url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399319,House Republicans made good on tax reform promise,2017-12-29,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"House Republicans promised we would send tax reform legislation to President Trumps desk for his signature in 2017. We delivered! Despite what you may have heard from the mainstream media, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will benefit all Americans and their families. For the first time since 1986 over 30 years real tax relief and reform is being delivered to you, the American people. Many have asked me,What does this legislation mean to my family and me?Heres my answer this legislation means: higher wages; lower taxes; bigger take-home paychecks starting in February; job growth; a simpler and fairer tax system; and, a stronger economy all across our nation. There are real, tangible benefits for the hardworking men and women of Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, and its one of the most important pieces of legislation that Congress has passed in decades. Why did I support the Tax Cut and Jobs Act? Its simple I believe you know how to spend your money better than Washington elites and bureaucrats do. So, were giving your money back to you. And, one reason so many Big Government politicians, bureaucrats and elites are upset about this tax reform legislation is that too many in Washington view it as their money. Reducing taxes at all levels of income will stimulate the economy, both from the top down (allowing more investment in business and job creation) and from the bottom up (giving hardworking Americans more choices, more opportunities, and more purchasing power). Its a return to the same simple private sector, free enterprise, market driven philosophy that has built the greatest nation on the planet. Would you like to file your federal taxes on a single page? Now, most Americans will be able to do just that. In Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, nearly 85 percent of families take the standard deduction. But, the new law nearly doubles the standard deduction, raising it to $24,000 for married couples and $13,000 for individual filers. That means more of your money is tax free. And, families will see their Child Tax Credit doubled to $2,000 per child providing extra money for food, diapers, a car repair, and other unexpected expenses that pop-up. If you have expensive medical bills, the new tax law expands your medical deduction if your doctor bills exceed 7.5 percent of your income. Additionally, important deductions for home mortgage interest, charitable donations, 401(k) contributions, and property, state, local, or sales tax remain. Its important to note that investments in education will also be protected. I heard from many of you regarding this issue and how vital it is. Student loan interest will continue to be deductible. Tax-free stipends for graduate students and tuition waivers will be maintained, and families will now be able to use up to $10,000 from 529 college savings accounts on primary and secondary education. Equally important, our tax reform legislation repealed Obamacares burdensome individual mandate. Across America, nearly 80 percent of the households that paid this tax last year had incomes less than $50,000. You may have been one of them. Well, no more because this onerous individual mandate is gone. Plus, the tax burden in every individual tax bracket has been reduced. Everyone who pays taxes will be keeping more of their money. For our job creators, small businesses will be offered a first-ever 20 percent tax deduction to all S Corps, Partnerships, LLCs and Sole Proprietorships. Where the old tax code punished their success, the new tax code will reward their success, and theyll be encouraged to expand and grow. Additionally, some American corporations left our shores over the last two decades because our old corporate tax rate of 35 percent the highest in the industrialized world made them non-competitive in the global economy. The new corporate tax rate of 21 percent thats effective immediately makes America competitive again and we are open for business. Poorly conceived Washington policies of the past cost American jobs but, not any more. Tax reform was one of the main reasons why I decided to run for Congress in 2010, and this is something Ive been working for ever since. Its a new dawn in America, because The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will empower individuals, families, and businesses to invest and succeed in the American Dream. U.S. House of Representative Bill Johnson represents Ohios 6th Congressional District.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/could-2018-be-the-year-of-investigations,Could 2018 be the year of investigations?,2017-12-29,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"Could 2018 be the year of investigations? Its hard to believe, but it hasnt even been a year since Donald Trump took the oath of office to become President of the United States. But 11 months, ten days, and more than 2,400 tweets later, here we are. Well here we go. Put your seat belt on -- its been an interesting first year, said Rudy DeLeon with The Center for American Progress, looking back on Trumps presidency. But its also time to look ahead to 2018 -- a year some believe could defined by investigations. Special counsel Robert Muellers isstill going strong, already resulting in charges against three former Trump campaign officials and a guilty plea by former National Security Agency Director Michael Flynn. Democrats on Capitol Hill are hoping the investigation continues in as thorough a manner as possible. I am standing with Mueller. I am so comfortable standing with him, I signed on to a letter of support for him, said Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, in a recent interview. Republicans are calling for many more answers as well. