url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=458f0cfe-49d1-4835-bd37-cf49cc55f1da,Portman Statement on Federal Aviation Administration's Decision Regarding Unmanned Aerial System Test Site Locations,2013-12-30,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement in response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision not to select Ohio as a location for an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) test site:      “I am deeply disappointed by the FAA’s decision not to select the Ohio/Indiana UAS Center as the location for one of the FAA’s six UAS test sites across the country. Ohio is a national leader in aerospace, and would have been an ideal location for one of the sites.  Over one hundred thousand Ohioans work in aerospace, where they develop and build cutting-edge technologies and world-class commercial and military equipment. In addition, assets like Dayton’s U.S. Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and industry partners throughout the state provide outstanding technical expertise and more than $9 billion in Research and Development and testing every year. I have worked extensively to strengthen these unique capabilities and increase Ohio’s leadership in defense and aerospace.     “I remain committed to advancing Ohio’s leadership role in aerospace and unmanned systems.  The Ohio/Indiana UAS Center will move forward with its plans to serve the needs of federal, state, local, and private entities as they continue research and development of UAS.  Keeping Ohio’s aerospace industry strong and competitive is critical not only to our state’s economy, but to the national security of the United States.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=366351,Only a few serve U.S. in office and in uniform,2013-12-28,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON — About two days out of every month, Rep. Brad Wenstrup gets a gut check when he leaves Capitol Hill for his other job: surgeon for the Army Reserve.
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      WASHINGTON — About two days out of every month, Rep. Brad Wenstrup gets a gut check when he leaves Capitol Hill for his other job: surgeon for the Army Reserve.
He travels the 12 miles to Bethesda, Md., where the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has treated servicemen and women since 2011, and he pitches in where he can.
Sometimes, that means talking to residents; other times, it means helping in surgery.
Because he serves two days a month, he can’t develop long-term relationships with patients.
On Memorial Day, he had planned to enjoy a recess from his congressional duties. Then he got a call: Many casualties were coming in from Afghanistan, could he help? The Cincinnati Republican changed his plans, staying Friday and Saturday to help with sometimes complicated surgeries that required multiple surgeons.
Wenstrup, 55, is a rarity, one of just 14 members of the U.S. House who still serve in the military through the Guard or Reserves.
One senator also serves in the Reserves, according to the Congressional Research Service.
And yet Wenstrup isn’t the only Ohio lawmaker who balances military and congressional duties. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington, is a member of the Ohio National Guard. He graduated from the Army War College last year and drills one weekend a month plus two weeks in the summer.
“It’s Congress that has the ultimate authority to decide whether to declare war,” Stivers said. “ So having someone who understands what that means, and what that means in a human price for all these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, is a good thing.”
Others in Ohio’s congressional delegation also have served. House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester, enlisted in the Navy in 1968 but was honorably discharged after eight weeks because of back problems, and Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, served in the Air Force from 1973 to 1999.
Still, the number is shrinking, according to the Congressional Research Service: At the beginning of the 113th Congress, there were 108 members who had served or were serving in the military, 10 fewer than at the beginning of the 112th Congress and 12 fewer than in the 111th Congress.
According to CQ Roll Call, the House currently has 88 veterans while the Senate has 18. Congressional veterans served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.
Stivers and Wenstrup both came to Congress after serving on active duty in the Middle East.
Stivers joined the Ohio National Guard in 1985. He was called up while serving in the Ohio Senate in October 2004, and went to Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti as battalion commander overseeing mail delivery. He returned home in December 2005 and was awarded a Bronze Star for his work. Currently, he runs the Ohio Regional Training Institute, which is the training academy inside the Ohio Air National Guard.
Stivers was selected for the Army War College before he became a member of Congress. He began attending the War College in May 2010 and was elected to Congress six months later.
Even as he was putting his congressional staff together, his War College classes were becoming more demanding. Most of the classes were distance learning. Typically, Stivers read three or four books for a specific course, posted on online forums as late as 1 a.m., then woke up early to read the replies. In July 2011, he went to Carlisle, Pa., for two weeks of on-campus training.
Others in his class have dropped out; Stivers did not. Six-hundred began War College; roughly 400 completed it.
“When I commit to do something, I think it’s important to follow through and finish up,” he said.
His education, he added, helped him become more informed as a member of Congress about war strategies. For example, when there is talk of entering a military conflict, Stivers is sure to ask about exit plans and what outcome would be considered a success. When Congress was weighing action in Syria, Stivers drew upon his War College education and ultimately spoke against military involvement.
His military service, he said, has given him sympathy for other public servants, especially fellow members of Congress.
“Being in the military, regardless of the branch, helps you understand service,” he said. “And this job is a public service.”
Wenstrup signed up to serve in 1998. He kept seeing reports of attacks on the United States — the flight over Lockerbie, the conflict in Lebanon — and he felt moved to help. He’d heard of local doctors who were serving and liked the idea. But instead of signing up immediately, he waited; he was a bone-marrow donor for his sister, who had leukemia, and wanted to wait until she’d reached the five-year survivorship mark before he joined.
Wenstrup was called up in 2005 and 2006, serving in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, after the notorious scandal involving the torture of military prisoners. At Abu Ghraib, he treated service members and prisoners alike.
“My commitment was eight years,” he said. “And after that experience, while I was in Iraq, I came home and said, ‘I’m not leaving now.’ ” He re-enlisted, but spoke about his experience in front of crowds. Eventually, he was recruited to run for Congress and defeated Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, in the 2012 primary election.
While the more dramatic injuries have died down as troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan, Wenstrup’s first few months at Walter Reed were a harsh reminder of the toll troops can pay. On his first day helping out, he worked on a man with several fingers and both legs gone.
Now, Wenstrup treats wounded veterans, but in a different way. He recently helped an amputee who had hurt himself piloting a Sea-Doo from New York to Key West. The veteran wins pull-up contests. “ He’s just blowing everyone away,” Wenstrup said.
During one visit, he met the vet’s 4-year-old son and asked the boy what he wanted to be when he grew up. “A Navy SEAL like my dad,” the boy replied.
Being in Congress, Wenstrup said, is a different sort of challenge. As a soldier, he’d get his mission and complete it. As a doctor, he examines a patient, makes a diagnosis, talks with the patient about options, decides on a course of action and follows it. Congress, he said, hardly works so neatly.
His trips to Walter Reed, he said, are a telling reminder of what determination can do.
“It’s an honor to be there and see these troops,” he said. “You’ll see a guy for the first time trying to go up the steps with two prosthetics, and he’s just determined and he’s sweating. And he just keeps going.”
jwehrman@dispatch.com",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=11e3f186-fae9-427e-ac4b-2a385764f4b1,"Portman Meets with Mayors of Findlay, Ottawa & Tiffin in NW Ohio to Discuss Path Forward Following Blanchard River Flooding",2013-12-23,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – In the midst of flooding in Northwest Ohio, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) traveled to Findlay, Ohio today to meet with City of Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik, Village of Ottawa Mayor J. Dean Meyer, and City of Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz, along with other public officials attempting to mitigate the flood damage to the community.
""As I saw firsthand today, flooding in the Findlay and Ottawa region continues to plague local residents and businesses.  This is a threat to Northwest Ohio's safety and economy that only seems to be intensifying.  The local community and the Federal government must work together to protect against future flooding. I will continue to urge the Army Corps of Engineers to provide the necessary funding to expedite its flood mitigation efforts,” said Portman.
In October, Portman and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to include funding for the Blanchard River Flood Risk Management Project (BRFRMP) for fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
In July of this year, USACE reprogrammed funding for the project for fiscal year 2013, which assisted with the Chief’s Report, and more importantly ensured that the BRFRMP would be eligible for funding in fiscal year 2014.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=bffbdc53-5b00-4362-900c-0cae535a2573,"Portman Discusses Budget, Trade & Tax Reform on Bloomberg Television’s ""Political Capital with Al Hunt""",2013-12-22,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) appeared on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,"" where he discussed the recent bipartisan budget agreement and the need to do more to reform our important but unsustainable entitlement programs.  In addition, Portman urged Congress to approve new free trade agreements and move forward with an overhaul of our inefficient and antiquated tax code in the new year.
Watch the full interview here.  Excerpts are included below.
Portman on the Bipartisan Budget Agreement and the Debt Limit Debate:
PORTMAN: I hope what it is, is a first step toward further collaboration, because our country’s in trouble. You know, we have a fiscal crisis looming. We still have an economy that’s too weak, and we need to work together to solve these problems. So I like to view it as a very small step, a baby step in the right direction. It did reduce the deficit a little bit. It did it without raising taxes. It kept us from going into a government shutdown in January, but also in September of next year. And finally, it put the United States Congress back on track to do appropriations bills.  ...
PORTMAN: It did not address the underlying problem. And it’s so obvious. The problem is that two-thirds of spending, as you know, is on autopilot. That part of our spending goes to 76 percent in the next 10 years. It’s where all the growth is. If we don’t address it, it will bankrupt the country. These incredibly important programs, like Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, are not sustainable in their current form. We’ve got to get at those. The only time we’ve done it in the last three decades, Al, has been through a debt limit discussion. So let’s use the debt limit, not to spook financial markets - in fact, to give them more assurance we’re actually going to do the right thing.""
Portman on Trade:
HUNT: Big news this week. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is going to be designated as the ambassador to China. He’s been the leading Democratic voice in the Senate on trade. What effect is this going to have, if any, on any trade legislation next year, fast-track or the Trans-Pacific? Will anything happen?
PORTMAN: Well, I talked to Max Baucus about this yesterday. One, before he leaves, we’re going to get some stuff done, I hope...
HUNT: On trade?
PORTMAN: On trade, including moving trade promotion authority forward. The president wants it. I’m glad he wants it, Al. This is the first administration since FDR that didn’t want it until March of this year.
HUNT: And you think you can get that done before Max Baucus leaves?
PORTMAN: I’m hopeful that we can. You know, sometimes these confirmations take a little while. And hopefully we can get that done.
HUNT: How about Trans-Pacific?
PORTMAN: The TPP, which is the Trans-Pacific Partnership - a lot of alphabet soup here - I think has to follow TPA. I don’t think that the United States can negotiate the final agreement without letting countries know that we have a fast-track way to get this done for a yes-or-no vote on the floor of the House and Senate. So I think you have to start with TPA. That’s certainly been the experience over the years. So let’s get that done first. Then I think it’ll be easier to deal with the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Portman on Tax Reform:
HUNT: Max Baucus also was the Democratic - foremost Democratic champion of some kind of tax reform, working with Dave Camp in the House. That’s pretty much dead now, isn’t it?
PORTMAN: No, actually..
HUNT: In this Congress, will we have big tax reform?
PORTMAN: On trade and taxes, I would also make the obvious point that Ron Wyden is the likely successor as chairman of that committee. I spoke to Ron about this today, in fact. He is very interested in the trade agenda, always has been. He believes in trade. He thinks we ought to knock down barriers to trade. I worked with him when I was U.S. Trade Representative.
And on tax reform, you know, Ron’s been very aggressive on that. In fact, he has his own tax reform proposal that lowers the rate and broadens the base.
HUNT: But you don’t think you can get it done in this Congress, though, do you?
PORTMAN: Well, not this year, certainly, but next year, I think if Dave Camp and Ron Wyden join forces, as he and Max Baucus were starting to do, I think it can still happen. I think it is unlikely to happen right after the first of the year, which is what some of us thought might be the timeframe.
HUNT: Right.
PORTMAN: I think the House has to report out a bill first, and probably that doesn’t happen until the springtime, and then I think the Senate under Ron Wyden’s leadership with the Finance Committee and Orrin Hatch, who’s very interested in tax reform, I think we have a shot at it. And if we don’t do it, Al, we are hurting American jobs, because right now, our antiquated and inefficient tax code makes it more advantageous to be a foreign company than to be a U.S. company. That makes no sense.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365071,GOP needs healthcare ideas,2013-12-21,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Now is not the time for Republicans to be celebrating Obamacare's struggles. It's time for the Republican Party to offer specific ideas that will improve America's health care system without picking winners and losers among the American people. It's time for the Republican Party to lead.
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      Marietta Times  
By Rep. Bill Johnson  
Published December 21, 2013  
Most Americans - regardless of their political affiliation - agree that the rollout and early implementation of Obamacare has been a disaster. The website doesn't work well, many Americans are seeing significant premium increases, and millions more are losing the health insurance they like - all because of the president's health care law. I've voted numerous times to delay, defund, and repeal this misguided and costly law. But, now is not the time for Republicans to be celebrating Obamacare's struggles. It's time for the Republican Party to offer specific ideas that will improve America's health care system without picking winners and losers among the American people. It's time for the Republican Party to lead.
Prior to Obamacare, our health care system was far from perfect. Too many of our fellow Americans were uninsured, healthcare costs were rising, and health insurance was becoming increasingly unaffordable for others. Those with pre-existing conditions were often unable to obtain affordable coverage, and recent college graduates struggling to find work in this economy couldn't afford health insurance and weren't able to remain on their parents' plan. Improvements to the existing system were definitely needed, but a total government overhaul of it was not the answer.
It's important to acknowledge that we have the best caregivers - doctors and nurses - in the world. America remains home to the most advanced medical procedures and medicine. Millions from around the world needing critical care who have the means come to America. We must ensure that we continue to have the best medical providers in the world, that we continue to lead the world in new medical cures and innovation, and we must work to ensure that this world class care is available to all Americans.
In my view, one of Obamacare's biggest flaws is that it simply does nothing to address the rising costs of healthcare. In fact, it did the opposite. While the law increased access by mandate, by opening the gates to millions of uninsured, it did so at the expense, in many cases, of those who had insurance they liked. Still worse, Obamacare sets minimum standards of insurance, interfering with consumer choice and the marketplace - which stifles competition and increases costs even further.
One of the most concerning elements of Obamacare to me is that the law picks winners and losers. The winners are clear - they are the friends and allies of the President and his supporters of the law and the Washington insiders who feel they should not have to live by the same rules hardworking Americans do. But, let's look at the losers, some of whom are now referred to in the media as the ""unintended consequences"" of the law. For example, seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) lose - the law cuts the program by $200 billion which results in price hikes, reduced provider networks, and less choice for millions of seniors on MA. America's young people lose - the law serves as a tax on young people, who must purchase insurance, or be fined, whether they want insurance or not. And, as we've seen, millions of Americans with insurance plans they like lose - they have had the plans they like and have invested in for years cancelled because they don't meet Obamacare's coverage requirements. And, some of these Americans losing the healthcare plans they like are those with pre-existing conditions - some of the very people the law supposedly tried to help. It's simply not fair that these millions of Americans lose under the intended and unintended consequences of the federal government's takeover of our healthcare system.
I'll continue working with Republican leadership in our efforts to unify behind common principles that would bring true patient-centered reform to America's health care system that will reduce costs, increase access, give Americans choices, and empower Americans to take control of their healthcare. And make no mistake, several pieces of good legislation have already been introduced in the House that I support. For example, I believe part of the solution is an expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in order to give the American people the ability, and incentive, to take greater ownership over their care. Also, insurers should not be allowed to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions, and young people should be allowed to remain on their parents' health insurance policy until age 26. And, as study after study shows, we need tort reform to put an end to the fears that so many health care providers have of being hit with junk lawsuits. This fear leads to additional, defensive, and oftentimes, unnecessary tests that drive up the cost of care by tens of billions of dollars every year. Finally, I believe strongly that we need to encourage competition in our healthcare system in order to increase quality and reduce costs - by making healthcare portable from state to state and job to job, and by allowing the market to determine the makeup of policies rather than the federal government.
Obamacare should be replaced. It's bad policy, it's bad medicine, and it's hurting Americans. But, it's not enough for opponents of the policy to simply criticize it. We've got to roll up our sleeves and develop a common sense framework to replace it. And, unlike Obamacare, such a plan must put fairness and choice back in the formula for all Americans, it needs buy in from both sides, and Washington cannot use it to choose winners and losers among the American people.
And, on that note, Merry Christmas to you and your family, and may you have a prosperous and Happy New Year!
U.S. House of Representative Bill Johnson represents Ohio's 6th Congressional District.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://bit.ly/2BbdNvh,"Sen. Brown Urges Obama Administration to Expand Oversight of Big Tobacco to Combat its Latest Efforts to Weaken Anti-Smoking Laws, Market Electronic Cigarettes to Children",2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,bit.ly,,,legacy,"One in Every Five Ohio Deaths Caused by Tobacco Use; Tobacco on Track to Kill One Billion People Worldwide this Century 
				
			
			
			Friday, December 20, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called on the Obama Administration to expand its oversight of Big Tobacco in order to combat its latest efforts to circumvent tobacco control initiatives and market electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) to children. Specifically, Brown urged President Obama to expedite the bureaucratic process that has kept the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from regulating products like e-cigs; and urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to monitor Big Tobacco’s marketing strategy of e-cigs.
“Our efforts to stop the number one preventable cause of death in the world are again being undermined by Big Tobacco,” Brown said. “In order to replace the more than 400,000 customers it loses each year to tobacco related deaths, Big Tobacco has fought to weaken anti-tobacco laws and market new products to children. The Administration should do the right thing for the health of the country by exercising its full power to put a stop to Big Tobacco’s crashing through loopholes in trade policy and FDA regulation. America must be a leader in global and domestic public health efforts and stop the insidious creep of addiction, lung cancer, coronary disease, and respiratory harm caused by tobacco and nicotine.”
In 2009, Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gave the FDA the direct authority to regulate cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. The law also gave the FDA the ability to oversee all tobacco products, like e-cigs, pending a review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In a letter, Brown urged President Obama to expedite OMB’s review of “deeming” regulations, which would allow the FDA to fight Big Tobacco’s efforts to target children and addict them to tobacco products.    
In a separate letter, Brown urged the FTC to include e-cig companies in its annual marketing report that outlines how much and where cigarette companies spend their advertising dollars; and investigate makers of e-cigs that make potentially false, misleading, or deceptive advertising claims that their product is therapeutic.
E-cigs use addictive nicotine but are not yet subject to federal laws that apply to traditional cigarettes. The laws include prohibiting their sale to minors, banning ads on the television and radio, and disallowing the use of fruit flavors that appeal to kids. In fact, e-cig makers have utilized each of these tactics as well as the use of celebrity sponsors to glamorize their products. As a result, e-cig use has doubled among middle and high school children in just the last year according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC study also suggests that e-cigs are a gateway to traditional smoking, citing that more than 76 percent of children who used e-cigs also smoked conventional cigarettes within 30 days.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Health:
 
One in every five Ohio deaths is caused by tobacco use;
 
 
Ohio ranks sixth in adult smoking rates;
 
 
16,900 children under the age of 18 start smoking each year in Ohio;
 
 
Approximately 386,000 Ohioans are currently suffering from one or more chronic or acute diseases as the result of cigarette smoking;
 
 
The medical costs associated with tobacco use by Ohioans are approximately $4 billion per year, of which $1.3 billion is covered by the Ohio Medicaid program; and
 
 
Ohio residents pay what amounts to a “tobacco tax” of about $602 per household for smoking-related government expenditures annually.
 
Brown has worked to reduce the negative effects of tobacco use for Ohioans, including pressing the FDA and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to regulate tobacco products to the full extent of their powers, such as the use of graphic warning labels, finalizing their regulatory powers over tobacco, and ensuring that all tobacco products are properly taxed and controlled. Brown has also written to the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to express his concerns regarding the USTR’s Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement Tobacco Proposal, which does not currently recognize tobacco as a unique consumer product and which may allow tobacco companies to use trade law to subvert domestic tobacco control measures.
In September, Brown held a news conference call to urge the Administration to put an end to Big Tobacco’s latest attempts to use trade law to undermine anti-smoking efforts and to sell and market e-cigs to children. Brown was joined on the call by Susan Liss, the Executive Director of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, who helped discuss the means Big Tobacco is willing to take to replace the more than 400,000 customers it loses each year to tobacco-related death.
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http://tiberi.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364951,TIBERI OFFICE HIRES WOUNDED WARRIOR FELLOW IN CENTRAL OHIO OFFICE,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Pat Tiberi,T000462,tiberi.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) today announced his office’s participation in the U. S. House Chief Administrative Officer’s Wounded Warrior Program.  The two-year fellowship provides wounded and disabled veterans with experience and exposure to broaden career opportunities.
 
“I am a strong supporter of our nation’s veterans and when I learned of this program, I knew our office and the people of Ohio’s 12th Congressional District would benefit,” said Congressman Tiberi.  “While my office continues to hire veterans and reservists, this program presented a unique opportunity for those transitioning from life in the military.”
 
Congressman Tiberi hired Captain Richard Spicer, United States Marine Corps Reserve, to work in his Central Ohio office.  Spicer serves as a Staff Assistant and helps with veterans affairs and military-related constituent services.  In addition he manages incoming correspondence, and oversees constituent casework dealing with the Drug Enforcement Administration, student loans, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commissions, Justice Department, and federal grants.  While working in Congressman Tiberi’s Central Ohio office, Spicer is attending The Ohio State University’s John Glenn School of Public Affairs where he is working to complete his Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management.
 
Spicer, a Houston native, graduated from The Ohio State University in 2008 and went on to Officer Candidates School. As an active-duty marine, he completed two tours in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  He was first stationed with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines as a forward observer from 2010-2011 and then with the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines as a fire support coordinator in 2012.  
 
“Richard’s hard-working attitude makes him a great addition to the office and his personable nature will definitely help him as he works with constituents in the 12th Congressional District.  We’re glad to have him as part of our team,” added Congressman Tiberi.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1251,CONGRESSWOMAN FUDGE AND THE OHIO DELEGATION ENDORSE THE NOMINATION OF DR. DAVID BRONSON FOR A COMMISSIONER POSITION ON THE MEDICARE PAYMENT ADVISORY BOARD,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"CONGRESSWOMAN FUDGE AND THE OHIO DELEGATION ENDORSE THE NOMINATION OF DR. DAVID BRONSON FOR A COMMISSIONER POSITION ON THE MEDICARE PAYMENT ADVISORY BOARD

	WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) is pleased to endorse the nomination of Dr. David Bronson, President of Cleveland Clinic’s Regional Hospitals and Family Health Centers for a Commissioner position on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).  Congresswoman Fudge, all members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) sent a joint letter today to the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office in support of Dr. Bronson’s nomination.

	“I am pleased to endorse Dr. Bronson, a physician with years of practice in internal medicine, an administrator and national health care leader, to share his expertise for the benefit of all Americans on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission,” said Congresswoman Fudge.

	“Dr. Bronson’s leadership was instrumental in the creation of a new branch of the Ohio University Heritage School of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital in my district.  This branch will train future generations of primary care physicians to serve our communities.  His considerable skills as a physician and his emphasis on care management have brought many benefits to NE Ohio residents and the Cleveland Clinic.  I am confident that Dr. Bronson’s respect for the patient and keen insight into Medicare and national health care policy will be a strong asset to the MedPAC.”

	Click here to see a copy of the letter.

	On Background:  The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) was created in 1997 as an independent Congressional agency to advise the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. In addition to its advisory duties, the Commission’s tasks include analyzing access to care, quality of care, and other issues affecting Medicare.

	###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140223121851/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-vitter-new-year-new-reason-to-end-taxpayer-funded-advantages-for-wall-street-too-big-to-fail-megabanks,"Brown, Vitter: New Year, New Reason to End Taxpayer-Funded Advantages for Wall Street ""Too Big to Fail"" Megabanks",2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Sens. Brown and Vitter Introduced Legislation that Would Eliminate Government Subsidies for Wall Street Megabanks
				
			
			
			Friday, December 20, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C.—Following another year of Wall Street megabanks enjoying taxpayer-funded advantages, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and David Vitter (R-LA) today reaffirmed their call for passing their Terminating Bailout for Taxpayer Fairness (TBTF) Act. The senators also recapped efforts in 2013 related to getting this common-sense legislation passed.  Brown and Vitter are authors of legislation that would require the largest and most interconnected financial institutions to maintain a 15 percent capital ratio to ensure taxpayers will not serve as the backstop for risky investments.
“Five years ago the risky practices of Wall Street megabanks brought our economy to the brink of collapse. Today, the nation’s four largest banks are nearly $2 trillion larger than they were in 2007,” Brown said. “Countless reports and studies this year have found that large financial institutions’ risky practices are backstopped by government guarantees at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. It’s time we end the subsidy for Wall Street megabanks by requiring them to have adequate capital to pay for their own losses.”
“One of the biggest stories of the year is that too big to fail is unfortunately alive and well. Megabanks are still receiving special handouts that create an uneven playing field – making it harder for our community banks and credit unions to compete. Beyond the Wall Street bailouts, the government has created a belief in the marketplace that it will provide support to the mega-banks. Regulators have the tools to increase capital requirements and erase the too big to fail subsidy, but refuse to do so. The GAO has released the first of two reports showing that the megabanks were able to borrow below-market interest rates, demonstrating a huge benefit of being too big to fail. I’m looking forward to second part which is expected to come in the spring.”
Highlights of 2013 related to ending ""Too Big to Fail” follow:
 
GAO Report Underscores Importance of Ending “Too Big To Fail” policies: On January 1, Brown and Vitter asked the U.S. Government Accountable Office (GAO) to investigate whether their “Too Big To Fail” status provides megabanks with financial benefits, including allowing them to borrow at a lower rate than regional banks, community banks, and credit unions. In November, GAO released the first of two reports request by Brown and Vitter  on the economic benefits that the “too-big-to-fail” megabanks receive as a result of actual or perceived taxpayer funded support during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The GAO report found that Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo & Co were able to borrow below-market interests rates, demonstrating the economic benefit of being “Too Big to Fail.” Following the release, Brown and Vitter reaffirmed their call for imposing common-sense capital requirements for Wall Street megabanks and called for passage of their TBTF Act.
The second part of the study will be released in 2014 and will focus on the funding advantages enjoyed by the largest banks, by virtue of their “Too Big to Fail” status. A link to the 2013 GAO report can be found: HERE. A summary of the report can be found: HERE
Brown, Vitter Offer Budget Amendment Eliminating Handouts for Megabanks: In March, Brown and Vitter successfully offered an amendment to the Senate budget resolution  eliminating federal subsidies and funding advantages for megabanks larger than $500 billion and prohibiting a bank tax or assessment. The amendment, which passed the Senate by a vote of 99-0, was stripped from the Murray-Ryan Budget deal. 
Brown, Vitter Unveil Legislation Ending “Too Big To Fail” Policies: In April, Brown and Vitter revealed the details of their legislation, the Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act (TBTF Act). The legislation would ensure that financial institutions have adequate capital to protect against losses, protection hardworking Americans from being the backstop for risky, Wall Street, investments. It sets reasonable standards that vary depending on the size and complexity of the institution, limits the government safety net to traditional banking operations, and provides regulatory relief for community banks. Statements in support of the legislation can be found: HERE.
 
