{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=44d6c69d-2c0f-468b-b242-b34e0ff07ed6", "Portman Fights for Akron's Lockheed Martin Employees", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) sent a letter to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics urging consideration to qualify Akron, Ohio for assistance through the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) Defense Industry Adjustment Program.\u00a0 OEA provides assistance to communities whose workforce is affected by changes in Defense Department contracting or basing decisions.\u00a0\r\nAkron is home to a Lockheed Martin facility, which last week announced it will begin significant personnel reductions.\u00a0 The Akron facility has long supported the Department of Defense in wartime production, aerospace simulators, space exploration and many other military systems.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nIn the letter, Portman states, \u201cTo address announced workforce reduction, we must work with the community to ensure the workforce is prepared to transition and that new opportunities are waiting for them\u2026We ask the Office of Economic Adjustment to assist Akron and Summit County with this mobilization effort through economic development and diversification.\u00a0 I would expect that if qualified, subsequent assistance would help the community ensure the workforce is ready to meet future demands and be competitive for economic opportunities.\u201d\r\nThe full text of the letter is below.\u00a0 Read a signed copy here.\r\nNovember 21, 2013\r\nThe Honorable Frank Kendall  Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics)  3010 Defense Pentagon  Washington DC, 20301-3010\r\nDear Secretary Kendall:\r\nI am writing to urge your consideration of Akron, Ohio for assistance through the Office of Economic Adjustment Defense Industry Adjustment Program.\u00a0\r\nAs you may be aware, Akron is home to a Lockheed Martin facility, which recently announced it will implement significant personnel reductions.\u00a0 This facility in Akron has long supported the Department of Defense, for decades it supported wartime production, aerospace simulators, space exploration and many other military systems.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nDecisions regarding several major defense acquisition programs have had a direct, negative impact on Lockheed Martin Corporation.\u00a0\u00a0 A reduction in defense demand has caused Lockheed Martin to reevaluate their portfolio and has forced the decision to close several sites including Akron, which will affect over 500 personnel at this one location.\u00a0\r\nTo address announced workforce reduction, we must work with the community to ensure the workforce is prepared to transition and that new opportunities are waiting for them.\u00a0 The Defense Industry Adjustment Program under the authority of Military Base Reuse Studies and Community Planning Assistance, 10 U.S.C. 2391, provides the authority needed to deal with a situation such as this. We ask the Office of Economic Adjustment to assist Akron and Summit County with this mobilization effort through economic development and diversification.\u00a0\r\nI would expect that if qualified, subsequent assistance would help the community ensure the workforce is ready to meet future demands and be competitive for economic opportunities.\u00a0   \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0   I appreciate your attention to this issue.", 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/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=44d6c69d-2c0f-468b-b242-b34e0ff07ed6"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8253133855760098, "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"}