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=B63AC466-A576-474E-9DD1-3EA8D269654A,Portman Statement on China's Decision to Ban Ivory Trade,2016-12-31,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-chair of the Senate International Conservation Caucus, today released the following statement applauding China’s decision to ban the ivory trade:
“I applaud China’s decision to ban the processing and sale of ivory by the end of 2017. With the world’s largest ivory market, China’s ban will protect vulnerable elephant populations in Africa and will deal a blow to criminal and terror organizations that engage in poaching and trafficking of elephant ivory. As co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus, I will continue to work in Congress to raise awareness about the illicit ivory trade and I look forward to continuing our efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.”
Portman’s 2014 op-ed “Elephants slaughtered for trinkets and terrorism” details the illicit ivory trade and its links to international terrorism as well as his efforts to put an end to the trafficking of ivory.
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http://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/us-slaps-sanctions-on-russia-for-hackings-expels-35-diplomats,"US slaps sanctions on Russia for hackings, expels 35 diplomats",2016-12-30,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election, ejecting 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russia’s two leading intelligence services.
The administration also sanctioned four top officers of one of those services, the military intelligence unit known as the GRU, which the White House believes ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations.
The expulsion of the 35 diplomats was in response to the harassment of U.S. diplomats in Russia, officials said. None of those officials are believed to be connected to the hacking, they said. In addition, the State Department announced the closing of two “recreational facilities” — one in New York, another in Maryland — that it said were used for Russian intelligence activities, although officials would not say whether they were used in the election-related hacks.
In a sweeping set of announcements, the United States also released samples of malware and other indicators of Russian cyberactivity, including network addresses of computers commonly used by the Russians to launch attacks. Taken together, the actions amount to the strongest U.S. response ever taken against a state-sponsored cyberattack aimed at the United States.
The sanctions were in part intended to box in President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has consistently cast doubt that the Russian government had anything to do with the hacking of the DNC or other political institutions, saying U.S. intelligence agencies could not be trusted and suggesting that the hacking could have been the work of a “400-pound guy” sitting in his bed.
Trump will now have to decide whether to lift the sanctions on the Russian intelligence agencies when he takes office next month, with Republicans in Congress among those calling for a public investigation into Russia’s actions. Should Trump do so, it would require him to effectively reject the findings of his intelligence agencies.
Trump said Thursday night that he’ll meet next week with U.S. intelligence officials to discuss their findings that Russia hacked Democratic Party emails to meddle in the 2016 election, signaling a possible shift from his previous dismissals of Russian involvement.
In his first statement following Obama’s action, Trump said “It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.”
President Barack Obama, in a statement, put in a subtle dig at Trump’s unwillingness to talk about Russia’s role. “All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” he said. He said he acted after “repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government” and called the moves “a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior.”
In Moscow, there was a sense that the Obama administration was trying to take unseemly last-minute revenge against Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
“We regret that this decision was made by the U.S. administration and President Obama personally,” Dmitri Peskov, spokesman for Putin, told reporters. “As we have said before, we believe such decisions and such sanctions are ungrounded and illegal from the point of view of international law.”
Russia is studying the details of what Washington did, he said, and some manner of reciprocal answer can be expected.
Konstantin Kosachyov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, told Interfax that “this is the agony not even of ‘lame ducks,’ but of ‘political corpses.”’
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said “there must be consequences for Russia’s interference with our election. Today’s action sends a clear message that the United States will not tolerate threats to our democracy and we will protect the American people and our institutions from being undermined by the Russian government.”
Congressional Republicans also backed Obama’s decision, even though they said the president should have acted sooner.
“Over and over again, Russia has made clear of its intention to wreak havoc around the world,” said Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township. “Now the Obama administration is finally responding forcefully to this aggression.”
“But what took so long?” Tiberi asked. “Going forward, we must continue to send the signal that we will not tolerate foreign hacking on our nation. I continue to support the appropriate bipartisan committee investigations into Russia’s cyberattacks.”
Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, said the “action is positive but long overdue. In 2014, President Obama warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that ‘there would be costs’ if Russia invaded Ukraine. Shortly after that statement, Vladimir Putin thumbed his nose at President Obama and the world watched as the Russians invaded Ukraine.”
Other Democrats were quick to praise Obama. “Actions have consequences, and today’s announcement by the Obama administration makes that abundantly clear to the Russian government,” said Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Jefferson Township.
Despite the fanfare and political repercussions surrounding the announcement, it is not clear how much real effect the sanctions may have, although they go well beyond the modest sanctions imposed against North Korea for its attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment two years ago.
Starting in March 2014, the United States and its Western allies levied sanctions against broad sectors of the Russian economy and blacklisted dozens of people, some of them close friends of Putin, after the Russian annexation of Crimea and its activities to destabilize Ukraine. Trump suggested in an interview this year that he believed those sanctions were useless, and left open the possibility he might lift them.This article first appeared on The Columbus Dispatch's website on December 30, 2016.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-column?ContentRecord_id=3A5F8F09-5A39-4A3E-9774-018FAAC3D18D,Priorities for 2017,2016-12-30,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"As this year draws to a close, I am already looking to the New Year. There is much to be done in Washington as the new Congress and new president are sworn in, and this is reflected in President-elect Trump's and the Republican leadership's ambitious agenda and busy calendar. We need to deliver what we have promised the American people for the last several years: lower taxes, a more fiscally responsible budget, and common sense solutions to affordable and quality health care.
One of the early priorities is tax reform. I am looking forward to pursuing thoughtful, pro-growth tax reform in the next Congress. Our complex and outdated tax code hasn't been overhauled in 30 years, which has held back our country's true economic potential and reduced opportunities for all Americans. On the individual side, we must lower rates across the board to spur job growth, as well as dramatically simplify tax filings. On the business side, reforms must ensure that the U.S. becomes the most competitive country in the world to do business.
Inextricable to tax issues are budgetary issues. The fiscal state of our nation is dire, and we have a $20 trillion national debt that will continue to grow -- unless we get serious about addressing our debts and deficits. To that end, I will be reintroducing my Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution, a bipartisan resolution to require both chambers of Congress to receive an annual presentation from the Comptroller General on the financial position and condition of the federal government. I also intend to reintroduce my Budget Enforcement Awareness Resolution to highlight the lack of fiscal responsibility in legislation and provide accountability for deviations from the budget.
Another priority of mine is health care. We spend more on health care than any other nation in the world yet rank 37th in health care outcomes. Under the Affordable Care Act, the quality of care has decreased, and premiums have skyrocketed. In 2017, we must act quickly to set up the parameters for a repeal of Obamacare and act diligently to replace it in such a way that provides the safety net families deserve. By increasing competition with market-based solutions, we will be able to deliver the accessible, affordable, and quality care Obamacare has failed to deliver.
In the first months of the next Congress, I intend to introduce the Hospital Quality Rating Transparency Act, which would improve transparency and accountability for both patients and providers. I also intend to introduce the Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior (CARES) Act to reduce costs and remove barriers to health care services for our nation's seniors by eliminating the three-day inpatient hospital stay requirement for Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of skilled nursing facility services.
I also share the President-elect's ambition to rebuild our infrastructure. As of 2014, there were 61,365 structurally deficient bridges in the United States, nearly 6,000 of which are on our National Highway System. I will be reintroducing my Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act to create a bipartisan, bicameral commission within Congress to develop a long-term funding solution for the Highway Trust Fund. Last Congress, this legislation garnered the support of the Chamber of Commerce, AAA, AFL-CIO, the American Trucking Associations, and the mayors of numerous cities in Ohio.
My priority in the coming months is to push legislation that will make meaningful changes for our nation but especially for the people of Ohio. The 16th District showed its confidence in me in November, and I intend to get to work for you as quickly as possible in the next Congress. Have a wonderful New Year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-statement-on-debarment-proceedings-against-restaurant-associates,Brown Statement on Debarment Proceedings Against Restaurant Associates,2016-12-30,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 30, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown today applauded the Department of Labor’s decision to initiate debarment proceedings against Restaurant Associates, which could result in the company being ineligible for government contract bids for three years. The proceedings follow a DOL investigation into Restaurant Associates which found the company and its subcontractor had misclassified hundreds of workers at the U.S. Capitol.
“Every company should be accountable to labor laws and treat their workers with respect, especially when their profits come from American taxpayers” said Brown. “Restaurant Associates failed to meet the most basic standards and its potential debarment is a small price to pay for robbing the Senate's cafeteria workers of the money they earned. The Labor Department is right to take these violations seriously and I'm pleased DOL is pursing disciplinary action.”
Brown has called for the termination of the U.S. Senate’s contract with Restaurant Associates. Brown led the entire Democratic caucus in a letter to DOL Secretary Tom Perez requesting an audit of Restaurant Associates’ parent company, Compass Group, and its subsidiaries in the federal government. The letter built on his efforts to ensure fair treatment of workers in the Senate cafeteria and catering services.
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http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399121,Bill Johnson Statement on Russia Sanctions,2016-12-29,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Representative Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s announcement of new sanctions against Russia:
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      Representative Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s announcement of new sanctions against Russia:
“The Obama Administration has turned a blind-eye to Russia’s global aggression over the last eight years, so I am left wondering why they only now decided to act.  Today's action is positive, but long overdue.  In 2014, President Obama warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that ‘there would be costs’ if Russia invaded Ukraine.  Shortly after that statement, Vladimir Putin thumbed his nose at President Obama and the world watched as the Russians invaded Ukraine.  America cannot afford to be a passive player to history.  I look forward to working with the Trump administration to once again see America lead from the front, not from behind.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1799,Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge Statement on U.S. Abstention from U.N. Resolution Vote on Israel,2016-12-29,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH - On December 23rd, the United States abstained from voting against an anti-Israeli resolution at the United Nations Security Council. Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) released the following statement regarding this action:

	""I am disappointed at the Administration’s decision to abstain from the anti-Israeli resolution at the United Nations Security Council last week. After years of international partnership, our actions sent the wrong message to the world. Israel is indeed our truest ally in a very dangerous region. Our actions, and that of the UN Security Council, do nothing to promote peace in the Middle East.”

	 

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https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398701,Rep. Steve Chabot Condemns Obama Administrations Abstention at U.N. Vote Over Israel,2016-12-27,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Steven Chabot,C000266,chabot.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) issued the following statement on the Obama Administration’s decision to abstain from a vote condemning Israel at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC):  

“Under President Harry S. Truman, the United States was the first country in the world to recognize the State of Israel in the spring of 1948.  Since then, our two nations have shared a special relationship rooted in shared values and interests.  The Obama Administration’s refusal to reject an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations will not destroy our alliance.  It will only further stain an already shameful foreign policy legacy.  Thankfully, the incoming Trump Administration has signaled it is willing to do everything within its power to repair this critical friendship as soon as possible.”
Rep. Chabot is Chairman of the House Small Business Committee (SBC) and is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.  

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http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399158,Rep. Stivers' Statement on the Passage of the UN Security Council Resolution,2016-12-26,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Stivers' Statement on the Passage of the UN Security Council Resolution 
   
    
       
      
  
    
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        ""President Obama's highly unprecedented decision to not veto this resolution is yet another representation of his refusal to support Israel - our greatest ally in the Middle East - and I strongly disagree with the action. I am looking forward to working in the new Congress to strengthen Israel's standing and security in the region.""
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      Regarding the passage of the United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel's presence in the West Bank, the following can be attributed to Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH): 
 
""President Obama's highly unprecedented decision to not veto this resolution is yet another representation of his refusal to support Israel - our greatest ally in the Middle East - and I strongly disagree with the action. I am looking forward to working in the new Congress to strengthen Israel's standing and security in the region.""
 
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https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/columns?ID=068547C7-5CB9-401A-87AC-D16C4CB81EC3,Delivering Results in 2016,2016-12-26,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Ohioans are tired of Washington gridlock and want to see things getting done that will help them and their families. That's how I feel. We don't all agree on what those specific policies should be, but in general most of us just want to see Republicans and Democrats work together for the greater good. That's what I've tried to do over the past six years during my first term in the U.S. Senate, and I've had a lot of success finding common ground, not on every issue, but on some important ones. In my first term, more than 50 of my bills were signed into law by President Obama. These measures are making a difference for working families in Ohio.
At yearend, I like to give a report on specific progress made over the past year. I work for you, and you deserve to know what my office and I have accomplished. In 2016 alone, more than a dozen of my bills were signed into law. For a more extensive list of 2016 accomplishments, please go on our website, at Portman.Senate.Gov, but below is a summary.
My top priority has been creating more and better jobs in Ohio. This year, I successfully fought for Ohio workers who have been hurt by the unfair trade practices of our competitors around the world. I co-authored the ENFORCE Act, which helps Ohio manufacturers by cracking down on foreign competitors who launder their goods through other countries to get around our tariffs. Trade laws I’ve authored, including the ENFORCE Act and the Level the Playing Field Act, also helped a number of Ohio companies—including steel companies like AK Steel in Middletown, ArcelorMittal in Cleveland, and U.S. Steel in Loraine—win 2016 trade cases at the International Trade Commission.
I also authored several laws this year that protect our environment. Earlier this month, President Obama signed into law my bill to establish public-private partnerships to help our National Park system reduce its $12 billion backlog of maintenance projects and preserve national treasures like Cuyahoga Valley National Park. He also signed into law my measure stopping the Army Corps of Engineers from dumping dredged material into the Cleveland Harbor without permission from the state of Ohio, my bill to help finish Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati, my bill to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative—which is helping to clean up Lake Erie—and my bill to save nearly 2,000 jobs by continuing to clean up the former Piketon Gaseous Diffusion plant in Piketon, Ohio.
But maybe the most important bill that became law this past year was the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA. It’s the first comprehensive reform to federal addiction policy in at least 20 years and it modernizes the federal government’s response to the epidemic of heroin and prescription drug addiction that is devastating Ohio. A new study shows that Ohio leads the country in overdoses and we now lose more of our fellow citizens to overdose deaths than car accidents.
CARA authorizes $181 million annually in new federal investments in prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery programs, and it channels that funding toward the programs that have been proven to work. I’ve secured a down payment on fully funding CARA in the spending bills and I also fought for legislation in the spending bill for this year that provides additional funds to empower states like Ohio to fight this epidemic. CARA and this additional funding will help save lives, reduce crime, and reunite families and communities that have been torn apart by this epidemic.
But my job as a United States Senator is about more than just writing laws. I’ve also held the administration accountable to ensure that our laws are being enforced. For example, this year, as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I led a bipartisan investigation into human trafficking that examined how the federal government had placed migrant children with a human trafficking ring in Marion, Ohio. After law enforcement arrested them, the ringleaders were sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison in June. Our investigation also revealed that backpage.com—the online leader in commercial sex—likely edited their advertisements to conceal evidence of sex trafficking minors.
Ohioans also hired me to be their advocate with the federal government. In 2016, my casework team worked on more than 3,000 new cases for Ohioans who came to our office in need of help with problems like Social Security checks, getting a passport in a hurry, or helping veterans get the health care that they deserve. Over my first term in the United States Senate, we successfully resolved 84 percent of more than 16,700 cases. This past year, we resolved more than 87 percent successfully. If I can help you or your family navigate the federal bureaucracy, you can contact my office at Portman.Senate.gov or by calling 1-800-205-6446.
I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish for Ohio this past year, and I’m not slowing down. With a new Congress and a new Administration I hope we can make even more progress on big issues like getting the economy going and restoring American global leadership. Just like 2016, my focus will be on delivering results for Ohio.
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https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/columns?ID=4AF66FBC-EF44-4B43-8AA6-C15601640A5C,At the Speed of Science,2016-12-26,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The advances made by the scientific and medical communities over the past few decades have been incredible. In just the past thirty years, life expectancy in the United States has increased by five years, and almost half of that increase took place just in the last decade. I often think about my own mom, who died 22 years ago - too young - of a rare form of cancer that was considered incurable then. Today, I meet Ohioans who are remission from that same cancer due to the amazing research and therapy advances of the past two decades.
But even with that progress, there is still so much work to do. Right now, there are nearly 7,000 known rare diseases afflicting nearly 30 million Americans—nearly triple the population of Ohio. Of these thousands of diseases, only about 500 have cures.
For the sake of these millions of families who are waiting for cures, we’ve got to make sure that our scientists are able to continue pursuing new knowledge and new technologies. At a minimum, I believe Congress should ensure that our laws aren’t holding them back.
Unfortunately, the fact is that many of our public health regulations are out of date. Many of our laws are older than key medical breakthroughs that have changed our health care system.
In many cases, bureaucratic red tape gets in the way of medical progress. One result is that it costs an estimated $1 billion to get a new drug through the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process to someone who needs it.
Making the federal government’s role in public health smarter and more efficient is the idea behind the 21st Century CURES Act, which I strongly supported and was recently signed into law.
Most federally-funded medical research is done through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nearly $700 million of this research is done right here in Ohio every year at world-renowned institutions like the Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University and the University of Cincinnati.  CURES authorizes $4.8 billion in NIH research, including $1.8 billion for research to fight cancer and $1.5 billion to fight brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
CURES also authorizes a new “Eureka prize” competition to financially reward scientists who find cures. Scientists doing medical research for the federal government will now be required to share their findings with the public so that other scientists don’t have to duplicate their research done with taxpayer dollars.
CURES also makes comprehensive reforms to our mental health care system and improves training for those who care for people with mental health or substance abuse disorders.
One provision of this new law that I was particularly supportive of will have a big impact on the heroin and prescription drug epidemic that has hit  Ohio hard. CURES authorizes $1 billion in new funding for states to enhance prevention, treatment and recovery. With more heroin and prescription drug and other opioid overdose deaths than any other state, Ohio will especially benefit from this support.
I strongly advocated for this immediate funding to be included in the bill because I believe it complements the more comprehensive CARA Act we just passed and, together, has a chance to help turn the tide in this terrible epidemic. I also pushed hard to get both the CURES state grants and the CARA funding in the actual spending bill that also passed Congress at year end.
CURES also contains a number of other ideas I’ve fought for in the United States Senate to strengthen Medicare. These include protecting hospitals in low-income areas from penalties in the Affordable Care Act, protecting cancer hospitals like the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus from scheduled Medicare cuts, and ensuring that seniors who have Medicare Advantage can keep it.
CURES is good news for scientists, for those struggling with the effects of addiction, for seniors on Medicare.
It’s also good news for taxpayers. It spends our tax money in a smarter way and has the potential to save money in the long run. Think about it this way: we don’t spend much money on polio anymore, because scientists came up with a cure. Cruel diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s cost our society about $250 billion a year combined. If this new law leads to even one new cure, it could significantly reduce our growing health care costs.
But most of all, CURES is good news for those 30 million American families who live with one of these debilitating diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's or a rarer disease. If you aren’t in one of those families, then you know someone who is. With this new law in place, all of us have more reason to be optimistic that the progress that has been made can accelerate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399120,Bill Johnson Statement on the Obama Administrations Refusal to Veto Anti-Israel UN Resolution,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Representative Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement on the Obama Administration’s refusal to veto an anti-Israel resolution at the UN:
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       “Today’s abstention by the United States in a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) anti-Israel vote was shameful.  Through this action, the U.S. allowed the passage of a resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. Overwhelming bipartisan majorities from both the House and Senate have urged the Obama Administration to veto one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions, such as the one voted on today, which would only serve to undermine efforts to pursue a lasting peace - a peace which will only be achieved when the Palestinian Authority and its people recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.  Additionally, the United Nations is not the proper venue to resolve this conflict; rather, it must be accomplished through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Instead of focusing on Syria, where thousands of innocent civilians are being massacred, the UNSC has decided to continue their obsession on censuring Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.
“Today’s abstention at the U.N. is one final betrayal of a staunch American ally by the Obama Administration on their way out the door. I look forward to working with President-elect Trump and the new Congress to reverse the damage done by the current administration.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://jordan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398083,Jordan statement on Security Council resolution on Israel,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Jordan,J000289,jordan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) made the following comments today regarding the United Nations Security Council’s vote to adopt a resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction:
“I condemn in the strongest terms the United Nations Security Council’s vote today. I stand with our great friend Israel in opposition to this resolution and look forward to a new era of friendship and cooperation with Israel under President-elect Donald Trump.”
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http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-column?ContentRecord_id=DFDF3CB9-E7C8-41B4-8144-1961E9CD7741,Wrapping up a Tumultuous Year,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"2016 was a very busy year in Washington. While any year is busy due to the often chaotic legislative process, 2016 was also an election year. The beginning of the year saw the conclusion of a frenzied primary season for both parties that soon gave way to a bruising general election, culminating in the election of not only a new president but one-third of the Senate and every single member of the House.
I can understand that as the year and Congress draws to a close, most Northeast Ohioans are happy to leave the year's political twists and turns behind, but I wanted to take the time to share with you what my staff and I have worked to achieve for the people of Ohio's 16th District this Congress. While there are some things we might want to forget, there is also much in which we can take pride. I know I speak on behalf of all my staff when I say that despite how busy our schedules might have been this year, our commitment to the 16th District always stayed at the forefront of our minds.
The 114th Congress was a productive one legislatively. In total, five of the bills I introduced were passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama. Three of these bills were included in a larger package called the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. The first of these bills better protects hardworking American taxpayers from tax-related identity theft, and the second eliminates the need to file amended returns for very minor errors on certain tax information statements. The third bill prevents political targeting at the Internal Revenue Service and adds political targeting to the list of offenses for which an IRS employee can be terminated.
My most recent bill to become law was the Establishing Beneficiary Equity in the Hospital Readmission Program Act, which was included in the 21st Century Cures Act. It would require the Department of Health and Human Services to adjust its readmission penalty for hospitals whose readmission rates it deems are too high. This program was initially created out of concern that too few resources were being spent on reducing hospital readmissions. However, many factors outside of a hospital's control determine its number of readmissions, which is why this bill directs the department to retool its methodology so we can better support the hospitals that serve our country's most vulnerable patients.
The staff members in my offices also kept busy. In total, they resolved over 1,400 cases for constituents, which touched upon topics as diverse as Social Security, Medicare, VA benefits, and IRS-related issues. We also visited over 50 high schools in the district, and 27 city halls, meeting with local students and community leaders to learn more about what we could do to improve things on their behalf. Finally, my staff received and responded to over 37,000 messages from constituents.
I want to finish by saying what a pleasure it has been serving as your Congressman. I am humbled and honored to have been given this opportunity. I hope through my efforts, I am able to provide a voice for you in Washington and to be an advocate for the issues that matter most to the 16th District. In the next Congress and new year, my staff and I will remain just as committed to you as we have been in 2016. I look forward to a very productive 2017.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://jordan.house.gov/media/press-releases/jordan-statement-security-council-resolution-israel,Jordan statement on Security Council resolution on Israel,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Jordan,J000289,jordan.house.gov,jordan,https://jordan.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) made the following comments today regarding the United Nations Security Council's vote to adopt a resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction:

""I condemn in the strongest terms the United Nations Security Council's vote today. I stand with our great friend Israel in opposition to this resolution and look forward to a new era of friendship and cooperation with Israel under President-elect Donald Trump.""

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-portman-annoucne-12-billion-authorization-for-military-systems-that-support-jobs-at-lima-joint-systems-manufacturing,"Brown, Portman Annoucne $1.2 Billion Authorization for Military Systems that Support Jobs at Lima Joint Systems Manufacturing",2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 23, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that President Obama signed into law the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding for the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle – critical work is done on both systems at Lima’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC). The NDAA includes more than $652 million to support modifications to the Abrams Tank and more than $579 million for the Stryker Vehicle.
“Some of the safest and most advanced military vehicles in the world are made in Lima,” Brown said. “In October, we had the honor of bringing Under Secretary Murphy to the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center to highlight how important continued federal investment in the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle is to our military readiness and preparedness. We will continue to support these federal investments to strengthen our national security and bolster northwest Ohio’s economy.”
“The best tanks in the world are made in Lima, Ohio,” Portman said. “And with this $1 billion investment, Congress is recognizing that and ensuring that the JSMC continues to provide these tanks to our troops. This is good news for taxpayers, good news for our military, and it’s very good news for Lima, and I’m proud of the role I played with Senator Brown in making it happen.”
In October 2016, Brown and Portman brought Under Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy to Lima for a tour of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC). Brown and Portman have been longtime champions of the JSMC and have worked over the years with the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) leadership to promote the work done in Lima.
In March 2016, Brown wrote to his Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committee colleagues to support inclusion of the Abrams Tank and Stryker Vehicle in the NDAA and the Defense Appropriations bill.
In February 2016, Brown applauded the inclusion of funding for the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle in President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal. Brown wrote to U.S. Secretary of the Army John McHugh in August 2015 to request these funds.
 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-portman-announce-funding-for-military-construction-research-programs-at-wright-patterson-air-force-base-signed-into-law,"Brown, Portman Announce Funding for Military Construction, Research Programs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Signed into Law",2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 23, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law today by President Barack Obama authorizes $12.6 million to consolidate the operations of two active Entry Control Points (ECPs) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). This consolidation would improve security and traffic flow at the base. The NDAA also authorizes $14.4 million for facilities upgrades, equipment installation, and other projects that increase energy efficiency and approximately $1.1 billion for Air Force Research and Development projects and programs run out of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at WPAFB.
“Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is critical to our nation’s military and to southwest Ohio’s economy,” Brown said. “This law is an important step in ensuring that Wright-Patterson has the funding needed to upgrade its facility, enhance safety, and bolster the important research being done on base. We will continue working with our Senate colleagues to maintain our commitment to Wright-Patterson.”
“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,” Portman said. “This legislation—now law—will ensure that the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base remains a national leader in delivering world-class national security capabilities to our men and women in uniform by providing resources to help protect and improve the base.”
In August 2015, Brown urged U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James to include funding for this project in the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget and, in March 2016, he wrote to the Senate Armed Service Committee supporting the gate consolidation. Congress will now need to appropriate the resources necessary to fund construction.
  
