Press releases
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1,586 rows where party = "Republican", state = "OH" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending
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| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/portman-difference/portman-delivers-results-ohio-second-year-116th-congress | Portman Delivers Results for Ohio in Second Year of the 116th Congress | 2020-12-31 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Delivers Results for Ohio in Second Year of the 116th Congress December 31, 2020 | Portman Difference During the second year of the 116th Congress, Senator Portman continued to deliver results for Ohio, just as he did in the previous Congress. He worked tirelessly to help Ohioans who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; create economic opportunity and retirement security for Ohio families; combat the addiction epidemic; honor our nation's veterans and strengthen our military; promote responsible use of artificial intelligence and technology; stand up against police brutality and the unnecessary violence in our country; protect and preserve our national parks; improve transparency and accountability within the federal government; fight for better and more affordable health care; and help all Ohioans achieve their God-given potential. During the 116th Congress, Portman has authored or co-authored 45legislative priorities in total that have been signed into law. Under President Trump, in total 82of Senator Portman's bills have been signed into law. Under President Obama, 68 of Portman's bill were signed into law. In total, during his 10 years in the Senate, Portman has successfully enacted 175 legislative priorities into law, including 129 bills as well as 46 amendments. Helping Ohioans Impacted By COVID-19 The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of every American in 2020, and Senator Portman played a leadership role in crafting solutions to help families and small businesses leading to the passage of the COVID-19 Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Senator Portman has consistently called for bipartisan action to provide the health care and economic relief the American need and deserve. Since March, Portman has delivered 21 speeches on the Senate floor cal… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401085 | Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus Co-Chairs Schiff and Chabot Denounce Sentencing of Chinese Journalist Reporting on COVID-19 Pandemic | 2020-12-30 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Steven Chabot | C000266 | chabot.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today, Representatives Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus, released a statement following the sentencing of Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist who reported from Wuhan during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic:We are deeply concerned by the recent conviction of Zhang Zhan for her reporting on the early handling of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan last winter, the Co-Chairs said. Ms. Zhang's photos and short video clips uploaded to WeChat, Twitter, and YouTube documented the harsh reality of life in Wuhan during lockdown in the early days of the virus, informing the Chinese people and the world about the extent of the crisis at a critical time. We are alarmed at the treatment of Ms. Zhang and call on PRC authorities to immediately release her and all others detained in connection with sharing news about the coronavirus. On December 28, Zhang Zhan was sentenced to four years in jail by the Shanghai Pudong People's Court for picking quarrels and provoking trouble. She is accused of spreading false information and accepting media interviews with foreign outlets. Her lawyer reports that Ms. Zhang has been on a hunger strike since June and was force-fed via a nasal tube while shackled in prison. Other citizen journalists who reported on the situation in Wuhan have gone missing or been under close surveillance for months. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-announce-bipartisan-legislation-rename-nasas-plum-brook | Portman, Brown Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Rename NASAs Plum Brook Station Test Facility After Neil Armstrong Signed Into Law | 2020-12-30 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Brown Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Rename NASA's Plum Brook Station Test Facility After Neil Armstrong Signed Into Law December 30, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that President Trump has signed into law their bipartisan legislation to rename NASA's Plum Brook Station, the agency's test facility in Sandusky, Ohio, after Neil Armstrong. Portman and Brown introduced the legislation last year. Plum Brook is part of the NASA Glenn Research Center. Ithouses unique world-class facilities that conduct critical and innovative ground tests for the international aerospace community. From his service as a Navy fighter pilot, to his courageous experiments as a test pilot, to his space exploration and first step on the surface of the Moon, Neil Armstrong left an indelible mark in mankind's history of flight.In all his accomplishments, he considered himself first and foremost a test pilot who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the air and in space, Senator Portman said. Neil was a humble and patriotic Ohioan who believed the honor of serving his country was a reward in and of itself. That's why, when I asked him the year before he passed away whether he wanted me to pursue naming Plum Brook after him, he demurred. But he was a strong supporter of Plum Brook Station and the important simulations and testing being done there, and I believe it is precisely because of his humility, coupled with his unparalleled accomplishments, that the renaming is appropriate.In consultation with his family and NASA, Senator Brown and I introduced this legislation last year and I applaud President Trump for signing this legislation into law as a fitting tribute to Armstrongs amazing accomplishments in air and in space. Before Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the moon, he was an u… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-votes-support-national-defense-bill | Portman Votes to Support National Defense Bill | 2020-12-30 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Votes to Support National Defense Bill December 30, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement in support of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act: The defense bill provides needed resources that build on President Trump's successful efforts to restore our military after years of underfunding and deterioration of our readiness.It also supports the National Defense Strategy, gives a needed pay raise to our troops, and provides critical upgrades and support to Ohio's defense installations. Ohio is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force base, the Lima tank plant, and other important military facilities that help support our troops around the globe.This legislation directly impacts our Ohio defense community. I agree with President Trump that we need to take a serious look at Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, but a defense bill isn't the place for those reforms. Our country faces significant security threats around the world, and this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that our soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and space professionals have the vital resources they need to accomplish their national security missions. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403079 | Statement from Rep. Stivers | 2020-12-28 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Steve Stivers | S001187 | stivers.house.gov | legacy | Statement from Rep. Stivers f t # e Washington, December 28, 2020 The following may be attributed to Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) regarding the override of the veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): For decades, people on both sides of the aisle have put aside their differences for the sake of the men and women who serve our nation, Stivers said. While it's disappointing that the President let a political disagreement stand in the way of the well-being of our troops, I was proud to join my Republican and Democratic colleagues to let our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines know that we have their backs. -30- | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404579 | Wenstrup Statement on Non-Offset Relief Payments | 2020-12-28 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Brad Wenstrup | W000815 | wenstrup.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) issued the following statement after voting on the CASH Act of 2020: The recently-passed bipartisan, bicameral COVID relief legislation provided targeted assistance to the American people in the form of direct cash payments, enhanced unemployment insurance, and an expanded earned income tax credit. There may be room for additional assistance in the coming months, and it should come in the form of more precisely targeted relief to those most in need as well as efforts to get individuals back to work, rather than blanket benefits for many who may not need them but qualify based off outdated data. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the CASH Act would cost $463.8 billion in taxpayer funding. With that sum, we could increase assistance to our small businesses that are struggling through the Paycheck Protection Program, increase direct food assistance to needy families, and increase resources to distributePPE to frontline healthcare workers and the vaccine to all Americans who want it. Should the Speaker wish to pass this legislation, she should offset it with the President's request to rescind certain foreign aid funding. However, without such an offset, I could not support this additional deficit spending. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404580 | Wenstrup Votes to Enact Defense Authorization Bill | 2020-12-28 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Brad Wenstrup | W000815 | wenstrup.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) issued the following statement after voting to advance into law the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): Our nation's servicemembers make countless sacrifices to protect the American people. We must provide our warfighters with the tools and resources necessary to carry out their missions and keep them safe. This legislation also addresses growing global challenges, from countering China's increasing aggression to strengthening our nation's cybersecurity capabilities. At the same time, I share President Trump's interest in reviewing the Communications Decency Act of 1996, and specifically Section 230. The Internet economy has grown beyond anything imagined in the 1990s, and it is the responsibility of legislators to ensure that our laws are keeping up with society and the tech companies that have come to dominate our economy and public discourse. Congressman Wenstrup was named a conferee to the FY 2021 NDAA Conference Committee andhad two amendments included in the final text. He also serves as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He served a tour in Iraq from 2005-2006 as a combat surgeon and was awarded a Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his service. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-final-fy-2021-bipartisan-funding-measure-includes-ohio | Portman Announces Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Measure Includes Ohio Projects to be Funded Through Restore Our Parks Act | 2020-12-28 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Measure Includes Ohio Projects to be Funded Through Restore Our Parks Act Initial Project List Includes Funding for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wayne National Forest Infrastructure December 28, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding measure, which President Trump signed into law last night, includes the initial list of projects that will be funded through Portman's bipartisanRestore Our Parks Act to protect and preserve America's national parks and public lands by addressing thebacklog in long-delayed maintenance projects. Included in this list are two priority projects for Ohio the demolition of vacant structures at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the replacement of the waterline at the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area within the Wayne National Forest. This summer, Portman visited Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wayne National Forest to see their deferred maintenance projects firsthand. Whether biking, fishing, kayaking, or hiking with my family, I'm proud to be one of the 2.7 million visitors to Ohio's National Parks annually. That's why I'm pleased that the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding measure included the first list of projects that will be funded through my bipartisan Restore Our Parks law to begin to address backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects throughout our park system, said Portman. I'm pleased that Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wayne National Forest will be among the first to be able to address critical infrastructure improvements to ensure these parks can be enjoyed for many generations to come. Over the summer, I was able to see the deferred maintenance projects at both of these parks firsthand and I look forward visiting these parks agai… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2889 | Joyce Issues Statement on COVID-19 Relief and Government Funding Bills | 2020-12-24 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Dave Joyce | J000295 | joyce.house.gov | legacy | BAINBRIDGE Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) issued the following statement regarding the COVID-19 relief and government funding bills recently passed by Congress: I want to address the misinformation going around about the legislation Congress passed on Monday night.Let's be very clear: Congress passed two independent pieces of legislation, one that provided COVID-19 relief and another that funded the government throughout next year. The Majority had us vote on these two bills at once, which is what confused a lot of people. Rumors that there was foreign aid in the COVID-19 relief bill are false. The only bill that included foreign aid was the annual spending bill, which was requested by the President in his budget ten months ago. The U.S. Constitution lays out the annual process by which we fund our government, a responsibility I take very seriously as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. That's why, since the President released his budget in February, I have worked with my colleagues to hold more than 36 budget and oversight hearings to move that process forward. Unfortunately, election year political games derailed this process significantly, causing a last-minute scramble to ensure the government remained up and running in the middle of a pandemic. That is unacceptable and the American people have every right to be frustrated by it. I know I am. The political games that delayed that government funding bill were the same games that prevented us from providing COVID-19 relief to the American people months ago. It's especially infuriating that it took eight months to pass this additional relief when it was largely similar to the bipartisan plan my colleagues and I on the Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled back in September. Despite this unconscionable delay, the bill we passed on Monday provides $900 billion to support our small businesses, working families and healthcare professionals. Any accusation that this relief bill only included $600 for Americans is a lie. The Am… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-cardin-praise-establishment-national-memorial-fallen-journalists | Portman, Cardin Praise Establishment of a National Memorial to Fallen Journalists | 2020-12-24 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Cardin Praise Establishment of a National Memorial to Fallen Journalists December 23, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, President Trump signed into law a companion bill to legislation written by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) that authorizes the development and construction of a national monument to fallen journalists. The new, privately funded memorial will be constructed on federal lands within the District of Columbia and will honor journalists, photographers, and broadcasters killed in the line of duty.Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is an original cosponsor of the Senate bill (S. 1969). Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) introduced the legislation (H.R. 3465) in the House of Representatives. A free and open press is essential to our democracy, and I applaud President Trump for signing into law our bipartisan legislation to establish the National Memorial to Fallen Journalists, said Senator Portman. This memorial will serve as a fitting tribute to the men and women in journalism, including those from the Capital Gazette, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of the First Amendment. The free media, one of the pillars of our nation, is under attack figuratively and literally across America. Too many, including five innocent souls lost in the shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, gave everything they had in defense of democracy, transparency and freedom, said Senator Cardin. This new memorial will honor the lives of those who died reporting the news and supporting the media on behalf of the American people. It will be a steadfast symbol of their sacrifice and the fragility of our democracy. Those who personify the First Amendment rights granted to every citizen have made our nation stronger. The Portman-Cardin bill authorizes the Fallen Journalists Memorial (FJM) Foundation… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-cardin-praise-establishment-national-memorial-fallen-journalists-0 | Portman, Cardin Praise Establishment of a National Memorial to Fallen Journalists | 2020-12-24 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Cardin Praise Establishment of a National Memorial to Fallen Journalists December 23, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, President Trump signed into law a companion bill to legislation written by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) that authorizes the development and construction of a national monument to fallen journalists. The new, privately funded memorial will be constructed on federal lands within the District of Columbia and will honor journalists, photographers, and broadcasters killed in the line of duty.Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is an original cosponsor of the Senate bill (S. 1969). Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) introduced the legislation (H.R. 3465) in the House of Representatives. A free and open press is essential to our democracy, and I applaud President Trump for signing into law our bipartisan legislation to establish the National Memorial to Fallen Journalists, said Senator Portman. This memorial will serve as a fitting tribute to the men and women in journalism, including those from the Capital Gazette, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of the First Amendment. The free media, one of the pillars of our nation, is under attack figuratively and literally across America. Too many, including five innocent souls lost in the shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, gave everything they had in defense of democracy, transparency and freedom, said Senator Cardin. This new memorial will honor the lives of those who died reporting the news and supporting the media on behalf of the American people. It will be a steadfast symbol of their sacrifice and the fragility of our democracy. Those who personify the First Amendment rights granted to every citizen have made our nation stronger. The Portman-Cardin bill authorizes the Fallen Journalists Memorial (FJM) Foundation… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2890 | Joyce Bill to Rename Grand River Post Office in Honor of Andy Nowacki Becomes Law | 2020-12-23 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Dave Joyce | J000295 | joyce.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Today, the President signed into law Congressman Dave Joyce's (OH-14)bill to rename the U.S. Post Office in Grand River, Ohio after the late Lance Corporal Andrew Nowacki. Joyce introduced this legislation to honor the local Northeast Ohio hero in June of last year. Known as Andy or Ace to those in the Grand River community, Lance Corporal Nowacki was killed in action on February 26, 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was just 24 years old. I thank the President for signing this bill into law and helping me preserve the legacy of a true American patriot, said Joyce. Andy's sacrifice in defense of our nation is something we should never forget, as is his dedication to the Grand River community and his desire to help others. I was honored to introduce this bill and know that by renaming the Grand River post office after Andy, we are ensuring he will always be remembered by the community he cared so deeply for and contributed so much to. Our family is extremely thankful that Andy's service and sacrifice has not been forgotten, said Sheila Nowacki, Andy's mother. Andy was proud to serve his country as a United States Marine and theVillage of Grand River as a peace officer. To have his memory in both roles commemorated by having the Grand River Post Office bear his name is an honor that we are grateful for. It was an absolute privilege and honor to know Andy Nowacki and to call him my friend, said Grand River Mayor Christopher Conley. As a Marine myself, he is my brother, and I am sure he would be humbled by this and all the work his Mother and Father do in his honor. Andy joined the Marine Corps Reserve shortly after graduating from Brush High School in 1998. He later attended the Cleveland Heights Police Academy, joining the Grand River Police Department in 2001 where he was a dedicated member of the Ready Response Team, the Honor Guard and the Bike Patrol. Despite the fact that Andy's first enlistment was almost over when his unit was recalled for a second tour in Iraq, he reuppe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/column/portman-column-2020-review | Portman Column: 2020 in Review | 2020-12-23 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Column: 2020 in Review December 22, 2020 | Column I think we are all ready for 2020 to be over. It's been a tough year. The health care and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have changed so much of our lives, and too many Ohioans have lost their jobs, their businesses, or their loved ones to this disease. The good news is that the vaccines are coming and I am hopeful they will soon help us turn the corner in this pandemic. During a challenging year, I have kept my focus on delivering for Ohio, and we've had a lot of success in getting things done. Back in March, I helped negotiate the bipartisan CARES Act that was our first major legislation to respond to the pandemic. It helped Ohio workers, families, small businesses, and health professionals on the frontlines of this crisis. Many of the provisions of the CARES Act ended in the summer, while the pandemic did not. Instead, the virus continued to spread and, as the election approached, partisan gridlock seemed to take over in Washington. Since the summer, I have consistently advocated for breaking through the partisanship and providing needed funding for vaccine development and distribution, and targeted help for our families, small businesses, health care providers, schools, local governments and others as they navigated the challenges of COVID-19. I gave more than 20 speeches on the Senate floor laying out a targeted approach, and joined a bipartisan group of five Republicans and five Democrats Senators to draft our own targeted emergency relief COVID-19 legislation. On dozens of tele-townhalls, Facebook Live events, and Zoom calls with Ohio small businesses, health care workers, food banks, and others, I heard from Ohioans about what they needed. And I joined a clinical trial for Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine to do my part to help collect information on vaccines and to raise awareness ab… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401084 | Ranking Member Chabot: Its Time for Congress to Pass Small Business Relief | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Steven Chabot | C000266 | chabot.