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in a tweet called for an investigation into Obama administration officials he says may have colluded to prevent a Trump election. Other GOP lawmakerswant to know whether Hillary Clinton got special treatmentby the FBI during the investigation into her emails. My constituents say what is going on in the investigation into crimes of the previous administration, said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., during a Capitol Hill hearing in July. WASHINGTON (SBG) Its hard to believe, but it hasnt even been a year since Donald Trump took the oath of office to become President of the United States. But 11 months, ten days, and more than 2,400 tweets later, here we are. Well here we go. Put your seat belt on -- its been an interesting first year, said Rudy DeLeon with The Center for American Progress, looking back on Trumps presidency. But its also time to look ahead to 2018 -- a year some believe could defined by investigations. Special counsel Robert Muellers isstill going strong, already resulting in charges against three former Trump campaign officials and a guilty plea by former National Security Agency Director Michael Flynn. Democrats on Capitol Hill are hoping the investigation continues in as thorough a manner as possible. I am standing with Mueller. I am so comfortable standing with him, I signed on to a letter of support for him, said Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, in a recent interview. Republicans are calling for many more answers as well. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in a tweet called for an investigation into Obama administration officials he says may have colluded to prevent a Trump election. My constituents say what is going on in the investigation into crimes of the previous administration, said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., during a Capitol Hill hearing in July. The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watchis also behind multiple lawsuits looking into connections between the Democratic National Committee, The Clinton campaign and Fusion GPS,the group behind the infamous Trump dossier. The more we have learned the more questions there are, said Judicial Watch Senior Attorney James Peterson Theyre questions that may spur even more investigations. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, seem to be united on at least one matter - they say they are all just trying to get to the heart of the truth. This article was originally published by WJLA on December 29, 2017.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-urges-labor-secretary-to-protect-miners-safety-health,Brown Urges Labor Secretary to Protect Miners’ Safety Health,2017-12-29,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Friday, December 29, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), along with U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), recently urged Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta to protect mine safety and miners health by protecting a recent rule aimed at limiting miners exposure to respirable coal mine dust. The Senators letter comes after the rule was listed among a number of rules to be re-examined for elimination. The rule was aimed at reducing work-related illnesses that miners face like black lung disease. Brown applauded the Department of Labors effort to limit coal dust exposure when it was announced in 2014. Given this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule, wrote the Senators in the letter. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop. We are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect. Read the full letter below or click here. Dear Secretary Acosta, On December 14, 2017, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) published its fall Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan, a semiannual list of federal regulatory and deregulatory actions.We write to express our concerns regarding the decision to list several rules under the purview of the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) for re-examination in the Unified Agenda.These rules are meant to protect the health and safety of our nations coal miners. The Trump Administration has made clear its commitment to reducing regulatory burdens. We agree that unnecessary, outdated, or duplicative regulations should be examined for elimination or modification. However, we believe that worker safety is of the utmost importance and we unequivocally oppose rolling back the Respirable Dust Rule (the rule) which is meant to protect the safety, health, and in effect the livelihood of our coal miners. In particular, the rule, which took effect in 2014, was promulgated by MSHA in an effort to reduce occupational lung diseases - namely coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), commonly known as black lung disease.Black lung disease is a common but preventable disease that has plagued coal miners in Appalachia for decades. The impacts of black lung disease are debilitating and, in the