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-statement-on-un-security-council-draft-resolution-on-israel-,Brown Statement on U.N. Security Council Draft Resolution on Israel,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 23, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today issued the following statement on the U.N. Security Council’s draft resolution regarding Israel:
“Earlier this fall I joined Senate colleagues urging the Administration to uphold its position opposing one-sided resolutions at the U.N. Security Council regarding Israel. Any lasting peace must be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians, not imposed by the international community. My hope is that a new year will bring a new commitment by both sides to earnestly work towards a peace agreement.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/key-victory-for-youngstown-air-reserve-station-secured-by-brown-portman-now-law,"Key Victory for Youngstown Air Reserve Station Secured by Brown, Portman Now Law",2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Law Signed Today Includes Brown/Portman Measure to Prioritize C-130 Upgrades for YARS
				
			
			Friday, December 23, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that President Obama signed into law the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes their amendment to prioritize C-130 upgrades needed at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS). The law will encourage the Air Force to act on these upgrades by requiring it to report on how it will prioritize upgrades from C-130H aircrafts to new C-130J units, which YARS needs for its special mission. Brown and Portman have been working to urge the Air Force to replace the 910th Airlift Wing’s current fleet with the new C-130J to ensure the Wing can complete its missions safely.
“These updates are key to maintaining Mahoning Valley jobs and supporting the ongoing missions performed by the men and women at Youngstown Air Reserve Station,” said Brown. “We’ve been pushing for modernization of this fleet for years, and this law will call on the Air Force to get to work updating these aircraft so YARS can continue its critical missions.”
“The Youngstown Air Reserve station is a model for other Air Reserve Stations throughout the country. Our provision puts YARS is in a better position to receive upgraded aircraft,” Portman stated. “C-130 modernization will improve the 910th’s aging fleet and ensure that the 910th’s specialized aerial-spray missions continue safely and effectively.”
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=267722A5-5E0A-412A-BA8A-E5D607862B76,President Signs into Law Portman Ukraine Security Assistance Reforms,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Builds on Last Year’s Efforts to Help Ukraine Ward off Russian Aggression
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today announced that the president signed into law key elements of his Ukraine security assistance package dealing with Ukrainian defense sector reform as part of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As amended by Portman’s provisions, the FY 2017 NDAA authorizes $350 million in security assistance, including lethal and non-lethal equipment, training, and technical assistance. Half, or $175 million, of this money is linked to Ukraine’s implementation of critical defense reforms such as instituting civilian control of the military, cooperation and coordination with Ukrainian parliamentary efforts to exercise oversight of the Ministry of Defense and military forces, increased transparency and accountability in defense procurement, and improvement in transparency, accountability, and potential opportunities for privatization. This year’s Ukraine security assistance package builds on provisions that Portman passed last year. Portman issued the following statement:
“As Russian aggression continues in eastern Ukraine, the United States and NATO must provide the sustained economic, political, and military support necessary for Ukraine to secure a democratic future. The Ukrainian people need the moral and material support of the United States to defend themselves as they continue their pursuit for democracy, liberty, and freedom, and they. The provisions signed into law today will help the U.S. keep their promise to Ukrainians longing for peace, and will continue the policy of Democratic and Republican Administrations alike of helping free people defend themselves against tyranny.”
NOTE: Portman, who recently received the Ukrainian-American community’s highest honor – the Shevchenko Freedom Award—has long led the effort to provide Ukraine the kind of assistance necessary to ward off Russian aggression and maintain its territorial integrity. In addition to getting key provisions of his Ukraine security assistance legislation included in the NDAA, Senator Portman has also won a major victory in the fight against propaganda that will help the U.S. and its allies such as Ukraine better counter and combat the extensive propaganda and disinformation operations directed against us from countries like Russia.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=35116789-043A-4893-ACE4-2A03933D1872,Portman Statement on United Nations Security Council Vote on Israel,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"CINCINNATI, OH: U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) released the following statement on the United Nation’s Security Council vote earlier today:
""I am deeply disappointed by the UN Security Council's anti-Israel resolution and the Obama administration's decision to overturn decades of U.S. policy by refusing to veto it. This resolution does nothing to actually resolve issues between Israel and the Palestinians. Instead it will only aid and abet those who seek to isolate Israel and encourage future initiatives to impose a policy outcome independent of direct, bilateral negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. By overturning nearly 40 years of bipartisan U.S. policy towards anti-Israel UN Security Council resolutions, President Obama has left a key regional ally exposed and undermined faith in America's commitment to stand by its allies. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the new administration to restore the bipartisan consensus on U.S. support for Israel and ensure that this resolution is not used to further an anti-Israel agenda that is not in U.S. interests.""  
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A879FF8B-E738-4EA6-AAA3-5D48390EE1D4,"Portman, Brown Amendment to Strengthen Youngstown Air Reserve Station Signed Into Law",2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Portman/Brown Measure Will Prioritize C-130 Upgrades for YARS 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced today that the president signed into law the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes their legislation to prioritize C-130 upgrades for special mission units like the 910 Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS). Specifically, the amendment will require the Air Force to report on how it will prioritize upgrades from C-130H aircraft to new C-130J models, which YARS needs for its special aerial spray mission. Portman and Brown have been urging the Air Force to replace the 910th Airlift Wing’s current fleet with the new C-130J to ensure the Wing can complete its missions more safely and effectively.
“The Youngstown Air Reserve station is a model for other Air Reserve Stations throughout the country. Our provision puts YARS is in a better position to receive upgraded aircraft,” Portman stated. “C-130 modernization will improve the 910th’s aging fleet and ensure that the 910th’s specialized aerial-spray missions continue safely and effectively.”
“These updates are key to maintaining Mahoning Valley jobs and supporting the ongoing missions performed by the men and women at Youngstown Air Reserve Station,” said Brown. “We’ve been pushing for modernization of this fleet for years, and this law will call on the Air Force to get to work updating these aircraft so YARS can continue its critical missions.”
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D7684627-C11F-4CFA-A119-55CB5CD102B5,"Portman and Brown Announce $1.2 Billion Authorization for Abrams Tanks and Stryker Vehicles, Supporting Good Jobs in Lima",2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the president has signed into law the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding for the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle, which are both produced at Lima’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC). The NDAA includes $652 million to support modifications to the Abrams Tank and $579 million for the Stryker Vehicle.
“The best tanks in the world are made in Lima, Ohio,” Portman said. “And with this $1 billion investment, Congress is recognizing that and ensuring that the JSMC continues to provide these tanks to our troops. This is good news for taxpayers, good news for our military, and it’s very good news for Lima, and I’m proud of the role I played with Senator Brown in making it happen.”
“Some of the safest and most advanced military vehicles in the world are made in Lima,” Brown said. “In October, we had the honor of bringing Under Secretary Murphy to the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center to highlight how important continued federal investment in the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle is to our military readiness and preparedness. We will continue to support these federal investments to strengthen our national security and bolster northwest Ohio’s economy.”
NOTE: In October, Portman, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) hosted Under Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy in Lima at the JSMC, where they toured the facility and saw a demonstration of the Abrams Tank.  For a recap of Lima area publications and TV reporting on the announcement of the inclusion of funding for Lima in the NDAA, go here. For more information on Portman’s work to protect Lima’s workers and keep national security strong, see this fact sheet.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DA2C2463-E18C-477C-9D1C-637C8061AE5D,"Portman and Brown Announce Funding for Military Construction, Research Programs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Has Been Signed Into Law",2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law today by the president authorizes $12.6 million to consolidate the operations of two active Entry Control Points (ECPs) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). This consolidation will improve security and traffic flow at the base. The NDAA also authorizes $14.4 million for facilities upgrades, equipment installation, and other projects that increase energy efficiency and approximately $1.1 billion for Air Force Research and Development projects and programs run out of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at WPAFB.
“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,” Portman said. “This legislation—now law—will ensure that the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base remains a national leader in delivering world-class national security capabilities to our men and women in uniform by providing resources to help protect and improve the base.”
“Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is critical to our nation’s military and to southwest Ohio’s economy,” Brown said. “This law is an important step in ensuring that Wright-Patterson has the funding needed to upgrade its facility, enhance safety, and bolster the important research being done on base. We will continue working with our Senate colleagues to maintain our commitment to Wright-Patterson.”
NOTE: Senator Portman has long been an advocate for strengthening the research and development capabilities at WPAFB and solidifying its reputation as a national leader in aerospace and defense research, development, and education. In the FY 2016 NDAA, Portman and Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) secured a provision  to expand the Air Force Institute of Technology’s (AFIT) authority to enroll defense industry civilians in AFIT. The provision is already strengthening AFIT by bringing in the best and brightest in the defense industry to Dayton. In the FY 2015 NDAA, Senator Portman and Rep. Turner secured language increasing AFRL hiring authority to hire science, technology, engineering, and math bachelor’s and master’s degree students directly into the lab.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F973E46B-AA8C-4F3E-91B4-8EC0FC7F2F3E,President Signs Portman-Murphy Counter-Propaganda Bill into Law,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Portman-Murphy Bill Promotes Coordinated Strategy to Defend America, Allies Against Propaganda and Disinformation from Russia, China & Others 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today announced that their Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act – legislation designed to help American allies counter foreign government propaganda from Russia, China, and other nations – has been signed into law as part of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report. The bipartisan bill, which was introduced by Senators Portman and Murphy in March, will improve the ability of the United States to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation from our enemies by establishing an interagency center housed at the State Department to coordinate and synchronize counter-propaganda efforts throughout the U.S. government. To support these efforts, the bill also creates a grant program for NGOs, think tanks, civil society and other experts outside government who are engaged in counter-propaganda related work. This will better leverage existing expertise and empower our allies overseas to defend themselves from foreign manipulation. It will also help foster a free and vibrant press and civil society overseas, which is critical to ensuring our allies have access to truthful information and inoculating people against foreign propaganda campaigns.
“Our enemies are using foreign propaganda and disinformation against us and our allies, and so far the U.S. government has been asleep at the wheel,” Portman said. “But today, the United States has taken a critical step towards confronting the extensive, and destabilizing, foreign propaganda and disinformation operations being waged against us by our enemies overseas. With this bill now law, we are finally signaling that enough is enough; the United States will no longer sit on the sidelines. We are going to confront this threat head-on. I am confident that, with the help of this bipartisan bill, the disinformation and propaganda used against us, our allies, and our interests will fail.”
“The use of propaganda to undermine democracy has hit a new low. But now we are finally in a position to confront this threat head on and get out the truth. By building up independent, objective journalism in places like eastern Europe, we can start to fight back by exposing these fake narratives and empowering local communities to protect themselves,” said Murphy. “I’m proud that our bill was signed into law, and I look forward to working with Senator Portman to make sure these tools and new resources are effectively used to get out the truth.”
NOTE: The bipartisan Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act is organized around two main priorities to help achieve the goal of combatting the constantly evolving threat of foreign disinformation from our enemies:
 
The first priority is developing a whole-of-government strategy for countering THE foreign propaganda and disinformation being wages against us and our allies by our enemies. The bill would increase the authority, resources, and mandate of the Global Engagement Center to include state actors like Russia and China as well as non-state actors. The Center will be led by the State Department, but with the active senior level participation of the Department of Defense, USAID, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the Intelligence Community, and other relevant agencies. The Center will develop, integrate, and synchronize whole-of-government initiatives to expose and counter foreign disinformation operations by our enemies and proactively advance fact-based narratives that support U.S. allies and interests.
 
 
Second, the legislation seeks to leverage expertise from outside government to create more adaptive and responsive U.S. strategy options. The legislation establishes a fund to help train local journalists and provide grants and contracts to NGOs, civil society organizations, think tanks, private sector companies, media organizations, and other experts outside the U.S. government with experience in identifying and analyzing the latest trends in foreign government disinformation techniques. This fund will complement and support the Center’s role by integrating capabilities and expertise available outside the U.S. government into the strategy-making process. It will also empower a decentralized network of private sector experts and integrate their expertise into the strategy-making process.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/multimedia/watch/sen-sherrod-brown-connie-schultz-honor-john-glenn,"Sen. Sherrod Brown, Connie Schultz Honor John Glenn",2016-12-22,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Home>News>Audio & Video 
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                     Sen. Sherrod Brown, Connie Schultz Honor John Glenn 
                    Sen. Sherrod Brown and Connie Schultz delivered remarks at the celebration of John Glenn's life at The Ohio State University's Mershon Auditorium in Columbus. 
Video courtesy of WCMH-TV/NBC 4 Columbus.
                     
                    	
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                        Copy Direct Link",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/columns?ID=18546818-8FCA-4D14-B13B-17234F520C0F,Two New Laws Will Save Hundreds of Millions of Dollars,2016-12-22,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"You might be surprised who the biggest landowner is in the United States. It’s the federal government. By a long shot. And thousands of properties owned by the federal government should be transferred to private owners or nonprofits or local government to help save taxpayers money and help local economies and our communities. Legislation I have worked on for years that the president just signed will help do just that.
It's true that many of these federal properties, from post offices to military bases, are important to the government doing its job. But even the federal government admits that it’s not fully using thousands of the federal buildings it owns, and some that others want to use are sitting vacant. Rather than sell, rent, or demolish those that are beyond repair, Washington wastes an estimated $1.67 billion annually on maintaining them. Almost $2 billion a year of taxpayer money!
It’s no wonder that every year since January 2003, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) has placed real property management on its list of “high risk” government activities—activities that are especially vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse.
So why doesn’t the federal government do the smart thing and get rid of these expensive properties and make better use of our taxpayer dollars?
The main reason is bureaucratic red tape. There are more than 20 steps that a federal agency is required to complete before disposing of a single property.
By law, an agency looking to unload unneeded property must first offer it to state and local governments and qualified nonprofit organizations, often at a discount or even for free. Then they have to determine whether the property can be used by the homeless, even if the property is obviously unsafe. Then they have to conduct mandatory environmental and historic preservation assessments that sometimes take years. Agencies may face billions of dollars in extensive repairs and renovations, even for buildings that will end up being demolished. Sometimes the government has to pay rent throughout this entire years-long process.
I think this is just plain wrong. Right now, millions of American families are feeling the middle class squeeze across our country, and they’re cutting their own spending to make ends meet. Many are struggling to pay their own rent; they shouldn’t have to pay taxes for rent on excess government buildings, too.
I’ve been working on this issue for years. When I served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, I identified more than 21,000 real property assets across the country that were unneeded, worth $17.7 billion.  I proposed a pilot program to cut the red tape and speed up the process of getting rid of this property, but Congress never took it up. I've also been working on this in the U.S. Senate.
In Ohio, we know firsthand the benefits of selling off unneeded federal land. As one example, I worked with Congressman Bill Johnson to cut through red tape and speed up a sale of excess federal property in Belmont County, converting a wasteful, unnecessary federal property into a veterans memorial and a business park that created jobs in Southeast Ohio. Right now, I am working with the city of Brecksville to transfer valuable, vacant property owned by the federal government. The process is way too complicated.
But we’ve got some good news. Earlier this month, two bills that I have worked on for years to deal with this problem finally became law.
The first is called the Federal Asset Sale and Transfer Act, or the FAST Act, which I sponsored and will speed up that 20-step process I talked about and get rid of more than $500 million of federal property.
The second is the Federal Property Management Reform Act, bipartisan legislation I co-authored that will make two reforms to the federal government’s use of real estate. The first is that it will require that the federal government develop long-needed uniform best practices for managing its property. The second will require an updated inventory of all real estate—and real estate costs—at each agency, with updated lists of what properties they really need going forward. That’s just common sense, and it will be key to making agencies accountable for getting rid of their underutilized property. It’s unbelievable that we don't have that information now.
With these bills now law, the government will now have better information, better management practices and less red tape so they can start to unload properties that are underutilized or vacant. This will save taxpayer dollars, add jobs, and help our communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E9A01C13-975C-4EF7-88C1-AB011A3705D5,A Year of Delivering Results for Ohio,2016-12-22,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"This year, Senator Portman has been as active as ever in his efforts to deliver results for Ohioans. Portman has worked to help Ohioans struggling with addiction, help combat the horrific crime of human trafficking, increase energy efficiency, create jobs, and boost wages for Ohio workers and much more. Here’s a look at how Senator Portman delivered results for Ohioans in 2016:
Creating Jobs & Delivering Results for Ohio Workers. Portman’s top priority in the Senate continues to be boosting Ohio jobs and the economy. That is why Portman, who has a lengthy record of delivering results for Ohio workers, has worked to expand markets for Ohio products, combat unfair and illegal trade practices that hurt Ohio workers, and protect Ohio steelworkers from foreign cheating. Portman, who has been named a “Hero of Main Street” and “Fiscal Hero,” has worked to create a better environment for job creation and help Ohio workers keep their hard-earned pensions.
 
In February – after his Leveling the Playing Field Act was signed into law last year – Portman’s ENFORCE Act was signed into law. This bipartisan measure will help American manufacturers by cracking down on foreign competitors launder products through other countries to try to get around our trade laws.  And he’s continuing to work to ensure the Obama administration fully implements the law so it makes a real difference for our workers.
 
 
Portman’s Leveling the Playing Field Act has led to three big wins for Ohio workers this year.  Earlier this year – after Portman had testified in front of the International Trade Commission (ITC) twice – the ITC ruled in favor of Ohio steelworkers and against foreign trade cheats like China three times.  As a result, in all three cases the Commerce Department has issued antidumping and countervailing duty orders as high as 265 percent on steel coming from China and certain other foreign competitors. In October, Portman visited Wheatland Tube in Warren, a company that has been hit hard by unfair and illegal imports and is now benefitting from his legislation.
 
 
In December, Portman again testified before the ITC in his fight to protect Ohio jobs from unfair foreign trade practices. Specifically, Portman testified to protect Whirlpool and its 10,000 Ohio workers, including the more than 3,000 workers at Whirlpool’s largest American factory in Clyde, Ohio, from unlawful dumping of clothes washers into the United States. 
 
 
Because of pressure from Portman and others, the Treasury Department rejected the application from Central States to reduce pension benefits by up to 70 percent.  Portman continues to work to help the more than 47,000 Ohioans whose pensions could be cut.  At a rally in the U.S. Capitol in April, Portman discussed how his Pension Accountability Act will help give pensioners a seat at the table so they can have their voices heard.
 
 
In June, Portman and Senator Brown secured a vote in the Senate Finance Committee on the Miner’s Protection Act, which would protect the hard-earned pensions and health benefits of our nation’s coal miners. Portman has fought hard to ensure these mine workers get the benefits they have earned.  The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill in September by a vote of 18-8 and Portman immediately called on the full Senate to pass the measure. Portman voted no on cloture of the Continuing Resolution to protest the lack of action on this bipartisan miner’s bill. The Mine Workers Union has praised Portman’s efforts to pass this legislation.
 

 
In April, the Senate Finance Committee approved the bipartisan Taxpayer Protection Act, which includes two measures Portman has championed, including legislation to protect the privacy rights of taxpayers by ensuring that the IRS can’t outsource an audit. 
 
 
In May, President Obama signed into law Portman’s American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act to bolster job creation for American manufacturers. This legislation was introduced last year by Portman and Senator McCaskill, who had worked to bring stakeholders in the House and Senate together and find a solution to the issue for five years.
 
 
In March, Portman’s bipartisan Competitive Service Act was signed into law by the president. This measure will streamline the hiring process by cutting duplicative services and saving taxpayer money.  The measure will help ensure that the federal government has world-class, highly-trained workers able to deal with sensitive national security issues like cybersecurity and information technology.
 
 
Thanks to Portman’s efforts to secure additional Hardest Hit Funds, in April the Department of the Treasury made $94 million in funding available for Ohio to help revitalize neighborhoods across the state that were hardest hit by the housing. The funds awarded today will be directed towards the demolition of vacant and blighted structures which pose a growing threat to the public safety and economic well-being of our communities and for homeowner assistance programs in support of preventing foreclosure.  This follows the more than $97 million in Hardest Hit Funding that was allocated during the first phase in February.
 
 
The Senate passed Portman’s bipartisan energy efficiency bill with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). As Portman detailed on the Senate floor, the Portman-Shaheen bill would help create nearly 200,000 jobs while reducing carbon emissions equivalent to taking 20 million cars off the road — as a result that would represent a significant victory for consumers, for our economy, and for the environment.  The measure is supported by more than 260 businesses, associations and advocacy groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the Sierra Club, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Alliance to Save Energy.
 
 
Earlier this year, Portman advocated in support of Licking County’s application for the use of its drone. The FAA approved of the county’s request in April. This will help on a variety of important economic development projects, such as the dam reconstruction project at Buckeye Lake.
 


Combating Drug Addiction. As the author of the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA), which was signed into law by President Obama on July 22, 2016, Portman has led the national effort to combat the drug epidemic that is devastating communities across Ohio and our country.  CARA ensures that federal resources are focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that have proven effective in local communities so that it can make a difference in people’s lives. Portman, who recently received awards from The Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdoses and The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, has been praised by Ohio anti-drug advocates as well as editorial boards around the country for his work to combat addiction.

 
This year, Senator Portman delivered 29 speeches on the Senate floor as part of his tireless effort to raise awareness about the heroin and prescription drug epidemic, and pass CARA. His speeches put pressure on the Senate, and then on the House and the president, to act on this crisis, and helped get his bill enacted into law and implemented as quickly as possible.
 

 
The CARA law authorizes $181 million annually in discretionary spending for new programs contained in the legislation. That’s more than double – a 132 percent increase – the authorization level in the original Senate-passed bill ($78 million).
 
 
Portman has been a leader in the fight for more funding to combat this crisis.  In fact, Portman secured $37 million in the short-term Continuing Resolution that was enacted in September, which was designed to help get CARA’s new grant programs up and running. Portman also worked to secure $1 billion in new funding for state grants to right opioid abuse in the recently signed-into-law CURES Act.
 
 
Portman has worked to fully fund CARA, but supports going further than that and has voted for emergency funding to combat this crisis.  Over the last two years, Portman has worked with the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure significant increases in funding for opioid programs. In fact, for this fiscal year the House and Senate passed (and President Obama signed into law) an increase in total federal spending on opioids of 47 percent over last year ($321M vs. $220M). 
 
 
Portman twice touted the landmark CARA legislation in the Weekly Republican Address. Portman has also made clear in various TV and radio interviews – not to mention 29 speeches – that he would not rest until CARA was signed into law and we had begun to provide much-needed relief to those who are suffering from addiction.
 
 
In September, Portman announced during a visit to a Cincinnati Fire House that he would introduce new legislation to address the growing threat of fentanyl and carfentanil in our communities. The legislation – called the Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act – is designed to help stop these dangerous drugs from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States. He is also committed to preventing drugs from crossing our southern border.
 
 
In September, Senator Portman and his Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) released a bipartisan report that revealed serious defects in the federal government’s anti-opioid abuse efforts in Medicare.  The report faulted both the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its lead program integrity contractor (known as “the MEDIC”) for its shoddy process for reporting, investigating and combating opioid-related fraud and abuse—from physicians issuing large volumes of questionable opioid prescriptions, to potentially criminal diversion of opioids into the nation’s streets.  The report also raised alarms that serious cases of systemic opioid-related abuse may be going undetected and unaddressed by federal authorities.  Finally, it details the anti-opioid abuse practices of six large health insurance companies.
 

Working to End Human Trafficking. This year, Portman took his efforts to combat human trafficking to a new level. Portman – who is the author of five federal anti-trafficking laws designed to better serve victims and help law enforcement end this horrific crime –led an investigation of online sex trafficking and continued touring the state to meet with survivors of human trafficking to hear their stories: 


 
Portman is working to combat illegal online marketplaces for sex. Portman and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), as Chairman and Ranking Member of PSI, filed a civil action in the federal district court in Washington, D.C. to enforce a subpoena issued to Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer and require the company to turn over documents relevant to its investigation of online sex trafficking. For the first time in 21 years, the Senate voted to hold someone in contempt of Congress by passing Portman’s resolution on Backpage by a 96-0 vote. Portman has been widely praised for his investigation to examine how sex traffickers use Backpage and other sites to commit crimes and his ongoing efforts to help stop human trafficking. The investigation was featured in ABC’s Nightline program titled “Daughters for Sale.”
 
 
In September, Senators Portman, McCaskill, and PSI won a historic victory in their efforts to end human trafficking.  A U.S. District Court Judge ordered Backpage to comply with Senate subpoena in sex trafficking investigation, calling the company’s claims “untenable and without legal support.”  Backpage was forced to comply, and the investigation is moving forward in order to help the United States Senate more effectively combat the growing scourge of human trafficking online.
 
 
The Toledo Blade praised Portman’s work on the Backpage investigation, saying: “At long last, light may be shed on how pimps conduct their abhorrent business online while staying just outside the reach of the law.  Mr. Portman and Ms. McCaskill are to be commended for their tenacious pursuit of answers.”
 
 
In March, Portman questioned Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on what steps were being taken to secure our porous borders and protect migrant children.
 
 
In February, Portman visited Freedom a la Cart, a business in Columbus that hires and trains survivors of human trafficking, including victims who had been trafficked through Backpage.com and other websites. In June, Portman participated in the Columbus March for Freedom to raise awareness on human trafficking.  In July, he visited She Has A Name and Clean Turn LLC, which provide job opportunities and social services to survivors of human trafficking to help them get their lives back on track and pursue their God-given potential. 
 
 
In September, Portman joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, legislation to clear criminal records of victims of human trafficking. This bill would apply to non-violent crimes committed by individuals as a direct result of human trafficking.
 
 
In May, Portman was awarded the 2016 Children’s Health Champion award from Voices for Ohio’s Children. Portman received this award for his leadership in protecting Ohio’s children from the heinous crime of human trafficking and combating the drug epidemic that is devastating families and communities throughout Ohio.
 

Protecting Ohioans, Honoring Veterans, and Making America Stronger: Portman is committed to keeping Ohioans safe and has consistently advocated for a more robust and comprehensive American strategy to protect our allies and defeat our enemies. As part of that effort, Portman has sought to increase the range of capabilities for the Ohio National Guard and create jobs and opportunity for Ohio’s servicemembers.
 
This month, the president signed into law Portman’s National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act, bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of FEMA’s disaster assistance capabilities and programs. Portman consistently advocated for the passage of this bill, urging his colleagues to put politics aside in order to provide much needed relief to our First Responders such as Ohio Task Force One. Now law, this bipartisan bill will help our first responders know that, when they deploy to disaster areas and put it all on the line for us, their heath and employment are not at risk. Portman discussed the importance of the bill in a weekly column.
 
 
The Senate passed Portman’s legislation requiring the Air Force to prioritize C-130 upgrades for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS), and upgrade that would strengthen its mission capabilities. Portman has been urging the Air Force to replace YARS’ 910th Airlift Wing’s current fleet of C-130H aircraft with new C-130J aircraft to ensure that the 910th’s Department of Defense (DoD)-mandated specialized aerial spray mission continues safely and without interruption. Portman, who has consistently used his position as a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to advocate on behalf of YARS and its Airmen, has indicated that he will continue fighting to ensure that YARS has the leading edge capabilities needed to carry out their critically important national and homeland security missions. His legislation awaits signature from the president.
 
 
Portman continues his strong advocacy on behalf of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima. Most recently, Portman supported a $1.2 billion authorization for tanks and armored vehicles manufactured in Lima. This new funding represents just part of Portman’s ongoing efforts to protect the JSMC, the United States’ only tank plant, and the critical jobs it provides Ohio workers. In October, Portman, Brown, and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) hosted Under Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy in Lima at the JSMC, where they toured the facility and saw a demonstration of the Abrams Tank.  Portman’s work to fight for Lima has not gone unrecognized, and he has consistently indicated his intention to keep fighting for more funding for Lima.
 
 
Portman, who is co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, has continued to be Ukraine’s strongest advocate in Congress. This year, Portman – who received the Shevchenko Freedom Award, the Ukrainian community’s highest honor – successfully fought for inclusion of key defense reform benchmarks into Ukraine’s security assistance package in the NDAA, building on provisions that Portman got signed into law last year.  This year’s package includes $350 million in security assistance, including lethal and non-lethal equipment and training for Ukraine. Portman has long led the effort to provide Ukraine the kind of assistance necessary to ward off Russian aggression and maintain its territorial integrity, including writing a letter just this month to urge President-Elect Trump to stand against Russian aggression and support NATO and Ukrainian sovereignty. Passed as part of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), this bill awaits signature from the president.
 
 
The Senate passed Portman and Senator Chris Murphy’s (D-CT) Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act – legislation designed to help American allies counter foreign government propaganda from Russia, China, and other nations. The bipartisan bill will improve the ability of the United States to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation by establishing an interagency center housed at the State Department to coordinate and synchronize counter-propaganda efforts throughout the U.S. government. The bill awaits signature from the president.
 
 
This month, Portman, Brown, and Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), announced that the president signed into law legislation to honor fallen Ohio soldier and Bronze Star recipient Daniel Kinnard by designating the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Newark, Ohio as the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic. A native of Newark, Kinnard served as a medic in Vietnam and was killed at just 19 years old while tending to wounded men in his unit.
 
 
In March, Portman led the entire Ohio delegation in a bipartisan effort on behalf of the Ohio Air National Guard urging General Carlton Everhart of the Air Mobility Command to locate a KC-135 air refueling tanker flight simulator at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus. In April, Portman announced the USAF had fulfilled their request. 
 
 
In April, Portman’s bipartisan efforts with Rep. Mike Turner and Senator Brown in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs housing its archives at the Dayton Veterans Affairs Campus were successful as the VA announced that it would locate its History Center on the campus.
 
 
In May, the Senate unanimously approved Portman’s legislation to support our disabled veterans. The measure would help ensure that more permanently disabled veterans are able to have student loans forgiven—and not get hit with a massive tax bill for it. In November, Portman joined Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Chris Coons (D-DE) to write a letter to the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Education, urging them to ensure that any veteran who is permanently disabled is discharged of their federal student loan debt, and that this discharge will not be taxable.
 
 
In July, Portman and McCaskill, as Chairman and Ranking Member of PSI, released a bipartisan report examining the U.S. State Department’s grants to OneVoice – a non-governmental organization operating in Israel and the Palestinian Territories that used federal taxpayer money to build a campaign organization later used to try and defeat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign for re-election. Remarkably, the group informed the State Department about its anti-Netanyahu political plans during the federal grant period, but the State Department ignored all of these warnings signs and did nothing about it.  After the report was released, Portman said it is completely unacceptable that U.S. taxpayer dollars were used against the leader of our closest ally in the Middle East, and he reiterated that American resources should be used to help our allies in the region, not undermine them.
 
 
In April, Portman received the Major General Charles Dick Award for Legislative Excellence from the Ohio National Guard Association for his numerous efforts on behalf of the Ohio National Guard during his time in the Senate.   
 
 
In March, Portman’s legislation to rename the United States Postal Service facility located in Grove City after Army Specialist Joseph W. Riley, a native of Grove City who died on November 24, 2014 in Kabul Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, was signed into law. In July, Portman hosted a ceremony in Grove City to announce the dedication of the post office in his name.
 
 
In February, Portman urged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General to undertake a swift investigation into troubling reports of substandard care and mismanagement at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Portman demanded that Deputy Inspector General Linda A. Halliday address these reports and investigate as quickly as possible. 
 
Protecting America’s National Parks & Our Environment: Senator Portman continues to be a leader in protecting our environment. Senator Portman has a lengthy record of accomplishments in protecting Lake Erie, and he recently succeeded in passing his historic legislation to protect our national parks for another century. In addition, Portman, received a Clean Water Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), and has helped lead efforts to make drinking water safe for Ohioans and protect Lake Erie from contaminated dredged materials.


 
Portman helped secure funding for the Smale Riverfront Park that has transformed downtown Cincinnati. This funding is contingent upon the Army Corps of Engineers conduction of a study on the final flood control, ecosystem restoration, and recreation components of the park. This will authorize an additional $15 million in federal money to complete the park if the study determines the components are feasible.
 
 
Portman has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Ohioans have safe drinking water.  Included in this years’ Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which was signed into law by the president this December, are Portman-led reforms that aim to end Flint-like water crises, prevent inappropriate disposal of dredged materials from the Cleveland Harbor, and renew the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act includes the following Portman-led initiatives:
 
 
The law also contains legislation Portman authored with Illinois Senator Mark Kirk to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). GLRI is a results-driven program to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic wellbeing of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. The legislation authorizes GLRI to receive $300 million a year, which is $50 million more than President Obama requested in his budget. 
 
 
The law includes a bipartisan compromise designed to end crises like the one in Flint, Michigan, which will provide $170 million for states, including Ohio, to address lead in our water supply, improve all forms of water infrastructure, and fund health programs to treat lead exposure. Portman helped developed this bipartisan compromise with Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Gary Peters (D-MI). 
 
