be available for organizations that fall outside of those areas. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nI am pleased that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes $90 million for nonprofit security grants so that synagogues, religious and cultural facilities, and other nonprofits across our country that are at a high risk of a terrorist attack have access to the resources they need to secure their facilities,said Portman.As we've seen recently, the threats to houses of worship and other religious community sites are increasing and we must do everything we can to protect them in Ohio and across our country.\nNOTE: In December, Senator Portman joined bipartisan colleagues in a letter urging Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Jon Tester (D-MT), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, to fund the NSGP at $90 million. Earlier this year Senator Portman and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Protecting Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations From Terrorism Act (S. 1539), legislation that would set a funding floor for these programs. This bill authorizes $75 million annually for FYs 2020-2024 for the NSGP. Last fall, Portman and Petersurged appropriatorsto approve $60 million in FY 2019 funding for this program, and that request was ultimately approved. In 2017, Portman and Peters led alettersigned by all 100 of their colleagues to the Homeland Security Secretary, Attorney General, and FBI Director urging them to take swift action in response to the anonymous bomb threats being made against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs), Jewish Day Schools, and synagogues across the country. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-announce-320-million-great-lakes-restoration-initiative-be", "Portman, Brown Announce $320 Million for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Brown Announce $320 Million for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today praised Senate passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill that includes $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). GLRI is a results-driven program, and this funding ensures that it has the resources it needsto addressthe most serious issuesthatthreatenthe ecological and economic wellbeing of theGreat Lakesbasin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination.This $320 million is the largest investment in the Great Lakes' health, ecosystem, and water quality, and has already helped combat harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and pollution in the Great Lakes.The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nThe Great Lakes are an invaluable resource to Ohio, and GLRI has been a successful public-private partnership that helps protect both our environment and our economy,said Senator Portman.The Great Lakes arecritical to Ohio's fishing industry,provide drinking water for 40 million people, contribute billions in tourism each year, and support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the region. Funding this critical initiative at $320 million this fiscal year is a strong statement of support for the program, and I'm grateful for the backing we've received from the administration and my bipartisan colleagues. I will continue to help lead efforts intheU.S. Senate to support this critical bipartisan initiative.\nLake Erie is one of Ohio's most important natural resources and we must do all we can to keep it healthy for families, businesses, boaters, and anglers that rely on the lake,said Senator Brown.We do that by ensuring the GLRI is operating at its full strength so communities can continue the necessary work to keep Lake Erie clean today and for the next generation.\nSince its inception, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has tripled the successful cleanup and delisting of Areas of Concern throughout the country, reduced phosphorus runoff and the threat of harmful algal blooms, controlled and stopped the advancement of invasive species, and restored wildlife habitats over thousands of miles of rivers and waterways. Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has provided nearly $2.5 billion to fund 4,858 projects throughout the Great Lakes region. Portman and Brown introduced new reauthorization legislation, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019, which will ramp up funding to $375 million in FY 2022 and then increase funding by $25 million per year until it hits $475 million in FY 2026.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-legislation-extend-funding-daytons-national-aviation-heritage", "Portman, Brown Legislation to Extend Funding for Daytons National Aviation Heritage Area to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Brown Legislation to Extend Funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced the Senate passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes their legislation to reauthorize funding for Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) through September 30, 2022. NAHA spans eight counties throughout western Ohio, with a large presence in Dayton, the home of the Wright Brothers. There are a variety of cultural sites within the NAHA, including the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park, Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and Grimes Flying Field, as well as resources related to the Wright Brothers. \nThe National Aviation Heritage Area in Dayton is home to our nation's aviation history and I am proud the Senate-passed FY 2020 funding bill includes this legislation to help ensure it is preserved and enjoyed by future generations, said Portman. It tells the story of the Wright Brothers' development of the first airplane, which has led to a strong aviation industry in the region today. This site is a public-private partnership that has generated significant economic growth for the region.\nThe pioneering spirit of Paul Laurence Dunbar and the Wright Brothers is reflected today in Dayton's National Aviation Heritage Area. It's a privilege to represent a state that has and continues to play such an important role in the aviation sector. I'm proud to stand with Senator Portman in our effort to ensure that federal investment in the National Aviation Heritage Area will continue, said Brown.\nAs of April 2018, the National Aviation Heritage Area has more than two million visitors annually, generating $35 million in economic impact and supporting 1,500 jobs in the region.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-praise-senate-passage-extension-health-coverage-tax-credit", "Portman, Brown Praise Senate Passage of Extension of Health Coverage Tax Credit", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Brown Praise Senate Passage of Extension of Health Coverage Tax Credit \n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Health Coverage Tax Credit is Critically Important for Thousands of Hardworking Retirees in Ohio \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) praised Senate passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill which included a short-term extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit through the end of 2020. This credit helps subsidize the cost of continued coverage for retirees and other individuals who lost their health care coverage  in addition to their pensions and other benefits  when their employers either entered into bankruptcy or laid off workers due to foreign trade. Earlier this year, Portman and Brown introduced bipartisan legislation that would extendfor five yearsthe Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The HCTC is critically important for many hardworking Ohioans, including as many as 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees in Dayton, the Mahoning Valley, and Sandusky. In addition, a few hundred workers from the Lordstown General Motors plant have applied for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and would benefit from the HCTC as well. \nThousands of retirees in Ohio and their families depend on the Health Coverage Tax Credit, and I'm pleased the funding bill includes an extension of this credit, even if it is only for one year,Portman said. Since I came to the Senate, I've fought for multiple extensions of the HCTC, including my bill that was included in the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 the last time the credit was extended.These hardworking Ohioans rely on the HCTC for affordable health insurance after their pensions were terminated or after they were adversely affected by foreign trade, and I will continue to work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure the stability of health coverage for these individuals and their families. While this short-term extension is less than the five years I called for in my legislation with Senator Brown, I'm still pleased that we were able to prevent the expiration of this credit, providing certainty to thousands of Ohioans.\nThe Health Coverage Tax Credit is a lifeline for thousands of Ohioans, many of whom are living on fixed incomes after losing their pensions and healthcare. This critical legislation will help ensure these retirees and workers get the relief they need in order to afford healthcare, said Brown. \nNOTE: The HCTC, which is set to expire on January 1, 2020, helps to reduce the cost of maintaining health insurance coverage for a number of individuals that are either receiving TAA benefits or are between the ages of 55-64 years oldwhose pensions were terminated and are being administered by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Portman and Brown worked together to extend this tax credit in 2011 and again in 2015.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-praises-key-tax-incentives-passed-senate-ready-be-signed-law", "Portman Praises Key Tax Incentives Passed by Senate, Ready to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Praises Key Tax Incentives Passed by Senate, Ready to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) praised Senate passage of key tax incentives, included in the final FY 2020 funding bill, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the Health Coverage Tax Credit, CFC Look-through, the Medical Expense Deduction, and the Craft Beverage Tax Relief. These tax incentives now head to the president's desk for his signature. Portman has seen firsthand how these incentives help Ohio, boosting the economy, economic development, jobs, and innovation in the state.\nThese tax incentives are important to Ohio and I want to thank the president for his support. Many of these incentives  including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the Health Coverage Tax Credit, CFC Look-through, the Medical Expense Deduction and the Craft Beverage Tax Relief  are critical to continuing middle-class tax relief and generating more investment and economic development in Ohio.I fought to preserve them in the tax reform law because they drive more economic growth and job creation, and that's good for our country.\nAlthough I believe it was necessary to pass this extensions package to avoid the economic dislocation that would have occurred, I believe Congress must have a serious and thorough discussion next year on the future of these provisions, making permanent the ones that work for our economy and ending or phasing out the ones that are unnecessary. Too often, Congress refuses to make the hard choices with these temporary tax provisions, resulting in short-term, ineffective policy that we constantly have to revisit.I will continue to work with Chairman Grassley, my colleagues in the House and Senate, and the administration next year to help bring all sides together on a long-term agreement on these tax extenders and other fixes to the tax reform law.\nThe package extends by one year the following tax provisions:\n \n\tThe New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC). In the 2017 tax reform law, Portman led the effort to preserve the New Markets Tax Credit, which helps economically-distressed communities attract private capital for community redevelopment purposes, and Cincinnati has been a significant beneficiary. In 2017, Portman visited the Nehemiah Manufacturing Company, which is using the NMTC to expand and provide meaningful employment opportunities to ex-offenders re-entering society. This proposal would extend NMTC for one additional year.\n \n \n\tThe Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). In the 2017 tax reform law, Portman led the effort to preserve the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides employers with a tax credit for hiring and retaining veterans, ex-felons, disabled individuals, summer youth employees, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Supplemental Security Income recipients. A 2015 Portman amendment added a $2,400 credit for first-year wages paid to the long-term unemployed.This proposal would extend WOTC for one additional year.\n\tThe Craft Beverage Tax Relief. The tax extenders package extends for one additional year the bipartisanCraft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act, legislation cosponsored and championed by Portman that provides excise tax relief to thegrowing craft beverage industry, helping these entrepreneurs reinvest more in their businesses and our communities. In the 2017 tax reform law, Portman offered the amendment to add this excise tax relief into the larger package. Ohio is number four in the country in craft beer production and supports 15,000 jobs in the state. For his work, Portman received the Beer Institute's 2018 Beer Champion award in September 2018 for his leadership in championing reforms that allow brewers and beer importers to reinvest in their businesses, hire new employees, and continue to innovate and create America's favorite beers. Portman also received the Legislative Champion award from the Brewers Association in July 2018 for his leadership on this issue. \n \n \n\tThe Medical Expense Deduction Expansion. Dating back to the passage of the ACA, Portman has led efforts in Congress to roll back this onerous tax increase on the middle class and seniors, including the past legislation to roll back this tax increase for seniors. In the 2017 tax reform law, Portman worked with Senator Susan Collins to expand this relief to all taxpayers on a temporary basis. The tax extenders package extends this relief for one additional year, ensuring that more Americans have access to this deduction designed to reduce the tax costs of out-of-pocket medical expenses and long-term care.\n \n \n\tThe Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The tax extenders package extends for one-year the Health Coverage Tax Credit, which helps subsidize the cost of continued coverage for retirees and other individuals who lost their health care coverage  in addition to their pensions and other benefits  when their employers either entered into bankruptcy or laid off workers due to foreign trade. Earlier this year, Portman introduced bipartisan legislation to extend this important credit for five years. The HCTC is critically important for many hardworking Ohioans, including as many as 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees in Dayton, the Mahoning Valley, and Sandusky. In addition, a few hundred workers from the Lordstown General Motors plant have applied for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and would benefit from the HCTC as well.\n \n \n\tCFC Look-Through Rules. The tax extenders package extends for one-year the look-through rules for U.S. multinationals to allow for the efficient ability to bring back dollars trapped overseas. Portman has led efforts to provide this tax certainty in the past, including an amendment to a previous extenders markup in 2015 that sought to make this relief permanent. These rules are an important element to our modernized international tax system and allow companies like Procter & Gamble, GE, and Walmart to bring back cash that's trapped overseas in order to increase jobs and investment here at home.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-praises-senate-passage-funding-boost-great-lakes-fishery-research", "Portman Praises Senate Passage of Funding to Boost Great Lakes Fishery Research, Ready to be Signed into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Praises Senate Passage of Funding to Boost Great Lakes Fishery Research, Ready to be Signed into Law\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Senators Previously Introduced Legislation to Provide Legislative Authority to the Great Lakes Science Center to Conduct Fishery Research Efforts to Support Effective Fishery Management Decisions \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the Senate for passing the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to authorize Great Lakes fishery funding and help support effective fishery management decisions. TheGreat Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act willenable the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to continue to conduct research to help support the over $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industries. It also will authorize the Great Lakes Science Center, which helps sustain Great Lakes fisheries and reduce threats such as invasive species and harmful algal blooms. Despite holding one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water, the Great Lakes science program does not receive the same level of funding authorization as science centers on the country's saltwater coasts, and this legislation will help decrease the resource gap between the Great Lakes Science Center and other fishery research centers across the nation. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law.