Strengthening Capital Requirements: In July, the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposed an enhanced supplemental ratio of leverage to total assets for the largest financial institutions of 6 percent for insured depositories and 5 percent for bank holding companies. In their preamble to the proposal, the agencies acknowledged the existence of a TBTF funding advantage. In November, Brown, Vitter and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) sent a letter  urging the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to strengthen proposed supplementary leverage ratio requirements in an effort to lessen government support for the financial sector and reassure financial markets that the U.S. financial system is healthy. The proposed increased in the leverage ratio was due in part to Brown and Vitter’s efforts to increase capital standards required by financial institutions.
 
Reaction to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew – “Dodd-Frank ended ‘too big to fail’ as a matter of law”: In July, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said, “If we get to the end of this year and we cannot, with an honest, straight face, say that we have ended too-big-to-fail, we are going to have to look at other options.” Following Lew’s comments in December that “Earlier this year, I said if we could not with a straight face say we ended ‘too big to fail,’ we would have to look at other options.  Based on the totality of reforms we are putting in place, I believe we will meet that test,” Brown and Vitter released statements cautioning the Treasury Secretary’s premature declaration that “Too Big to Fail” policies have ended. Brown and Vitter pointed to the November release of the GAO report stating that “Too Big To Fail” policies still exist in the financial system and additional action is need to end taxpayer support for megabanks. 
 
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https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/columns?ID=a55de1b1-21fd-4062-8c6d-a007702608a4,Getting Things Done For Ohio In 2013,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Our nation faces many challenges, and the important work we do here in Washington on issues like job creation, the economy, the budget, healthcare reform, and foreign policy are followed closely by the press. But my job, serving the people of Ohio, is much bigger than what you see in the papers or on 24-hour cable news channels. Every day, my congressional office is working to help constituents solve problems or overcome government obstacles on issues that may not make headlines, but have a huge impact on their lives.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the “right of the people … to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” In congressional offices around the country, the people’s grievances are often addressed through what we call “casework”.
I know firsthand how crucial effective casework service can be to the people we serve, and as a U.S. Senator, I am dedicated to making sure my office is second to none in helping Ohioans through an experienced and talented team of caseworkers stationed in my Columbus office. I am extremely proud of them and the work they do. They are dedicated public servants, committed to helping the people of Ohio take advantage of every avenue available to get things done.
Casework typically involves helping constituents navigate government bureaucracies. One case might involve helping someone receive a Social Security check that has been lost or delayed. Another might involve a Medicare reimbursement, or reapplying for a denied veteran’s claim, or assisting our men and women of the military. Other areas of casework involve federal pensions, visa and passport issues, Black Lung benefits, and federal workers compensation claims.
Among the most gratifying resolutions to casework efforts is when we help a veteran obtain medals he or she rightfully earned in service to their country, but were never awarded for one reason or the other. Nothing can quite match the satisfaction of witnessing a veteran, surrounded by a proud family, finally receiving the Bronze Star, Silver Star, or even the Purple Heart earned long ago. 
As a U.S. Senator, I also have the privilege of nominating high school seniors from Ohio for admission into one of the United States Service Academies, including the Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.  Nomination forms are available by contacting my Columbus office at 1-800-205-6446.
In 2013, our casework team worked on over 2,300 new cases for Ohioans who came to our office in need of aid. We were able to reach a favorable result in over 81 percent of these cases. I want to share just a few of these successful stories with you.
• A local foundation that conducts humanitarian work was having problems with the FDA and Customs.  Over a thousand pairs of donated reading glasses from China were seized and had to go to the FDA for testing.  Our staff was able to expedite the release of the shipment and have the glasses distributed to needy families.
• In another instance, a Cleveland man who was looking to expand his business had been waiting for months for a needed permit to be approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury.  He contacted us in May hoping to have it expedited in time for a Memorial Day grand opening.  We were able to get the application pulled and approved in time for his Memorial Day celebration. 
• We also helped a Toledo area woman who surprised her two grandsons with a trip to England only to discover that their passports were expired—two days before they were to leave on their trip.  We were able to quickly arrange for them to appear at a local passport agency the next morning and expedite their applications in time for their trip.
For many people, navigating the often turbulent waters of the federal bureaucracy can be a frustrating experience. My office stands ready to help make the sailing a little smoother. You can contact a caseworker by calling 1-800-205-6446.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=23f4777b-8d0f-4261-8cac-9ae6d63b7ad6,Portman Cosponsors the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today cosponsored the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) proposing prospective sanctions on Iran should the regime violate the interim Joint Plan of Action agreed to in Geneva or should Iran fail to reach a final agreement.
The legislation was co-sponsored by twenty-seven senators, including: Senators Portman, Kirk, Menendez, Schumer, Graham, Cardin, McCain, Casey, Rubio, Coons, Cornyn, Blumenthal, Ayotte, Begich, Corker, Pryor, Collins, Landrieu, Moran, Gillibrand, Roberts, Warner, Johanns, Hagan, Cruz, Donnelly, and Blunt.
“The current sanctions regime that Congress insisted on is what got the Iranians to the table,” said Portman.  “We need to keep the pressure on to force the Iranians to agree to a deal that ensures our security and that of our allies - one that verifiably dismantles their nuclear weapons program.”
The prospective sanctions legislation requires further reductions in purchases of Iranian petroleum and applies additional penalties to strategic elements of the Iranian economy, to include the engineering, mining and construction sectors.
Simultaneously, it gives the Administration continued flexibility and up to one year from the conclusion of an implementing agreement to pursue a diplomatic track resulting in the complete and verifiable termination of Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=823c656e-1539-406d-8db2-6bed3d448709,Portman Cosponsors Bill to Require Exchanges to Disclose Plans with Abortion Coverage,2013-12-20,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today cosponsored a bill to require the Obamacare exchanges to fully disclose which participating insurance plans offer abortion coverage.
The Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act was led by U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and was also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Orin Hatch (R-Utah), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jerry Moran (R-Kas.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and John Thune (R-S.D.).
The bill requires Obamacare exchanges to prominently disclose if an insurance plan offered through the exchange covers abortions. The bill also requires disclosure of the amount of the “abortion fee,” a surcharge required by Obamacare. This abortion surcharge is one dollar or more a month and is used to develop a fund to pay for abortion on demand.
Similar legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). The Senate bill requires Department of Health and Human Services’ compliance within 30 days, while the House bill allows 90 days.
Portman has a strong pro-life record and is sponsor of the Child Custody Protection Act to make it a federal offense to transport a minor across a state line for an abortion if it would circumvent a state law requiring parental consent. Portman has also cosponsored crucial pro-life bills including the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which would prohibit abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, which is the sixth month according to standards used by most physicians.  This bill is based on strong scientific evidence that an unborn child can experience pain by this stage.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364839,Johnson-Matsui Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Creating Federal Definition of Telehealth,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"""The opportunities telehealth can provide to the constituents of my very rural district and to Americans around the country hold significant promise.""
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      Yesterday, Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2013.  This commonsense, bipartisan bill would clarify the federal definition of telehealth when defining the scope of services that can be delivered via telehealth:  “The opportunities telehealth can provide to the constituents of my very rural district and to Americans around the country hold significant promise,” said Congressman Johnson.  “Having worked in the Information Technology (IT) industry for over 30 years, I know first-hand the benefits associated with technological innovation.  In rural districts such as mine, telehealth capabilities can increase access to quality healthcare and lower costs for patients who might not have access to that care otherwise.  I’m proud to have introduced this commonsense, bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Matsui and I urge the House to take this bill up as soon as possible,” Congressman Johnson said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://gibbs.house.gov/weekly-columns/december-19th-2013,"December 19th, 2013",2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Bob Gibbs,G000563,gibbs.house.gov,,,legacy,"As 2013 comes to a close and families come together to celebrate the holiday season, it is important that we take this time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments. It has been a busy year, but my colleagues in the House and I continue to work for you and your families to provide solutions that will put people back to work, spur economic growth, and give everyone a fair shot to improve their standard of living and quality of life. We have a lot of work left to do, but we remain dedicated to serving our constituents to the fullest.
Although Congress remains divided, it is important to note times in which we have come together for the American people. An example of strong bipartisanship was the passage of my bill from the Water Resources Environment Subcommittee, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2013. WRRDA passed with overwhelming bipartisan support with a final vote of 417-3. The House was able to come together and put aside our differences to pass a bill that will strengthen our maritime transportation systems and create jobs.
We were also able to pass the Bipartisan Budget Act in the House before Congress adjourned for the year. This legislation is an initial step forward to addressing mandatory spending which is essential to put us on a path to a balance budget and provides resources to protect our national security. This bill is not perfect; it is a compromise that does bring some certainty and provides confidence for businesses to grow their businesses and create jobs. 
Our federal government has a long-term spending problem resulting in record deficits and debt that continues to stunt economic growth. However, in the past two years we have been able to cut spending from the previous year’s level for the first time in over sixty years. We have a long way to go, but this is a step in the right direction. Getting our fiscal house in order and instituting policies that encourage private sector growth such as regulatory reforms, tax reform and a domestic energy policy will grow our economy and provide opportunities for all Americans.
I also wanted to take this time to remind you of the services that my office can provide to those of you in the 7th District of Ohio. We now have a new office in Canton and continue to have our office in Ashland.  If you would like to schedule an appointment at the Canton office, please visit my website, www.gibbs.house.gov for more information. 
As always, please contact my office if you ever have any questions and we can assist you with issues ranging from assistance with federal agencies, military service academy nominations, veterans benefits, flag requests and more. My goal is to give the constituents of the 7th District as much access to the services my office can provide as possible.
Throughout this busy holiday season, it is important that we also take a moment to thank those in our Armed Services who are serving our country. Their dedication to our country everyday is something we must always remember. I look forward to what 2014 will bring both in Congress and within our district. We have much to be proud of and a lot to look forward to as next year approaches. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season from my family to yours.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/gallery/photos/sen-browns-constituent-coffee-12-19-13-,Sen. Brown's Constituent Coffee 12-19-13 »,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If you’re afraid you might be a victim of the Equifax data breach, Senator Brown encourages you to visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website for more information and resources – www.consumerfinance.gov.
  
For information on how to help recovery efforts for recent hurricanes, go to www.fema.gov",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140223121920/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-calls-on-senate-republicans-to-work-with-democrats-to-pass-bill-that-would-extend-health-coverage-tax-credit-for-delphi-salaried-retirees,Sen. Brown Calls on Senate Republicans to Work with Democrats to Pass Bill that Would Extend Health Coverage Tax Credit for Delphi Salaried Retirees,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Today, Brown Delivered Speech on Senate Floor Urging Extension of HCTC
				
			
			
			Thursday, December 19, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) condemned Senate Republicans for refusing to take up and pass legislation that would extend, for one year, the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) for Delphi salaried retirees and other affected workers. The Tax Extenders Act of 2013 included the HCTC, an important tax credit that would help retirees who lost their health care coverage—in addition to their pensions and other benefits—when the companies for which they worked either entered into bankruptcy or moved operations overseas. Today, Brown delivered a speech on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to extend the HCTC. But despite support from Democrats, Republicans have refused to pass this legislation.                   
“This action hurts the thousands of Delphi retirees who lost their pensions and benefits due to no fault of their own,” Brown said. “Extending the HCTC would have ensured that the loss of their benefits doesn’t mean the loss of their health coverage. But because the Tax Extenders Act of 2013 was blocked from passing with unanimous consent, many Ohioans and their families will be unnecessarily hurt.”    
Without Congressional action, the HCTC will expire at the end of 2013. The HCTC helps trade-affected workers; select groups of retirees, like Delphi salaried retirees; and their families purchase private health coverage to replace the employer-sponsored coverage they lost. It currently makes health insurance more affordable by providing a 72.5 percent tax credit to eligible workers. Today’s amendment would extend the tax credit at the same rate for an additional year.
Brown continues to stand by Delphi Retirees and pursue solutions to their lost benefits. Earlier this month, Brown introduced an amendment to the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) that would have extended the HCTC one year for Delphi salaried retirees and cosponsored another bipartisan amendment that would extend the program. In August, Brown introduced a bill with U.S. Sens. John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to expand and permanently extend the HCTC for Delphi salaried retirees as a part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The Health Care Coverage for Displaced Works Act would permanently extend the HCTC so that it no longer requires constant reauthorization, and expand the HCTC to an 80 percent tax credit, a nearly ten percent increase from the current rate.
In April 2013, Brown announced that the Department of the Treasury agreed to meet with the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association (DSRA). This announcement came on the heels of Brown’s efforts to push the Obama Administration to meet with the Delphi salaried retirees and to pursue efforts that would restore the retirees’ pensions and benefits.
In September 2012, Brown and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (OH-13) introduced legislation that would restore the full pensions of Delphi retirees. The bill would transfer certain proceeds from the sale of government stock of General Motors to a fund at the U.S. Treasury Department that would supplement payment to the Delphi retirees. Earlier this year, Ryan introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives that would continue HCTC for Delphi Retirees.  
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https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4bc9475a-f9ab-4f84-9b6a-b336bba8e8c4,"Despite Congressional Gridlock, Portman Successfully Delivers for Ohio in 2013",2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"I understand the frustration of Ohioans about the partisan gridlock in Washington. But I view my job as fighting every day to break through that gridlock and get things done that benefit Ohioans and help move our country forward. I have remained focused on results and addressing the issues I hear about from people all across Ohio—from families losing healthcare coverage they liked and not being able to afford the coverage they’re forced to purchase under Obamacare, to law enforcement concerned about human trafficking in Toledo, to families and businesses worried about flooding in Findlay, to Ohio’s many small businessmen and women struggling to find certainty in our economy.  My efforts have focused on helping Ohioans, ensuring that our taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, promoting jobs and pro-growth policies, and protecting our national defense.
In this 113th Congress, I have introduced 33 bills, 23 of which were bipartisan.
Here is a rundown of our legislative accomplishments this past year:
Fighting for Ohio Jobs and Protecting Ohio Workers
Ohioans continue to experience the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. My top priority in the U.S. Senate is to promote policies that help create and foster an environment that leads to job creation and economic growth.
I have been successful in combatting unfair trade practices that hurt Ohio workers. Just this month, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled to maintain existing antidumping duties and countervailing duty orders against unfairly traded imports of hot-rolled steel until 2018. This decision follows my efforts with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in October to urge ITC Chairman Irving Williamson to maintain trade orders that would help ensure a level playing field for Ohio workers, including workers at Ohio based steel producers ArcelorMittal of Cleveland and AK Steel of Middletown.
I have continued to advocate for Delphi Salaried Retirees who unfairly lost their pensions during the General Motors bankruptcy while other workers at the same company received their full pensions and benefits package.  Last week, I introduced a bipartisan amendment at the Finance Committee’s mark-up of health legislation to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) for two years.  After debate on my amendment, which was cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), I secured a commitment from the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to work toward extending the HCTC when Congress renews Trade Adjustment Assistance early next year.  This is the first commitment from Senate leaders to work toward extending the HCTC, which expires January 1st.
For the past year, I have been working to reverse a decision by Mexico to block products from Hilliard’s Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) — a central Ohio pipe manufacturer that employs more than 700 Ohioans. Mexican authorities blocked sales by the Ohio company due to an illegal technical standard. In November, we were able to reopen that market, ensuring stable access for ADS to the Mexican market, and preserving Ohio jobs.
In April, I joined with a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to the ITC on behalf of American rebar manufacturers urging the ITC to maintain existing fair trade standards. In June, the ITC agreed to protect American rebar producers from rebar imports that are illegally undercutting American companies, including Ohio producers like Nucor Steel Marion, Inc. and Cincinnati’s David J. Joseph Company & Byer Steel Group.
In March, I led a bipartisan group of eight Senators and Representatives in calling on the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose duties on a foreign paper producer.  I was pleased that the Department decided in June to stand up for Ohio workers, including those at Appleton Papers, Inc. in West Carrollton, and push back on foreign competitors attempting to skirt trade rules and manipulate prices.
Fighting for Fiscal Responsibility
Washington's fiscal irresponsibility passes the borrowing and spending problem to future generations, mortgaging the future of Ohio's children and grandchildren. Serious steps are necessary to get our fiscal house in order.
In March, I successfully fought for the inclusion of amendments to the Senate Budget resolution.
My amendment requiring that the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Tax Committee provide informational dynamic scores of tax legislation passed by a 51-48 vote with the support of all 45 Republicans and 6 Democrats. This analysis would give us a more accurate prediction of tax legislation’s impact on our economy, allowing Congress to better understand the pros and cons of different proposals.
The Senate also unanimously passed my bipartisan amendment with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to the Democrats’ budget that would implement a deficit-neutral reserve fund that would simplify the tax code, close corporate tax loopholes, and encourage job creation.
I also joined Senator Wyden to propose an amendment that encourages swift movement on renewing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). TPA allows Congress to lay out important negotiating objectives and consultation requirements to ensure that our trade negotiators work closely with Congress to protect American workers and to boost U.S exports. This amendment was included in the final conference report.
Curbing Onerous Regulations
In October, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had mandated that local governments replace malfunctioning fire hydrants with new, independently certified, lead-free fire hydrants. This EPA regulation essentially makes it impossible for local governments to repair fire hydrants or replace them with existing inventory, potentially wasting millions of taxpayers’ dollars.  I was an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation to bolster fire safety and protect local governments from this dangerous and expensive new regulation. I spoke on the Senate floor in favor of legislation that prohibits EPA oversight of fire hydrants. It has now passed both chambers of Congress and is set to go to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Protecting National Security and Ohio Military Installations
In October, I worked with my colleague, Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), to pass the bipartisan Security Clearance Oversight and Reform Enhancement (SCORE) Act in the Senate. The troubling case of Edward Snowden and the tragic events that transpired at the Navy Yard underscore the importance of improving oversight of the security clearance process. Senate passage of the bill is a step in the right direction toward fixing the faults in our system. The bill would increase oversight over how the government conducts background investigations.  We are now working with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass companion legislation in order to get the bill to the President’s desk.
In June, I joined Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) in sending a letter to Lieutenant General James Jackson, Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, requesting a status update on the Reserve’s administrative review of several community requests to allow aerial chemical spraying on non-federal lands and urged the Air Force to allow them to continue this mission.  As they reduce the likelihood of people contracting mosquito-carried diseases, the 910th, the only unit in the country with this spray capability, receives invaluable training for this important mission. Following our urging, the Air Force Reserve has agreed to spray non-federal lands for mosquitoes, and two sites in North Dakota and two sites in Virginia have been approved. This announcement is great news for the servicemen and women at the 910th Airlift Wing in Youngstown, Ohio and the communities in North Dakota and Virginia who rely on this important mission to keep them safe and healthy. I am hopeful that more communities will receive approval to participate in the Innovative Readiness Training program so that the 910th may continue to reduce the likelihood of disease around the country, all while gaining invaluable training.
In October and November, I also successfully fought for the inclusion of my bipartisan amendment language to the newly-drafted National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) deal.  My amendment language would require the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to provide detailed updates to Congress on the status of plans to deploy an additional homeland missile defense site. This will help Camp Ravenna in Portage County, one of five candidate sites for a possible third Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) site in the Eastern United States. I also sent a letter to Vice Admiral James Syring, the Director of MDA, advocating for the selection of Camp Ravenna.
I’ve also advocated for adequate funding for the Abrams tank program at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio. I was pleased this month’s NDAA agreement seeks to avert the unnecessary risk placed on the Abrams industrial base by the President's proposed budget.  As the nation’s only producer of the Abrams tank, the Lima plant plays a unique role in contributing to our national security.  As I previously urged my colleagues, we need to make sure this critical defense capability is available for the Army when they say they need it in a few years.  A combination of production for both domestic and foreign use continues to be the right path forward.
In August, I toured ArmorSource in Hebron, Ohio, an impressive small business in Ohio that has been on the forefront of helmet technology. In July, I sent a letter to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and conducted follow-up oversight questioning the sole source extensions and delayed acquisition process for future soldier helmets.  Following this inquiry, DLA moved forward with an open competition for this acquisition and awarded a $92 million contract to ArmorSource to make the next generation helmet.
Maintaining and Improving Ohio’s Critical Infrastructure
Earlier this year, I worked to secure funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Great Lakes ports, harbors, and waterways that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, including the repair of the Cleveland Harbor’s breakwater and the dredging of the Harbor. The Army Corps responded by providing a $7 million contract to repair the Cleveland Harbor.
Last month, I joined twelve of my colleagues from Great Lakes states in sending a letter to leaders of a House-Senate conference committee considering major water resources legislation, asking them to include funding for vital Great Lakes navigation projects as they resolve differences between House and Senate bills.
In July, the Senate passed my bipartisan amendment targeting dollars in the Transportation Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill’s “bridges in critical corridors” fund toward bridges like the Brent Spence Bridge that are either functionally obsolete or structurally deficient.
Mitigating Flood Damage While Protecting Ohio’s Taxpayers
When the U.S. Senate successfully voted on components of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in May, I offered an amendment with Senator Brown that could expedite projects like the Blanchard River Flood Mitigation Project (BRFRP). The amendment would ensure projects are eligible for federal construction funds upon completion of their U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) Chief of Engineer’s Report and Senate approval.  Without this amendment, BRFRP would not be eligible to receive federal construction funds from USACE until the next WRDA authorization.  The Blanchard River Flood Protection project is critical for the region’s economic future, and this amendment will help Congress prioritize the project once the Army Corps of Engineers completes its final assessment and recommendation to Congress. Although much work remains to solve the communities’ problems, this amendment provides an expedited path forward to enable Congress to do more to help communities like Findlay and Ottawa in overcoming flood mitigation challenges.
In July, along with Senator Brown and Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH-5), I secured $20,000 of reprogrammed funding from USACE for the Blanchard River Flood Risk Management Project. Getting some funding to the project in 2013 was key to additional federal help. The funds will be used towards completion of the Chief’s Report, which must first be completed before the project can progress.
Combating Human Trafficking
In early February, less than four months after Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and I launched the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking, we secured an important legislative victory as the Senate voted in support of our amendment to allow child victims of sex trafficking to benefit from youth victims programs set up under S. 47, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Passage of the amendment ensures that child victims of sex trafficking are eligible to receive help under VAWA grants.  Section 302 of VAWA authorizes grants to enhance the safety of youth and children who are victims of, or exposed to, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.  This amendment adds “sex trafficking” as a criterion for victims services in Section 302.
Defending Religious Liberty
In November, the Senate unanimously passed an amendment I offered to strengthen the religious liberty provisions in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). I oppose unjust discrimination and believe that employees should be judged by their experience, their qualifications, and their job performance, and not by their sexual orientation. Someone should not be fired simply because he or she is gay. ENDA will help create a level playing field and ensure that employment opportunities are available to all, while also protecting religious liberty. The legislation includes a significant exemption for religious employers. In enforcing non-discrimination, we must also make certain that religious employers are not subject to a different form of discrimination—government retaliation. My amendment helps ensure that the government cannot in any way penalize a religious employer because it qualifies as exempt from the non-discrimination requirements of ENDA, and I am pleased that it passed the Senate.
Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans and Volunteers
I continue to be engaged with ensuring that our veterans receive the healthcare they deserve. In June, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on which I serve held a hearing on the effects of traumatic brain injuries on our servicemembers, and I pressed Department of Veterans Affairs officials to expedite pilot programs designed to address these invisible scars of war and reduce the barriers to care. In addition, I successfully fought to include an amendment to the NDAA that requires DOD to report on current telehealth initiatives as well as plans to integrate telehealth into the military healthcare system.  This report will specifically address privacy concerns and challenges of implementing telehealth in group treatment/therapy, outreach to rural areas, and as in-home use.
In November, the U.S. Senate approved an effort to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II Doolittle Raiders. I cosponsored the legislation, which was introduced by Senator Brown and is endorsed by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.  This legislation will put the Congressional Gold Medal on permanent display in Ohio’s National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. During World War II, the Doolittle Raiders exemplified our military’s selfless acts of valor.  They courageously defended our freedoms through their daring operation to strike at the heart of the Japanese Empire and restored hope in Americans still reeling from the attacks on Pearl Harbor. These heroes deserve our gratitude, and this award will serve as a token of appreciation to the four living Doolittle Raiders and ensure that their service is not forgotten. I look forward to the House taking swift action to get this important legislation over the finish line.
In June, legislation that I introduced with my colleague, Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.), to allow the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to use federal land in Washington, D.C. to build a memorial to commemorate the mission of the Peace Corps passed the Senate.  This bipartisan legislation with four cosponsors involves no public funding.  The bill awaits passage in the House. For over 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. This bill will honor those Americans who have donated their time and talent to serving others, at no cost to taxpayers.
Remembering Ohio’s Heritage
In February, I joined with Senator Brown to introduce legislation to incorporate Colonel Charles P. Young’s Wilberforce home into the National Park System. It was announced on March 25, 2013 that the Charles P. Young House in Wilberforce will be part of a new national monument. The announcement established the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in the Miami Valley to honor men, like Charles P. Young, who fought in African-American Calvary regiments.
Protecting and Promoting Lake Erie
During the 112th Congress, I worked with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) to introduce the Stop Invasive Species Act, legislation to stop Asian carp from destroying the ecosystem of the Great Lakes.  The bill was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012 as part of the transportation bill.  To follow up on this success, earlier this year, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee unanimously passed The Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act. I introduced the bill along with Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) to reauthorize the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act, which was first enacted in 1998 and reauthorized in 2004 and 2008.  For over a decade this program has served as the federal government’s research and response framework for harmful algal blooms. This legislation takes critical steps toward protecting Lake Erie and other freshwater bodies from harmful algae that has become a tremendous problem for our state.
In July, the Senate formally recognized a crucial American triumph during the War of 1812.  I offered a resolution with Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), and Brown that commemorates the bicentennial anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie which was unanimously approved by the Senate.  Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory over the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie was a turning point in the War of 1812 and one of the great moments in Ohio history. The patriots who fought the British off of Put-In-Bay helped ensure that the freedom we won in the Revolutionary War would not be lost, and that our fledgling nation remained independent.  I was very pleased to see the U.S. Senate vote unanimously to recognize their heroism.
Advocating On Behalf Of Ohioans, Helping Solve Problems, and Getting Results
Too often, citizens feel alone as they attempt to weave their way through a vast federal bureaucracy.  As a Senator, I believe I was hired as an advocate for fellow Ohioans when they need assistance in their dealings with federal agencies.  In 2013, our casework team worked on over 2,300 new cases for Ohioans who came to our office in need of aid.  We were able to resolve over 81% of all of these cases favorably.      I am proud of our team, and wanted to share a few examples of the work we were able to do just this year: 
• A local foundation that conducts humanitarian work was having problems with the FDA and Customs.  Over a thousand pairs of donated reading glasses from China were seized and had to go to the FDA for testing.  Our staff was able to expedite the release of the shipment and have the glasses distributed to needy families.
• A Cleveland business owner looking to expand his business had been waiting for months for a wine bond to be approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury.  He contacted us in May hoping to have it expedited in time for a Memorial Day grand opening.  We were able to get the application pulled and approved in time for his Memorial Day celebration. 
• I had met a servicemember while traveling to Afghanistan who was looking for help with an immigration application for an Iraqi interpreter who was assisting the U.S. military under the Iraqi Interpreter Program.  The case had been stuck at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul waiting for a Chief of Mission letter of support.  My team was able to have the letter issued and the case scheduled for interview, which led to the applicant and his family receiving visas in May of 2013.
• After repeated attempts of trying to get a mortgage application approved through Fannie Mae, a North Canton woman contacted my office for help. We were able to quickly expedite the application and get her into her new home.
• A Toledo area woman discovered after surprising her two grandsons with a trip to England that their passports were expired.  This was discovered two days before they were to leave for their trip.  We were able to quickly arrange for them to appear at a local passport agency the next morning and expedite their applications in time for their trip.
• A Southwest Ohio resident found out ten days in advance that he would need to travel to New Zealand for a business trip.  Our office was able to expedite a passport for him, and then work directly with the New Zealand embassy to expedite a visa and have it back to him within one week. 
The letters I get back from Ohio families like these make this one of the most rewarding parts of the job: 
“Thank you for resolving my problems with Social Security.  I spent hours trying to get an explanation of charges and a correct 1099 form.  I will tell people how helpful your office was.  I could not handle this without your intervention.  -P.S.: Akron, Ohio
“I wanted to convey my deepest thanks for your staff’s impressive assistance in helping my wife and me renew our passports.  Your office in Cincinnati got the ball rolling informing us about the forms and steps necessary to expedite our renewals.  Your staff in Columbus dutifully followed through each and every step of the way and provided my office with progress reports and tracking numbers.  What incredible service!”  -R. M.: Cincinnati, Ohio
“I wanted to follow up and let you know what a great job Roberto has been doing with the team.  Just this weekend in Edgewater, Ohio, the entire team qualified for US Team Trials.  Without your help with the Embassy in Montevideo, it would not have been possible.”  -E.S.:  Mason, Ohio
“I want to express my appreciation for the staff of Senator Portman’s office.  These hard-working, diligent individuals made what seemed an impossible situation, possible!  This staff expedited the process of renewing passports with less than 48 hours to our departure.  Thank you doesn’t begin to express the gratitude our family has for Senator Portman and his staff! Senator Portman has our family’s support for life.”   -P.B.: Toledo, Ohio
“I can’t tell you how important it is to have someone whom you feel is really working on your behalf when you feel you don’t have a voice in this difficult process.  While I suspect your staff would say that they were just doing their job, I hope I am making it clear that I sincerely believe that their involvement with my problem brought resolution in a more timely manner.”  -T.E.:  Canton, Ohio",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6d501b31-32d9-402c-bef4-0eb0de9df0a2,Portman Renews Push for Bipartisan Energy Efficiency Legislation,2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) spoke on the Senate floor to recommit his push for his bipartisan energy efficiency legislation, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC), which he introduced with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
The legislation is designed to spur the use of energy efficiency technologies in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of our economy, while also fostering job creation. It uses a variety of low-cost tools to reduce barriers for private sector energy users and drive adoption of off-the-shelf efficiency technologies that will save businesses and consumers money, make America more energy independent, and reduce emissions.
The bill garnered over 260 endorsements from business coalitions, environmental groups, and labor. Today, eight of the leading organizations in the coalition sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell urging the Senate return to work on ESIC early next year.
Read a summary of the major provisions here.
Below are excerpts of Portman’s remarks. Video of the entire remarks can be found here.
 