 
The final bipartisan Portman bill included is the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, which he worked on with Senator Amy Klobuchar. This legislation provides critical resources to conserve and restore fish and wildlife populations in the Great Lakes. The legislation would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to partner with other federal agencies, states, and tribes to develop and execute proposals for the restoration of fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin. The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act serves an important role in implementing the GLRI and will renew continued cooperative efforts to address impacts associated with invasive species throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
 
 
Also signed into law as part of the WIIN Act are Portman and Brown’s legislation to keep to help keep toxic material dredged from the Cuyahoge River out of Lake Erie. A provision of the bill makes clear that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) cannot determine that dumping dredged material into Lake Erie is environmentally acceptable unless it meets the state of Ohio’s water quality standards. This law will help protect Lake Erie from the Corps’ repeated attempts to dispose of contaminated sediment into the Lake. This law builds on extensive Portman efforts to protect Lake Erie. In March, Portman demanded answers on behalf of Cleveland to preserve Lake Erie. Portman, as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to Secretary Ashton B. Carter requesting information regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to dredge the Cleveland Harbor. It has been reported that the Corps cut its own budget by roughly $3 million – to less than it actually needs to dispose safely of the dredged material.  Portman and Senator Brown have repeatedly called on the Corps to end its irresponsible refusal to dredge the Cuyahoga River shipping channel this year, and recently, the Corps agreed to dredge the channel. 
 
 
In December, the Senate passed and the President signed into law the Continuing Resolution, which included a provision pushed by Portman that would ensure that there are no layoffs and that cleanup work will continue at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. Portman has consistently urged Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Moniz to keep the administration’s promises to the Piketon community. 
 

Exposing Reckless Mismanagement in Obamacare CO-OPs. Over the past year, Portman has worked to expose the reckless mismanagement in the Obamacare CO-OP program – a $2.4 billion loan program that launched 23 health insurance start-ups, more than half of which have failed, including the CO-OP for Ohio. Portman and his Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a report detailing the extraordinary losses racked up by the failed CO-OPs throughout 2014 and 2015, and the dim prospects that taxpayers will recover any of the $1.2 billion of their money that was invested in those companies.
 
In their ongoing effort to hold the administration accountable, Portman and a bipartisan group of Senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt seeking information about a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which found that between October 2013 to March 2015, HealthCare.gov had 316 security incidents, including 41 involving personally identifiable information.
 
 
In June, Portman and PSI followed up on their March report, demanding answers from the administration after exposing new Obamacare CO-OP costs for Ohioans. Portman has worked diligently to stand up for the thousands of Ohio consumers who now face increased health care costs at no fault of their own.
 

Strengthening Medicare and Medicaid. This year, Senator Portman continued to demonstrate his strong commitment to strengthening and protecting our seniors’ access to quality health care services through the Medicare and Medicaid programs. In addition to $1 billion in funding to states to fight the opioid crisis, the 21st Century Cures Act that was recently signed into law featured several Portman initiatives to help seniors and low-income Ohioans of all ages maintain access to quality care by:
 
Establishing beneficiary equity in the hospital readmissions program to minimize the disincentives for hospitals who serve a disproportionate number of sicker and poorer patients. This provision will improve the fairness of hospital readmissions penalties by taking into account the patients’ socioeconomic and dual-eligible status to ensure that hospitals can continue to care for the most vulnerable patients.  This benefits a majority of Ohio hospitals, especially those who serve a large number of low-income, vulnerable populations.
 
 
Continuing Medicare payments for hospital out-patient departments that were “under-development” to provide critical relief to hospitals, including several throughout Ohio, that were in the middle of building facilities to serve patients in their communities when Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act in 2015. This provision ensures patients are able to maintain access to these facilities so they can continue to receive high-quality care in outpatient settings. 
 
 
Exempting designated cancer hospitals from Medicare payment reductions to ensure patients are able to continue to receive cancer care from outpatient facilities in their community, benefitting the OSU James Cancer Hospital in Columbus.
 
 
Delaying the application of the competitive bidding program to complex rehabilitative technology wheelchair accessories to ensure people with disabilities will continue to have access to the complex wheelchair accessories they rely on to live a fully-functioning life.
 
 
And protecting Medicare Advantage for all seniors to strengthen transparency and ensure that seniors can keep the Medicare Advantage (MA) plans they want by delaying CMS’s authority to terminate certain MA plans because of the STARS rating system.
 
 
The legislation passed as part of CURES represent just one way the Senator Portman has worked this year to protecting our seniors’ access to quality health care services. Under pressure from Senator Portman and others, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a rule for the upcoming year which would increase flexibility in the electronic health record (EHR) reporting requirements, allowing care providers to spend less time cutting through red tape and more time caring for patients. Portman had introduced legislation earlier in the year requiring CMS to do just that. 
 


 
In March, Portman joined 12 other Senate Republicans to urge Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt to halt the Obama Administration’s plans to cut funding for the Medicare Advantage (MA) program – cuts that would jeopardize the health benefits that millions of seniors rely on today.
 
Preventing Cable and Satellite Companies From Overcharging Ohioans. In June, Senators Portman and McCaskill, as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, led an investigation that revealed that Cable TV Companies such as Time Warner Cable, the biggest cable TV provider in Ohio, were knowingly over-billing their consumers. It was found that in the first five months of 2016 alone, Time Warner Cable overbilled up to 11,000 customers in Ohio – and those overcharges totaled $108,000. Senator Portman accurately described this overcharging as a “rip-off of Ohio consumers.” As a result of this investigation, Cable TV Companies took some initial steps to improve their practices.
 
Going forward, the company agreed to provide an automatic one-month credit to all customers for each piece of overbilled equipment or service, and it will provide notice to overbilled customers so they can determine whether to request a credit or refund. But that still does not make customers whole.
 
But Wait, There’s More. In addition to combating the drug epidemic, standing up for Ohio’s workers, working to end human and sex trafficking, and protecting our environment, all while prioritizing job creation and increased wages, Portman has found time to be a leader on other issues. Here is a look at some of his other accomplishments over the past year:

 
In 2016, Senator Portman and his casework team opened 3,422 cases to help Ohioans in need. 2,565, or 87.8 percent, of those cases were closed favorably. Throughout his time in the Senate, Portman and his team have opened a total 16,793 cases and have closed 14,147, or 82.2 percent, of those cases favorably.
 
 
Portman backed an aggressive effort to help stop the spread of the Zika virus, voting for three measures to fund the response and strengthen health programs here in the United States.  Portman also advocated for Ohio to be part of the solution.  On May 5, Portman urged the Secretary of the Air Force to ensure that the unique capabilities of the 910th Airlift Wing (910th) stationed at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) to combat communicable diseases inside the United States are strengthened, not weakened, especially at a time when those capabilities could be part of a potential Zika solution.  The 910th serves as the military’s only aerial spray unit capable of controlling disease-carrying insects, pest insects, and undesirable vegetation.  On April 15, Portman questioned Department of Defense officials at a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on whether DOD assets, such as 910th AW in Youngstown, could be better utilized to combat the Zika outbreak.
 
 
Portman worked with federal, state, and local leaders throughout the process to help the mayor and city of Columbus land the multi-million dollar Smart City grant from the Department of Transportation.  He led the Ohio delegation letter in support of the final round, and was instrumental throughout the application process.
 
 
Portman is a regular volunteer and longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity, which helps provide affordable housing to low-income families. In July, Portman joined Owens Corning and the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity in a major neighborhood revitalization project known as the “Buckeye Build.”  The Buckeye Build Project – which took place in Cleveland’s historic Buckeye Neighborhood – fully rehabilitated two houses on Grandview Avenue, assisted approximately 15 current residents with exterior improvements, and provided new roofs and attic insulation for five homes. Portman returned to the site in October to continue the build and again in December for the dedication of two completed homes. In December in Cincinnati, Portman volunteered on his birthday, as he does every year, on another Habitat build.
 
 
In December, Ohio and the United States said goodbye to an American icon, John Glenn. Senators Portman and Brown passed a resolution in the Senate honoring the life and service of former U.S. Senator John Glenn. Portman honored his friend John Glenn on the Senate floor and on national television.
 
 
In June, Portman and Brown led the effort to pass a resolution honoring George Voinovich’s life of service to Ohio and the United States. Voinovich passed away on June 12, 2016. Portman delivered a floor speech honoring his predecessor in the Senate.
 
Senator Portman has fought for all Ohioans, and he has delivered results for them. He has led the effort to combat America’s drug epidemic and end human trafficking; he has consistently helped level the playing field for Ohio’s workers and worked to create jobs and boost wages; he has stood up for American global leadership and Ohio’s servicemembers; he has fought for a health care system that works, and much, much more. And this is just the beginning. Senator Portman will continue to deliver results for the people he represents in 2017.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://wenstrup.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399507,Wenstrup Releases Statement on D.C. Authorization of Physician-Assisted Suicide,2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Brad Wenstrup,W000815,wenstrup.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) released the following statement in response to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s signing of, “The Death with Dignity Act of 2015” (Act 21-577), which would legalize physician assisted suicide in the District of Columbia:



“Having been a doctor for over twenty-five years, I believe physician-assisted suicide constitutes a serious threat to the underpinnings of our healthcare system. When doctors are authorized to violate the Hippocratic Oath of ‘do no harm,’ it undermines a key safeguard protecting some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens: the disabled, the elderly, and those fighting depression and other mental illnesses. The D.C. government has ‘done harm.’ I firmly believe this is not the right path for Washington, D.C. – or for our nation – and I will continue to work to advance a healthcare system that best serves every American.""



Act 21-577 allows an adult who has been diagnosed as terminally ill with less than six months to live to receive a prescription for medication to end his or her life. The full text of the legislation can be found here. Washington, D.C. has now joined six states – California, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Montana, and Colorado – that have authorized physician-assisted suicide.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wenstrup.house.gov/updates/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399507,Wenstrup Releases Statement on D.C. Authorization of Physician-Assisted Suicide,2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Brad Wenstrup,W000815,wenstrup.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) released the following statement in response to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's signing of, The Death with Dignity Act of 2015 (Act 21-577), which would legalize physician assisted suicide in the District of Columbia: Having been a doctor for over twenty-five years, I believe physician-assisted suicide constitutes a serious threat to the underpinnings of our healthcare system. When doctors are authorized to violate the Hippocratic Oath of do no harm,' it undermines a key safeguard protecting some of our nation's most vulnerable citizens: the disabled, the elderly, and those fighting depression and other mental illnesses. The D.C. government has done harm.' I firmly believe this is not the right path for Washington, D.C.  or for our nation  and I will continue to work to advance a healthcare system that best serves every American."" Act 21-577 allows an adult who has been diagnosed as terminally ill with less than six months to live to receive a prescription for medication to end his or her life. The full text of the legislation can be found here. Washington, D.C. has now joined six states  California, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Montana, and Colorado  that have authorized physician-assisted suicide.




# # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=44CC2F31-850C-4524-BB27-623F68202BCE,"Portman, Brown to European Union: Chinas Non-Market Economy Is A Threat To Steel Industry",2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Urged Parliament to Work with Congress to Devise Best Approach to China's State-Run Economy, Trade Violations
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) this week expressed their concerns over possible changes to the way imports from China are treated by the European Commission under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and how the changes could limit the United States’ ability to crack down on China’s continued trade violations.
As the European Parliament considers how it will treat imports from non-market economies within WTO, Portman and Brown wrote to the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz seeking the country’s cooperation in holding China to its trade obligations and continuing to take China’s non-market economy into consideration when applying trade remedy law. Portman and Brown urged Parliament to coordinate with the U.S. Congress on how to best approach China’s state run economy and its repeated trade violations. 
In the letter, Portman and Brown specifically noted how China’s state-controlled steel industry has led to overcapacity in the American steel industry, which has idled factories in Ohio and across the U.S.
“In the steel sector, for example, state support and ownership of China’s steel industry has led to massive excess steel capacity, which has caused significant disruptions in the global steel market,” said Portman and Brown. “We urge the Parliament to work with Congress to consider carefully and to devise the most effective approach both to the distorted prices of China’s non-market economy and the larger question of China’s continuing trade violations.”
Portman and Brown also reached out to the European Commission in May to urge the EU against granting China market economy status, which would have destabilized the global steel sector and limited international efforts to encourage China’s compliance with trade law. Though China has promised to reduce steel production, it has yet to follow through on that promise.
Full text of the letter is available below.
The Honorable Martin Schulz  President of the European Parliament  European Parliament  Rue Wiertz  Paul-Henri Spaak 09B011  1047 Brussels
Dear Mr. Schulz:
We write to express our concerns regarding the European Commission’s proposal that would change how the EU treats imports from World Trade Organization (WTO) member non-market economies for the purpose of its trade remedy laws.  In light of China’s request this week to begin consultations with the U.S. and EU at the World Trade Organization, it is imperative that we coordinate our policies on non-market economy designations, particularly for China. We ask you to ensure the Parliament’s position on this proposal is established only after Congress and the Parliament have had the opportunity to collaborate on the most effective approach to state control and ownership in China’s economy and methods for how to treat imports from non-market economies in our trade remedy laws.
China’s economy remains state-controlled, state-owned, and state-influenced.  This state control has contributed to many global market distortions.  In the steel sector, for example, state support and ownership of China’s steel industry has led to massive excess steel capacity, which has caused significant disruptions in the global steel market.  As a result of these disruptions, numerous U.S. facilities have idled or closed and thousands of American workers have lost their jobs.  The U.S. steel industry has managed to get temporary relief by filing successful antidumping and countervailing duty petitions, which have taken into account China’s non-market economy status. 
We are concerned that the Commission’s proposal would remove leverage the U.S. and other countries have to encourage China to transition away from a state-controlled economy.  The Commission’s proposal would eliminate any distinction between non-market economy and market economy countries under the EU antidumping law.  As a result, it appears unlikely China would actually be treated as a non-market economy in EU antidumping investigations.  We believe these policy changes would hinder international efforts to improve China’s fulfillment of its trade obligations.
China has not fully complied with its trade obligations since joining the WTO 15 years ago, and our manufacturers and their workers have paid the price.  We urge the Parliament to work with Congress to consider carefully and to devise the most effective approach both to the distorted prices of China’s non-market economy and the larger question of China’s continuing trade violations.  Only through U.S.-EU collaboration can we help our manufacturers get the level playing field they need and the long-term relief they deserve.
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=55634EBC-A9ED-4D32-9AA7-8777E225EA93,"ICYMI Lima News Op-Ed from Senator Portman: ""Fight to keep JSMC open paying off""",2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In Sunday’s Lima News, Senator Portman wrote an op-ed about his advocacy on behalf of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima. Portman has been a staunch supporter of the JSMC and recently supported a $1.2 billion authorization for the tanks and armored vehicles manufactured in Lima. The new funding will help the JSMC, the United States’ only tank plant, and keep highly-skilled manufacturing jobs in Lima. 
On the importance of keeping the JSMC up and running to its full potential, Portman writes: “In the dangerous and unpredictable world we live in, it only makes sense to always be prepared and to give our troops the tools they need. The best way to keep the peace is to be strong. As the only tank manufacturing plant in the United States, the JSMC is indispensable to that preparation.”
This op-ed comes two months after Portman hosted Under Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy in Lima at the JSMC, where they toured the facility and saw a demonstration of the Abrams Tank.
Excerpts of the op-ed can be found below and the full op-ed can be found at this link.
Fight to keep JSMC open paying off
By Rob Portman  Lima News  December 18, 2016
We received some good news this month for the Lima tank plant, also known as the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC). First, Congress passed the annual defense bill, authorizing more than $600 million to build and upgrade Abrams tanks and more than $500 million to build and upgrade Stryker vehicles, both of which are made at the JSMC.
This funding will benefit our troops and it will benefit Lima with more good jobs.
Second, the State Department has approved the potential $1.7 billion sale of more than 200 Abrams tanks to our ally Kuwait. This sale will support good Lima jobs and improve the JSMC’s readiness to meet our military’s needs.
I always enjoy going to the JSMC. I’m always impressed with the special skill set and dedication of the workers there, and it makes you feel good to see the best armored vehicles in the world being built for our troops…",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F6A98C2F-6678-4D05-845D-A3BB1F8C53BC,Portman's Efforts to Secure More Funding to Tackle Heroin Epidemic Paying Off,2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Last week, the president signed into law the 21st Century Cures initiative, a $6.3 billion medical innovation package designed to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments. Senator Portman, who is a national leader in the fight against the heroin and prescription drug epidemic, worked hard to ensure that CURES included $1 billion in new funding for state grants to fight opioid abuse. The new funding in CURES is a big step forward in the fight to combat addiction, and one of many steps Portman has taken to make the federal government a better partner in the fight against this epidemic. This $1 billion in new funding will complement Portman’s bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA) which authorizes $181 million annually in discretionary spending for new programs contained in the legislation. That’s more than double – a 132 percent increase – the authorization level in the original Senate-passed CARA bill ($78 million).
Portman has long been a leader in the fight for more funding to combat this crisis. In fact, Portman secured $37 million in the Continuing Resolution earlier this year, which served as a down payment toward fully funding CARA and will help get the law’s grant programs up and running.  Portman has worked to fully fund CARA, but supports going further than that and has voted for emergency funding to combat this crisis.  Over the last two years, Portman has worked with the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure significant increases in funding for opioid programs. In fact, for this fiscal year the House and Senate passed (and President Obama signed into law) an increase in total federal spending on opioids of 47 percent over last year ($321M vs. $220M).  And now the most recent continuing resolution puts us on track to fully fund CARA. 
Portman’s efforts to secure more funding to tackle the heroin epidemic are paying off. While the addiction crisis won’t be solved at the federal level, the money being authorized and appropriated in Washington will play a big role in helping local, state and non-profit actors more successfully confront this epidemic. Portman will continue to make funding to combat the heroin and prescription drug epidemic a priority in the New Year.
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http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398311,Latta Joins Ohio State Highway Patrol for Ride Along,2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) accompanied Captain Gene Smith of the Ohio State Highway Patrol on a ride along this morning to get an up-close view of the duties that troopers carry out on a daily basis. The Patrol, a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, has approximately 1,600 officers. They are tasked with providing statewide traffic services to keep roadways safe, emergency response and support services, investigations of criminal activities on state-owned property, and security for the Governor and other dignitaries.“Joining Captain Smith this morning gave me a front-seat view of the services that troopers in the Ohio State Highway Patrol provide on a daily basis,” said Latta. “It was very apparent the professionalism and sense of duty that these troopers consistently display while keeping our roadways safe. Whether it’s emergency response situations or criminal investigations, the Highway Patrol continues to contribute to a safer Ohio.” 

    
        
            
        
    


  
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https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-franken-ask-trump-to-help-congress-bring-down-drug-prices,"Brown, Franken Ask Trump to Help Congress Bring Down Drug Prices",2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tuesday, December 20, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Al Franken (D-MN) today led a letter to President-elect Donald Trump outlining specific steps his Administration should take to help Congress bring down the cost of prescription drugs.
“It is undeniable that more and more families are struggling to access medications, and in many cases, are forced to choose between paying for prescription drugs and other necessities, like food and shelter. The American public is fed up, with roughly 8-in-10 Americans reporting that drug prices are unreasonable, and that we must take action to lower costs,” said the Senators in the letter. “You now have the authority to push for a future that prioritizes patients. We are ready to advance measures to achieve this goal and we urge you to partner with Republicans and Democrats alike to take meaningful steps to address the high cost of prescription drugs through bold administrative and legislative actions.”
In a letter sent to Trump today, the Senators – along with 18 of their colleagues – expressed their shared frustration over the cost of drugs and outlined several ways Trump can make good on his promise to lower the rising cost of prescription drugs for consumers including: allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate better prices for Medicare recipients; requiring drug companies to disclose costs associated with creating drugs so prices are more transparent; putting an end to abusive price gouging; and ensuring competition and innovation that will lead to greater competition and more affordable, effective drugs.
The letter was cosigned by U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Angus King (I-ME). 
Full text of the letter is below and available here. 
December 20, 2016
President-Elect Donald J. Trump 
Presidential Transition Headquarters
1800 F Street, N.W., Room G-117
Washington, D.C. 20270
Dear President-Elect Trump:
During your campaign, you promised to implement bold reforms to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. In fact, you acknowledged that “Congress will need the courage to step away from the special interests and do what is right for America.” You also supported allowing consumers’ access to imported, safe, and dependable drugs from overseas and vowed to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors. And earlier this month you again promised to “bring down drug prices.” While there are many different policy options to achieve lower drug prices, it’s clear that we all agree that all Americans deserve access to safe, effective, and affordable lifesaving medications. As Members of Congress, we are ready to advance bipartisan reforms that will help achieve the goal we all share: reducing the burden exorbitant drug prices are placing on hard-working Americans.
Prescription drugs can work wonders – curing diseases and helping those with chronic illness live longer, healthier lives. Drug companies, however, have often engaged in abusive tactics that price lifesaving drugs out of reach for those in need. It is time to enact policies that improve transparency and competition in the commercial market and make the government a smarter purchaser of prescription drugs.
It is undeniable that more and more families are struggling to access medications, and in many cases, are forced to choose between paying for prescription drugs and other necessities, like food and shelter. The American public is fed up, with roughly 8-in-10 Americans reporting that drug prices are unreasonable, and that we must take action to lower costs. The public’s concern is well founded, just last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s Office of the Actuary published that, in 2015, prescription drug spending grew faster than any other category of medical spending for the second year in a row. This evidence comes despite claims from the drug industry that high drug spending in 2014 would only be a temporary blip.
You now have the authority to push for a future that prioritizes patients. We are ready to advance measures to achieve this goal and we urge you to partner with Republicans and Democrats alike to take meaningful steps to address the high cost of prescription drugs through bold administrative and legislative actions, including but not limited to the following actions:
1.      Give the Secretary of HHS the Authority to Negotiate Drug Prices. As you noted on the campaign trail, permitting the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices under Medicare could not only produce savings but would bring the largest payer in America in line with the activities of the rest of the insurance industry. In fact, you promised that “(w)hen it comes time to negotiate the cost of drugs, we are going to negotiate like crazy.” However, under current law, the Secretary is prohibited from doing so. We urge you to work with Congress to pass a law that lifts the current ban and gives the Secretary the authority to take immediate action and negotiate better prices for prescription drugs for our nation’s more than 40 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries.
2.      Increase Transparency. Throughout your campaign, you also endorsed price transparency for the entire healthcare system. Patients should know drugs’ true cost, not just the price that the drug companies and insurance companies choose to charge. We already have measures in place to require hospitals, providers, and other sections of the healthcare system to report on different cost measures; drug companies should be held to the same standards. We urge you to take immediate administrative action to require drug companies to publicly disclose costs associated with research and development, materials and manufacturing, and the federal benefits they receive in the form of tax credits, government grants, and government-funded research on which their products are based.
3.      Stop Abusive Pricing. We urge you to protect consumers from abusive pricing practices —not only gouging consumers with the 5,000-percent overnight price hikes that have made recent headlines, but also the persistent, unjustified double-digit price increases that drug corporations have levied on the American people year after year. As members of Congress, we are ready to work on legislation to combat these abusive practices.
4.      Protect and Incentivize True Innovation. Taxpayers, through the federal government, are deeply involved with every step of the drug development process, from supporting basic scientific research and clinical trials, to granting exclusive monopolies, tax incentives, and fee waivers. However, taxpayer funds need to be better targeted to deliver what we all want: safe, innovative, affordable, and effective drugs to address our most pressing public health issues and unmet medical needs. We urge you to work with Congress to pass commonsense reforms that better protect and incentivize innovation with the greatest need and health benefits to ensure affordable access and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
5.      Ensure True Competition. It is past time to end the rigging of the prescription drug marketplace. Brand-name drug companies, for example, should not be allowed to take actions that block generic competitors from bringing their products to market. We urge you to task the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice with aggressively enforcing laws that currently exist and push for new provisions to ensure timely entrance of generics to the marketplace.
During your campaign, you promised to address the high prescription drug prices that the vast majority of Republicans and Democrats expressed as a top concern in the election. In this letter, we have listed tangible ways your Administration can lead bipartisan work on this issue and fight for the millions of Americans who rely on prescription drugs to lead healthy lives. There will be ample opportunities to make good on these promises as Congress considers the Prescription Drug, Generic Drug, and Biosimilars User Fee Agreement reauthorizations and other health-related legislative priorities, and we look forward to your leadership on this issue by steering both sides of the aisle to work together to pass concrete reforms. We stand ready to support meaningful changes to the status quo and are committed to a future when all Americans can access lifesaving treatments when they need them.
We hope that you will join with Congress in living up to the expectations of the American people and prioritize this issue as President of the United States. 
 
Sincerely,
 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399114,Bill Johnson on the Office of Surface Managements  Ill-Advised Stream Protection Rule,2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) issued the following statement after the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) released the final version of their so-called “Stream Protection Rule:” 
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      Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) issued the following statement after the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) released the final version of their so-called “Stream Protection Rule:” 
At least a third of coal-related jobs across the United States are now at severe risk due to the fact that this rule issued by OSM essentially deems such a plentiful amount of coal economically infeasible to mine. Not only will many good-paying jobs be lost, but so will tax-revenues across coal country. This rule provides no discernable environmental benefits, and it interferes with the extensive environmental protections at both the state and federal levels. 
States across the country, like Ohio, were completely shut out during the development of this rule-making process, despite the requirement (as specified in the omnibus which was signed into law in December of 2015) for OSM to cooperate with the states. Now, in the waning days of the Obama Administration, the rule was released.  When the 115th Congress convenes in January, my top priority will be doing all I can to urge House Leadership to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn this rule. Through this process, Congress, through the passage of a joint resolution signed by the President, may overrule a new regulation within 60 legislative days. 
The people of coal country and across America voted in November, and they voted to protect coal, coal-related jobs, and our way of life. I will continue to fight tooth-and-nail to protect jobs in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, and to work with the incoming administration and House leaders to overturn this ill-advised, job crushing rule.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A62A5AD7-03D4-46A1-ACB7-FC11923FA116,Renacci Statement on Finalization of Stream Protection Rule,2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cleveland, OH – Today, Rep. Jim Renacci released the following statement on the Obama Administration’s finalization of the Stream Protection Rule:
“Today, the Administration finalized yet another midnight rule in their relentless War on Coal. The Stream Protection Rule (SPR) will essentially mean the end of coal production in Ohio and the Appalachian Region, the end of thousands of good-paying jobs in countless communities, and higher electricity bills for all Ohioans. 
“Ohio’s coal industry directly and indirectly employs roughly 33,000 Ohioans.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal fueled 59% of Ohio’s net electricity generation in 2015 and powered eight of our ten largest power plants. Many of Ohio's most vulnerable people rely on access to affordable energy from coal. 
“As a member of the Congressional Coal Caucus, I have consistently been opposed to the SPR and the Obama Administration’s blatant disregard for the countless families it will impact. I look forward to working with my colleagues and President-elect Trump in his first 100 days in office to repeal this and several other last minute regulations. The SPR will qualify for repeal under the Congressional Review Act – an oversight tool Congress may use to overturn a rule issued by a federal agency. As was made clear in the Presidential election results, Ohioans are tired of the Administration’s relentless executive overreach.”
Renacci has represented the 16th district of Ohio since 2011 and sits on the Ways and Means Committee and Budget Committee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://tiberi.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395080,Tiberi in USA TODAY: Obamacare must be repealed & replaced with a patient-centered system,2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Pat Tiberi,T000462,tiberi.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tiberi Op-Ed in USA Today: Obamacare must be repealed and replaced with a patient-centered system.
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      Key: ""Obamacare must be repealed and replaced with a patient-centered system with high-quality and affordable care. Right now Obamacare’s taxes — taxes on employers, individuals, providers and innovators — are driving up costs and limiting choices.""It is proof that putting government at the center of care just doesn’t work. That is why Republicans will move to eliminate these burdensome government mandates and give people the freedom to choose the care that fits their needs."" Read the full op-ed below and on USATODAY.com.--The following op-ed by Congressman Pat Tiberi appeared in today’s USA TODAY:Every day I hear from Ohioans and families nationwide who are paying higher premiums, losing access to their doctors, and paying more for less quality care under Obamacare.My colleagues and I are listening to these stories, but you also don’t need to look any further than the pages of USA TODAY to find evidence of Obamacare’s broken promises.Here are just two recent examples:On Oct. 24, USA TODAY reported that more than one in five customers using Health¬care.gov to shop for a plan would “only have one insurer from which to choose coverage.On Nov. 1, USA TODAY reported that “consumers in some parts of the country are bracing for huge rate hikes.”Obamacare must be repealed and replaced with a patient-centered system with high-quality and affordable care. Right now Obamacare’s taxes — taxes on employers, individuals, providers and innovators — are driving up costs and limiting choices.It is proof that putting government at the center of care just doesn’t work. That is why Republicans will move to eliminate these burdensome government mandates and give people the freedom to choose the care that fits their needs.To implement these reforms, we will take a deliberate, step-by-step approach to deliver solutions that will give more flexibility to states, eliminate the onerous tax hikes in Obamacare and make health insurance portable so that patients and families, not the federal government, can be in charge of their own care.When I was in high school growing up in Columbus, Ohio, my dad lost his job. As a result, we lost our health care plan. I know firsthand the uncertainty and anxiety families feel, especially for the more than 20,000 people who woke up one day with no coverage of their own because Obamacare’s co-op collapsed in my state.Americans deserve a system that provides the flexible and affordable coverage they need without fear of it collapsing under its own weight.There is a better way than Obamacare, and Republicans plan to deliver.Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, is chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/newsletters/doing-right-by-our-veterans,Doing Right by Our Veterans,2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Monday, December 19, 2016
			No veteran should face living on the street or have trouble accessing benefits they earned. This month, Congress passed a bipartisan bill written by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to address these important issues. As a member of the Committee, I worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to include provisions to support veterans and their families. President Obama signed our Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act into law last Friday, helping to protect our nation’s heroes and honor them with the benefits they deserve.
We know that, shamefully, too many veterans don’t have a roof over their heads or a place to call home. Last year, I visited organizations across Ohio that are doing wonderful work to give veterans the support they need to get back on their feet and find permanent homes. Through a combination of increased federal investments and improved services, we have made real progress towards ending veterans’ homelessness – but there’s still more to be done. With this law, we’re going to give those organizations like these the funding and support they need.
It will also encourage landlords to rent to veterans and expand the definition of a “homeless veteran,” to include veterans fleeing domestic abuse, making them eligible for additional supportive services.
Even one veteran on the street means Congress isn’t doing enough to tackle this problem. We’ve set national performance targets to hold VA accountable and ensure resources set aside for these veterans are being used to help veterans secure a permanent home.
We’ve also inserted provisions in this bill that will help servicemembers as they access their benefits. The bill will help reduce the claims backlog too many of our veterans are facing today. We’re going to temporarily expand the number of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims from seven to nine so the Court can hear more cases and more veterans can get the benefits they’re owed.
The Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act doesn’t just stop at honoring veterans. We recognize the sacrifice that servicemembers’ families make every day and we’re working to give them the benefits they deserve.
The Fry Scholarship provides educational GI Bill benefits to surviving spouses and children of servicemembers who have died in the line of duty since 9/11. However, when Congress extended the benefit to spouses in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, a 15-year limitation was put on these benefits.
Melissa Twine, an Air Force veteran from Batavia, discussed with my office the challenges that this limitation put on her. Her husband, Captain Philip Twine, died serving our country in the Air Force in 2002, meaning that now, as Melissa tries to go back to school to pursue her master’s degree, she and so many other surviving spouses don’t have the time to use these benefits. Now that our fix is law, Melissa and other family members with stories like hers have the time they need to use the benefits afforded to them.
I have often said that the Veterans’ Affairs Committee is the most bipartisan committee in the Senate.
Doing right by veterans is not a democratic issue or a republican issue, it’s an American value. It’s our responsibility. And I hope this law will serve as an example of the important work we can get done to actually make life better for the people we work for - but only when we work together.
My office is proud to help veterans and their families accessing their benefits and I will continue fighting for them. Veterans across Ohio needing assistance can contact my Cleveland office at 216-522-7272.
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https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-presents-canfield-veteran-with-combat-infantryman-badge-more-than-40-years-overdue,Brown Presents Canfield Veteran with Combat Infantryman Badge More Than 40 Years Overdue,2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Brown Presents Medal to Army Infantryman who Served in Vietnam 
				