\nThe Great Lakes are an invaluable resource to Ohio, critically important to both our environment and our economy, said Senator Portman, co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. By authorizing the USGS's Great Lakes Science Center for the first time, we are prioritizing the research on fish populations and invasive species used by the Great Lakes states as well as Canada to support the health and growth of our $7 billion fishing industry. The inclusion of this bill in the final FY 2020 bipartisan funding agreement ensures we will have the resources to help protect the Great Lakes for generations to come and I urge the president to sign it into law soon.\nThe USGS Great Lakes Science Center is currently funded through the USGS's base appropriation with no sole source of funding of its own. The organization has required authorizing legislation and a dependable funding stream to conduct and modernize fishery research throughout the five Great Lakes to support effective fishery management decisions. This bill authorizes $15 million each year from Fiscal Years 2021-2025. \nLocated in Ann Arbor, the Great Lakes Science Center maintains staff and field stations in five of the eight Great Lakes States, including Michigan, Ohio, New York, Indiana and Wisconsin. It owns and operates five large fishery research vessels and is the only agency that conducts lake-wide fisheries science assessments on each of the five Great Lakes. Their research has included advancing a suite of projects to support restoration efforts of native prey fish populations throughout the Great Lakes basin; leading world-class research on the most notable invasive species in the history of the Great Lakes, the parasitic sea lamprey; and helping to implement one of the largest freshwater telemetry fish-movement-tracking networks in the world.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-praises-senate-passage-funding-cleanup-and-redevelopment-portsmouth", "Portman Praises Senate Passage of Funding for Cleanup and Redevelopment of Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Praises Senate Passage of Funding for Cleanup and Redevelopment of Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill passed today includes $367 million for the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio as well as $51 million for the onsite disposal cell, which is $10 million above FY 2019 enacted levels.This funding is needed to maintain current employment levels and continue the decontamination and decommissioning work at the Portsmouth site, which is critical for redevelopment, jobs, and economic development in the region. The site is now fully funded through appropriations after the Department of Energy suspended its barter program in FY 2019, which provides more funding certainty for the site. \nThe final FY 2020 funding bill also includes $40 million as part of a three-year demonstration project to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). HALEU canbe the fuel source for advanced nuclear reactors, technology that can be used to improve our nation's energy security. A domestic enrichment capability is also needed for national security purposes. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature. Portman issued the following statement:\nThe cleanup and redevelopment of this plantis critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of Southern Ohio, and this funding is another milestone in the effort to get the site cleaned up and ready for redevelopment. I'm committed to ensuring there are sufficient resources for the cleanup work at Portsmouth now and in the future. I am also pleased that the legislation passed today includes funding for the centrifuge demonstration project, which this administration supports and agrees is necessary for our national security. I will continue to work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure this site gets cleaned up and ready for redevelopment.\nNOTE: Senator Portman has been a leader in the decontamination and decommissioning efforts at the former gaseous diffusion plant at the Piketon site. He has consistently worked tosecure fundingneeded to maintain current employmentlevels to clean up at the site. In February 2018, Portman visited the plan and met with key stakeholders  including Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative, the Site Specific Advisory Board, and local and state elected officials  to discuss the future of cleanup activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. During the meeting, Senator Portman announced that he hadsecured a commitmentfrom DOE to clean up the existing landfills and plumes at the plant.\nIn addition, in January Portman announcedU.S. Department of Energy's intenttoinvest $115 million over the next three years, potentially resulting in 60 initial jobs, to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU).Underquestioning from Portmanlast year, Secretary Perry  whotoured the site with Portman in 2017 committed to re-evaluating the Obama administration's decision to end the domestic uranium enrichment demonstration program because having domestic enrichment capabilities would provide stability and security to our country. The demonstration program  known as the American Centrifuge Plant  operated at Piketon until it was disbanded by the Obama administration in 2015.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-senate-colleagues-applaud-senate-passage-tropical-forest", "Portman, Senate Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Senate Colleagues' Applaud Senate Passage of Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act Included in Final FY 2020 Funding Bill\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Bipartisan Legislation Promotes Conservation & Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), along with Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Richard Burr (R-NC), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Brian Schatz (D-HI), announced that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes $15 million for their bipartisanTropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act(TFCA). This program has saved more than 67 million acres of tropical forest by allowing developing countries that meet certain criteria to be relieved of debt owed to the United States in exchange for their conservation efforts. To date, the TFCA program has sequestered 56 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 11.8 million cars off the road.For the first time since its inception in 1998, Portman's legislation expands TFCA to include the protection of coral reef ecosystems. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nI'm pleased that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes $15 million for this bipartisan conservation effort which is making significant strides toward building stronger relationships with countries around the world while ensuring our natural resources are protected and preserved for the next generation,said Senator Portman,co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus.Since 1998, this common-sense and proven approach has protected millions of acres of tropical forest from deforestationa leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions.\nThis bipartisan legislation is simply smart policy: it helps preserve and protect precious eco-systems all while strengthening the United States' economic and security relationships around the world,Senator Udall said.I am glad that the final funding bill includes these resources for the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, because it represents the sensible and creative approach to policy-making that we need to take if we want to confront the increasingly grave threats to our planet and global stability.\nI believe that conservation is one of the greatest gifts we can give to future generations, and that we have a responsibility to preserve and pass down the incredible natural wonders we've inherited,Senator Burr stated.I'm proud to have been a part of this bipartisan effort to help protect tropical forests and coral reef systems.\nIt's going to take aggressive conservation efforts all over the world to address rising seas, declining wildlife populations, and disappearing natural habitats, said Senator Whitehouse. This program has successfully protected tropical forests, and I'm pleased that our bipartisan effort has been expanded to include other fragile ecosystems like coral reefs.\nNOTE:Portman first introduced the TFCA in 1998 as a member of the House of Representatives. According to the Congressional Research Service, since 1998, 20 TFCA agreements have been completed with 14 countries, raising more than $339 million for tropical forest conservation.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-smith-bipartisan-revitalizing-underdeveloped-rural-areas-and-lands", "Portman, Smith Bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Smith Bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Legislation Provides Certainty to Rural Co-ops to Accept Rural Broadband Grants and FEMA Disaster Relief, Promoting Economic Development & Job Creation \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding bill that includes their bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act to preserve jobs and encourage infrastructure development by expanding tax-exempt cooperative organizations' access to government grants and assistance, including rural broadband grants and FEMA disaster relief. This legislation provides certainty for co-ops looking to utilize government resources to deliver critical services to their members, such as broader access to high-speed internet or repairs to the electrical grid. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nI'm pleased that this bipartisan legislation will now head to the president's desk to be signed into law because in today's technology-dependent world, we must do more to bring high-speed internet and stronger grid infrastructure to the rural areas of our country. Tax-exempt rural co-ops provide these important services to parts of the country where access to reliable electricity and high-speed internet is the most limited, and they rely heavily on grants to perform these services. Without this legislation, many co-ops may miss out on grant income or disaster assistance, hurting our efforts to promote economic development and job creation in these rural areas, said Portman.\nWe should take any action we can to help us get more Minnesotans and Americans in rural areas connected, said Smith. So when I heard from several Minnesota cooperatives at risk of losing their tax-exempt status, I wanted to reverse that. I introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure co-ops can retain their tax exemptions when they receive grants to expand rural broadband or recover from a disaster. With this measure set to become law, we can make sure rural broadband keeps expanding in Minnesota and nationwide.\nNOTE: The RURAL Act will amend the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to ensure tax-exempt cooperative organizations do not lose their tax-exempt status when they make use of certain government grants, contributions, and assistance, including rural broadband grants and FEMA disaster relief. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-solution-miners-pensions-and-health-care-be-signed-law", "Portman Solution to Miners Pensions and Health Care to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Solution to Miners' Pensions and Health Care to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding package, which includes the Bipartisan American Miners Act to help secure pensions and health care for 92,000 coal miners across the United States, and their families. The Bipartisan American Miners Act, which Portman cosponsored, secures lifetime health care benefits for 3,119 miners in Ohio who would have lost their benefits entirely by March, and the nearly 6,000 Ohioans whose pensions would have been reduced dramatically beginning next year. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature. \nOur miners worked hard, played by the rules, and earned these health care and pension benefits, whichwithout this agreementwould be reduced dramatically or lost altogether, said Portman. I'm pleased that the Senate has passed this legislation to give our miners the secure health care and pension benefits they have earned, and peace of mind to their families. This is a victory for our miners and for Ohio, and I'm proud to have worked to ensure this bipartisan solution gets done.\nSenator Portman's consistent dedication to securing the pensions and health care of retired miners and their widows was a huge part of our victory, said Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers of America. 92,000 current and future retirees, or their widows, will now have the peace of mind that a lifetime of hard work did not go in vain, and that the pensions they earned in sweat and blood will be secure. On their behalf, I sincerely thank Senator Portman for his strong support.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-statement-house-passage-us-mexico-canada-agreement", "Portman Statement on House Passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Statement on House Passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):\nToday's strong bipartisan vote is good news for Ohio and the country, and it paves the way for Senate approval next year. This long-awaited agreement is a significant improvement over the status quo of NAFTA. By opening more markets, it is good for American workers, farmers, and manufacturers, and it will create thousands of new jobs here in the United States. \nOhio's two top trading partners are Canada and Mexico. The new USMCAis particularly good for Ohio because it expands market access for Ohio farm products, incentivizes more auto production in the state, and makes online sales easier for Ohio companies.\nI applaud President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer for their persistence and their determination to finalize this historic new trade agreement. A vote for USMCA is a vote for improved market access, more U.S. manufacturing, and a more level playing field for American workers, farmers, and service providers. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join me in supporting it.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-udall-bill-ensure-remaining-stamps-promote-wildlife-conservation", "Portman, Udall Bill to Ensure Remaining Stamps to Promote Wildlife Conservation Are Sold to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Udall Bill to Ensure Remaining Stamps to Promote Wildlife Conservation Are Sold to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DCToday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Udall (D-NM) announced the Senate passage of the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes their bipartisanMultinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act, legislation that requires the U.S. Postal Service to sell the approximately 50 million remaining Saving Vanishing Species Stamps left in stock. When the program began in 2011, the U.S. Postal Service printed 100 million stamps to help promote wildlife conservation and this legislation will require the U.S. Postal Service to sell the approximately 50 million remaining stamps left in stock. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nWe owe it to our future generations to preserve our planet's rich wildlife and natural resources so that they can continue to be enjoyed, said Portman. This successful stamp program has raised millions of dollars to fund conservation without any taxpayer money. I'm pleased the Senate has now approved this legislation, which will ensure that every last stamp is sold. \nBy giving anyone the chance to easily and voluntarily contribute to a good cause with the simple act of mailing a letter, this stamp program has been a successful way to bolster conservation initiatives that protect iconic wildlife and critical habitat at no cost to taxpayers, Udall said. I'm glad the Senate passed this provision, because we must ensure we are taking advantage of every opportunity to preserve the world's treasured natural landscapes and species for generations to come.\nNOTE:On September 20, 2011, the U.S. Postal Service issued the Saving Vanishing Species Stamp, depicting an endangered Amur tiger cub, priced above the normal price of a first-class stamp. The difference in price from this first-class stamp is transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the five Multinational Species Conservation Funds to protect tigers, rhinoceroses, Asian and African elephants, marine turtles, and great apes. These programs target poaching, illegal wildlife trade, habitat protection, and projects to incorporate species conservation into community development.\nAccording to the Fish and Wildlife Service, since the first of these stamps went on sale in 2011, more than 50 million have been sold, raising more than $5.7 million. This has helped fund 99 projects in more than 35 countries. Projects supported in part by sales of the Save Vanishing Species Stamp have also leveraged $18.8 million in additional matching funds.\nPortman and Udall authored legislation that was signed into law to extend the sale of the stamp through September 2018. This new legislation would require the U.S. Postal Service to sell the approximately 50 million remaining stamps left in stock.