“This is one of those pieces of legislation that we ought to pass. It’s bipartisan. It’s good for the country. It’s part of an energy plan for America that can help bring the jobs back, help fix our trade deficit, help make our manufacturers more competitive, help save taxpayers’ money, and actually help to clean the environment…And it does so without a single mandate. It does so without any new spending.”  …
“By putting energy efficiency in place in the federal government, the biggest user of energy in the world, we’re going to see a lot of savings to all of us as taxpayers.”   …
“It makes good environmental sense. It makes good energy sense. It makes good economic sense. It makes sense to help move this economy forward. I visited with businesses and job creators all over my state of Ohio, and they tell me the same thing. ‘Energy efficiency is critical to their ability to compete’…We do live in a global economy. We live in an economy where we’re competing in Ohio, not just with Indiana, but with India. And as a result, we need to look at our cost of doing business...Energy is an area where we can cut costs.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8ca95c03-cee5-4a15-a545-e36514807b4a,"Your Tax Dollars...Down The Drain: DOE Puts Dancers & Filmmakers In Charge of Installing Energy Retrofits, Chaos Ensues",2013-12-19,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement in a monthly series highlighting Washington’s wasteful spending during a time of record debt and deficits:
This month’s example of government waste comes from the 2009 “stimulus” bill, which added more than $800 billion to the national debt without coming close to fulfilling the Obama Administration’s promise to reduce the unemployment rate to 5 percent.  Even now, four years later, government audits continue to reveal ways in which this money was wasted.
In just the latest example of wasteful spending,  a new Department of Energy (DOE) audit discovered that $630,000 in stimulus funds meant to install energy efficiency retrofits around Washington D.C. were distributed to – of all recipients – a dance group and a film group. These groups had no energy installation qualifications whatsoever, and predictably failed to achieve even in this modest task that was their charge.
“The stimulus was sold as financing high-priority projects to create jobs and invest in growth.  Yet once again, Washington predictably gets bogged down in mismanagement, cronyism, and waste,” said Portman.  “Better to bypass Washington and instead empower families and businesses to spend and invest their own money as they see fit.”
The African Heritage Dancers and Drummers (AHDD), and Prosperity Media Enterprise (PME) were hired as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.  It appears personal connections may have played a role: PME’s project manager was a former DOE employee and supervisor to two members of that committee that awarded their $460,000 grant.  This manager reportedly “embellished” his resume to help win the award.
Not surprisingly, it turns out that dancers and filmmakers are not experts in installing energy equipment: 19 of the 33 projects performed by PME failed their DOE inspection. One contractor in particular achieved a 91 percent failure rate. Furthermore, 12 PME projects included reimbursement claims for work that was never performed. Not to be outdone, AHDD reportedly refused to repay $42,500 in taxpayer funds that had been advanced for work never performed. Given the lack of general oversight, many of these problems would never have been discovered had the DOE not performed this investigation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364738,Johnson's Community Fire Safety Act Passes Senate,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"The President should sign this legislation immediately so that there’s no delay in fire hydrant service for communities across America in 2014
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      Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after the Senate unanimously approved the Community  Fire Safety Act: “I am relieved that the Senate has followed the House’s lead and unanimously passed the Community Fire Safety Act of 2013.  The President should sign this legislation immediately so that there’s no delay in fire hydrant service for communities across America in 2014.  I’d like to thank Rep. Tonko (D-NY) for working with me to quickly address this public safety concern before it became too late,” Bill Johnson said. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Johnson and Rep. Paul Tonko recognizes that fire hydrants are not a major source of drinking water and exempts them from the Safe Water Drinking Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-supports-restoration-full-military-retirement-benefits,Congressman Tim Ryan Supports Restoration of Full Military Retirement Benefits,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan joins Congressman Dan Maffei (D-NY) in introducing the Military Retirement Restoration Act. This legislation will repeal the cuts to military retirement cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for working-age retirees that are included in the Bipartisan Budget Act.
“Congress must act immediately to pass the Military Retirement Restoration Act and rectify the harm this cut will inflict upon our nation’s veterans,” said Congressman Ryan. “These men and women put their lives on the line for the betterment of our nation, and it is our duty to ensure we fulfill the commitments we made to them. I understand that we have a budget deficit that must be addressed, but it should not be done on the backs of the men and women who are bravely serving in our Armed Services.
The Military Retirement Restoration Act is offset by closing tax loopholes used by companies to avoid paying their fair share. Specifically, it blocks companies incorporated offshore but are managed and controlled inside the United States from being able to claim foreign status and avoid paying U.S. taxes. Reducing military retirement COLAs saved tax payers $6 billion over ten years; the Military Retirement Restoration Act’s closure of these tax loopholes saves taxpayers $6.6 billion over ten years.
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http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryans-statement-affordable-care-act%E2%80%99s-savings-seniors,Congressman Tim Ryan's Statement on Affordable Care Act’s Savings For Seniors,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Tim Ryan made the following statement in response to yesterday’s announcement that more than 25 million seniors on Medicare have received one or more free preventative services in 2013 due to the Affordable Care Act:
“I am happy to see such a large number of seniors in Ohio and across the nation benefiting from the Affordable Care Act. This legislation has provided free services to more than 25 million seniors and saved seven million Americans on Medicare an average of $1,200 per person. With the Affordable Care Act we are now able to crack down on rampant fraud and abuse with a savings of $15 billion, and extended the Medicare Trust Fund’s solvency by eight years. Americans young and old will see improved access to quality-care and lower costs each and every day as this law becomes fully enacted.”
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https://web.archive.org/web/20140223121929/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/following-sen-browns-urging-fcc-unanimously-votes-to-eliminate-nfl-blackout-policy,"Following Sen. Brown's Urging, FCC Unanimously Votes to Eliminate NFL Blackout Policy",2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Brown Fought for Fans, Continued to Urge FCC to Change Blackout Policy
				
			
			
			Wednesday, December 18, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, DC – Following U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) urging, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously today to eliminate the Sports Blackout Rule, a 1970s-era regulation which allows the NFL to black out broadcasts of a local sports game when the game does not meet a sellout threshold. Last month, Brown urged the FCC to eliminate the Sports Blackout Rule. And at the urging of Brown, the FCC last year released a petition calling for the agency to open the Sports Blackout Rule for public feedback, which was the first step in repealing the regulation. 
“This is excellent news for fans and taxpayers across Ohio and across the country,” Brown said. “The FCC did the right thing by voting to eliminate the NFL’s antiquated blackout rule. Even though the NFL is the world’s most profitable sports league, it has imposed blackouts at the expense of loyal fans. This is unacceptable at a time when the price of attending games continues to rise and the economy is not yet where it needs to be. Now fans know that their loyalty—and tax money—can’t be taken advantage of.”
The NFL is the world’s most profitable sports league; the average game this season has attracted 16.8 million viewers; and 19 of the 20 most watched television programs have been NFL games. Despite this, blackouts have kept fans in Ohio and across the country from watching their home team. In the home stadiums for the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, the NFL would enforce local blackouts if at least 85 percent of seats were not filled within 72 hours of kickoff. This is despite Paul Brown Stadium costing local taxpayers $450 million and the City of Cleveland being required to contribute $850,000 a year to the repair budget for FirstEnergy Stadium.
Brown continued to fight on behalf of fans and taxpayers. In July 2012, Brown urged the league to remove the financial penalty for teams that choose to air games that have not sold out. Brown joined U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins (NY-27) in writing a letter to FCC Chairman Wheeler expressing concerns about the recent-announcement and calling for revision of the blackout policy.
Brown’s November letter to the FCC can be read in its entirety below:
The Honorable Tom Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission                                                                                             
445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Wheeler:
I would like to thank the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for reexamining its current blackout rules for National Football League (NFL) games. The blackout rule is an outdated vestige, and I ask that the FCC strongly consider revising this rule. 
When the NFL blackout policy was adopted roughly 40 years ago, NFL franchises were concerned that broadcasting local games would hinder attendance and gameday revenue. But the economic realities for teams and their fans have changed drastically since 1973. Meanwhile, the National Football League is the most profitable sports league in the world. This season, the average game has attracted 16.8 million viewers, and 19 of the 20 most watched television programs have been NFL games. But every season, blackouts keep fans across the country from watching their home team. 
According to media reports, in the 2012 season, television contracts brought in double the revenue of ticket sales and contributed substantially to teams’ average $1.1 billion worth. Just as teams are making more from their broadcasts, attending games has become less affordable for local fans. The average NFL ticket now costs $82, an increase of 3% over the 2012 season and more than double 1993 ticket prices. 
In July 2012, I wrote to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking the League to revise its blackout policy. As you know, the NFL continues blackouts of games in a team’s home market when ticket sales do not meet a set threshold 72 hours before the game begins.  Yet, due to the League’s popularity among fans, the blackout only affected 15 games last season. While the effect on those fans is great, the blackout’s impact on League finances is small.  
Sports fans make significant financial investments in their home teams through local, county, and other taxes and should not be denied access to a local game because they cannot afford tickets. As the FCC considers revising the current blackout policies, it should carefully weigh the economics of game attendance for sports fans and the changing financial interests of professional sports teams.       
The current blackout policy does not serve taxpayers, sports fans, or networks. I urge the FCC to act immediately to ensure that sporting events remain accessible to millions of supportive fans.  
Sincerely,
 
  Sherrod Brown                                                                        Brian Higgins
  United States Senator                                                              Member of Congress
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https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8324810e-9860-48ab-963b-473b6e59deb8,Portman Honors Simeon Booker for Receiving Honorary Doctor of Letters from Youngstown State University,2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) honored Simeon Booker on receiving an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Youngstown State University on December 15, 2013. Booker became the first African-American reporter for the Washington Post, served as Washington Bureau Chief for Jet Magazine for fifty-one years, and was a well-known journalist during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. 
The full Congressional Record entry can be found below and here.     
HONORING SIMEON BOOKER
MR. PORTMAN.  Mr. President, I rise today to honor Simeon Booker as he receives an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Youngstown State University on December 15, 2013.  Mr. Booker has devoted his life’s work to chronicling the history of the civil rights movement in America.
As an African-American college student in the 1940s and 1950s. Mr. Booker experienced discrimination firsthand at what was then Youngstown College. Refusing to accept the indignities he found there, he transferred to Virginia Union University where he continued to champion the rights of black students. 
Early in his career, he was hired by his hometown newspaper, The Youngstown Vindicator, where he would write local columns focused on the city’s African-American population and summaries for the local black baseball leagues.  He went on to work for the Cleveland Call and Post and was offered the esteemed Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University in the 1950s.
Mr. Booker became the first black reporter for The Washington Post in 1952, and also wrote for Jet and Ebony magazines. Mr. Booker was witness to the rise of the great civil rights leaders of that time -- Martin Luther King, Jr., the Kennedy brothers, Whitney Young and many others.  He wrote about Martin Luther King’s non-violent movement for civil rights, and covered the 1963 March on Washington.
Mr. Booker has received recognition from his peers, having been awarded both the Newspaper Guild Award and the Wilkie Award.  As a journalist, he became the first African-American to win the National Press Club’s Fourth Estate Award in 1982.  He most recently authored “Shocking the Conscience: A Reporter’s account of the Civil Rights Movement,” an account of a half-century of American history.  Earlier this year, he was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.
Mr. President, I would like to honor Simeon Booker for his lifetime contributions to our country in the fields of journalism and civil rights and congratulate him on his recognition at Youngstown State University.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=94d89b1d-0f9c-49aa-b7a1-95bbfa1cae12,"Portman, Brown, Latta & Jordan Urge Assistance for Cooper Tire in Face of Alarming Chinese Factory Actions",2013-12-18,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with Congressmen Bob Latta (R-OH-5) and Jim Jordan (R-OH-4), sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Mike Froman urging government officials to do all that they can to protect the interests of Findlay-based Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. in China.  The letter comes ahead of important meetings of the U.S.-China Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Beijing on December 19-20 chaired by Pritzker, Froman and their Chinese counterparts.
Some excerpts of the letter appear below:
“We write today with deep concern about a serious issue Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is facing at its joint venture in China which has put the entire company at risk, including more than 5,000 jobs in the United States, and which has serious implications for all American businesses with interests and investments in China. We respectfully request your assistance in resolving this urgent matter.”
“Cooper has been facing a series of actions in violation of its rights as the majority owner of the joint venture…These actions have included, initially, two 5,000-employee work stoppages and, subsequently, labor actions including forced occupation of the CCT production facility; denial of access for Cooper and its appointed members of CCT management to the facility, financial data, and personal property; workers’ refusal to input financial and production data into CCT systems in accordance with internal operating procedure; workers’ refusal to produce Cooper-branded products; and the unlawful appropriation of company chops and registration documents.”
""In response to these actions, Cooper has requested assistance from Chinese government authorities at all levels, has appealed to local police, and has attempted to seek justice in local courts of law, but the situation continues. Cooper management has made multiple attempts to ... reach a resolution. ... At this point, the situation remains unresolved and Cooper has suffered considerable losses.""
Background
Since June 2013, one of Cooper’s international factories in Shandong Province, China has faced constant work stoppages and other actions threatening the whole company.  Cooper operates the facility as a joint venture with a Chinese partner.
Efforts to resolve this issue have been unsuccessful and the consequences continue to worsen. The production process has not been restored to its previous state, and Cooper has suffered considerable losses. One of the most critical issues that Cooper currently faces is that it is being denied access to the joint venture’s financial and operational information. Without this information, Cooper is unable to file its financial report for Q3 2013 as required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This has forced Cooper to be in violation of its U.S. and global regulatory obligations, which could potentially have broad impacts on its U.S. operations and its 5,000 U.S. workers.
Today’s letter follows a conference call led by Portman and Brown’s staff on Monday with Administration officials to urge that this issue be raised during the JCCT meetings in Beijing.  Aside from Portman, Brown, Latta and Jordan, the letter was also signed by Senators Boozman (R-Ark.), Cochran (R-Miss.), Pryor (D-Ark.) and Wicker (R-Miss.); and Representatives Cotton (R-Ark.) and Nunnelee (R-Miss.).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaptur.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3202:kaptur-welcomes-gm-investment-in-toledo&catid=51:2013-press-releases&Itemid=300262,Kaptur Welcomes GM Investment in Toledo,2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Marcy Kaptur is inviting parents, grandparents, caring adults, and youth from across Northern Ohio to participate in a new “Read to Succeed” challenge. “Read to Succeed” is an initiative to encourage children and adults to read together and in doing so, the community is ensuring that our youth are prepared to read.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-welcomes-gm-investment-toledo,Kaptur Welcomes GM Investment in Toledo,2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"TOLEDO (Dec. 17, 2013)  Congresswoman Kaptur welcomed the announcement by General Motors of a $30.6 million investment in the Toledo Transmission Operations for increased capacity for an existing 6-speed transmission and tooling for a new variant.
This is wonderful news for Toledo Transmission, its workers and the local economy, said Congresswoman Kaptur.  
	  
	The Toledo plant is already building the transmissions of the future and this investment further promotes the comeback of the auto industry in our region.
GM said it will invest almost $1.3 billion at five plants located in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, creating or retaining approximately 1,000 jobs. The company has invested more than $10 billion in U.S. manufacturing facilities since 2009.
Once again we have evidence of the wisdom of rescuing the auto industry during the economic crisis, said Congresswoman Kaptur.
Critics who deride the auto rescue fail to recognize that auto production is the lifeblood of the Northern Ohio economy. We are fortunate President Obama stepped forward to save it from elimination.
GM said the latest investments will support production of a new V6 engine and 10-speed transmission as well an existing six-speed transmission.
GM is committed to a strong American manufacturing base and creating jobs in dozens of communities throughout the country. Today's announced plant upgrades continue the momentum of a resurgent auto industry, said GM Executive Vice President and North America President Mark Reuss.
UAW Vice President Joe Ashton said the announcement represents a win for American workers. UAW is proud to be a part of this successful collaboration with GM that has helped rebuild the nation's economy, created good paying, union jobs in communities across the country, and brought manufacturing that was moved overseas back to the U.S. This is further proof that collective bargaining works.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140223121949/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-introduces-jay-williams-at-hearing-urges-senate-to-confirm-him-for-administration-post,"Sen. Brown Introduces Jay Williams at Hearing, Urges Senate to Confirm him for Administration Post",2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Tuesday, December 17, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced Mahoning Valley native and former Youngstown mayor Jay Williams at a confirmation hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW). Williams was nominated by the Administration for the post of Assistant Secretary for Economic Development at the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) but first awaits confirmation from the U.S. Senate.
Brown’s prepared remarks can be read in their entirety below:
Senator Brown’s Prepared Remarks for EPW Confirmation Hearing for Jay Williams as Assistant Secretary for Economic Development at the U.S. Dept of Commerce
December 17, 2013
Thank you, Chairman Boxer, for your leadership of this Committee – and for ensuring this confirmation hearing receives the orderly process it deserves.
I am honored to introduce Jay Williams – a devoted family man, a distinguished advocate, and committed public servant. My congratulations to Jay and his family – his wife Sonja, his mother, Mary, and his son, Ethan – who are with him here today.
I have had the pleasure of working with Jay over the past few years, first when he became mayor of Youngstown, Ohio in 2006.
Jay took the helm of a hard-hit city just a couple years before the recession hit. You could say the recession hit Youngstown years earlier than it hit a lot of other places. 
Where others might run from those challenges, Jay runs towards them.
He worked with the city’s businesses, unions, and educators to put the city on a path towards economic renewal. 
In 2011, Jay was instrumental in bringing Youngstown’s steel industry full circle, helping to secure a new $650 million steel plant on the shores of the Mahoning River, where smoke stacks of past plants once stood. In fact, he even travelled to Vallourec Steel’s headquarters in Paris to negotiate with the corporation’s owners to help bring this project to Ohio.
Just a few years after Jay became mayor, we saw how some elected officials were betting against the American auto industry.
They wanted our auto industry to go bankrupt.
Jay Williams was not one of them.
Born and raised on Youngstown’s East Side, he knows manufacturing is in the Mahoning Valley’s blood. 
Jay was just 6 years old on “Black Monday” – the day Youngstown Sheet and Tube closed – leaving an entire region hemorrhaging thousands of jobs. He was born into a generation whose parents didn’t have careers connected to the steel industry. 
He knows the economic impact the auto industry and manufacturing have not only on places like Youngstown, Morain, and Toledo – but across Ohio and the country – especially when those jobs are lost. And he knows the work it takes to rebuild the affected communities and to create good-paying jobs for future generations.
I was proud to work alongside Jay to keep Youngstown’s auto industry alive. Today, the General Motors Lordstown plant is operating three shifts and produces the best-selling Chevy Cruze.
Following the auto rescue, President Obama asked Jay to build on his good work in Youngstown, and help communities across the nation take the next steps toward a brighter future. 
Since being appointed as the Director of the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers at the Department of Labor (DOL), Jay has done an outstanding job working with federal agencies and local officials on environmental clean-up at former GM plants, and directing much-needed resources to struggling auto communities.  
And his economic experience doesn’t stop with manufacturing. 
The Youngstown Business Incubator has attracted software start-ups from San Francisco and is leading the way in turning the Mahoning Valley into a high-tech hub.
Jay pushed to expand educational opportunities in the Valley – from a stronger Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or STEM School at Youngstown State University and establishing a community college branch campus in the Valley with Eastern Gateway Community College.
And, his Youngstown 2010 plan has caught the attention of cities across the country with its work to “right-size” the city by repurposing vacant lots and cleaning up blight.
Jay’s work sparked Youngstown’s renaissance, and that’s led to the beginning of Ohio’s comeback as an economic leader. 
Jay understands the importance of manufacturing and appreciates the challenges facing auto communities and their many workers. He knows the real-world implications of unemployment, and that shuttered factories are not just statistics in a far-off community.
We need more officials in the Commerce Department who understand its decisions affect the lives of everyday Americans.
I know that his perspective as a child of Youngstown and public servant serves Jay well. I applaud President Obama for nominating Jay, and I believe that he will serve our nation well as the Commerce Department’s next Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
 
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140223122008/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-and-portman-applaud-international-trade-commission-in-favor-of-ohio-based-steel-producers-like-arcelormittal-ak-steel,"Sen. Brown and Portman Applaud International Trade Commission in Favor of Ohio Based Steel Producers like ArcelorMittal, AK Steel",2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Decision Follows Efforts by Brown and Portman to Urge ITC to Enforce Trade Laws to Protect Domestic Steel Producers and Workers from Unfair, Illegal Trade Practices by Foreign Competitors
				
			
			