			
			Monday, December 19, 2016
            
	
			
			
(Brown and Rutledge)
WARREN, OH —In a ceremony at Trumbull County Veterans Services today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) presented the Combat Infantryman Badge to William Rutledge of Canfield.
“Our veterans don’t often speak about their service. But through these medals and these ceremonies, we learn their stories,” said Brown. “As the only Ohioan to serve a full term on the Senate Veterans’ Committee, and the son of a WWII veteran, it’s one of my greatest honors in this job to be able to award veterans the medals they have earned.”
Rutledge, an Army Infantryman, served in Vietnam. Though Rutledge was released from the Army in 1970, he was never awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge he earned due to a lack of documentation. Sen. Brown’s staff, along with Trumbull County Veterans Services and its Executive Director Herm Breuer, helped secure the badge for Rutledge.  
“The Combat Infantryman Badge is the Badge of Honor for all Infantrymen. Five plus years ago I began writing the Army to correct my record and kept getting shot down. Finally I met Herm Breuer and with a lot of help from Herm and Senator Sherrod Brown I have received my Combat Infantry Badge,” said Rutledge.

Ohio veterans and the family members of deceased veterans may request military records and medals by contacting Senator Brown’s Cleveland office at (216) 522-7272 or by visiting the “Constituent Services” section of Brown’s website at brown.senate.gov.
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https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-honors-john-glenn,Brown Honors John Glenn,2016-12-17,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Remarks at John Glenn's Celebration of Life
				
			
			Saturday, December 17, 2016
            
	
			
			COLUMBUS, OH -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown's remarks as prepared for delivery at John Glenn's Celebration of Life follow below. 
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: John Glenn’s Celebration of Life
Mershon Auditorium, The Ohio State University
December 17, 2016
By any measure – accomplishment, service, courage – John Glenn was a great man.  But when I think of John Glenn, I think of a good man.
My first taste of John Glenn, the good man, was on March 4, 1968, at the Madison Theater in Mansfield, Ohio.   More than fifty teenage boys had gathered for our Eagle Scout Dinner.  Colonel Glenn was the speaker. 
John Glenn, national hero, met each of us.  John Glenn, perhaps the most famous man of his generation, took a picture with us – one at a time.  He always took time for you, no matter your station in life.   And that lesson has stuck with me. 
Almost 39 years later, former Senator John Glenn walked me down the center aisle of the United States Senate to be sworn in.  And of course – like the Eagle Scouts of four decades earlier – all the new senators wanted to meet their American hero.  He was kind to them too.
I had the honor to see John Glenn up close – at work and at play; with family and with strangers.
Every presidential year, Ohio’s most prominent Democrat would board a bus with our presidential or vice-presidential nominee to campaign around Ohio.  I watched the retired Senator – a mentor to so many of us – reconnect with Senator Kerry in 2004 and Senator Biden in 2008.  And I saw him, for the first time, meet the young Senator from Illinois, and the immediate connection that the American icon and the future President made. 
I saw him, a decade after his retirement, get off the bus, jump over a ditch, and shake the outstretched hand of an appreciative farmer. 
John was there, in non-presidential years, for Ohio Democrats too.  Bus travel is rarely glamourous. But with presidential candidates, it’s at least modern and comfortable.
In 2006 we boarded a, shall we say, older, less opulent Winnebago with the Ohio Democratic ticket to campaign through small-town and rural Ohio.  As we traveled up and down the hills of John’s beloved southeast Ohio, the rest of us began to get car sick . . . but of course not the 85-year-old astronaut, who simply smiled.  
And I saw the elder statesman as he spoke to an adoring crowd, transferring some of his magic to the rest of us.
John was an FDR Democrat, Roosevelt saved America, after all, John said – an FDR Democrat who cared about justice and opportunity for people with less privilege than most of us in this room have.
He never forgot the, “terror that struck his 10 or 11 year old heart” when he overheard his parents saying that their mortgage was about to be foreclosed.
It was a New Deal, government-backed FHA loan that allowed John’s father to renegotiate with the bank and keep his family in their home.  Some years later, it was the federal government that paid for John’s first flying lessons.
John knew, as he later wrote in his memoir that, “that government can change people’s lives for the better.”
Too many remembrances have written of John’s brand of patriotic optimism as a throwback to a bygone era. But it’s needed today more than ever.
John believed in an activist government and an active citizenship. And he warned that cynicism and apathy were a threat to democracy itself.
John’s friend Robert Kennedy, who helped to convince him to run for the Senate, called politics a calling, almost like the ministry.  
Presbyterian John liked those words. John said, “The happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self-interest.”  
That drove John’s activism and his public service. And it drove him to create the Glenn School to inspire the next generation of active, engaged citizens. 
John Glenn was the only Ohioan ever to be elected four times to the United States Senate.  He was a work horse, never a show horse. He labored over the details of non-proliferation and environmental cleanup of nuclear disposal sites – grunt work to some. But John was content to spend his time, not on collecting instant headlines, but achieving lasting results that would leave the world in better shape than he found it.
He helped create the independent watchdogs we know as inspectors general - to keep the government he believed in honest and accountable to the people it serves. And he had the foresight to found the Great Lakes Task Force, which continues to play an important role in our work to protect the health of our lakes and the local jobs that depend on them.
The night before the 50th anniversary of Colonel Glenn’s space launch, Connie and I had dinner in German Village with Annie and John and Lyn and David and Karen.  As the evening wound down, we headed to the door together; the valet pulled up to the front of the restaurant with John’s Cadillac.  The 91-year-old astronaut hopped in the driver’s seat, Annie in front passenger seat, and the kids – now all on the other side of 60 – piled in the back.  Some things never change.
And oh, how they were in love – Annie and John.   I spoke with Annie last April, on their 73rd wedding anniversary.  She told me that they waited to get married until after John finished his flight training in 1943.  We wanted to get married in high school, Annie said, “but our parents wouldn’t let us because they said it would never last.”
Their love was infectious - the stuff of fairy tales - and they shared it with everyone around them.
A former Glenn staffer told me that, “John Glenn took joy in helping others and was so proud of his staff.  Even when you left, you were still family.”
John had a way of making everyone around him feel important – from the teenage Eagle Scouts to the farmer in the field. He lived his life by Matthew 25: Jesus admonished his followers, ""Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.""
That was John Glenn. The great American hero, was a good man.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-column?ContentRecord_id=4D2A4FBD-2815-47ED-B6FA-7ADF40E8D7BA,Providing for Our Nation's Defense,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"In our final weeks of session for the year, the House of Representatives acted on what I believe to be one of our most important constitutional duties: providing for our nation’s defense. We also passed four additional bills maintaining our military readiness and enhancing the assistance we offer our veterans.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) outlines the budget for our military and thereby helps shape the Department of Defense’s priorities for the coming fiscal year. The recently passed NDAA rolls back the drawdown of our military strength and readiness by maintaining the size of the US Army and providing for the expansion of the Marine Corps and Air Force. The NDAA also makes important investments in newer, more effective, and more reliable equipment for our armed forces. One of its most important provisions is the pay raise it offers our service members – their biggest raise in five years – because of caps placed by the president.
Next, we pushed The No Hero Left Untreated Act, which directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to restore proper brain functioning for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain energy, and opioid addiction among other conditions.
The third VA-related bill was The Ethical Patient Care for Veterans Act. This improves reporting procedures regarding unethical practices at VA facilities. Under current law, any VA physician may submit a report on unethical practices they witness, but due to VA bureaucracy, it can take up to 100 days to act on them and refer the matter to a state licensing board. This new legislation would encourage physicians at VA facilities to submit their reports directly to a state licensing board for quicker action.
The fourth piece of legislation was the WINGMAN Act. This act would enable veterans to authorize congressional staffers handling their casework, like those in my district offices, to access their benefits claims information to speed the resolution of casework. These congressional staffers would be required to complete the same certification process through the Department of Veterans Affairs that is required of agents and attorneys to have access to its claims record system. My staff has resolved over 300 veterans-related cases in 2016, a little less than one a day. While my caseworkers have already proven themselves to be highly effective, the WINGMAN Act offers them another tool in assisting veterans timely.
Finally, the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act requires the Department of Defense to inform the estimated 14,000 service members who had taxes improperly withheld from severance pay for combat-related injuries.  Those service members would then be allowed to file amended tax returns without limitation to reclaim the improperly withheld funds. 
As always, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those who have sacrificed for this great country. I believe that in return, we must ensure that our active service members have the necessary funding and equipment to complete their jobs and guarantee that our veterans are receiving the quality, professional care and service they deserve. These bills will enact meaningful changes to ensure that these selfless men and women have the benefits and tools they need to succeed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399157,Progress in Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Our Country,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"The mental health crisis affects a devastating number of individuals and their families across the country. In fact, roughly 43.8 million Americans experience mental illness each year, and nearly 10 million suffer from a serious condition, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. With only 41 percent of adults with a mental health condition receiving care in the last year, our broken health care system has clearly failed to help those who need it most. 
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      The mental health crisis affects a devastating number of individuals and their families across the country. In fact, roughly 43.8 million Americans experience mental illness each year, and nearly 10 million suffer from a serious condition, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. With only 41 percent of adults with a mental health condition receiving care in the last year, our broken health care system has clearly failed to help those who need it most. The crisis is complex and affects people of different ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and economic status. While an issue like this cannot be solved through one piece of legislation, recently, the House of Representatives took a step to improve our mental health care system by passing the 21st Century Cures Act. The 21st Century Cures Act focuses mainly on investing in the development of life-saving cures, but also includes the most significant reforms to the mental health care system in more than a decade – reforms that will provide better services and bring accountability to ensure patients receive the care they need. Like much of health care, treatment for mental health care can be costly and patients rely on insurance plans to cover it. However, there are instances where mental health conditions are not covered in the same way as other physical ailments, despite existing mental health parity laws requiring these conditions be treated equally. This legislation requires new guidance to ensure plans are compliant with mental health parity laws.We also face a shortage of qualified service providers to treat individuals struggling with mental health conditions, leaving much of the burden on families to find the right care for their loved ones. As part of this bill, grant programs will be reauthorized to recruit and train mental health care providers, strengthening our nation’s mental health care system now and in the future. This legislation also creates an Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse to promote the coordination of mental health programs across federal agencies, ensuring the most effective, evidence-based programs are being used and supported. This includes coordinating with the Department of Veterans Affairs on the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline Program to give veterans who call access to a specialized hotline for assistance. Additionally, this bill encourages increased communication between providers, families and patients to give patients the best possible treatments.As Congress continues to consider reforms to the health care system to create a more patient-centered approach that lowers costs and increases access, quality care for mental health conditions will continue to be one of my top priorities. It is an honor to serve you, and I look forward to hearing from you on this and other issues facing the federal government. Please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2015, Hilliard office at (614) 771-4968, Lancaster office at (740) 654-2654, or Wilmington office at (937) 283-7049 with any questions or concerns.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1798,"Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge Pays Tribute to John H. Glenn, Jr.",2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"WARRENSVILLE, HEIGHTS, OH - As services are held in honor of Ohio's hero, Former Senator John H. Glenn, Jr., Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) pays tribute to his life and legacy:

	""John Glenn, Jr. was no ordinary man.  He soared – not just in outer space but in our hearts. Each time John took off, he carried the hopes and dreams of our nation and the American people with him. Known and loved around the globe, John will always be the Ohio hero who never forgot his roots.

	""After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, John revolutionized America’s space program.  He was then elected to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.  He advanced legislation to limit nuclear proliferation and was a staunch supporter of space exploration, science and education.  His advocacy helped position Ohio as a leader in scientific innovation, advancement, and discovery. Northeast Ohio’s NASA John H. Glenn Research Center – which employs thousands – is a testament to Senator Glenn’s tireless efforts.

	""Senator Glenn spent the latter part of his life educating Buckeyes at my alma mater, The Ohio State University.  His legacy will live on through the students he taught at the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy.

	""Senator Glenn was a public servant, patriot, and pioneer. His commitment to our state and nation show us all what it means to ‘be all we can be.’

	""On behalf of the constituents in the Eleventh Congressional District, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Senator John Glenn, Jr.  Yes, we mourn his departure, but will never forget his contributions to our state and our nation as a decorated veteran, ground-breaking astronaut, respected statesman and beloved professor.""

	 

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https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-portman-bill-to-protect-cleveland-harbor-from-toxic-sediment-is-now-law,Brown-Portman Bill to Protect Cleveland Harbor from Toxic Sediment is Now Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 16, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman today announced that legislation they co-authored to help keep toxic material dredged from the Cuyahoga River out of Lake Erie has been signed into law as part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. A provision of the bill makes clear that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) cannot determine that dumping dredged material into Lake Erie is environmentally acceptable unless it meets the state of Ohio’s water quality standards. This law will help protect Lake Erie from the Corps’ repeated attempts to dispose of contaminated sediment into the Lake.
“This is a win for local businesses and jobs along the Cuyahoga River and Port of Cleveland,” said Brown. “Dredging is key to protecting our lake and keeping the channel open for businesses. This law will hold the Corps to our state’s water quality standards so we can keep Lake Erie clean.”
“Protecting the Cleveland Harbor Project is vital not only to the local environment, but to our economy as well,” said Senator Portman. “This new law ensures that dredged material will not harm either the City of Cleveland’s water supply or Lake Erie’s ecosystem and that commercial navigation will continue safely. This is a big win for Cleveland.”

The provision of the law means that the Corps must follow Ohio’s water quality standards when determining how to dispose of the dredged material.
According to the State of Ohio, more than $10 billion of the state’s nearly $40 billion tourism industry is derived from counties along the Lake Erie shoreline. Further, the Great Lakes play a vital role in transporting food, raw materials, and other goods necessary to support Ohio jobs. But in order for this to continue, the Great Lakes’ harbors and channels must be dredged in an environmentally acceptable manner. 
In January 2016, Brown and Portman urged USACE Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcyto use at least $2 million of its $273 million unallocated operation and maintenancebudget to make up for its irresponsible request for less money to dredge the Cleveland Harbor. The Corps requested $3.6 million less than the President’s budget, which will not be sufficient to safely place the dredged material upland. Brown and Portman’s letter urged the Corps to respect the State’s Water Quality Standards and pay for the cost of disposing of the toxic dredged material responsibly rather than dumping it into Lake Erie.
In February 2015, Brown and Portman wrote to Assistant Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers at USACE calling for full funding of Great Lakes navigation projectsand to direct additional resources to address a significant dredging backlog.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-proposal-to-help-families-of-deceased-post-9/11-servicemembers-now-law,Brown Proposal to Help Families of Deceased Post-9/11 Servicemembers Now Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Brown’s Legislation to Extend Educational Benefits for Surviving Spouses of Servicemembers included in Veterans Law Signed Today
				
			
			Friday, December 16, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that a comprehensive veterans bill, including his provision to ensure that surviving spouses of deceased servicemembers who served post-9/11 have enough time to use their educational benefits, was signed into law by President Obama. The provision was included in the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act, which passed in the Senate last weekend.
The law also includes key provisions of the Veterans First Act, which Brown cosponsored. The law will help address the appeals backlog by temporarily expanding the number of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims from seven to nine, enhance veterans’ homelessness benefits, and expand toxic exposure research for veterans and descendants.
“Today we are one step closer to making sure that families who have sacrificed so much for our nation get the benefits they deserve. No veteran should face living on the street or trouble accessing benefits they earned – and we’re addressing all of these issues with this bill,” said Brown. “This bipartisan law will grant veterans and their families expanded benefits and ensure that the VA has the resources to provide veterans with the highest quality of care. And importantly – it will help cut the backlog on veterans’ claims.”
The law’s provision authored by Brown will ensure that surviving spouses of servicemembers have enough time to use their educational benefits. The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the surviving spouses and children of servicemembers who have died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. However, when Congress expanded Fry Scholarship eligibility to spouses in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, a 15-year limitation was put on these benefits. The provision Brown secured will extend the period of eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to spouses of servicemembers killed between 9/11/2001 and 12/31/2005 so that they will have enough time to fully utilize the benefit.
Melissa Twine is an Air Force veteran from Batavia whose husband, Captain Philip B. Twine, died serving in the Air Force. Brown’s provision in the law will ensure that she and other surviving spouses are able to use educational benefits that allow them to support their families.
“My husband, Captain Philip B. Twine, was a Logistics Officer in the Air Force when he died at the age of 34 in 2002. We had three children and I was eight months pregnant with our fourth child when Phil died,” said Twine. “After my husband’s death, I became the primary breadwinner – a single parent of four – including being the caregiver for our child with autism spectrum disability. Prior to Philip’s death, I completed my undergrad in Biology at the University of Cincinnati. Our plan was that I would obtain my Master’s degree next. Those plans changed when our world changed on August 7, 2002. I had to put this goal on pause for many years while I raised my family as a single parent. It was especially difficult with a newborn and a child with a disability. I am now in a place where fulfilling my goal of higher education is possible. I am very grateful to now be afforded the necessary time to utilize the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.  This educational opportunity means the world to me and others in my situation.”
Additionally, the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act includes a variation of the Veteran Housing Stability Act of 2015, which Brown cosponsored. The law will increase veterans’ access to permanent housing options by increasing outreach to landlords to encourage renting to veterans; expanding the definition of “homeless veteran,” so more veterans, including those facing domestic abuse, can access housing assistance; and requiring a report on the efficacy of VA programs to improve retention of housing by veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. 
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-proposals-to-protect-ohio-families-from-lead-exposure-now-law,Brown Proposals to Protect Ohio Families from Lead Exposure Now Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 16, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that several of his proposals to protect Ohio families from lead exposure were signed into law by President Obama as part of a water infrastructure package passed last weekend. Brown has been a strong supporter of federal funding to help prevent lead poisoning, monitor lead exposure in children, and eliminate lead hazards.
“No parent should have to worry that the water coming out of their faucets might be poisoning their children. Even a small amount of lead exposure can impair a child’s development and make learning more difficult,” Brown said. “That’s why it’s critical that we are taking proactive steps to upgrade our water infrastructure, test water in daycares and schools, and keep families informed if lead is found in the water supply. This law will help protect families and make our communities safer.”
The law includes:
The Lead Testing in School and Child Care Drinking Water Act of 2016: Brown cosponsored this bill, which will create a new federal grant program to help daycare centers and school districts test their drinking water for potential lead contamination. The law authorizes $20 million for this grant program through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A public notification requirement: The law includes a Brown proposal from a bill he introduced following water crises in Sebring, Ohio and Flint, Michigan that requires the EPA to automatically alert the public to lead contamination if the state or local agency responsible fails to do so in 15 days. Currently, local and state officials are responsible for notifying the public, which they failed to do in a timely manner in the cases of Sebring and Flint.
The Drinking Water Safety and Infrastructure Act: Brown is a cosponsor of this bill, which will provide federal aid to communities facing lead crises and help new ones from occurring. Many provisions from the law that would help Sebring and other communities in Ohio are included in the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act signed today:
 
$20 million in credit subsidies for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (WIFIA) Fund with the goal of obligating at least $700 million in secured financing for water infrastructure projects across the country. All water systems are eligible for financing.
$15 million annually for the next two years for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund, which develops programs, provides outreach to the public and health provider, supports research, and funds state programs to address and prevent childhood lead poisoning.
$15 million annually for the next two years for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Healthy Start Initiative which provides assistance to pregnant women and new mothers by helping connect them with health care and other resources to foster healthy childhood development.
 
The law also includes $60 million annually for a new EPA grant program to reduce lead levels in drinking water through replacement of lead service lines, testing, planning, corrosion control, and public education. Applications from small and disadvantaged communities will receive priority access to funding. Additionally, the law includes $20 million for a new EPA grant program that will help small and disadvantaged communities comply with federal standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Brown supported this provision to help communities like Sebring, Ohio deal with aging infrastructure.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-provision-that-paves-way-for-future-federal-investment-in-cincinnatis-smale-riverfront-park-is-now-law,Brown Provision That Paves Way for Future Federal Investment in Cincinnati's Smale Riverfront Park is Now Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Army Corps of Engineers Will Consider Additional Funding for Cincinnati’s Riverfront Park
				
			
			Friday, December 16, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Obama signed into law a water infrastructure bill that includes U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) provision that requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to consider additional funding for Cincinnati’s Smale Riverfront Park. Brown worked with Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), the Cincinnati Park Board, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to develop this language and ensure this provision was included.
“The Army Corps of Engineers’ investment in Smale Riverfront Park has been critical to its revitalization and is a clear example of how public-private partnerships can spur economic development,” Brown said. “The park is already an essential part of the city and continued federal and local investment is good for Cincinnati and for our state.”
Currently, USACE is unable allocate any additional funds to the park without a feasibility study. Under Brown’s provision – included in the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act, formerly called the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) – a feasibility study is required within 180 days of review, opening the door for new investment.
The Cincinnati Riverfront Project helps link the Central Riverfront attractions to Downtown Cincinnati and other riverfront parks including Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park, the Public Landing, and Bicentennial Commons, achieving nearly three miles of continuous riverfront park and recreation space.
  
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					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Tamika Turner
(202) 224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/key-brown-provisions-to-protect-lake-erie-are-now-law,Key Brown Provisions to Protect Lake Erie Are Now Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 16, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Obama signed into law a water infrastructure bill that includes U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) provisions – and authorizes important funding – to protect Ohioans’ drinking water and keep Lake Erie healthy.
“Strengthening our efforts to protect Lake Erie’s water and wildlife keeps families safe and encourages businesses to grow and invest in Ohio,” Brown said. “This law ensures continued investment in the health of the Great Lakes.”
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) includes:
Brown’s bill to appoint a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) coordinator: The coordinator will work with appropriate federal agencies and state, local, tribal, and foreign governments to address the issue of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes.
Authorization of funding to help keep the Great Lakes healthy and clean: WRDA would reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) at $300 million annually from 2017 through 2021. Brown is a longtime supporter of the GLRI, which has been a highly successful program that has targeted the most significant problems in the region and jumpstarted restoration efforts to protect, maintain, and restore the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of the Great Lakes.
Brown is an original cosponsor of the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act of 2015 (GLEEPA) – a bill to reauthorize the initiative while also codifying the Great Lakes Advisory Board and the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force into law.
The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act: Brown is a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill that authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – which aids in implementing the GLRI – to partner with other federal agencies, states, and tribes to protect and support fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin.

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					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Tamika Turner
(202) 224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5E173BDC-FFBD-438C-BD98-7071648BE570,Portman/Brown/Tiberi Bill Honoring Fallen Ohio Soldier Signed Into Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation Designates the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), announced that the president signed into law legislation to honor fallen Ohio soldier and Bronze Star recipient Daniel Kinnard by designating the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Newark, Ohio as the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic. A native of Newark, Kinnard served as a medic in Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star for selflessly tending to wounded men in his unit while under fire. The measure already passed the House, and is now ready for President Obama’s signature.
“Specialist Daniel Kinnard was an American hero who gave his life so that others could live,” Portman stated. “At 19 years old, Daniel was serving in the legendary 101st Airborne when he was killed in action while tending to the wounds of his fellow soldiers.  We can never repay nor fully thank Daniel for his service, but passing this legislation honors his memory and holds him up as an example of extraordinary and selfless service to his fellow soldiers and to our country.”
“Specialist Kinnard made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country in the Vietnam War,” Brown said. “Not only did he answer the call to service, he was mortally wounded while attempting to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. It’s only fitting to name the Newark VA clinic after one of Licking County’s most heroic sons – ensuring his service will be remembered for generations.”
“With this law, we will forever honor and remember Specialist Kinnard and those who served courageously beside him by renaming the VA clinic in Newark, Ohio,” said Rep. Tiberi. “He served bravely in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam and he gave the ultimate sacrifice when rendering aid to his fellow paratroopers. He is a true hometown hero and generations to come will know of his service and heroism.”
NOTE: Daniel L. Kinnard was born on October 21, 1949 in Central Ohio. While living in Newark, Kinnard enlisted in the Army at Fort Hayes on November 14, 1966. He served bravely as a medic in the 101st Airborne Division, the famed “Screaming Eagles,” during the Vietnam War.  On February 17, 1968, Specialist Kinnard’s unit made contact with enemy positions in a hedgerow and two of the point men were seriously wounded. Without hesitation, Specialist Kinnard rushed through heavy enemy fire to reach the wounded men. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Kinnard remained exposed to enemy fire while he treated the wounded men. Specialist Kinnard organized an evacuation under fire after he administered first aid. Specialist Kinnard was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his actions that day.  On March 9, 1968, Specialist Daniel Kinnard was killed in action while rendering aid to his fellow paratroopers. Specialist Kinnard was awarded the Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar, Parachutist Badge, Combat Medical Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for Valor.
This legislation is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1060; the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 840; the American Legion, Levi Phillips Post 85; the Disabled American Veterans, Robert L. Cox Memorial #23; and the Marine Corps League, Licking County Detachment 602.
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https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=675DF317-186B-4620-BE9D-06C66B03CC84,Portman Secures $30 Million Authorization to Help Finish Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced today that his language designed to help finish the Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati has been signed into law as part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.  Portman’s provision authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study on the final components of the project and, if it determines they are feasible, will authorize $30 million to help complete the final phases of the park. Portman issued the following statement:
“The Smale Riverfront Park project is a critical part of the ongoing renaissance taking place in downtown Cincinnati. I’m pleased that this measure has been signed into law to enhance a park that has helped transform downtown, bring new visitors to the city, and boost the local economy. I remain committed to working with the Army Corps of Engineers on this important project to ensure we finish the park and that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.”
NOTE: The language in the law secured by Portman requires the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study on the final flood control, ecosystem restoration, and recreation components of Smale Riverfront Park – an effort designed to complete the project. This bill authorizes $30 million to complete work on the park if the Army Corps study determines the components are feasible. If the Army Corps’ study determines that the projects are feasible, Congress would then consider appropriating the money.  The bill’s authorization has a federal-state 50:50 matching requirement.  This money can be spent on flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration.  Cincinnati Parks and the Army Corps are overseeing the planning, development and building of the park, and funding has included a mix of public and private dollars, including from the federal government.  The project has leveraged $6 for every $1 of federal money invested in the project. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=72EF5629-1D70-4AB3-9907-874C2C6718C4,Portman Bill to Save Taxpayer Dollars by Better Managing Federal Property Signed Into Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced today that the President signed into law the Federal Property Management Reform Act, legislation Portman co-authored to save taxpayer dollars by improving how the federal government manages its buildings and other property across the country. The legislation, which unanimously passed the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year, will establish a framework for federal agencies to better manage existing space in a more cost-effective manner and help facilitate the disposal of unneeded federal property. Specifically, the Federal Property Management Reform Act would require federal agencies to maintain an up-to-date inventory of the property it leases, and establish a council to develop uniform guidance for agency property managers to follow and share best practices in property management among agencies.
“As Ohioans are faced with mounting costs to their healthcare, taxes and more, the last thing they need is to be footing the bill for easily-solved government inefficiencies,” said Senator Portman. “This bipartisan legislation will save taxpayers millions by making the government more efficient and by helping to ensure that the government moves surplus properties off the books. I’m pleased the president signed this common-sense solution to a growing problem.”
The federal government’s real property holdings are vast and diverse, incorporating hundreds of thousands of buildings and permanent structures across the county, making it the largest property owner in the United States. In fact, every year since January 2003, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has placed real property management on its list of “high-risk” government activities, citing long-standing problems with excess and underutilized property; deteriorating and aging facilities; unreliable property data; and a heavy reliance on costly leasing instead of ownership to meet new needs.
Specifically, the Federal Property Management Reform Act will:
 
Require agencies with leasing authority to maintain a current inventory of all leases, including information about the cost and location of the lease, as well as the value of the legal obligations of the federal government over the course of the contract;
Codify and expand the duties of the Federal Real Property Council to ensure this body develops guidance and ensures the implementation of strategies for better managing federal property; and
Direct federal agencies to develop workforce projections to assess the needs of the federal workforce regarding the use of real property, and to submit to the Federal Real Property Council an annual report on all excess real property belonging to the agency.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8BB8E701-0A8A-4F6A-B1EE-CBE4A1B0F54D,President Signs Portman's Historic National Park Service Bill Into Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation Will Help Reduce Growing Maintenance Backlog in National Park Service Projects 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) announced that his historic National Park Service Centennial Act, which passed the Senate last week, was signed into law by President Obama. Portman’s bill celebrates the National Park Service’s 100th year of existence and ensures that it has the resources necessary to protect America’s national parks into its second century. In 2006, then-Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget Portman helped President and First Lady Bush draft the original National Park Service Centennial Challenge Initiative, which provided new public and private investment to prepare for the Centennial in 2016.
After the bill became law, Portman issued the following statement:
“Ohio is blessed to have eight National Park sites, including a top ten most visited park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which attracts more than 2.2 million visitors every year. This new law will help the National Park Service maintain these sites and preserve the cultural heritage of our great country for future generations. I want to thank President and First Lady George and Laura Bush for launching the idea over ten years ago and for their tireless support of our National Parks. This also couldn't have been signed into law without the support of Energy Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski. I look forward to working in the future to continue improving the visitor experience and increasing visits to our National Parks for their second century.”
Specifically, Portman’s legislation:
 

 Establishes the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund within the Treasury to be used for signature projects identified as ones that will help prepare the National Parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.