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH) spoke on the House floor in support of the small business provisions in the COVID relief package. Remarks as prepared for delivery: I thank the gentleman/gentlelady for yielding. Mr./Madam Speaker, for months now, our nation's entrepreneurs and small business owners have been pleading for additional help from Congress. The Fourth Quarter Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index found that nearly three-quarters of small business owners said more federal relief is important for their success in 2021. While I am relieved that Congress is finally acting on those cries for help, I am dismayed that it has taken us this long. I introduced a bill in September that could have been brought to the floor at any time. That bill included many of these same provisions we are voting on today. Instead, the House considered bills about marijuana and online conspiracy theories. It's an embarrassment that it took this long because every moment of delay has put more small businesses at risk of permanent closure. These restaurants, bars, shops, and manufacturers employ nearly half of American workers and form the bedrock of communities across the country. Fortunately, the provisions in today's relief package will bring critical assistance to these small business workers and their families. The Paycheck Protection Program, which has supported over 50 million employees, will be reopened for new and second time applicants. Funds will be reserved for very small businesses and community lenders. The list of eligible expenses will be expanded so that owners can purchase PPE to keep employees and their loved ones safe. There are many more details in the packagetoo many to go into herebut the bottom line is this: these provisions will bring meaningful help to millions of Americans. Just in my own district in Cincinnati and the surrounding area, a PPP loan helped keep 140 employees on the payroll at the Silver Spring House restaurant. A PPP… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2888 | Joyce Highlights Buckeye Wins in Bipartisan Government Funding Agreement | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Dave Joyce | J000295 | joyce.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Last night, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) voted in favor of the combined COVID-19 relief, FY2021 government funding bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The omnibus portion of this legislation, which Joyce has worked on since the House Appropriations Committee began hearings back in February, funds the government at $1.4 trillion for FY2021 and includes numerous Buckeye priorities. You can learn more about the COVID-19 relief portion of the legislation here. While the process that took place to produce this legislation was unacceptable, the reality is that America can't afford for Congress to make the perfect the enemy of the good right now, said Joyce. The resources in this legislation are critical to continuing our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting our veterans, and enhancing our national security. There were also a lot of wins for Ohio in this legislation, like increased funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, more resources to help us fight the opioid crisis, and improved support for rural broadband. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I look forward to continuing to advocate for Ohio's priorities next Congress and will fight to prevent another last-minute scramble when it comes to keeping our government funded and fully operational. Specifically, Joyce helped secure a $10 million increase for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, ensuring the successful program receives a total of $330 million in FY2021. The legislation also includes $25 million total for Asian carp prevention efforts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including a $500,000 increase for Asian carp contract fishing to keep them out of the Great Lakes, and an increase of more than $2.75 million in Harmful Algal Blooms funding at United States Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, report language accompanying the bill states that funding be made available to expand breakwaters andadvance local shoreline mitigation measures,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-johnson-legislation-preserve-historic-barker-house-southeast | Portman, Brown, Johnson Legislation to Preserve Historic Barker House in Southeast Ohio Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Brown, Johnson Legislation to Preserve Historic Barker House in Southeast Ohio Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DCToday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH) announced that the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes their legislation to restore and protect the historic Joseph Barker Jr. House (Barker House) along the Ohio River in southern Washington County, Ohio. Specifically, the legislation will convey the Barker House and land immediately surrounding the house to the local friends group, Friends of the Joseph Barker Jr. House, with plans for the house to be restored and accessible to the public. The Barker House is currently owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and was used as office space in the 1960s for the Willow Island Lock and Dam. The Barker House was originally proposed to be torn down by the Corps since it is no longer in use and is in need of repair. However, following discussions with the Corps and local stakeholders, the Corps agreed to reverse its decision and leave the Barker House standing to allow for the land conveyance and restoration of the house. I'm proud that the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement will preserve an important piece of history of the Northwest Territories and my home state of Ohio,said Senator Portman.I'd like to thank Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper on the Environment and Public Works Committee for working with me on this legislation, as well as Assistant Secretary R.D. James, whose leadership at the Army Corps made this partnership possible. I look forward to working with the Corps, the Friends of the Joseph Barker Jr. House, Ohio State Historic Preservation Office, and Ohio Department of Transportation to get to work on restoring and preserving this hist… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-schatz-gardner-peters-klobuchar-bill-improve-federal-governments | Portman, Schatz, Gardner, Peters, KlobucharBill to Improve Federal Government's Use of Artificial IntelligenceSet to Become Law | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Schatz, Gardner, Peters, KlobucharBill to Improve Federal Government's Use of Artificial IntelligenceSet to Become Law Provision Included in Must-Pass BipartisanGovernment FundingDeal,Expected to QuicklyPass Congress and be Signed intoLaw December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that their Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government Act was included as part of the must-pass government funding deal and is set to become law. The AI in Government Act will ensure that the use of AI across the federal government is effective, ethical, and accountable by providing resources and guidance to federal agencies. Artificial intelligence will have significant impacts on our country, economy, and society,said Senator Portman, Co-Chair of the Senate AI Caucus.Ensuring that our government has the capabilities and expertise to help navigate those impacts will be important in the coming years and decades. I'm pleased this important legislation was included in theFY 2021 bipartisan fundingpackage. It will ensure our government understands the benefits and pitfalls of this technology as it engages in a responsible, accountable rollout of AI. We need to get smart on AI if we want to have a competitive edge against the rest of the world in the next decade. That starts with making sure the federal government is using AI technology ethically and effectively,said Senator Schatz, the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet.With our bill set to become law, we will now be able to coordinate AI strategy so that all federal agencies can take full advantage of these new technologies and do so in a responsible way. Artificial intelligenc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402400 | Latta: Relief is On the Way | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Robert Latta | L000566 | latta.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) provided the following statement after supporting theConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2021in the U.S. House of Representatives: After months of delays, House Democrats were finally able to join Republicans to deliver the American people the relief they deserve. Our agreement supports American families, workers, farmers, and small businesses. It prioritizes national security, continues to rebuild our military, protects the sanctity of life, helps schools reopen, expands rural broadband efforts, funds testing and vaccines, enables telehealth capabilities, provides for substance abuse programs, protects people from surprise medical bills, removes hurdles to reducing improper payments, provides funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and more. In order to rebuild our country so that it remains the greatest country in the world, we must come together to find agreements where we can. Thanks to this agreement, American workers and small businesses will soon be able to apply for and use $284 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. Over $130 billion of those funds were already appropriated to support small businesses as they work to keep their doors open and staff employed during the pandemic, but Speaker Pelosi did not hold a vote to make those funds available after the deadline to apply for the PPP passed in August. I am especially proud this package resolves an issue over 6,000 businesses and 123,000 employees in the Fifth District would experience: PPP recipients will not be taxed on the loans they received through the Program. Included in this package are efforts I championed in the House that prioritize the importance of Internet connectivity and break-through technologies.The funding included to implement my Broadband DATA Act will help people across Ohio's Fifth Congressional District, especially people who live in rural communities, access high-speed Internet so they can work and learn remotely access health care through telehealth capabilities, and more. T… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403077 | Stivers Secures Wins for OH-15 in Relief/Omnibus Legislation | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Steve Stivers | S001187 | stivers.house.gov | legacy | Stivers Secures Wins for OH-15 in Relief/Omnibus Legislation f t # e Washington, December 21, 2020 WASHINGTON Today, the House passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which makes appropriations for Fiscal Year 21 and provides critical relief as the nation continues to battle the pandemic. Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) successfully advocated for several key provisions to support the families of Ohio's 15th Congressional District. Finally, after months of politically-motivated games by members of Democratic leadership, Congress has fulfilled its responsibility to the American people by ensuring that we keep the lights on, and by providing desperately-needed relief as we defeat the coronavirus, Stivers said. This package is a win for the folks in Ohio's 15th Congressional District, from Economic Impact Payments and unemployment assistance, to bipartisan provisions on health care and broadband access, and I am honored to fight for OH-15 every day. Stivers urged adoption of the following provisions that were included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (list not exhaustive): Support for Families The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes $600 in direct payments to individuals making up to $75,000 (or couples making up to $150,000) and $600 for each dependent. Small Businesses: The legislation provides $284.5 billion to reopen and strengthen the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for first and second time borrowers, and creates a streamlined process for loans under $150,000. Small businesses cannot operate without reliable broadband access; the Consolidated Appropriations Act includes $732 million for rural broadband, with $635 million for the ReConnect Pilot Program. Health Care: In an effort to give families the flexibility … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://balderson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1918 | House Passes COVID Relief, Government Funding Package That Includes Multiple Balderson Priorities | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Troy Balderson | B001306 | balderson.house.gov | balderson | https://balderson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14 | scraper | WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed bipartisan, bicameral appropriations legislation that authorizes $900 billion in targeted COVID-19 relief for American families, hospitals, small businesses, schools, local governments, and more. The legislation includes multiple of Congressman Troy Balderson’s (R-OH) top priorities, including the ability for small businesses to deduct Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) grants from their upcoming 2020 tax filings. “While long overdue, this legislation does exactly what it needs to do: provide major, critical relief to Ohio’s families, small business employees, rural communities, agriculture sector, and more,” said Balderson. “While I’m pleased my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have finally agreed to this much-needed package, it’s unacceptable to let these disagreements drag out at the expense of Americans’ livelihoods. I hope for more bipartisan lawmaking in the 117th Session of Congress.” Key Balderson priorities incorporated in the omnibus package include: DIRECT PAYMENTS TO AMERICANS Provides economic impact payments of up to $600 for more than 85% of American adults and their dependents SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF Provides $248.5 billion to reopen and strengthen the PPP Enables small businesses to deduct PPP grants from 2020 tax filings Allows small businesses with fewer than 300 employees that received a PPP loan previously to apply for a second loan by demonstrating a 25% decrease in revenue Allocates $20 billion to restart and extend the U.S Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program Advance Grant for small businesses in low-income communities, and allows prior grantees that received less than $10,000 to reapply Provides $15 billion in funding for entertainment venues, movie theaters, and museums that are experiencing significant revenue loss Includes 501(c)6 organizations such as local chambers of commerce, housing cooperatives, newspapers, broadcasters, and radio stations in eligibility for PPP and e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z |
| https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2887 | Joyce Secures Critical Relief for Restaurants and Their Employees in Emergency COVID-19 Package | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Dave Joyce | J000295 | joyce.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) released the below statement tonight after voting for the combined COVID-19 relief, FY2021 government funding bill: It shouldn't have taken so long for Congress to come together and agree on this package, but I'm thankful that much-needed relief is finally on its way to hardworking Buckeyes struggling with the impact of this pandemic,said Joyce. This legislation will help provide our communities with the tools and resources they need during these tough times and support Ohioans as they battle the impact this virus has had on their health and economic security. With vaccines being distributed across the country, there is light at the end of the tunnel but we're not out of the woods yet. The relief in this bill will ensure our small businesses, workers, healthcare professionals, students, and families have what they need to keep their heads above water until we defeat this virus once and for all. Importantly, the COVID-19 relief included a bill introduced by Joyce: the Supporting America's Restaurant Workers Act, a bill that makes a commonsense adjustment in order to lead to more customers and increased revenue for restaurants and their employees during the pandemic. Specifically, the version of the bill included in the final relief package would provide a 100% deduction for business meal expenses through the end of 2022. Currently, the deduction is available for only 50% of such expenses.Learn more about Joyce's original legislationhere. Additional highlights in the COVID-19 relief package include but are not limited to: $284 billion for another round of Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans*; a provision that allows small businesses to deduct expenses on their taxes for costs that were paid for with their PPP loan*; $8.75 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support federal and state efforts to procure and distribute vaccines; $600 direct payments to eligible Americans; $3 bil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://turner.house.gov/2020/12/turner-advocacy-ends-surprise-medical-billing | TURNER Advocacy Ends Surprise Medical Billing | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Michael R. Turner | T000463 | turner.house.gov | turner | https://turner.house.gov/press-releases | scraper | 0 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | |
| https://turner.house.gov/2020/12/turner-foster-care-legislation-included-in-omnibus-funding-bill | TURNER Foster Care Legislation Included in Omnibus Funding Bill | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Michael R. Turner | T000463 | turner.house.gov | turner | https://turner.house.gov/press-releases | scraper | 0 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | |
| https://turner.house.gov/2020/12/turner-supports-oh-10-in-appropriations-and-covid-19-relief-package | TURNER Supports OH-10 in Appropriations and COVID-19 Relief Package | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Michael R. Turner | T000463 | turner.house.gov | turner | https://turner.house.gov/press-releases | scraper | 0 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | |
| https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-advocacy-ends-surprise-medical-billing | TURNER Advocacy Ends Surprise Medical Billing | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Michael Turner | T000463 | turner.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) cosponsored H.R. 2328, The Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence Act of 2019, which has been included in the Omnibus Package that passed the House of Representatives earlier today. This legislation aims to end surprise medical billing by shielding patients from excessive costs given by out of network healthcare services. Meanwhile, it allows for fair negotiation of outstanding costs between insurers and medical providers through an independent dispute resolution process. I have long advocated for the end of surprise medical billing for those that are rushed to medical care in out of network healthcare facilities. The language of the Omnibus package not only protects patients from such medical bills, but it also allows doctors and hospitals to have a fair negotiation process with insurers, said Turner. I will continue to advocate for fair healthcare prices and practices. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-foster-care-legislation-included-in-omnibus-funding-bill | TURNER Foster Care Legislation Included in Omnibus Funding Bill | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Michael Turner | T000463 | turner.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Mike Turner's (OH-10) Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act has been included in the Omnibus spending bill that passed the House of Representatives earlier this evening. This housing legislation provides federal housing assistance for youths aging out of foster care. We cannot allow our foster children to age out of the system into federally created homelessness, said Turner. For years I have championed this legislation and I am thrilled it is being passed into law. The adoption of this legislation into the omnibus spending bill means that our federal government will help provide a straightforward approach to ending the cycle of homelessness among foster care youths. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-supports-oh-10-in-appropriations-and-covid-19-relief-package | TURNER Supports OH-10 in Appropriations and COVID-19 Relief Package | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Michael Turner | T000463 | turner.house.gov | legacy | With the support of Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), the House passed an omnibus funding and COVID-19 relief bill. This legislation helps Americans navigate the healthcare and financial hardships that have resulted from the coronavirus pandemic, and also funds the government for the upcoming year. This legislation is a much needed and long overdue step towards recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, said Turner. This bill addresses coronavirus funding concerns, as well as provides important funds for our government through the remainder of this fiscal year. I will continue to support legislation that helps our community recover from the pandemic and its economic hardships. The following highlights federal funding and Coronavirus relief provisions that will impact OH-10: Jobs and Small Businesses: $248 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses, allowing small businesses to apply for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Makes all business expenses made with PPP loans tax deductible, allowing the over 7300 businesses in OH-10 that received over $820 million to continue recovering from the pandemic $15 billion in funding dedicated to funding for live venues and other businesses whose revenues are based on in-person interaction $600 economic impact payments for qualifying individuals, and additional $600 for children in qualifying families Extends Coronavirus unemployment benefits through March 2021 Defense and National Security: $5 million increase for Air Force advanced battery for directed energy weapons. $5 million increase for Air Force Autonomous Air Combat Operations. $23.5 million for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hydrant Fuel System. 