most serious cases, fatal. In 2010, the Secretary of Labor, acting under the authority of the Federal Mine Safety Health Act of 1977, proposed the rule. The rule lowers the acceptable threshold for concentrations of respirable coal mine dust with the goal of making the air that miners breathe in coal mines less toxic. The final rule decreased the dust limits from 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter to an improved level of 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter. Unfortunately, recent research, most notably a report from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has indicated the prevalence of black lung in Appalachian coalfields is worse than previously thought. Furthermore, black lung clinics in Appalachia report that younger coal miners are being diagnosed with the disease at increasing rates. Given this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop. We are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect. In short, we believe in worker safety first and foremost. MSHAs mission is a critical one for the safety and health of our nations miners and the Respirable Dust Rule is vital to ensuring that MSHA succeeds in that mission. We urge you to retain the Respirable Dust Rule and prevent the unnecessary erosion of vital mine safety and health standards. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/a-year-in-review_senator-brown-working-for-ohioans,A Year in Review – Senator Brown Working for Ohioans,2017-12-28,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Thursday, December 28, 2017 Over the last year, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown worked with Republicans and Democrats to introduce more than 165 bipartisan bills more than 60 of which he introduced with Senator Portman. Brown successfully sent five bipartisan bills to President Trumps desk to become law, and secured priorities for Ohios military bases in the defense bill the President signed into law in December. Last Congress, Medill ranked Brown 4th on the list of Senators who had passed the most laws thats because Senator Brown works with Republicans to get things done. Brown is the senior Senator from Ohio, having gained seniority on several of the Senates key committees where he has secured several wins for Ohioans. Brown is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees important issues like trade, healthcare, taxes and retirement. Brown also serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs and Agriculture Committees. Heres a look at Browns work on behalf of Ohio in 2017 and whats ahead next year, including fighting for a five-year extension of the Childrens Health Insurance Program and securing the pensions of thousands of Ohio retirees. BROWN BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW Bill to Keep Fentanyl Out of Ohio After months of Brown and law enforcement groups calling for passage of Browns INTERDICT Act, Brown successfully forced a unanimous vote on his bill before the Senate adjourned for the year. The bill will help law enforcement detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. and keep it from reaching Ohio streets. The bill had already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and now goes to President Trumps desk for his signature. BrownsINTERDICT Actwill provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with additional hi-tech screening equipment and lab resources to detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. Senator Portman supported Browns INTERDICT Act, and Brown is supporting Portmans STOP Act. Both are endorsed by law enforcement. The two bills work together to help block the deadly synthetic opioid from reaching Ohio communities. Brown and Portman have also teamed up to expand treatment for Ohioans struggling with addiction. Brown has also repeatedly called for additional investment in the opioid crisis and fought attempts to gut Medicaid, Ohios number one tool in the fight against opioids. Bill to Expand Opportunities for Ohio Veterans In August, President Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation Brown helped author on the Veterans Committee to expand educational opportunities for post-9/11 student veterans, including direct relief for veterans who attended ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges, which failed and left veterans with meaningless degrees or without a degree at all. Bill to Support Ohios Military Bases As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Air Force Caucus, Brown is uniquely positioned to fight for Ohios military installations and the jobs they support. Just this month, President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several Ohio priorities, thanks to Browns advocacy, including: Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases Air Force Research Lab: Brown secured provisions to support jobs and research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases Air Force Research Lab. Limas Joint Systems Manufacturing Center: Brown secured nearly $2 billion make upgrades to the Abrams Tank and Stryker Brigade. Toledos 180th Fighter Wing: Brown secured $15 million to make facility improvements for Toledos 180th Fighter Wing and install new hangars for F-16 aircraft needed to carry out the Aerospace Control Alert mission. Bill to Hold North Korea, Russia, Iran Accountable The Senate Banking Committee, on which Brown is the top Democrat, has jurisdiction over sanctions. In August, President Trump