Establishes the Second Century Endowment for the National Park System to help attract private donations to help support and enrich the National Park System into its second century and pay for the more than $12 billion backlog in National Park Service projects.

 
NOTE: Some 2.6 million people visit the eight Ohio National Park Service sites every year.
Senator Portman’s legislation is supported by the National Park Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Civil War Trust.
For his work to protect our national parks, Portman has received the 2012 NPCA Centennial Award and the 2015 Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award. Most recently, he received the National Parks Service Centennial Champion Award from Cuyahoga Valley National Park in July.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A5636039-4793-4C82-826A-4EDB3D03ED8E,Portman-Brown Bill to Protect Cleveland Harbor from Toxic Sediment Is Now Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that legislation they co-authored to help keep toxic material dredged from the Cuyahoga River out of Lake Erie has been signed into law as part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. A provision of the bill makes clear that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) cannot determine that dumping dredged material into Lake Erie is environmentally acceptable unless it meets the state of Ohio’s water quality standards. This law will help protect Lake Erie from the Corps’ repeated attempts to dispose of contaminated sediment into the Lake.
“Protecting the Cleveland Harbor Project is vital not only to the local environment, but to our economy as well,” said Senator Portman. “This new law ensures that dredged material will not harm either the City of Cleveland’s water supply or Lake Erie’s ecosystem and that commercial navigation will continue safely. This is a big win for Cleveland.”
“This is a win for local businesses and jobs along the Cuyahoga River and Port of Cleveland,” said Brown. “Dredging is key to protecting our lake and keeping the channel open for businesses. This law will hold the Corps to our state’s water quality standards so we can keep Lake Erie clean.”
The Portman-Brown bill included in WRDA means that the Corps must follow Ohio’s water quality standards when determining how to dispose of the dredged material.
According to the State of Ohio, more than $10 billion of the state’s nearly $40 billion tourism industry is derived from counties along the Lake Erie shoreline. Further, the Great Lakes play a vital role in transporting food, raw materials, and other goods necessary to support Ohio jobs. But in order for this to continue, the Great Lakes’ harbors and channels must be dredged in an environmentally safe manner. 
In January 2016, Portman and Brown urged USACE Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy to use at least $2 million of its $273 million unallocated operations and maintenance budget to make up for its irresponsible request for less money to dredge the Cleveland Harbor. The Corps requested $3.6 million less than the President had requested in his budget, an amount that will not be sufficient to safely place the dredged material upland. Portman and Brown’s letter urged the Corps to respect the State’s Water Quality Standards and pay for the cost of disposing of the toxic dredged material responsibly rather than dumping it into Lake Erie.
In February 2015, Portman and Brown wrote to Assistant Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers at USACE to call for full funding of Great Lakes navigation projects and to direct additional resources to address a significant dredging backlog.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=EF784B9C-4310-401A-ABCB-7372CC503F3F,More Portman Water Bills Signed Into Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Will Help Upgrade Our Water Infrastructure, Ensure Safe Drinking Water, & Protect the Great Lakes
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced today that bipartisan legislation he co-authored included in The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act was signed into law today. The law contains Portman-led reforms that aim to end Flint-like water crises, prevent inappropriate disposal of dredged materials from the Cleveland Harbor, and renew the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
“Every Ohioan deserves access to safe drinking water and we owe it to our future generations to protect the health of our Great Lakes. This bipartisan legislation—now the law of the land—makes important progress on both goals,” said Portman. “The WIIN Act provides the resources necessary to upgrade our water infrastructure throughout Ohio and the country, and I’m pleased my bipartisan initiatives were included in the legislation the president signed into law today.”
The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act includes the following Portman-led initiatives:
 
The law includes Portman legislation that would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from determining that dredged material is safe to dump into Lake Erie from the Cleveland Harbor dredging project unless the Ohio EPA agrees. It ensures that the Army Corps of Engineers complies with state water quality standards when determining the Federal Standard for disposing of dredged material. 
 
 
The law also contains legislation Portman authored with Illinois Senator Mark Kirk to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). GLRI is a results-driven program to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic wellbeing of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. The legislation authorizes GLRI to receive $300 million a year, which is $50 million more than President Obama requested in his budget. 
 
 
The law includes a bipartisan compromise designed to end crises like the one in Flint, Michigan, which will provide $170 million for states, including Ohio, to address lead in our water supply, improve all forms of water infrastructure, and fund health programs to treat lead exposure. Portman helped developed this bipartisan compromise with Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Gary Peters (D-MI). 
 
 
The law requires the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study on the final flood control, ecosystem restoration, and recreation components of Cincinnati Riverfront Park. This will authorize an additional $30 million to complete the park if the study determines the components are feasible.
 
 
The final bipartisan Portman bill included is the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, which he worked on with Senator Amy Klobuchar. This legislation provides critical resources to conserve and restore fish and wildlife populations in the Great Lakes. The legislation would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to partner with other federal agencies, states, and tribes to develop and execute proposals for the restoration of fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin. The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act serves an important role in implementing the GLRI and will renew continued cooperative efforts to address impacts associated with invasive species throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
 
NOTE: Portman has championed numerous pieces of legislation to protect and preserve clean drinking water and the health of Lake Erie. Earlier this year, Portman received a Clean Water Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for his efforts to make drinking water safe for all Ohioans, protect Lake Erie from dredged materials, harmful algal blooms, harmful plastic microbeads and invasive species, and more.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=FCBA7C4A-203F-4597-9B1E-549D9BE2CE16,Portman Bill to Help First Responders Signed into Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bipartisan Bill Will Protect & Support America’s Search & Rescue Teams That Responded to 9/11, Katrina & Sandy Disasters
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman’s (R-OH) announced today that the president has signed into law his National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act, bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of FEMA’s disaster assistance capabilities and programs. Approved by the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on a bipartisan basis in May endorsed by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in September, and passed unanimously by the Senate in November, this legislation will help America’s search and rescue teams—like Dayton’s Ohio Task Force One—that responded to 9/11, Katrina, Sandy, and most recently, Hurricane Matthew.
“Volunteers serving on Search and Rescue team like Ohio Task Force One deserve to know that, when they deploy to disaster areas and put it all on the line for us, their heath and employment are not at risk,” Portman said. “These volunteers are absolutely critical to the future of our emergency response, and now that this bill is law, when they leave their families at a moment’s notice, they know we are there for them.”
NOTE:  The National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act (S. 2791) will improve the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System by clarifying existing workers compensation and liability protections, allowing for the election of benefits, extending reemployment rights to System members when deployed as federal volunteers, allowing the reimbursement for employees filling positions of system members, and requiring the FEMA Administrator to develop a comprehensive plan to finance and replace equipment, as recommended by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
A FEMA report found that 11 percent or greater of each search and rescue task force is comprised of non-affiliated members, who are not employed by a sponsoring or participating agency.  Instead, they are private citizens employed as medical doctors, engineers, or heavy riggers, who bring unique and specialized skill sets necessary to rescue survivors in times of disaster.  Without the extension of reemployment rights for System members, non-affiliated members risk losing their regular jobs upon returning from deployment, which has occurred after previous disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. Since 9/11, task force teams have been required to prepare to respond to all hazards, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) incidents, and were appropriated additional funds to purchase equipment to provide that capability. GAO recently found that the System’s CBRNE equipment is reaching its life-cycle expiration and other critical equipment is outdated.  FEMA does not have a plan to replace System equipment. Portman’s new law authorizes funding to maintain this critical capability.
Portman discussed the importance of his legislation in a recent op-ed.
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http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399106,Time to address infrastructure,2016-12-15,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"With a historic election behind us, it’s time to put aside the partisan rhetoric and move forward on rebuilding America. Among the first issues Congress and President-elect Trump should address is our aging national infrastructure. Quick action is needed to rebuild and expand roads, bridges, pipelines and other systems that will help secure a prosperous American future.
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      Parkersburg News and Sentinel
By Bill Johnson
Published December 15, 2016  
With a historic election behind us, it’s time to put aside the partisan rhetoric and move forward on rebuilding America. Among the first issues Congress and President-elect Trump should address is our aging national infrastructure. Quick action is needed to rebuild and expand roads, bridges, pipelines and other systems that will help secure a prosperous American future.

Many critical components of our infrastructure system that keep our economy running and competitive require investments to bring them up to 21st century standards.
Most of us in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio drive to work on a daily basis; I spend countless hours driving up and down the Ohio River myself. Just last year, Congress passed a highway bill with widespread bipartisan support that authorized more than $300 billion in infrastructure spending over five years to maintain our highways.
This bipartisan bill ended the cycle of short-term reauthorizations, and finally provided local governments with some funding assurance. However, I still have serious concerns about long-term funding provisions for these important upgrades.  But, I remain committed to finding creative solutions that support a world class transportation system that moves our economy forward.
One major obstacle that must be addressed is the burdensome regulatory process for approval of these vitally important projects. Government red tape costs billions of dollars, and can delay needed upgrades for years. These dollars would be better spent on American-made concrete, steel, and equipment needed to enhance our infrastructure — and the good-paying jobs these projects bring.
***
Like the worn-out roads and bridges that carry drivers and commerce across America, our energy infrastructure requires expansion and improvement. Ohio has played a major role in the shale gas and oil revolution that has moved America toward greater energy security. Many counties I represent are experiencing an “energy renaissance” that is positively impacting every sector of their economy.
An expansion of energy transmission systems is more important today than ever before. Such an ambitious endeavor could be as transformational as President Eisenhower’s interstate system that helped generate enormous economic growth in the decades following World War II.
We can stoke the fires of American exceptionalism around a national vision of energy independence and security. But right now, we are at a crossroads. During bitterly cold winters, a lack of pipelines has kept much needed natural gas from reaching the markets, and President Obama’s war on coal kept coal in the ground – which led to electricity price spikes that hurt families and businesses alike. The federal government is standing in the way of various pipeline applications, and broader energy development. Risks of energy scarcity like this simply cannot be tolerated by the world’s greatest economy.
While we are building up our infrastructure, we can’t forget about the communities where these resources are coming from. I’ve been pushing for legislation that would return 20 percent of revenues from drill sites on federally-owned land (such as the Wayne National Forest) to the counties whose governments provide services there. My legislation would require that this revenue be used to support infrastructure and education initiatives within that specific county. It makes perfect sense — the areas that are providing the resource should share in the benefits.
It’s time for both political parties to come together and pass legislation to reform outdated energy permitting and regulatory processes, and modernize agencies that too often stand in the way of investment. It is time to build toward an American future that takes advantage of our own natural resources and breaks down these barriers to progress. It’s time to rebuild America’s — and Ohio’s — transportation and energy infrastructure with American workers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398308,Legislation to Honor OSS Veterans with Congressional Gold Medal Signed Into Law,2016-12-15,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) applauded the signing into law of S. 2234, legislation to honor veterans of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) with a Congressional Gold Medal. Latta was the author of the companion House legislation to honor the OSS, a precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. The OSS conducted critical operations during World War II including establishing intelligence networks and training resistance organizations throughout Europe and Asia.“It’s now official that the veterans of the OSS will be formally honored with a Congressional Gold Medal for their actions that contributed to an Allied Forces victory in World War II,” said Latta. “The courage and skill that these brave men and women displayed is more than deserving, and their legacy should be officially recognized with the highest civilian honor, a Congressional Gold Medal. Additionally, their efforts helped shape our national security structure that continues to keep our country safe. It’s time that Congress collectively recognize the 13,000 members of the OSS for their service to this country, and the signing of this legislation into law makes that a reality.” The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 30. Video of Congressman Latta speaking in favor of the bill is available here.###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399156,Healthy Food for Ohio Funds Vinton County Grocery Store,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Healthy Food for Ohio Funds Vinton County Grocery Store 
   
    
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        Columbus, OH -- Finance Fund Capital Corporation (FCAP) has funded a $1.58 million Healthy Food for Ohio financing package for Campbell’s Market to build a 12,000 sq. ft. fresh food grocery at 636-698 W. Main Street in McArthur. The much-anticipated deal follows a three-year public-private effort to recruit a fresh food grocer to operate in rural Vinton County, which is home to approximately 13,000 residents. Other funding sources for Campbell’s Market in McArthur includes a $50,000 grant from Vinton County.
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      Columbus, OH -- Finance Fund Capital Corporation (FCAP) has funded a $1.58 million Healthy Food for Ohio financing package for Campbell’s Market to build a 12,000 sq. ft. fresh food grocery at 636-698 W. Main Street in McArthur. The much-anticipated deal follows a three-year public-private effort to recruit a fresh food grocer to operate in rural Vinton County, which is home to approximately 13,000 residents. Other funding sources for Campbell’s Market in McArthur includes a $50,000 grant from Vinton County.  
   
The Campbell family has been in the grocery business for more than 85 years. Rick Campbell, proprietor, has over 40 years of experience owning and managing two other rural grocery stores: Campbell’s Foodland in Zanesville, OH and Campbell’s Market in Duncan Falls, OH - both of which are still open today. Those stores, which are located 1.5 hours from McArthur, are similar in size to the planned store in Vinton County.   
   
Vinton County has not had a grocery store since 2013, when the SuperValu was sold to Dollar General, which does not carry fresh food. The closest grocery store has been over 10 miles away. “One of our biggest challenges was determining if the trade area could support ongoing operations of a locally owned grocery store,” Campbell said. “Thanks to Vinton County’s market study, we are convinced that the McArthur store can be successful if community residents commit to shopping there regularly.”   
   
Campbell’s Market is expected to break ground in McArthur in March 2017 and open for business by August that year. It will offer fresh produce, meats, dairy, frozen and shelf stable items and accept SNAP and WIC food assistance benefits.  
   
“Financing for Campbell’s Market in McArthur simply wouldn’t have been possible without the coordination of federal, state and private funding through the Healthy Food for Ohio program and Finance Fund,” said Congressman Steve Stivers. “Everyone brought something to the table in order to recruit an outstanding local grocer in Rick Campbell, and I have been pleased to work with Rep. Ryan Smith and local officials on the shared goal of bringing back fresh food and jobs critical to the health and prosperity of rural Vinton County.”  
   
A local McArthur resident will be hired to run the day-to-day store operations. Plans call for hiring up to 15 full-time and 15 part-time employees from the local community. Campbell’s other grocery stores source their food from Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), which will be the wholesaler for the new McArthur store as well.   
   
“I am very thankful this vitally important project was able to come to fruition,” said Ohio House Finance Committee Chairman Rep. Ryan Smith.   
   
FCAP launched the Healthy Food for Ohio program in March 2016 as a public-private partnership. HFFO provides flexible financing to help grocers and other fresh food retailers such as Campbell’s Market in McArthur start up or expand operations in disadvantaged rural and urban communities that lack access to healthy affordable food.  
   
To date, HFFO has provided flexible financing to 5 healthy food retail projects in rural and urban areas throughout the state serving approximately 32,238 people with fresh, affordable food, creating an estimated 117 FTEs, 28 construction jobs, and creating or expanding 67,930 sq. ft. of retail space.  
   
“Each of FCAP’s Healthy Food for Ohio projects is special, but Campbell’s Market in McArthur is particularly significant due to the tremendous, concerted effort behind this project’s realization,” said FCAP President and CEO Diana Turoff. “Campbell’s Market represents what HFFO is all about – providing funding to help fresh food grocers open or expand operations in disadvantaged and underserved rural and urban areas. It’s a great example of what’s possible when highly committed people mobilize to overcome obstacles and realize a shared vision for a healthier community. We are grateful to the state of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for coming alongside FCAP to make HFFO possible.”  
   
“Grocery stores are fundamental to improving the quality of life and attracting business and jobs to disadvantaged communities,” said Ohio Sen. Bob Peterson. “Grocers such as Campbell’s Market provide entry level jobs with flexible hours for community residents and serve as economic anchors that attract neighboring development. Grocery stores also contribute to the tax base and increase property values. Clearly, grocery development through FCAP and its Healthy Food for Ohio program is a key driver of economic and community health for Vinton County and many other communities where HFFO funding is making healthy food access possible.”  
   
About Finance Fund Capital Corporation (FCAP) www.financefund.org   
Finance Fund Capital Corporation (FCAP), is a nonprofit certified Community Development Financial Institution that provides flexible and affordable financing options for nonprofit and for-profit clients on projects that build assets, create jobs and provide access to needed goods and services. FCAP’s financial products include the Small Business Loan Fund which includes the Healthy Food for Ohio program, and the Community Health Loan Fund. FCAP made its first loan in 2006, and has leveraged $57.7 million on an investment of $27.8 million to 59 borrowers.  
    
  
  
  
    
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http://tiberi.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395081,Tiberi Statement on Federal Reserve Interest Rate Announcement,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Pat Tiberi,T000462,tiberi.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tiberi Statement on Federal Reserve Interest Rate Announcement 
   
    
       
      
  
    
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        Tiberi Statement on Federal Reserve Interest Rate Announcement
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      U.S. Congressman Pat Tiberi, vice chair of the Joint Economic Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the decision by Federal Reserve officials to increase the target federal funds rate to between 0.5 percent and 0.75 percent:“Today’s step by the Fed toward more normalized interest rates is welcome as is its outlook for a strengthening economy. The more clarity the Fed can provide about their intent, the better for private investment and job growth. More than seven years after the start of a shallow recovery, we know there is a better way. In the coming year, I look forward to working with my colleagues to overhaul our tax code and reduce overly burdensome federal mandates. Pro-growth legislation combined with more transparent monetary policy will help drive our economy forward and open up opportunity for all Americans.”Note: The last time the Fed raised the federal funds rate was in December of 2015 when it increased the rate by 0.25 percent. Previously, the Fed lowered the rate to near zero in December 2008 where it remained for seven years.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://davidson.house.gov/2016/12/davidson-announces-us-service-academy-nominations,Davidson Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominations,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Warren Davidson,D000626,davidson.house.gov,davidson,https://davidson.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Media Contact: Alexei Woltornist – (202)225-6205

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Troy, OH - Congressman Warren Davidson (R-OH) announced the nomination of 19 students of the 8th District for the United States Service Academies. The congressman will personally congratulate the nominees at a ceremony on Sunday, January 8. Securing a nomination, either Congressional or from another nominating source, is a required step in the academy application process.

Rep. Davidson made nominations based on proven leadership ability, academic accomplishment, athletic achievement, and extracurricular activities. An 11 member advisory board consisting of former military and community leaders aided Rep. Davidson in the interview and vetting process. A nomination, however, does not guarantee admittance to any of the service academies.

“As a graduate of the United States Military Academy, I know the vital role the service academies play in equipping leaders for our active force. First and foremost, we want young people who want to serve and lead on active duty,” said Davidson. “Then, we want to ensure that those people have the intellect, athletic ability and moral character to complete the demanding path through graduation and serve with distinction. We are blessed to have found so many young students who have those qualifications and are willing to serve our nation.”

Members who attend the U.S. Service Academies commit to serving at least five years in their respective military branch upon graduation.

The U.S. Service Academies are some of the most competitive higher education institutions in the nation. The U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy rank 13th and 15th respectively on the lowest college acceptance rates.

Rep. Davidson announced nominations for the following students from Ohio’s 8th District (Note: several students earned nominations to multiple academies):

U.S. Air Force Academy:

Seth D’Allessandris - Randolph-Macon Academy

Jonathan Gill - Marion Military Institute

Ryan Gracia-Rodriguez - St. Xavier High School

Isaac Gruver - Fairfield High School

Andrew Harrison - Monroe High School, Enlisted US Air Force

John Hayes - Lakota East High School

Anna Holder - Cincinnati Christian High School

Nicholas Noyen - Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

Jacoby Ward - U.S. Air Force Preparatory School

Abbigayle Weaver - Edgewood High School

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:

Isaac Brown - Troy High School

Danielle Mannier - Miami East High School

U.S. Naval Academy:

Milan Bess - Newton High School

Isaac Brown - Troy High School

Olivia DiCarlo - Mt. Notre Dame High School

Austin Grote - Greenville High School

Anna Holder - Monroe High School

Danielle Mannier - Miami East High School

Alexandyr Siemann - Tecumseh High School

Taylor Staton - Miami University

Andrew Walsh - Badin High School",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-applauds-department-of-educations-move-to-strip-bad-actor-of-ability-to-accredit-for-profit-colleges,Brown Applauds Department of Education's Move to Strip Bad Actor of Ability to Accredit For-Profit Colleges,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Wednesday, December 14, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded the U.S. Department of Education’s final decision to deny the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools’ (ACICS) appeal and revoke its status as a recognized accreditor for institutions of higher education. ACICS gave accreditation to ITT Education Services, Inc. (ITT Tech) and Corinthian Colleges, Inc, both of which closed, leaving many students with debt but no degrees. All institutions that were accredited by ACICS will have two years to find a new accreditor. ED will also require them to comply with additional operating conditions, including monitoring, transparency, oversight, and accountability measures in order to continue participating in federal student aid programs. 
“When bad actors like ACICS hand out accreditation without rigorous oversight, they give for-profit colleges a free pass to shortchange students,” Brown said. “Far too many for-profit colleges are collecting federal financial aid funds but shirking their duty to provide students with the education that they deserve. By revoking ACICS ability to empower more fraudulent for-profit colleges, the Department of Education is ensuring that both students and taxpayers are protected.”
Brown continues to work to protect students from predatory practices. Last month, following the release of data from the U.S. Department of Education which revealed that graduates of for-profit colleges’ career training programs earn significantly less than their public college counterparts, Brown reiterated his call for increased oversight of for-profit colleges to ensure they are providing students with the education and return on their investment that they were promised. 
 In July 2015, Brown called on ED to take a proactive role in protecting students attending poor performing, for-profit colleges. In a letter to then ED Secretary Arne Duncan, Brown urged the Department to develop a more effective strategy for dealing with the bad actors in the for-profit education industry and minimizing the potential harm to taxpayers.
 
###
			
				
					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Tamika Turner 
202-224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-demands-trump-education-secretary-nominee-devos-pay-ohio-52-million-she-owes-for-breaking-ohio-election-laws,Brown Demands Trump Education Secretary Nominee DeVos Pay Ohio $5.2 Million She Owes for Breaking Ohio Election Laws,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator: $5.3 Million Could Pay for More Teachers to Educate Ohio Kids 
				
			
			Wednesday, December 14, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today demanded that President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education Nominee Betsy DeVos make good on $5.3 million in unpaid fines and penalties she owes the State of Ohio for breaking the law. DeVos’ All Children Matter Political Action Committee (PAC) owes Ohio money for campaign finance violations dating back to 2008. All Children Matter, which was run by DeVos, broke Ohio election law by illegally funneling $870,000 in contributions from its nationwide PAC to its Ohio affiliate – and accordingly, the state of Ohio levied a record fine of more than $5 million against DeVos’ group. Yet nearly a decade later, DeVos’ group has not paid the debts for its illegal activities. 
“This $5.3 million that Betsy DeVos owes Ohio could pay for more teachers, technology upgrades and critical priorities to help us educate Ohio kids,” said Brown. “She owes this money to Ohio’s taxpayers and it’s outrageous that a billionaire has failed to make good on these fines for eight years while our schools are strapped for money.”
In a letter to DeVos, Brown expressed concerns over the willingness of DeVos’ PAC to both brazenly disregard election law and blatantly refuse to take responsibility and pay its fines. Brown and his colleagues noted that, as Secretary of Education, DeVos would be responsible for seeing to the timely repayment of debt from student loan borrowers – even as the PAC she chaired refused to pay fines that are nearly a decade old. Roughly 44 million Americans owe nearly $1.3 trillion in federal student loans, creating a crushing debt burden for individuals struggling to make their payments. But when All Children Matter broke election law and was fined a record $5.3 million dollars, DeVos’ group chose to simply cease operations and disband, rather than taking responsibility for its debts. 
DeVos’ leadership role in the All Children Matter PAC is one of her many activities as a longtime billionaire mega-donor for conservative causes, with DeVos stating her own goal to be “buying influence.” As DeVos wrote in a 1997 op-ed for Roll Call, “my family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican party….I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now, I simply concede the point. We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues. We expect a return on our investment; we expect a good and honest government. Furthermore, we expect the Republican party to use the money to promote these policies, and yes, to win elections.”
U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) cosigned the letter.
The full text of the letter can be found below and here. 