3% pay raise for all military personnel effective January 1, 2021. $5 million increase above the budget request for Army tungsten manufacturing affordability initiative for armaments. $968.09 million provided for the Army Abrams Upgrade Program and $340 million increas… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404567 | Wenstrup Statement on Surprise Billing/COVID-19 Relief/Spending Package | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Brad Wenstrup | W000815 | wenstrup.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02) released the following statement after for the combined Surprise Billing, COVID-19 Relief, and Government Spending package: We have delivered two safe and effective vaccines so far, which will provide us the ultimate pathway forward to ending the pandemic, rebuilding the economy, and restoring our way of life. However, Americans need economic support now, and this legislation delivers that immediate help, including $325 billion to help the hardest-hit small businesses through reopening and improving the Paycheck Protection Program, another round of cash assistance for workers and families, averaging $2,400 for a family of four, and continued support for Americans who have lost their job during this global pandemic. I am also particularly proud to support the provisions that end surprise billing. Patients will no longer receive unexpected bills due to medical procedures or doctor visits. Rather, they will be provided more complete information before having to make health care decisions, will be removed from billing disputes that arise from unplanned or unscheduled care, and will have access to a robust network of doctors who are incentivized to continue seeing patients. Along with the GOP Doctors Caucus, I have championed this issue and fought hard to get it across the finish line. "Undoubtedly, there are unnecessary provisions in the overall bill. However, our country faces unprecedented circumstances and urgent needs, and I supported this legislation because I know the American people have beencounting on us to deliver relief. "Now, our work begins to ensure that we are better prepared to address our fiscal, medical, and supply chain challenges. Highlights Courtesy of Republican House Whip Steve Scalise: COVID Relief: Extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and adds deductibility for PPP expenses oGives businesses experiencing severe revenue reductions an opportunity to apply for a second draw PPP loan oIncludes 501(c)(6) organiz… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/portman-difference/toledo-blade-editorial-board-praises-portmans-cara-20-legislation | The Toledo Blade Editorial Board Praises Portmans CARA 2.0 Legislation to Combat Addiction Crisis | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | The Toledo Blade Editorial Board Praises Portman's CARA 2.0 Legislation to Combat Addiction Crisis December 21, 2020 | Portman Difference Today, the Toledo Blade editorial board published an editorial praising Senator Portman's bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 legislation which will increase the funding authorization levels for the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA) programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic that has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.CARA was a bipartisan, national effort designed to ensure thatfederal resources were devoted to evidence-based education, treatment and recovery programs that work. In FY 2020, CARA programs were funded at $658 million. CARA 2.0 builds on thiseffort by increasing the funding authorization levels and laying out new policy reforms to strengthen the federal government's response to this crisis. Addiction treatment, recovery, enforcement, and prevention stakeholders across Ohio have voiced their support for the legislation. Excerpts from the op-ed can be found below and the full article can be found here. Don't Forget the Other National Crisis The Toledo Blade Editorial Board December 21, 2020 While it seems a stalled coronavirus-relief package is all anyone can focus on in Washington, Ohio's Republican Sen. Rob Portman would like lawmakers to remember we had an opioid crisis before we had a coronavirus crisis, and addiction woes have only gotten worse during the pandemic. Mr. Portman has introduced new bipartisan legislation, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act 2.0, as a sequel to the original bill from five years ago. With it, Mr. Portman believes state and local agencies grappling with the effects of the opioid-addiction epidemic can get more resources for the programs that have been effective. The $745 milli… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/final-covid-19-emergency-relief-package-based-original-bipartisan-bicameral | Final COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package Based on Original Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Final COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package Based on Original Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation December 20, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Tom Reed (R-NY) released the following statement applauding the final COVID-19 emergency relief package: Following months of deadlock in Congress while millions of Americans were at risk of losing their lifelines, we put our heads down and worked around the clock for nearly a month to produce a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address the emergency needs of our country. We are relieved Congress has finally agreed on a COVID-19 emergency relief package. Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package and we applaud Congressional leadership for finishing what we started. Workers, businesses, and families need help right now and we urge our colleagues to quickly pass this bill and President Trump to immediately sign the legislation to provide Americans with relief. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/final-fy-2021-bipartisan-funding-bill-includes-portman-udall-bill-continue | Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Bill Includes Portman, Udall Bill to Continue Selling Stamps to Promote Wildlife Conservation | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Bill Includes Portman, Udall Bill to Continue Selling Stamps to Promote Wildlife Conservation December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DCToday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Udall (D-NM) announced the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding bill includes their bipartisanMultinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act, legislation which would require the U.S. Postal Service to continue selling the approximately 45 million remaining Saving Vanishing Species Stamps. 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 45 million remaining stamps left in stock. We 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 legislation was included in the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding bill and strongly urge the president to sign this legislation into law to ensure that every last stamp is sold. "By 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 to see this provision included in the funding bill, 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." NOTE:On September 20, 2011, the U.S. Postal Service issued the Saving Vanishing Species Stamp, depicting an endangered Amur tiger cub, priced ab… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/final-fy-2021-bipartisan-funding-measure-includes-key-portman-priorities | Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Measure Includes Key Portman Priorities to Protect Great Lakes, National Parks | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Measure Includes Key Portman Priorities to Protect Great Lakes, National Parks December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the finalFY 2021 bipartisan funding bill includes several of his key priorities including theGreat Lakes Restoration Initiative(GLRI), theNational Park Service (NPS) Centennial Challenge,Migratory Birds of the America's Act, theGreat Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act,and theHarmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA). Notably,the bill includes $330 million in funding for GLRI for FY 2021, the largest investment in the health, ecosystem, and water quality in the Great Lakes. Portman issued the following statement: I'm pleased this final FY 2021 bipartisan funding measure will benefit Ohio's national parks and Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie. The bill increases funding for the GLRI, a successful public-private partnership to protect the water quality and ecosystem of our Great Lakes, and also provides funding to combat harmful algal blooms and to protect our fish and wildlife populations and their habitats in the Great Lakes basin. It also 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. NOTE: Here's how the final bipartisanFY 2021funding bill benefits the Great Lakes: $330 Million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative:Portman hasledefforts 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. The FY 2021 spending bill includes $330 million for GLRI, which is $10 m… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-782-million-cara-programs-final-fy-2021-bipartisan | Portman Announces $782 Million for CARA Programs in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Bill | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces $782 Million for CARA Programs in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Bill December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes $782 million for grants through his bipartisanComprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA), which became law in 2016. Portman recently introduced theComprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 to increase the funding authorization levels for the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA) programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic that has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.Portman released the following statement: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a heartbreaking surge in overdose deaths, and that's why I'm glad Congress has acted to increase CARA funding to help make a difference and save lives throughout Ohio.This $782 million will help state and local health officials, prevention experts, treatment providers, and law enforcement to work together to address this epidemic.Prior to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had made significant progress in combating this epidemic thanks to CARA and this funding will help us redouble our efforts.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 fighting this epidemic. In the new Congress, we have a unique opportunity to work together in a bipartisan way and I believe that CARA 2.0 can help us strengthen our efforts to combat this epidemic. Summary of CARA Appropriations CARA Programs CARA Authorization in 2016 CARA Appropriations for FY 2017 CARA Funding for FY 2018 CARA Fu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-fy-2021-bipartisan-funding-agreement-doubles-security | Portman Announces FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement Doubles Security Resources for Faith-Based Communities & Institutions | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement Doubles Security Resources for Faith-Based Communities & Institutions December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that the FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes $180 million 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, double the amount allocated in FY 2020. Portman and his bipartisan colleagues sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this month requesting that the NSGP be adequately funded to meet the needs of at-risk organizations.Of the $180 million total, $90 million will be available for nonprofits located within high-risk urban areas, and the remaining $90 million will be available for organizations that fall outside of those areas. I am pleased that the FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement will include $180 million for nonprofit security grants so that synagogues, religious and cultural facilities, and other nonprofits across our country have the resources they need to better secure their facilities,said Portman.FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program is vitally important to ensure nonprofits, particularly faith-based organizations, have the resources necessary to invest in physical security enhancements, training, and contract security personnel to protect against potential attacks. At a time when we have seen a rise in violence against communities of faith, I'm pleased we have doubled the funding to protect at-risk organizations and communities. NOTE: The Nonprofit Security Grant Program helps nonprofits, identified by threat assessments to be at risk of attack, plan for and ready themselves against potential attacks. In addition to hardening facili… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-permanent-tax-relief-craft-beverage-industry-big-win-ohio | Portman Announces Permanent Tax Relief for Craft Beverage Industry, Big Win for Ohio Brewers | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces Permanent Tax Relief for Craft Beverage Industry, Big Win for Ohio Brewers December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the year-end legislative package will include the Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act, bipartisan legislation he has championed and cosponsored to make tax relief permanent for the craft beverage industry. Portman has consistently discussed the importance of supporting America's craft beverage industry, especially since brew pubs and other craft beverage retail operations have been hit hard by the COVID-19 economic slowdown. In 2017, Portman offered the Senate Finance Committee amendment to include the Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act in the tax reform measure, which provided two years of excisetax relief. He's been fighting to make this tax relief permanent ever since, writing a recent op-ed in The Hill and leading a bipartisan letter with 55 of his Senate colleagues urging Leaders McConnell and Schumer to include the measure in a year-end package. Ohio is number six in the country in craft beer production and the industry supports 81,000 jobs in the state.Portman released the following statement: This agreement is good news for our economy and will help ensure that Ohio's craft beverage industry has the relief they need as they work to navigate the unprecedented challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I fought to include this tax relief in the 2017 tax reform law and it led to more economic growth and job creation as more and more entrepreneurs reinvested more in their businesses and our local communities. Making this tax relief permanent is good for Ohio and our country and I urge my colleagues to support this package. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-bill-improve-federal-procurement-save-taxpayer-dollars-included | Portman Bill to Improve Federal Procurement, Save Taxpayer Dollars Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Measure | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Bill to Improve Federal Procurement, Save Taxpayer Dollars Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Measure December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding bill includes his bipartisanConstruction 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: I'm pleased the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding measure includes my bipartisan legislation to ensure the federal governmentworks better for the American people. The bipartisan Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act will 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 measure will help to ensure that. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-makes-clear-stop-act-must-be-fully-implemented | Portman Makes Clear that STOP Act Must be Fully Implemented | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Makes Clear that STOP Act Must be Fully Implemented December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) agreed to allow additional time to fully implement the STOP Act, and specifically for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to finalize regulations related to refusing packages without identifying data. Under the STOP Act, starting January 1, 2021 the Postal Service must refuse any package shipped to the United States that lacks identifying data, such as shipper and recipient. Despite that deadline, until March 15, the Postal Service will now be able to accept packages after January 1, 2021 without identifying data only if CBP determines the packages present a low risk for containing illegal items, including fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Senator Portman's bipartisanSynthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention(STOP)Act became law in 2018 and is working to help reduce the supply of fentanyl shipped into the United States through the U.S. Postal Service. On December 10, Portman pressed the federal agencies in charge of implementing the STOP Act on why they had not fully complied with the requirements as established in the law. Portman released the following statement: At our hearing on December 10, we learned that CBP would not be able to finalize regulations by the end of the year related to refusing packages without identifying data under the STOP Act, despite having over two years to do so. Because this failure could lead to confusion on January 1, the COVID-19 emergency relief package will include a grace period until March 15 that allows the Postal Service to accept packages without identifying data that CBP determines are low risk. Other countries, like France, Spain, and Germany, have made clear that any packages entering their countries on January 1 must have identifying data. Packages entering those countri… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-negotiated-25-billion-rental-assistance-plan-included-final-fy-2021 | Portman-Negotiated $25 Billion Rental Assistance Plan Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman-Negotiated $25 Billion Rental Assistance Plan Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes $25 billion for rental assistance that he negotiated as part of a framework unveiled last week with the bipartisan group of senators. Senator Portman has long focused on ensuring Ohioans have affordable housing and is currently championing the bipartisanEvictions Crisis Actwhich will help to address the national housing crisis that is undermining the efforts of millions of Americans to rise into the middle class. Portman drew from the Evictions Crisis Act, which proposes emergency rental assistance for those facing extraordinary financial setbacks, when negotiating this bipartisan relief proposal. The rental assistance included in the COVID-19 relief bill will help those with financial setbacks due to the pandemic pay rent and make housing providers whole. More than 75 national and Ohio based housing, civil rights, and homelessness groups haveannouncedtheir strong support for theEviction Crisis Act.Portman released the following statement: Stable housing is a key factor to keeping people out of poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made this issue more important than ever. That's why I'm pleased that this COVID-19 emergency relief package includes the $25 billion rental assistance plan I helped negotiate in the bipartisan framework announced last week. I urge my colleagues to support this rental assistance so that Ohioans have the resources they need to stay in their homes and apartments during this pandemic and prevent unnecessary evictions. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| 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 | legacy | Portman Praises Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement Funding Measure Includes COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package Crafted Thanks to Portman's Bipartisan Negotiations December 21, 2020 | Press Releases 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. I'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 avail… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-praises-key-tax-incentives-fy-2021-bipartisan-funding-agreement | Portman Praises Key Tax Incentives in FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Praises Key Tax Incentives in FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) praised the tax incentives included in the final FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement, including key provisions like 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 Modernization Act. Through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Portman has seen firsthand how these incentives help Ohio, helping to create and keep jobs, and boost economic development and innovation across the state. These tax incentives have been critical to Ohio during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these incentives, especially the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, are critical to keeping folks employed during these unprecedented times and generating more investment and economic development in Ohio. These tax incentives drive more economic growth and job creation, and that's necessary as we continue to recover from the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the negotiating progress we had some thoughtful discussions resulting in several provisions being made permanent or extended long term. Next Congress, we should continue this serious and thorough discussion on the future of the remainder of these provisions, making permanent the ones that work for our economy and ending or phasing out the ones that are unnecessary. