{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-praises-final-fy-2021-bipartisan-funding-agreement", "Portman Praises Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portman Praises Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement\n \n      \n  \n      \n                           \n      Funding Measure Includes COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package Crafted Thanks to Portman's Bipartisan Negotiations \n      \n  \n  \n\n          \n                          \n      December 21, 2020\n      \n  \n |     \n                          \n      Press Releases\n      \n  \n  \n    \n                  WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) released the following statement on the FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement reached between both parties.The House and Senate are expected to pass the measure later today. The agreement includes key Portman priorities to help families and small businesses; provide additional aid to health care providers and support vaccine distribution; ensure stable housing; redouble efforts to combat addiction; protect the Great Lakes; support seniors and the most vulnerable; secure faith-based and nonprofit facilities; help keep and create jobs through key tax incentives; make tax relief for the craft beverage industry permanent; and provide the COVID-19 emergency relief Americans deserve. \nI'm pleased that Congress has finally passed another COVID relief package that is targeted to helping the American people who are most in need. I was proud to join the bipartisan group of five Republicans and five Democrats who negotiated a $908 billion package that served as the basis for this package.Our effort refocused the debate on areas of common ground rather than partisan proposals had previously pushed by Democratic leaders.The health care crisis in Ohio and so many other places has gotten worse and we cannot afford further economic suffering. The package supports direct stimulus relief, increased testing and vaccine development, resources for schools and universities, aid for small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, emergency rental assistance, and other provisions are critical to helping our country over the next several months until vaccines are more widely available.\nThis measure also includes a number of other important priorities for Ohio.It redoubles our efforts with new funding to address the heartbreaking surge in overdose deaths we're seeing as a result of this pandemic. The bill also provides additional resources to protect the Great Lakes; preserve our national parks; support seniors and the most vulnerable; secure faith-based and nonprofit facilities; help keep and create jobs through key tax incentives; and make tax relief for the craft beverage industry permanent.\nI am disappointed that this package doesn't include the balanced compromise on liability that I brokered with my Democratic colleague Joe Manchin from West Virginia. Those liability protections would have protected businesses, nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations from frivolous lawsuits but I hope it will serve as a springboard for action next year on this issue. And while I'm disappointed that this package doesn't include additional aid for state and local governments, it extends the deadline for states and local governments to use previously-appropriated CARES Act funding beyond this calendar year and help assist with emergency services like police, firefighters and emergency medical services.\nI remain frustrated that Congress continues to operate by passing thousand-page omnibus bills at the end of the year with no amendments allowed. Congress should get back to regular order, including passing appropriations bills based on a budget and having an open amendment process.\nHere are some of the key Portman priorities included: \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-praises-final-fy-2021-bipartisan-funding-agreement"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.17915915325284, "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"}