Betsy DeVos
Secretary-Designate
U.S. Department of Education
Dear Secretary-Designate DeVos:
We are writing to express significant concerns about the failure of the All Children Matter Political Action Committee (PAC) to pay Ohio $5.3 million in fines and late fees for violating the state’s campaign finance laws. At the time of the violations, you were the head of the organization, and you and your husband were one of the PAC’s biggest contributors.
In 2006, the federal All Children Matter PAC sought an advisory opinion from the Ohio Elections Commission to determine whether it was allowed to contribute more than the $10,000 statutory limit to its Ohio based affiliate. The Commission provided an advisory opinion stating that aggregate contributions of greater than $10,000 in a year to the Ohio affiliate would violate the law. Inexplicably, your PAC ignored this advisory opinion and proceeded to contribute $870,000 to the Ohio affiliate.
The bipartisan Ohio Elections Commission unanimously found both the federal and Ohio All Children Matter PACs to have violated the state’s campaign finance laws and imposed fines of $5.2 million. An Ohio court subsequently upheld the fine and imposed additional late fees for failing to pay. Rather than pay the fines for violating the law, the All Children Matter PACs simply ceased operation and never paid the significant sum it owed to the state of Ohio.
The blatant disregard for the law that your PAC demonstrated is deeply troubling. However, when the organization’s violations of law were punished by the Ohio Elections Commission, the PAC’s refusal to take responsibility and pay the fines is unconscionable.  
If confirmed as Secretary of Education, you would be responsible for administering our nation’s student loan programs and ensuring that borrowers repay their loans in a timely manner. However, the PAC that you chaired failed to pay fines that were imposed on it over eight years ago. This demonstrates a serious lack of judgment by the PAC’s board and a willingness to avoid paying legally obligated public debts.
Prior to your confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, we request that you take the necessary steps to ensure payment of all fines and penalties imposed on the All Children Matter PACs by the Ohio Elections Commission and the state courts.
We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,

###
			
				
					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Rachel Petri 
202-224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-highlights-passage-of-comprehensive-bill-to-serve-veterans-and-their-families,Brown Highlights Passage of Comprehensive Bill to Serve Veterans and Their Families,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Brown was Joined by Widow of Air Force Captain from Clermont County Who Will Benefit from Brown’s Legislation to Extend Educational Benefits for Surviving Spouses of Servicemembers
				
			
			Wednesday, December 14, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) – a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – today highlighted comprehensive legislation that would expand veterans’ services and family member benefits. The Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act passed in the Senate on Saturday and now heads to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
The bill includes key provisions of the Veterans First Act, which Brown cosponsored. The bill would help address the appeals backlog by temporarily expanding the number of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims from seven to nine, enhance veterans’ homelessness benefits, and expand toxic exposure research for veterans and descendants.
“Once this is signed into law, we will be one step closer to making sure that families who have sacrificed so much for our nation get the benefits they deserve. No veteran should face living on the street or trouble accessing benefits they earned – and we’re addressing all of these issues with this bill,” said Brown. “This bipartisan bill will grant veterans and their families expanded benefits and ensure that the VA has the resources to provide veterans with the highest quality of care. And importantly – it will help cut the backlog on veterans’ claims.”
The bill also includes a provision authored by Brown to ensure that surviving spouses of servicemembers have enough time to use their educational benefits. The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the surviving spouses and children of servicemembers who have died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. However, when Congress expanded Fry Scholarship eligibility to spouses in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, a 15-year limitation was put on these benefits. The provision Brown secured in the bill passed on Saturday will extend the period of eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to spouses of servicemembers killed between 9/11/2001 and 12/31/2005 so that they will have enough time to fully utilize the benefit.
During a news conference call today, Brown was joined by Melissa Twine, an Air Force veteran from Batavia whose husband, Captain Philip B. Twine, died serving in the Air Force. She discussed how Brown’s provision in the bill will ensure that she and other surviving spouses are able to use educational benefits that allow them to support their families.
“My husband, Captain Philip B. Twine, was a Logistics Officer in the Air Force when he died at the age of 34 in 2002. We had three children and I was eight months pregnant with our fourth child when Phil died,” said Twine. “After my husband’s death, I became the primary breadwinner – a single parent of four – including being the caregiver for our child with autism spectrum disability. Prior to Philip’s death, I completed my undergrad in Biology at the University of Cincinnati. Our plan was that I would obtain my Master’s degree next. Those plans changed when our world changed on August 7, 2002. I had to put this goal on pause for many years while I raised my family as a single parent. It was especially difficult with a newborn and a child with a disability. I am now in a place where fulfilling my goal of higher education is possible. I am very grateful to now be afforded the necessary time to utilize the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.  This educational opportunity means the world to me and others in my situation.”
Additionally, the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act includes a variation of the Veteran Housing Stability Act of 2015, which Brown cosponsored. The bill would increase veterans’ access to permanent housing options by increasing outreach to landlords to encourage renting to veterans; expanding the definition of “homeless veteran,” so more veterans, including those facing domestic abuse, can access housing assistance; and requiring a report on the efficacy of VA programs to improve retention of housing by veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. 
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2F4D634A-0D0E-4155-BE4A-0AB01B967A64,Portman Praises Proposed Kuwaiti Tank Sale That Will Benefit JSMC,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today applauded the State Department’s approval of a potential $1.7 billion foreign military sale of 218 M1A2 Abrams tanks to Kuwait. Portman, who recently helped secure $1.2 billion in funding for military systems that support jobs at Lima’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC), released the following statement:
“Sales of military equipment to our allies are critical to our security, and to supporting good American manufacturing jobs. This sale is an important signal of our support for Kuwait, our close ally in the Middle East, and it’s good news for the JSMC and its workers. Keeping the Abrams production line open will help JSMC stay ready to keep meeting the U.S. Army’s future needs. I applaud the State Department’s approval of this sale to Kuwait; I look forward to this sale being finalized, and I’m going to keep engaging with our allies to find new partners and continue existing partnerships with the JSMC.”
NOTE: Pending the 30-day Congressional notification period, the sale will proceed.
This sale follows the State Department and Pentagon announcement in August of the approval of the sale of more than 130 Abrams battle tanks, 20 armored recovery vehicles and other equipment to Saudi Arabia. Foreign military sales form an important part of demand for Lima’s work. Portman has consistently advocated on behalf of the JSMC and its workers.
###
 
http://bit.ly/2gKyXtS",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9F3B4AD3-C060-4BBD-8156-A7CC692DCDB8,Portman Receives Award for His Work to Combat Addiction,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) received the James E. Burke award from The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids for his work to combat addiction. Portman, who is the author of the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA), which was signed into law by President Obama in July, has led the national effort to combat the drug epidemic that is devastating communities across Ohio and our country.  His work has been praised by Ohio anti-drug advocates as well as editorial boards around the country. This year alone, Senator Portman has delivered 29 speeches on the Senate floor as part of his tireless effort to raise awareness about the heroin and prescription drug epidemic, and pass CARA. Upon receiving the award, Portman released the following statement:
According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, the James Burke Award is given annually to someone who “has a strong character and is respected as a leader by their peers and colleagues. Their enthusiastic spirit serves as a constant motivation to those around them, encouraging others to accomplish great things.  He or she stands as an example of dedication and devotion in all that they do.  The recipient is committed to improving the lives of young people, and works tirelessly to make sure that every child can grow up to live a happy and healthy life.  Quite simply, they make the world a better place.”
Upon receiving the award, Portman released the following statement:
“Jim Burke was a friend of mine, and he gave me good advice when I authored the Drug-Free Media Campaign Act, which President Bill Clinton signed into law and which supported using the power of advertising to get kids to stay away from drugs,” Portman said. “It is an honor to receive this award. I want to thank the Partnership especially for their continued support of my efforts to prevent drug addiction—from the Drug-Free Communities Act to the Drug-Free Workplace Act in the 1990s to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA, which became law this summer. Addiction is still taking a heavy toll on our communities—probably worse than ever—so we’ve got to continue working together on this issue that has become a crisis in Ohio and across the country.”
NOTE: Senator Portman has led the national effort to combat the heroin and prescription drug epidemic that is devastating communities across Ohio and our country:

 
Portman has led the effort to increase federal funding in order to tackle the opioid epidemic, including securing additional funding in the recently signed-into-law Cures Act. Portman’s efforts in working with the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure significant increases in funding for opioid programs are already yielding results. The original Senate-passed CARA authorized $78 million in new funding, but Portman worked to more than double that spending to $181 million in the final measure signed into law.  For the current fiscal year the House and Senate passed (and President Obama signed into law) an increase in total federal spending on opioids of 47 percent over last year ($220M vs. $321M).  For next fiscal year, Senator Portman has worked with the Senate Appropriations Committee to approve $471.5M for federal opioid programs, which – if enacted – would more than double funding from two years ago ($220M vs. $471.5M). Portman also supports emergency funding in order to ensure that everyone who needs treatment can get it.
 
 
Portman recently introduced the Synthetic Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, legislation that will help stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398306,Latta Statement on the Signing of the 21st Century Cures Act Into Law,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) released the following the statement after the 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law this afternoon.“The signing of the landmark 21st Century Cures Act into law is a monumental event that will positively change the way our country discovers, develops, and delivers cures and treatments for patients. With only 500 approved cures and treatments for nearly 10,000 diseases, medical innovation is critical to providing life-saving and life-improving medicine for patients. The bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act bolsters research, streamlines the approval process at the FDA, and provides more clarity for innovators. These measures will aid the efforts of leading medical research institutions in Ohio — and around the nation — that are working to find cures for the most harmful diseases.” The 21st Century Cures Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 30 by a vote of 392-26 and was approved by the Senate a week later, 94-5.###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-statement-governor-kasich-signing-controversial-ban-abortions,Congressman Tim Ryan Statement on Governor Kasich Signing Controversial Ban on Abortions After 20 Weeks,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) made the following statement after Governor John Kasich signed the 20 week abortion ban into law – which does not include any exception for rape or incest.
""I am extremely disappointed Governor Kasich signed this controversial and restrictive bill into law. Ohio women deserve better. This law is a continuation of Governor Kasich’s assault on women’s reproductive health in our state – making this the 18th law he has signed that restricts the rights of Ohio women.
""There are too many scenarios, too many variables and too much complexity for pregnancy to be anything but a personal decision – and the vast majority of those faced with this difficult situation at 20 weeks are carrying a fetus that the doctor has told them has no chance of surviving.  Under this Ohio law, a woman who learns during a routine 20 week ultrasound that the fetus has no lungs or no brain will be forced to go through months of agony and carry to term. I cannot imagine the emotional and physical heartbreak that so many woman in these situations must feel, but I do know that Governor Kasich didn’t think of them when he signed this law. These situations are hard to talk about and extremely difficult, but the ultimate decision should be made by women and families, not government officials.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-statement-nomination-rex-tillerson-secretary-state,Congressman Tim Ryan Statement on Nomination of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) made the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State:
“I am extremely disappointed that President-elect Trump has nominated ExxonMobile CEO Rex Tillerson to be the face of our nation on the world stage. Even more offensive than his utter lack of experience is his close ties with Vladimir Putin and Russia, which should immediately disqualify Mr. Tillerson for the position of Secretary of State. As mounting evidence continues to come to light from the U.S. intelligence community regarding Russia influencing our election to favor President-elect Trump and Russia’s continued brazen disregard for international law, we must remain vigilant in protecting our national interests. I call on the Senate to refuse to confirm Mr. Tillerson for this post, and I call on President-elect Trump to nominate a Secretary of State who will stand up to Vladimir Putin and Russia and fight for American values.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/report-prescription-drug-prices-driving-health-care-costs-0,Report: PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES DRIVING UP HEALTH CARE COSTS,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"HHS Report to House Appropriators Confirms: Rising Prescription Drugs Prices are driving up Federal Health Spending

Washington, DC --- U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), author of an amendment to the FY16 Labor HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill that directed HHS and the Veterans Administration to report to Congress with an analysis of the impact of rising prescription drug prices, today made public the long awaited report. Kaptur was joined by her Appropriations colleagues, Ranking Member Nita Lowey (NY-17) and Subcommittee on Labor HHS Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Member of the Committee on Ways and Means Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-35) in releasing the following statement regarding the report: “Prescription Drugs: Innovation, Spending, and Patient Access.”

“Prescription drug prices are out of control,” said Rep. Kaptur. “We have a responsibility to ensure all Americans are able to afford the medication they need to stay healthy. This report comes at a pivotal moment, as prescription drug spending is expected to increase 7.3 percent a year through 2018. I urge the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Veterans Administration, to embark on a full collaboration to address this national concern, pull back the veil that currently prohibits a full accounting of agency drug expenses, and join in the effort to expose skyrocketing drug costs so that we may better negotiate prices for consumers.”

“Rising costs for prescription drugs mean more out-of-pocket costs and more care delayed or deferred, which has an adverse impact on overall health. The federal government must ensure that neither patients nor federal health programs are being gouged for lifesaving medications,” said Ranking Member Lowey.

“Every day, we see the threat that spiraling drug prices pose to Medicare, Medicaid, and the other federal health programs,” said Rep. DeLauro. This report shows that spending on prescription drugs is skyrocketing across all the federal health programs. Now is the time for Congress to take action to rein in these excessive prices. That is why I have introduced legislation to create a new interagency review board to regulate excessive drug prices.”

Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), who co-chairs the House Democratic Caucus Prescription Drug Task Force, said, “Prescription price gouging not only means too many Americans face crushing financial burdens or go without necessary health care; it means that all American taxpayers are paying too much for government drug purchases. Congress faces more than a question of ‘to be or not to be’ on Obamacare. It has to decide whether to do or not to do anything about unsustainable drug spending. Unfortunately, a major shortcoming of the Affordable Care Act is its failure to make prescription drugs affordable. President-elect Trump has promised action and said that he doesn’t like what’s happened with drug prices—now is the time for him to act.”

""Prescription drug spending in the United States soared to $457 billion in 2015. Members of Congress have a responsibility to the taxpayers to ensure that funds are wisely spent, and that hardworking Americans are not forced to pay artificially inflated prices for their prescription drugs,” concluded Rep. Kaptur.

The HHS report includes an analysis of prescription drug prices (net of rebates) paid by Federal programs for the 10 most frequently prescribed drugs and the 10 highest-cost drugs, dating back to 2003. It also includes an analysis of the annual spending on prescription drugs in the Medicare Part B program, Medicare Part D prescription drug program, and VA health program. While a step in the right direction, the Members urged more information is needed to fully understand the source of rising prescription drug prices and available remedies to protect consumers.

The report can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-reacts-to-pentagon-killing-of-paris-attack-planners,TURNER Reacts to Pentagon Killing of Paris Attack Planners,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Michael Turner,T000463,turner.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Pentagon reported it killed 3 ISIS fighters responsible for planning the Paris attacks:
“Today brings justice for the loved ones of the victims of the appalling Paris attacks that occurred over a year ago. The Pentagon reported intelligence that these ISIS fighters were plotting another attack at the time of the Pentagon’s strike. I am thankful this threat was neutralized prior to another devastating attack."" 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-statement-on-nomination-of-rex-tillerson-to-be-secretary-of-state,Brown Statement on Nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tuesday, December 13, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today issued the following statement on the nomination of Rex Tillerson to serve as Secretary of State:
“We should be extremely concerned by the number of business deals with Russia that bear Rex Tillerson’s fingerprints and by his willingness to profit off massive foreign deals that undermine the United States. During his confirmation process, Tillerson will need to answer tough questions about his ties to Russia and how they’ll impact is ability to put America’s interests first.”  
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DAAF187F-C266-472F-9011-D502275F5854,Portman Welcomes New Opioid Funding as President Signs 21st Century CURES,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Includes $1 Billion to Fight Opioid Abuse & Portman-Led Measures to Strengthen Medicare & Medicaid
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that the “21st Century Cures” initiative, a $6.3 billion medical innovation package that is designed to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments that passed the Senate with his support last week, has been signed into law by the president. Portman urged that opioid funding be included in the package, and it includes $1 billion in new funding for state grants to fight opioid abuse. The measure also includes a number of Portman initiatives to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid.  Following the passage of the bill, Senator Portman released the following statement:
“With one Ohioan dying of an overdose of heroin or prescription drugs every three hours, our state is in a crisis. But help is on the way. This summer, Congress passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA, which authorized $181 million in new funding to fight this epidemic, and now, with the 21st Century Cures Act, Congress has authorized another $1 billion in funding over the next two years to deal with this national emergency. This new law also strengthens Medicare to help cancer patients, seniors on Medicare Advantage, and seniors with disabilities. I am proud to have voted for it because it will make a difference in the lives of so many of the most vulnerable in Ohio and across the country.””
NOTE: Following is a summary of notable provisions included at Portman’s request in the 21st Century Cures package:  

 
$1 billion to fight opioid abuse. The bill includes additional opioid funding: $500 million annually over the next two years for state block grants that can be used for improving prescription drug monitoring programs, prevention, training for health care workers, and improving access to treatment for individuals struggling with a substance use disorder. This money would complement the increases in opioid funding Portman has secured through the annual appropriations process.
 
 
Establishes beneficiary equity in the hospital readmissions program (S. 688). This measure will minimize the disincentives for hospitals who serve a disproportionate number of sicker and poorer patients. This provision will improve the fairness of hospital readmissions penalties by taking into account the patients’ socioeconomic and dual-eligible status to ensure that hospitals can continue to care for the most vulnerable patients.  This benefits a majority of Ohio hospitals, especially those who serve a large number of low-income, vulnerable populations.
 
 
Continues Medicare payment for hospital out-patient departments that were “under-development”. This measure will provide critical relief to hospitals (including several throughout Ohio) that were in the middle of building facilities to serve patients in their communities when Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act in 2015. This provision ensures patients are able to maintain access to these facilities so they can continue to receive high-quality care in outpatient settings.  
 
 
Exempts designated cancer hospitals from Medicare payment reductions. This measure ensures patients are able to continue to receive cancer care from outpatient facilities in their community, benefitting the OSU James Cancer Hospital in Columbus.
 
 
Delays the application of the competitive bidding program to complex rehabilitative technology wheelchair accessories (S. 2196). This measure ensures people with disabilities will continue to have access to the complex wheelchair accessories they rely on to live a fully-functioning life.
 
 
Protects Medicare Advantage for all seniors (S. 2104). This measure would strengthen transparency and ensure that seniors can keep the Medicare Advantage (MA) plans they want by delaying CMS’s authority to terminate certain MA plans because of the STARS rating system.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-statement-on-nomination-of-andrew-puzder-for-labor-secretary,Brown Statement on Nomination of Andrew Puzder for Labor Secretary,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Monday, December 12, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today issued the following statement on the nomination of Andrew Puzder to serve as Labor Secretary:
“In nominating Andrew Puzder, President-elect Trump is betraying the voters who elected him. We need a Labor Secretary who will boost wages and labor protections – not one who wants to invest in machines instead of real employees, who opposes new overtime pay protections, and who actually thinks raising the minimum wage is bad for workers.”
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/columns?ID=E6A50F2E-9B49-48CC-A667-DA5AB8F9C87F,The John Glenn I Knew,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"This week we lost an American hero and the longest-serving United States Senator in Ohio history. We lost John Glenn, of New Concord, Ohio. I lost a close personal friend.
When most folks think of John Glenn, they remember that he was a famous astronaut and the first American to orbit the Earth. They may remember how he inspired our country at a time of uncertainty when the Soviet Union seemed to be winning the space race. They might even remember the grainy black-and-white images of his being escorted to Cape Canaveral by Vice-President Lyndon Johnson, meeting President Kennedy, or his address to a joint session of Congress.
If that were all John Glenn had done, he would still be a true American hero. But there was so much more to him than that landmark achievement.
Before he was a famous astronaut, he was already a decorated war hero. When the Japanese Empire attacked Pearl Harbor, he was a licensed pilot studying at Muskingum College. John put his plans aside, left college, and signed up to be a Marine Corps pilot, flying 59 combat missions in the Pacific Theater.
If that were all he had done, he would still have been a hero.
But he kept serving. When the Korean War broke out, he flew 90 more combat missions. His wingman was often baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams, who described him as “absolutely fearless…the best pilot I ever saw.” Williams felt “an intuitive feeling that this was a man destined for something great…He was one of the calmest men I have ever met, no matter how perilous the situation.”
For his skill and bravery as a pilot, John received the Distinguished Flying Cross six times. Again, if that were all he had done, he would still have been a hero.
After the war, John served as a test pilot for new military aircraft under development, and, in 1957, he broke the flight speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in just under three and a half hours.
Then John Glenn decided to pursue a different kind of public service and run for office. In 1974, on his third try running for the United States Senate, he won. He continued winning, representing Ohio for 24 years, longer than any Senator in Ohio history. In 1980, he won re-election by the largest margin in Ohio history.
He was a popular Senator because he was effective at getting things done.
He chaired the Government Affairs Committee for 17 years and helped pass the Inspector Generals Act, to create the office of the Inspector General in federal agencies and root out waste, fraud, and abuse. In 1995, when I was a newly-elected Congressman from Cincinnati, John Glenn and I worked on a number of projects together, including legislation we co-authored that prohibits the federal government from imposing expensive rules and regulations on states and local governments without paying for them, to curb unfunded federal mandates.
He founded the Senate Great Lakes Task Force during his third term and served as its co-chair. He authored two bills that became law to stop the spread of non-indigenous species in the Great Lakes. As his successor as Senator from Ohio, I now continue his work as Vice-Chair of this task force and I have passed two of my own bills into law to protect Lake Erie.
After John retired from the Senate in 1998, he founded the Glenn Institute of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University, later named the Glenn School. Before I ran for the United States Senate, I taught there, including co-teaching four classes. He asked me to join the Glenn School advisory board, and I’ve been a member ever since.
Last year what started as an Institute became the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. He was so proud of the College because he believed it was critical to get more young people involved in public service. In fact, the Glenn College may ultimately become his greatest achievement, because through it his legacy will be to continue to inspire and train thousands of young Ohioans to pursue public service like he did.
In October, I attended our Glenn College board meeting with John Glenn as chairman, and, as always, Annie Glenn at his side. She was not only the love of his life from their childhood, but his inseparable partner for their 73 years of marriage.
At the board meeting he was in good spirits as always, earnest as always, and devoted to public service as always. His focus was on establishing a new leadership institute for Ohio public officials. He never stopped dreaming and he never stopped serving. That was the John Glenn I was privileged to know.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=080E138F-BB7E-4B64-A7EA-DB8D739D902B,Portman Bill to Save Taxpayer Dollars by Better Managing Federal Property Sent to the President's Desk,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced today that the Senate passed the Federal Property Management Reform Act, legislation Portman co-authored to save taxpayer dollars by improving how the federal government manages its buildings and other property across the country. It is now ready to be signed into law by the president.  The legislation, which unanimously passed the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year, will establish a framework for federal agencies to better manage existing space in a more cost-effective manner and help facilitate the disposal of unneeded federal property. Specifically, the Federal Property Management Reform Act would require federal agencies to maintain an up-to-date inventory of the property it leases, and establish a council to develop uniform guidance for agency property managers to follow and share best practices in property management among agencies.
“Ohioans are faced with mounting costs to their healthcare, taxes and more. The last thing they need is to be footing the bill for easily-solved government inefficiencies,” said Senator Portman. “This bipartisan legislation will save taxpayers millions by making the government more efficient and by helping to ensure that the government moves surplus properties off the books and I’m pleased the Senate passed it. This is a common-sense solution to a growing problem and I look forward to the president signing it into law.”
The federal government’s real property holdings are vast and diverse, incorporating hundreds of thousands of buildings and permanent structures across the county, making it the largest property owner in the United States. In fact, every year since January 2003, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has placed real property management on its list of “high-risk” government activities, citing long-standing problems with excess and underutilized property; deteriorating and aging facilities; unreliable property data; and a heavy reliance on costly leasing instead of ownership to meet new needs.
Specifically, the Federal Property Management Reform Act would:
 