signed into law a package of sanctions Brown helped negotiate to crack down on Iran, Russia and North Korea. Brown recently introduced another tough, new sanctions package to continue holding North Korea accountable. This bill passed out of the Banking Committee with broad, bipartisan support. Bill to Hire Veterans to Fill Law Enforcement Posts The American Law Enforcement Heroes Act was also signed into law. The law, which Brown helped introduce, prioritizes federal grant applications for DOJs Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding for those departments and agencies that seek to use COPS funding to hire veterans. Bill to Create Civil Rights Network at National Parks Brown worked with Republican Senator Lamar Alexander to pass a bipartisan bill to create an African American Civil Rights Network a national network of historic sites, stories, research facilities, and educational programs connected to the African American Civil Rights Movement. The African American Civil Rights Network Act will establish a National Park Service (NPS) program to educate the public, and provide technical assistance for documenting, preserving, and interpreting the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The bill heads to President Trump to be signed into law. SERVING OHIOANS Browns office is here to help Ohioans whether it is seeking trade relief for Ohio companies, drawing investment and jobs to the state, or helping veterans get their medals. Browns office routinely works on behalf of Ohioans for help with federal agencies from the IRS to the VA. In addition, Brown and his office have developed new ways to hear from Ohio residents, leaders and business owners to support Ohio communities. Hearing from Ohioans During Browns second term in the U.S. Senate, he has held more than 300 roundtables across Ohio and held public events in each of Ohios 88 counties. Brown and his office have also hosted the Ohio Womens Leadership Summit and the Propel Ohio Collegiate Leadership Summit for three years running. The Womens Leadership Summit brings together Ohio women to share ideas on their personal and professional development, and Propel Ohio helps inspire Ohio students to lead in their communities. Helping Ohioans with Federal Agencies Mike Young of Woodsfield Ohio is the president of the Monroe County Firefighters Association, Inc. He filed for nonprofit status for the firefighters association with the IRS. After no response from the IRS for three months, Mr. Young contacted Browns office. Browns office, by working with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, was able to advise Mr. Young on what additional information was needed to process his application. With the additional information, the IRS awarded the Firefighters Association the nonprofit status. This is just one example of the way Browns office assists Ohioans with federal agencies. Getting Ohio Students Interested in Manufacturing For the fifth year in a row, Brown teamed up with local manufacturers, plants, community partners and schools to host 18 Summer Manufacturing Camps where young Ohioans learned about Ohios manufacturing sector. Campers visited local manufacturers, toured plants, and worked with their peers on hands-on projects specific to their communities. Browns office started organizing summer manufacturing camps in 2013, and since then, the number of camps throughout the state has grown every year. This year, Browns office helped organize 18 camps in 16 counties. Securing Trade Relief for Ohio Workers Wronged By Unfair Trade Brown has worked with Senator Portman to seek relief for Ohio workers at Whirlpools plant in Clyde, Ohio. The two both testified on behalf of the company at the International Trade Commission, requesting relief for workers at the plant whod been hurt by unfairly traded washing machine imports. Following Browns call, ITC rule in favor of Ohio workers. Now, Brown is pushing the Administration to provide real relief in the case. The case builds on Browns work to provide trade relief to Ohio companies and workers, including Browns legislation, the Leveling the Playing Field Act, signed into law in June 2015. WHATS AHEAD Next year, Brown intends to build on his work in 2017 to pass legislation to extend CHIP, secure Ohioans pensions, make work more valuable for Ohioans on the job, and rebuild the nations infrastructure. Hell also continue efforts to work with President Trump to retool U.S. trade policy so it works better for working Ohioans, and continue his fight to protect Ohioans healthcare, and the Social Security and Medicare benefits theyve paid into for years. Brown will also help write the next farm bill, from his position on the Agriculture Committee. Reauthorizing Childrens Health Insurance Program One of Browns main priorities at the end of this year was to reauthorize CHIP for Ohio kids for five years. Unfortunately, Congress went home without giving Ohio children and families the certainty that theyll have healthcare. Brown is a sponsor of the bipartisan bill to extend the program for five years, and plans to work with his Republican colleagues to get it passed next year. Securing Ohio Pensions Brown is leading efforts in Congress to ensure Ohio retirees can keep the pensions they have earned. Brown has introduced legislation named for late Ohioan Butch Lewis, a Teamster, that would put the plans on solid footing so they can meet their obligations to current retirees and workers for decades to come without cuts. Brown