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-udall-stabenow-introduce-legislation-restore-americas-national", "Portman, Udall, Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Restore Americas National Forests", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Udall, Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Restore America's National Forests\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      The Reforestation Act of 2019 Would Double Funding to $60 Million per Year Without New Taxpayer Funds to Help the U.S. Forest Service Prioritize and Reduce the Backlog of 1.3 Million Forestland Acres in Need of Replanting Within 10 Years \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC Today,U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Tom Udall (D-NM),and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)introducedtheReforestation Act of 2019to bolster funding for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to address its backlog of planting needs by carrying out reforestation projects in forests damaged by events such as wildfires, insects and disease. \nGiven the Forest Service's reforestation backlog,the new bipartisan bill would double funding from the Reforestation Trust Fund to $60 million per year. The purpose of the Reforestation Trust Fund is to address USFS replanting needs. It would also direct USFS to quantify the backlog of replanting needs, reduce delays by expanding stewardship contracting, and encourage state and Tribal partnership. Among other associated activities, reforestation includes planting tree seedlings on forests that are unlikely to regenerate on their own in order to reestablish native plants and ensure the health of ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife populations that depend on the forestland. Replanting forests is also an effective way to increase natural carbon sequestration to reduce emissions, create jobs, and support natural ecosystems. Ensuring healthy forests also helps create jobs and recreational opportunities. Ohio's only national forest, the Wayne National Forest, has received $378,000 from the Reforestation Trust Fund since FY 2015 to address its reforestation needs.\nI am pleased to join Senators Udall and Stabenow in introducing this bipartisan legislation to address the reforestation needs within our federal forests. With 1.3 million acres of forest in need of replanting, addressing this backlog provides a wide range of benefits, including sequestering as much as 1.1 million metric tons of carbon emissions, reinvigorating the ecosystems and native plant and animal species that depend on healthy forests, and creating jobs and recreation opportunities on our forestland. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this common-sense, bipartisan legislation to address the reforestation backlog in our nation's forests, said Portman. \nAmerica's National Forests are some of our greatest natural resources. Investing in them is a necessity made more urgent by the rising toll from fire damage,said Udall.Reforestation supports species diversity, providing wildlife with habitat while also supplying clean air and water and supporting jobs in local communities. And in the fight against climate change, re-growing our forests is a cost-effective and powerful tool to capture carbon and combat the threats we will have to confront, including drought and extreme weather. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that lives up to our responsibility to conserve our nation's natural gifts for future generations.\nRestoring our national forests will not only improve water quality and create new habitats for hunting and fishing, it's also part of the solution to combat the climate crisis,said Stabenow.Supporting reforestation is a cost-effective way to draw carbon pollution out of air, while restoring our public lands.\nUSFS has estimated that in FY 2018, 80 percent of its reforestation needs were attributed to wildfires. Andone recent studyfound that tree mortality caused by insects and diseases alonewhich impacts less acreage than wildfiresreleased 6 million tons of carbon, the equivalent of tailpipe emissions from 4.4 million cars.\nWith only approximately 15 percent of the tree planting backlog addressed each year with current funding levels, this legislation will help provide much-needed resources to the Forest Service to address its reforestation needs. According to American Forests, our U.S. national forests currently offset 14-15 percent of total U.S. carbon emissions. This legislation is good for the environment, and will help promote jobs and recreational opportunities within our nation's forests.\nThe legislation is supported by American Forests,the Outdoor Industry Association, the Evangelical Environmental Network, National Wildlife Federation, andThe Nature Conservancy.\nThanks to the leadership of Senator Udall, Senator Portman and Senator Stabenow, this bipartisan legislation solves a pressing national problem by updating the Reforestation Trust Fund so it can completely fulfill its original purpose to maintain the health of our national forests,said Jad Daley, President and CEO of American Forests.\nOur National Forest System is a beautiful gift from God, and we are thankful for Senators Portman and Udall who are working to protect and restore these special places. Reforesting vulnerable swaths of land will help to restore fragile ecosystems, capture carbon, and clean the air. Overall, this bill is good news for our climate and all of God's bountiful creation. We encourage Congress to swiftly pass this important legislation,said Mitch Hescox, President and CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN).\nAmerica's forests provide essential wildlife habitat, protect healthy watersheds and clean drinking water, and serve as natural carbon-sinks  a vital climate solution. Investing in forest restoration and reforestation benefits wildlife and people alike,said Collin O'Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. The National Wildlife Federation is grateful to Senator Udall for his tireless efforts to accelerate efforts to improve the health of our National Forests by making them more resilient to escalating impacts from megafires, drought, pests, and disease  all of which are exacerbated by climate change.\nInvesting in our forests is one of the clearest paths to a healthy and sustainable future for our planet, and this bill puts us on the right path,said Kameran Onley, Director of U.S. Government Relations at The Nature Conservancy.Reforestation remains one of our most effective nature-based solutions for combatting climate change. Expanding reforestation efforts would also improve air quality, protect watersheds that provide drinking water for millions of people, preserve fish and wildlife habitats and expand outdoor recreation opportunities nationwide. Reforestation is the kind of on-the-ground, scalable and effective strategy we need to implement to ensure our forests are here for future generations. We commend these senators for coming together to forward this important investment in our forests, and we urge Congress to quickly enact this legislation.\nTheReforestation Act of 2019would:\n \n\tDirect the USFS to develop a plan to address its backlog of replanting needs on national forestlands within 10 years: The Act amends the Forest Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974to require USFS to develop a plan and cost estimate to address the backlog of replanting needs on national forestlands by 2029. To aide in how to prioritize the backlog, the Act directs the USFS to prioritize land that is in need of reforestation due to unplanned events, such as wildfire and disease.\n\tProvide additional funding to tackle the backlog: The Act amends the Reforestation Trust Fundto double theamount of annual fundsthat are authorized to be used by USFS to address its reforestation needs. The Reforestation Trust Fund is funded throughtariff collections on imported woodproducts.This provision does not increase tariffs, but instead usesfunds that are already being collected consistent with the tariff rates under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. The Fund currently receives a rolling ten-year average of $97M per year, and this legislation would double the current authorization  from $30 million per year to $60 million per year  of funding that can be taken from the Reforestation Trust Fund for replanting needs. Any funds that are not used from the Fund are deposited into the General Treasury. Reforestation priority would be given to understocked national forests that are unlikely to naturally regenerate following an unplanned adverse event.\n\tDirect the USFS to reduce delaysin tackling reforestation projects through expanded Stewardship Contracting: The Act amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Actto ensurethat stewardship contracts can include reforestationprojectsfollowing an unplanned adverse event, such as a wildfire.\n\tEncourages Federal, State, Tribal Partnerships: The Act expands the Good Neighbor Authority, a policy authorizing USFS to enter into forest management agreements with state and local forest agencies, to include reforestation following an unplanned adverse event, such as a wildfire, disease, or insects. As a result, the USFS will be able to partner with states and Tribes on reforestation projects.\n \nThe full text of the bill is availablehere. A summary of the legislation can be foundhere.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portmans-combating-meth-cocaine-act-be-signed-law", "Portmans Combating Meth & Cocaine Act to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman's Combating Meth & Cocaine Act to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Legislation Will Give States More Flexibility to Use Federal Opioid Funding to Address Resurgence of Meth & Cocaine \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding package including Portman's bipartisan Combating Meth & Cocaine Act, legislation that will give states more flexibility to use federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of psychostimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine.Specifically, the bill expands the use of the State Opioid Response Grant funding to address rising use and overdose deaths attributed to the abuse of methamphetamine and cocaine.The legislation now heads to the president's desk for his signature.\nWhen I talk to law enforcement, treatment providers and others on the frontlines of the drug crisis, I am increasingly hearing about the resurgence of methamphetamine and cocaine overdoses across Ohio, said Portman. This legislation will give states more flexibility to use federal opioid funding to address the resurgence of methamphetamine and cocaine, which will better address the on-the-ground reality of addiction in my state and many others.\nNOTE: There has been a resurgence of methamphetamine and cocaine overdoses in Ohio and around the United States.According to an annual survey by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2016, 2.4 million Americans said they recently had started using cocaine, methamphetamines or prescription stimulants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants have increased nationwide in recent years.Among the more than 70,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017, more than 23,000  or nearly a third  involved cocaine, meth, or both.From 2016 to 2017, death rates involving psychostimulants like meth and cocaine each increased by approximately 33 percent. According to an October 2018 report from Ohio University, psychostimulants were found in just nine unintentional overdose deaths in 2010. That number rose to 556 in 2017, an increase of more than 6,000 percent. That same year, Ohio also had more than 1,500 individuals die of cocaine overdoses, almost a 140 percent increase from the year before.\nIn the last several years, Congress has made an historic investment to combat the opioid epidemic through a variety of initiatives to support the efforts of states, localities, law enforcement, and nonprofits. One of those initiatives, the 21st Century CURES Act, was enacted in 2016 and provided $1 billion in grants to states to combat the opioids epidemic for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. This funding, now referred to as State Opioid Response Grants, provided another $500 million to states in fiscal year 2019. State Opioid Response Grants are designed to address the opioid epidemic broadly, but this grant funding has been interpreted to exclude resources for the rising abuse of psychostimulants.The Combating Meth and Cocaine Act explicitly broadens the use of the State Opioid Response Grants to give states the flexibility to use this funding to address the resurgence of methamphetamine and cocaine.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/secure-act-retirement-security-reforms-championed-portman-ready-be-signed", "SECURE ACT Retirement Security Reforms Championed by Portman Ready To Be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SECURE ACT Retirement Security Reforms Championed by Portman Ready To Be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Bipartisan Measure  Which Includes Key Portman Retirement Security Priorities  Will Help More Americans Save for Retirement  \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act passed the Senate as a part of the final FY 2020 funding bill and will be signed into law.TheSECURE Act includes reforms sponsored by Portman designed to help more Americans save for their retirement, including marquee provisions to encourage small businesses to offer retirement plans to their workers, ensure millions of part-time employees can access 401(k) plans, and increase the age for required minimum distributions from 70 and a half to 72. TheSECURE Actalso includes Portman'sRetirement Security Preservation Act,which would reform pension nondiscrimination laws to prevent more than 400,000 Americans from having their pensions frozen in January. Additional provisions in the bipartisanRetirement Security & Savings Act,which Portman introduced with Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), are also included in theSECURE Act. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for signature.\nPassing the SECURE Act is a big victory that will help ensure that all hard-working Americans have a chance to build a nest egg for their retirement. Many of the provisions in the SECURE Act have been under consideration by the Senate for multiple years and multiple sessions of Congress, dating all the way back to the Senate Finance Committee markup in 2016. I'm particularly pleased that this legislation includes legislation I've introduced to help protect the retirement security of hundreds of thousands of dedicated older Americans who are at risk of losing future retirement benefits this year.It also includes two provisions I've championed to help expand access to 401(k)s and allow individuals choosing to work later in life to keep saving for retirement. I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law quickly to strengthen the retirement security of the American people.\nThere is still more that we can do to help more Americans save for their retirement.I believe that passage of the SECURE Act can help pave the way for bolder reforms in legislation I have introduced with Senator Cardin called the Retirement Security and Savings Act. I believe the Senate Finance Committee should hold hearings and a markup on this legislation, and I will work closely with Senator Cardin to move it forward.\nNOTE: Portman'sRetirement Security Preservation Act(RSPA), is an urgent provision which would provide permanent relief from outdated pension rules to protect more than 400,000 older, longer-service participants in closed defined benefit plans that are at risk of losing pension benefits by the end of this year.Many companies facing long-term pension liabilities have soft-frozen their single-employer pension plans  that is, they grandfathered existing employees into the existing defined benefit plan, while creating a new defined contribution plan (such as a 401k) for new workers. Unfortunately, today's outdated pension non-discrimination rules  which were originally meant to ensure that all employees are treated equally  were inadvertently written to eventually punish companies for trying to keep good, defined benefit pension benefit plans in place for longer-service employees. The current but outdated pension rules almost inevitably will result in any soft-frozen plan becoming discriminatory, and force companies to hard-freeze their pension, which means that longer-service employees must stop accruing pension benefits immediately. So instead of helping older workers and strengthening their retirement security, these outdated pension rules punish them. The measure was approvedunanimouslyby the Senate Finance Committee as part of a retirement-related legislative package in September 2016.\nSeveral provisions from Portman'sRetirement Security & Savings Act(S. 1431) are in the bill, including provisions to (1) expand the eligibility of 401(k)s to include part-time workers that complete between 500 and 1,000 hours of service for multiple years; and (2) increase the age for required minimum distributions from age 70.5 to age 72 in 2020, allowing all individuals choosing to work later in life to keep saving for retirement. TheRetirement Security & Savings Act, which was introduced byPortman and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) last week, would raise the age for required minimum distributions to age 72 in 2023 and to age 75 by 2030. TheRetirement Security & Savings Actincludesa broader set of reforms  57 specific provisions  designed to help more Americans save for their retirement. A link to the bill text ishere.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-increase-security-resources", "Senate Passes Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Increase Security Resources for Faith-Based Institutions & Nonprofit Organizations", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Increase Security Resources for Faith-Based Institutions & Nonprofit Organizations\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Ensures Synagogues, Religious & Cultural Institutions and Nonprofits Have Resources & Training to Secure Their Facilities, Help Prevent Attacks \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) and Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today applauded the Senate passage of legislation (H.R. 2476) authorizing $75 million annually for FYs 2020-2024 for the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides grants to nonprofits and faith-based organizations to help secure their facilities against a potential terrorist attack. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Thompson, is the companion to Portman and Peters' bipartisan bill, the Protecting Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations From Terrorism Act (S. 1539). Of the $75 million total, $50 million will be available for nonprofits located within high-risk urban areas, and the remaining $25 million will be available for organizations that fall outside of those areas. Under the legislation, funding may be used for target-hardening activities, training for personnel, and any other appropriate activity, as defined by the FEMA Administrator. The text of the bill is here.\nEnsuring that synagogues, religious and cultural institutions, and nonprofit organizations have the resources and training they need to secure their facilities is one way Congress can help address this unnecessary violence that has tragically become more and more common,said Senator Portman. As I've said many times, there is no place for hatred or bigotry of any kind toward our fellow citizens. The threats and senseless attacks we've seen across our country are attacks on our values and this bipartisan legislation will help protect faith and cultural based institutions in Ohio and across our country.\nIn recent years, we have witnessed a tragic rise in threats and attacks on synagogues, churches, mosques, and other houses of worship throughout the country, said Senator Peters. We must do more to combat this senseless violence and ensure that Americans of all faiths can worship without fearing for their safety. I'm tremendously proud that the Senate has unanimously approved this bipartisan legislation, and look forward to the President's signature on this important bill in the days to come. \nIt's a sad fact that synagogues, churches, & mosques are facing the threat of violence at the hands of extremists of all ideologies, said Chairman Thompson. While we need to continue our work to eradicate all forms of extremism and counter domestic terrorism, non-profits need our help now in keeping their houses of worship safe and secure. This bill will give key resources to help our communities have the peace of mind they deserve. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for recognizing the need for this bipartisan legislation and for getting it through Congress by the end of the year.\nNOTE: While the bill authorizes $75 million annually for the program, Congress can appropriate more. Portman joined his bipartisan colleagues earlier this month in requesting that the appropriators fund the program at $90 million. That request was approved and included in the final FY 2020 appropriations agreement. Last fall, Portman and Petersurged appropriatorsto approve $60 million in FY 2019 funding for this program, and that request was ultimately approved. In 2017, Portman and Peters led alettersigned by all 100 of their colleagues to the Homeland Security Secretary, Attorney General, and FBI Director urging them to take swift action in response to the anonymous bomb threats being made against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs), Jewish Day Schools, and synagogues across the country. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-bipartisan-portman-hassan-legislation-strengthen-public-and", "Senate Passes Bipartisan Portman-Hassan Legislation to Strengthen Public and Private Sector Cybersecurity Efforts, Ready to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Bipartisan Portman-Hassan Legislation to Strengthen Public and Private Sector Cybersecurity Efforts, Ready to be Signed Into Law\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to bolster cybersecurity in the public and private sector is ready to be signed into law as part of the final FY 2020 budget agreement to fund the government for the next fiscal year.\nThe bipartisanDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Actwill require that the Department of Homeland Security make permanent cyber hunt and cyber incident response teams to work to help prevent cyberattacks at all levels of government and the private sector, and help mitigate the impact of such attacks when they occur. Local and state governments, as well as businesses, hospitals, and other entities, will be able to request assistance from the teams in the event of an attack.The bill also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to include private sector experts on the teams in order to bring to bear their non-governmental cyber expertise.\nOur cyber hunt and incident response teams play an important role in protecting against cyber threats, reducing cybersecurity risks, and helping to get our cyber infrastructure back up and running after an attack occurs, Senator Portman said. I am glad that our bipartisan legislation passed today so that we can strengthen our response and recovery efforts in the event of a cyberattack.\nI am very pleased that bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Senator Portman to better prevent and respond to cyberattacks is ready to be signed into law,Senator Hassansaid. From localofficials working to protect New Hampshire communities to federal agenciestasked with shoring up cybersecurity, it's clear that there is more we need to do to strengthen cybersecurity at every level. This bipartisan legislation takes an important step forward in these efforts, equipping public and private sector entities with the expertise that they need to strengthen their cyber defensesand respond to threats. I urge the President to sign this bill into law without delay once it reaches his desk.\nSenators Portman and Hassan have worked together to strengthen cybersecurity and prevent against attacks that threaten the safety, privacy, and security of Americans. The bipartisan Portman-Hassan Hack Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Actand Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Actwere included in apackage of billsthat were signed into law last year. TheHack DHS Actestablishes a bug bounty pilot program  modeled off of similar programs at the Department of Defense and major tech companies  that uses vetted white-hat or ethical hackers to help identify unique and undiscovered vulnerabilities in the DHS networks and information technology. ThePublic-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Actcomplements theHack DHS Actby requiring DHS to establish a cyber-vulnerabilities disclosure program so that vulnerabilities in DHS' cyber systems can be easily reported and fixed.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-portman-priorities-help-vulnerable-elderly-and-disabled-get", "Senate Passes Portman Priorities to Help Vulnerable Elderly and Disabled Get Care They Need", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Portman Priorities to Help Vulnerable Elderly and Disabled Get Care They Need\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 19, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the Senate today for passing the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes his priorities to help vulnerable groups like the elderly and the disabled get the care they need. The package includes a five-month extension for Portman's bipartisan Money Follows the Person Program, which helps transition Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing homes to long-term care in their homes; and the Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act, which will remove accessories to complex wheelchairs from Medicare's competitive bidding, and thus improve access to those accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors. The legislation now heads to the president's desk for his signature.\nI'm pleased that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding bill, which includes my legislation to help to ensure that the most vulnerable among us have better access to quality care,Portman said. The legislation helps support seniors with disabilities by improving access to vital accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors, and it includes a five-month extension of Money Follows the Person (MFP), which helps transition Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing homes to long-term care in their homes. This extension of the program will mean that MFP can continue to support the more than 10,000 Ohioans that the program has helped to receive the home and community-based care that they need. I will continue working for a longer extension like the permanent extension Senators Grassley and Wyden included for the Money Follows the Person Program in their Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.\nNOTE: The legislative package includes the following Portman-championed priorities:\n \n\tThe Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act will remove accessories to complex wheelchairs from Medicare's competitive bidding, and thus improve access to those accessories for wheelchair-reliant seniors.\n\tThe Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act  or EMPOWER Care Act will help Medicaid beneficiaries receive long-term services and support in their community or home and help save taxpayer dollars in the process. The legislation includes a three month extension version of this priority.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402761", "Bill Johnson Speaks on House Floor Against Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Bill Johnson", "J000292", "billjohnson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) spoke on the House floor earlier this afternoon against the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, and called for a moment of silent reflection:   \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) spoke on the House floor earlier this afternoon against the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, and called for a moment of silent reflection:TRANSCRIPT:  \r\n\r\n Madam Speaker, this is a sad day for America. This partisan impeachment sham seeks to disenfranchise 63 million American voters. So I want to use my time to call on this chamber for members to rise and observe a moment of silent reflection, to give every member here the chance to pause for a moment and remember the voices of the 63 million American voters the Democrats today are wanting to silence.\r\n(SILENCE)\r\nMadam Speaker, disenfranchising 63 million voters gives me 63 million reasons to vote no. And I urge my colleagues to do the same. Video Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCptdpYjMZw&feature=youtu.be", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402762", "Bill Johnson Emphatically Votes No on Politically Motivated, Sham Impeachment Articles", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Bill Johnson", "J000292", "billjohnson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted on two articles of impeachment: \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted on two articles of impeachment: \r\nSince November 8, 2016, the events of today were destined to happen. Democrats continue to refuse to accept the results of the 2016 election, and have openly talked about impeaching President Trump since before he was even sworn into office. Their hate has been on display for everyone to see. Once their Russian collusion fantasies were shattered, House Democrats quickly pivoted to a new fake scandal over President Trump's dealings with Ukraine. \r\nPresident Trump has not committed any impeachable offenses. Despite what Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and their followers insist, they presented no evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors.'\r\nI heard loud and clear from thousands of people in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio that are totally opposed to this sham impeachment process being run by House Democrats. This afternoon, I spoke out on the floor of the U.S. House, calling for a moment of silent reflection on behalf of the 63 million Americans - including the over 220,000 I represent across 18 counties who voted for President Trump - whose voice House Democrats are attempting to invalidate. Tonight, I emphatically voted no on both articles of impeachment. \r\nThis process will end with an acquittal in the Senate, and the country will be even more divided. For what? So Democrats can use the impeachment process in an attempt to bloody up a sitting president less than year before his re-election? While this a sad chapter in our history, I have full confidence that the majority of the American people will see this charade for what it is. \r\nBill Johnson spoke out on the House floor earlier today against the articles of impeachment: VIDEO", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402250", "Latta Votes Against Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Robert Latta", "L000566", "latta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) provided the following statement on the House floor, before House Democrats voted to impeach President Trump, expressing why he does not support the impeachment process:  \r\nClickhereto watch Latta's remarks.\r\nTranscript of remarks as prepared for delivery:\r\nMadam Speaker, this is a sad day for our country  one that our forefathers warned us against.\r\nWe have watched this illegitimate impeachment process unfold while making a mockery of our Constitutional duties. House Democrats have conducted the most polarizing impeachment process in our nation's history, and the men and women I represent are tired of this Democratic Congress putting political games above our nation's interests.\r\nHouse Democrats held secret meetings, withheld important documents, deliberately misrepresented information to the public, and did not give due process to the President. This investigation was unfair, and the American people expect more out of Congress.\r\nThe articles of impeachment are not based on facts, but instead, are entirely politically motivated. The truth is  there was no pressure put on President Zelensky and the transcripts confirm there was no conditionality. This inquiry has been rigged from the start  lacking fairness, transparency, and truth. It has been a waste of taxpayer dollars and is based off the opinion of an unnamed whistleblower and hearsay. The accusations in today's proceeding do not align with the facts.\r\nThis impeachment process is out of step with existing precedent for presidential impeachment proceedings, and it is not a process I will support. I urge my colleagues to put country first, and vote in opposition to the articles of impeachment.\r\nThank you, Madam Speaker, I yield back.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402893", "Statement from Rep. Stivers", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Statement from Rep. Stivers \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 18, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The following statement may be attributed to Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) regarding the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump: \r\nAfter studying the reports, I did not see conclusive evidence that the President has committed a crime, and this has not reached the high bar that I hold for impeachment. I believe that the power of impeachment should only be used in extreme cases, as it overturns the will of the people and further divides an already-divided nation. I trust the voters to make decisions through the electoral process, and there is an election in less than a year. For that reason, I did not vote in favor of the articles of impeachment. \r\nDespite today's outcome, I am hopeful that we can all move forward and address the very real problems facing our nation that have gone by the wayside as this process has consumed Washington, including support for our military and veterans, lowering health care costs, and keeping our economy thriving.\r\n-30-\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://anthonygonzalez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=189", "Congressman Gonzalez releases open letter to constituents on impeachment vote", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Anthony Gonzalez", "G000588", "anthonygonzalez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Gonzalez releases open letter to constituents on impeachment vote \r\n    \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington,\r\n      December 18, 2019\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      U.S. Congressman Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) released an open letter to constituents today following the U.S. House of Representatives vote to impeach President Trump. Read an excerpt from the letter below.  \r\n\r\nHearsay and speculation are never enough to support the mighty weight of a presidential impeachment. The impeachment of President Trump is unique in American history because it represents the first impeachment in our nation's history where not a single piece of direct evidence of criminal action has been presented or alleged. House Democrats are not accusing the President of breaking a single law. Rather they are accusing him of abuse of power, a concept so subjective that it must require the highest standard of direct proof. On this, the House majority has failed. Taking a step back, my biggest fear for today's vote is that we have just lowered the bar for all future impeachments such that every president hereafter will be subject to similar proceedings. We pursued a partisan process, achieved a partisan outcome, and ripped open old wounds as we engaged in a partisan war. Our conduct and today's vote achieved the very thing that our founders sought to avoid  a political exercise that carries little weight, divides the country, and is ripe with abuse.\r\nFind the full open letter on Congressman Gonzalez's website here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/here-s-how-ohioans-in-congress-justified-their-historic-impeachment-vote", "Heres how Ohioans in Congress justified their historic impeachment vote", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As U.S. presidential history was made Wednesday, Ohio again played a prominent role. One member of the congressional delegation helped lead the defense of President Donald Trump and another forcefully argued that Trump had sold out the country to Russia.