Require agencies with leasing authority to maintain a current inventory of all leases, including information about the cost and location of the lease, as well as the value of the legal obligations of the federal government over the course of the contract;
Codify and expand the duties of the Federal Real Property Council to ensure this body develops guidance and ensures the implementation of strategies for better managing federal property; and
Direct federal agencies to develop workforce projections to assess the needs of the federal workforce regarding the use of real property, and to submit to the Federal Real Property Council an annual report on all excess real property belonging to the agency.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rob-s-rundown?ID=0E6CFDAB-634B-4D2F-B4D9-B53C69D58CFF,"Rob's Rundown: Week of December 5 - 10, 2016",2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Monday, December 5
Portman Secures Bipartisan Reforms in Water Resources Development Act
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced on Monday that bipartisan language he co-authored was included in The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) report released today. These Portman-led reforms aim to end Flint-like water crises, prevent inappropriate disposal of dredged materials from the Cleveland Harbor, and renew the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
“We must protect Lake Erie and ensure access to clean drinking water around the country, and this bill makes important progress on both goals,” said Portman. ”I’m glad my bipartisan initiatives were included in the final package that was announced today. I look forward to the Senate passing this important legislation and the President signing it into law as quickly as possible so we can protect our Great Lakes and ensure that every American has access to clean water.”
For more on the Portman-led initiatives included in the Water Resources Development Act, go here.
Portman Votes No on Cloture to Protest Lack of Action on Bipartisan Miners Bill
Portman issued the following after he opposed the cloture motion on the CURES legislation to protest the lack of amendments and a full Senate vote on the Miner’s Protection Act:
“I appreciate all of the work that has gone into the bipartisan CURES legislation. It’s a good bill that advances positive reforms to help speed the delivery of life-saving medical cures. It includes a significant boost in opioid funding that I strongly support.  And I plan to support the bill on final passage. But the Senate should be allowed the opportunity to improve the bill, and that’s why I voted no on cloture today.
“The pension and health benefits of thousands of retired coal miners in Ohio remain in jeopardy, and the Senate must act. The Senate Finance Committee approved the Miner’s Protection Act on a bipartisan basis in September. With time running out this Congress, I believe we should have an opportunity to add the bipartisan Miner’s Protection Act to one of those bills. We should keep our promises to our coal miners and that’s why I joined Senators Manchin, Capito, Brown and others in voting no on cloture today.”
Wednesday, December 7
Portman Testifies Before ITC, Fights to Protect Ohio Jobs from Unfair Foreign Trade 
Portman testified before the International Trade Commission (ITC) to fight on behalf of Ohio workers and against unfair trade practices. Specifically, Portman, who has a lengthy record of delivering results for Ohio workers, is fighting to protect Whirlpool and its 10,000 Ohio workers, including the more than 3,000 workers at Whirlpool’s largest American factory in Clyde, Ohio, from unlawful dumping of clothes washers into the United States.  
In 2012, the ITC heeded Portman’s concerns that South Korean companies were engaging in unlawful dumping of clothes washers into the U.S. Following the ruling, however, South Korean manufacturers moved their washer production facilities to China, skirting the order and continuing to dump its products unfairly into the United States. The Commerce Department recently issued a preliminary ruling confirming that South Korean manufacturers continue to engage in unlawful dumping of clothes washers into the U.S., an issue that Senator Portman argues violates our trade laws:
“I want to thank you for making the right decision in that case regarding Korea and finding material injury. But before your final determination was even reached in that case, Samsung and LG were already moving their production to China.  Free of duties that the Commission had imposed on the washers coming from Korea, they continued to target the U.S. market and have continued to undermine Whirlpool’s investments in American plants and American jobs. That’s what makes the case before you today so clear –– you have the very same producers and the very same model numbers from the prior case and the only change is their label of ‘Made in Korea’ to ‘Made in China.’ The outcome of this case should be the same as the outcome in the first.”
Senator Portman’s prepared testimony can be found here.
As Senate Passes 21st Century CURES, Portman Welcomes New Opioid Funding
Wednesday afternoon, Portman praised Senate passage of the “21st Century Cures” initiative, a $6.3 billion medical innovation package that is designed to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments.  Portman urged that opioid funding be included in the package, and it includes $1 billion in new funding for state grants to fight opioid abuse.  The measure also includes a number of Portman initiatives to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid.  Following the passage of the bill, Senator Portman released the following statement:
“With the Senate passing the 21st Century Cures initiative, we are one step closer to adding critical funding to combat the opioid epidemic that is gripping Ohio and the rest of our country. The additional $1 billion over two years to fight the heroin and prescription epidemic will complement the new CARA law and the additional funding I’ve helped secure through the appropriations process.  I’m also pleased that we were able to include measures to help all Ohioans, and especially seniors and those with low incomes, by strengthening Medicare and Medicaid. I’m working to deliver results for the people of Ohio, and I believe this bill will make a difference for them. I urge the president to sign it.”
For more information on the notable provisions in the 21st Century Cures package, including those included at Portman’s request, go here.
Portman, Brown, Stabenow Introduce Bill to Support U.S. Manufacturers, Promote More American Jobs 
Senators Portman, Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced legislation – the Promoting More American Manufacturing Jobs Act – to clarify the domestic manufacturing tax deduction for U.S. manufacturers.  The legislation clarifies the intent of Congress in enacting the domestic manufacturing deduction, section 199 of the tax code, to provide that in contract manufacturing situations, any party to the arrangement that makes a substantial contribution through the activities of its U.S. employees to the manufacture of qualifying goods shall be entitled to claim the deduction.
“This legislation will help ensure our tax code encourages good-paying manufacturing jobs right here in the United States,” said Portman.  “The IRS’s interpretation of the section 199 regulations has resulted in disputes and litigation between the IRS and contract manufacturers, and, as a result, the law’s incentive to promote domestic manufacturing has been diminished.  This legislation will end those disputes so that businesses can focus on creating jobs.”
For more information about the Promoting More American Manufacturing Jobs Act, go here.
Portman Statement on Air Force’s F-35 Announcement
Portman issued the following statement on the Air Force’s decision not to include the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo as one of the five installations as candidates for the next two Air Force F-35A locations:
“I am disappointed in the Air Force’s decision and I intend to follow up with the Air Force to learn more about the justification for this decision.  I remain convinced of the professionalism and excellence of the 180th FW in Toledo and the value that this unit provides to an array of national and homeland security missions.”
Thursday, December 8
Portman and Brown Announce $1.2 Billion Authorization for Military Systems that Support Jobs at Lima Joint Systems Manufacturing 
Senators Portman and Brown announced that the Senate has passed the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding for the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle – critical work is done on both systems at Lima’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC). The NDAA includes more than $652 million to support modifications to the Abrams Tank and more than $579 million for the Stryker Vehicle.
“Today the Senate recognized the critical work done for our national security at the JSMC in Lima by authorizing more than $1 billion for modernization, upgrades, and procurement of Stryker armored vehicles and Abrams tanks,” said Senator Portman. “This new funding is good news for the JSMC, Lima, and the Ohio workers who have made this plant a world leader in manufacturing the best tanks and armored vehicles around.  I am proud to have worked hard to secure and protect the funding that supports these vital programs and the jobs in Lima. In today’s dangerous global security environment, the work being done in Lima at the JSMC is more important than ever to accomplishing our national security objectives overseas, and I remain committed to ensuring that it receives the resources it needs to achieve those goals.”
NOTE: In October, Portman, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) hosted Under Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy in Lima at the JSMC, where they toured the facility and saw a demonstration of the Abrams Tank.  For a recap of Lima area publications and TV reporting on the announcement of the inclusion of funding for Lima in the NDAA, go here. For more information on Portman’s work to protect Lima’s workers and keep national security strong, see this fact sheet.
Portman, Brown Secure Key Victory for Youngstown Air Reserve Station 
Portman and Brown also announced that the NDAA includes their amendment to prioritize C-130 upgrades needed at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS). The amendment will encourage the Air Force to act on these upgrades by requiring it to report on how it will prioritize upgrades from C-130H aircrafts to new C-130J units, which YARS needs for its special mission. Portman and Brown have been working to urge the Air Force to replace the 910th Airlift Wing’s current fleet with the new C-130J to ensure the Wing can complete its missions safely.
“Today’s vote marks real progress in our efforts to upgrade the C-130 aircraft at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, which has become a model for other Air Reserve Stations throughout the country,” Portman stated. “C-130 modernization will enhance the 910th’s ability to carry out a range of important national and homeland security missions, including its unique aerial spray mission. Our amendment puts YARS in a better position to receive upgraded aircraft.”
Portman and Brown Announce More Than $1.1 Billion Authorization for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Defense Bill Heading to President’s Desk 
The NDAA also authorizes $12.6 million to consolidate the operations of two active Entry Control Points (ECPs) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). This consolidation would improve security and traffic flow at the base. The NDAA also authorizes $14.4 million for facilities upgrades, equipment installation, and other projects that increase energy efficiency and approximately $1.1 billion for Air Force Research and Development projects and programs run out of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at WPAFB.
“I am pleased to support this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, which will ensure our military has the tools and resources it needs to keep America safe,” said Portman.  “In particular, this bill will provide additional resources to help protect and improve Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, ensuring that it remains a national leader in delivering world-class national security capabilities to our men and women in uniform.”
NOTE: Senator Portman has long been an advocate for strengthening the research and development capabilities at WPAFB and solidifying its reputation as a national leader in aerospace and defense research, development, and education. In the FY 2016 NDAA, Portman secured a provision along with Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10) to expand the Air Force Institute of Technology’s (AFIT) authority to enroll defense industry civilians in AFIT. The provision is working to strengthen AFIT by bringing in the best and brightest in the defense industry. In the FY 2015 NDAA, Senator Portman and Rep. Turner secured language increasing AFRL hiring authority was included in the NDAA. The provision gave AFRL increased authority to hire science, technology, engineering, and math bachelor’s and master’s degree students directly into the lab.
Senate Passes Portman Ukraine Security Assistance Reforms
Portman, founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, announced that the Senate passed key elements of his Ukraine security assistance package dealing with Ukrainian defense sector reform as part of the NDAA. As amended by Portman’s provisions, the FY 2017 NDAA authorizes $350 million in security assistance, including lethal and non-lethal equipment, training, and technical assistance. Half, or $175 million, of this money is linked to Ukraine’s implementation of critical defense reforms such as instituting civilian control of the military, cooperation and coordination with Ukrainian parliamentary efforts to exercise oversight of the Ministry of Defense and military forces, increased transparency and accountability in defense procurement, and improvement in transparency, accountability, and potential opportunities for privatization. This year’s Ukraine security assistance package builds on provisions that Portman passed last year. After the Senate passed the bill today, Portman issued the following statement:
“Throughout their history, the Ukrainian people have continually fought back against tyranny. Today, as the Ukrainian people continue to pursue the path of democracy, liberty, and peace, they need the moral and material support of the United States to defend themselves. The U.S. and NATO must provide the sustained economic, political, and military support necessary for Ukraine to secure a democratic future. We have a duty to keep our promises to defend Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. Helping free people defend themselves has been the policy of Democratic and Republican Administrations alike for nearly a century, and this Ukraine security assistance package will help continue this longstanding American tradition.”
NOTE: Portman, who recently received the Ukrainian-American community’s highest honor – the Shevchenko Freedom Award—has long led the effort to provide Ukraine the kind of assistance necessary to ward off Russian aggression and maintain its territorial integrity. In addition to getting key provisions of his Ukraine security assistance legislation included in the NDAA, Senator Portman has also won a major victory in the fight against propaganda that will help the U.S. and its allies such as Ukraine better counter and combat the extensive propaganda and disinformation operations directed against us from countries like Russia.
Senate Passes Major Portman-Murphy Counter-Propaganda Bill as Part of NDAA 
Also included in the NDAA was Senators Portman and Chris Murphy’s (D-CT) Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act – legislation designed to help American allies counter foreign government propaganda from Russia, China, and other nations. The bipartisan bill, which was introduced by Senators Portman and Murphy in March, will improve the ability of the United States to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation by establishing an interagency center housed at the State Department to coordinate and synchronize counter-propaganda efforts throughout the U.S. government. To support these efforts, the bill also creates a grant program for NGOs, think tanks, civil society and other experts outside government who are engaged in counter-propaganda related work. This will better leverage existing expertise and empower local communities to defend themselves from foreign manipulation.
“The passage of this bill in the Senate today takes us one critical step closer to effectively confronting the extensive, and destabilizing, foreign propaganda and disinformation operations being waged against us. While the propaganda and disinformation threat has grown, the U.S. government has been asleep at the wheel. Today we are finally signaling that enough is enough; the United States will no longer sit on the sidelines. We are going to confront this threat head-on,” said Senator Portman. “With the help of this bipartisan bill, the disinformation and propaganda used against our allies and our interests will fail.”
For more information about the Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act, go here.
Bipartisan Senators Call on Pres.-Elect Trump to Stand Against Russian Aggression, Support NATO, Ukrainian Sovereignty 
U.S. Senators Portman and Dick Durbin (D-IL), co-chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today led a bipartisan group of 27 senators to call on President-elect Donald Trump to continue America’s tradition of support for the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. 
“In light of Russia’s continued aggression and repeated refusal to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereign right to choose its own destiny, we also renew our call for the United States to increase political, economic, and military support for Ukraine,” the senators wrote. “This includes defensive lethal assistance as part of a broader effort to help Ukrainians better defend themselves, deter future aggression, and implement key structural reforms.  Similarly, we believe that Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea should never be accepted, nor should we lift sanctions imposed on Russia for its behavior in eastern Ukraine until key provisions of the Minsk Agreement are met.  Accordingly, U.S. leadership on maintaining such transatlantic sanctions should remain a priority.”
Full text of the senators’ letter can be found here.
Portman Statement on the Passing of American Hero John Glenn 
Portman issued the following statement on the passing of John Glenn:
“John Glenn was an American hero. He flew 149 combat missions in two wars; he was the first American to orbit the Earth, and the longest-serving United States Senator in Ohio history. I’m grateful to have known him, to have partnered with him on projects and legislation in Congress, and to have worked with him and served on his advisory board at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University. Most recently, I called him to ask him to join me at my swearing in in January for the seat he once held. When I saw Senator Glenn in October at the Glenn School board meeting he was in good humor, gracious, and determined to contribute to Ohio, as always. John and Annie’s marriage and their seven decades of partnership have been a model for Jane and me, and we send our condolences to our friend Annie and all the Glenn family at this difficult time.”
Portman Honors John Glenn, “An American Icon,” on Senate Floor 
Portman delivered remarks on the Senate Floor to honor his predecessor as United States Senator from Ohio, John Glenn, who passed away Thursday at the age of 95.
Transcript from his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here.
Portman also spoke with Fox’s Neil Cavuto about the life of Senator Glenn.
Friday, December 9
On Senate Floor, Portman Raises Awareness of Heroin Epidemic for 29th Time This Year 
Friday afternoon, Portman delivered remarks on the Senate floor to raise awareness about the epidemic of heroin and prescription drug addiction, and to urge his colleagues to adequately fund efforts to fight it – his 29th floor speech on the issue this year.
Transcript from his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. 
Portman Backs New Opioid Funding, Expresses Disappointment CR Doesn’t Include Full Miners Bill 
Portman issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Continuing Resolution to fund the government through April 28:
“Today’s vote is an important step forward in the fight against addiction.  Not only does this measure put us on track to fully fund the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, but it adds another $500 million in funding to help combat the heroin and prescription drug epidemic, consistent with the CURES legislation.  In just one year, we’ve passed important new policy reforms and provided a significant boost in funding, and I believe it will make a real difference in our efforts to turn the tide of addiction in our country.
“I’m pleased that this legislation includes funding to continue the cleanup work at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which is critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of southern Ohio.  This funding will help ensure that we avoid layoffs at this important project.
 “Lastly, I’m very disappointed that the full Miner’s Protection Act wasn’t included in the measure, and that’s why I voted no on cloture today. More than 22,000 retired miners and their families are counting on Congress to do the right thing, and it is disgraceful that this bill extends health coverage for only four months.  Moreover, the bill takes $47 million from the private health trust of one set of mine workers to pay for $45 million in benefits to a different, broader, set of mine workers, and then Washington pockets the remaining $2 million in seized health funds.  We should keep our promises to retired coal miners, and I intend to keep fighting for them and for the full Miner’s Protection Act until it is signed into law.”      
Portman, Brown Secure Piketon Funding in CR 
Portman and Brown announced that the CR provides the U.S. Department of Energy with the necessary funding to avoid disruption of the clean-up activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio.
“Cleanup at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant is critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of southern Ohio,” Portman stated. “I’m pleased that the Senate passed this bill to secure funding to continue the cleanup work at Piketon with a strong bipartisan vote that will avoid layoffs at this important project.”
Saturday, December 12
Portman Secures Bipartisan Wins in Water Resources Development Act 
Portman announced that bipartisan language he co-authored was included in The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and passed by the Senate. These Portman-led reforms aim to end Flint-like water crises, prevent inappropriate disposal of dredged materials from the Cleveland Harbor, and renew the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
“We must ensure that every Ohioan has access to safe drinking water and protect our Great Lakes, and this bipartisan legislation makes important progress on both goals,” said Portman. “This bill provides the resources necessary to upgrade our water infrastructure around the country, and I’m glad my bipartisan initiatives were included in the legislation that passed the Senate today. I look forward to the President signing it into law as quickly as possible.”
For more about Portman’s WRDA victories, go here.
NOTE: Portman has championed numerous pieces of legislation to protect and preserve clean drinking water and the health of Lake Erie. Portman, received a Clean Water Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for his efforts, and has worked diligently to make drinking water safe for all Ohioans, protect Lake Erie from dredged materials, harmful algal blooms, harmful plastic microbeads and invasive species, and more.
Senate Passes Portman’s National Park Service Bill
Portman announced on Saturday that his National Park Service Centennial Act had passed the United States Senate. Portman’s bill celebrates the National Park Service’s 100th year of existence and ensures that it has the resources necessary to protect America’s national parks into its second century. After the bill passed, Portman issued the following statement:
“In Ohio, we’re blessed to have 12 National Park sites, including my favorite, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which attracts more than 2.2 million visitors every year. We should take care of these Ohio treasures and preserve them for the next generation to enjoy. With this legislation, the National Park Service will be in a better position to reduce the growing backlog of maintenance projects, and help keep Ohio just as beautiful as it is today. I look forward to working in the future to continue improving the visitor experience and increasing visits to our National Parks for their second century.”
For more information about Portman’s National Park Service Bill and his extensive work to protect our national parks, go here.
Portman, Brown Announce Final Passage of Bill to Help Protect Cleveland from Toxic Sediment 
Portman and Brown announced that WRDA includes language that will help keep toxic material dredged from the Cuyahoga River out of Lake Erie. A provision of the bill makes clear that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) cannot determine that dumping dredged material into Lake Erie is environmentally acceptable unless it meets the state of Ohio’s water quality standards. This will help protect Lake Erie from the Corps’ repeated attempts to dispose of contaminated sediment into the Lake. WRDA now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.
“The Cleveland Harbor is vital to our efforts to create more Ohio jobs and protect the environment,” said Senator Portman. “Annual dredging of the channel is critical for the region and this legislation ensures that not only will commercial navigation continue safely, but dredged material will not harm either the City of Cleveland’s water supply or Lake Erie’s ecosystem. I urge the President to sign this immediately.”
For more information about Portman’s efforts to help protect Cleveland from toxic sediment, go here.
Portman Helps Secure $30 Million Authorization to Help Finish Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati
Portman announced on Saturday that he had helped secure language in the FY 2016 Water Resources Development Act designed to help finish the Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati.  Portman’s provision authorizes the Army Corps to conduct a study on the final components of the project and if it determines they are feasible, the bill authorizes $30 million to help complete the final phases of the park.  Portman issued the following statement:
“This is good news for Cincinnati and all those who love Smale Riverfront Park, which has helped transform downtown, bring new visitors to the city, and boost the local economy.  I’m particularly pleased that this effort has broad support from the state, county, city, as well as dozens of philanthropic organizations and businesses.  I remain committed to working with the Army Corps of Engineers on this important project to ensure we finish the park and that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.”
For more information on Portman’s work to help Cincinnati finish Smale Riverfront Park, go here.
Portman, Brown Announce Passage of Resolution Celebrating the Life of John Glenn 
Portman and Brown announced on Saturday the passage of a resolution they introduced to honor the life and service of former U.S. Sen. John Glenn, who passed away this week.
Full text of the resolution is here.
Portman/Brown/Tiberi Bill Honoring Fallen Ohio Soldier Sent to President’s Desk 
Portman and Brown, along with Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), announced that the Senate passed legislation to honor fallen Ohio soldier and Bronze Star recipient Daniel Kinnard by designating the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Newark, Ohio as the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic. A native of Newark, Kinnard served as a medic in Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star for selflessly tending to wounded men in his unit while under fire. The measure already passed the House, and is now ready for President Obama’s signature.
“Daniel Kinnard was an American hero who gave his life so that others could live,” Portman stated. “He was serving in the legendary 101st Airborne when, at 19 years old, he was killed in action while tending to the wounded.  We can never repay nor fully thank him for his service, but passing this legislation honors his memory and holds him up as an example of extraordinary service to his fellow soldiers and to our country.”
For more information about Daniel Kinnard, go here.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-legislation-to-reauthorize-historic-preservation-fund-passes-0,TURNER Legislation to Reauthorize Historic Preservation Fund Passes Senate,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Michael Turner,T000463,turner.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Mike Turner, co-chair of the Historic Preservation Caucus, released the following statement after the Senate passed the National Park Service Centennial Act, which includes the National Historic Preservation Amendments Act, legislation he authored to reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund: 
“Last night, the Senate acted to advance legislation to preserve our nation’s historic places, parks, and sites for future generations. Reauthorizing the Historic Preservation Fund has been a priority of mine this Congress. I am pleased it has passed both chambers and is headed to the President’s desk for his signature.""
Historic Preservation Fund (HPF):
Created in 1976, the Fund derives its funding from Outer Continental Shelf leases rather than taxpayer dollars. The HPF achieves its preservation mission of documenting, preserving and utilizing America’s legacy of historic sites by providing funding to State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and through, at times, competitive grants to identify and rehabilitate historic resources. This essential support spurs job-creating economic development and community revitalization, making it an excellent dollar-for-dollar investment to foster economic growth.
The Fund helped to establish the Wright-Dunbar Village Historic District, the West Dayton neighborhood that was once home to the Wright Brothers and African-American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-portman-announce-final-passage-of-bill-to-help-protect-cleveland-from-toxic-sediment,"Brown, Portman Announce Final Passage of Bill to Help Protect Cleveland from Toxic Sediment",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bill now heads to President’s desk
				
			
			Saturday, December 10, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced passage legislation that will help keep toxic material dredged from the Cuyahoga River out of Lake Erie. A provision of the bill, the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act, formerly known as the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), makes clear that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) cannot determine that dumping dredged material into Lake Erie is environmentally acceptable unless it meets the state of Ohio’s water quality standards. This will help protect Lake Erie from the Corps’ repeated attempts to dispose of contaminated sediment into the Lake. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.
“This is a win for local businesses and jobs along the Cuyahoga River and Port of Cleveland,” said Brown. “Dredging is key to protecting our lake and keeping the channel open for businesses. This will hold the Corps to our state’s water quality standards so we can keep Lake Erie clean.” 
“The Cleveland Harbor is vital to our efforts to create more Ohio jobs and protect the environment,” said Senator Portman. “Annual dredging of the channel is critical for the region and this legislation ensures that not only will commercial navigation continue safely, but dredged material will not harm either the City of Cleveland’s water supply or Lake Erie’s ecosystem. I urge the President to sign this immediately.”
The provision of the bill means that the Corps must follow Ohio’s water quality standards when determining how to dispose of the dredged material.
According to the State of Ohio, more than $10 billion of the state’s nearly $40 billion tourism industry is derived from counties along the Lake Erie shoreline. Further, the Great Lakes play a vital role in transporting food, raw materials, and other goods necessary to support Ohio jobs. But in order for this to continue, the Great Lakes’ harbors and channels must be dredged in an environmentally acceptable manner. 
In January 2016, Brown and Portman urged USACE Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy to use at least $2 million of its $273 million unallocated operation and maintenance budget to make up for its irresponsible request for less money to dredge the Cleveland Harbor. The Corps requested $3.6 million less than the President’s budget, which will not be sufficient to safely place the dredged material upland. Brown and Portman’s letter urged the Corps to respect the State’s Water Quality Standards and pay for the cost of disposing of the toxic dredged material responsibly rather than dumping it into Lake Erie.
In February 2015, Brown and Portman wrote to Assistant Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers at USACE calling for full funding of Great Lakes navigation projects and to direct additional resources to address a significant dredging backlog.
###
			
				
					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Rachel Petri
(202) 224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-portman-announce-passage-of-resolution-celebrating-the-life-of-john-glenn,"Brown, Portman Announce Passage of Resolution Celebrating the Life of John Glenn",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Saturday, December 10, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced passage of a resolution they introduced to honor the life and service of former U.S. Sen. John Glenn, who passed away this week. 
Full text of the resolution is below. 
RESOLUTION
Relating to the death of John Glenn, former United States Senator for the State of Ohio, and the first American to orbit the Earth;
Whereas John Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio in 1921 to John Herschel Glenn, Sr. and Clara Sproat Glenn;
Whereas at the age of two, John Glenn moved to New Concord, Ohio, the town where he met his childhood sweetheart and future wife;
Whereas in March 1942, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, John Glenn, then a student at New Concord’s Muskingum College, entered into the Naval Aviation Cadet Program;
Whereas John Glenn went on to serve in the Marine Corps from 1942 to 1965, flying 59 combat missions in World War II and 63 combat missions in Korea, and earning six, separate Distinguished Flying Cross awards and the Air Medal with 18 Clusters for his service;
Whereas in 1959, John Glenn was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to serve as one of the original seven astronauts of the U.S. space program;
Whereas on February 20, 1962, John Glenn guided Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7 into space and circled the globe three times, traveling a distance of 3.6 million miles and becoming the first American to orbit the Earth;
Whereas in 1974, John Glenn arrived in the United States Senate, where he went on to represent his home state of Ohio for 25 years before retiring in 1999;
Whereas during his time in the Senate, John Glenn served on the Committee on Governmental Affairs, Foreign Relations Committee, Armed Services Committee, Select Committee on Intelligence, and Special Committee on Aging;
Whereas as chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs John Glenn worked on a bipartisan basis to eliminate waste and make the government more efficient;
Whereas in 1998, as a 77-year old sitting United States Senator, John Glenn boarded the space shuttle Discovery for nine days, again setting history as the oldest individual to fly in space;
Whereas in 2008, Ohio State University founded the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, which later became the John Glenn College of Public Affairs in 2015, with the mission to “inspire citizenship and develop leadership” in the public sector;
Whereas John Glenn was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on November 16, 2011;
Whereas John Glenn was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 29, 2012; 
Whereas one author described John Glenn as “the last true national hero America has ever had”;
Whereas John Glenn is survived by his wife of 73 years, his two children, and his two grandsons;
Whereas this nation is deeply indebted to John Glenn for his passion for exploration, commitment to public service, and desire to make the world a better place;
Resolved, That the Senate extends its deepest condolences and gratitude to the family of John Glenn;
Resolved, That the Senate honors the legacy and life of John Glenn, his commitment to the United States, and his service to this body and this country;
Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late John Glenn.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-provision-that-paves-way-for-future-federal-investment-in-cincinnatis-smale-riverfront-park-headed-to-presidents-desk,Brown Provision that Paves Way for Future Federal Investment in Cincinnati's Smale Riverfront Park Headed to President's Desk,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Army Corps of Engineers Will Consider Additional Funding for Cincinnati’s Riverfront Park
				
			
			Saturday, December 10, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate passed a water infrastructure bill that includes U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) provision that requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to consider additional funding for Cincinnati’s Smale Riverfront Park. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.
“The Army Corps of Engineers’ investment in Smale Riverfront Park has been critical to its revitalization and is a clear example of how public-private partnerships can spur economic development,” Brown said. “The park is already an essential part of the city and continued federal and local investment is good for Cincinnati and for our state.”
Currently, USACE is unable allocate any additional funds to the park without a feasibility study. Under Brown’s provision – included in the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act, formerly called the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) – a feasibility study is required within 180 days of review, opening the door for new investment. Brown worked with the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to ensure this provision was included.
The Cincinnati Riverfront Project helps link the Central Riverfront attractions to Downtown Cincinnati and other riverfront parks including Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park, the Public Landing, and Bicentennial Commons, achieving nearly three miles of continuous riverfront park and recreation space.
###
   


 
 
			
				
					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Tamika Turner
(202) 224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-provisions-to-protect-ohio-families-from-lead-exposure-included-in-water-infrastructure-bill-headed-to-presidents-desk,Brown Provisions to Protect Ohio Families from Lead Exposure included in Water Infrastructure Bill Headed to President's Desk,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Saturday, December 10, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that several of his bills to protect Ohio families from lead exposure are included in the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act, formerly called the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA), which now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law. Brown has been a strong supporter of federal funding to help prevent lead poisoning, monitor lead exposure in children, and eliminate lead hazards.
“No parent should have to worry that the water coming out of their faucets might be poisoning their children. Even a small amount of lead exposure can impair a child’s development and make learning more difficult,” Brown said. “That’s why it’s critical that we are taking proactive steps to upgrade our water infrastructure, test water in daycares and schools, and keep families informed if lead is found in the water supply. These provisions will help protect families and make our communities safer.”
The bill includes:
The Lead Testing in School and Child Care Drinking Water Act of 2016: Brown cosponsored this bill, which would create a new federal grant program to help daycare centers and school districts test their drinking water for potential lead contamination. The bill authorizes $20 million for this grant program through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A public notification requirement: The bill includes a Brown proposal from a bill he introduced following water crises in Sebring, Ohio and Flint, Michigan that requires the EPA to automatically alert the public to lead contamination if the state or local agency responsible fails to do so in 15 days. Currently, local and state officials are responsible for notifying the public, which they failed to do in a timely manner in the cases of Sebring and Flint.
The Drinking Water Safety and Infrastructure Act: Brown is a cosponsor of this bill, which would provide federal aid to communities facing lead crises and help new ones from occurring. Many provisions from the bill that would help Sebring and other communities in Ohio are included in the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act:
 
$20 million in credit subsidies for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (WIFIA) Fund with the goal of obligating at least $700 million in secured financing for water infrastructure projects across the country. All water systems are eligible for financing.
$15 million annually for the next two years for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund, which develops programs, provides outreach to the public and health provider, supports research, and funds state programs to address and prevent childhood lead poisoning.
$15 million annually for the next two years for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Healthy Start Initiative which provides assistance to pregnant women and new mothers by helping connect them with health care and other resources to foster healthy childhood development.
 
It also includes $60 million annually for a new EPA grant program to reduce lead levels in drinking water through replacement of lead service lines, testing, planning, corrosion control, and public education. Applications from small and disadvantaged communities will receive priority access to funding. Additionally, the bill includes $20 million for a new EPA grant program that will help small and disadvantaged communities comply with federal standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Brown supported this provision to help communities like Sebring, Ohio deal with aging infrastructure.
###
   

			
				
					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Tamika Turner
(202) 224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/key-brown-provisions-to-protect-lake-erie-included-in-water-infrastructure-bill-headed-to-presidents-desk,Key Brown Provisions to Protect Lake Erie Included in Water Infrastructure Bill Headed to President's Desk,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Saturday, December 10, 2016
            
	
			
			WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act, formerly known as the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA), passed by Congress includes his provisions – and authorizes important funding – to protect Ohioans’ drinking water and keep Lake Erie healthy. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.
“Strengthening our efforts to protect Lake Erie’s water and wildlife keeps families safe and encourages businesses to grow and invest in Ohio,” Brown said. “This bill ensures continued investment in the health of the Great Lakes.”
The bill includes:
Brown’s bill to appoint a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) coordinator: The coordinator will work with appropriate federal agencies and state, local, tribal, and foreign governments to address the issue of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes.
Authorization of funding to help keep the Great Lakes healthy and clean: The legislation would reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) at $300 million annually from 2017 through 2021. Brown is a longtime supporter of the GLRI, which has been a highly successful program that has targeted the most significant problems in the region and jumpstarted restoration efforts to protect, maintain, and restore the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of the Great Lakes.
Brown is an original cosponsor of the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act of 2015 (GLEEPA) – a bill to reauthorize the initiative while also codifying the Great Lakes Advisory Board and the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force into law.
The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act: Brown is a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill that authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – which aids in implementing the GLRI – to partner with other federal agencies, states, and tribes to protect and support fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin.
###
   
			
				
					Press Contact
					Jenny Donohue/Tamika Turner
(202) 224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=47BEA957-3C32-40B6-A469-EC66075B2941,Portman/Brown/Tiberi Bill Honoring Fallen Ohio Soldier Sent to President's Desk,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation Would Designate the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), announced that the Senate has passed legislation to honor fallen Ohio soldier and Bronze Star recipient Daniel Kinnard by designating the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Newark, Ohio as the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic. A native of Newark, Kinnard served as a medic in Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star for selflessly tending to wounded men in his unit while under fire. The measure already passed the House, and is now ready for President Obama’s signature.
“Daniel Kinnard was an American hero who gave his life so that others could live,” Portman stated. “He was serving in the legendary 101st Airborne when, at 19 years old, he was killed in action while tending to the wounded.  We can never repay nor fully thank him for his service, but passing this legislation honors his memory and holds him up as an example of extraordinary service to his fellow soldiers and to our country.”
“Specialist Kinnard made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country in the Vietnam War,” Brown said. “Not only did he answer the call to service, he was mortally wounded while attempting to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. It’s only fitting to name the Newark VA clinic after one of Licking County’s most heroic sons – ensuring his service will be remembered for generations.”
“With the passage of this bill to rename the VA outpatient center in Newark, we will forever honor and remember Specialist Daniel L. Kinnard for his sacrifice,” said Tiberi. “He is a true hometown hero and generations to come will know of his bravery and heroism.”
NOTE: Daniel L. Kinnard was born on October 21, 1949 in Central Ohio. While living in Newark, Kinnard enlisted in the Army at Fort Hayes on November 14, 1966. He served bravely as a medic in the 101st Airborne Division, the famed “Screaming Eagles,” during the Vietnam War.  On February 17, 1968, Specialist Kinnard’s unit made contact with enemy positions in a hedgerow and two of the point men were seriously wounded. Without hesitation, Specialist Kinnard rushed through heavy enemy fire to reach the wounded men. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Kinnard remained exposed to enemy fire while he treated the wounded men. Specialist Kinnard organized an evacuation under fire after he administered first aid. Specialist Kinnard was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his actions that day.  On March 9, 1968, Specialist Daniel Kinnard was killed in action while rendering aid to his fellow paratroopers. Specialist Kinnard was awarded the Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar, Parachutist Badge, Combat Medical Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for Valor.
This legislation is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1060; the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 840; the American Legion, Levi Phillips Post 85; the Disabled American Veterans, Robert L. Cox Memorial #23; and the Marine Corps League, Licking County Detachment 602.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6D59CA02-5653-41F8-95F2-9C0E0DC10BB9,Portman Secures Bipartisan Wins in Water Resources Development Act,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced today that bipartisan language he co-authored was included in The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) was passed by the Senate today. These Portman-led reforms aim to end Flint-like water crises, prevent inappropriate disposal of dredged materials from the Cleveland Harbor, and renew the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
“We must ensure that every Ohioan has access to safe drinking water and protect our Great Lakes, and this bipartisan legislation makes important progress on both goals,” said Portman. “This bill provides the resources necessary to upgrade our water infrastructure around the country, and I’m glad my bipartisan initiatives were included in the legislation that passed the Senate today. I look forward to the President signing it into law as quickly as possible.”
The Water Resources Development Act includes the following Portman-led initiatives:
 
 
The legislation includes language that would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from determining that dredged material is safe to dump into Lake Erie from the Cleveland Harbor dredging project unless the Ohio EPA agrees. It ensures that the Army Corps of Engineers complies with state water quality standards when determining the Federal Standard for disposing of dredged material. 
 