			Tuesday, December 17, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to maintain until 2018 existing antidumping duties (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders against unfairly traded imports of hot-rolled steel. This decision follows efforts by Brown and Portman in October to urge ITC Chairman Irving Williamson to maintain trade orders that would help ensure a level playing field for an already vulnerable domestic steel industry, including Ohio based steel producers like ArcelorMittal of Cleveland and AK Steel of Middletown.
“The ITC ruling is excellent news for Ohio’s workers and manufacturers like those at ArcelorMittal and AK Steel,” Brown said. “Our steelmakers can compete with anyone in the world, but we need to level the playing field by enforcing antidumping and countervailing duties. The ITC ruling would counteract illegal trade practices by China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Ukraine so we can make products and create jobs in Ohio and the United States.” 
 “I am pleased that the ITC has decided to protect the steel industry and stand up for the thousands of Ohioans working at hot-rolled steel facilities throughout our state,” Portman said. “Ohio steelworkers can compete and win on a level playing-field, but we must enforce our laws to ensure that foreign competitors do not target the U.S. market with illegally traded products.”
Hot-rolled steel is vital to the long-term future of domestic steel production. The ITC decision counteracts the illegal foreign government subsidies and dumping of hot-rolled steel from China, India, Taiwan, Thailand, and Ukraine. Last year, these countries were estimated to have collectively had nearly four times the hot-rolling capacity of the United States. AD and CVD orders against these countries were originally imposed in 2001 and previously extended in 2007.
Brown and Portman have long championed the American steel industry and fought to ensure it can compete fairly in the international trade market. In 2011, Brown and Portman, along with 10 of their colleagues, sent a letter to the Chairman of the ITC in advance of hearing to determine whether hot-rolled steel imports from Brazil, Japan, and Russia are having a negative impact on the domestic hot rolled steel industry. Also in 2011, Brown authored and Portman voted for the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, bipartisan legislation which would use U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm to U.S. manufacturers caused by currency manipulation and would provide consequences for countries that fail to adopt appropriate policies to eliminate currency misalignment.
 Brown’s and Portman’s October letter to the ITC can be read in its entirety below:
 October 30, 2013
 The Honorable Irving A. Williamson 
Chairman 
U.S. International Trade Commission 
500 E Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20436 
RE:      Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Ukraine: Inv. Nos. 701-TA-405, 406, and 408 and 731-TA-899-901 and 906-908 (Second Review) 
Dear Chairman Williamson: 
We are writing to encourage you to maintain the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders against unfairly traded imports of hot-rolled steel from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Ukraine. These trade orders are necessary to prevent further injury to an already vulnerable domestic steel industry. 
While the economy is growing slowly, the U.S. hot-rolled steel industry is in substantially worse condition than it was when the Commission last considered these trade remedies, five years ago. The recent financial performance of domestic hot-rolled steel producers confirms that production and capacity utilization rates are down, and the industry’s rates of return are wholly inadequate to justify future investment. Moreover, U.S. demand for hot-rolled steel remains weak and the overall health of the U.S. and global economy is unstable.
At the same time, hot-rolled steel producers in all six countries are heavily export-oriented and have become even more so given depressed market conditions in their home and traditional export markets. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, global steel overcapacity is substantial and growing. Yet, these countries continue to expand their capacity at alarming rates. With economic slowdowns in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, foreign producers in these six counties will not hesitate to ship their dumped and subsidized excess steel into the United States, as they have in the past.
As the Commission is aware, the Department of Commerce recently determined that revocation of the antidumping orders would likely lead these countries to dump hot-rolled steel into the United States at margins ranging from 4.41 percent to 90.83 percent, and that revocation of the countervailing duty orders would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at margins of more than 500 percent. In other words, these trade remedy orders are the only thing preventing significant quantities of unfairly traded hot-rolled steel from these countries from quickly overwhelming an already vulnerable industry and causing harm to U.S. manufacturers and their workers. 
Given the current state of the domestic industry and the ability of producers in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and Ukraine to send significant quantities of hot-rolled steel to the U.S. market, removing the existing trade orders would harm the domestic industry and its workers. As a result, we strongly urge you to maintain the existing orders against dumped and subsidized imports of hot-rolled steel.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of this critical issue.
Respectfully submitted,
Senator Joe Donnelly
Senator Jeff Sessions
Senator John Boozman
Senator Sherrod Brown
Senator Richard Burr
Senator Robert Casey, Jr.
Senator Dan Coats
Senator Richard Durbin
Senator Al Franken
Senator Lindsey Graham
Senator Kay Hagan
Senator Tom Harkin
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senator Carl Levin
Senator Rob Portman
Senator Mark Pryor
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV
Senator Richard Shelby
Senator Debbie Stabenow
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/articles?ID=341de686-137f-4f9b-b8e0-ee8965d50bc7,"Portman, Warner, Issa, and Cummings Joint Op-Ed: DATA Act Expands Transparency and Accountability for Federal Spending",2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) wrote a joint Op-Ed in The Hill to highlight the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA), legislation that would expand transparency and accountability for federal spending by requiring standardized reporting of federal spending to be posted to a single website.
Excerpts are included below and the full Op-Ed can be viewed here.
The DATA Act will shed light on government spending  The Hill  December 16, 2013   By Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.)
Transparency is critical to our democracy, especially for a federal government that spent about $3.5 trillion last year.  Policymakers and taxpayers should be able to quickly answer some basic questions about federal spending, like how much did we spend, and who received our money?  Determining this very basic information can take countless hours of work, if it is able to be determined at all.  …
But hopefully, those days are almost over.  The four of us have teamed up on an important bipartisan bill that modernizes the way the federal government collects and presents spending information.  The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, or DATA Act, will shed additional light on the federal government’s finances and leverage modern technology to give the taxpayers the transparency over federal spending they deserve.
The DATA Act will ensure that the information collected by the budget analysts, accountants, and grant and contract officers is combined, reconciled, and presented in an easy-to-use way.  Here is how it will work.
First, our legislation will expand the USAspending.gov site to include spending data for all federal funds—by appropriation, federal agency, program, and function. Currently, it covers only grants, contracts and other federal awards.  This feature is important because there is currently no place to find and compare all government spending.  The information also will be made available in downloadable, easily-accessible format.
Second, the DATA Act will set government-wide financial data standards.  Currently, there are no consistent standards, which makes much of the data on USAspending.gov confusing and unreliable.  Without consistent data standards, taxpayers and policymakers can’t compare apples to apples.
Third, the DATA Act will reduce reporting costs for entities that are awarded taxpayer dollars. The current reporting systems are duplicative and frustrating.  States and organizations like universities are awarded hundreds of different grants from dozens of federal agencies each year.  Oftentimes, they must file financial reports on an annual, quarterly, and monthly basis to each of those agencies on each of those grants.  The current system is fractured; the state or university may be required to maintain completely different systems to file what is ultimately a very similar report.  If this reporting were streamlined, our institutes of higher education and our state and local governments could direct more funding to programs and less to overhead costs.
Finally, the DATA Act will make other efforts to enhance transparency-through-technology, like the President’s Open Data Policy and the modernization of the Government Performance and Results Act, truly useful.  We can post performance metrics for every federal program on Performance.gov., and we can post all data sets collected by every agency on Data.gov, but without information about where taxpayer resources are going, there is no context for policymakers and the American people to make informed decisions…",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=086b27df-2a21-46b9-b473-1c5660a4609a,Defense Authorization Bill Includes Portman-Whitehouse Asset Tracking Provision,2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – This week the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that will authorize funding for defense programs in the year ahead.  The final bill, which was unveiled last week, includes a bipartisan provision authored by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to strengthen the military’s “asset tracking” efforts.  These efforts can save taxpayer dollars and help prevent counterfeit military items from entering the supply chain.
“The Defense Department is wasting billions of dollars a year due to ineffective financial and supply management practices,” said Portman.  “We need to solve these problems as we seek to find savings in the Defense budget while maintaining the superiority of our force.  This initiative will force the Pentagon to accelerate solutions and get much-need input from industry partners that are at the cutting edge of supply chain management.”
“This provision will help encourage the use of state of the art barcode tracking technology for military assets,” said Whitehouse.  “This technology can help improve inventory management for military equipment and parts, while also cutting costs.  It can also help to identify counterfeit items that pose serious risks to our troops.”
The Portman-Whitehouse legislation would:
• Require the Department of Defense to include in its report to Congress a description of how improved asset tracking and in-transit visibility could enhance audit readiness, reduce counterfeit risk, enhance logistical processes, and benefit the Department of Defense.    • Require a detailed description of asset marking requirements and how automated information and data capture technologies could improve readiness, cost effectiveness, and performance.  • Require a defined list of all categories of items that program managers shall identify for the purposes of asset marking.  • Require a description of steps to improve asset tracking for classified programs.  • Require steps to be undertaken to facilitate collaboration with industry designed to capture best practices, lessons learned, and any relevant technical matters.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7249d394-5d1b-45e5-95d4-559e843269f5,Senate Approves Portman Measure to Stop EPA's Dangerous Regulation of Fire Hydrants,2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) applauded the Senate passage of legislation to bolster fire safety and protect local governments from a dangerous and expensive new mandate.  Last week, Portman cosponsored bipartisan legislation with Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to prohibit EPA oversight of fire hydrants, which is identical to the House companion legislation that passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent today.  The bill has passed both chambers of Congress and is set to go to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“Today’s passage of our bill ensures that this onerous, nonsensical regulation on fire hydrants will permanently be put to rest, and I applaud my colleagues for helping us get it over the finish line to protect Ohio communities,” Portman said. 
Watch Portman’s remarks on the Senate floor here.
On October 22, 2013, EPA announced through guidance that fire hydrants would be covered under the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, set to go into effect on January 4, 2014, because they are occasionally used in emergencies to provide drinking water.  Local communities were caught off guard by the announcement because fire hydrants had not been previously discussed, and because similar items were already excluded from the rule.  As a result of the new EPA interpretation, any hydrant manufactured or installed after January 4th must have a lead content that meets the statutory standard.  Spare hydrants or parts that cities in Ohio keep on hand not meeting the standard will become obsolete.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=bee03b8a-a4ea-4368-b2dd-968b90b5af45,Portman Statement on Bipartisan Budget Agreement,2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) issued the following statement on his vote to support cloture on the bipartisan budget agreement:
“I support the bipartisan budget agreement because it takes modest steps to reduce the deficit without raising taxes, relieves the sequester’s impact on our national security, and prevents another government shutdown.
“This budget agreement is far from perfect. It does not take the needed steps to reform our nation’s ballooning mandatory spending on autopilot and does not address the need for pro-growth tax reform to create jobs. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road, and I am disappointed that Washington once again missed the opportunity to fix the debt problem and get the economy moving.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=eb2c0b83-d5d9-420a-95df-0b158cb73ac8,"Portman and Brown Applaud Trade Ruling in Favor of Ohio-Based Steel Producers ArcelorMittal, AK Steel",2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) applauded a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to maintain until 2018 existing antidumping duties (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders against unfairly traded imports of hot-rolled steel. This decision follows efforts by Brown and Portman in October to urge ITC Chairman Irving Williamson to maintain trade orders that would help ensure a level playing field for an already vulnerable domestic steel industry, including Ohio based steel producers like ArcelorMittal of Cleveland and AK Steel of Middletown.
“I am pleased that the ITC has decided to protect the steel industry and stand up for the thousands of Ohioans working at hot-rolled steel facilities throughout our state,” Portman said. “Ohio steelworkers can compete and win on a level playing-field, but we must enforce our laws to ensure that foreign competitors do not target the U.S. market with illegally traded products.”
“The ITC ruling is excellent news for Ohio’s workers and manufacturers like those at ArcelorMittal and AK Steel,” Brown said. “Our steelmakers can compete with anyone in the world, but we need to level the playing field by enforcing antidumping and countervailing duties. The ITC ruling would counteract illegal trade practices by China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Ukraine so we can make products and create jobs in Ohio and the United States.” 
Hot-rolled steel is vital to the long-term future of domestic steel production. The ITC decision counteracts the illegal foreign government subsidies and dumping of hot-rolled steel from China, India, Taiwan, Thailand, and Ukraine. Last year, these countries were estimated to have collectively had nearly four times the hot-rolling capacity of the United States. AD and CVD orders against these countries were originally imposed in 2001 and previously extended in 2007.       Portman and Brown have long championed the American steel industry and fought to ensure it can compete fairly in the international trade market. In 2011, Portman and Brown, along with 10 of their colleagues, sent a letter to the Chairman of the ITC in advance of hearing to determine whether hot-rolled steel imports from Brazil, Japan, and Russia are having a negative impact on the domestic hot rolled steel industry. Also in 2011, Brown authored and Portman voted for the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, bipartisan legislation which would use U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm to U.S. manufacturers caused by currency manipulation and would provide consequences for countries that fail to adopt appropriate policies to eliminate currency misalignment.
Portman’s and Brown’s October letter to the ITC can be read in its entirety below:
October 30, 2013
The Honorable Irving A. Williamson   Chairman   U.S. International Trade Commission   500 E Street, S.W.   Washington, D.C. 20436
RE:      Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Ukraine: Inv. Nos. 701-TA-405, 406, and 408 and 731-TA-899-901 and 906-908 (Second Review)
Dear Chairman Williamson:
We are writing to encourage you to maintain the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders against unfairly traded imports of hot-rolled steel from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Ukraine. These trade orders are necessary to prevent further injury to an already vulnerable domestic steel industry.
While the economy is growing slowly, the U.S. hot-rolled steel industry is in substantially worse condition than it was when the Commission last considered these trade remedies, five years ago. The recent financial performance of domestic hot-rolled steel producers confirms that production and capacity utilization rates are down, and the industry’s rates of return are wholly inadequate to justify future investment. Moreover, U.S. demand for hot-rolled steel remains weak and the overall health of the U.S. and global economy is unstable.
At the same time, hot-rolled steel producers in all six countries are heavily export-oriented and have become even more so given depressed market conditions in their home and traditional export markets. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, global steel overcapacity is substantial and growing. Yet, these countries continue to expand their capacity at alarming rates. With economic slowdowns in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, foreign producers in these six counties will not hesitate to ship their dumped and subsidized excess steel into the United States, as they have in the past.
As the Commission is aware, the Department of Commerce recently determined that revocation of the antidumping orders would likely lead these countries to dump hot-rolled steel into the United States at margins ranging from 4.41 percent to 90.83 percent, and that revocation of the countervailing duty orders would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at margins of more than 500 percent. In other words, these trade remedy orders are the only thing preventing significant quantities of unfairly traded hot-rolled steel from these countries from quickly overwhelming an already vulnerable industry and causing harm to U.S. manufacturers and their workers.
Given the current state of the domestic industry and the ability of producers in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and Ukraine to send significant quantities of hot-rolled steel to the U.S. market, removing the existing trade orders would harm the domestic industry and its workers. As a result, we strongly urge you to maintain the existing orders against dumped and subsidized imports of hot-rolled steel.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of this critical issue.
Respectfully submitted,
Senator Joe Donnelly  Senator Jeff Sessions  Senator John Boozman  Senator Sherrod Brown  Senator Richard Burr  Senator Robert Casey, Jr.  Senator Dan Coats  Senator Richard Durbin  Senator Al Franken  Senator Lindsey Graham  Senator Kay Hagan  Senator Tom Harkin  Senator Amy Klobuchar  Senator Carl Levin  Senator Rob Portman  Senator Mark Pryor  Senator John D. Rockefeller IV  Senator Richard Shelby  Senator Debbie Stabenow",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/video?ID=056c2533-a1a9-448f-9f55-9ab37a35cf40,Portman Introduces Former Mayor Jay Williams at Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee,2013-12-17,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced former Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams before the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee. Williams has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and head of the U.S. Economic Development Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Excerpts of Portman’s remarks are below and the entire video can be found here.
“I think it’s fair to say that the most important job we have right now is to bring the jobs back. This Commerce Department position is critical to that.  Too many workers in my state of Ohio and around this country have been out of a job for too long, some for months, some for years. Jay understands that. He’s not only seen it first-hand during his days as mayor of Youngstown, he has spent much of his life trying to improve economic conditions for all Americans.  If confirmed, I look forward to working with him and his colleagues to keep the economic development projects moving forward on the Main Streets in Ohio and around the country.”
Williams’ biography is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaptur.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3201:kaptur-speaks-at-parma-rally-for-ukraine&catid=51:2013-press-releases&Itemid=300262,Kaptur Speaks at Parma Rally for Ukraine,2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Marcy Kaptur is inviting parents, grandparents, caring adults, and youth from across Northern Ohio to participate in a new “Read to Succeed” challenge. “Read to Succeed” is an initiative to encourage children and adults to read together and in doing so, the community is ensuring that our youth are prepared to read.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/gallery/photos/announcing-new-tri-c-scholarship-to-help-veterans-afford-college,Announcing new Tri-C Scholarship to Help Veterans Afford College,2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If you’re afraid you might be a victim of the Equifax data breach, Senator Brown encourages you to visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website for more information and resources – www.consumerfinance.gov.
  
For information on how to help recovery efforts for recent hurricanes, go to www.fema.gov",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-speaks-parma-rally-ukraine,Kaptur Speaks at Parma Rally for Ukraine,2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"PARMA, Ohio (Dec. 14, 2013)  Congresswoman Kaptur spoke to a large rally here as Northeast Ohioans demonstrated support for the people of Ukraine during the current political crisis.
We're here today because we care about the future of Ukraine and its people, said Congresswoman Kaptur, who serves as co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Day after day in the streets of Ukraine, people have demonstrated, too. They want a say in setting a course for the futureoriented to the West and the European Union, she said to a crowd that braved inclement weather in Cleveland.
Kaptur said she has raised the Ukraine issue at the highest levels, including the U.S. State Department, and with relevant committee and subcommittee leaders in Congress.
We're seeing one of those crucial moments of history. Those of us who love liberty want to see Ukraine become the true borderland nation that she is. Ukraine has a unique position on our globe. She can be a real bridge between east, west, north and southand she needs to rise to that occasion, she said.
In the meantime, we have to express ourselves clearly so that the Ukrainian government gets the message that it must respect the political rights of the Ukrainian people, including the opposition.
The U.S. can help Ukraine be an independent county that can stand on her own two feet to maximize her natural advantages as well as her academic prowess and to develop at last her enormous potential.
We have an obligation. The whole world is watching.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221053224/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-applauds-return-of-94-ohio-national-guard-men-and-women-from-afghanistan,Sen. Brown Applauds Return of 94 Ohio National Guard Men and Women from Afghanistan,2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"837th Engineer Company to be Welcomed Home Today During Ceremony at Lorain High School; Brown Represented by His Deputy State Director
				
			
			
			Monday, December 16, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, applauded the return of 94 Ohio National Guard men and women from Afghanistan. The soldiers from the 837th Engineer Company will be honored during a welcome home ceremony at Lorain High School today.
“These brave men and women of the Ohio National Guard helped make our country safer and the world a better place to live,” Brown said. “We owe each of them our gratitude and I wish them the best of luck in their return to home and their families.”
After completing specialized training at Fort Bliss, Texas, the Company deployed to Afghanistan where its mission was to support Operation Enduring Freedom conducting mobility support and route clearance operations, among other assignments.
Brown is the only Ohio Senator to serve a full term on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and is Co-Chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus. Last month, Brown announced that several key pieces of legislation he originally sponsored have passed the Committee. Elements of Brown’s State Veterans Home Homelessness Act and Veterans Services Outreach Act were incorporated into the Veterans Health Care Eligibility and Enhancement Act of 2013, which was passed by the Committee. The combined package also extends the enrollment time window for healthcare benefits for active duty, Reserve, and Guard servicemembers from five to 10 years following deployment.
Brown was unable to attend today’s ceremony due to votes in the Senate, but was represented by his Deputy State Director, Beth Thames.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140223122030/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-county-executive-fitzgerald-announce-new-tri-c-scholarship-to-help-veterans-afford-college,"Sen. Brown, County Executive FitzGerald Announce New Tri-C Scholarship to Help Veterans Afford College",2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Brown also Calls on Congress to Reauthorize Jobs Retraining Program he Helped Create for Unemployed Veterans
				
			
			
			Monday, December 16, 2013
            
	
			
			
CLEVELAND, OH — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald to announce a new scholarship to help unemployed veterans retrain for new careers by attending Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). The scholarship will supplement a federal program Brown helped create, the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), that assists unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 to 60 in training for high-growth industries. The scholarship announced today will supplement the federal program by helping veterans better afford tuition, fees, books, and other expenses they may encounter on the road to earning a degree.
“Returning servicemen and women deserve resources and support to help them transition to civilian life and continue their education,” Brown said. “That is why I applaud Executive FitzGerald’s legislation and Tri-C’s initiative to offer this scholarship for veterans who proudly served their country but want to retrain to find a new career.”
VRAP is a jobs retraining initiative for unemployed veterans and a critical component of the VOW to Hire Heroes Law Brown originally co-sponsored that offers tax credits to employers who hire unemployed veterans. Specifically, VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed veterans who:
 
Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old;
 
 
Have an other than dishonorable discharge;
Are not eligible for any other Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefit program (e.g.: the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance);
 
 
Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
 
The scholarship, a first of its kind offered only to Tri-C students, will use surplus money from the Veterans Services Commission (VSC) to help veterans get the training they need for new careers. FitzGerald created legislation that designated a veteran’s fund, where excess money from Cuyahoga County’s budget could be transferred and used specifically to help local veterans, instead of going back into the county’s general fund. 146 scholarships worth $500 each will be awarded to veterans who fit the below criteria:
 
A VRAP participant who is a current student or enrolled for next semester;
 
 
Must have already completed 12 credit hours at Tri-C;
 
 
The first 146 participants to apply and verify eligibility will be awarded the scholarships.
 