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to help bring all sides together on a long-term agreement on these tax extenders. The package makes permanent the following tax incentives: The Medical Expense Deduction Expansion.Dating back to the passage of the ACA, Portman hasledefforts in Congress to roll back this onerous tax increase on the middle class and seniors. In the 20… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-priorities-help-seniors-people-disabilities-included-fy-2021 | Portman Priorities to Help Seniors & People with Disabilities Included in FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Priorities to Help Seniors & People with Disabilities Included in FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement Portman's Hospice Care Improvement Act, Independence at Home & EMPOWER Care Act Boost Quality of Life and Reduces Costs for Seniors & People with Disabilities December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes three of his key priorities that support seniors and people with disabilities. The FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes the Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act(EMPOWER Care Act) which supports and expands access to long-term care services for Medicaid beneficiaries in home and community-based settings; the Hospice Care Improvement Act which establishes the first ever hospice patient protections and program integrity measures for Medicare; and a three-year extension and expansion of the Independence at Home program, a Medicare home-based primary care model. Portman released the following statement: I'm pleased that the FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement will help the most vulnerable among us have better access to quality health care services. This bill will help ensure that the Money Follows the Person Program can build upon the more than 10,000 Ohioans that it has helped receive the care that they need in their homes and communities.It also empowers teams of doctors, care givers and other health care professionals to coordinate and provide primary care services in the comfort of patients' own homes, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and avoidable hospitalizations and readmissions, as well as the costs associated with them. Most importantly, this bill ensures that hospice patients can live out their final days with comfort… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-priorities-water-resources-development-act-protect-great-lakes | Portman Priorities in Water Resources Development Act to Protect Great Lakes Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Priorities in Water Resources Development Act to Protect Great Lakes Included in Final FY 2021 Bipartisan Funding Agreement December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA) - bipartisan legislation that includes a number of Portman's priorities. These Portman-led measures will protect and improve the Great Lakes by preventing Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, promoting navigation, providing additional funding to maintain our harbors, and renaming the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation as the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. I'm pleased the FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes a number of my key priorities to protect and preserve Lake Erie and all our Great Lakes. These natural treasures play an indispensable role in the lives of millions of Ohioans. The lakes provide drinking water for 40 million people, contribute billions in tourism each year, and support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the region, said Portman. These bipartisan provisions are a major win for the Great Lakes and the people of Ohio. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting them. The FY 2021 bipartisan funding agreement includes: The legislation includes Portman-led language to authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to relocate access to the Port of Cleveland's confined disposal facility (CDF) for dredged material placement should such option be necessary to provide access to the CDF. The legislation includes Portman's request to authorize construction of the Brandon Road Chief's Report to help keep Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes through the Mississippi River and adjusts the cost share from 65 percent federal to 80 percent federal. The legislation includes the Portman-l… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-stabenow-joyce-kaptur-announce-senate-passage-great-lakes | Portman, Stabenow, Joyce, Kaptur Announce Senate Passage of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Stabenow, Joyce, Kaptur Announce Senate Passage of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act Bipartisan Bill Ensures Great Lakes Will Be Protected for Future Generations December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DCToday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (OH) and Debbie Stabenow (MI), along with Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), announced the passage of their bipartisan bill, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act, which reauthorizes and expands funding for the Great Lakes. The bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2021, for another five years. The bill increases the current authorization level from $300 million to $375 million in FY 2022 and increases funding by $25 million per year until it reaches $475 million in FY 2026. The legislation passed the House earlier this year and now heads to the President's desk. Today's strong bipartisan passage of the GLRI Act is a victory for our efforts to protect our Great Lakes. GLRI is a successful public-private partnership that has helped address the greatest threats to the Great Lakes, including harmful algal blooms, invasive species, pollution, and contamination. Despite the program's success, there is more work to be done, Senator Portman said. Lake Erie supports fishing and tourism industries totaling over $10 billion and is a top tourist destination in Ohio. With more than 10 million people depending on Lake Erie for their drinking water and hundreds of thousands of Ohioans depending upon the Lake for jobs, we must continue to protect our Great Lakes for the economic and environmental well-being of our region. I urge the president to sign this important legislation into law as soon as possible. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which I authored in 2010, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-floor-portman-applauds-senate-passage-great-lakes-restoration | On Senate Floor, Portman Applauds Senate Passage of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | On Senate Floor, Portman Applauds Senate Passage of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act Bill Now Heads to the White House for the President's Signature December 20, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Tonight on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, applauded Senate passage of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act, which is now headed to the president's desk for his signature. Senator Portman joined Senator Debbie Stabenow in introducing the GLRI Act to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which was set to expire at the end of FY 2021, for another five years. The bill increases the current authorization level from $300 million to $375 million in FY 2022 and increases funding by $25 million per year until it reaches $475 million in FY 2026. The House companion bill was authored by Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). Portman has led the effort in the Senate to reauthorize and fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a results-driven program to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic well-being of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. The final FY 2020 funding measure included$320 million for GLRI,the largest investment in the program since its enactment. Additionally, in 2019, Portman's bipartisan Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act which helps protect fresh water bodies such as Lake Erie by reauthorizing the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) was signed into law. A transcript of the speech can be found below and a video can be found here. Mr. President, first, I am delighted that we are finally at the point where we're passing legislation to … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-portman-shaheen-bipartisan-legislation-reauthorize-peace | Senate Passes Portman, Shaheen Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Peace Corps Commemorative Project | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Senate Passes Portman, Shaheen Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Peace Corps Commemorative Project December 21, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC- Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) applauded the U.S. Senate for passing their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Peace Corps Commemorative project. Representatives Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) and Garret Graves (R-LA) led the legislation in the House. In 2014, Senators Portman and Shaheens's and Rep. Kennedy's bipartisan Peace Corps Commemorative Act was signed into law to create a commemorative memorial in Washington, D.C.'s National Capital Area to celebrate the mission of the Peace Corps and the ideals on which the Peace Corps was founded. This bipartisan legislation designated the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation as the lead nonfederal sponsor for the project, and prohibits the use of federal funding. The current authorization for the project is set to expire in January 2021. This legislation would extend the authorization for the project for an additional seven years, to January 2028, in order for the project to secure the necessary design approvals and raise the funding for construction.The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. For more than 50 years, the Peace Corps has served as a powerful vehicle for volunteers who wish to use their talents to carry America's humanitarian values to other parts of the world,said Portman.By reauthorizing this project, we can ensure the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation can finish this important project and honor those Americans who have donated their time and talent to serving others. I am pleased my colleagues in the Senate passed this important legislation so that it will now be sent to the president's desk." Peace Corps volunteers provide an invaluable diplomatic service to America, serving in over 60 countri… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2886 | Stabenow, Portman, Joyce, Kaptur Announce Senate Passage of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act | 2020-12-20 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Dave Joyce | J000295 | joyce.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Rob Portman (OH), along with Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), today announced the passage of their bipartisan bill, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act, which reauthorizes and expands funding for the Great Lakes. The bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2021, for another five years. The bill increases the current authorization level from $300 million to $375 million in FY 2022 and increases funding by $25 million per year until it reaches $475 million in FY 2026. The legislation passed the House earlier this year and now heads to the President's desk. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which I authored in 2010, has been a major success story that has been critical to addressing the threats that face our beloved Great Lakes. In Michigan, this program has helped clean up contamination, restore wetlands, and fight invasive species, but there is much more to be done. The good news is that Republicans and Democrats have come together in a bipartisan way to reinvest in this important program,said Senator Stabenow. Today's strong bipartisan passage of the GLRI Act is a victory for our efforts protect our Great Lakes. GLRI is a successful public-private partnership that has helped address the greatest threats to the Great Lakes, including harmful algal blooms, invasive species, pollution, and contamination. Despite the program's success, there is more work to be done,Senator Portman said.Lake Erie supports fishing and tourism industries totaling over $10 billion and is a top tourist destination in Ohio. With more than 10 million people depending on Lake Erie for their drinking water and hundreds of thousands of Ohioans depending upon the Lake for jobs, we must continue to protect our Great Lakes for the economic and environmental well-being of our region. I urge the president to sign this important legislation into law as soon as p… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2885 | Joyce Introduces Bill to Boost Restaurant Revenue, Support Workers Amid Pandemic | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Dave Joyce | J000295 | joyce.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced that he has introduced the Supporting America's Restaurant Workers Act, a bill designed to boost restaurant revenue and support restaurant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A companion to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senator Tim Scott (SC), Joyce's bill is endorsed by the National Restaurant Association, the American Hotel and Lodging Association and US Travel. With Congress stalled on a COVID-19 relief deal, I'm proud to introduce this legislation to give a much-needed revenue boost to restaurants and support their workers during the pandemic, said Joyce. Close to half of our nation's restaurants are independent mom-and-pop' operations that are struggling to keep their heads above water during these difficult times. My bill makes a simple, commonsense adjustment that would lead to more customers and increased revenue, giving these folks and the workers they employ a better chance to make it through this pandemic. Specifically, the Supporting America's Restaurant Workers Act would provide a 100% deduction for business meal expenses through the end of 2021. Currently, the deduction is available for only 50% of such expenses. Ohio's restaurant industry employs 585,000 employees across 23,000 locations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Ohio restaurants were closed in mid-March and were not able to reopen with limited capacity until late May. The Ohio Restaurant Association reports that during this period,Ohio restaurants experienced sales losses ranging from -20% to more than -70%. The National Restaurant Association has stated that roughly 110,000 restaurants have already been forced to permanently close over the course of this year, and in a recent poll, 37% of restaurants stated it is unlikely they will be open six months from now if no additional assistance is provided. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-ryan-applaud-passage-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-name | Portman, Brown, Ryan Applaud Passage of Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Name Youngstown Veterans Affairs Clinic After Ohioan Carl Nunziato | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Brown, Ryan Applaud Passage of Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Name Youngstown Veterans Affairs Clinic After Ohioan Carl Nunziato December 18, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), along with U.S. Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH) applauded the Senate passage of bipartisan and bicameral legislation to name a Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Youngstown, Ohio after Major Carl Nunziato, a veteran of the U.S. Army. Major Nunziato served two voluntary tours of combat duty in Vietnam, where he was severely injured by a mortar shell while protecting the village of Soui Da, causing him to lose his legs. For his bravery, he received the Bronze Star, the Army Air Medal, a Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Throughout his admirable life, Carl Nunziato has served Youngstown and the United States, both at home and abroad with bravery and honor. He has worked valiantly to improve accessibility, rights, and quality of life for veterans and people with disabilities, and the naming of the Youngstown Veterans Affairs Clinic after Mr. Nunziato would be a fitting tribute to his outstanding work and service. Carl Nunziato is a true son of Ohio and an American patriot who deserves this honor, said Portman. I'm proud that my Senate colleagues passed this important legislation to name the Veterans Affairs clinic in Youngstown, Ohio after Major Nunziato. He has fought and sacrificed for our nation, for his fellow veterans, and for all disabled Americans and this legislation is a fitting tribute to his valuable achievements. I'm grateful for his service and proud to call him a fellow Ohioan. The renaming of the Youngstown VA Clinic in honor of Major Carl Nunziato is the right way to honor a man who did so much to help his fellow veterans, said Brown. Carl served our nation hon… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-turner-resolution-recognizing-25th-anniversary-dayton-peace | Portman, Brown, Turner Resolution Recognizing 25th Anniversary of Dayton Peace Accords Passes Senate | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Brown, Turner Resolution Recognizing 25th Anniversary of Dayton Peace Accords Passes Senate Peace Accords Negotiated At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton Ended Civil War, Genocide Against Muslims December 19, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Last Night, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian Serbs used concentration camps as a tool against Muslim men, women and children, culminating in a genocide in July of 1995, where some 8,000 Muslim men and teenagers were detained and killed. Following airstrikes led by the United States and the North Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO), a ceasefire was initiated and peace accord negotiation began on November 1st, 1995 at Wight-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. U.S. Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives. We must never forget the human rights abuses committed during the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Portman. This important resolution commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war. I'm proud that Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was the site of the peace negotiations thatbrought an end to this deadly conflict, allowing the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to work in partnership with the international community towards building a peaceful and democratic society based on the rule of law, respect for human rights, and a free-market economy. The Dayton Peace Accords negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base put an end to a civil war between Bosnia and Herzegovina that resulted from brutally violent religious persecution and genocide against thousands of Muslim … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/robs-rundown/robs-rundown-week-december-14-december-18-2020 | Robs Rundown: Week of December 14 December 18, 2020 | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Rob's Rundown: Week of December 14 December 18, 2020 December 18, 2020 | Rob's Rundown This week, Senator Portman delivered his 21st floor speech calling for the Senate to pass an emergency COVID-19 relief package. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in announcing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leadership is using most of the legislation for the basis of the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. Portman also issued a statement with Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and delivered floor remarks regarding the ongoing cyberattacks against our federal agencies, U.S. companies, and some state governments. Portman and Peters have been leaders in the Senate on legislative efforts to strengthen the federal government cyber response. They will lead the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the new Congress and plan to hold hearings and work on bipartisan comprehensive cybersecurity legislation in the new year. Portman penned an op-ed for The Cincinnati Enquirer, in which he discussed his efforts to secure additional aid for those facing evictions. Portman has long focused on ensuring Ohioans have affordable housing and is currently championing the bipartisan Evictions Crisis Act, which will help to address the national housing crisis that has been made worse by the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan legislation, which Portman introduced in December 2019, will shed light on the root causes of the eviction crisis, reduce preventable evictions, and limit the devastation to families when eviction is unavoidable. More than 75 national and Ohio based housing, civil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://anthonygonzalez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=309 | Gonzalez, Sherman, Van Hollen Applaud Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act’s Signing into Law | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Anthony Gonzalez | G000588 | anthonygonzalez.house.gov | legacy | Today, Congressman Anthony Gonzalez (RRocky River), U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) released the following statements regarding the signing of their bipartisan Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act into law. TheHolding ForeignCompaniesAccountable Actis about ending the practice of companies based in China, some fully controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, from taking advantage of a loophole in securities law to fund their enterprises. Simply put, if a company wants access to US capital markets, they should follow US securities laws.I am pleased to see this bill be signed into law, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside my colleagues to hold the CCPaccountable and protect our investors and businesses,said CongressmanGonzalez. It's our job to protect American investors from fraudulent businesses seeking to take advantage of them. Requiring all publicly listed companies on our U.S. exchanges to be held to the same standards is the best way to do that. Taking this action is crucial to hold Chinese companies accountable and to safeguard the millions of American families who rely on modest investments to retire, send their kids to college, and weather financial emergencies. I've been proud to lead this this bipartisan effort, and I'm glad to see the President sign it into law today. I will continue fighting to improve our financial system and ensure it puts the American people first,said Senator Van Hollen. This may be the most significant piece of investor protection legislation passed in several years,said Congressman Sherman, Chair of the Investor Protection and Capital Markets subcommittee. It is designed to assure U.S. investors of financial statement integrity, when they invest in any of 224 U.S. exchange-listed companies with over $1.8 trillion in market capitalization. The purpose is not to de-list any company, but to persuade China to allow the audit oversight that U.S. investors need, and the U.S. investors get when investing in U.S. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404560 | Wenstrup Receives COVID-19 Vaccine; Encourages Others to Do the Same | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Brad Wenstrup | W000815 | wenstrup.