\nRepublican firebrand Jim Jordan of Urbana has been doing heavy duty for his party throughout the process, arguing furiously that the case is a sham in impeachment hearings.\nOn the House floor Wednesday, Jordan said Trump has been driving these guys crazy because he's getting things done, and listed administration achievements. But guess what, when you drain the swamp, the swamp bites back.\nRep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, is co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. During Wednesday's debate, Kaptur said, The closeted villain sits in Moscow and the Kremlin, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2014.\nKaptur also noted that Russia meddled in the 2016 election on Trump's behalf and is trying to do so again in 2020. Rather than standing up to Putin, President Trump and his cronies aided Putin.\nNumerous administration officials testified to their direct knowledge of events that the impeachment articles are based on, but Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Zanesville, told The Dispatch that he would need to see more direct evidence to impeach. When asked whether he wanted to hear from administration officials who would have it, Balderson said Democrats had their chance.\nHere's what other members of the Ohio delegation said:\n Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus: The evidence is crystal clear that President Trump welcomed foreign interference in the 2020 election, abused the power of the presidency and tried to cover it all up.\n Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus: I did not see conclusive evidence that the president has committed a crime, and this has not reached the high bar that I hold for impeachment.\n Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy, called the impeachment disgraceful. He said he hadn't seen proof that the president committed high crimes and misdemeanors.\n Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati, accused Democrats of trying to designate nearly any disagreement with the president, from now on, an impeachable offense, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Today House Democrats are pursuing a wacky constitutional theory under which all four presidents on Mount Rushmore could have been impeached.\n Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Cincinnati, cited Democrats' superior imaginations and accused them of obsession disguised as self-righteous oversight.\n Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, cited testimony by Ambassador Gordon Sondland that he presumed the (military) aid (to Ukraine) was held up. Presumed? Gibbs said, incredulously. Everybody, including George Washington, could be impeached on these articles.\n Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green, said it was a sad day for our country  one that our forefathers warned us against. He accused Democrats of putting political games over the public interest.\n Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, said, There is overwhelming evidence that the president used his public office and taxpayer money for personal and political gain. His actions threaten our free and fair elections, our national security and our democracy.\n Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, said, I want to use my time to call on this chamber for members to rise and observe a moment of silent reflection, to give every member here the chance to pause for a moment and remember the voices of the 63 million American voters the Democrats today are wanting to silence. He then stood silently for a while.\n Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Mentor, wrote Tuesday that the process has operated on a rushed, artificial timeline set by Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi where due process was neglected, the majority of the testimony provided was secondhand, partisan presumptions were presented as facts and proof of impeachable acts was not articulated.\nThe Columbus Dispatch originally published this article on December 18, 2019.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-beatty-to-vote-for-impeachment", "Congresswoman Beatty to Vote for Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement in advance of a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach President Donald J. Trump:\n\n\"We are a nation of laws, based on the principle that no one is above the law, but this president believes he can do anything he wants. As the record shows and the irrefutable testimonies by Trump Administration officials make crystal clear, President Trump welcomed foreign interference in the 2020 Election, abused the power of the presidency, and tried to cover it all up.\n\nI took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, as did the president. Unfortunately, he broke that sacred oath, but l will not. President Trump must be held accountable and removed from office\u2014or I fear his actions will become even more reckless, dangerous, and lawless.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-beatty-votes-for-the-people-and-to-keep-government-open", "Congresswoman Beatty Votes \u201cFor the People\u201d and to Keep Government Open", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two pieces of legislation, H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865, to fund federal government agencies and related services for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) voted in support of both measures, issuing the following statement after the vote.\n\n\"I voted for the government funding bills because they provide desperately-needed money for some of our nation's most critical programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families everywhere, including early childhood through post-secondary education, affordable housing, job training, Social Security, nutrition for newborns, seniors, and working families, and\u2014for the first time in over two decades\u2014gun violence prevention research. In addition, this agreement helps veterans, gives a pay raise to our brave servicemembers, supports safety enhancements at places of worship, and funds the Census, ensuring everyone is counted and that the Central Ohio community receives proper funding for things like anti-poverty programs, highway and road maintenance, and community health initiatives.\n\nNo bill is perfect, but as a whole this legislative package is good for veterans, seniors, students, the Armed Forces, the middle-class, and hardworking families. I stand with the people of Ohio's Third Congressional District today and every day.\"\n\nOf note, included in the funding agreements was a provision authored by Beatty requiring the U.S. Department of Treasury to include in its reporting an analysis of the costs and availability of terrorism insurance for places of worship. This provision will help lawmakers determine the level of federal funding for grants that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) gives out to nonprofits, under the DHS Nonprofit Security Grant Program, to help offset the costs of target-hardening and other security enhancements.\n\nH.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865 Funding Highlights\n\n$550 million increase for Head Start, $550 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and a $25 million increase for Preschool Development Grants.\n\n$450 million increase for Title I Grants to local educational agencies, $400 million more for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) State Grants, $163 million increase for higher education programs, $42 million increase for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as $93 million more for minority-serving institutions, and a $150 increase to the Pell Grant max award (new maximum award is $6,345).\n\n$98 million for the Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Program ($3 million increase), $40 million for a new grant program for community colleges to train people for in-demand jobs, almost $30 million more for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Grants, a $25 million increase for Job Corps, and a $15 million increase for registered apprenticeships.\n\nFully funds the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at $6 billion, increases funding for child nutrition programs by $474 million, and\u2014for the first time ever\u2014Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reserve funds are available for three full years.\n\nProvides a 3.1 percent pay raise for members of the military and government civilian employees.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://davidson.house.gov/2019/12/rep-davidson-opposes-impeaching-president-trump", "Rep. Davidson Opposes Impeaching President Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Warren Davidson", "D000626", "davidson.house.gov", "davidson", "https://davidson.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Tonight the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for abuse of power (230-197) and obstruction of Congress (229-198).\n\nRep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) along with the entire Republican conference and a handful of Democrats voted against impeachment.\n\nAfter the vote, Congressman Davidson said:\n\nWe\u2019ve wasted an entire quarter of this Congress with impeachment proceedings. With the time and money spent scrutinizing a phone call and listening to hearsay, Congress should have been far more productive. I opposed impeachment, but of course, today\u2019s vote had a predetermined outcome. I\u2019m hopeful the House will finally get to work for the American people.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2123", "Rep. Fudge Statement on House Vote to Impeach the President", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcia Fudge", "F000455", "fudge.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed two articles of impeachment against the President of the United States:\r\n\r\n\tAs a Member of Congress, I swore before God and country to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. With that oath in mind, today I voted to impeach the President based on the evidence of his abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.\r\n\r\n\tThe corroborated, undisputed facts on the record show the President ignored national security and other vital national interests for an improper personal political benefit when he enlisted a foreign power to corrupt our democratic elections. The official and public records clearly lay out the President's numerous defiant attempts and overt actions to obstruct Congress' investigation into his abuses of power.\r\n\r\n\tThe President betrayed the public interest, undermined our national security, attempted to corrupt our free and fair elections  the cornerstone of American democracy  and refused to comply with constitutionally mandated Congressional oversight. These acts of betrayal cannot stand.\r\n\r\n\tI proudly stood with my colleagues and defended our Constitution today. No one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law.\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=540", "Joyce Issues Statement on Impeachment, Urges Mending of Partisan Divisions", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Dave Joyce", "J000295", "joyce.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONToday, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) issued the following statement regarding his opposition to the Articles of Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump:  As a former prosecutor, I know that any legitimate investigation must be free of bias, cannot predetermine the outcome and must present factual evidence of wrongdoing. These standards also apply to impeachment, which as history illustrates, is not to be invoked lightly. Impeachment was never intended to be a tool of political vengeance.  However, this impeachment inquiry has operated on a rushed, artificial timeline set by Speaker Pelosi wheredue process was neglected, the majority of the testimony provided was secondhand,partisan presumptions were presented as factsand proof of impeachable acts was not articulated. If I were to vote in favor of the two articles of impeachment today, I would be setting a dangerous precedent for our country moving forward.  What's worse is that this process to undermine the President played out at the expense of the American people, halting progress on critical issues. It is up to all of us, no matter which side of the aisle we may fall on, to stop the partisan bickering and work across party lines to deliver results for our constituents.The people of Northeast Ohio sent me to Washington to fight for solutions to the issues that impact them and their families, like combating the opioid epidemic, restoring the Great Lakes, expanding jobs and opportunity, lifting wages and ensuring our veterans get the health care they deserve. No amount of partisan politics will stop me from continuing to do just that.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-upholds-oath-office-votes-articles-impeachment", "Kaptur Upholds Oath of Office, Votes For Articles of Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), released the following statement after she voted to support Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump:\n\nMembers of Congress swear a solemn oath to protect and defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Today, we fulfilled our Oath, said Rep. Kaptur. \n\nNo person runs for Congress with the desire to impeach a President  I certainly did not. For the sake of our democracy, we pray impeachment is never necessary. \n\nBut like so many patriotic Americans in Northern Ohio and communities across the country, I am deeply concerned by President Trump's systematic betrayal of our values and national security in favor of our adversary Vladimir Putin.\n\nPutin has sought to sow disarray and destabilize our democracy and the NATO Alliance. He has coordinated murders, election hacking, propaganda, and the entrapment of willing fools who would put their own self-interests over liberty  President Trump among them.\n\nAt Putin's direction, Russia illegally invaded Ukraine in 2014. As Ukrainians defend Europe's eastern flank, 14,000 have already died at Putin's hand with over 2 million more displaced.\n\nAt home and abroad, President Trump has failed to defend our Constitution or be a champion for liberty. Rather than stand up to Putin, President Trump has aided him  first in hastening Russian interference in our 2016 election, and more recently, by withholding vital military aid from Ukraine to extort their interference in our 2020 election for his personal gain.\n\nPresident Trump is guilty of abusing his power and strengthening America's adversaries. He has repeatedly obstructed Congress in his failure to comply with lawful subpoenas. His actions have subverted U.S. national interests and emboldened Putin. \n\nI would like my constituents to know that a vote for impeachment is not one that has been whipped up by Democratic leadership  from its start, it has been driven by the public. Our office has fielded hundreds of calls from citizens urging impeachment.\n\nIt has taken the strong moral courage of whistleblowers, public servants, veterans, and legislators to bring us to this solemn moment in our nation's history, but first and foremost it was the president's own actions that started us down this unfortunate path.\n\nNo one is above the law, not even the president. Donald Trump is a threat to our republic and should be removed from office without delay.\n\nIn defense of our democracy, I have voted to impeach President Donald Trump. Onward Liberty.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://turner.house.gov/2019/12/turner-bill-extends-health-care-credit-for-delphi-salaried-retirees", "TURNER Bill Extends Health Care Credit for Delphi Salaried Retirees", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Michael R. Turner", "T000463", "turner.house.gov", "turner", "https://turner.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", null, 0, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z"], ["https://turner.house.gov/2019/12/turner-urges-fbi-to-adopt-fisa-reform", "TURNER Urges FBI to Adopt FISA Reform", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Michael R. Turner", "T000463", "turner.house.gov", "turner", "https://turner.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", null, 0, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z"], ["https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-bill-extends-health-care-credit-for-delphi-salaried-retirees", "TURNER Bill Extends Health Care Credit for Delphi Salaried Retirees", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Michael Turner", "T000463", "turner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) released the following statement after successfully advocating for a year long extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program to be included in the appropriations packages passed in the House yesterday:\nMany Delphi Salaried Retirees rely on the Health Coverage Tax Credit to afford health care, and it was set to expire at the end of this year. I am continuing to work with the Trump Administration towards additional remedies for the Delphi Salaried Retirees, 20,000 of whom lost their pensions as a result of the Obama Administration. This re-authorization of a key tax credit that makes health care more affordable for these retirees is a strong step forward, and I will continue to advocate for a long term reauthorization of this credit.\nBackground\nThe Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program was set to be terminated at the end of this year. The HCTC is available to eligible workers of any age who have experienced job loss due to work facility closures or foreign trade and have become Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Certified. The spouses and families of these workers are also eligible. In addition, the HCTC is available to retirees age 55-65 who have had their defined pension plans trusteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) due to their employer's bankruptcy or restructure and who are receiving payments.