“All of us have a responsibility to make sure that our brave men and women in uniform can successfully reenter the workforce and compete for good-paying jobs in the 21st century economy,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s why my administration has worked closely with the Cuyahoga County Council to implement a Veterans Service Fund that ensures we provide veterans with the most effective services available. I applaud Senator Brown’s work as a leader on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and I look forward to continue working with him and fighting hard on behalf of all our veterans.”
Brown, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, also called on Congress to reauthorize VRAP, which is set to expire early next year. Brown is now working to pass the Veterans Employment Opportunities Enhancement Act of 2013, which would reauthorize VRAP for an additional two years. It would also allow veterans to enroll in an eligible program at a four-year institution if such a program is not reasonably available at a community college or technical school.
“Just as Congress invests in our servicemembers while they’re on the battlefield, it should do the same when they return home,” Brown said. “The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program will help ensure that thousands of veterans can get retrained for new positions in high-demand jobs.”
For the fall 2013 semester at Tri-C, there are more than 1,000 veterans and more than 270 VRAP participants. Brown was joined today by a representative from the college. He was also joined by Everett Chambers, a local unemployed Marine veteran and VRAP participant who is attending class fulltime at Tri-C to retrain as an electrical engineering technician. Chambers explained the importance of programs like VRAP for veterans like him and intends to apply for the $500 scholarship. 
“As a veteran I would like to take this opportunity to thank the VRAP program for choosing me as a recipient,” Chambers said. “It has been very challenging for me as a veteran in such a tough economic time, to pursue my educational dreams of achieving a degree in Electronic Engineering. The VRAP program has made it possible for me to move forward in achieving my goals. By choosing me as a participant of the VRAP program my financial burdens have been lightened which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning.”
Brown is the only Ohio Senator to serve a full term on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and is Co-Chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus. Last month, Brown announced that several key pieces of legislation he originally sponsored have passed the Committee. Elements of Brown’s State Veterans Home Homelessness Act and Veterans Services Outreach Act were incorporated into the Veterans Health Care Eligibility and Enhancement Act of 2013, which was passed by the Committee. The combined package also extends the enrollment time window for healthcare benefits for active duty, Reserve, and Guard servicemembers from five to 10 years following deployment.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=24138be1-d938-4dda-8577-3c3fe2f179d0,Treasury Responds to Portman's Letter and Agrees to Ease Up on Regulation that Threatens the Retirement Security of American Workers,2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Responding to a letter sent by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew expressing concern with a regulation that could unintentionally weaken the retirement security of many American workers, the U.S. Department of Treasury has decided to ease up on these rules for now while seeking public suggestions on a permanent fix.  This flaw undermines and runs counter to the original intent of the Treasury regulation—strengthening retirement security. Fortunately, Secretary Lew has the power to prevent the unintended consequences of this regulation without new legislation.
In the letter, Portman and Cardin, both members of the Senate Finance Committee, warn that this technical glitch might inadvertently incentivize companies to hard-freeze the defined benefit pension plan of long-time employees and urge Lew to fix it, stating, “This is clearly not the intended effect of the nondiscrimination rules, which were written to strengthen retirement security, rather than to force many older employees into new pension plans that may not provide enough time to accumulate sufficient benefits before retirement.”
The full text of the letter is below.  Read a signed copy here.
November 21, 2013
The Honorable Jacob J. Lew  Secretary of the Treasury  Main Treasury Building, Room 3330  1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.  Washington, D.C. 20220
Dear Secretary Lew:
We write to request action concerning a Treasury regulation that could unintentionally weaken the retirement security of many American workers. The regulation in question was created in order to strengthen retirement security, so repairing this flaw would support the Treasury’s original intent. It’s a regulation that can be improved without new legislation.
Over the past several years, many companies have transitioned from defined benefit to defined contribution retirement plans. In doing so, many have elected to grandfather existing employees into the defined benefit plans in order to avoid disruptions and save them from having to build retirement savings in a new pension model mid-career. After “soft freezing” the existing pension plan, the company places new hires within a new defined contribution pension system.
Over time, the existing employees grandfathered into the old system typically build seniority and become more highly-compensated than the younger, newer employees who also are more likely to have greater job turnover. This widens the income gap between the two pension groups.
Unfortunately, soft freezes may cause plans to inadvertently violate a Treasury rule that requires qualified plans to meet certain nondiscrimination testing requirements.  These requirements are intended to enforce a degree of pension benefit parity between higher- and lower-compensated employees. The split between having mostly higher-compensated employees in a defined benefit plan and mostly lower-paid employees in a defined contribution plan may trigger the nondiscrimination rules even if the level of pension benefits between the two groups is comparable. This is because current nondiscrimination rules do not adequately allow for the comparison between defined benefit and defined contribution benefits in these circumstances.
Companies failing their nondiscrimination tests risk losing their pensions’ qualified status, resulting in immediate taxation of their employees’ pension benefits. To avoid this expensive outcome, many companies feel compelled to instead implement a “hard freeze” that completely closes the defined benefit plan and forces all employees into the new plan.
This is clearly not the intended effect of the nondiscrimination rules, which were written to strengthen retirement security, rather than to force many older employees into new pension plans that may not provide enough time to accumulate sufficient benefits before retirement.
Some companies are already facing the prospect of triggering the nondiscrimination rules, and nearly every company that wishes to soft freeze its defined benefit plan will face this problem over the next several years. The sooner Treasury can implement a practical, non-regulatory solution to this issue, the sooner companies can avoid having to hard freeze their pensions when they would prefer a soft freeze.
We greatly appreciate your attention to this matter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=92a88a2d-669d-4acd-a8b7-8ff767d631ed,"Portman, Brown Join Bipartisan Effort to Address Barriers to U.S. Pork Exports",2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – On Friday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) joined a group of 31 Senators in writing a letter to United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Michael Froman, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about the importance of addressing barriers to market access for American pork producers in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. The letter was led by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana).
Portman and Brown noted the importance of exports to the economic well-being of U.S. pork producers and the U.S. economy as a whole, writing, “U.S. pork production supports an estimated 550,000 domestic jobs, around 110,000 of which are the direct result of exports. Pork exports now make an annual surplus contribution of nearly $5 billion to the overall U.S. trade balance.”
Pork exports are vital to Ohio jobs. In fact, according to the National Pork Producers Council, Ohio is among the top 10 states in pork production and stands to benefit greatly from increased access to foreign consumers. Currently, there are numerous market access barriers for U.S. pork in countries participating in the TPP, such as Japan’s complex system of tariffs.  These barriers limit the contributions U.S. pork exports can make to the U.S. economy.  The Senators emphasized that tariff and non-tariff barriers on pork must be addressed through TPP negotiations.
A signed copy of the letter is available here.  Full text of the letter is below.
Dear Ambassador Froman and Secretary Vilsack:
We write to emphasize the importance of addressing market access barriers to U.S. pork exports in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
We know that you are both well aware how important exports are to the economic well-being of U.S. pork producers and the U.S. economy as a whole. U.S. pork production supports an estimated 550,000 domestic jobs, around 110,000 of which are the direct result of exports. Pork exports now make an annual surplus contribution of nearly $5 billion to the overall U.S. trade balance.
Around the world, however, numerous market access barriers exist that prevent pork exports from contributing even more to the domestic economy. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation presents an important opportunity to open new markets to U.S. pork in the Asia-Pacific region, to expand several existing markets, and to establish a standard for all future trade agreements involving pork. The participants in the TPP negotiations represent significant markets for increased U.S. pork exports with the successful removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Currently, U.S. pork producers encounter highly restrictive trade barriers that slow the growth of U.S. exports into a number of TPP participant countries. Japan, for example, maintains a complex system of tariffs that reduces the price and quality advantages of U.S. pork. Vietnam, in addition to burdensome administrative requirements, continues a reference price scheme on imported pork that raises the cost to import certain pork cuts above the market price. Furthermore, despite an existing bilateral trade agreement, Australia still uses non-tariff barriers to limit U.S. exports to either processed pork or frozen, boneless pork for further processing.    
It is estimated that if tariffs and all non-tariff barriers are eliminated in each TPP nation, U.S. pork exports will grow by over 50 percent within 10 years of implementation. We strongly urge you to insist that all tariffs and non-tariff barriers on pork in TPP partner nations be eliminated as part of the TPP agreement.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a3d107b8-22b1-4de5-bdee-eaa9bee68dfd,Portman Applauds EPA's Decision to Reconsider Dangerous Regulation of Fire Hydrants,2013-12-16,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to reconsider an effort to require local governments to replace malfunctioning fire hydrants with new, independently certified, lead-free fire hydrants. This EPA regulation essentially makes it impossible for local governments to repair fire hydrants or replace them with existing inventory.
“I am pleased that the EPA has decided to reconsider this onerous, nonsensical regulation that will hurt communities across Ohio,” Portman said. “This episode is yet another example of regulatory overreach and the need for meaningful oversight to rein in excesses of the administrative state. I urge the Senate to act and ensure that this fire hydrant regulation is permanently put to rest.”
Last week, Portman cosponsored bipartisan legislation to bolster fire safety and protect local governments from this dangerous and expensive new mandate.  The bill, introduced by Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and cosponsored by Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), prohibits EPA oversight of fire hydrants.  On October 22, 2013, EPA announced through guidance that fire hydrants would be covered under the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, set to go into effect on January 4, 2014, because they are occasionally used in emergencies to provide drinking water.  Local communities were caught off guard by the announcement because fire hydrants had not been previously discussed, and because similar items were already excluded from the rule.  As a result of the new EPA interpretation, any hydrant manufactured or installed after January 4th must have a lead content that meets the statutory standard.  Spare hydrants or parts that cities in Ohio keep on hand not meeting the standard would become obsolete.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://gibbs.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bob-gibbs-statement-regarding-passage-bipartisan-budget-act-2013,Congressman Bob Gibbs Statement Regarding the Passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Bob Gibbs,G000563,gibbs.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Bob Gibbs released the following statement regarding the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.
“This agreement is a positive step forward. For the first time since I have been in Congress, we have begun to address our country’s mandatory spending problems, which accounts for two thirds of government spending. While discretionary spending is reviewed annually, Congress has previously failed to keep those spending cuts in place. Mandatory spending is on auto pilot and by cutting spending in this area we are able to reduce the deficit without further action by Congress.
“This bill takes steps to strengthen our national security by reversing previously damaging cuts to our defense programs in exchange for sensible spending reforms. Our national security has taken severe cuts in the past and I do not want to put our security at risk due to continued reckless spending. Although this bill is not perfect, it is a compromise and a positive step towards fiscal responsibility.”
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364520,Stivers Introduces the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection-Inspector General Act of 2013,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Stivers (R – OH) this week introduced the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection-Inspector General Act of 2013, legislation that creates the position of an independent Inspector General (IG) at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Stivers introduced the bipartisan legislation with Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN).
“Government accountability is important now, more than ever,” Stivers said.  “This legislation will allow for increased oversight of an agency that has been given broad authority.  It is important that we take the necessary steps to ensure the CFPB is accountable to the American people.”
The CFPB currently has very little Congressional oversight. The agency is not subject to the appropriations process, receiving funds for their budget from the Federal Reserve, and the CFPB does not have an independent, Senate-confirmed Inspector General (IG). 
Instead, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shares an Inspector General with the Federal Reserve. The IG of the Federal Reserve is an unconfirmed position appointed by the Fed Chairman.
Stivers’ legislation amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish an independent Inspector General for the CFPB. The position would be appointed by the President and then confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate.
There are currently more than 30 federal departments or agencies that have an independent IG.
 -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan%E2%80%99s-legislation-honor-army-specialist-robert-towles-passes-house,Congressman Tim Ryan’s Legislation to Honor Army Specialist Robert Towles Passes the House,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tim Ryan today voted in support of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which in addition to authorizing over $625 billion in budget authority for national defense programs honors Army Specialist Robert Towles of Windham, OH with the Distinguished Service Cross—the U.S. Army’s second highest military honor. The provision honoring Mr. Towles is identical to legislation authored by Congressman Ryan, HR 3503, that was introduced in September.
“It is my honor to play a part in awarding Mr. Towles the Distinguished Service Cross,” said Congressman Ryan.  “This recognition is well deserved and long overdue.  I commend him once again for his heroic service to our country.”
“I am humbled by this honor,” said Mr. Towles, “but this is for the men who died, not for me.” 
The Army initially awarded Mr. Towles the Bronze Star for Valor but determined in 2013 that he can receive the more prestigious Distinguished Service Cross. The passage of the NDAA now ensures that Mr. Towles will receive recognition for his heroic service and be honored with the Distinguished Service Cross. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-introduces-bill-protect-victims-military-sexual-assault,Congressman Tim Ryan Introduces Bill to Protect Victims of Military Sexual Assault from Harassment on the Stand,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Tim Ryan took two major steps to expand protections for survivors of sexual assault this week.  He voted in favor the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Thursday, which included provisions Rep. Ryan introduced earlier this year in the Combating Military Sexual Assault Act.  He also introduced The Shield Act, which will improve protections for victims of sexual assault in pretrial hearings in the military, also known as an Article 32 hearing.
“I am committed to providing strong protections to victims of military sexual assault who choose to publically disclose the crime that was committed against them and participate in the judicial process,” said Congressman Ryan.  “Victims should never be subjected to irrelevant questioning meant to embarrass and humiliate them.  That is why I want to ensure that victims have the protection they need to defend against those types of questions, and a counsel to help enforce that right.”
A month ago Rep. Mike Turner and Rep. Niki Tsongas introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to reform pretrial hearings in the military.  Rep. Tim Ryan supported and cosponsored that reform, and also recognized that more could be done to protect victims of sexual assault at that stage of the process.  So he, along with Rep. Turner, Rep. Tsongas, Rep. Kay Granger, and Rep. Jackie Speier, introduced a bill to provide survivors of sexual assault “rape shield” protections and ensure that a Special Victims’ Counsel can speak on behalf of victims at the hearing.
The Shield Act is meant to supplement the reform measures contained in the NDAA.  The bill provides sexual assault survivors the ability to speak through their own attorney, the Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC) established in the NDAA, at the Article 32.  This important right will ensure that an attorney can protect privileged information from being disclosed at the hearing.  The primary privilege that the SVC can help protect will be what’s commonly referred to as “rape shield.”  The bill codifies “rape shield” protections and ensures that a victim cannot be questioned about any irrelevant sexual behavior or sexual predisposition. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-issues-statement-house-and-senate-budget-agreement,Congressman Tim Ryan Issues Statement on  House and Senate Budget Agreement,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"""Although this Budget agreement is not perfect, I do believe it is the type of compromise we need to move our nation forward. After years of continued partisan gridlock and short term spending extensions, this agreement gives our nation two years of much needed financial stability. I am pleased that this agreement restores $63 billion in spending over these next two years, partially alleviating some of the devastating fiscal constraints caused by the sequester’s stranglehold on our economy. At the same time this agreement will responsibly provide a $23 billion deficit reduction. Additionally, I am happy that this agreement takes the necessary steps to block a massive reduction the Medicare reimbursement rate for physician services, which would take effect on January 1st.
""While I voted in favor of the Budget agreement, I am utterly disappointed that it does not include an extension of unemployment insurance benefits. Unemployment insurance will expire three days after Christmas, leaving 1.3 million out of work Americans and 88,000 Ohioan without benefits if Congress fails to act. I have sent a letter to Speaker Boehner with 174 of House Democrats calling on him to call a vote on this extension. It is imperative that Congress does not go home for the holidays without passing this critical legislation, doing so at a time when so many are in need is callous and un-American.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-praises-passage-ndaa-and-military-sexual-assault-reforms,Congressman Tim Ryan Praises Passage of the NDAA and Military Sexual Assault Reforms,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tim Ryan voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (FY14 NDAA), which in addition to authorizing over $625 billion in budget authority for national defense programs included 90 pages of new legislation addressing sexual assault in the military, including legislative changes Congressman Ryan introduced earlier this year.  
“I am encouraged that the House passed National Defense Authorization Act includes significant and thoughtful reforms to prevent sexual assaults in the military. This is a good first step towards providing much needed support and protection to survivors of sexual assault,” said Congressman Ryan. “We need to continue the process of finding innovative solutions in providing expanded protections to sexual assault victims.”
Like the Combating Military Sexual Assault bill Congressman Ryan introduced this summer, the FY14 NDAA enhances the responsibilities of the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, ensures availability of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators for members of the National Guard and the Reserves, and provides for Special Victims’ Counsel to advise and advocate for survivors of sexual assault and it ensures that no commander can throw out a sexual assault conviction. Further, the FY14 NDAA includes a victims’ bill of rights, reforms the pretrial investigation procedures, establishes minimum sentences for offenders and other reforms that target sexual assault and support victims. 
The bill includes several provisions that recognize the strain of more than a decade of war has placed on our troops and the equipment, technology, and tools. The bill provides $176.5 billion in operation and maintenance funding to help mend some of the damage that has been done to overused equipment and neglected facilities. At a time when military readiness continues to be hurt by mindless cuts through sequestration, this funding is vitally important. In addition, the NDAA bill does not authorize an additional round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). The bill enhances the President’s authority to transfer and release detainees to foreign countries from the United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO).
“We must do everything in our power to prevent sexual assaults in our military, and I will continue to look for new opportunities to protect survivors of sexual assault in the military. I also voted for this bill because of its support for our military men and women, providing them with the tools they need to protect this nation and the benefits they have earned while doing it,” said Congressman Ryan.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1248,"Rep. Fudge Requests Adequate Funding for the Social Security Administration; Ability to Meet the Needs of the Disabled, Older Americans and Dependent Children is at Stake",2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Fudge Requests Adequate Funding for the Social Security Administration; Ability to Meet the Needs of the Disabled, Older Americans and Dependent Children is at Stake

	WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) sent a letter today to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging adequate funding for the administrative expenses of the Social Security Administration (SSA) when preparing its fiscal year (FY) 2015 budget recommendation. Automatic cuts to the federal budget, known as sequestration, have negatively impacted the SSA’s ability to serve our aging U.S. population’s demand for Social Security services.

	“We have not succeeded in doing more with less,” said Congresswoman Fudge.  “The reality is that mandated reductions to the Social Security Administration’s operating budget have resulted in less service for the 69 million Americans who rely on Social Security benefits, including 179,000 constituents of my district.” In her letter to OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Congresswoman Fudge noted that due to budget cuts, in 2013 individuals had to wait twice as long for telephone service, 40 percent longer in a field office without an appointment and a month longer for a decision on their disability claims as compared to 2012.

	The letter also addresses the increased value for taxpayers when Social Security has adequate resources to effectively administer its programs.  For example, the SSA estimates that over a 10-year period, $9 in program savings will occur for every dollar spent on medical Continuing Disability Reviews, and the federal government will save $5 for every dollar spent on Supplemental Security Income redeterminations.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recognized these savings when it scored the President’s FY2014 budget request.

	Read the full letter here. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131216151845/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/brown-applauds-usda-announcement-halting-unsafe-poultry-from-china,Brown Applauds USDA Announcement Halting Unsafe Poultry from China,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"In September, Brown Wrote USDA Following an Announcement that It Would Allow Chicken Processed in Four Chinese Plants into American Markets with No Routine Inspections or Country-of-Origin Labeling
				
			
			
			Friday, December 13, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, DC— Following the release of the 2013 audit of China’s poultry slaughter system by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded a decision by USDA to halt imports of unsafe poultry from China. The USDA audit found that China’s poultry slaughter system did not earn American equivalency standards, and today’s move will delay poultry slaughtered in China from being shipped to American restaurants and markets. 
“Given the well-documented shortcoming of the Chinese food safety system, USDA inspectors must keep a watchful eye to ensure that any meat entering American markets meet our safety and sanitary requirements,” Brown said. “I’m glad USDA has taken action to protect Ohio families and consumers.”
The audit conducted by the FSIS found that China’s system for slaughter did not meet equivalence standards in two out of six testing areas – government oversight and statutory authority and food safety regulations. The Chinese government has submitted a corrective action plan and USDA inspectors will reevaluate the system following those corrective actions.
In September, Brown sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack demanding answers after USDA provided equivalency standards for poultry processing with the Chinese government. Brown asked for assurances that American consumers health and safety was not being endangered and that the agreement did not undermine confidence in our nation’s food safety system.
Brown has been a strong advocate in the Senate for food safety, and was instrumental in passing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, he passed legislation to give the FDA new authority to recall dangerous foods, improve the safety of imported products, and establish a comprehensive traceability system to quickly and accurately trace the source of tainted food in the event of a food-borne illness outbreak.
In 2012, Brown led the way in holding the Food and Drug Administration responsible after an Ohio family’s five-month old puppy, Penny, passed away after eating tainted chicken jerky made in China.
A link to the final USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service report can be found: HERE
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https://web.archive.org/web/20131216151851/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-announces-federal-resources-to-maintain-critical-infrastructure-in-brown-county,Sen. Brown Announces Federal Resources to Maintain Critical Infrastructure in Brown County,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Department of Agriculture Funds Will Be Used to Maintain Roads, Purchase Dump Truck in Brown County
				
			
			
			Friday, December 13, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON D.C. – New federal resources will provide for the purchase of a new dump truck to maintain local roadways in Brown County.  U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced today that Brown County will receive a $22,000 grant and a $29,500 loan from the USDA Rural Development branch’s Community Facility Loan and Grant program.
“It can often be difficult for rural communities to fully fund critical infrastructure projects,” Brown said. “These funds from the Agriculture Department will help Brown County maintain necessary infrastructure and support local jobs.”
According to the USDA, the Community Facility Loan and Grant Program supports funding for essential community facilities in rural areas, such as health care, public safety, and education.  In addition to the federal grant and loan, Brown County is providing $13,500 in funding, for a total of $65,000.  The funds will be used to purchase a dump truck for use in maintaining local roads located in Byrd Township.
Brown is the first Ohioan in over 40 years to serve on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. He serves as the Chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131216153453/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-passes-amendment-to-secure-critical-medicaid-funds-for-low-income-working-families,Sen. Brown Passes Amendment to Secure Critical Medicaid Funds for Low-Income Working Families,2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Transitional Medical Assistance Ensures Access to Health Care for Working Families Who Can’t Afford Coverage
				
			
			
			Friday, December 13, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the passage of an amendment he introduced with U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and was co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), that would help secure critical Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) for working Ohio families. Currently, many low-income families lose Medicaid when their earnings increase, but become eligible for temporary Medicaid coverage for six months to a year. As a part of the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) repeal bill, the Senate Finance Committee voted to pass Brown’s amendment which would extend TMA for an additional five years.
“I applaud my colleagues for voting to extend Transitional Medical Assistance which, for decades, has helped keep millions of low income families healthy while they make the critical transition from unemployment to working or as they move up the employment ladder,” Brown said. “Americans shouldn’t have to choose between a job and health care. TMA provides extended Medicaid coverage to members of low income families who would otherwise lose Medicaid and potentially become uninsured because of an increase in hours or income from employment.”
The TMA program is a critical source of health care coverage for low-income working families. It was established in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, expanded in 1988 under Reagan, and given its current form in 1996 as part of welfare reform. TMA ensures that families can retain their Medicaid coverage as their income fluctuates, which is common among low-income families.
This week, Brown alerted Ohioans that enrollment has begun for the state’s expanded Medicaid program through the health law. Because of the expansion, more than 300,000 Ohioans will now be eligible for health insurance beginning January 1, 2014. In October, Brown applauded Ohio’s decision to become the 25th state to expand Medicaid under the new health law.  
The Medicare SGR is a method used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to control Medicare spending on physician services. The flawed system penalizes doctors for health care trends beyond their control, including changes in the quantity and types of health care services patients need. Each year Congress takes action to temporarily suspend these cuts. Medicare physician payments will be reduced by 25 percent in 2014 if Congress does not intervene. On December 12, the Senate Finance Committee, on which Brown serves, successfully passed a repeal of the SGR. This repeal bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote.  
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=af82112d-2ed2-4aa1-ae87-897634fd7c31,"Senate Auto Caucus Chairs Portman, Levin Call on TPA Bill to Include Strong Currency Provisions",2013-12-13,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Carl Levin (D-Michigan), chairs of the Senate Auto Caucus, released the following statement about the importance of including strong and enforceable currency provisions in the forthcoming Trade Promotion Authority bill:
“U.S. auto exports support American jobs, and it is important that U.S. workers operate on a level playing field with their global competitors,” said Portman and Levin.  “Fair currency policies are central to a level playing field, as they ensure that no one gets an unfair advantage in the global market.  As the Senate prepares to debate Trade Promotion Authority, we strongly support the inclusion of provisions to discourage currency manipulation that hurts U.S. manufacturers and auto workers.”
In September, Portman and Levin signed a letter with 58 of their Senate colleagues to the U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of the Treasury calling for “strong and enforceable” currency disciplines to be included in trade agreements. 
Portman and Levin chair the Senate Auto Caucus, which provides a forum to exchange ideas and influence policy on issues affecting America’s auto industry, such as trade, transportation and technology.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364354,Bill Johnson Statement on Bipartisan Budget Act,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"""This bipartisan budget agreement, which passed the House today, represents a modest, but important, step forward in a Congress mired in gridlock and partisanship.""
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      WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Budget Act by a vote of 332-94: “I am proud of the hard work that Congressman Ryan and Senator Murray put into this legislation.  Thomas Jefferson once said that ‘the ground of liberty is to be gained by inches.’  This bipartisan budget agreement, which passed the House today, represents a modest, but important, step forward in a Congress mired in gridlock and partisanship.  This two year budget agreement would avoid another government shutdown in January, provide certainty to businesses and families, and put the budget process back on solid ground. 
“This agreement protects our national security and defense capabilities around the world – capabilities that have diminished due to the President’s sweeping and indiscriminate sequester cuts.  The deal begins targeting the main driver of our national debt: mandatory spending.  In total, this agreement reduces the deficit by $23 billion and spends less than previous GOP budgets. And, it accomplishes these important steps forward without increasing taxes on hardworking Americans.
“Though this is a small step forward, there is still much work to be done.  Those in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio have to balance their household budget; the federal government should be no different.  I am hopeful the Senate will follow the House’s lead and pass this important, bipartisan legislation.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364304,Stivers Presents “I Hire Vets” Award to Company Wrench,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) this week presented an “I Hire Vets” Award to Company Wrench.  Through his “I Hire Vets” Program, Congressman Stivers recognizes companies throughout Ohio’s 15th Congressional District who make hiring veterans a priority.
“I would like to thank Company Wrench for their outstanding efforts in hiring veterans,” Stivers said. “Veterans are well-trained, and they make great employees in the private sector. As a nation, we should be doing more to help our veterans return to work when they leave the military, which is why it is so important to recognize companies, like Company Wrench, who make hiring veterans a priority.”
Company Wrench, is an Ohio-based company focusing on the manufacturing, sales, rentals, parts and service of scrap, demolition, and construction equipment. Headquartered in Carroll, Ohio, Company Wrench operates in 13 locations across the US.  Approximately 10 percent of the employees at Company Wrench are veterans.
The unemployment rate for returning veterans remains high.  Currently, the jobless rate for post 9/11 veterans stands at around 10 percent, which is higher than the seven percent unemployment rate facing the general public today.  
According to recent reports, there are between 240,000 and 360,000 service members leaving military service every year and this has become an even more pressing issue as troops have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/gallery/photos/sen-browns-constituent-coffee-12-12-13-,Sen. Brown's Constituent Coffee 12-12-13 »,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If you’re afraid you might be a victim of the Equifax data breach, Senator Brown encourages you to visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website for more information and resources – www.consumerfinance.gov.
  
For information on how to help recovery efforts for recent hurricanes, go to www.fema.gov",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364220,Chabot Calls For Release of Pastor Abedini,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Steven Chabot,C000266,chabot.house.gov,,,legacy,"On Thursday, Rep. Steve Chabot delivered the following statement during a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing regarding the release of imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini: First, I would like to commend Chairman Smith and Chairman Ros-Lehtinen for calling this timely hearing today.  In light of recent developments in U.S.  Iran relations, the case of Pastor Saeed Abedini's imprisonment raises very grave concerns.  If Iran expects to engage in a more transparent and honest relationship with the U.S. and other members of the global community, it must cease its egregious human rights abuses and adopt standards practiced by most of the civilized world.  I think my colleagues would agree that the imprisonment of Pastor Abedini is a prime example of Iran's use of abhorrent practices to deny human rights protections to its religious minorities. If the Obama Administration is going to negotiate with Iran concerning economic sanctions, the release of Pastor Abedini must be a priority. It should have a been a precondition from the start.  And with that I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1246,Congresswoman Fudge Votes No on Budget that Fails to Extend Unemployment Assistance,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"CONGRESSWOMAN FUDGE VOTED NO ON THE BUDGET AGREEMENT THAT FAILS TO EXTEND EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
	“Congress should have used this occasion to tackle the issues challenging our nation, including growing income inequality and a shortage of jobs.”

	WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) released the following statement tonight regarding her vote against the Senate Amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 and Pathway for Sustainable Growth in Medicare (SGR) Reform Act of 2013:

	“While the budget agreement is a slight improvement over current law because it provides temporary relief from across-the-board, automatic spending cuts known as sequestration, the agreement shortchanges federal employees and turns its back on millions of unemployed Americans.  The budget agreement calls on future federal employees to bear the brunt of producing budget savings and misses out on a pivotal opportunity to extend federal emergency unemployment assistance. I could not in good conscience vote for this budget knowing that federal employees, the backbone of a functioning government, have already contributed approximately $114 billion over ten years to help reduce the government’s deficit, which includes a three-year pay freeze,” said Congresswoman Fudge. 

	Unless reauthorized, unemployment benefits to 1.3 million Americans, including more than 38,000 Ohioans will end on December 28th.  This cutoff will affect more than 3 million Americans over the next six months.

	“Although the economy has seen some progress since the 2008 recession, the U.S. still has 1.3 million fewer jobs than when the recession began.  In September and October, unemployment increased in Ohio while the national rate decreased.   Unemployment benefits play a critical role in helping Americans get back on their feet and strengthening our economy.  In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found that unemployment benefits are one of the most effective fiscal policies to increase economic growth and employment.

	“The budget process is an opportunity to advance the nation’s priorities.  Congress should have used this occasion to tackle the issues challenging our nation, including growing income inequality and a shortage of jobs.  Instead my colleagues abandoned many of our unemployed citizens by denying them much needed resources,” said Congresswoman Fudge.

	 

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https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-joins-house-colleagues-urging-extension-jobless-aid,Congresswoman Kaptur Joins House Colleagues In Urging Extension of Jobless Aid,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2013)  Congresswoman Kaptur (OH-9) today joined 165 Democrats today in urging Speaker John Boehner to allow a vote on extension of federal unemployment benefits before the House adjourns for the year.
Congress should not go home before extending jobless benefits, said Congresswoman Kaptur. We simply can't leave more than a million Americans out in the cold.
She noted that an extension of unemployment benefits is particularly important to Ohio, where unemployment exceeds the national average and in fact is moving in the opposite direction. The national unemployment rate fell from 7.9% to 7.3% between October 2012 and October of this year, but the jobless rate in Ohio increased 6.9% to 7.5% in the same time period.
With unemployment increasing Ohio, this is certainly not the time to cut benefits, said Congresswoman Kaptur. For many families, the job opportunities simply aren't there and jobless aid is a real lifeline.
Congresswoman Kaptur said failure to extend benefits would work serious hardship on jobless families and their communities. She noted that jobless workers spend their unemployment benefits essentials such as food and gasoline, thus providing important demand for local businesses throughout Ohio.  
	Cutting benefits at this time will hurt Ohio and its economy, she said.
Extended benefits are scheduled to expire on December 28. If federal unemployment insurance expires, approximately 1.3 million Americans will immediately lose jobless aid. Another 1.9 million Americans would lose their eligibility for coverage during the first six months of next year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131213200108/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-643000-ohio-children-with-pre-existing-conditions-can-no-longer-be-denied-coverage-due-to-health-law,"Sen. Brown: 643,000 Ohio Children with Pre-Existing Conditions Can No Longer Be Denied Coverage Due to Health Law",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Thursday, December 12, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released figures highlighting the number of children in Ohio with pre-existing conditions who, thanks to the health law, will be protected from discrimination based on their health.
“There are more than 643,000 Ohio children with pre-existing conditions whose families no longer have to fear that their insurance coverage could be terminated or denied altogether,” Brown said. “We must do everything we can to protect our children and ensure that they are healthy. We cannot go back to the days where a child with cancer, asthma, or diabetes could be discriminated against by insurance companies trying to maintain a higher profit margin.”
Because of the health law, since 2010 insurance companies have been prohibited from denying health coverage for the up to 17 million children—including up to 643,000 in Ohio—with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, asthma, or diabetes. Starting in 2014, insurance companies will also no longer be able to deny coverage for adults or charge anyone higher premiums based on health status or history.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131216153647/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-introduces-amendment-to-sgr-legislation-that-would-extend-health-coverage-tax-credit-for-delphi-salaried-retirees,Sen. Brown Introduces Amendment to SGR Legislation That Would Extend Health Coverage Tax Credit for Delphi Salaried Retirees,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Brown Continues to Stand by Delphi Retirees and Pursue Solutions to Lost Benefits
				
			
			
			Thursday, December 12, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced an amendment to the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) that would extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) one year for Delphi salaried retirees. This important tax credit would help the Delphi workers afford health coverage after losing much of their pensions and benefits. He was joined by U.S. Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
“While the HCTC is no substitute for a job, this is a fair extension of health care tax credits for workers who lose their jobs or retirees who lost their benefits due to no fault of their own,” Brown said. “The HCTC would ensure that the loss of their benefits doesn’t mean the loss of their health coverage.” 
Without Congressional action, the HCTC will expire at the end of 2013. The HCTC helps trade-affected workers; select groups of retirees, like Delphi salaried retirees; and their families purchase private health coverage to replace the employer-sponsored coverage they lost. It currently makes health insurance coverage more affordable by providing a 72.5 percent tax credit to eligible workers. Today’s amendment would extend the tax credit at the same rate for an additional year.
In August, Brown introduced a bill with Rockefeller and U.S. Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to expand and permanently extend the HCTC for Delphi salaried retirees as a part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The Health Care Coverage for Displaced Works Act would permanently extend the HCTC so that it no longer requires constant reauthorization, and expand the HCTC to 80 percent, a nearly ten percent increase from the current rate.
In April 2013, Brown announced that the Department of the Treasury agreed to meet with the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association (DSRA). This announcement came on the heels of Brown’s efforts to push the Obama Administration to meet with the Delphi salaried retirees and to pursue efforts that would restore the retirees’ pensions and benefits.
In September 2012, Brown and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (OH-13) introduced legislation that would restore the full pensions of Delphi retirees. The bill would transfer certain proceeds from the sale of government stock of General Motors to a fund at the U.S. Treasury Department that would supplement payment to the Delphi retirees. Earlier this year, Ryan introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives that would continue HCTC for Delphi Retirees.  
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140112002203/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/sens-brown-and-portman-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-make-it-easier-for-credit-unions-to-make-loans-to-families-small-businesses,"Sens. Brown and Portman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make It Easier for Credit Unions to Make Loans to Families, Small Businesses",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Bill Would Give Privately Insured Credit Unions Equal Access to Federal Home Loan Bank and Improve Access to Mortgages, Small Business Loans, and Other Economic Development Loans 
				
			
			
			Thursday, December 12, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced bipartisan legislation that would make it easier for privately-insured credit unions to offer loans through the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system. Currently, privately-insured credit unions are unable to gain access to the Federal home loan bank system, preventing them from receiving secured loans to make mortgage, small business, and other economic development loans to their members. The FHLB System is comprised nationally of 12 banks and more than 8,000 member institutions – Ohio is home to The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.
“This will make is easier for Main Street credit unions to offer mortgages to families and loans to small business. Expanding the eligibility of the Federal Home Loan Bank System to privately-insured credit unions is long-overdue,” Brown said. “By providing these financial intuitions with the ability to join the Federal home loan bank system, we help these community institutions keep more local dollars invested in local communities.”
“This bill will help Ohio families and small businesses who continue to struggle through a weak economy by increasing their access to mortgages and loans to buy homes and office space,” Portman said.
The legislation is supported by the Ohio Credit Union League, the state trade association representing Ohio’s credit unions.
“Ohio is home to 347 well-regulated, safe and sound credit unions and nearly three million credit union members. We firmly support Senators Brown and Portman’s legislation that, if enacted, will allow all credit unions access to the Federal Home Loan Bank system,” said Paul Mercer, President, Ohio Credit Union League.
Brown and Portman’s legislation would provide more than 150 privately insured credit unions in nine states –including Ohio –access to additional forms of liquidity through membership in the FHLB system. Current law prohibits these institutions from participation due to a 1989 statutory change which expanded FHLB membership only to commercial banks and federally-insured credit unions, preventing any non-federally insured credit union participation. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202946/http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=830,House Ways & Means Committee Approves The Medicare Patient Access And Quality Improvement Act,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Today, the House Ways & Means Committee voted to approve H.R. 2810, the Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act. This legislation repeals the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and replaces traditional fee-for-service with a payment model that rewards physicians for quality, rather than quantity.