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02) received his first of two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the U.S. Capitol through the Office of the Attending Physician. After the incredibly challenging year we've had, I feel very blessed to receive this vaccine. I hope that my decision to get it gives my constituents confidence in thesafety and efficacy that havebeen demonstrated in the extensive trails, said Congressman Wenstrup. Taking the vaccine will help protect our community, help end the pandemic, restore our way of life, and rebuild the economy. I urge everyone to learn the facts about this vaccine, consult with their doctor, and make the decision that is best for them. He also added, I'm extremely grateful to the doctors, scientists, researchers, and manufacturers who worked around the clock to develop and produce this vaccine in record time. I commend President Trump, Vice President Pence, Secretary Azar, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, General Gustave Perna, the Operation Warp Speed team, and the thousands of clinical trial participantsfor their leadership on this endeavor, which will go down as one of the greatest medical feats in history. About the Pfizer vaccine: The Pfizer vaccine is administered in two doses roughly 21 days apart. It is stored in temperatures of negative 94 degrees Fahrenheit and has demonstrated 95 percent efficacy in clinical trials. The company received $1.95 billion from Operation Warp Speed to manufacture 100 million doses. Background on the Availability of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID19 Vaccine for US Congress Continuity of Government Purpose from the Office of the Attending Physician: The Food and Drug Administration granted an Emergency Use Authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID19 vaccine on December 12, 2020. I have been notified by the National Security Council that consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 40 (2016), Congress and the Supreme Court, along with Executive Branch agencies, will be provided with a specific number of COVID19 vaccine doses… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-bipartisan-bicameral-group-finish-what-we-started | Portman, Bipartisan, Bicameral Group: Finish What We Started | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Bipartisan, Bicameral Group: Finish What We Started December 18, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) called on Congress to deliver immediate COVID-19 relief to the American people. Earlier this week, the Senators and the Problem Solvers Caucus announced two bipartisan packages, one of which, the bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, is serving as the framework for the final COVID-19 relief package. Today we find ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 310,000 Americans, and hours away from a government shutdown that threatens to delay urgent aid to people in need throughout the nation. We must set our differences aside. The American people elected us to govern on their behalf, and at a time when they need us more than ever we must end the partisan games and meet this moment together for the good of the country. On Monday, our bipartisan, bicameral group presented a bill that helps provide for the emergency needs of the millions of families struggling to make ends meet. Once again, we encourage the leaders to finish what we started and deliver immediate assistance to the workers, families and businesses that need it most. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-bipartisan-bicameral-group-urges-leadership-continue-moving-forward | Portman, Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Urges Leadership to Continue Moving Forward on COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Urges Leadership to Continue Moving Forward on COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package December 18, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) urged Senate and House Leadership to continue moving forward to finalize a COVID-19 emergency relief package. Earlier this week, the Senators and the Problem Solvers Caucus announced two bipartisan packages, one of which, the bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, is serving as the framework for the final COVID-19 relief package. This pandemic has been devastating for millions of Americans and without Congressional action they will lose the lifelines that are keeping them afloat. We appreciate the ongoing efforts of Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and Leader McCarthy to craft an emergency COVID-19 relief package that will help the American people weather the next few months of this pandemic. We know first-hand how hard it can be to find common ground on some of these issues. We encourage the leaders and their staff to continue this important work. By working together, we can and we will deliver immediate assistance to the workers, the families, and the businesses that need it most. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-peters-statement-widespread-cyberattacks-plan-hearings-legislation | Portman, Peters Statement on Widespread Cyberattacks, Plan Hearings & Legislation in Early 2021 | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Peters Statement on Widespread Cyberattacks, Plan Hearings & Legislation in Early 2021 December 18, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) issued the following statement on the ongoing cyberattacks against our federal agencies, U.S. companies, and some state governments.Portman and Peters have been leaders in the Senate on legislative efforts to strengthen the federal government cyber response. They will lead the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the new Congress and plan to hold hearings and work on bipartisan comprehensive cybersecurity legislation in the new year. The recently discovered and ongoing cyberattacks cannot be tolerated and demonstrate the weakness of our cyber defenses and capacity to respond.These attacks were highly complex and they must be unraveled to know the full extent of the exposure to federal and state agencies and the private sector. The immediate effort must be to stop the immediate threat and ensure our systems are secure. We will in the future need to understand the full scope and impact to ensure that we know what damage has been done and to better prepare to respond next time.These types of sophisticated attacks are going to continue and we must work across the federal government, as well as with our private sector and state and local partners, to learn from this and strengthen our cyber defenses moving forward. In June 2019, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a bipartisan report that extensively documented the cybersecurity vulnerabilities and weaknesses in many of our federal agencies, including the Departments of State and Homeland Security. Next Congress, through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, we intend to work together to understand the origin, scope, and severity of this breach, and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-warner-blumenthal-grassley-urge-us-trade-rep-not-include-tech | Portman, Warner, Blumenthal, GrassleyUrge U.S. Trade Rep to Not Include Tech Liability Shield in US-UK Trade Agreement | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Warner, Blumenthal, GrassleyUrge U.S. Trade Rep to Not Include Tech Liability Shield in US-UK Trade Agreement December 18, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer urging the Trump Administration to refrain from including sweeping liability protection language modeled on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 in a trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. We are optimistic that a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom will ensure fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade. But we want to note that we have concerns with the inclusion of safe harbor language modeled on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996,wrote the Senators. Including a safe harbor clause in any future trade agreements will further allocate more power to companies at the expense of individuals. They continued,Congress can and should debate about Section 230 and how it has enabled platforms to turn a blind eye as their platforms are used to facilitate discrimination, cyber-stalking, terrorism, online frauds, and more. We urge USTR to refrain from including this provision in this and future free trade agreements until that debate has concluded. A copy of the letter isavailable here and text can be foundbelow. Dear Ambassador Lighthizer: We support strengthening trade relations between the United States and the United Kingdom through a potential free trade agreement. That relationship would not be improved, however, by a trade agreement that includes safe harbor language similar to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. As an initial matter, Congress is not requesting, let alone requiring, the Administration to include this type of liability pr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-floor-portman-condemns-widespread-cyberattacks-calls-bipartisan | On Senate Floor, Portman Condemns Widespread Cyberattacks, Calls for Bipartisan Efforts to Bolster Cybersecurity | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | On Senate Floor, Portman Condemns Widespread Cyberattacks, Calls for Bipartisan Efforts to Bolster Cybersecurity December 18, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Portman Rob Portman (R-OH) strongly spoke out against the ongoing cyberattacks on our federal agencies, U.S. companies, and some state governments on the Senate floor. Earlier today, Portman, who will serve as the top Republican on Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the new Congress, condemned the cyberattacks and announced plans to hold hearings and work on bipartisan comprehensive cybersecurity legislation in the new year. Portman noted that these attacks demonstrate thevulnerabilitiesof our cyber defenses and the needfor bipartisan action in Congress to do more to equip the federal government to defend against and deter future cyberattacks. He highlighted the bipartisan report he issued last year as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations warning of vulnerabilities at federal agencies to cyberattacks. Portman also spoke about his leadership in legislative efforts to strengthen the federal government cyber response. A transcript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here. So 2020 has been a tough year. Let's face it. And unfortunately it looks like the challenges haven't ended. I came to the floor tonight primarily to talk about some shocking and disturbing news we just heard over the last few days. And that's that there has been a massive, highly sophisticated, and ongoing cyberattack that has compromised the networks of multiple federal agencies and the private sector. According to reports, for months now, months, hackers -- our intelligence experts think they are most likely connected with the Russian government in some way, that's what they tell us -- but these hackers have engaged in an espionage effort to access inform… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-floor-portman-urges-colleagues-pass-short-term-funding-measure-end | On Senate Floor, Portman Urges Colleagues to Pass Short-Term Funding Measure & End Government Shutdowns for Good | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | On Senate Floor, Portman Urges Colleagues to Pass Short-Term Funding Measure & End Government Shutdowns for Good December 18, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, on the Senate floor, hours before the government will shut down if a temporary funding measure isn't passed, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) discussed the unnecessary costs of government shutdowns and highlighted his End Government Shutdowns Act, which would permanently prevent the federal government from shutting down, ensure that essential government services aren't disrupted, and protect taxpayers from resulting deficits. The measure would create an automatic continuing resolution (CR) in the event of a lapse of appropriations, and incentivize Congress to pass full-year appropriations bills through gradually reducing spending after 120 days. Last year, Portman released the findings of a nine-month investigation by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which he chairs, detailing the real-world costs of the last three government shutdowns. Alongside Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE), Portman found that the combined 54 days of partial or full government closures since FY 2014 resulted in at least $4 billion in costs for taxpayers and 56,938 years of missed work by furloughed federal workers. Transcript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here. The other thing that's going on tonight, I will say, I guess it's obvious, is that we're about to hit the government shutdown time period again. I mean, we are only about six and a half hours from another government shutdown. That is totally unacceptable. We should never have these shutdowns. They don't make any sense. By the way, to my Republican friends who think these shutdowns are good because you shut down a lot of government and it seems like you save money. We never save money. The taxpayers always end up paying more. You go … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401083 | Co-Chairs of the Congressional Nigerian Caucus Condemn Boko Haram's Kidnapping of Over 300 Schoolboys in Katsina State | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Steven Chabot | C000266 | chabot.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Representatives Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Nigerian Caucus, released the following statements on Boko Haram's kidnapping of over 300 schoolboys at the Government Science secondary school in Katsina State in northwestern Nigeria on Friday, December 11, 2020. This attack comes just two weeks after Boko Haram killed 110 people in a village near Maiduguri."Six years after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, Boko Haram has continued to terrorize the people of Nigeria simply for seeking access to education for their children, said Congressman Chabot. This time, the kidnapping of over 330 schoolboys is not only the largest mass kidnapping of schoolchildren in history, but it is also a heartbreaking crime against innocent children and their families. We must not stand idly by as Boko Haram continues to terrorize the Nigerian people, and I will continue to work with Congresswoman Jackson Lee and all of our colleagues to secure the release of the children." "It is time for the Nigerian Government to stand up and seek a resolution to preserve their democracy and hold Boko Haram and other terrorist groups accountable for the kidnapping of children and countless brutal attacks on innocent citizens," said Congresswoman Jackson Lee. "I do not know how much longer the world can look to Nigeria for leadership to resolve this horrendous disregard for human life. The future of Nigerian citizens is in jeopardy and its time for the Nigerian Government to send a strong message to the Boko Haram that they will no longer tolerate their complete disregard for human life and their disregard for the laws of the Republic of Nigeria. The violence has to stop, and the human rights and security of the Nigerian people have to be preserved and honored. As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Nigerian Caucus, we will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Nigeria and demand that the Government of Nigeria take immediate action and locate all these young men an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://davidson.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/do-nothing-congress-kicks-can-down-road-once-again | A do-nothing Congress kicks the can down the road once again | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Warren Davidson | D000626 | davidson.house.gov | legacy | The last thing the public needed this year was more political brinkmanship. In 2020, governments asked the public to stop working, traveling, gathering, and just stay home. The goal was to stop the spread or flatten the curve. The result is millions oflostjobs, thousands ofdelayedmedical procedures, anddiminished educational attainmentfor America's students. Now, on top of all this, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is steering Congress toward a disruptive government shutdown. To be clear, Congress had all year to hammer out an agreement on appropriating money for congressionally funded government operations. In a perfect world, Congress would vote on the various department appropriations one by one before Sept. 30, and then, work would begin on the next year's spending. This would avoid the now-annual tradition of releasing thousand-page omnibus packages just days before the government runs out of money. Methodically negotiating and voting on each appropriation would allow members of Congress to address narrower issues in certain areas where Congress spends our hard-earned taxpayer dollars. What happens instead is that Congress kicks the can down the road, avoiding tough decisions. Back in September, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown before the general election. A continuing resolution is a piece of legislation that maintains spending at current levels for a short period of time. This may have been prudent, but it was a step that was necessary only because Congress failed to stay on schedule to fund the government before Oct. 1. Last week, Congress passed another continuing resolution, extending the deadline by a week as the possibility of passing further coronavirus relief complicated already thorny negotiations. This is unacceptable. Most people must comply with deadlines or else face consequences. Students in school must turn in their homework on time. Hourly workers must show up for their shifts on time. Business owners must meet delivery deadlines and pay bills on… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/portman-difference/cnbc-portman-discusses-bipartisan-efforts-pass-covid-19-relief-package | On CNBC, Portman Discusses Bipartisan Efforts to Pass COVID-19 Relief Package | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | On CNBC, Portman Discusses Bipartisan Efforts to Pass COVID-19 Relief Package December 17, 2020 | Portman Difference This morning on CNBC's Squawk Box, Senator Portman discussed his bipartisan efforts to pass a COVID-19 relief package. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leadership is using most of legislation for the basis of the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. In addition, Senator Portman highlighted the importance of coming together on a bipartisan basis to focus on what's best for the American people in the new Congress. Senator Portman believes it's vital that Congress set the example by coming together to solve important problems facing all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Excerpts of the interview can be found below and a video can be found here. PORTMAN ON PASSING COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE BEFORE DEADLINE: I'm always skeptical at year end because it tends to get pushed back a little bit. But I think we'll finish up on Saturday. It means we'll probably see something short-term on Friday night to deal with the continuing resolution for government shutdown. I think we'll get it done this weekend, and we should. It's been nine months since we passed the CARES package. People are hurting. Unfortunately the coronavirus health care crisis has gotten worse, not better recently, and the economy is not as strong as it should be, so we need a bridge between now and when we have the vaccines available. That's what this is, an emergency package to get us through the next few months, to the March, April time frame when we'll actually, h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/portman-difference/former-us-trade-representatives-panel-portman-highlights-importance | On Former U.S. Trade Representatives Panel, Portman Highlights Importance of Renewing Trade Promotion Authority, Proposes Supercharging American Competitiveness | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | On Former U.S. Trade Representatives Panel, Portman Highlights Importance of Renewing Trade Promotion Authority, Proposes Supercharging' American Competitiveness December 17, 2020 | Portman Difference This afternoon, Senator Portman participated in a Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual event entitled A Conversation with Former USTRs, and highlighted the importance of renewing the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). He also proposed using TPA, or a similar opportunity, to invest in American workers with new anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws, as well as in American manufacturing and high technology, like artificial intelligence, all in an effort to keep the United States competitive with respect to China. Portman, who was the U.S. Trade Representative during the George W. Bush administration, has been a leading voice in the Senate on U.S. trade policy and serves on the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade issues. In addition, Senator Portman discussed his support for President-Elect Biden's nomination of Katherine Tai to be the next U.S. Trade Representative. Excerpts of the event can be found below and a video of Senator Portman's remarks can be found here and here. PORTMAN ON OPPORTUNITY TO ENERGIZE TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY TO REINVEST IN AMERICA: I want to tie three things together, and then I have to run and go vote. One, is the WTO stuff we talked about, the Trade Promotion Authority issue, and China. I do think, and this may way too optimistic or pie in the sky, but I think with regard to the expiration of TPA there is an opportunity to attempt to supercharge it as we did in the 1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act, where we both seek TPA to extend our authority to be able to negotiate agreements, but also put the United States in a stronger position. And vis-a-vis China that means investing more in artificial int… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/portman-difference/portman-op-ed-cincinnati-enquirer-help-way-prevent-evictions | Portman Op-Ed in The Cincinnati Enquirer: Help is on the Way to Prevent Evictions | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Op-Ed in The Cincinnati Enquirer: Help is on the Way to Prevent Evictions December 17, 2020 | Portman Difference Today, in an op-ed for The Cincinnati Enquirer, Senator Portman discussed his bipartisan efforts to pass a COVID-19 relief package, including additional aid to help those facing evictions. Portman has long focused on ensuring Ohioans have affordable housing and is currently championing the bipartisan Evictions Crisis Act, which will help to address the national housing crisis that has been made worse by the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan legislation, which Portman introduced in December 2019, will shed light on the root causes of the eviction crisis, reduce preventable evictions, and limit the devastation to families when eviction is unavoidable. More than 75 national and Ohio based housing, civil rights, and homelessness groups have announced their strong support for the Eviction Crisis Act. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The legislation includes a provision to provide an additional $25 billion in rental assistance across the country to help cover the rent for thousands of households. Congressional leadership is using most of the legislation as the basis for the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. Excerpts of the op-ed can be found below and the full op-ed can be found here. Help is on the Way to Prevent Evictions By U.S. Senator Rob Portman The Cincinnati Enquirer December 17, 2020 Evictions were rising even before the coronavirus pandemic, and now we are on the cusp of a real eviction crisis. Through … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/house-passes-portman-shaheen-bipartisan-legislation-reauthorize-peace-corps | House Passes Portman, Shaheen Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Peace Corps Commemorative Project | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | House Passes Portman, Shaheen Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Peace Corps Commemorative Project December 17, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC- Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Peace Corps Commemorative project. Representatives Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) and Garret Graves (R-LA) led the legislation in the House. In 2014, Senator Portman's and Rep. Kennedy's bipartisan Peace Corps Commemorative Act was signed into law to create a commemorative in Washington, D.C.'s National Capital Area to celebrate the mission of the Peace Corps and the ideals on which the Peace Corps was founded. This bipartisan legislation designated the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation as the lead nonfederal sponsor for the project, and prohibits the use of federal funding. The current authorization for the project is set to expire in January 2021. This legislation would extend the authorization for the project for an additional seven years, to January 2028, in order for the project to secure the necessary design approvals and raise the funding for construction.The legislation now awaits action in the Senate. For more than 50 years, the Peace Corps has served as a powerful vehicle for volunteers who wish to use their talents to carry America's humanitarian values to other parts of the world,said Portman.By reauthorizing this project, we can ensure the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation can finish this important project and honor those Americans who have donated their time and talent to serving others. I am pleased that this legislation was approved by the House today, and I urge my Senate colleagues to support it so that it can head to the President's desk for his signature. Peace Corps volunteers provide an invaluable diplomatic service to America, serving … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-77-million-federal-funds-will-help-combat-addiction-ohio | Portman: $77 Million in Federal Funds Will Help Combat Addiction in Ohio | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman: $77 Million in Federal Funds Will Help Combat Addiction in Ohio December 17, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) praised the announcement today from Governor Mike DeWine, Recovery Ohio Director Alisha Nelson, and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director Lori Criss on how the state will distribute $77 million in federal State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to help local communities combat Ohio's drug crisis.As Portman announced in August, Ohio received $96 million in SOR funding and today's grants represent a portion of that funding. The SOR program, funded through the 21st Century CURES Act, has been used by states to increase access to naloxone and support access to long-term addiction treatment and recovery services. Portman championed the passage of the CURES law and consistently works to increase the federal funding for the SOR program. Today's SOR grant announcement comes at a time when many communities are suffering from an increase in addiction, overdoses, and the need for behavioral health services due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Portman hasrepeatedlydiscussedthe impact the ongoing COVID-19crisis is havingon theaddictionepidemicand called for aredoubling of effortsto save lives. OhioMHAS will award $58.8 million in grants directly to local county alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services boards and their community partners. OhioMHAS will make the remaining funding available for organizations utilizing innovative approaches for connecting people to care. State Opioid Response funds are vital for Ohio's continued efforts to combat the addiction epidemic, and I'm pleased to have led efforts to create this federal funding stream through the CURES legislation and to help secure this funding for Ohio, said Portman. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented chall… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-applauds-hud-awarding-lucas-county-450000-initiative-planning-grant | Portman Applauds HUD for AwardingLucas County a$450,000 Initiative Planning Grantto Ensure Stable Housing | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Applauds HUD for AwardingLucas County a$450,000 Initiative Planning Grantto Ensure Stable Housing December 17, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the announcement thatLucasCountyMetropolitan Housing and the City of Toledo have been selected to receive a$450,0002020 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).The Choice Neighborhoods program leverages significant public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. Portman has long focused on ensuring Ohioans have affordable housing and is currently championing the bipartisanEvictions Crisis Actwhich will help 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. More than 75 national and Ohio based housing, civil rights, and homelessness groups haveannouncedtheir strong support for theEviction Crisis Act.Portman released the following statement: This$450,000 grantis great news forthose struggling to find or stay in stable housing inLucas County and the city of Toledo. I'm pleased to see that they have been selected for this grant that will help them to complete their Transformation Plan that will ultimately improve and create housing opportunities,said Portman.Stable housing is a key factor to keeping people out of poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made this issue more important than ever. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure Ohioans have the resources they need to addre… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-floor-portman-calls-senate-pass-critical-legislation-respond | On Senate Floor, Portman Calls on Senate to Pass Critical Legislation to Respond to Challenges of COVID-19 | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | On Senate Floor, Portman Calls on Senate to Pass Critical Legislation to Respond to Challenges of COVID-19 December 17, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) gave his 21st speech since March calling on Congress to pass legislation to respond to the health care and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leadership is using most of the legislation for the basis of the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. In addition, Portman pushed for the year-end agreement to include the Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act, bipartisan legislation he has championed and cosponsored to make tax relief permanent for the craft beverage industry. Portman has consistently discussed the importance of supporting America's craft beverage industry, especially since brew pubs and other craft beverage retail operations have been hit hard by the COVID-19 economic slowdown. He urged his colleagues to support both the COVID-19 relief package and the upcoming end-of-year funding agreement so that Americans get the relief they need in time for the holidays. A transcript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here. Mr. President, I'm here on the floor today to talk again about the need for us to pass a legislative package which, I would call an emergency package, to deal with our COVID-19 crisis we have in this country. As we talk today on the floor of the Senate, there are negotiators working busily in a room nearby to try to come up with that pac… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402399 | Latta Calls for Permanent Change and Investigation of USPS Michigan Metroplex Facility | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Robert Latta | L000566 | latta.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) penned two letters, one to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY12) and Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY1) of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and another to USPS Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy. The letters request a formal Congressional inquiry into the mail processing operations of the USPS Michigan Metroplex facility in Pontiac, Michigan, and a permanent transfer of processing duties for Northwest Ohio's mail from the Metroplex to a mail processing facility within the State of Ohio. The local postal carriers and the people who work to deliver the mail do a great job, but unfortunately, for years, the United States Postal Service (USPS) Michigan Metroplex Facility has failed to reliably deliver mail, including bills and absentee ballots, to residents of Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. For too long, the Michigan Metroplex has failed in its duty to provide adequate mail processing services for my constituents in Northwest Ohio,wrote Latta.Consequentially, the lack of dependable mail delivery services has resulted in late billing payments and penalties for constituents, delays in local judicial proceedings, reputational and monetary harm to small businesses, and the violation of the right to vote, to name a few. I have tried to bring these concerns to the attention of USPS officials, including in Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Washington, D.C., with the hope that they could be addressed and remedied; unfortunately, the responses I have received over the years have been mixed at best,Latta continued. On behalf of my constituents in Ohio's Fifth Congressional District, I respectfully request that the House Committee on Oversight and Reform launch an investigation into this matter and work to ensure that USPS is being proactive in addressing mail delivery issues brought forward by Members of Congress. Read the complete letter to Postmaster General DeJoy here. Read the complete letter to Chairwoman Maloney and Ranking Membe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403076 | Support Our Small Businesses | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Steve Stivers | S001187 | stivers.house.gov | legacy | Support Our Small Businesses In March, our nation faced an invisible enemy, and Congress came together to pass three relief bills: the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the CARES Act, and the Health Care and Paycheck Protection Program Enhancement Act. Legislators from both sides of the aisle set aside their differences to deal with the health and economic consequences brought by an unprecedented situation. It is that spirit of bipartisanship that we need to get things done for the American people. Ohioans want to get back to work. Americans want to get back to work. And Congress needs to get to work to make that possible. From ensuring that small businesses are able to weather the storm, to distributing vaccines to build herd immunity, there is plenty to be done to get our nation back to normal. We need to pass a stimulus bill that allows Main Street to take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program funds and allows small business to operate safety by including liability protections. The Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline for nearly 10,000 businesses in the 15th District all with revenues of less than $150,000. PPP allowed these business owners to keep close to 50,000 employees on payroll. That's 50,000 families that did not have to worry about how they would put food on the table. Now, Congress has the opportunity to extend the program and help countless more families. Congress also needs to ensure that the help given by the PPP does not become a burden in the future by making those funds tax deductible. While businesses are struggling to get back on their feet, we can't allow them to be hamstrung by an unexpected tax bill. PPP is working, and Congress needs to make sure it continues to work for those businesses that are in dire need. Congress also needs to ensure that those who are taking every necessary precaution to keep their employees and their customers safe are not held liable if someone gets sick. Certainly, gross negligence cannot be excused or ignored, but businesses that… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401082 | Statement from Freedom of the Press Caucus Co-Chairs Schiff and Chabot on Reports of 43 Journalists Killed in 2020 | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Steven Chabot | C000266 | chabot.house.gov | legacy | Washington D.C. Today, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus released the following statement on International Federation of Journalists' (IFJ) new whitepaper regarding 2658 journalists who have been murdered since 1990, including 42 journalists in 2020. Just this weekend, Iranian journalist Ruhollah Zam was executed for running a website that criticized the Iranian government, bringing the year's total to 43.We are deeply troubled by IFJ's tragic findings that 42 journalists were killed this year and that 235 journalists remain in prison, the Co-Chairs said. With the addition of Ruhollah Zam's execution, 2659 journalists have been murdered over the past 30 years which equates to about two journalists or media workers killed every week. Media freedom is critical to hold governments accountable to their citizens. No matter where they are located, journalists like Mr. Zam should be free to fulfill the critical mission of providing timely, accurate information to the public without the fear of repression, imprisonment, or death. On December 10, IFJ issued a white paper documenting the killing of journalists since 1990. According to IFJ, [t]he IFJ casualty toll included all journalists, freelance as well as support staff such as drivers, fixers and translators who died during newsgathering activitiesgiving a fuller picture of the extent of casualties within the media workforce. Ruhollah Zam was convicted of corruption on earth for his work running Amad News, a news website Iran accused of inciting the 2017-2018 protests. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hearing-portman-questions-witnesses-election-security-cybersecurity-threats | At Hearing, Portman Questions Witnesses on Election Security & Cybersecurity Threats Facing United States | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | At Hearing, Portman Questions Witnesses on Election Security & Cybersecurity Threats Facing United States December 16, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, at a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) questioned witnesses about election security and the cybersecurity threats facing the country. Portman has led efforts to address state and local cybersecurity threats and has worked to combat cyberattacks and ensure elections are free, fair, and secure from foreign interference. Last week, Portman announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report included his bipartisan provision to require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state. In 2018, Senator Portman's bipartisan Hack Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ActandPublic-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Actwere included in a package of billsthat were signed into law. In addition, earlier this year, Senators Portman and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the bipartisan Risk-Informed Spending for Cybersecurity (RISC) Act to require the federal government to make better investments in cybersecurity protections to keep Americans' data safe. The legislation would require federal agencies to efficiently allocate limited cybersecurity resources to acquire capabilities that address the most pressing cyber threats. In addition, earlier this month, the senators introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase transparency and modernize how the government responds to cybersecurity incidents on federal information systems. Federal System Incident Response Act will update and add critical new sections to FISMA, increasing transparency by clarifying how and when agencies must notify impacted individuals and Congress when data breaches occur. The bill would als… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-applauds-service-justin-herdman-us-attorney-northern-district | Portman Applauds Service of Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Applauds Service of Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District December 16, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement on the service of Justin Herdman as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. The Northern District of Ohio consists of the 40 northern counties in Ohio and has offices in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown. Portman praised the confirmation of Justin Herdman for the position of U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Ohio in 2017. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman for his outstanding service to northern Ohio and the U.S. Department of Justice. I was proud to recommend him for his role as U.S. Attorney and I enjoyed working with him on issues important to Ohio and the country. Under Justin's leadership, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio has led the charge on nationwide efforts to reduce violent crime and the trafficking of dangerous narcotics like fentanyl and synthetic opioids. I have particularly appreciated working with him on addressing the addiction crisis and stopping the theft of our nation's intellectual property by foreign governments like China. Justin has made a real difference in his office and in his community and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-applaud-house-passage-bipartisan-legislation-rename-nasas | Portman, Brown Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Rename NASAs Plum Brook Station Test Facility After Neil Armstrong | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Brown Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Rename NASA's Plum Brook Station Test Facility After Neil Armstrong December 16, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing their bipartisan legislation to rename NASA's Plum Brook Station, the agency's test facility in Sandusky, Ohio, after Neil Armstrong. Portman and Brown introduced the legislation last year and it was passed by the Senate in June. Plum Brook is part of the NASA Glenn Research Center. Ithouses unique world-class facilities that conduct critical and innovative ground tests for the international aerospace community.The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. From his service as a Navy fighter pilot, to his courageous experiments as a test pilot, to his space exploration and first step on the surface of the Moon, Neil Armstrong left an indelible mark in mankind's history of flight.In all his accomplishments, he considered himself first and foremost a test pilot who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the air and in space, Senator Portman said. Neil was a humble and patriotic Ohioan who believed the honor of serving his country was a reward in and of itself. That's why, when I asked him the year before he passed away whether he wanted me to pursue naming Plum Brook after him, he demurred. But he was a strong supporter of Plum Brook Station and the important simulations and testing being done there, and I believe it is precisely because of his humility, coupled with his unparalleled accomplishments, that the renaming is appropriate.In consultation with his family and NASA, Senator Brown and I introduced this legislation last year and I applaud the House for passing it today. I urge the president to sign this legislation into law soon as a fit… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2882 | Joyce Issues Statement on Electoral College Vote | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Dave Joyce | J000295 | joyce.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) issued the following statement regarding the Electoral College vote on December 14, 2020: Yesterday, as established by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution, the Electoral College cast their votes for the 46th President of the United States. While Ohio's 18 electoral votes went to President Trump, when votes from all 50 states were compiled, Joe Biden was certified as President-elect with 306 votes. I know that the red versus blue tensions have run high since Election Day, but it is important to remember that the Constitution, for which I have sworn an oath to God to uphold, is far greater than any one candidate or political party. It is both our privilege and our responsibility to respect the will of our fellow Americans as we have done for more than 200 years. That is what has made our nation the greatest democracy in the world. I am proud that theelectionin Ohio was conducted in the same way that it has been for many years, where voters were able to cast ballots both by mail and in person without any delay or question of legitimacy.However, the alternative election processes implemented in other states due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to questions regarding the legality of certain ballots.As a former prosecutor, I am glad President Trump was afforded his legal right to address reports of irregularities and thank the courts forexpeditiously applying the law to the cases presented before them. I thank President Trump for his leadership the past four years, during which our nation saw record-low unemployment, brought our trade policies into the modern age and prioritized the American worker, reduced burdensome government regulations, reformed our nation's outdated tax code, and achieved historic success with vaccine development. As we head into the 117th Congress, I look forward to continuing to fight for policies that put America first and revive the American dream for hardworking families in Ohio and across our country. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-and-bipartisan-bicameral-members-share-details-two-bipartisan-covid | Portman and Bipartisan, Bicameral Members Share Details of Two Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bills | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman and Bipartisan, Bicameral Members Share Details of Two Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bills December 14, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) shared additional details for the two bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief bills. The Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, co-sponsored by Senators Portman, Manchin, Collins, Warner, Cassidy, Shaheen, Murkowski, King, Romney, Hassan, and Durbin, would provide as much as $748 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Bipartisan State and Local Support and Small Business Protection Act of 2020, co-sponsored by Senators Portman, Manchin, Collins, Cassidy, Murkowski, and Romney, would provide $160 billion in funding for state and local governments and liability protections for businesses, schools, health care providers, and other organizations. The Problem Solvers Caucus is working on a version in the House. The Senate should not adjourn until we have passed a new COVID-19 package to provide the relief Americans need, and I'm pleased to announce this bipartisan effort with my colleagues. Together, we have crafted two packages, one that will support our health care response to this pandemic and, just as important, provide a bridge of additional aid to bolster our economy until vaccines are widely available and Americans feel safe returning to normal life. The second package is focused on ensuring that state and local governments have the funding they need to provide essential serv… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-127-million-fema-grants-ohio-health-care-systems-help | Portman Announces $12.7 Million in FEMA Grants to Ohio Health Care Systems to Help Continue to Provide COVID-19 Treatment, Testing & Protective Measures | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces $12.7 Million in FEMA Grants to Ohio Health Care Systems to Help Continue to Provide COVID-19 Treatment, Testing & Protective Measures December 15, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for announcing two grants totaling $12.7 million to help health care systems in Ohio with costs associated with COVID-19. FEMA awarded these grants from replenished funds accessible thanks to the bipartisan CARES Act, which Senator Portman supported and was signed into law by President Trump. The $12.7 million in FEMA funding announced today is great news for the Ohio State University and Premier Health because it will help them continue to provide the treatment and health care that Ohio desperately needs during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, said Portman. This pandemic has created significant and unprecedented challenges across Ohio and these grants will provide much-needed additional support for these hard-working health care providers. I will continue to work with my bipartisan colleagues in Congress to ensure that Ohio has the necessary resources during these uncertain times. The following two health care systems received funds: Ohio State University - Columbus Campus: $6,015,314.75 Premier Health: $6,696,593.23 ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-heinrich-secure-groundbreaking-advancements-artificial-intelligence | Portman, Heinrich Secure Groundbreaking Advancements for Artificial Intelligence in FY 2021 NDAA | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Heinrich Secure Groundbreaking Advancements for Artificial Intelligence in FY 2021 NDAA Senators Spearhead Effort to Create a National Strategy for AI and Authorize $1.5 Billion for AI Initiatives Over the Next Five Years December 15, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the co-founders of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, have secured the most significant advancements for Artificial Intelligence (AI) ever included in a defense policy bill. The FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes versions of four major pieces of legislation championed by Senators Portman and Heinrich that include: Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act (AI-IA) Artificial Intelligence for the Armed Forces Act National AI Research Resource Task Force Act We cannot take America's AI leadership for granted. Right now, China is engaging in a full court press to unseat the United States' dominance in AI,said Portman.I'm pleased the FY 2021 NDAA conference report includes the AI-IA, National AI Research Resource Task Force Act, Artificial Intelligence for the Armed Forces Act, and the Deepfakes Report Act which provide groundbreaking advancements in AI in our nation. By coordinating and synchronizing our country's research and development efforts, these bipartisan bills ensure not just that the United States remains an AI leader, but that it does so by developing AI technology that prioritizes American values. Artificial intelligence and the opportunities and challenges it will bring will have serious national security implications,said Heinrich."If we defer AI development to other nations, important ethical, safety, and privacy principles will be at risk, which not only harms the United States, but also the international community as a wh… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-statement-former-nationwide-childrens-researcher-and-chinese-0 | Portman Statement on Former Nationwide Childrens Researcher and Chinese Talents Program Member Pleading Guilty for Alleged Theft of Scientific Trade Secrets and Wire Fraud | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Statement on Former Nationwide Children's Researcher and Chinese Talents Program Member Pleading Guilty for Alleged Theft of Scientific Trade Secrets and Wire Fraud December 15, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)announcedthata former Nationwide Children's Hospital's Research Institute researcher pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal scientific trade secrets and commit wire fraud while receiving benefits from the Chinese government.The researcher's wife previously pleaded guilty to the same crimes in July 2020. Senator Portman, as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), led a year-long investigation into China's talent recruitment programs like the Thousand Talents Program, culminating in abipartisan reportin November 2019 that detailed how China has recruited U.S.-based scientists and researchers since the late 1990s and incentivized them to transfer U.S. taxpayer-funded research and IP to China for their own military and economic gain. This case followsthe string of arrestsof academics affiliatedwithAmerican universities for alleged crimes related to their participation in China's talent recruitment programs while accepting American taxpayer-funded grant funding. Earlier this year, Portman introduced the bipartisanSafeguarding American Innovation Actto protect American research and IP from global competitors. BothFBI Director WrayandAttorney General Barr, havespoken about the threat to American taxpayer-funded research and intellectual property from foreign governments, particularly China, which would be addressed by this legislation. I'm plea… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes-wins-ohio-increases | Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Wins for Ohio, Increases Troop Pay, Supports Ukraine Security Assistance | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Wins for Ohio, Increases Troop Pay, Supports Ukraine Security Assistance December 15, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DCToday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA) conference report includes a number of initiatives to support Ohio's military installations, increase troop pay, and provide additional assistance to Ukraine.The report now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. He released the following statement: I'm proud that the Senate-passed conference report provides needed resources to continue rebuilding our military, support our troops, and provide upgrades and support to Ohio's defense installations.Our country faces significant security threats around the world, and this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that our soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and space professionals have the vital resources they need to accomplish their national security missions. Ohio is home to the best and brightest serving our country and some of our nation's premier defense installations, and this legislation provides for their continued success. This conference report 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 continues to stand with the Ukrainian people in their struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future and I hope the president signs it into law soon. NOTE: Portman announced that the FY 2021 NDAA conference report includes a number of key wins for Ohio and the country, including: Authorizing$1.4 billion in funding to upgrade 89 Abrams tanks, sustainingthe rate of production of the upgraded Abrams tanks Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima in order to ensure that our forward d… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402396 | Latta, Kelly, Kelly, Fudge Lead Effort to Reduce Maternal Deaths, Improve Health Outcomes for Mothers | 2020-12-14 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Robert Latta | L000566 | latta.house.gov | legacy | BOWLING GREEN, OHToday, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) joined Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL2), Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA16) and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH11) to introduce the Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act, a bill working to reduce maternal deaths and improve the health outcomes of pregnant women and mothers enrolled in Medicaid. In the United States, about 700 women tragically die each year from complications resulting from pregnancy and childbirth, with Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that two-thirds of these deaths are preventable. While the Medicaid program plays a critical role in addressing the United States' maternal mortality crisis, the nonpartisan Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) reports that pregnant beneficiaries are more likely to experience higher rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality than pregnant individuals with private insurance. Revolutionary technologies and innovations are doing incredible work to improve the health and wellbeing of people across the country, but we still have a lot of work to do to ensure women will not lose their lives during pregnancy and childbirth, said Latta. States are doing what they can to address the poor health outcomes for moms, but we can and must do more to assist states and health care providers in order to save lives. I am proud to partner with Representatives Robin Kelly, Mike Kelly, and Marcia Fudge, and Senators Pat Toomey and Sherrod Brown to introduce bipartisan legislation working to help all expecting mothers have the care and resources they need to have a safe pregnancy. This bill is about saving lives. In 2020, starting or growing your family shouldn't cost you your life, said Robin Kelly. We need to identify and establish best practices to prevent maternal mortality, much like what's used today for suspected hea… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404556 | Wenstrup Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Raise Public Awareness of COVID-19 Vaccine | 2020-12-14 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | House | OH | Brad Wenstrup | W000815 | wenstrup.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Representatives Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH-02), Ron Kind (D-WI-03), Roger Marshall (R-KS-01), Scott Peters (D-CA-52), John Joyce (R-PA-13), Andy Kim (D-NJ-03), Neal Dunn (R-FL-02), and Albio Sires (D-NJ-08) introduced bipartisan legislation, authorizing a public advocacy campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccine participation and provide science-backed information. The bill provides necessary funds for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide grants to entities to launch public awareness campaigns no less than 30 days after a vaccine is authorized. Operation Warp Speed has produced a safe and effective vaccine in record time. A vaccine, however, will only lead us out of this pandemic and allow us to restore our way of life if enough Americans are willing to receive it, said Representative Brad Wenstrup D.P.M. It is more important than ever that we provide science-based, factual information about COVID-19 vaccines to the American people. I believe providing accurate information about vaccines will help alleviate concerns and empower Americansto make sound medical decisions. Today is a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic as millions of vaccines are shipped across the country and arrive to Wisconsin and we begin to inoculate our health care workers and most vulnerable to the virus. But for these vaccines to ultimately bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that Americans are willing to receive them, said Representative Ron Kind. I am proud to support this bipartisan bill to provide resources to trusted local leaders across the country to raise awareness and share factual, evidence-based information about COVID-19 vaccines with the communities they serve. A COVID-19 vaccine will only be effective in defeating this virus if people have confidence in its safety and efficacy, said Representative Roger Marshall, M.D. America is home to world-class scientists and a gold-standard regulatory agency that oversees the dru… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/portman-difference/widespread-support-across-ohio-portmans-bipartisan-cara-20-increase | Widespread Support Across Ohio for Portmans Bipartisan CARA 2.0 to Increase Access to Treatment, Prevention & Bolster Fight Against Addiction Epidemic | 2020-12-14 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Widespread Support Across Ohio for Portman's Bipartisan CARA 2.0 to Increase Access to Treatment, Prevention & Bolster Fight Against Addiction Epidemic December 14, 2020 | Portman Difference Addiction treatment, recovery, enforcement, and prevention stakeholders across Ohio support Senator Portman's bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 to increase the funding authorization levels for the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA) programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic that has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.Portman introduced the legislation yesterday with Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). CARA was a bipartisan, national effort designed to ensure thatfederal resources were devoted to evidence-based education, treatment and recovery programs that work. In FY 2020, CARA programs were funded at $658 million. CARA 2.0 builds on thiseffort by increasing the funding authorization levels and laying out new policy reforms to strengthen the federal government's response to this crisis. The following addiction treatment, recovery, enforcement, and prevention stakeholders across Ohio have voiced their support for the legislation: Cuyahoga County knows all too well the terrible toll that drug addiction can take. Every year, we lose hundreds to this epidemic. Senator Portman's Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act 2.0 (CARA 2.0) is the right approach. We know that drug addiction is a disease and that individuals suffering from this disease need treatment and access to good recovery programs. The CARA 2.0 legislation will provide critical funding and support for these individuals who are our neighbors, friends and members of our community. I appreciate Senator Portman's ongoing dedication to finding a solution to this long-standing problem. Armond Budish, Ch… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-statement-electoral-college-vote | Portman Statement on the Electoral College Vote | 2020-12-14 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Statement on the Electoral College Vote December 14, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) released the following statement on the Electoral College vote: In accordance with the Constitution and federal law, the Electoral College cast their votes for President today. The Electors met in their respective state following certification of the results.I think we need to respect this process the Founding Fathers established, and we must respect the will of the voters. As I've said previously, the Trump campaign had every right to pursue recounts and legal challenges. That has now happened over the past six weeks, and although there were instances of fraud and irregularities, it has not been shown to be widespread enough to change the result of the election. States must take seriously the proven examples of fraud and irregularities, prosecute anyone who engaged in it, and review voting systems to maintain the integrity of our elections. The transition process and briefings for the Biden team began three weeks ago at the direction of President Trump, and I commend him for that. The orderly transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy, and although I supported President Trump, the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402893 | Successful Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction to Expand Broadband in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Bill Johnson | J000292 | billjohnson.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the results of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction: The RDOF is the FCC's major initiative to bridge the digital divide by expanding broadband internet access throughout rural America. Funding will be directed to finance high-speed broadband networks in unserved rural areas, connecting millions of American homes and businesses to digital services for the first time. Ohio bidders were awarded over $170 million, and providers within the counties that I serve in the 6th Congressional District received over $80 million (see the full list here). The auction saw robust competition, resulting in more locations being awarded at lower cost to American taxpayers. This is big news for many areas of rural Ohio that are on the wrong side of the rural-urban digital divide, Bill Johnson said. The need for our children to use the internet for distance learning, the demand for businesses to allow their employees to remotely work from home, and the need for internet access to support advances in telehealth have demonstrated how critically important it is that we in rural Ohio get access to high-speed broadband internet. Like the Rural Electrification effort to bring electricity to rural America in the1930's, the federal government must step in when and where the private market fails in order to ensure that high speed internet access is available in all the hills and valleys of Appalachia and throughout rural America. Johnson added: I've met with FCC Chairman Pai and other members of the commission numerous times to stress the importance of this issueI've even brought them here to our rural communities. They understood my concerns and they promised to help, and I'm grateful they've kept their word and followed through. I commend the chairman and his team for their hard work under the leadership and direction of President Trump to accomplish this historic milestonea… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021NDAA Conference Report Includes Energy Resilience Funding for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base NASIC Facility | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021NDAA Conference Report Includes Energy Resilience Funding for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base NASIC Facility $35 Million Energy Resilience Project Will Help Improve Energy Efficiency at NASIC December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes $35 million for an Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) project at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The ERCIP funds projects that improve the energy resilience and energy and water efficiency at DOD installations. This intelligence facility central utility plant project at Wright-Patt will help make the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) more energy efficient. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. Portman released the following statement: I am pleased that the Senate-passed FY 2021 conference report includes funding for this ERCIP project, which will help make NASIC more energy efficient. This project will help address deficiencies in the existing cooling system, which have led to increasing equipment downtime and data loss in the last few years. I believe it will make a difference to our Airmen and Air Force Civilians at Wright-Patt and I urge President Trump to sign this important legislation into law soon. NOTE: Last month Portman participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of an expansion for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The expansion was financed by $120.9 million Portman helped secure in the FY 2020 NDAA conference report. Last year, Portman visited Wright-Patt and met with Air Force leadership at Wright-Patt who oversee the National Air and Space Intellig… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes-0 | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Funding for Abrams Tanks, Stryker Vehicles and Maneuver Short Range Air Defense | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Funding for Abrams Tanks, Stryker Vehicles and Maneuver Short Range Air Defense $1.4 Billion for Abrams Tanks,$1.1 Billionfor Stryker Vehicles, $532.8 Million for M-SHORAD Included in NDAA Conference Report December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes $1.02 billion in funding to upgrade 89 Abrams tanks and $392 million for Abrams modifications, which will continue the production of the M1A2 SEPv3 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 conference report also includes$1.1 billion for upgrading Stryker Vehicles. In addition, the conference report includes $532.8 million to produce 72 Stryker chassis to support the Army's Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) program. 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 legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. The Senate-passed FY 2021 NDAA conference report 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 version of the Abrams tank, the M1A2 SEPv3 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 funding will ensure that more tanks are produced at Lima and get to our forward deployed soldiers. This … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes-1 | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Provision to Bolster Cybersecurity at All Levels of Government | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Provision to Bolster Cybersecurity at All Levels of Government Cybersecurity Coordinators will Work with Federal, State, and Local Governments to Help Prevent and Respond to Cybersecurity Threats December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes his bipartisan provision to require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state. Senator Portman introduced this legislation with Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Gary Peters (D-MI). The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. Under the legislation, each state would have its own federally funded Cybersecurity Coordinator, who would be responsible for helping to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats by working with federal, state, and local governments, as well as schools, hospitals, and other entities. This provision is similar to theCybersecurity State Coordinator Actthat the Senatorsintroducedearlier this year, and in March, the Homeland Security Committeevoted on a bipartisan basis to approve this legislation. Cybersecurity for state and local governments is just as important as efforts at the federal level, and frequently, they lack the resources, technical know-how, and situational awareness to secure their systems, or respond in the event of an attack, said Senator Portman. I'm pleased that this bipartisan proposal is included in the Senate-passed NDAA conference report because it will strengthen the cybersecurity relationship between the federal government and state and local governments. Cyberattacks on our hospitals, sch… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-announces-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-requires | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Requires Assessment of Surge Capacity of Defense Industrial Base Manufacturers | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman Announces Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Requires Assessment of Surge Capacity of Defense Industrial Base Manufacturers Provision Would Require DoD to Determine if Defense Industrial Base Has Surge Capacity to Match Adversaries December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes his provision to require the Department of Defense (DoD) to assess the surge capacity of defense industrial base manufacturers compared to that of our adversaries.As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, the United States often lacks the capacity to produce critical supplies during periods of crisis when there are surges in demand for critical items. It is crucial that our domestic industrial base have the capacity to quickly ramp up production in times of crisis, so that we are not overly dependent on foreign products.The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. In wartime or times of crisis in our nation, it's important that the Department of Defense has a clear understanding of defense industrial base manufacturers' capacity to produce equipment for our military, said Portman. There are many large and small businesses in my home state of Ohio that possess the capability and capacity to meet DoD equipment requirements during times of national emergenciesit is important for these businesses and DoD to know what the requirements are and which companies can fulfill them. I am pleased this provision was passed with the final NDAA conference report so we can be sure that the DoD has a full understanding of what manufacturers are able to provide, especially during war or a crisis when there is a surge in demand for product. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-bennet-announce-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report | Portman, Bennet Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Provision to Strengthen Military's AI Capabilities | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Bennet Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Provision to Strengthen Military's AI Capabilities Provision Will Require Report to Congress on Ways to Strengthen Ties Between Joint AI Center and Military Services December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-founder of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes their bipartisan provision to require the Department of Defense (DoD) to report to Congress on ways to strengthen ties between the Joint AI Center and each of the military services.The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. I'm pleased the Senate-passed NDAA conference report includes this bipartisan provision since it is essential that we provideour armed forces with the technical skill and proficiency necessary to take full advantage of next-generation capabilities like artificial intelligence.said Portman.This provision to the NDAA conference report will take important steps towards that goal by facilitating stronger civilian cooperation with DoD while also sending a clear message that Congress is serious about leadership in the field of AI and I urge President Trump to sign it into law soon. For the Department of Defense to successfully incorporate artificial intelligence at all levels of our national security strategy, the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center must reflect the full makeup of our Armed Forces, said Bennet. I'm thrilled this provision to direct the Department of Defense to considers expanding its personnel base to strengthen ties to the warfighter and the needs of the services has been included in the NDAA. NOTE:In May, Portman introd… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-bennet-announce-senate-passed-fy-21-ndaa-conference-report-requires | Portman, Bennet Announce Senate-Passed FY 21 NDAA Conference Report Requires DoD Report on AI Standards of the Defense Industrial Base | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Bennet Announce Senate-Passed FY 21 NDAA Conference Report Requires DoD Report on AI Standards of the Defense Industrial Base Provision Will Help Policymakers Understand National Security Implications of AI Standards Setting December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA) conference report includes components of their AI Standards and National Security Act, a bipartisan proposal requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to report on the artificial intelligence (AI) standards. This will help policymakers understand the national security aspects of AI standardssetting. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. As the co-chair of the Senate AI Caucus, I'm pleased this bipartisan provision was passed by my Senate colleagues in the FY 2021 NDAA conference report to ensure we are cognizant of the standards the U.S. is setting with regards to AI competition with China,said Portman.This provision will 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. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly critical to national security, the U.S. must lead the effort to set global standards for its development and implementation, said Bennet. I'm thrilled this provision to direct the Department of Defense to report to Congress on its critical role in developing a coherent strategy to set standards for artificial intelligence in national security and the defense industrial base has been included in the NDAA. NOTE:As co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, Portman has helped lead ef… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-announce-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report | Portman, Brown Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Provision Requiring DoD Reporting of Cybersecurity Partnerships with Academia | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Brown Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Provision Requiring DoD Reporting of Cybersecurity Partnerships with Academia Collaboration with Universities will Help Military Accelerate Development of Capacity to Defend U.S. National Security Interests in Cyberspace December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DCToday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act conference report includes their bipartisan provision to support cybersecurity initiatives between the Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. academic institutions. Specifically, this provision would require DoD to report on their efforts to work with consortia of academic researchers in the development of cybersecurity capabilities for DoD systems. The University of Cincinnati (UC) is a member of one such consortium. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. I'm pleased the Senate-passed NDAA conference report includes this bipartisan provision to require DoD to report on their efforts to work with university consortia to ensure DoD capabilities are secure. Cyberspace is increasingly becoming the battlefield of the Information Age, and it is incumbent upon the Department of Defense to develop its capacity to defend U.S. national security interests in this dynamic frontier, said Portman. By partnering with universities like the University of Cincinnati, which already conducts important work in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, our military will be able to accelerate that process and ensure it is better prepared to defend against cyberattacks on DoD systems. I hope the president signs this important legislation into law soon. Ensuring our militar… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-brown-announce-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-0 | Portman, Brown Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Provision to Require Report on Department of Defense Partnering With Facilities Like Plum Brook on Hypersonic Research | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Brown Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Provision to Require Report on Department of Defense Partnering With Facilities Like Plum Brook on Hypersonic Research Provision Would Require DOD to Study Utilizing Facilities like Ohio's NASA Plum Brook Station in Sandusky December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act conference report includes their provision to require the Department of Defense (DOD) tostudy partnering with existing government facilities, like NASA's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, to perform research and testing on hypersonic devices. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. Plum Brook houses world-class facilities in Sandusky that have conducted critical and innovative ground tests for the international space community. I'm applaud my Senate colleagues for passing this conference reportthat includes language highlighting the importance of hypersonic technologies to our national security, and that the Department of Defense (DoD) should take actions to improve ground-based test facilities, such as wind tunnels, said Portman. However, this provision takes that a step further and requires DoD to do a report that examines all avenues for testing, including non-DoD facilities. Together, this conference report and provision send a strong signal that Plum Book should be considered a prime candidate for increased ground-based hypersonic test facilities in the future. I will fight to ensure Plum Brook is considered to be the site of increased testing. NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky is a perfect example of Ohio's innovative strength in aeronautics, space technology and the sciences,said … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-cortez-masto-announce-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report | Portman, Cortez Masto Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Legislation to Study Chinese Governments Influence on Technology Standards Setting | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Cortez Masto Announce Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Bipartisan Legislation to Study Chinese Government's Influence on Technology Standards Setting December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act conference report includes their bipartisan Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act to study the impact of the Chinese government's influence in setting global standards for emerging technologies. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. Standards setting is an important frontier in the development of artificial intelligence, said Senator Portman. American competitiveness with respect to China's technonationalist pursuit of dominance in emerging technology requires the United States to prioritize integrity and transparency in international standards setting, and I'm pleased the Senate passed this common-sense bipartisan legislation in the FY 2021 NDAA conference report. It's critical that the U.S. leads the setting of international technology standards for emerging, cutting-edge technologies and that this process remains democratic and transparent. I'm glad to see this bipartisan legislation, which would help us achieve just that, be included in this year's NDAA conference report, said Senator Cortez Masto. The development and deployment of advanced technologies will shape the global economy and national security landscape over the coming decades. It is vital that the United States continues to lead the global standards setting process to ensure the functionality, operability, and safety of emerging technologies. The Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act would direct the Director of the National Institute of Standards and T… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-peters-bipartisan-bill-fix-security-vulnerability-posed-foreign | Portman, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Fix Security Vulnerability Posed by Foreign Ownership of Federally Leased Properties Ready to be Signed into Law | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Fix Security Vulnerability Posed by Foreign Ownership of Federally Leased Properties Ready to be Signed into Law December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) announced that their bipartisan bill requiring the federal government to determine if office space it leases is owned by foreign entities is headed to the White House to be signed into law. I applaud my Senate colleagues for passing this important legislation to help ensure our federal agencies are prepared to address the risk of espionage and unauthorized cyber and physical access to federally leased buildings, said Senator Portman. This bill will ensure that the federal government has access to leased properties' ownership information so we can better protect our people and information and I urge the president to sign this into law soon. Our foreign adversaries continue to try and exploit loopholes in our security systems in order to access sensitive information. This legislation will make it harder for them to access office buildings where our government keeps sensitive materials and strengthen national security, said Senator Peters. I am thrilled that the Senate has passed this commonsense bill and urge the President to swiftly sign it into law. TheSecure Federal Leases from Espionage and Suspicious Entanglements Act (Secure Federal LEASEs Act)requires the identification of all individuals who own or benefit from partial ownership of a property that will be leased by the federal government for high-security use. The bill was introduced in response to a 2017 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which indicated that federal agencies were vulnerable to espionage and other cyber intrusions because foreign actors could gain unauthorized access to spaces used for classified operations or to store sensitive da… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-peters-introduce-bill-modernize-and-increase-transparency-us | Portman, Peters Introduce Bill to Modernize and Increase Transparency in U.S. Response to Cyber-Attacks on Federal Agencies | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman, Peters Introduce Bill to Modernize and Increase Transparency in U.S. Response to Cyber-Attacks on Federal Agencies December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase transparency and modernize how the government responds to cybersecurity incidents on federal information systems. In June 2019, Senator Portman, as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations,released a bipartisan reportthat found that the vast majority of agencies reviewed by the Subcommittee failed to implement effective and comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks as required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA). The federal government has a responsibility to secure the information of all Americans. As bad actors continue to exploit weaknesses in federal systems, it's critical that the federal government is able to quickly respond to any incident and better protect the information in its care, said Senator Portman. This bipartisan bill takes important steps to better coordinate our government's response to breaches and quickly inform the American people if their information has been compromised. Our federal information systems are subjected to persistent cyber-attacks that pose a significant national security threat, and our government is not currently prepared to effectivity respond to them, said Senator Peters. I am proud to lead this bipartisan bill that will modernize our government's cyber defenses and increase transparency in how they respond in order to better protect the American people. The Federal System Incident Response Act will update and add critical new sections to FISMA, increasing transparency by clarifying how and when agencies must notify impacted individuals and Congress when data breaches occur. The bill would also require agencies … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-contains-critical | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Contains Critical Reforms for Military Artificial Intelligence Readiness | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Contains Critical Reforms for Military Artificial Intelligence Readiness Provisions Will Ensure America Can Field 21st-Century Fighting Force December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report takes important steps in increasing our military's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities by including provisions from his bipartisanArtificial Intelligence for the Armed Forces Act. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. The complexity of 21st century warfare requires that our armed forces be both technically skilled and proficient with their weapons, said Portman. I am glad to see that the Senate-passed FY 2021 NDAA conference report takesimportantsteps towards that goal by implementing parts of my bipartisan Artificial Intelligence for the Armed Forces Act,which includes a number of key recommendations by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. These policy changes will help our military attract top AI talent and improve our military's effectiveness with respect to AI decision-making. Specifically, these provisions will: Require the Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center to report directly to the Secretary of Defense; Ensure that the Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center is three-star equivalent; Modify the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test to add a computational assessment to identify applicants with skills in AI; and Provide direction on the use of direct hiring authorities to help bring AI experts into the Department of Defense. NOTE:In June, Portman introduced theArtifici… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes-15-million | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes $15 Million for National Guard Readiness Center in Columbus | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes $15 Million for National Guard Readiness Center in Columbus ColumbusNationalGuard Readiness Center is Critical for Ohio National Guard Operations December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes $15 million for the construction of a new Guard Readiness Center in Columbus, Ohio. This new construction will replace aging and inadequate facilities, and serve as the single gathering point for all assigned Ohio National Guard troops, and a mobilization point for State and Federal activation of troops.This project will help the Ohio National Guard meet its readiness objectives to support the people of Ohio and theirfederalactivation missions.The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. I am pleased the Senate-passed FY 2021 NDAA conference report sends the clear message that the men and women of theOhioNational Guard work hard to keep us safe and secureand serve our communities, said Portman. I am glad to see that the FY 2021 NDAA conference report includes these funds to construct a new Readiness Center that willsupport the operations of the Ohio National Guard troops in times of crisis. The National Guardnot only supports our security efforts but alsohas played a critical role in responding to the coronavirus pandemic that has affected all of our lives. They continue to do important work around Ohio and this new Readiness Center will help facilitate their mission. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes-235-million | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes $23.5 Million for Hydrant Fuel System at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes $23.5 Million for Hydrant Fuel System at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes $23.5 million in funding for a hydrant fuel system for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This project will replace the aging fuel system and will bring it into compliance with DoD's standards. This funding will help to facilitate the DLA's fuel operations and make them more efficient. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. Portman released the following statement: This funding will support a new hydrant fuel system to refuel our aircraft and support the mission of the Defense Logistics Agency. 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 the DLA for their equipment and resources. DLA plays a critical role in helping to ensure our brave men and women on the frontlines have the resources they need. NOTE: Last month Portman participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of an expansion for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The expansion was financed by $120.9 million Portman helped secure in the FY 2020 NDAA conference report. Last year, Portman visited Wright-Patt and met with Air Force leadership at Wright-Patt who oversee the National Air and Space Intelligence Center Wright-Patt and the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator. ## | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes-key | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Key Improvements to Americas Commitment to Ukraine SecurityAssistance | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Key Improvements to Americas' Commitment to Ukraine SecurityAssistance In Addition to Ukrainian Security Assistance Package, Report Includes Portman Proposal Requiring DoD and DoS to Develop New, Multi-Year Strategy to Support the Development of Ukraine's Military Forces December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes $250 million in security assistance for Ukraine to fund additional training, lethal and non-lethal equipment, and advisory efforts for Ukraine's forces. Additionally, $75 million of that $250 million is designated specifically for lethal assistance, an increase of $25 million from FY 2020. In addition, the conference report includes a Portman proposal to require DoD to develop a new, multi-year strategy to support the development of Ukraine's military forces, increasing its capability and capacity and providing a resource plan for US security assistance. This report will better synchronize and prioritize future US security assistance to Ukraine by identifying gaps and shortfalls that need to be addressed. Finally, this conference report extends 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 legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. I applaud my Senate colleagues for passing the FY 2021 NDAA co… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-senate-passed-fy-2021-ndaa-conference-report-includes-provision | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Provision to Allow National Museum of the U.S. Air Force to Receive Name-Bearing Gifts of Real Property | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman: Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Provision to Allow National Museum of the U.S. Air Force to Receive Name-Bearing Gifts of Real Property December 11, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes language enabling United States Military Museums to accept gifts of real property that have a specific name attached to the donation.The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. I am glad to see that the Senate-passed FY 2021 NDAA conference report includes language enabling military museums to accept gifts of real property that bear a specific name. This legislation will enable the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and all other military museums, to accept contributions in a more efficient and effective manner, ensuring that the museum will continue to grow and stand as a source of inspiration for future generations of explorers and aviators. The National Museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is among the world's premier military aviation museums. Its vast collection of historic aircraft attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and I'm pleased the conference report will ensure it continues to grow, said Portman. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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