\nThe Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act would allow eligible individuals to remain within the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program past the program's December 31, 2019 termination date, or upon leaving the program. This program has been reauthorized six times since its inception in 2002 benefitting thousands of American workers and their families.\nTurner has been a consistent advocate for long term reauthorization of the HCTC, introducingThe Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act back in March of this year. This healthcare benefit was set to expire at the end of 2019 under Obamacare.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-urges-fbi-to-adopt-fisa-reform", "TURNER Urges FBI to Adopt FISA Reform", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Michael Turner", "T000463", "turner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, wrote today to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray and United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) Presiding Judge Rosemary Collyer urging the FBI to adopt his proposed reform of preventing politically funded opposition research from being used as evidence in the FISC.\nMy bill, initially introduced in March 2018 and which I am re-introducing this week, would amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to ensure that raw political opposition research is not used in an application to the FISC, said Turner. The facts and circumstances provided to the FISC in an application to surveil or search an American citizen should never be solely produced by or collected using funds of a political organization for the purpose of gaining an advantage against or otherwise conducting research on an opposing political opponent.\nIn Inspect General Horowitz's report, it was clear that raw political opposition research was utilized by the FBI as proof of facts alleged in their FISA application, Turner continued. This should never happen again. Understandably, if the FBI should become aware of criminal activity as a result of politically motivated opposition research, this rule would require that the FBI independently verify its allegations prior to transmitting them to the FISC.\nLast week, Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified that his investigation concluded that the Steele reporting played a central and essential role in the [FBI's] decision to seek a FISA order in this case. Furthermore, he found that FBI leadership supported relying on Steele's reporting to seek a FISA order...after being advised of, and giving consideration to, concerns expressed by a Department attorney that Steele may have been hired by someone associated with a rival candidate or campaign.\nIn light of that testimony, FISC Judge Collyer issued an order yesterday to the FBI to present proposed reforms by January 10, 2020. Collyer said: The FISC expects the government to provide complete and accurate information in every filing with the Court. Without it, the FISC cannot properly ensure that the government conducts electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes only when there is a sufficient factual basis.\nWe entrust the government with incredibly powerful and often times extremely necessary tools of surveillance to keep our country safe, wrote Turner. However, with such power requires significant oversight.\nTurner continued: When the FBI chose to disregard its counsel and move forward with the application for a warrant to surveil an American citizen reliant upon politically funded opposition research without informing the FISC of the origin of the information and presenting it as verified evidence, the FBI abused its power and misled the FISC.\nCollyer also stated in the order: The frequency with which representations made by FBI personnel turned out to be unsupported or contradicted by information in their possession, and with which they withheld information detrimental to their case, calls into question whether information contained in other FBI applications is reliable.\nI agree, and I believe the American public agrees, wrote Turner of Collyer's statement.What happened in this case should not be allowed to happen again. Politically funded opposition research is not evidence, and to present it as such is unacceptable. I strongly urge the FBI to adopt my bill's premise as one of its reforms.\nTurner's bill can be found here, and his letter can be read here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403879", "Wenstrup Votes Against Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Brad Wenstrup", "W000815", "wenstrup.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Representative Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) released the following statement after voting against House Democrats' articles of impeachment against President Trump:\r\nToday, House Democrats continued their attempt to reverse the results of the 2016 election. While they have feigned sobriety at the gravity of this particular day, they, in fact, have planned to impeach President Trump since before he took office. Today is the fourth impeachment related vote against President Trump. In fact, 87 Democrats voted in support of impeaching him before the July phone call that is in question even took place. \r\nDuring this attempt, the Democrat-scripted impeachment proceedings failed to produce evidence to support the charges against President Trump. I find it ironic that House Democrats are impeaching the President over a supposed abuse of power,' while they are simultaneously wholly unconcerned with the recent Inspector's General report that details election-related surveillance abuses by the FBI. If Democrats are truly concerned about abuses of power and foreign influence in elections, they would take immediate action on the documented abuses by the FBI and their use of a politically-funded dossier to gain foreign surveillance authority over American citizens who were members of President Trump's campaign.\r\nToday, Democrats set a dangerous precedent. If the bar is set this low, it sets the stage for impeachments anytime there is divided government, said Congressman Brad Wenstrup. We must ask ourselves: How is America helped by this?\r\nWatch Congressman Brad Wenstrup speak on the House floor during debate over the articles of impeachment HERE.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-secures-groundbreaking-provisions-for-workers-in-nafta-update", "Brown Secures Groundbreaking Provisions for Workers in NAFTA Update", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Announced Support for Trade Agreement after Securing Brown-Wyden Labor Provisions\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 18, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call after he improved President Trump's proposed NAFTA update and secured important, worker-empowering provisions. Brown, acknowledging this is not a perfect deal, announced his support for the trade agreement on Friday after he worked with Sen. Wyden, Speaker Pelosi and the labor movement to get a better deal for American workers.\r\nIt took us months of fighting alongside Speaker Pelosi, Senator Wyden, and unions to improve this deal, and secure our Brown-Wyden provision that amounts to the strongest-ever labor enforcement in a U.S. trade deal, said Brown. When we lift up workers in Mexico, we lift up American workers  if corporations are forced to pay workers a living wage and treat them with dignity, no matter where those workers are located, then we take away the incentive for them to move jobs abroad. That's what the Brown-Wyden provision does.\r\nThis deal isn't going to stop outsourcing, when we have President Trump's tax plan that gives companies a tax break to send American jobs to Mexico, Brown continued. I'm going to keep fighting President Trump's corporate trade policies and tax policies, just like we did with this agreement. Democrats set an important precedent here  we have to make sure our Brown-Wyden worker protection provision is in every trade agreement going forward.\r\nThe Brown-Wyden Provisions that Brown helped secure will benefit workers by including the first-ever overhaul of labor enforcement standards in a trade agreement since the U.S. started negotiating trade deals. The new agreement will allow workers in Mexico to report when a company is violating their rights and seeing action within months if it's determined that workers' rights have been violated and apply punitive damages when corporations stop workers from organizing and stopping goods from coming into the U.S. if these anti-worker tactics continue.\r\nBrown was joined on the call today by Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga to talk about the importance of Brown-Wyden provisions in the USMCA to Ohio workers and families.\r\nThanks to Senator Brown, someone who has spent his congressional career understanding how international trade works and speaking up and fighting to include workers' rights, we now have a trade deal in USMCA that we can support. We were only able to get this deal across the finish line and get to yes because organized Labor and leaders like Senator Brown said no deal, however good the text may be, unless the labor provisions are clearly written and enforceable, said Brown.\r\nLabor organizations have thanked Sens. Brown and Wyden for their efforts to secure these labor enforcement provisions in the deal.\r\nAFL-CIO President Richard Trumka thanked Wyden and Brown for standing strong with us throughout this process as we demanded a truly enforceable agreement.\r\nUnited Steelworkers (USW) Union President Tom Conway praised the deal: [t]he updated draft agreement now has enforcement provisions [for worker's rights] that can help make a difference. There is still a great deal of work to do in terms of implementing, monitoring and enforcing the provisions, but the base for progress is there.\r\nUSW also recognized Brown and Wyden for their efforts and refusal to back down in the face of massive special interest lobbying, alongside other Democratic congressional leaders in negotiating updates to NAFTA.\r\nUnited Autoworkers acknowledged Wyden and Brown's tireless work alongside their Democratic colleagues who fought to strengthen its labor standards and enforcement provisions.\r\nThe Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) also praised the work of Brown and Wyden, along with House Democratic leaders, as champions for American workers who stood strong throughout this long process.\r\nThe Communications Workers of America (CWA) commended Wyden and Brown on their persistence and leadership which ensured new provisions [in the agreement that] allow for inspections of workplaces suspected of worker rights violations.\r\nBrown led the charge in the House of Representatives against NAFTA, forecasting the harm it would have on American workers and families. This will be the first trade deal that Brown will vote for. Brown will continue pushing for trade and economic policies that value workers over corporations.\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-statement-on-the-impeachment-of-president-donald-trump", "Brown Statement on the Impeachment of President Donald Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 18, 2019\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump -- abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The articles of impeachment will now go to the Senate for a Senate trial.\r\nThis is a solemn day for our country and an important one for the future of our democracy. We are following the process laid out by the founders in the Constitution, and every Senator owes it to the American people to be an impartial juror focused on the facts. I will listen to the evidence and weigh the facts of the case before coming to any decision. I urge my colleagues, of both parties, to do the same.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bloomberg-portman-highlights-wins-ohio-funding-bills-how-passing-usmca-will", "On Bloomberg, Portman Highlights Wins for Ohio in Funding Bills & How Passing USMCA Will Strengthen Our Economy & Create Jobs", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Bloomberg, Portman Highlights Wins for Ohio in Funding Bills & How Passing USMCA Will Strengthen Our Economy & Create Jobs\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 18, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  In an interview with Bloomberg's Daybreak Americas with David Westin this morning, Senator Rob Portman discussed the wins he helped to secure in the final FY 2020 funding bills and FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. Among other things, Portman secured an important tax extenders package that will help small business in Ohio and boost the economy; the bipartisan SECURE Act, which includes a number of Portman's initiatives designed to help more Americans save for their retirement; the bipartisan RURAL Act, which will help to preserve jobs and encourage infrastructure development by providing certainty to tax-exempt cooperative organizations that accept government dollars for services such as the deployment of rural broadband; and important funding for Ohio's military installations and operations.\nSenator Portman also highlighted the economic benefits of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement, which will strengthen our economy and support American workers, farmers, and manufacturers. Portman supports the USMCA because it will create new jobs, expand opportunities for agricultural trade, encourage new opportunities for auto jobs in America, and add a new section on digital trade to make online sales easier. Portman has actively called for Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to bring USMCA to a vote in the House.\nFinally, Senator Portman discussed the upcoming impeachment vote in the House of Representatives. Portman has made clear that he plans to listen to both sides as a juror in the Senate, but based on what has been presented there is nothing that rises to the level of removing a president from office and the extreme measure of overturning an election. Meanwhile in Ohio, early voting in the presidential primary begins mid-February and the general election is less than a year away, so those who want to remove the president from office should do it through the democratic election process.\nExcerpts of his interview can be found below and a video can be found here. \nPORTMAN ON WINS HE HELPED SECURE IN THE FUNDING AGREEMENT: \nFinally we have all of the spending bills put together. It should have been done back on September 30th so it's taken a long time, but it's a lot better than just having what's called a continuing resolution, meaning the spending from last year, because we can put reforms in there and we can be sure that we are providing the military what they need, which is a slight increase in spending now, now that we've got the military back on its feet. But it also has some really good things in it. One thing in the appropriations bills themselves is the tax extenders package which provides more business certainty, helps farmers a lot  our ag communities were hit really hard as you know by tough weather, but also this tariff battle, and this provides the ag community with a few very specific needs they wanted badly. And so, this helps our rural areas, it helps with regard to our farmers. It also helps with business certainty in other ways because it provides some clarity on issues. There's a provision in there regarding craft brewers and craft distillers, vineyards and so on, where they had an excise tax increase that was going to hit them hard in January. It would have meant a lot of lost jobs. So that's good, we provided assistance there to be sure that excise tax relief continues. And then just general clarification, there were certain things in the tax bill that weren't actually very clear, particularly again in the rural areas, that will be helpful on broadband deployment because there was something called the RURAL Act that was included that will help to say that co-ops can now provide broadband access. So, a number of good things in that legislation that help in terms of business certainty. Finally, there is the SECURE Act, which is a piece of legislation that has to do with retirement. And it's a good deal for small businesses because that lets them band together to provide retirement plans and lower their administrative costs, lower their liability. It also helps with regard to seniors, not to have to take money out of their IRA and pay taxes on it at age 70 and a half but rather it bumps it up a couple of years, and then says they can continue to contribute if they are still working. There's some good things in there that help business certainty, help our farmers and help in terms of retirement savings.\nPORTMAN ON HOW THE SECURE ACT WILL HELP AMERICANS SAVE FOR RETIREMENT: \nIt does about 20 different things that basically says we want you to save more for your own retirement. Right now we have a real problem with savings, particularly my generation, the Baby Boomer Generation, is not saving enough for retirement so it allows people to put a little more away for retirement. It also helps small businesses to be able to offer plans because we've seen over the years that the biggest problem is the smaller businesses. As we have increased 401(k)s in larger businesses, increasingly those employees who work in the smaller companies are being left behind. So it gives them a larger tax credit to be able to put more money aside for a 401(k). It also helps in some other ways that are important for part-time workers. One of the issues that we found is that that is one of the areas where there is less and less savings, and retirement savings in particular, so it encourages companies to provide part-time workers with savings by allowing them to qualify with fewer hours. So, there are a number of things here that are helpful to try to get people to save more for retirement, which is a huge issue right now in our country. And by the way, in terms of the economy, it also helps because it increases the savings rate.