	“For too long, physicians in Ohio and around the country have been burdened with uncertainty as they face the threat of massive Medicare payment cuts each year. As a businessman, I know just how detrimental a lack of certainty is to an organization’s plan for its future,” said Rep. Jim Renacci. “The one size fits all approach that is so prevalent in Washington is a roadblock to physicians seeking to provide high quality care to our nation’s seniors. It is time that we restore transparency and predictability to the Medicare payment process so that providers have the opportunity to hire necessary staff and invest in practice improvements. I was proud to see Members of the House Ways and Means Committee come together in a bipartisan manner to develop the Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act, using an open and transparent process, to permanently repeal the flawed SGR formula. This legislation begins the process of rewarding our providers based on quality and efficiency and providing flexibility that allows providers to participate in payment and delivery models that best fit their practice. I am hopeful that my colleagues in the House will join us in supporting this legislation as it is certainly a step in the right direction.”

	The Senate Committee on Finance is also marking up legislation to replace the SGR formula today. The House Ways and Means Committee’s three month extension will allow appropriate time for the House and Senate to agree on a permanent fix to the current flawed payment system.

	Renacci added, “It is critical that any permanent changes to the current system include improvements to the quality and efficiency of care and decrease the administrative burdens placed on physicians, allowing for time to focus on patient care rather than administrative paperwork.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140222203143/http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=831,Renacci Statement Following Vote In Favor Of Bipartisan Budget Agreement,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Jim Renacci (OH-16) today released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to approve the bipartisan budget agreement reached by the Budget Conference Committee:  “Though the budget agreement is far from perfect, it is certainly a step in the right direction as it forces Congress to move forward with the appropriations process.  “In the past, I voiced concerns over the budget process itself and I stand by my comments in that the process is broken, and it must change. In the future, I am hopeful that comprehensive transparency measures will be implemented. With that said, I applaud Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray for their efforts to reach this agreement. It is critical now more than ever that we find common ground and act together to move America forward.  “Throughout my time serving the people of Ohio’s 16th district, I have remained committed to reducing federal spending, eradicating burdensome regulations, and keeping taxes low to help create an economic environment that will allow our small businesses, the backbone of our economy here in Northeast Ohio, to have the ability to innovate, hire, and expand. As we move forward, it is critical that we take steps to address the drivers of our $17 trillion debt, reform our broken tax code, and rein in excessive federal spending. We are facing challenging times ahead, and I maintain the belief that we must make the tough but necessary choices to advance policies that hold the promise of a brighter future for those that will come after us.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301115057/http://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=476,Joyce Supports Bipartisan Budget Deal,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Dave Joyce,J000295,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Congressman Dave Joyce voted in favor of the Ryan Budget Deal that reduces the deficit by up to $23 billion, doesn’t raise taxes, and allows Washington to operate under a regular budget rather than lurching from crisis to crisis. Joyce stated:

	“For too long, those in Washington have sacrificed the good in pursuit of the perfect. This bill reduces the deficit through common-sense spending cuts without raising taxes. It also allows Washington to return to a regular budget process, something I’ve advocated for since day one, because it’s the only way we can put a check on spending and stop operating from one crisis to another.”

	The bipartisan package includes $63 billion of sequester relief, $85 billion of savings, and $23 billion in net deficit reduction. Regular order is when bills go through the full legislative process and both chambers agree on a budget as well as write, amend, and pass 12 appropriations bills. 

	According to the House Budget Committee, the bipartisan budget agreement includes specific, concrete spending cuts, which come to a total of $85 billion in savings. Examples below:

	Eliminate waste

	·         Stop paying Medicaid bills that legally obligated fathers and insurance companies should cover. That’s a $1.4 billion spending cut.

	·         Stop sending unemployment checks to criminals.

	·         Stop sending government checks to dead people.

	Stop favoritism

	·         End the special treatment for non-profit student-loan servicers. That would save $3 billion.

	·         Address the problem of some energy companies use the federal government like a bank. They deposit extra cash and earn well above market interest rates. By addressing this problem, we can save $750 million.

	·         Repeal a government research program for private energy companies. That’s a $40 million cut.

	Real reforms

	·         Makes sensible reforms to the federal employee retirement system.

	·         Taxpayers shouldn’t have to bail out private companies’ pension benefits. That’s why we ask private companies to cover more of the cost of guaranteeing their pension benefits. That would protect taxpayers and save $7.9 billion.

	·         Mandatory spending is where the problem is. This agreement extends the mandatory sequester for two more years, which cuts $28 billion and rightly focuses on the source of the problem.

	 

	###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364234,"Wenstrup Looking for Answers on Dropped Doctors, $200 Billion Medicare Advantage Cuts",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Brad Wenstrup,W000815,wenstrup.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  As HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius dodged questions during a congressional oversight hearing Wednesday, Congressman Brad Wenstrup is drawing attention to the seniors in Ohio who are losing access to their trusted physicians due to the cuts to Medicare Advantage in the president's health care law.
Wenstrup, a physician of 26 years, called the impacts devastating to Ohio seniors and explained he is concerned with recent moves to drop doctors and limit provider networks within Medicare Advantage plans. As a physician, I know how vital the doctor patient relationship is to achieving better health outcomes.
I'm hearing from Ohio seniors who were told if they liked their doctor and health plan, they could keep their doctor and health plan. Now, Obamacare is forcing many seniors to choose between the two as Medicare Advantage plans drop doctors from their networks to make up for Obamacare's $200 billion in cuts to the program.
In a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Wenstrup and ten other members of the Ohio delegation are requesting specifics on how these cuts will affect Ohio seniors and Medicare Advantage providers on a county by county basis over the next four years. It's already happening: one constituent told me they're looking at an extra 100 miles of travel every week because the specialist in their county is dropped from their plan. Another has had their cancer specialist eliminated from their network, Wenstrup noted.
We're facing Medicare Advantage cuts that may impact upwards of 700,000 Ohio seniors. That means our parents and grandparents, our greatest generation, could have to pay more for less choice when it comes to their health care, Wenstrup said. This just doesn't measure up to the soaring rhetoric President Obama used to get Obamacare passed.
The $200 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage were enacted into law as part of President Obama's health care reform in 2010. Just last month, the Ohio State Medical Association highlighted the first round of dropped doctors across Ohio, citing numerous areas in the state that were losing specialist coverage.

NOTE: A copy of the letter can be found here
Letter cosigners include:
Steve Chabot (OH-1)
Brad Wenstrup (OH-2)
Jim Jordan (OH-4)
Bob Latta (OH-5)
Bill Johnson (OH-6) 
Bob Gibbs (OH-7)
Mike Turner (OH-10) 
Pat Tiberi (OH-12)
David Joyce (OH-14) 
Steve Stivers (OH-15) 
Jim Renacci (OH-16)

###
Office of Representative Brad Wenstrup
www.Wenstrup.House.gov",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364368,Wenstrup: I Came to Washington to Cut Spending,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Brad Wenstrup,W000815,wenstrup.house.gov,,,legacy,"Opposing the budget deal that passed the House Thursday night, Congressman Brad Wenstrup made the following statement:
It's encouraging to see the effort for certainty in Washington, and I applaud Paul Ryan's good faith efforts to work towards deficit reduction without raising taxes on hard working Americans. However, this bill increases government spending by $64 billion over the next two years while exchanging certain budget cuts now for uncertain budget cuts over a decade, hence my opposition.
If we are to leave the possibility of the American Dream for future generations, we need serious efforts to address the growing debtnow. I came to Washington to cut spending. Unfortunately, this budget deal contains no structural changes to the true drivers of our debt and deficit.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2754725f-7fc5-4a01-95d3-65956474b01e,"Portman, Wyden Anti-Trafficking Measures Move Forward",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today applauded the inclusion of provisions aimed at fighting domestic child sex trafficking within a larger child welfare bill.
The Senate Finance Committee today marked up the Supporting At-Risk Children Act, which includes key provisions from the Portman-Wyden Child Sex Trafficking Data and Response Act of 2013. The Portman-Wyden provisions require state child welfare workers to identify and document victims of sex trafficking within the child welfare system, which would help provide accurate statistics on these crimes for the first time.
Further, child welfare workers would also be required to immediately report information on missing and abducted children to law enforcement authorities for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The NCIC is a computerized index of information on crimes and criminals that is maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). NCMEC is a non-profit organization that receives federal funding from the Missing and Exploited Children’s program and other sources to support law enforcement agencies and families in missing children and child sexual exploitation cases. Additionally, states would be required to detail the specific measure being taken to protect and assist victims of child sex trafficking.
“This bill will help our nation’s most vulnerable children, who far too often fall prey to sex trafficking.  These children have been forgotten or disregarded by a system that was established to keep them safe, and this bill is a step in the right direction to ensuring that the goal of these institutions is met,” Portman said.  “By requiring child welfare agencies to report a child missing immediately, our bill will do a better job of keeping track of runaways and missing kids in order to prevent child victims of sex trafficking from falling through the cracks. Our bill also requires states take the necessary measures to protect and provide services to victims of child sex trafficking, ensuring that we treat exploited children as victims, not as criminals.”
“Gaps in the child welfare system allow some of our most vulnerable children to become victims of sex trafficking, and that is intolerable,” Wyden said. “These provisions protect children and will provide the information needed to develop comprehensive solutions to end sex trafficking in this country.”
Sex trafficking remains a serious problem in the United States. According to the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI), there are currently an estimated 293,000 American children at risk of being commercially exploited and trafficked for sex. Eighty three percent of sex trafficking victims found within the United States were U.S. citizens and 40 percent of sex trafficking cases involved the exploitation or sex trafficking of children.
Across the United States, trends suggest that most children victimized by sex trafficking in the U.S. are involved in the child welfare system. In Alameda County, California, 55 percent of sex trafficked children resided in foster youth group homes. In New York, at least 85 percent of trafficking victims had prior child welfare involvement. And in Florida, it’s estimated that more than 70 percent of victims are in foster care. According to a 2010 report by the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission, more than 1,000 Ohio children are sex trafficked every year.
A one-page summary on the Child Sex Trafficking Data and Response Act can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=45f82b58-d95f-43ce-9eb6-d19abd572f18,Portman Cosponsors Effort to Stop EPA's Dangerous Regulation of Fire Hydrants,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) cosponsored bipartisan legislation to bolster fire safety and protect local governments from a dangerous and expensive new mandate.  The bill, introduced by Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and cosponsored by Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), prohibits Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversight of fire hydrants.  
The need for this bill stems from a recent EPA policy that will require local governments to replace malfunctioning fire hydrants with new independently certified lead-free fire hydrants.  This EPA regulation essentially makes it impossible for local governments to repair fire hydrants or replace them with existing inventory.  Additionally, it is uncertain whether fire hydrants that meet the new criteria are actually available for purchase.
“Not only does this onerous, nonsensical regulation do nothing to protect Ohioans from unsafe drinking water, it promotes rampant government waste by forcing communities across Ohio to trash over $1 million of purchased equipment and replacements parts that were paid for on the taxpayers’ dime,” said Portman.  “Local government budgets are already stretched to the breaking point.  Washington must act by January 4th to prevent this burdensome regulation from taking effect.  This is yet another example of regulatory overreach and the need for meaningful oversight to reign in excesses of the administrative state.”
“Communities throughout Ohio have paid for inventories of existing water system components that they will not be able to use after January 4, 2014 as the result of the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act.  Most of these Ohio Communities did not know that the compliance date would include previously purchased fixtures and component inventories,” said Tom Reese, Board Vice President of the Ohio Rural Water Association. “These inventories are very expensive and the scrapping and subsequent replacement of the same parts would be a real economic hardship in these community systems, many of which are economically disadvantage systems. The use of these inventories would not result in any community violating the EPA lead safety level for drinking water or any risk to public health.”
As a result of this rule, local governments across the country will be forced to leave malfunctioning fire hydrants out-of-service until sufficient numbers of new compliant fire hydrants can be purchased and installed.  The cost of purchasing new fire hydrants every time an existing fire hydrant malfunctions will place considerable financial strain on local governments, and place the safety of communities across the country at-risk. 
• The city of Cincinnati, Ohio has 185 hydrants in stock, valued at about $250,000.  Cincinnati replaced 122 hydrants last year, and is on pace for about the same amount of replacements this year.
• The city of Cleveland, Ohio has 565 hydrants in stock, valued at $653,842.  Overall, the city normally purchases between 2,500 and 2,600 new hydrants each year. 
• Montgomery County has 22 hydrants in stock, valued at $39,600.  The county replaced a total of 55 hydrants over the course of 2012. 
Companion legislation was unanimously adopted by the House on December 2nd.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=90c027a7-e22a-4f67-8bf2-fd0f2a5552bb,"After Portman Amendment, Key Senate Committee Commits to Helping Delphi Retirees Maintain Affordable Health Coverage",2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, introduced a bipartisan amendment at the Finance Committee’s mark-up of health legislation to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) for two years.  After debate on Portman’s amendment, which was cosponsored by Senators Brown (D-Ohio) and Stabenow (D-Mich.), Portman secured a commitment from the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to work toward extending the HCTC when Congress renews Trade Adjustment Assistance early next year.  This is the first commitment from Senate leaders to work toward extending the HCTC, which expires January 1st.
Portman spoke about the effort at today’s mark-up.  Watch the video here. 
“I am pleased to secure a commitment from the Finance Committee Chairman to work toward extending the Health Coverage Tax Credit when the Senate considers Trade Adjustment Assistance.  Thousands of Delphi salaried retirees and their families have very little margin in their budgets after the Administration picked winners and losers in the auto bailout and stripped them of the financial security they deserved from years of work.  For these families, who face cost increases under Obamacare, even with the subsidies, the cascade of bad news is more than just a story on the evening news; they are dealing with the consequences daily,” said Portman.  “These 20,000 families have depended on the HCTC for affordable health insurance after their pensions were terminated.  Extending the HCTC is only fair for these workers, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to extend the HCTC soon.”
The HCTC is a vital tool for many Americans who have experienced job loss and receive Trade Adjustment Assistance or have had their defined benefit pension plans taken over by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), such as thousands of Delphi salaried retirees in Ohio.  Often the HCTC serves as an important bridge for Americans until they become eligible for Medicare benefits.  This amendment extends the HCTC at the current level that covers 72.5% of health insurance premiums, which was reached after bipartisan negotiations in 2011 and will expire on January 1, 2014.
When Delphi’s defined benefit pension plan was terminated, Delphi workers lost an estimated 30 to 70 percent in benefits.  The Auto Policy Task Force subsequently decided to “top-up” the pension benefits of certain retirees, not the 20,000 salaried retirees, including 5,000 salaried retirees in Ohio.  Of the 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees and their families in Ohio, about 1,500 are in the Mahoning Valley, 2,000 are in the Dayton area, and a majority of the remaining 1,500 are in Columbus and Sandusky.
Portman’s Recent Actions to Support Delphi Salaried Retirees
In November 2013, Portman submitted a question for the record to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding the impact of the failed healthcare exchange rollout on Delphi Salaried Retirees.
In September 2013, Portman joined a bipartisan group of 19 members of the Ohio delegation asking the President to review the ongoing situation involving the receipt of reduced pension benefits by salaried retirees of Delphi Corporation.
In June 2013, Portman sent a letter to the Honorable Jack Lew, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, requesting an update on the Treasury Department’s review of why more than 20,000 Delphi salaried families – including  thousands of Ohio families - unfairly lost their pensions during the General Motors (GM) bankruptcy while other workers at the same company received their full pensions and benefits package.
In May 2013, Portman joined Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10) in sending a bicameral, bipartisan letter to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Oversight Committees urging them to continue their Committees’ examinations of matters pertaining to the unjust termination of Delphi salaried retiree pensions.  This push resulted in a special Congressional hearing in Dayton to explore these issues.
In March 2013, Portman and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) called on the Obama Administration to meet with Delphi salaried retirees and to pursue efforts that would restore the retirees’ pensions and benefits.  In a letter to U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, the senators urged Lew to review the proposal submitted by the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association last summer and to pursue other solutions to ensure retirees’ receive the benefits they have earned that were lost through the bankruptcy of General Motors. This resulted in a meeting with senior Treasury Dept. officials and impacted Ohio Delphi retirees.      In February 2013, Portman submitted questions for the Congressional Record for the Senate Finance Committee hearing considering the nomination of Jacob Lew to serve as Treasury Secretary regarding the treatment of retired Delphi salaried workers during the General Motors bankruptcy.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=dec8cfb5-9200-4b10-978a-92fc657e27d8,Portman Statement on Unrest in Ukraine,2013-12-12,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement in response to the ongoing unrest in Ukraine:
“I strongly condemn the Ukrainian government's violent crackdown on thousands of peaceful protesters in Kyiv who were voicing their support for a democratic Ukraine. This is the second time in the last week that Ukrainian authorities have ordered Interior Ministry troops to brutally disperse these peaceful manifestations. The Ukrainian people have the right to chart their own future towards European integration and hold their government accountable if it fails to respect their democratic aspirations. I call on President Yanukovych to stop the violence and uphold the right of all Ukrainians to speak freely without fear of intimidation or suppression.  We must stand with the people of Ukraine gathered on Independence Square and all over the country as they strive for democracy, where constitutional rights and the rule of law prevail.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaptur.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3197:kaptur-cites-rising-inequality&catid=51:2013-press-releases&Itemid=300262,Kaptur Cites Rising Inequality,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Marcy Kaptur is inviting parents, grandparents, caring adults, and youth from across Northern Ohio to participate in a new “Read to Succeed” challenge. “Read to Succeed” is an initiative to encourage children and adults to read together and in doing so, the community is ensuring that our youth are prepared to read.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364162,Latta Legislation Cuts Red Tape for Job Creators,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Latta Legislation Cuts Red Tape for Job Creators  
   
    
       
      
  
    
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        Washington,
        December 11, 2013
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed legislation sponsored by Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) that would repeal an outdated requirement for auto dealers to certify that new vehicles comply with Clean Air Act emissions standards. 
“Passage of this bipartisan legislation demonstrates the real commitment shared by myself and my colleagues to find ways to cut unnecessary red tape that hinders the job creating potential of American businesses.  Modern technology and new vehicle warranties rendered this paperwork mandate moot.  Auto dealers and other small businesses should spend less time complying with obsolete regulatory requirements and more time on developing their businesses, investing in local communities and creating jobs,” said Congressman Latta. 
Since the regulation was enacted in 1981, auto dealers have been required to provide purchasers of new light-duty motor vehicles with written confirmation that the vehicle passed either a visual inspection or on-board-diagnostics emissions test. This requirement has been superseded by standard use of catalytic converters and new vehicle warranties that offer much more coverage than when the agency requirement was first enacted.   Further, other statutory measures require new vehicles comply with the Clean Air Act before entering the stream of commerce and information provided by the certificate is available to consumers under the hood or on the Internet.  
    
  
  
  
    