 
 
The measure reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). GLRI is a results-driven program to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic wellbeing of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. The legislation authorizes GLRI to receive $300 million a year, which is $50 million more than President Obama requested in his budget.  Portman helped develop this legislation with Senator Mark Kirk.
 
 
 
The legislation includes a bipartisan compromise designed to end crises like the one in Flint, Michigan, which will provide $170 million for states, including Ohio, to address lead in our water supply, improve all forms of water infrastructure, and fund health programs to treat lead exposure. Portman helped developed this bipartisan compromise with Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Gary Peters (D-MI). 
 
 
 
The legislation requires the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study on the final flood control, ecosystem restoration, and recreation components of Cincinnati Riverfront Park. This will authorize an additional $30 million to complete the park if the study determines the components are feasible.
 
 
 
The final bipartisan Portman reform included is the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, which he worked on with Senator Amy Klobuchar. This legislation provides critical resources to conserve and restore fish and wildlife populations in the Great Lakes. The legislation would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to partner with other federal agencies, states, and tribes to develop and execute proposals for the restoration of fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin. The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act serves an important role in implementing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and will renew continued cooperative efforts to address impacts associated with invasive species throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
 
NOTE: Portman has championed numerous pieces of legislation to protect and preserve clean drinking water and the health of Lake Erie. Portman, received a Clean Water Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for his efforts, and has worked diligently to make drinking water safe for all Ohioans, protect Lake Erie from dredged materials, harmful algal blooms, harmful plastic microbeads and invasive species, and more.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9157B6E0-3986-4589-BACC-97DF9FD1772A,Portman Helps Secures $30 Million Authorization to Help Finish Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced on Saturday that he had helped secure language in the FY 2016 Water Resources Development Act designed to help finish the Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati.  Portman’s provision authorizes the Army Corps to conduct a study on the final components of the project and if it determines they are feasible, the bill authorizes $30 million to help complete the final phases of the park.  Portman issued the following statement:
“This is good news for Cincinnati and all those who love Smale Riverfront Park, which has helped transform downtown, bring new visitors to the city, and boost the local economy.  I’m particularly pleased that this effort has broad support from the state, county, city, as well as dozens of philanthropic organizations and businesses.  I remain committed to working with the Army Corps of Engineers on this important project to ensure we finish the park and that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.”
NOTE: The language in the bill secured by Portman requires the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study on the final flood control, ecosystem restoration, and recreation components of Smale Riverfront Park – an effort designed to complete the project. This bill authorizes $30 million to complete work on the park if the Army Corps study determines the components are feasible. If the Army Corps’ study determines that the projects are feasible, Congress would then consider appropriating the money.  The bill’s authorization has a federal-state 50:50 matching requirement.  This money can be spent on flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration.  Cincinnati Parks and the Army Corps are overseeing the planning, development and building of the park, and funding has included a mix of public and private dollars, including from the federal government.  The project has leveraged $6 for every $1 of federal money invested in the project. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9CE5297A-22D9-4036-ABF0-EAB83F80C2CF,Senate Passes Portman's National Park Service Bill,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation Will Help Fund Longstanding Maintenance Backlog in National Park Service Projects 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) announced that his National Park Service Centennial Act had passed the United States Senate. Portman’s bill celebrates the National Park Service’s 100th year of existence and ensures that it has the resources necessary to protect America’s national parks into its second century. After the bill passed, Portman issued the following statement:
“In Ohio, we’re blessed to have 12 National Park sites, including my favorite, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which attracts more than 2.2 million visitors every year. We should take care of these Ohio treasures and preserve them for the next generation to enjoy. With this legislation, the National Park Service will be in a better position to reduce the growing backlog of maintenance projects, and help keep Ohio just as beautiful as it is today. I look forward to working in the future to continue improving the visitor experience and increasing visits to our National Parks for their second century.”
Specifically, Portman’s legislation:
 
Establishes the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund within the Treasury and will consist of an annual appropriated amount equal to the qualified donations received in the same fiscal year not to exceed $17.5 million for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018.  The Fund will be used for signature projects identified as ones that will help prepare the National Parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.
Establishes the Second Century Endowment for the National Park System to help attract private donations to help support and enrich the National Park System into its second century and pay for the $10 billion backlog in National Park Service projects. 
 
NOTE: Some 2.6 million people visit the 12 Ohio national park service sites every year.
Senator Portman’s legislation is supported by the National Park Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Civil War Trust.
Portman’s bill follows up on his work as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, when he launched the National Parks Centennial Initiative in 2006. This initiative provided new public and private investment to prepare for the Centennial in 2016.
For his work to protect our national parks, Portman has received the 2012 NPCA Centennial Award and the 2015 Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award. Most recently, he received the National Parks Service Centennial Champion Award from Cuyahoga Valley National Park in July.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CE870C48-3FB3-435E-A62B-B0ABC5C5F8D3,"Portman, Brown Announce Final Passage of Bill to Help Protect Cleveland from Toxic Sediment",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bill now heads to President’s desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes language that will help keep toxic material dredged from the Cuyahoga River out of Lake Erie. A provision of the bill makes clear that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) cannot determine that dumping dredged material into Lake Erie is environmentally acceptable unless it meets the state of Ohio’s water quality standards. This will help protect Lake Erie from the Corps’ repeated attempts to dispose of contaminated sediment into the Lake. WRDA now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.
 “The Cleveland Harbor is vital to our efforts to create more Ohio jobs and protect the environment,” said Senator Portman. “Annual dredging of the channel is critical for the region and this legislation ensures that not only will commercial navigation continue safely, but dredged material will not harm either the City of Cleveland’s water supply or Lake Erie’s ecosystem. I urge the President to sign this immediately.”
“This is a win for local businesses and jobs along the Cuyahoga River and Port of Cleveland,” said Brown. “Dredging is key to protecting our lake and keeping the channel open for businesses. This will hold the Corps to our state’s water quality standards so we can keep Lake Erie clean.”
The provision of WRDA means that the Corps must follow Ohio’s water quality standards when determining how to dispose of the dredged material.
According to the State of Ohio, more than $10 billion of the state’s nearly $40 billion tourism industry is derived from counties along the Lake Erie shoreline. Further, the Great Lakes play a vital role in transporting food, raw materials, and other goods necessary to support Ohio jobs. But in order for this to continue, the Great Lakes’ harbors and channels must be dredged in an environmentally acceptable manner. 
In January 2016, Portman and Brown urged USACE Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy to use at least $2 million of its $273 million unallocated operation and maintenance budget to make up for its irresponsible request for less money to dredge the Cleveland Harbor. The Corps requested $3.6 million less than the President’s budget, which will not be sufficient to safely place the dredged material upland. Portman and Brown’s letter urged the Corps to respect the State’s Water Quality Standards and pay for the cost of disposing of the toxic dredged material responsibly rather than dumping it into Lake Erie.
In February 2015, Portman and Brown wrote to Assistant Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers at USACE calling for full funding of Great Lakes navigation projects and to direct additional resources to address a significant dredging backlog.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=FB696D34-CB2D-4835-BAF8-7604DDFCF5A1,"Portman, Brown Announce Passage of Resolution Celebrating the Life of John Glenn",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced passage of a resolution they introduced to honor the life and service of former U.S. Sen. John Glenn, who passed away this week.
Full text of the resolution is below. 
RESOLUTION
Relating to the death of John Glenn, former United States Senator for the State of Ohio, and the first American to orbit the Earth;
Whereas John Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio in 1921 to John Herschel Glenn, Sr. and Clara Sproat Glenn;
Whereas at the age of two, John Glenn moved to New Concord, Ohio, the town where he met his childhood sweetheart and future wife;
Whereas in March 1942, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, John Glenn, then a student at New Concord’s Muskingum College, entered into the Naval Aviation Cadet Program;
Whereas John Glenn went on to serve in the Marine Corps from 1942 to 1965, flying 59 combat missions in World War II and 63 combat missions in Korea, and earning six, separate Distinguished Flying Cross awards and the Air Medal with 18 Clusters for his service;
Whereas in 1959, John Glenn was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to serve as one of the original seven astronauts of the U.S. space program;
Whereas on February 20, 1962, John Glenn guided Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7 into space and circled the globe three times, traveling a distance of 3.6 million miles and becoming the first American to orbit the Earth;
Whereas in 1974, John Glenn arrived in the United States Senate, where he went on to represent his home state of Ohio for 25 years before retiring in 1999;
Whereas during his time in the Senate, John Glenn served on the Committee on Governmental Affairs, Foreign Relations Committee, Armed Services Committee, Select Committee on Intelligence, and Special Committee on Aging;
Whereas as chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs John Glenn worked on a bipartisan basis to eliminate waste and make the government more efficient;
Whereas in 1998, as a 77-year old sitting United States Senator, John Glenn boarded the space shuttle Discovery for nine days, again setting history as the oldest individual to fly in space;
Whereas in 2008, Ohio State University founded the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, which later became the John Glenn College of Public Affairs in 2015, with the mission to “inspire citizenship and develop leadership” in the public sector;
Whereas John Glenn was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on November 16, 2011;
Whereas John Glenn was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 29, 2012;
Whereas one author described John Glenn as “the last true national hero America has ever had”;
Whereas John Glenn is survived by his wife of 73 years, his two children, and his two grandsons;
Whereas this nation is deeply indebted to John Glenn for his passion for exploration, commitment to public service, and desire to make the world a better place;
Resolved, That the Senate extends its deepest condolences and gratitude to the family of John Glenn;
Resolved, That the Senate honors the legacy and life of John Glenn, his commitment to the United States, and his service to this body and this country;
Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late John Glenn. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/watch-the-power-of-one-statewide-tribute-to-rosa-parks,WATCH: "The Power of One" - Statewide Tribute to Rosa Parks,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"WATCH: ""The Power Of One"" - Statewide Tribute to Rosa Parks  
Children’s Assembly – Friday, Dec. 9 at 11 a.m.
Featuring: “The Front of the Bus”
 Leslie Zak
	Arnett Howard
	Paisha Thomas
	Carly Affee
	Roger Parish
	Special appearance by Brutus Buckeye
 Master of Cermonies: Jerry Revish
Hosted by:
 W. Curtis Stitt, President/CEO Central Ohio Transit Authority
	Michael Drake, President The Ohio State University
	Congresswoman Joyce Beatty United States House of Representatives
 Background
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, the Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement, embodied the values of courage, fairness and compassion when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white passenger. Her spirit inspires Ohio to recognize her legacy each year in ""The Power of One,"" Ohio's annual statewide tribute to Rosa Parks.In 2005 – 50 years after Mrs. Parks' brave act led to events that sparked the Civil Rights Movement – then-State Representative Joyce Beatty wrote legislation that was signed into law by Governor Bob Taft to make Ohio the first state to designate December 1 as ""Rosa Parks Day.""Ohio's annual tributes have engaged thousands of children and community leaders across the state to celebrate Mrs. Parks' legacy and example.In 2009, Ohio's Rosa Parks Tribute was recognized by the American Public Transportation Association, receiving the Grand Prize Award in the Special Event category. In 2011, the United States House of Representatives recognized and entered the Statewide Tribute to Rosa Parks into the Congressional Record. 2014 marked the 10th Anniversary of Ohio's statewide Tribute to Mrs. Parks and continued to exceed all expectations.
To watch an archived recording of the Children's Assembly, please visit the 10TV website.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/beatty-hosts-community-leaders-forum-in-honor-of-rosa-parks,Beatty Hosts Community Leaders Forum in Honor of Rosa Parks,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"Beatty Hosts Community Leaders Forum in Honor of Rosa Parks 
U.S. Congresswoman spearheaded effort to recognize “Rosa Parks Day” in State of Ohio
COLUMBUS, OH - On Thursday, December 8, 2016, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) held her Community Leaders Forum to honor the courage and legacy of Rosa Parks, “the Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement,” and to discuss the power of diversity, inclusion and community and its potential impact on the legislative work of the 115th Congress and beyond. Special guests Dr. Michael Drake, President, The Ohio State University, and Curtis Stitt, President and CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), joined Beatty at the Forum which was held at the Ohio History Connection.  
“Exactly 61 years and one week ago, Rosa Parks courageously refused to give up her seat and move to the back of a segregated Montgomery, Alabama city bus,” Beatty said during the Community Leaders Forum. “In that one moment, Parks’ showed the ‘Power of One’ individual to challenge the status quo and forever change our country and the world forever.” Beatty continued, “Rosa Parks is an inspiration to us all.”
Beatty’s Community Leaders Forum coincides with the State of Ohio’s annual observance of “Rosa Parks Day,” a statewide tribute first conceived by then-State Representative Joyce Beatty. In 2005, Beatty wrote, advocated and won unanimous support for a bill to designate December 1st as “Rosa Parks Day” in the Buckeye State. Her piece of legislation was signed into law by former Governor Bob Taft and made the State of Ohio the very first state in the nation to recognize “Rosa Parks Day.”
In addition to her Forum, Beatty also participated in a panel discussion entitled, “Unity Through the Power of Diversity,” on December 8th, and joined community leaders and more than 500 area students the following morning for the annual Children’s Assembly on Rosa Parks.
# # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://jordan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398082,"Jordan announces competition for photos to display in Washington, D.C. office",2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Jordan,J000289,jordan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) will hold a district-wide photography competition of pictures from Ohio’s Fourth Congressional District to display in his new Washington, D.C. office. Starting December 9, 2016 and ending Wednesday,February 1, 2017, constituents who live in the Fourth District can submit photographs for consideration to Rep. Jordan’s Lima and Norwalk offices. Residents should deliver or mail their original photos to the district offices in Lima and Norwalk. Residents should NOT send photos to the Washington, D.C. office.  

Of the competition Rep. Jordan said:
“The Fourth District makes things and grows things. We’re the home of pioneers like Neil Armstrong and authors like Sherwood Anderson. This district has a legacy of hard work and contributions to our country that I’m proud to represent. I look forward to displaying photographs of some of the great people, locations and aspects that highlight what makes our district a great place.”
Contest guidelines:
-          Submit original photos of recognizable landmarks, buildings, or people from the Fourth District of Ohio.
-          Include identification with the photo that depicts the photographer’s full name, address, email address and phone number, as well as a title for the photograph.
-          Deliver the original photo size 8x10 or larger to the Lima (3121 West Elm Plaza) or Norwalk (13 B East Main Street) district offices by close of business on Wednesday, February 1. 
-          Please note submitted photos will not be returned.
-30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/renacci-report?ContentRecord_id=E29862ED-125E-4527-851F-F61EF31A4467,12.9.2016: Week in Review,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hi Friends,
This week marked Congress’s last week in session for the year. My staff and I worked to make the most of our time and wrap up important business before the House adjourned. I look forward to returning in January, refreshed and ready to work with returning and new colleagues, as well as a new president.  
 Media Mash Up 

I had the distinct pleasure of nominating 34 remarkable young men and women from our district to a U.S. service academy. Two of these nominees have already received appointments from the U.S. Naval Academy. You can read my press release announcing the nominees HERE.

On December 7th, we remembered and honored those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor and those who would survive and go on to fight for our freedom in WWII. You can watch my full statement on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day HERE.

I would like to congratulate Ohio State's Wooster Campus on its recent grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You can read my weekly column in The Daily Record and learn more about the grant HERE.

Today, Ohio mourns the passing of one of our own. You can read my full statement on the death of astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn on Thursday, December 8th HERE.
 Washington Wrap Up 
On Thursday, I voted for the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.  The WIIN Act will authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate several water-related infrastructure projects related to improving America’s port capacity, coastal and inland navigation systems, flood mitigation, and ecosystem restoration. For Ohio and Lake Erie this bill truly is a win. It will prevent the open lake dumping of dredged material from the Cleveland Harbor and Cuyahoga River into Lake Erie and will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Established in 2010, this program is critical to protecting the biggest threats to the Great Lake Basin, the world’s largest freshwater system.
The Ohio Chapter of Business Leaders United stopped by my office to discuss the importance of job training in Northeast Ohio and the needs of employers in the 21st century economy.
My staff also met with various hospital and healthcare groups. They discussed the final passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which passed the Senate this week and will be headed to the President’s desk for his signature. They discussed preparations for the upcoming Congress and incoming Administration and the reforms to be done to fix our broken healthcare system.
 District Doings 
My staff attended Canton SCORE Chapter's Client of the Year Award luncheon this afternoon. A new nonprofit, Warrior Beat, was presented a Client of the Year Award. Warrior Beat is a nonprofit that utilizes drums to benefit those with psychological issues. 

My staff also had the honor to recognize two Pearl Harbor survivors at the Wayne Center for the Arts Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony. Pearl Harbor survivor Bernard Comito of Dalton spoke of his experience, and Pearl Harbor survivor George Morton was also in attendance. We presented both with my Challenge Coin for their service during World War II.

Finally, my staff toured the Haven of Rest Ministries in Akron. The Haven of Rest serves homeless men, women and families. They are more than a shelter. Women staying in the shelter can participate in Future Story. Future Story is a social enterprise job training program. The women learn business, gardening, and sewing skills. They have the opportunity to sell their products at the Future Story Shop at the Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-column?ContentRecord_id=59336FD7-AF84-4664-A507-43B570C4F0AE,"Congratulations to OARDC, ATI",2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"I would like to congratulate Ohio State's Wooster Campus on its recent grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On Nov. 29, the USDA announced its list of grants to support public secondary schools, non-profits and colleges to engage schoolchildren in the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. The university's Agricultural Technical Institute and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center was awarded over $30,000 in support of a new educational program for high school students.
The grant will be supporting a new summer program for 20 10th- to 12th-grade students from Wooster High School and Northwestern High School. During the course of this two-month program, 10 students from each school will be able to interact with college students in the Associate of Science Degree program in Renewable Energy at the Agricultural Technical Institute and with researchers involved in bioenergy research at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
Through these interactions, the students will be introduced to career opportunities in biofuel-related research and production, biogas production, wastewater treatment, and other fields in the renewable energy sector. By providing students with training in analytical and operational procedures in an experiential learning environment, the program hopes to spark an interest in renewable energy that will lead program participants to consider a career in the energy sector.
The importance of training and equipping a workforce that can compete in the 21st century cannot be understated. Ohio is home to over 100,000 clean energy jobs, and that number continues to grow. It is imperative that we provide our students with the opportunities to learn about the new and exciting careers available to them in Ohio, and this USDA grant will provide 20 fortunate students in Wayne County with the chance to experience what a promising career in the renewable energy sector looks like.
I wish the program and its participants success and hope that it serves as a starting point for additional, like-minded program that expose our district's students to the exciting career opportunities that await them in the working world.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399144,"In The Face of Adversity, We Remain #BuckeyeStrong",2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"At 9:56 a.m. on Monday, November 28, The Ohio State University (OSU) Emergency Management and Fire Prevention Twitter Account sent an alert they hoped they would never need to use: “Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College.”
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      At 9:56 a.m. on Monday, November 28, The Ohio State University (OSU) Emergency Management and Fire Prevention Twitter Account sent an alert they hoped they would never need to use: “Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College.”In the minutes and hours that followed, a flurry of conflicting information and rumors spread around Ohio and the nation as we began to piece together what had happened on Ohio State’s campus. Law enforcement worked to clear the area throughout the morning and afternoon, before lifting the shelter in place.  It was later revealed that Ohio State student Abdul Razak Ali Artan jumped the curb with his car, striking students and faculty, and then pulled a knife and began attacking everyone in his path.  Thankfully, OSU Police Officer Alan Horujko was nearby and immediately took action to bring down Artan in under a minute.It is through situations such as this that the bravery of our law enforcement officers is truly demonstrated. Officer Horujko – who is 28-years-old and has been with the department for less than 2 years – took quick action to keep a dangerous and tragic situation from becoming even worse. I am incredibly thankful for Officer Horujko’s heroic actions saving the lives of students and faculty in the area, and for all of the first responders who were on the scene.The investigation into the attack is ongoing, but recent reports have indicated that the attack was ISIS-inspired terrorism. This only further reinforces the idea that we must establish a comprehensive strategy to not only contain, but defeat ISIS and any terrorist organization that threatens the safety of our country. As we move into a new Congress and new administration, I will continue advocating for a strategy to engage nations around the world to build a coalition and combat ISIS.Now, as our community heals from this horrific incident, it is important that we unite together and support one another. As a graduate of The Ohio State University, I know firsthand that the resilience of the students and faculty are second to none. In the face of this adversity, I join with them in remaining #BuckeyeStrong.It is my honor to serve you in Congress, and I look forward to hearing from you. Please do not hesitate contact me at my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2015, Hilliard office at (614) 771-4968, Lancaster office at (740) 654-2654 or Wilmington office at (937) 283-7049.-30-  

Steve Stivers received both his bachelor’s degree and his MBA from The Ohio State University, and is a Member of Congress from Ohio’s 15th Congressional District.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399155,"'Godspeed, John Glenn'",2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ohio aviation hero and former U.S. Senator John Glenn has died at the age of 95. He passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon surrounded by family at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
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      Ohio aviation hero and former U.S. Senator John Glenn has died at the age of 95. He passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon surrounded by family at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
“John Glenn is, and always will be, Ohio’s ultimate hometown hero, and his passing is an occasion for all of us to grieve,” Governor John Kasich said in a statement. “As we bow our heads and share our grief with his beloved wife, Annie, we must also turn to the skies, to salute his remarkable journeys and his long years of service to our state and nation.”
Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio, and studied engineering at Muskingum College. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aviation cadet and flew in the Korean War before becoming a test pilot. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth aboard Friendship 7 in 1962, and became a national hero. He served as U.S. Senator from Ohio from 1974 to 1999.
“I’m grateful to have known him, to have partnered with him on projects and legislation in Congress, and to have worked with him and served on his advisory board at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University,” said Ohio Senator Rob Portman (R). “Most recently, I called him to ask him to join me at my swearing in in January for the seat he once held.”
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D) said knowing Glenn had been one of the greatest blessings of his life.
“What made John Glenn a great Senator was the same quality that made him a great astronaut and an iconic American hero: he saw enormous untapped potential in the nation he loved and he had faith that America could overcome any challenge,” Brown said.
Congressman Steve Stivers (R) called Glenn, “a true hero and statesman” who “was able to transcend the Earth.”
Congressman Jim Jordan (R), who represents Ohio’s Fourth District, which includes Pickaway County, said, “The Fourth District of Ohio, home to Neil Armstrong’s birthplace of Wapakoneta, understands the unique and incredibly important contribution that Ohio has made to space exploration. From the Wright brothers to the moon, Ohio’s native sons have played a central role in pioneering flight and space travel. America owes John Glenn a debt for the risks he took to help us win the space race.”
State Senator Troy Balderson said, “New Concord native John Glenn has left Earth for his third and final time. His silent strength and resolve raised the country to new heights as he remained firmly grounded in the values he was raised with.”
Last June Columbus’ airport was renamed the John Glenn Columbus International Airport in his honor.
“Though he soared deep into space and to the heights of Capitol Hill, his heart never strayed form his steadfast Ohio roots. Godspeed, John Glenn!” Kasich said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-announces-13th-district-congressional-app-challenge-winner,Congressman Tim Ryan Announces 13th District  Congressional App Challenge Winner,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) is pleased to announce that Pranav Padmanabhan, an 11th grader from Boardman High School, is the winner of the Congressional App Challenge for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. Padmanabhan’s app, called the PolitiViewr, provides voters with non-partisan political information and knowledge about their local races and aims to increase voter turnout among eligible voters, while helping people make informed decisions at the polls.Padmanabhan’s app will be displayed in the United States Capitol along with other winning submissions from around the nation. His winning application was judged by an independent panel and was based on factors such as quality of the app's operations, implementation of the app's concept, and demonstrated excellence of coding and programming skills.“I want to congratulate Pranav for his work on this worthwhile project, whose aim is to bring more people into the political process and provide them the necessary skills to make good decisions,” said Congressman Ryan. “I also want to commend the goals of the Congressional App Challenge, which is to ensure continued growth and innovation in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and to encourage students to excel in those occupations. By 2018 we are going to need up to three million new highly-skilled workers in the STEM field, and it is crucial that we make every effort to provide students with an opportunity to develop the skills necessary for tomorrow’s job market.”""I am grateful to the Congressional App Challenge, Congressman Ryan, and my computer science teacher, Mrs. Stanton, for giving me the opportunity to learn and improve my programming skills in a creative way,” said Pranav. “I am passionate about both technology and politics, and I hope that my app, PolitiViewr, can help better our democracy by informing voters about issues and candidates.""The Congressional App Challenge is designed to inspire student creativity and encourage participation in STEM education fields in order to address America’s need to develop a domestic pipeline of STEM and computer programming talent, and thus fill critical roles in the information economy. The Congressional App Challenge is partnering with a growing list of STEM, education, library and community organizations to reach as many high school students as possible, with particular efforts to reach teens from groups that are typically underrepresented in technology.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-calls-governor-kasich-veto-controversial-legislation-bans,Congressman Tim Ryan Calls on Governor Kasich to Veto Controversial Legislation That Bans Abortion After 20 Weeks in Ohio,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan today calls on Governor John Kasich to veto the 20-week abortion ban passed by the Ohio legislature. This is the second time this week that Ryan has been forced to call on Governor Kasich to veto anti-choice legislation.
“I’m appalled that for the second time in two days I am forced to call on Governor Kasich to veto legislation that strips reproductive health rights away from Ohio women and families. The Republican-led Ohio legislature knows that these measures are unconstitutional. They know these bills will make it harder for Ohioans to get the coverage they need. Yet they continue to take away the rights of families across our great state, while giving the government the final say in important health care decisions. We need to trust women and families – not politicians – to make the best decisions for their lives.”
Yesterday Congressman Ryan called on Governor Kasich to veto controversial abortion legislation that bans abortion after six weeks in Ohio. Find the release here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-calls-governor-kasich-veto-freeze-ohio-renewable-energy-standards,Congressman Tim Ryan Calls on Governor Kasich to Veto Freeze on Ohio Renewable Energy Standards,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan decries the passage of House Bill 554, which extends a “freeze” on Ohio’s renewable energy standards.
“At a time when Ohio is in desperate need for new, good paying jobs, allowing this bill to go into effect would be irresponsible and foolish. We know that the resuscitation of our manufacturing base will be partly driven through a reinvestment in a renewable energy economy, yet Ohio Republicans continue to bury their heads in the sand. There are over 8,000 component parts in the standard wind turbine, these are parts that could be manufactured and assembled right here in Ohio. Instead of doubling down on fossil fuels, we should be increasing investment in these alternate sources of energy in a way that drives economic growth and innovation, helps lower utility bills for hard working men and women in our state, and leaves a cleaner, safer environment for future generations. I call on Governor Kasich to do what is right for our state and veto this bill.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://jordan.house.gov/media/press-releases/jordan-announces-competition-photos-display-washington-dc-office,"Jordan announces competition for photos to display in Washington, D.C. office",2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Jordan,J000289,jordan.house.gov,jordan,https://jordan.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) will hold a district-wide photography competition of pictures from Ohio's Fourth Congressional District to display in his new Washington, D.C. office. Starting December 9, 2016 and ending Wednesday,February 1, 2017, constituents who live in the Fourth District can submit photographs for consideration to Rep. Jordan's Lima and Norwalk offices. Residents should deliver or mail their original photos to the district offices in Lima and Norwalk. Residents should NOT send photos to the Washington, D.C. office.

Of the competition Rep. Jordan said:

""The Fourth District makes things and grows things. We're the home of pioneers like Neil Armstrong and authors like Sherwood Anderson. This district has a legacy of hard work and contributions to our country that I'm proud to represent. I look forward to displaying photographs of some of the great people, locations and aspects that highlight what makes our district a great place.""

Contest guidelines:

- Submit original photos of recognizable landmarks, buildings, or people from the Fourth District of Ohio.

- Include identification with the photo that depicts the photographer's full name, address, email address and phone number, as well as a title for the photograph.

- Deliver the original photo size 8x10 or larger to the Lima (3121 West Elm Plaza) or Norwalk (13 B East Main Street) district offices by close of business on Wednesday, February 1.

- Please note submitted photos will not be returned.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kaptur-statement-passing-senator-john-glenn,Rep. Kaptur Statement on the Passing of Senator John Glenn,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 9, 2016



Contact: Nicole Dailey Jones, (800) 964-4699 & (202) 225-5411 or Marcy.KapturPress@mail.house.gov

Rep. Kaptur Statement on the Passing of Senator John Glenn



Washington, DC-Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), the dean of Ohio's delegation to Congress, issued the following statement on news of the passing of Senator John Glenn:

May the courageous spirit of Marine Corps Colonel and Senator John Glenn -- a hero beloved to his countrymen and women -- soar through the constellations‎ and galaxies beyond human existence to a place of peace. May his beautiful life- long companion, Annie, and his family take comfort from his love that endures beyond life itself. And may America be strengthened and inspired anew by this explorer from New Concord who not only became the first American to orbit the earth as an astronaut and surveyed the heavens as an extraordinary aviator, but served in the U.S. Marine Corps in combat during World War II and the Korea Conflict and thereafter dedicated a quarter century of service in the U.S. Senate, always with honor. Yes, ""Semper Fidelis"", dear Patriotic Son of Liberty. Your steady light shines as a beacon drawing us all to a higher calling. May God hold you close for eternity.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z