\nPORTMAN ON IMPEACHMENT: \nWell, I've listened carefully to the hearings, and obviously seen a lot of reports and read a lot of testimony, and I have said from the start that we ought to be transparent about what happened. This all comes out of, as you know, a conversation with the President of Ukraine and the President of the United States. That transcript is now out there. People can see what it says. I don't think that calling on a foreign government to help investigate someone who was going to become a political rival potentially is a good thing. I've said that. But I've also said that doesn't rise to the level of removing a president from office. And I have seen no additional evidence since then that would convince me of that. So that's how I go into it, saying what I've heard so far, I don't see the evidence that leads to that. However, as you say, I am a juror, and I am keeping an open mind and I'm listening and we'll continue to hear what the House managers, which is the Democrats, will present. We'll also hear what the president's team will present because now they'll have a chance to present their side of the argument, so we will see what happens. Here we are, David, in the middle of a reelection, so the American people have the opportunity to look at all of this, see it all transparently, and be able to make a decision themselves. I think that should be taken into account, too. Ohio will be voting in less than three months. We've got presidential primaries coming up, we've got a presidential debate on us now. We're already kind of into the presidential campaign, so my hope is that will be considered as well, although I would be surprised if the House does not vote for impeachment today from what I've heard.\nPORTMAN ON WHY USMCA IS GOOD FOR OHIOANS AND ALL AMERICANS:\nI suppose, although this agreement is very popular, and the reason is, it is a replacement for NAFTA, which is the existing agreement between Canada and Mexico that is 25 years old and outdated, and so it improves it in a number of ways. Some people have expressed concerns about USMCA from the right and the left, but I think very few of them would say it is worse agreement than the status quo, which is what you have if you vote against it. The reason it is a better agreement is it opens up more markets. I mentioned the ag community earlier. They are very excited about this because it increases access for dairy products for individual commodities, for wheat, as an example, into Canada. So there's some very positive things for the ag community. It also helps in terms of intellectual property protection, which is important to us. A big thing in here is that is has new digital protections. The digital economy wasn't around 25 years ago, and so there's no provisions in the current NAFTA accord. For my home state of Ohio, we do a lot of trade with Canada and Mexico. Canada, by far, number one trading partner. A lot of it is digital, a lot of it is people selling things online, and right now they are not protected. Tariffs can be assessed to this as compared to the USMCA, which does not allow tariffs to be put on digital economy. And, it increases the threshold for customs duties to be applied, so it reduces the burdens. It reduces the cost, and basically just provides protections that aren't there now. Also it has labor and environmental protections that are enforceable, so it's a better agreement than the status quo.\nPORTMAN ON THE ISSUES HE HEARS FIRSTHAND FACING OHIOANS:\nYou and I just talked about four pretty big things that Congress is dealing with right now. We talked about the spending bills finally coming together and what's in there. That is very important for a lot of Ohioans. For our military bases, as an example, there were some huge wins. We talked about the tax extenders in the tax relief that's provided there, and the certainty that is provided. They care about that. A lot of small business owners, I mentioned the craft brewers and the farmers, but so many other people care about that. We talked about retirement savings and the importance of people being able to save for their retirement. One of the top issues you see in the polls constantly is people nervous about whether they are going to save enough, whether they're going to outlive their retirement savings. And then we talked about the fact that we can expand jobs and trade. This USMCA will create about 170,000 plus new jobs. So frankly, I hear about that stuff a lot more than I hear about impeachment when I am home, and yet, thanks to you, you've had it on the show this morning, but I read very little about it in the media  I read a lotabout impeachment in the media. I think people have kind of made their mind up about this president. They will have a chance to vote on that very soon. But really, what people care about is kitchen table issues and how is it affecting them and their families.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-bipartisan-colleagues-applaud-north-korea-sanctions-named-after", "Portman, Bipartisan Colleagues Applaud North Korea Sanctions Named After Otto Warmbier in Final NDAA Package", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Bipartisan Colleagues Applaud North Korea Sanctions Named After Otto Warmbier in Final NDAA Package\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 18, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Van Hollen (D-MD), Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) celebrated the inclusion of the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions and Enforcement Act in the final FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. They were joined at the event by Fred and Cindy Warmbier, whose son Otto died after being imprisoned in North Korea for over a year and for whom the bill is named. \nThe legislation, which is now at the President's desk for his signature, will offer foreign banks and firms a stark choice: continue business with North Korea or maintain access to the U.S. financial system. It does this by imposing mandatory sanctions on the foreign banks and companies that facilitate illicit financial transactions for North Korea.\nThis bipartisan sanctions legislation will help hold North Korea accountable for their actions and human rights abuses against Cincinnati-native Otto Warmbier as well as others they've illegally held captive. I'm glad these sanctions were included in the NDAA conference report and we must continue to work together to confront the threat that North Korea poses. Fred and Cindy Warmbier and their family have been through so much. I'm proud to be their friend and support their efforts to hold North Korea accountable and ensure that Otto is never forgotten, said Senator Portman.\nI'm proud to say that Congress has taken a stand when it comes to North Korea's nuclear ambitions and the threat that it poses to our country and the world. This legislation will out real teeth in the sanctions regime in order to achieve our goal of a negotiated agreement to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, said Senator Van Hollen. I want to thank Senators Toomey, Brown, and Portman, as well as the Warmbier family, for working with us to get this done.\nThis was a fight of over two years to get to this point. It's all about holding the appalling regime in North Korea accountable for the nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that they have been developing that are a real threat to Americans and to American allies. And to hold this regime accountable for the horrendous and appalling human rights violations  especially what happened to Otto Warmbier. I appreciate the tremendous support from Senator Van Hollen, and our partnership with Senators Portman and Brown, to get this measure across the finish line on behalf of the Warmbier family,said Senator Toomey.\nIt's important we send a clear signal that the U.S. is serious about maintaining economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program, and to stop its continuing human rights abuses like those that took the life of Otto Warmbier, said Senator Brown. I thank Chairman Crapo, and Senators Toomey, Van Hollen and Portman for their leadership on this issue.\nPhotos of the event are below:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-announce-senate-confirmation-judge-matt-mcfarland-serve-us", "Portman, Brown Announce Senate Confirmation of Judge Matt McFarland to Serve on U.S. Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman, Brown Announce Senate Confirmation of Judge Matt McFarland to Serve on U.S. Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 18, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced the Senate confirmation of Judge Matt McFarland to the position of U.S. Federal District Court Judge for the Southern District of Ohio. Portman and Brownrecommendedthe president nominate Judge McFarland for the vacancy which was created upon the retirement of Judge Thomas Rose. The Southern District has court locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton and serves more than five million Ohioans in 48 counties.\nI applaud the Senate for confirming Judge Matt McFarland to be the next federal judge in the Southern District,said Portman. Judge McFarland has been a dedicated public servant on the state court of appeals. His esteemed reputation is well deserved and I am confident he will continue make Ohio proud with his distinguished service on the bench.\nI'm proud to join Senator Portman in this bipartisan process, and I thank Judge McFarland for his willingness to serve,said Brown.\nI'm very honored to be confirmed for this important position and grateful to have the bipartisan support of the Senate and of President Trump for his nomination. Serving as a judge has been the greatest professional honor of my life and I look forward to serving the citizens of Ohio at the federal level,said Judge McFarland.\nJudge Matthew W. McFarland is a judge on the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals. He was elected to the court in 2004 and re-elected in 2010 and 2016. Judge McFarland received his undergraduate degree from Capital University, cum laude, and his J.D. from Capital University Law School, Order of the Barristers. Judge McFarland has previously served as the court's Presiding and Administrative Judge and as a visiting judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio on multiple occasions. Prior to joining the appellate bench, he served as the Magistrate in Scioto County Common Pleas Court Probate/Juvenile Division, and as Chairman of the Ohio Association of Magistrates, Juvenile Section. Before joining the common pleas bench, Judge McFarland was a Scioto County Assistant Prosecutor and acted as Special Counsel for the Ohio Attorney General. He also was a Licking County Assistant County Prosecutor and had his own solo practice.He currently is an adjunct professor at Shawnee State University and is an Eagle Scout.\nNOTE:The President of the United States nominates U.S. district court judges based on recommendations from U.S. senators. Those recommendations are then vetted by the White House and the Senate Judiciary Committee before being considered for confirmation by the full U.S. Senate. U.S. district courts are general trial courts that hear both civil and criminal cases.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-senate-passed-ndaa-conference-report-includes-wins-ohio-increases", "Portman: Senate-Passed NDAA Conference Report Includes Wins for Ohio, Increases Troop Pay", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman: Senate-Passed NDAA Conference Report Includes Wins for Ohio, Increases Troop Pay\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      NDAA Conference Report Includes Largest Troop Pay Raise in Nearly 10 Years \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 17, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DCU.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) praised Senate passage the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which includes a number of initiatives to support Ohio's military installations, increase troop pay, and provide additional assistance to Ukraine. He released the following statement:\nThis defense bill provides needed resources to continue rebuilding our military, support our troops and increase their pay, and provide upgrades and support to Ohio's defense installations. Our country faces significant security threats around the world, and this bipartisan legislation helps ensure that our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines and Department of Defense civilians have the vital resources they need to accomplish their national security missions. Ohio is home to some of the best and brightest serving our country, and some of our nation's premier defense installations.I'm proud of their work.This bill also takes additional steps I've fought for to help Ukraine defend themselves against Russian aggression.This security assistance package sendsa clear message that America stands with the Ukrainian people in their struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future.\nNOTE: Portman announced that the FY 2020 NDAA includes a number of key wins for Ohio and the country, including:\n \n\tAuthorizing $1.7 billion in funding to upgrade 165 Abrams tanks, increasing the rate of production of the upgraded Abrams tanks Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima in order to ensure that our forward deployed tanks have the most cutting-edge capabilities;\n\tAuthorizing $394 million for upgrading Stryker Vehicles at the JSMC;\n\tAuthorizing $523 million for purchasing 152 Stryker A1 Vehicles to be built at JSMC. \n\tAuthorizing $120.9 million in funding to upgrade the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) located at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report authorized $182 million for the modernization effort at NASIC. This measure authorizes $120.9 million to finish construction;\n\tAuthorizing $300 million in security assistance to fund additional training, equipment, and advisory efforts for Ukraine's forces.Portman hasled efforts in the Senate to ensure these Ukraine security assistance funds were authorized and obligated pending critical defense reforms at the Ukrainian parliament;\n\tDirecting the Department of Defense to brief Congress on how they are developing and prioritizing explainable artificial intelligence.\n\tDirecting the Department of Defense to provide Congress with a comparative analysis and briefing on U.S. and Chinese artificial intelligence capabilities.\n\tImposing mandatory sanctions on foreign banks and companies that facilitate illicit financial transactions for North Korea. This will hold North Korea accountable for their actions and human rights abuses against Otto Warmbier as well as others they've illegally held captive;\n\tImproving coordination across the federal government in identifying and responding to emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bipartisan Portman bill also provides support and resources to states dealing with the health challenges posed by these potentially harmful materials; \n\tEnsuring the armed forces prioritizes the recruitment and retention of individuals with computer science and digital engineering skills to bolster artificial intelligence expertise in the military; and\n\tExpanding existing financial protections for Gold Star military families' residential and car leases.\n\tThe posthumous promotion of Lt Col Richard Cole to Colonel, the last of the living Doolittle Raiders until he passed away earlier this year at the age 103.\n\tProhibiting the federal government and federal contractors from asking about criminal history of a job applicant prior to a conditional offer of employment.\n\tThe production of four highly capable C-130J's which Portman will advocate to be assigned to one of our very deserving, hardworking Ohio squadrons.\n \nIn total, the Senate-passed NDAA provides $750 billion for national defense. The legislation also gives our service members a 3.1 percent pay raise, the largest in nearly 10 years.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-portman-peters-bipartisan-bill-save-taxpayer-dollars-federal", "Senate Passes Portman, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Save Taxpayer Dollars on Federal Vehicles", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Portman, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Save Taxpayer Dollars on Federal Vehicles\n \n      \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 18, 2019\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan bill to help save taxpayer dollars by updating policies to help federal agencies adopt electric vehicles, which are more fuel efficient than traditional gas-powered vehicles. The Charging Helps Agencies Realize General Efficiencies Act (CHARGE Act) directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to allow vehicle charge cards to be used to pay for electric vehicle recharging at commercially-available charging stations.\nIf federal employees are required to pay for gas with travel charge cards, they should also be allowed to fill up' at a charging station when operating an electric vehicle, said Senator Portman. I'm pleased that the Senate passed this bipartisan, common-sense bill and urge the House to take it up soon.\nI'm glad the Senate passed this commonsense legislation that will save taxpayer dollars in the long run by ensuring the federal government is ready to adopt more electric vehicles into its fleet, said Senator Peters. Electric vehicles have the potential to be more fuel efficient and more cost-effective than gasoline-powered vehicles, and this legislation will help ensure the federal government can take full advantage of electric vehicles that will save money for Michiganders and Americans across the country.