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      e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-introduces-amendment-budget-agreement-continue-health-care-tax,Congressman Tim Ryan Introduces Amendment to the Budget Agreement to Continue Health Care Tax Credit Coverage for Delphi Retirees,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) introduced H.R. 2783 today as an amendment to the Budget agreement worked out by the House of Representatives and Senate, H.J.Res.59. This legislation provides Delphi retirees and other eligible individuals the choice of continuing within the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program past the program’s December 31, 2013 termination date or leaving the program.
Current law—enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act—terminates the HCTC program at the end of this year. H.R. 2783 extends the HCTC program for currently-enrolled participants, so long as the participants are receiving PBGC pensions and there are no breaks in their coverage.
“I stand firm and committed to doing everything in my power to ensure that we do not leave behind these hardworking Americans, like the Delphi Retirees, who have had their pensions and healthcare significantly reduced through no fault of their own,” said Congressman Ryan. “Through this Budget agreement, Congress has the opportunity to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit program to ensure that those who had their earned heath benefits stripped from them continue to receive the affordable coverage they deserve.”
Current enrollees who are eligible for HCTC as a result of receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) would not be grandfathered into the program, nor would new enrollees be allowed after December 31, 2013.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-urges-speaker-boehner-extend-federal-unemployment-insurance-house,Congressman Tim Ryan Urges Speaker Boehner to Extend Federal Unemployment Insurance Before House Adjourns,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tim Ryan today joined 165 of his Democratic House colleagues in signing a letter to House Speaker John Boehner urging him to bring an extension of federal unemployment benefits to the House Floor for a vote.  Benefits are now scheduled to expire on December 28, cutting jobless aid to 1.3 million Americans immediately, and an additional 1.9 million Americans will lose their federal unemployment insurance during the first six months of 2014.
“Passage of this bill will make a difference to over three million Americans, including almost 88,000 Ohioans,” said Congressman Ryan. “As it stands now, three days after Christmas 1.3 million Americans will lose their unemployment insurance if the House does not act. Speaker Boehner and House Republicans must realize that people still have to pay for gas, groceries, and mortgages. Going home for the holidays without passing this critical legislation at a time when so many are in need is callous and un-American.”
###
Letter to Speaker Boehner is below:
December 11, 2013
The Honorable John Boehner  
	Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives  
	H232, U.S. Capitol  
	Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Boehner:
We write to urge you to address the looming expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before adjourning Congress for the remainder of the year.  Without swift Congressional action, 1.3 million jobless workers will have their benefits cut off on December 28th, and nearly another 1.9 million will lose their unemployment benefits over the first half of next year.   This would not only be a devastating blow for millions of Americans who are already struggling, but it would also hurt our economy.
The Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program is scheduled to immediately and completely stop at the end of 2013, during the holiday season, with the last payable week ending on December 28th.  All current EUC beneficiaries will lose their benefits, and individuals exhausting their limited state unemployment benefits will no longer be eligible for EUC benefits in 2014.  This cutoff will affect over 3 million Americans over the next six months, and thereby also negatively impact our economic growth. In fact, recent estimates indicate that the expiration of the EUC program would cost our economy 310,000 jobs and drain roughly four-tenths of a percentage point from first-quarter economic growth.
While unemployment benefits remain a critical lifeline for dislocated workers and their families, these benefits have recently been significantly scaled back.  According to the Congressional Research Service, the total amount of weeks of unemployment benefits has dropped by more than a third across the states, and by more than 50 percent in some states, compared to two years ago.   Furthermore, the recipients have seen their weekly benefit payment provided by the EUC program cut under sequestration.
Even with the progress our economy has seen since the depths of the recession, there are still 1.3 million fewer jobs today than when the recession started six years ago. Additionally, approximately 4 million Americans are considered long-term unemployed, and have been looking for work for more than six months. Now is certainly not the time to further decimate vital federal assistance to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own and who must actively seek work in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits.   We therefore strongly urge you to immediately bring up a one-year extension of the current EUC program.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Sander Levin
Barbara Lee
Lloyd Doggett
Steny H. Hoyer
James Clyburn
Xavier Becerra
Joe Crowley
Steve Israel
Robert Andrews
Karen Bass
Joyce Beatty
Ami Bera
Sanford Bishop, Jr.
Tim Bishop
Earl Blumenauer
Suzanne Bonamici
Robert A. Brady
Bruce Braley
Corrine Brown
Julia Brownley
Cheri Bustos
G.K. Butterfield
Lois Capps
Michael Capuano
Tony Cardenas
Matt Cartwright
Joaquin Castro
Kathy Castor
Donna M. Christensen
Judy Chu
David Cicilline
Yvette Clarke
Wm. Lacy Clay
Emanuel Cleaver
Steve Cohen
John Conyers, Jr.
Gerald E. Connolly
Jim Cooper
Jim Costa
Joe Courtney
Elijah E. Cummings
Danny K. Davis
Peter DeFazio
Diana DeGette
John Delaney
Rosa L. DeLauro
Suzan DelBene
Ted Deutch
John D. Dingell
Donna F. Edwards
Keith Ellison
Eliot L. Engel
William Enyart
Anna Eshoo
Elizabeth H. Esty
Sam Farr
Chaka Fattah
Bill Foster
Lois Frankel
Marcia L. Fudge
John Garamendi
Alan Grayson
Al Green
Gene Green
Raul Grijalva
Michelle Lujan Grisham
Luis V. Gutierrez
Janice Hahn
Colleen Hanabusa
Alcee L. Hastings
Denny Heck
Brian Higgins
James A. Himes
Ruben Hinojosa
Rush Holt
Michael Honda
Steven Horsford
Jared Huffman
Hakeem S. Jeffries
Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr.
Marcy Kaptur
William Keating
Joseph P. Kennedy, III
Daniel Kildee
Derek Kilmer
Ron Kind
Ann Kirkpatrick
Ann McLane Kuster
James R. Langevin
John B. Larson
Sheila Jackson Lee
John Lewis
Daniel Lipinski
Dave Loebsack
Alan S. Lowenthal
Nita Lowey
Ben Ray Lujan
Stephen F. Lynch
Carolyn Maloney
Carolyn McCarthy
Betty McCollum
Jim McDermott
James P. McGovern
Patrick E. Murphy
Grace F. Napolitano
Gloria Negrete McLeod
Rick Nolan
Gregory Meeks
Michael H. Michaud
George Miller
Gwen Moore
James P. Moran
Jerrold Nadler
Richard E. Neal
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Beto O’Rourke
Frank Pallone, Jr.
Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Ed Pastor
Donald M. Payne, Jr.
Ed Perlmutter
Gary C. Peters
Chellie Pingree
Pedro R. Pierluisi
Mark Pocan
David Price
Mike Quigley
Nick J. Rahall
Charles Rangel
Cedric Richmond
Lucille Roybal-Allard
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
Bobby L. Rush
Tim Ryan
Linda T. Sanchez
Loretta Sanchez
John P. Sarbanes
Janice D. Schakowsky
Adam B. Schiff
Allyson Y. Schwartz
Brad Sherman
Robert C. ""Bobby"" Scott
Jose E. Serrano
Terri A. Sewell
Carol Shea-Porter
Kyrsten Sinema
Albio Sires
Louise M. Slaughter
Jackie Speier
Mark Takano
Bennie Thompson
Mike Thompson
John F. Tierney
Dina Titus
Paul  Tonko
Marc Veasey
Nydia Velázquez
Chris Van Hollen
Juan Vargas
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Maxine Waters
Melvin L. Watt
Henry A. Waxman
Peter Welch
Frederica Wilson
John A. Yarmuth",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryans-statement-passing-william-l-mallory-sr,"Congressman Tim Ryan's Statement on the Passing of William L. Mallory, Sr.",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Tim Ryan made the following statement in response to the passing of longtime Ohio State Legislature William L. Mallory, Sr.:
""I am saddened to learn of the passing of William Mallory, Sr. During my short time serving in the state legislature Representative Mallory's presents continued to be felt. He selflessly gave 28 years of service to the citizens of Ohio, impacting ever corner of our great state. And most importantly, he created a family ethic of service that the people of southwest Ohio continue to benefit from. His children and grandchildren will be a constant reminder to us all of how one strong leader can inspire others to care for their fellow citizens. Today we honor that legacy of this great man.”
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-cites-rising-inequality,Kaptur Cites Rising Inequality,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2013)  Speaking on the House floor, Congresswoman Kaptur said rising inequality in America threatens job growth and future of the middle class.
The pyramid has gotten very pointed, she said. The money flows up and it isn't flowing down. We have attrition in the middle class and every single American knows it.
She said the inequality is apparent in the makeup of the House of Representatives. Fewer and fewer (representatives) come from the middle class, she said. She said many of her colleagues are so privileged they really can't identify with the struggles of ordinary families. The same pyramid is operating here.
Congresswoman Kaptur noted that even during periods of high unemployment, companies are cutting back on benefits such as health care. 
Those who have big capital, big sources, they invest money and make a lot of money for their shareholders and themselves, but the people they hire are falling further and further behind and they expect the government to compensate for low wages, she said.
Congresswoman Kaptur again voiced support for programs to boost manufacturing. Manufacturing really does create something that wasn't there before. The decline in manufacturing is so great. We're trying to pick it up with President Obama. For every one of those jobs added, we create new wealth for our country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-urges-protection-glassmakers,Kaptur Urges Protection for Glassmakers,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2013) -- Congresswoman Kaptur joined Ohio's two U.S. senators, Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, in urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to maintain crucial trade protections for Ohio tableware makers, including Toledo-based Libbey, Inc., during ongoing negotiations.
In a letter to Ambassador Michael Froman, the legislators cited the importance of the glassware industry to Ohio: We urge your continued support for the domestic glass tableware industry's import-sensitive treatment. This issue is of crucial importance to workers in a number of states.
Congresswoman Kaptur urged the USTR to maintain protections from foreign competition for Libbey and Lancaster-based Anchor Hocking in the context of ongoing negotiations on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreements.
The domestic glassware manufacturing sector has for decades been categorized as import-sensitive, making Libbey and other glassware production companies eligible for international trade protections such as higher tariff enforcement.
The TPP is an Asia-Pacific trade agreement involving the U.S. and 10 other nations, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand as well as Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. The U.S. has indicated its intent to include Japan, the world's third-largest economy, at a future date. The TTIP initiative is a proposed trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union. The Obama Administration is seeking congressional authority under so-called fast track provisions to negotiate the two agreements.
The Ohio legislators were joined in the letter to Froman (attached) by Louisiana senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, Pennsylvania senator Bob Casey and House members John Fleming (LA) and Steve Stivers (OH).
Libbey, based in Toledo since 1888, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of glass tableware, with plants in Ohio and Louisiana and in four countries other than the United States.  
	Libbey recently completed successful negotiations on new, three-year collective bargaining agreements with all four local unions in Toledo.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131213203451/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/in-session-of-congressional-executive-commission-on-china-sen-brown-calls-on-china-to-cease-harassment-of-foreign-journalists,"In Session of Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Sen. Brown Calls on China to Cease Harassment of Foreign Journalists",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Brown Convenes Congressional-Executive Commission on China Session Detailing Chinese Denial and Delay of Visas for American Journalists, Block to U.S. Media Websites
				
			
			
			Wednesday, December 11, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) convened a meeting of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) to call on the Chinese government to immediately cease its policy of harassing foreign journalists, denying and delaying their visas, and blocking the websites of foreign media in China.
“China’s retaliation against foreign journalists and news organizations for their reporting in China has reached a new low. We’ve seen American journalist Paul Mooney being denied a visa in November, nearly two dozen other journalists facing imminent expulsion if their visas are not quickly renewed, and the Web sites for The New York Times, Bloomberg, and other news outlets blocked in China,” Brown said. “These actions violate international standards for press freedom, constitute an unfair trade practice, and threaten our access to vital reporting on issues that Chinese journalists are often unable to cover.”
As chair of the CECC, Brown hosted a roundtable on the topic of “China’s Treatment of Foreign Journalists” today in Washington, DC. The panelists included Edward Wong, Correspondent, The New York Times, Beijing Bureau; Hannah Beech, TIME’s East Asia Correspondent and China Bureau Chief; Bob Dietz, Asia Program Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists; and Sarah Cook, Senior Research Analyst for East Asia, Freedom House. Paul Mooney, the freelance journalist who was recently denied a visa, also submitted a statement for the record.
Chinese officials have delayed renewing the visas for 23 journalists working for The New York Times and Bloomberg. These journalists will have to leave China at year’s end if their visas are not renewed, effectively threatening these media’s ability to report in China. In addition, access in China to The New York Times and Bloomberg Web sites was blocked after they published articles detailing the wealth of the relatives of China’s leaders.
In November, Chinese officials denied a visa to Paul Mooney, an American journalist who was preparing to start a new position in China with Reuters. Mooney had spent the past 18 years in China reporting on environmental problems, Tibet, Xinjiang, the plight of human rights activists, and kidnapped children, among other stories.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140112002209/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/sens-brown-and-portman-reps-kaptur-and-stivers-urge-us-trade-rep-to-maintain-protections-for-ohio-glass-makers-from-foreign-competition-in-trade-agreements,"Sens. Brown and Portman, Reps. Kaptur and Stivers Urge U.S. Trade Rep. to Maintain Protections for Ohio Glass Makers from Foreign Competition in Trade Agreements",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Brown, Portman, Kaptur, and Stivers Urge USTR to Protect Ohio Based Glass Tableware Makers like Toledo’s Libbey Inc. and Lancaster’s Anchor Hocking Co. in TPP and TTIP Negotiations
				
			
			
			Wednesday, December 11, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and U.S. Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) and Steve Stivers (OH-15) urged the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to maintain protections for Ohio based glass tableware makers like Toledo’s Libbey Inc. and Lancaster’s Anchor Hocking Co. from foreign competitors in ongoing free trade zone negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreements.
“We urge your continued support for the domestic glass tableware industry’s import-sensitive treatment,” Brown, Portman, Kaptur, and Stivers said. “This issue is of crucial importance to workers in a number of states including Ohio, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. The products of the domestic glassware production sector have been placed in the category of import-sensitive products for more than 30 years. This treatment, and the tariffs that are in place, recognize the sensitivity of the sector and the competitive pressures it faces. Now is not the time to deviate from treating the products of this sector in this manner particularly when our states urgently need more manufacturing production and job growth.”
The domestic glassware production sector has for decades been protected by its categorization as “import-sensitive” that makes it eligible for international trade protections like higher tariff enforcement. This is now at risk as the Administration negotiates terms of the TPP and TTIP agreements with its foreign partners.
Libbey Inc. was founded in 1888 in Toledo which is known as the “Glass City” for its leadership and innovation in the glass making industry. The Anchor Hocking Co. was founded in 1905 in Lancaster and was Fairfield County’s second largest employer in 2012. 
TPP is a proposed trade agreement that currently includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. TTIP is a proposed trade agreement between the United States and the European Union (EU) that began its first round of negotiations in July.
Congress has the constitutional authority to set the terms of trade and commerce with foreign nations. The Administration is conducting the TPP and TTIP talks under the leadership of the Office of the USTR, using authority which officially lapsed in 2007. This suggests that it will seek renewed Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), known as “Fast Track,” to conclude TPP and TTIP negotiations, as well as other trade initiatives.
In 2011, Brown authored and Portman voted for the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, bipartisan legislation which would use U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm to U.S. manufacturers caused by currency manipulation and would provide consequences for countries that fail to adopt appropriate policies to eliminate currency misalignment.
Brown, Portman, Kaptur, and Stivers were joined on their bipartisan letter to USTR Michael Froman by U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), David Vitter (R-LA), and Bob Casey (D-PA), and U.S. Rep. John Fleming (LA-4). That letter can be read in its entirety below:
December 11, 2013
The Honorable Michael Froman
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20508
Dear Ambassador Froman:
 
We are writing to you concerning the rules of origin and market access provisions relating to the glass tableware sector in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations.  
We urge your continued support for the domestic glass tableware industry’s import-sensitive treatment. This issue is of crucial importance to workers in a number of states including Ohio, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. The products of the domestic glassware production sector have been placed in the category of import-sensitive products for more than 30 years. This treatment, and the tariffs that are in place, recognize the sensitivity of the sector and the competitive pressures it faces. Now is not the time to deviate from treating the products of this sector in this manner particularly when our states urgently need more manufacturing production and job growth. 
Libbey Inc. has U.S. glassware manufacturing locations in Toledo, Ohio and Shreveport, Louisiana. It filed timely detailed comments with your office on February 15, 2012 regarding TPP rules of origin for Glass Tableware (HTS 7013), Glass Stoppers (HTS 7010.20), and Glass Lamps and Lighting Fittings (HTS 9405) that should guide your negotiators in their activities. Subsequently, it filed timely detailed comments with your office regarding the TTIP negotiations relating to these same HTS numbers. Libbey’s concerns are shared by Anchor Hocking Co., another glass tableware manufacturer that employs 1,600 workers in Lancaster, Ohio and Monaca, Pennsylvania. 
Libbey and Anchor Hocking join in urging that the TPP and TTIP rules of origin for the listed glassware products should be objective, transparent, predictable, and effective in limiting preferential tariff treatment to goods that are formed, finished, and packaged in TPP and TTIP countries. In addition, the TPP and TTIP market access negotiations should account for the import-sensitivity of these products, placing these products in the category eligible for the longest phase-out periods and eligible, as appropriate, for non-linear phase-out treatment. The TPP and TTIP should be a force for progress that maximizes production and employment opportunities in the signatory countries while recognizing the specific trade posture of individual industries.
We look forward to working with you on this issue of importance to American workers in this sector, which fuels economic growth in our states and creates family-supportive jobs for the companies and workers.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301055521/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/at-hearing-on-veterans-claims-backlog-brown-urges-passage-of-legislation-to-expedite-claims-process-prevent-backlog-from-forming,"At Hearing on Veterans Claims Backlog, Brown Urges Passage of Legislation to Expedite Claims Process, Prevent Backlog from Forming",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Recent Report Found Cleveland VA Regional Office Has Second Longest Wait Time in Eastern Area for Claims Processing.  As of December 2013 More Than 693, 000 Claims Are Still Pending National with an Average Wait of 167.4 Day
				
			
			
			Wednesday, December 11, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, DC –Following a report by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) listing the Cleveland VA Regional Office (VARO) as having the second longest wait time in the eastern area of the VA for benefit claims to be processed, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today pressed Allison Hickey, VA Under Secretary for Benefits, about the persistent claims delays at the Cleveland Regional Office. Secretary Shinseki’s stated goal by 2015 is to reduce the time claims are pending to 125 days with a corresponding 98 percent accuracy for ratings. Currently, veterans whose claims are processed through Cleveland wait on average 208 days, while the national average is 167.4 days
“It is unacceptable that Ohio veterans who honorably served our country are waiting too long to receive the compensation they deserve,” Brown said. “While the VA has made progress at reducing the overall claims backlog, more must be done to ensure that this problem is fixed appropriately.”
At a hearing today of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Brown questioned VA officials over why missing evidence notifications are not included in Veteran’s status update. This delay in providing key information could extend the overall length of time a veteran’s claim is in determination. Brown also pressed the Under Secretary about increasing discrepancies between online and paper claims status updates that veterans receive.
Key provisions of Brown’s Veterans Services Outreach (VSO) Act were recently passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.  Brown’s bill would help reduce the disability claims backlog by requiring the VA to notify veterans filing claims electronically that they can receive help and important time-saving information from local VA approved resources. In August, Brown traveled the state hearing from veterans and veteran service organizations to build support for the legislation.
Brown is the only Ohio Senator to serve a full term on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and is Co-Chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus. He is also an original cosponsor of the VOW to Hire Heroes Law, which offers job retraining assistance to veterans between 35 and 60 years of age.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301141343/http://joyce.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=475,Joyce Supports the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Dave Joyce,J000295,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) voted in favor of the Kids First Research Act of 2013, 2019, which would prioritize taxpayer funding for scientific research of pediatric diseases and disorders such as cancer, autism and Fragile X. It is paid for by eliminating taxpayer funding for the RNC and DNC conventions. Joyce stated:

	“Pediatric research breakthroughs are giving families and children suffering from childhood diseases hope every day. This bill will prioritize funds to continue this crucial research on behalf of the children fighting pediatric diseases and disorders such as cancer, autism and Fragile X.

	Joyce is a cosponsor of the Kids First Research Act of 2013, introduced by Rep. Gregg Harper (MS-3) and Rep. Tom Cole (OK-4). Gabriella Miller gained national attention through her advocacy for childhood cancer research awareness during her 11-month battle with a brain tumor. She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and helped launch the Smashing Walnuts Foundation to fund pediatric cancer research. This bill redesignates the Presidential Election Campaign Fund as the 10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund. The legislation passed by a vote of 295-103.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=1a4a9358-e51c-4ac4-8e69-579abb5d41e4,Portman Initiative to Ensure Missile Defense Agency Is Fully Prepared for Possible Missile Defense East Coast Site Included in Draft NDAA Deal,2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) welcomed the inclusion of his bipartisan amendment (S.A.2461) language to the newly-drafted National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) deal. The amendment, cosponsored by Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN), ensures the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is working to complete a contingency plan to deploy a missile defense interceptor site in the event that the administration decides to build an East Coast missile defense site. The FY13 NDAA required MDA to identify a minimum of three locations for a possible third Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) site to receive Environmental Impact Studies (EIS), as well as develop a Contingency Plan to deploy the system should the administration decide to authorize an additional GMD site in the future.  Unfortunately, however, the requirement did not establish a clear timeline or deadline to complete the Contingency Plan and the EIS and submit them to Congress.  Portman’s amendment language will strengthen and clarify this existing provision by requiring MDA to provide detailed progress reports on its efforts to complete the plan in a timely manner.  Earlier this year, Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center in Portage County, Ohio was selected as one of locations being considered for this new missile defense site.       “I am pleased that the Missile Defense Agency is moving forward with plans to determine the feasibility of a third GMD site, and I am hopeful that my amendment language will ensure that we are adequately prepared if and when we do select an East Coast GMD site in the future,” said Portman.  “I believe that Ohio’s Camp Ravenna is uniquely suited to delivering this enhanced capability and am hopeful it will be selected to improve our nation’s overall missile defense capabilities.”
In October, Portman sent a letter to Vice Admiral James Syring, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, thanking the Agency for its consideration of Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center in Portage County, Ohio for a proposed GMD site. In the letter, Portman highlighted that this GMD site would be a vital asset in protecting our nation from ballistic missile threats, particularly those posed by Iran and North Korea. While GMD sites in Alaska and California provide missile defense to the West Coast, they are poorly suited to defend against an attack launched from the Middle East.
The bill also authorizes an additional $5.2 million in Military Construction funds to improve the infrastructure around Camp Ravenna.
“I have long supported investments in Ohio’s military facilities and am pleased that Camp Ravenna will receive these much-needed funds,” said Portman.  “The $5.2 million in infrastructure improvements will enhance the base’s readiness for future missions such as ballistic missile defense, while promoting jobs and economic development throughout the region.
Portman visited Camp Ravenna in October to see first-hand the unique advantages that make it an optimal location for a GMD site in the eastern United States. In his letter to Vice Admiral Syring, Portman highlighted these advantages, writing, “Camp Ravenna is uniquely well-suited to delivering this enhanced capability. The base’s strategic geographic location in Northeast Ohio, optimal size, access to robust regional infrastructure, as well as the cost-effective and professional Ohio National Guard staff make it a prime option for the third GMD site. Furthermore, the addition of a GMD site will not compete with existing priorities or land uses of the military services.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7b1fd749-8358-46bd-896a-daa273faa0cf,"Portman, Ohio Congressional Delegation Urge Department of Education to Continue Working with the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) led the Ohio Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan urging the Department of Education (DOE) to continue to work with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) as they provide rehabilitative services to Ohioans with disabilities seeking employment throughout the state. OOD is current working with DOE to improve investment by implementing recommendations of the Department’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) issued earlier this year in the preliminary draft of the FY2013 monitoring report.
The Ohio Congressional Delegation writes, “Ohioans with disabilities seeking employment opportunities receive, among other services, job training through 182 full-time equivalent employees in local communities. This public-private partnership has been in place since 2008 and enables the OOD to focus on being able to serve the current backlog of 1,915 Ohioans who have been waiting for services.  As OOD begins the process of moving this program into compliance, we ask that the Department allow services to continue for the thousands of Ohioans who depend on these for employment and independent living.” 
""County boards of developmental disabilities are the state's largest local funding partner in providing employment services to people with disabilities.  If this partnership were to end, more than 4,000 people served by county boards of Developmental Disabilities would lose the support they need to find and keep a job,” said Bridget Gargan, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities. “We strongly support the efforts of Ohio’s congressional delegation to maintain critical job training and employment services to people with disabilities.""
The full text of the letter is below and can also be viewed here.
The Honorable Arne Duncan  Secretary  U.S. Department of Education  400 Maryland Avenue Southwest  Washington, D.C. 20202
Secretary Duncan:
We write to express our support for the ongoing efforts of the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Agency as they provide rehabilitative services to Ohioans with disabilities seeking employment throughout the state.  It is our understanding that OOD is working with the U.S. Department of Education to improve federal investment by implementing the Department’s Rehabilitation Services Administration’s (RSA) recommendations in the FY2013 monitoring report’s preliminary draft.  We appreciate and share the Department’s continued commitment to individuals participating in OOD programs and the partnership arrangements during this transition. 
The findings reached in the draft RSA FY2013 monitoring report reflect several years of ongoing negotiations between OOD and the Department of Education.  In 2011 and 2012, OOD submitted annual plans to RSA which included a description of Ohio’s 63 Third Party Cooperative Arrangements (TPCAs) Vocational Rehabilitative Public Private Partnerships (VRP3s) contracts.  Each plan was approved by the RSA.  This past October, RSA issued a draft of its FY2013 monitoring report directing OOD to cease using federal Vocational Rehabilitation dollars for services that they deem unallowable under third party agreements.  At this time, OOD is taking efforts to implement the RSA recommendations in order to be in full compliance with the Department of Education guidelines. 
Ohioans with disabilities seeking employment opportunities receive, among other services, job training through 182 full-time equivalent employees in local communities. This public-private partnership has been in place since 2008 and enables the OOD to focus on being able to serve the current backlog of 1,915 Ohioans who have been waiting for services.  As OOD begins the process of moving this program into compliance, we ask that the Department allow services to continue for the thousands of Ohioans who depend on these for employment and independent living.                  With these concerns in mind, we respectfully request that the Department continue working with OOD and allow OOD to implement any changes to its current TPCA structure through the end of the federal fiscal year 2014.  This extension will help mitigate the disruption of the services being provided to thousands of Ohioans as OOD works with RSA to fully comply with federal guidelines.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f86eee97-2189-421b-b6e2-fc5fa5c7a6b2,"Portman, Hirono Initiative to Promote the Implementation of Telehealth in Military Health System Included in Draft NDAA Deal",2013-12-11,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Mazie Hirono (D-H.I.) ensured that their bipartisan amendment (S.A. 2114) language requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to issue a report on the current status of telehealth initiatives, as well as plans to integrate telehealth in the military health care system, was incorporated as part of a newly drafted National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) deal.  This report will specifically address privacy concerns and challenges of implementing telehealth in group treatment and therapy, outreach to rural areas, and as in-home use.  Telehealth is an innovative, twenty-first century approach to problems involving Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), especially for veterans living in rural areas, where access to mental health treatment is limited, wait times can be long, and in-home access opportunities are rarely utilized.
“We must encourage the Department of Defense to continue to work on implementing telehealth throughout our military health system.  This language is an important step toward applying the technological advances of the last few decades to a problem that has bedeviled the military and our health care professionals for a very long time—how best to treat the invisible scars of war that so many of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines suffer on foreign battlefields,” said Portman.  “Through telehealth, we can mobilize electronic information and telecommunications technologies to apply a modern approach to help our veterans overcome these scars of war, while supporting long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.”
“Through telehealth we can help our military and our health care professionals tackle health issues with the best, most up-to-date technology that our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines deserve. Telehealth works to assist people struggling with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, helping them receive the treatment they need without fear or shame. This innovative technology also makes a difference for people living in rural communities, such as Hawaii’s neighbor islands. I’m proud to work with Senator Portman to promote the implementation of telehealth treatments in the military health system,” said Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees.
“Senator Rob Portman’s amendment not only reflects his awareness of the severity of the current PTS/TBI epidemic in our OIF/OEF Veterans, but also his realization for the necessity of a rapid yet accountable response. The Senator's request for collaborative efforts between government agencies and civilian specialists is key to the reintegration of our young Veterans. This will be a huge step toward rehabilitation and reintegration of the nation's 450,000 Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who suffer from TBI,” said Dr. Chrisanne Gordon, a Columbus-based rehabilitation physician and Founder and Chairwoman of the Resurrecting Lives Foundation.   
Earlier this year, Portman, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce, held a hearing entitled “Improving Federal Health Care in Rural America: Developing the Workforce and Building Partnerships.”  At the hearing, Portman pressed the VA on effective mental health and brain injury care for veterans, including initial telehealth programs, and highlighted the unique challenges faced by Ohio’s rural veterans. Excerpts of the hearing are below and the video can be found here.
TBI is often called the signature wound of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, with over 280,000 of our veterans affected since 2000, according to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. It is also estimated that 30 percent of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD.  More than half of all male Vietnam veterans and almost half of all female Vietnam veterans have experienced ""clinically serious stress reaction symptoms."" PTSD has also been detected among veterans of the Gulf War, with some estimates running as high as 8 percent.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364003,Congressman Stivers impressed with programs at PerCo,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Steve Stivers of the 15th District visited Perry County this past Monday morning to tour the Perry County Board of Development Disability (PCBDD) facilities. Stivers took a walk through of the PCBDD office, PerCo, and the Creative Opportunities locations. ""We invited him to come see our programs a while back and luckily he was able to stop by. We want him to see what kind of things are going on in Perry County, not just with PCBDD but everywhere,""  said Superintendent Dave Couch. Stivers toured each facility taking a look at some of the different programs offered by the organization. One of the programs that Stivers was interested in learning more about was the recycling that takes place at PerCo. The Perry County Solid Waste District helped the program to get its funding and they work together, ""This is really good for the whole county in a lot of ways,"" PerCo director Ron Spung explained. Another program that was the main topic of discussion was the PCBDD’s Academy for Leadership Abilities (ALA). The program takes students from Southern Local and gives them the tools they need to learn how to be a leader in their community. Some of the members of the program are developmentally disabled and work along side of the students from Miller High School in learning important life skills. In 2012, the program had eight members and this year ALA saw 15 participants. ""We want to see this program one day go across the country,"" commented Couch. Due to lack of funding, the program is only at Southern Local but with the help of Job and Family Services, the PCBDD is looking to spread the program to the other three schools in the county. Couch invited Stivers to return next spring so they could spend time discussing the students in the ALA program, and its importance. 

































































































 
Stivers toured each facility taking a look at some of the different programs offered by the organization. One of the programs that Stivers was interested in learning more about was the recycling that takes place at PerCo. The Perry County Solid Waste District helped the program to get its funding and they work together, “This is really good for the whole county in a lot of ways,” PerCo director Ron Spung explained.
Another program that was the main topic of discussion was the PCBDD’s Academy for Leadership Abilities (ALA). The program takes students from Southern Local and gives them the tools they need to learn how to be a leader in their community. Some of the members of the program are developmentally disabled and work along side of the students from Miller High School in learning important life skills. In 2012, the program had eight members and this year ALA saw 15 participants. “We want to see this program one day go across the country,” commented Couch. Due to lack of funding, the program is only at Southern Local but with the help of Job and Family Services, the PCBDD is looking to spread the program to the other three schools in the county.
Couch invited Stivers to return next spring so they could spend time discussing the students in the ALA program, and its importance.

































































