\nThe GSA is responsible for Fleet Services Cards that federal agencies use to cover the costs of small-dollar repairs and refueling of government-owned and leased vehicles. Currently, electric vehicles are not covered in this service. This bill will enable agencies that acquire electric vehicles to use the existing charge cards to pay for recharging, facilitating the federal government's adoption of more efficient and affordable electric vehicle technology.\n  \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402883", "Stivers Honors Franklin County Students Nominated to Service Academies", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Earlier this month, Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) announced his nomination of six students from Franklin County to the United States military academies.  \r\n\r\n\r\nOne of the highest honors I have as a Member of Congress is the opportunity to nominate ambitious, outstanding young leaders to the United States military academies, Stivers said. These students are some of the best and brightest of their generation, and I am thankful for their decision to invest in America's future. I am confident they will apply their high educational, moral, and physical standards to serve our country well and make Ohio's 15th District proud.\r\nStivers nominated the following students:\r\n \r\n    William Ciesinski was nominated to West Point. Ciesinski graduated from Upper Arlington High School and currently attends Marquette University. William is the son of David and Patricia Ciesinski.\r\n    Declan Cooper was nominated to the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, and West Point. Cooper attends St. Charles Preparatory School and is the son of Patrick and Hope Cooper.\r\n    William Humphrys was nominated to the Naval Academy and West Point. Humphrys attends St. Charles Preparatory School and is the son of Scott and Kerstin Humphrys.\r\n    Quentin Zimmer was nominated to the Naval Academy. Zimmer attends Upper Arlington High School and is the son of Christopher and Margaret Zimmer.\r\n    Dylan Frazier was nominated to the Merchant Marine Academy and Naval Academy. Frazier attends Central Crossing High School and is the son of Joe Frazier and Angel Cordial.\r\n    Darius Lightfoot was nominated to the Merchant Marine Academy. Lightfoot attends Westland High School and is the son of Jack and Ellen Lightfoot.\r\n \r\nTo receive a service academy nomination from Congressman Stivers, candidates must be unmarried residents of Ohio's 15th Congressional District, United States citizens and between the ages of 17 and 23. In pursuit of a nomination, students submitted an application and were interviewed by Congressman Stivers' Military Academy Review Board. The Board evaluates the students on the basis of academic performance, leadership ability, and community involvement.\r\nCongressman Stivers is exceedingly grateful to all of the nominees for their willingness to serve, and to the Military Academy Review Board for all their time in interviewing the students and making recommendations.\r\nHe encourages qualified persons interested in pursuing a nomination to one of the United States Service Academies in the future to visit www.stivers.house.gov for more information, or contact his Lancaster Office at (740) 654-2654.\r\nCongressman Stivers represents the 15th Congressional District. He has also served more than 30 years in the Ohio Army National Guard, currentlyholding the rank of Brigadier General.\r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402890", "Stivers Honors Fairfield County Students Nominated to Service Academies", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "From left to right:Spencer White, Colby Baker, Cassady Cubra, Rep. Steve Stivers, Owen Snyder, Ian Wolfe, Luke Gornall.\r\n  \r\n\r\nWASHINGTON  Earlier this month, Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) announced his nomination of eight students from Fairfield County to the United States military academies.\r\nOne of the highest honors I have as a Member of Congress is the opportunity to nominate ambitious, outstanding young leaders to the United States military academies, Stivers said. These students are some of the best and brightest of their generation, and I am thankful for their decision to invest in America's future. I am confident they will apply their high educational, moral, and physical standards to serve our country well and make Ohio's 15th District proud.\r\nStivers nominated the following students:\r\n \r\n    Ian Wolfe was nominated to the Air Force Academy. Wolfe attends Bloom-Carroll High School and is the son of Heath and Jennifer Wolfe.\r\n    Luke Gornall was nominated to the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. He attends Fairfield Union High School and is the son of John and Laura Gornall.\r\n    Cassady Cubra was nominated to the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy. She attends Pickerington Central High School and is the daughter of Robert and Cristina Cubra.\r\n    Owen Snyder was nominated to the Air Force Academy. He is the son of Ryan and Andrea Snyder and attends Lancaster High School.\r\n    Colby Baker was nominated to West Point and Merchant Marine Academy. Baker attends Pickerington North High School and is the son of Craig and Kristina Baker.\r\n    Jacob Smith was nominated to the Naval Academy. Smith graduated from Pickerington North High School, and is currently attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Jacob is the son of Ryan and Andrea Snyder.\r\n    Spencer White was nominated to the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, and West Point. White attends Pickerington North High School and is the son of Brian and Rebecca White.\r\n    David Cassady was nominated to the Naval Academy. Cassady attends Wheaton High School in Virginia and is the son of Michael and Rohini Cassady.\r\n \r\nTo receive a service academy nomination from Congressman Stivers, candidates must be unmarried residents of Ohio's 15th Congressional District, United States citizens and between the ages of 17 and 23. In pursuit of a nomination, students submitted an application and were interviewed by Congressman Stivers' Military Academy Review Board. The Board evaluates the students on the basis of academic performance, leadership ability, and community involvement.\r\nCongressman Stivers is exceedingly grateful to all of the nominees for their willingness to serve, and to the Military Academy Review Board for all their time in interviewing the students and making recommendations.\r\nHe encourages qualified persons interested in pursuing a nomination to one of the United States Service Academies in the future to visit www.stivers.house.gov for more information, or contact his Lancaster Office at (740) 654-2654.\r\nCongressman Stivers represents the 15th Congressional District. He has also served more than 30 years in the Ohio Army National Guard, currentlyholding the rank of Brigadier General.\r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402891", "Stivers Honors Fayette County Student Nominated to Service Academies", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Stivers Honors Fayette County Student Nominated to Service Academies \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 17, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\nRep. Steve Stivers congratulates Kylie Pettit, pictured above.WASHINGTON Earlier this month, Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) announced his nomination of Kylie Pettit to the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Naval Academy and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Kylie currently attends Miami Trace High School and is the daughter of Brian and Kristina Pettit.\r\nOne of the highest honors I have as a Member of Congress is the opportunity to nominate ambitious, outstanding young leaders to the United States military academies, Stivers said. The candidates chosen this year are undoubtedly some of the best and brightest of their generation, and I am thankful for their decision to invest in America's future. I am confident Kylie will apply her high educational, moral, and physical standards to serve our country well and make Ohio's 15th District proud.\r\nTo receive a service academy nomination from Congressman Stivers, candidates must be unmarried residents of Ohio's 15th Congressional District, United States citizens and between the ages of 17 and 23. In pursuit of a nomination, students submitted an application and were interviewed by Congressman Stivers' Military Academy Review Board. The Board evaluates the students on the basis of academic performance, leadership ability, and community involvement.\r\nCongressman Stivers is exceedingly grateful to all of the nominees for their willingness to serve, and to the Military Academy Review Board for all their time in interviewing the students and making recommendations.\r\nHe encourages qualified persons interested in pursuing a nomination to one of the United States Service Academies in the future to visit www.stivers.house.gov for more information, or contact his Lancaster Office at (740) 654-2654.\r\nCongressman Stivers represents the 15th Congressional District. He has also served more than 30 years in the Ohio Army National Guard, currentlyholding the rank of Brigadier General.\r\n-30-\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402892", "Stivers Statement on Spending Bills", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Stivers Statement on Spending Bills \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 17, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The following statement may be attributed to Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) regarding the passage of H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865: \r\nToday's spending bills are an example of what can be done when folks are willing to reach across the aisle and compromise. While it has a larger price tag than I would have liked, it prioritizes our military readiness and funds programs that are critical to Ohio's 15th District, including the STOP School Violence Act, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) that supports local food pantries, continued biomedical research to find treatments and cures, and support for the Smart City Challenge Program. I'm proud of the bipartisan show of support, and hopeful that the Senate will act quickly and send the bills to the President's desk. \r\n-30-\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/how-your-us-representative-voted-on-impeachment", "How your U.S. representative voted on impeachment", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "COLUMBUS The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump on two charges:abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. And no surprises here: Ohio's U.S. representatives voted along party lines.\nDistrict 1 - Rep. Steve Chabot (R) - Nay to both.The Cincinnati-area Republican told The Atlantic last week he's unconvinced by the case against Trump. He also tweeted: \"By pushing ahead with their impeachment craze without any semblance of fairness or due process, Democrats prove their objective is to undo the results of the 2016 election.\" He also said during a hearing the bar for impeachment is being lowered.\nDistrict 2 - Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R) - Nay to both.The southwest Ohio Republican tweeted on Dec. 10: \"The facts presented in the Intelligence and Judiciary Committee hearings do not amount to an impeachable offense.\" The congressman also said, \"Unfortunately, this purely political process establishes a sad precedent for our nation.\"\nDistrict 3 - Rep. Joyce Beatty (D) - Yea to both.The Columbus-area Democrat said she fully intends on holding President Trump \"accountable for his actions.\" She recently said it's \"crystal clear\" the president tried to bribe a foreign country for a political favor, abused the power of the office and \"attempted to cover it all up and got caught.\"\nDistrict 4 - Rep. Jim Jordan (R) - Nay to both.The central Ohio Republican is one of President Trump's biggest supporters. As recently as Tuesday, the congressman tweeted: \"The media attacks Republican senators for defending the President. But nearly all of the Dem senators running for President called for impeachment before the Ukraine phone call even happened! Americans are so sick of the double standard.\"\nDistrict 5 - Rep. Robert Latta (R) - Nay to bothThe northwest Ohio Republican does not have any apparent Twitter account, but he called the impeachment inquiry \"a sham process\" when he voted against a resolution. That was on Facebook in October. He criticized the \"closed-door\" approach to the inquiry.\nDistrict 6 - Rep. Bill Johnson (R) - Nay to both.The eastern Ohio Republican tweeted: \"Democrats are pretending to be 'solemn' or 'sad' about their vote today. They aren't sad at all - their minds were set long ago. It's nothing more than a political hit job.\"\nDistrict 7 - Rep. Bob Gibbs (R) - Nay to both.The eastern Ohio Republican tweeted on Dec. 12: \"This impeachment is not just ridiculous on the merits, the very process Chairman Nadler & Speaker Pelosi are running is a sham.\"\nDistrict 8 - Rep. Warren Davidson (R) - Nay to both.The western Ohio Republican tweeted a criticism of Democrats on Dec. 11, saying: \"The facts they promised are not there, just like their Russia narrative.\" He called watching the move to impeach \"painful.\"\nDistrict 9 - Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) - Yea to both.The northern Ohio Democrat said on Twitter: \"The final report, written by the House Intelligence Committee, concluded that President Trump deliberately subverted American national security and abused his power to advance his own political self-interest.\"\nDistrict 10 - Rep. Michael Turner (R) - Nay to both.The Dayton-area Republican had a well-publicized exchange during the impeachment inquiry when he asked Gordon Sondland, \"No one on this planet told you that the president was trying to aid investigators, yes or no?\" The diplomat responded: \"Yes.\"\nDistrict 11 - Rep. Marcia Fudge (D) - Yea to both.The northeast Ohio Democrat recently retweeted a message from an account called \"House Judiciary Dems,\" which included the message: \"President Trump's actions were exactly what America's founders were concerned about. No one is above the law. Not even the President.\"\nDistrict 12 - Rep. Troy Balderson (R) - Nay to both.The central Ohio Republican has retweeted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has publicly said he will support the White House during a Senate trial. One tweet appeared to complain about a so-called \"Impeachment Effect\" which was blocking important economic development.\nDistrict 13 - Rep. Tim Ryan (D) - Yea to both.The Youngstown-area Democrat, who made national headlines when he made a bid to run against President Trump in the 2020 election, tweeted on Dec. 10: \"The President used his public office and taxpayer money for personal and political gain. That is wrong, and he must be held accountable. We cannot have a President that is above the law.\"\nDistrict 14 - Rep. David Joyce (R) - Nay to both.The northeast Ohio Republican wrote in a press release in October: \"While Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats continue to focus on this partisan proceeding to undermine the President rather than on working across party lines to deliver results for Americans, I will continue to focus on the issues that matter to Ohio families like combating the opioid epidemic, restoring the Great Lakes, expanding jobs and opportunity, lifting wages and ensuring our veterans get the health care they deserve.\"\nDistrict 15 - Rep. Steve Stivers (R) - Nay to both.The central Ohio Republican wrote in a press release in October: \"The American people deserve a fair and transparent process, but today's resolution continues this purely political exercise.\"\nDistrict 16 - Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R) - Nay to both.The northern Ohio Republican tweeted on Dec. 10 he was against impeachment. He also wrote on Facebook in October: \"Simply put, I refuse to support an impeachment inquiry that robs the President and House Republicans of due process and is conducted solely at the discretion of the Democratic majority.\"\nRepublicans are already working on how to conduct a Senate trial, which Majority Leader McConnell would like to end in a quick acquittal with few fireworks.\n10TV originally published this article on December 17, 2019.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 2910, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "OH", "p2": "2019"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1502, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH&year=2019&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 1408, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH&year=2019&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 2910, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OH&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "OH", "label": "OH", "count": 2910, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "2019", "label": "2019", "count": 2910, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2019-12-17,https~3A~2F~2Fbeatty~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fnews-articles~2Fhow-your-us-representative-voted-on-impeachment", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OH&year=2019&_next=2019-12-17%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fbeatty~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fnews-articles~2Fhow-your-us-representative-voted-on-impeachment&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 430.5581490043551, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}