 
Stivers toured each facility taking a look at some of the different programs offered by the organization. One of the programs that Stivers was interested in learning more about was the recycling that takes place at PerCo. The Perry County Solid Waste District helped the program to get its funding and they work together, “This is really good for the whole county in a lot of ways,” PerCo director Ron Spung explained.
Another program that was the main topic of discussion was the PCBDD’s Academy for Leadership Abilities (ALA). The program takes students from Southern Local and gives them the tools they need to learn how to be a leader in their community. Some of the members of the program are developmentally disabled and work along side of the students from Miller High School in learning important life skills. In 2012, the program had eight members and this year ALA saw 15 participants. “We want to see this program one day go across the country,” commented Couch. Due to lack of funding, the program is only at Southern Local but with the help of Job and Family Services, the PCBDD is looking to spread the program to the other three schools in the county.
Couch invited Stivers to return next spring so they could spend time discussing the students in the ALA program, and its importance.


































































































 
Stivers toured each facility taking a look at some of the different programs offered by the organization. One of the programs that Stivers was interested in learning more about was the recycling that takes place at PerCo. The Perry County Solid Waste District helped the program to get its funding and they work together, “This is really good for the whole county in a lot of ways,” PerCo director Ron Spung explained.
Another program that was the main topic of discussion was the PCBDD’s Academy for Leadership Abilities (ALA). The program takes students from Southern Local and gives them the tools they need to learn how to be a leader in their community. Some of the members of the program are developmentally disabled and work along side of the students from Miller High School in learning important life skills. In 2012, the program had eight members and this year ALA saw 15 participants. “We want to see this program one day go across the country,” commented Couch. Due to lack of funding, the program is only at Southern Local but with the help of Job and Family Services, the PCBDD is looking to spread the program to the other three schools in the county.
Couch invited Stivers to return next spring so they could spend time discussing the students in the ALA program, and its importance.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364004,Stivers Urges USDA to Make School Lunch Rules More Flexible,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"**CLICK HERE FOR STIVERS' LETTER TO SECRETARY VILSACK**
   
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At the urging of school nutrition officials, Congressman Steve Stivers (R – OH) today sent a letter with 28 bipartisan cosigners to Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to permanently eliminate a grain and protein limit that makes it difficult for local school officials to address children’s nutritional needs in school meals.
This letter closely follows a bill (the School Nutrition Flexibility Act) that Congressman Stivers sponsored with Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) in March of 2013.  That bill has 47 bipartisan cosponsors.
Last year, the USDA issued a final rule for the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which placed new restrictions on school meals.  Included in the USDA’s final rule was a strict, unsuitable protein and grain limit that, for example, holds school meals for eighth graders and kindergarteners to the same standard.
The School Nutrition Flexibility Act is endorsed by the School Nutrition Association and has attracted bipartisan support from Members of Congress representing urban, suburban, and rural communities from across the country. On March 6, 2013, Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate, the Sensible School Lunch Act (S. 427).
 -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1245,Congresswoman Fudge Congratulates Congressman Watt on Senate Confirmation to Lead the FHFA,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Fudge Congratulates Congressman Watt on Senate Confirmation to Lead the FHFA WASHINGTON, DC- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) released the following statement today following  the Senate confirmation of Representative Mel Watt as the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): “I am thrilled that the Senate has confirmed Representative Watt to the independent Federal Housing Finance Agency,” said Congresswoman Fudge.  “He  will provide the skilled and positive leadership needed to advance sound housing finance policies for our nation and effective oversight of the secondary mortgage market.  As America continues to recover from the mortgage meltdown and housing crisis, I am confident that Representative Watt will serve in the best interests of our country and its citizens.   He is a committed public servant, who has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues in the House and certainly deserved the vote of confidence in the Senate.” The FHFA was created in 2008 by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act and supervises Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.  Congressman Watt will head the agency's efforts at promoting and implementing fair lending and mortgage practices, which he has experienced as a corporate and real estate lawyer and member of the Committees on Financial Services and the Judiciary.   Visit the FHFA website to learn more.  ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140112002029/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-national-labor-environmental-and-progressive-leaders-release-report-outlining-us-and-ohio-potential-for-job-growth-in-clean-energy-manufacturing,"Sen. Brown, National Labor, Environmental, and Progressive Leaders Release Report Outlining U.S. and Ohio Potential for Job Growth in Clean Energy Manufacturing",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Brown Releases Study on Number of Clean Energy Manufacturing Jobs in Every Region of Ohio; Cities with Most Green Manufacturing Jobs  
				
			
			
			Tuesday, December 10, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) held a news conference call to release a report that outlines Ohio’s potential for job growth and development as home to the fifth most green jobs in the nation. Ohio’s clean energy economy has added jobs at a much faster rate than the state’s overall economy. That is why Brown called for the United States to utilize its strength as an innovator at both the state and local levels so that it can compete with countries like China that are quickly cornering the environmental technology market and the jobs that come with it.
“We can’t replace a dependence on foreign oil for a dependence on foreign-made clean energy components,” Brown said. “Today’s report shows how investing in the competitiveness of America’s clean energy industry can create jobs, lower costs for consumers, and boost exports.”
The report, The Green Industrial Revolution and the United States, examines the nation’s potential for growth in this industry and answers the question, “In the Clean Energy Race, Is the United States a Leader or a Luddite?” The report found that the United States has funded its energy efficiency, biofuel, and solar technologies more than any other country in the world in 2011, and continued to lead in the venture capital investment sector. American public and private research and development (R&D), in fact, accounted for 30 percent of the world total that year. China, however, has quickly gained ground due to its own investments and currently has 25 percent of the world’s renewable energy capacity, more than any other nation.
While the U.S. trade deficit with China was responsible for the loss of some 2.7 million American jobs between 2001 and 2011 (nearly 77 percent in manufacturing), the U.S. exported $1.63 billion more in clean energy goods and services than it imported with China. The report found that while China is able to compete with other nations through low-wage labor that drives down the costs of its products, the U.S. competes with other nations with higher-skilled, and more advanced manufacturing jobs that produce components not made elsewhere. If the U.S. chooses to utilize its strengths, and commit to being the world’s leader in renewable energy, it can produce more clean energy goods that would help close the trade deficit and bring more manufacturing jobs back home.
Joining Brown on the call to discuss the report and what it means for the U.S. economy was Robert Borosage, the Founder and President of the Institute for America’s Future and a member of the BlueGreen Alliance Advisory Board; and Kate Gordon, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP).
“Commerce is uniquely suited to help this regional approach blossom and should take an ambitious role in helping to lead the efforts to secure America’s global leadership in the green industrial revolution,” Borosage said. “The rest of the world isn’t standing by idly while the green industrial revolution happens. A regional approach—with proactive action at the national level—will ensure that we win the race for the family-sustaining jobs and other economic and environmental benefits that the clean economy brings.”
“We’ve seen great successes here at the national level in the U.S.—including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—but our real strength will come from coordinated regional action,” Gordon said. “A one-size fits all approach for everyone won’t cut it. By implementing a regional strategy, we’ll have policies and investments that make sense for the regions.”
Finally, Brown released regional specific information on the number of clean energy jobs in Ohio and highlighted the state’s cities with the largest number of green manufacturing jobs. In total, Ohio has more than 137,000 green jobs, fifth most in the nation. While Ohio’s economy lost nearly 350,000 jobs between 2007 and 2010, Ohio’s clean economy increased by 8.5 percent in that same period. Contributing to this is Ohio’s alternative energy portfolio standard, which was established in 2008, by mandating that 12.5 percent of the state’s electricity must come from renewable sources by 2025. This has helped to drive renewable energy job growth, and as of October 2013, Ohio has 35 utility-scale solar facilities in operation, and 68 more under development.
In August, Brown and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013, bipartisan legislation which would establish a Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NMI) to position the United States once again as the global leader in advanced manufacturing. The bill would ensure that the U.S. can out-innovate the rest of the world while creating thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs. Brown and Blunt worked together to pass a bipartisan amendment to the Senate Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 aimed at supporting the creation of a network of manufacturing innovation hubs.
In June, as the U.S.-China trade deficit continues to widen, Brown introduced the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2013, bipartisan legislation that would reform and enhance oversight of currency exchange rates. Specifically, the bill would use U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm to U.S. manufacturers caused by currency manipulation, and provide consequences for countries that fail to adopt appropriate policies to eliminate currency misalignment.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140112002154/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/in-the-news/article/brown-urges-unemployment-extension,Brown urges unemployment extension,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Tuesday, December 10, 2013
            
	
			
			With emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) set to expire on Dec. 28, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and 31 of his congressional colleagues urged Senate leadership to support a bill that would extend these benefits for more than 128,000 Ohioans and 1.3 million Americans through 2015. While the national unemployment rate has improved following the Great Recession, Brown and his colleagues contend that there are still too many hurting for Congress not to aid the hard working Americans who continue to look for jobs in order to support themselves and their families.
""We must do everything we can to support those who are still struggling following the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,"" Brown said. ""These are hardworking Americans -- many with children -- who have fallen on tough times. If we don't extend emergency unemployment insurance, more than 128,000 Ohioans would lose their benefits and the ability to support their families. That is why my colleagues and I urge leaders in the Senate to support immediate action that would help keep more than one million Americans out of poverty.""
To read the full article, please click the source link below:
			
			
			Brown urges unemployment extension »",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140112002158/http://www.brown.senate.gov:80/newsroom/in-the-news/article/sherrod-brown-others-talk-green-industrial-revolution,"Sherrod Brown, others talk green industrial revolution",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Tuesday, December 10, 2013
            
	
			
			During a Dec. 10 press teleconference call, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, joined leaders in discussing how the U.S. economy and labor movement might be bolstered by advancements in renewable energy. Together, they released a report titled The Green Industrial Revolution and the United States: In the Clean Energy Race, is the United States a Leader or a Luddite? It proposes utilizing the country's national strengths and ability to innovate at local levels, to drive leadership in clean energy manufacturing.
The report notes that the U.S. has been a powerful force ""in technical innovation and market transformation since the industrial revolution. But when it comes to the transformation of the global economy from high-carbon, polluting energy sources to a more sustainable future, the U.S. risks falling behind. But a new green industrial revolution is gathering steam"" in other parts of the world.
""Across the globe, countries are making investments in renewable energy,"" said Robert Borosage, founder and president of the Institute for America's Future. ""Germany and China have made clean energy transitions, developing strategic emerging industries. There's a growing competition for leadership, and in the U.S., too little attention is paid to clean energy. Solar and wind have encountered fierce political opposition and have been caught up in budget conflicts. We need more serious commitment; we should build on America's bottom-up approach to economic development.""
Looking back on the industrial revolution itself, Brown remarked, ""Manufacturing created a middle class across the country. Manufacturing jobs have multiplier effects on the economy. And we can revitalize manufacturing and create more U.S. jobs by developing more clean energy projects. We need to create thousands of high-paying manufacturing jobs right here, for next-generation workers"" instead of moving such jobs overseas. ""We just need to make sure we have the tools and resources.""
To read the full article, please click the source link below:
			
			
			Sherrod Brown, others talk green industrial revolution »",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221014045/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-announces-that-more-than-two-million-ohioans-now-have-expanded-access-to-mental-health-and-substance-use-disorder-benefits,Sen. Brown Announces that More Than Two Million Ohioans Now Have Expanded Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Thanks to Health Law, More than Two Million Ohioans Will Now Have Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits and Federal Parity Protections
				
			
			
			Tuesday, December 10, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded recent data revealing that the Affordable Care Act is helping to expand access to both mental health care and substance abuse treatment for more than two million Ohioans. This represents one of the largest expansions of mental health and substance use coverage in a generation.
“The health law’s expanded mental health and substance use disorder benefits will save lives,” Brown said. “With approximately one in five adults experiencing mental illness in any given year, it’s critical that Ohioans with mental health or substance abuse problems can get the treatment they need, without worrying about whether they can afford the services. This is just one more example of the ways the health law has benefitted millions of Ohioans.”
Because of the health care law, for the first time insurance companies in the individual and small group market are required to cover mental health and substance use disorder services as one of ten categories of essential health benefits. And just as important, insurance companies must cover these services at parity with medical and surgical benefits. In other words, things like out-of-pocket costs for behavioral health services must generally be comparable to coverage for medical and surgical care.
One in five adults experience mental illness in any given year. While most of these conditions can be successfully treated so that a person can get back to a full and vibrant life, those with mental illness too often cannot access needed treatment if they do not have health insurance that covers mental health services. The Affordable Care Act requires most health plans to cover recommended preventive services like depression screenings for adults and behavioral assessments for children at no cost to consumers. And, because of the law, starting in 2014 insurers will not be able to deny coverage or charge individuals more due to pre-existing conditions, including mental illness.
In addition to the 2,079,000 Ohioans who will gain expanded mental health and substance use disorder benefits and federal parity protections, the expansion will also benefit 60 million Americans throughout the nation.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021153/http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sen-brown-statement-on-trans-pacific-partnership-negotiations,Sen. Brown Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Tuesday, December 10, 2013
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. –– U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today issued the following statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations:
“With the Administration failing to meet a 2013 deadline for reaching a final deal on TPP, it’s time for negotiators to fully consult with Congress on American objectives and priorities in these talks. Despite a strong majority in the Senate urging the Administration to address currency manipulation in TPP negotiations, it is not clear the issue is even on the table. The lack of meaningful consultation on trade negotiations, and the perception of secrecy around the TPP, will only make the President’s request for Fast Track that much more challenging for Congress to consider.”
The TPP is a proposed trade agreement that currently includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, and Mexico. Earlier this year, Japan joined the TPP. Congress has the constitutional authority to set the terms of trade and commerce with foreign nations. The Administration is conducting the TPP talks without Trade Promotion Authority, also known as Fast Track.
Brown has long been an opponent of NAFTA-style agreements that undermine American workers and businesses. In April 2013, Brown led a group of seven Senators in urging Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis to craft disciplinary language in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations for actions taken by state-owned enterprises that discriminate and distort free markets. Failing to craft disciplinary language for these actions, Brown and his colleagues argued, would hurt the American economy and its workers and businesses by adversely affecting the United States’ ability to fairly compete in foreign markets as new nations enter the TPP.
In March 2013, U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), and U.S. Representative Sander Levin (MI-9), led a group of 49 of their colleagues in urging President Obama to put the best interests of American workers and businesses first as negotiations continued with Japan on its potential entry to the TPP. Brown and his colleagues specifically cited Japan’s longstanding efforts to impose trade barriers and block U.S. exports as actions that have hurt the American economy, domestic job creation, and specifically its auto-industry.
In June 2012, Brown introduced the 21st Century Trade Agreements and Market Access Act that would have restored Congressional oversight to trade negotiations and ensure that American trading partners play by the same rules as the U.S. Brown announced the bill’s introduction with business and labor leaders including James P. Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Ford Vice President of International Government Affairs Stephen Biegun, each of whom discussed the need to prioritize support for American manufacturing in the TPP.
In November 2011, Brown sent a letter to President Obama raising concerns over the existing automotive trade deficit with Japan and seeking more support for American manufacturing in the TPP. In the letter, Brown requested that the President address a variety of discriminatory policies before allowing Japan to join the TPP, including nontariff barriers and currency manipulation. Brown noted that Japan has instituted a variety of policies that have made it difficult for American and foreign automakers to gain a foothold in the Japanese market.
In October 2011 Brown sent a letter urging President Obama to change course in trade policy and rewrite trade rules to put Ohio jobs and Ohio workers first. He led the House opposition to the Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) negotiated by the Bush Administration in 2005, falling just two votes shy of blocking the agreement after the vote was held open for nearly two hours. The author of the book Myths of Free Trade and described as “Congress’ leading proponent of American manufacturing,” Brown also stood up to President Clinton during debate of NAFTA in 1993.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140222203201/http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=824,Renacci Voices Concerns Over Looming Budget Deal,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Jim Renacci (OH-16) issued the following statement regarding a potential vote in the House of Representatives later this week on a budget deal:

	  
	“For the past several weeks, Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Paul Ryan have engaged in negotiations in order to reach a budget agreement and I praise them for their efforts. It is now apparent that the plan they have nearly finalized may come to the House floor for a vote during the last days of the first session of the 113th Congress.

	  
	“While I am pleased that Congress has taken steps toward a budget agreement, I have reservations surrounding the process itself and the details of the plan. At the start of the Budget Conference Committee’s initial meeting, I joined my colleagues in issuing a bipartisan call for the group to proactively implement comprehensive transparency measures. Unfortunately, the process has lacked the transparency we were hoping for. As a result, should the Conference Committee’s plan require a vote on the House floor this week, my colleagues and I will not have the opportunity to fully consider the provisions within the agreement prior to voting for it, making it just another last minute deal that is rammed through Congress without regard for its potential consequences. It is undeniable that our budget process is broken, and this must change.

	  
	“Americans don’t need another Washington gimmick. Americans need a long-term budget agreement that addresses the drivers of our $17 trillion debt, reforms our broken tax code, reduces our excessive spending, and works toward a balanced budget. Families must live within their budgets, and it is time that the federal government does the same. I look forward to fully reviewing the plan developed by the Conference Committee, but at this point I am not optimistic about the process or the substance of the agreement.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140308023332/http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=825,Renacci Sends Letter To Secretary Sebelius Requesting Status Of 834 Transmission Form Fixes,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Jim Renacci (OH-16) today sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius requesting information regarding problems with the 834 EDI transmission form, a back-end reporting tool that is central to health insurers and the successful enrollment of many Ohioans and Americans across the country who are signing up for health care plans through the exchanges.

	The 834 EDI transmission form plays an integral role in an individual’s or family’s successful enrollment in the exchanges, as intended by the architects who designed the President’s health care law. The form contains everything that the insurance company needs to know about the policy holder in order to complete a successful enrollment in a health care plan.

	However, insurance companies across the country have reported numerous errors, including duplicate enrollments and illegible files, in the 834 transmission forms they are receiving from applicants. This means that though many people may think they have successfully enrolled in a plan, their data was not properly sent via the 834 transmission form – leaving Americans uninsured without them knowing it. Though the Administration has vowed to correct its problem-plagued website, it remains quiet on the status of the 834 errors.

	“The President’s health care law has driven up costs, reduced choices, and resulted in the cancellation of over five million health care plans that the President promised the American people they could keep. Though it is disappointing that the Administration spent $600 million and three years on a system that does not work, it is even more disconcerting that it is not forthcoming regarding the status of the crucial 834 fixes, which represents a major barrier to health care for the uninsured and those whose health plans were cancelled because of the President’s law,” said Rep. Jim Renacci. “Though we know that problems with the President’s health care law run far deeper than a broken website, it also is our responsibility to ensure that we reduce the negative effects of the law. It is time for the Administration to update Congress and the American people on its efforts to correct serious back-end issues within its government-run health care system that could potentially be disastrous for insurers and Americans everywhere.”

	The letter specifically requests the answers to the following questions:

	1. Can you assure us that all individuals who have enrolled on HealthCare.gov have been successfully transferred to the appropriate health plan through an 834? If not, how many 834s are missing? How do you plan to fix this?  
	2. What effect do incorrect or missing 834s have on the following: premium subsidy amounts, cost sharing subsidy amounts, and the premium the beneficiary pays. If errors are made based on incorrect or missing 834s will consumers and health plans be held harmless?  
	3. When must a health plan receive a correct 834 for coverage to be effective in January? Will you hold consumers and health plans harmless for problems/errors if there were incorrect or missing 834s for that individual?  
	4. When will you conduct a full reconciliation of enrollment information between HHS and plans?

	Full text of the letter can be found HERE.

	Co-signers of the letter: Rep. Tim Griffin, Rep. Patrick Tiberi, Rep. Jim Gerlach, Rep. Mike Kelly, Rep. Diane Black, Rep. David Reichert, Rep. Paul Ryan, Rep. Lynn Jenkins, and Rep. Tom Reed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=79549fd7-4ebf-46ce-8b61-ff43c89c7053,Portman Statement on Lifeline in NDAA for Abrams Tank at Lima's JSMC,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) released the following statement today regarding the negotiated FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) between the House and Senate Armed Services Committees containing additional funding for the Abrams tank program at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio:
“I am pleased the latest version of the Defense Authorization bill seeks to avert the unnecessary risk placed on the Abrams industrial base by the President's proposed budget.  As the nation’s only producer of the Abrams tank, the Lima plant plays a unique role in contributing to our national security.  As I previously urged my colleagues, we need to make sure this critical defense capability is available for the Army when they say they need it in a few years.  A combination of production for both domestic and foreign use continues to be the right path forward.""  
In June 2013, Portman sent a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and Subcommittee on Airland prior to the consideration of the Fiscal Year 2014 NDAA mark-up urging them to ensure that the nation’s tank industrial base is not needlessly jeopardized.
In the Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 budget deliberations, the Committee took actions to avert unnecessary risk to this national capability as the Army further evaluated the implications of its proposals. As the Committee has acknowledged in the past two years, appropriately addressing this matter in the near term will save taxpayer dollars over the longer-term, and ensure our nation maintains a critical defense capability, on which our country is slated to rely for decades to come.
Read the full letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=802bb731-cfb5-42d1-b4af-ef04ac5b4514,"Portman Statement on the Passing of William L. Mallory, Sr.",2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) released the following statement today remembering the life of William L. Mallory, Sr.:
“Jane and I were deeply saddened to learn about the passing of William L. Mallory, Sr. He was a man of humble beginnings who led by example and dedicated his life to public service, most of which was spent in the State House where he was the first African American Majority Floor Leader. He worked to ensure that others in our community could share in the same success he achieved. As patriarch of the Mallory family, William leaves behind that legacy of service and civility from which we can all learn. I always valued his friendship, and our thoughts and prayers are with Fannie and the entire Mallory family as they mourn his loss.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=aa86be1f-4d67-4630-a021-12b91ddb4e57,Portman Cincinnati Enquirer Op-Ed: Ending Future Government Shutdowns,2013-12-10,2013,2013-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) lays out his plan in today’s Cincinnati Enquirer to end the threat of government shutdowns. Portman recently introduced the End Government Shutdowns Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure that, for any program whose appropriation bill has not been enacted by the new fiscal year, spending would automatically continue at the prior year’s level. If lawmakers still cannot complete spending bills, spending would be reduced one percentage point after 120 days, and another percentage point every 90 days thereafter.
Excerpts of the Op-Ed are below, and it can be found in its entirety here.
Proposal would help end government shutdowns   Cincinnati Enquirer   Sen. Rob Portman   December 9, 2013
The recent government shutdown created many losers, and no winners. Federal employees were furloughed, and millions of Americans dependent on federal programs and services were left hanging. The economy was burdened with a new source of uncertainty. And for what? The dangerous long-term growth of government spending was not pared back at all.
A government shutdown – whereby a part of the federal government shuts down due to the failure to enact the bills funding those programs – has occurred 18 times since the current budget process was installed in 1976. If nothing changes, Washington may be headed for a 19th shutdown this January.
But Washington must change. And that is why I introduced the End Government Shutdowns Act earlier this year. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that, for any program whose appropriation bill has not been enacted by the new fiscal year, spending would automatically continue at the prior year’s level.
If lawmakers still cannot complete spending bills, spending would be reduced one percentage point after 120 days, and another percentage point every 90 days thereafter.
The current system is undeniably broken. Each year, Congress must pass 12 appropriations bills to fund the nearly $1 trillion in annual discretionary spending. In the past four years, not a single one has been signed into law on time for the new fiscal year. That’s 48 consecutive late appropriations bills.
Often, Congress passes a series of short continuing resolutions to keep the programs going until the final bills are completed. But not always.
Instead, crisis budgeting has become the norm over the past 20 years. With budget deadlines fast approaching, lawmakers have often been given the painful choice of passing a hurried, last-minute, budget-busting omnibus bill with countless special giveaways and favors, or shutting down the government. Clearly, lawmakers could pass more responsible and thoughtful spending bills if they could take the time to do so without a “government shutdown” gun pointed at their heads.  …
This year’s shutdown – and the backlash it produced – has led some lawmakers to promise a budget deal to prevent another shutdown next month. But that implies acceptance of any spending to get the bills passed. In short, government shutdowns produce backlashes that shift the momentum to the spenders.
Some critics contend that automatically maintaining current spending levels would lead to lawmakers not passing appropriations bills and leaving those programs on autopilot. Of course, Washington doesn’t pass appropriations now. Isn’t this safeguard better than risking the upheaval of a full shutdown?  …
Government shutdowns accomplish nothing. They result in bad deals for the American people, and their value as a political tool is fool’s gold. It’s time to end them once and for all. The End Government Shutdowns Act can help do that.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-and-dave-joyce-introduce-legislation-award-congressional-gold,Congressman Tim Ryan and Dave Joyce Introduce Legislation to Award a Congressional Gold Medal to Civil Rights Icon Simeon Booker,2013-12-09,2013,2013-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) and Dave Joyce (OH-14) introduced legislation today to award a Congressional Gold Medal to civil rights reporter and icon Simeon Booker in recognition of his achievements in the field of journalism.
“I couldn’t think of a more worthy American than Simeon Booker to be awarded Congress’s highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal. His long and illustrious career in journalism and his work to advance the civil rights movement has forever changed our nation for the better,” said Congressman Ryan. “Simeon Booker has devoted his life’s work to breaking barriers and changing the hearts and minds of all those he touched through his writing . He is a true American hero.
“Simeon Booker dedicated his career to covering the civil rights movement and achieved many firsts in his field, including becoming the first African-American reporter to win a Newspaper Guild Award and the first full-time African-American reporter at The Washington Post,” Congressman Joyce stated. “We’re proud that Booker started his journalism career in Youngstown, and believe he’s a worthy recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.”
Simeon Booker began his career writing about Negro League baseball teams for the Youngstown Vindicator. In 1950, he received the Nieman Fellowship to study journalism and develop his talent as a reporter. After one year at Harvard, Booker became the first full-time African American reporter at the Washington Post. In 1955 he helped advance the civil rights movement with his famous coverage of the Emmett Till murder and trial – turning a common occurrence in the Deep South into a national tragedy that united the African American community. In 1961, he rode with the Congress On Racial Equality (CORE) Freedom Riders through the Deep South; and, when they were firebombed and beaten by the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama, Booker arranged for their rescue by calling U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Simeon Booker is often referred to as the “Dean of the Black Press”. He has covered every presidential election since 1953 and is the author of two highly acclaimed books: Shocking the Conscience: A Reporter’s Account of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Man’s America.
His honors and awards include: Nieman Fellowship, Harvard University 1950; elected president of the Capitol Press Club, 1956; Fourth Estate Award, National Press Club, 1982: inducted into Hall of Fame, Washington Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, and Hall of Fame of Washington, D.C. 1984; Master Communicators Award, National Black Media Coalition, 1998; Phoenix Award, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, 2010; inducted into Hall of Fame, National Association of Black Journalists, 2013.
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