has successfully garnered strong support in both the House and Senate, where Leadership has indicated Browns bill is a top priority, increasing its chances for passage. Making Work Pay In March, Brown unveiled a plan to increase the value of work in America for all workers whether they punch a time sheet, make a salary or earn tips. For more than a year, Brown and his office studied the challenges facing workers in Ohio and across the country to compile an agenda of solutions outlined in his plan, Working Too Hard for Too Little: A Plan for Restoring the Value of Work in America. Browns plan aims to make hard work pay off once again by doing four things: raising workers wages and benefits; giving workers more power in the workplace; making it possible for more workers to save for retirement; and encouraging more companies to invest in their workforces. As part of his plan, Brown has also introduced legislation to provide employees advanced notice of their work schedules, expand two anti-poverty tax credits that help put money back in the pockets of working Ohioans and families, provide paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave, expand overtime pay and strengthen collective bargaining rights. Rebuilding Crumbling Infrastructure Brown has offered to work with President Trump on Trumps promise to invest $1 trillion in our nations infrastructure and put Ohioans back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges. In January, Brown unveiled a comprehensive infrastructure plan with his colleagues, and early next year, Brown will introduce legislation aimed at rebuilding our nations bridges, which are critical to the flow of Ohio-made products and the safety of Ohioans as they travel to work, school or the grocery store. Pushing for Better Trade Policy for Ohio Workers Since just days after President Trumps election, Brown has offered to work with President Trump and his team to retool U.S. trade policy to support Ohio jobs. Brown outlined his priorities in a letter, and President Trump responded with a handwritten note. Brown has built strong relationships with top trade officials, including fellow Ohioan U.S. Trade Rep. Bob Lighthizer and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Brown successfully requested the President withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Next year, Brown will continue to work with the Administrations trade team to renegotiate a strong NAFTA, crackdown on unfair trade and reduce Chinas steel overcapacity, which has hurt Ohios steel sector. Protecting Ohioans Healthcare Brown spoke out time and again in 2017 against attempts to take away care from more than 900,000 Ohioans who got coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Brown hasoffered specific legislation to make improvements to the Affordable Care Act including: legislation to add a public option to individual marketplaces so all consumers can access an affordable plan no matter where they live; legislation to repeal the so-called Cadillac tax on certain high-cost plans; legislation to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) to prevent arbitrary cuts to Medicare; and legislation to fix a glitch in the law that prevents spouses or children from accessing subsidies to help get coverage in the exchange if one spouse gets employer coverage. Brown has introduced a package of proposals to help bring down the cost of prescription drugs, including language he authored to increase access to biosimilar drugs and tax the windfall profits of drug companies when they drive up costs of drugs overnight. Browns bill has been described as just about every policy idea drug lobbyists hate. And thats something hes proud of. Now, as Congressional Republicans have set their sights on so-called entitlement reform, Brown will lead efforts in the Senate to protect the Medicare and Social Security Ohioans have paid into for years. Writing the 2018 Farm Bill In 2014, Brown was part of the Farm Bill Conference Committee that successfully negotiated a five-year farm bill, helping secure key provisions for Ohio farmers. Over the summer, Brown kicked off a series of discussions with Ohio farmers and stakeholders to get input as helps write the 2018 Farm Bill. Brown is the first Ohioan to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 50 years. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1916,REP. FUDGE APPOINTS DISTRICT OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR SUMMIT COUNTY,2017-12-27,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) announced today the appointment of Dr. Joan M. Williams as her new District Outreach Coordinator for Summit County. Dr. Williams will be based in Congresswoman Fudges Summit County office and will begin her duties effective Wednesday, January 3. Dr. Williams brings more than two decades of experience building sustainable community partnerships. As Outreach Coordinator, she will manage day-to-day operations of the district office in Summit County, assist constituents and community stakeholders with concerns regarding federal government issues and programs, and serve as a liaison to other district staff. I am pleased to welcome Dr. Williams to my staff and introduce the community to my newest representative in Summit County. She brings a wealth of knowledge, talent, and the leadership skills that will help complement our work on behalf of the constituents of the 11th Congressional District, said Congresswoman Fudge. Dr. Williams earned her bachelors degree from Colgate University, a masters degree in education from SUNY College at Brockport, a masters degree in social work from Columbia University, and a doctorate from Alliance Theological Seminary. She most recently served as Executive Director of Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center, and is a Licensed Minister of Counseling. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399426,Man's best friend could speed healing at VA,2017-12-27,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - About one out of every five veterans returns home with invisible wounds of war. An Ohio representative argues assuming command over a four-legged friend, could be a key to improving the recovery of struggling veterans. share: f t WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - About one out of every five veterans returns home with invisible wounds of war. An Ohio representative argues assuming command over a four-legged friend, could be a key to improving the recovery of struggling veterans. At holiday parties and among friends, former Army Ranger Nick Starling found himself constantly on high-alert. Starling suffers from hyper-vigilance a symptom of Post-traumatic stress disorder and his tours in Iraq.But a year-and-a-half ag, a Saint entered his life. Thats why I can have my back to the door right now is because I know hes got my back, said Starling as he talked to our reporter. Saint is Starlings service dog. The highly-trained rescue relieves Starlings anxiety allowing him to attend an event like this without feeling the need to seclude himself at home for a week afterward. So he helps out with that, Starling said with a laugh. Anybody thats ever been a pet owner knows that the bond you create with your dog really does make a difference in your life, said Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio). He wants struggling veterans to take on a new mission while theyre in a VA hospital: train dogs to assist others with physical and mental disabilities. In theory, the newfound companion would complement the new trainers recovery. Anything we can do to get these veterans help we need to focus on, said Stivers. Stivers said his idea for a pilot project at three hospitals is backed by research into the positive effects of both service and therapy dogs. His proposed law cleared the House but stalled in the Senate in 2016 he hopes the outcome will be different in 2018. The current bill has significant bi-partisan support, but will need to clear several legislative hurdles to sniff any chance of becoming law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/house-passes-spending-bills-senate-expected-to-follow,House passes spending bills; Senate expected to follow,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"House passes spending bills; Senate expected to follow Congress Thursday appeared poised to effectively evade the last-minute threat of a government shutdown, with the House passing a bill to keep the government open through Jan. 19 and the Senate poised to follow suit later Thursday or early Friday. The spending bill which included a $2.85 billion down payment aimed at keeping the federal Childrens Health Insurance Program operational as well as reauthorizing federal surveillance powers passed after House leadership was able to convince a group of Defense hawks including Rep. Mike Turner, RDayton, to overcome their reservations about the spending bill. Turner said House GOP leadership had secured their support for an earlier bill by promising that a December spending bill would include fullyear Defense funding, but, in a Wednesday night meeting on Capitol Hill, GOP leaders acknowledged that they wouldnt have the votes to pass such a measure. Instead, in a meeting Thursday morning, GOP leadership and defense hawks were able to agree on a short term boost of $5 billion while Congress prepares for its new Jan. 19 deadline to pass another spending bill. Turner said hes hopeful that after the House comes back in January, it will be able to reach a twoyear budget deal that will eliminate mandatory spending cuts for Defense that are part of federal law. The final House vote was 231-188. The delegations four Democrats Reps. Tim Ryan of Niles, Joyce Beatty of Jefferson Township, Marcy Kaptur of Toledo and Marcia Fudge of Cleveland opposed it. Among Ohio Republicans, only Rep. Jim Jordan, RUrbana, opposed it. Rep. Jim Renacci, RWadsworth, did not vote. Ryan said he was disappointed that the House was passing another short-term funding bill and also disappointed that it did not address a program that keeps children brought to the U.S. as immigrants from being deported. We need to be making strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and our national defense something these continuing resolutions do not allow, he said. By contrast, Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington, said he supports the bill in part because it keeps CHIP funding. One of the primary responsibilities of Congress is to fund the government - shutting down is simply not an option for me, he said. The House also Thursday approved an $81 billion emergency spending bill aimed at paying for hurricanes and wildfire relief. The bill passed 251169 with 70 Democrats crossing the aisle to support the Republican bill. Fifty Republicans, including Reps. Warren Davidson of Troy, Steve Chabot of Cincinnati and Jordan opposed that bill. Renacci also missed that vote. The remaining Ohio Republicans supported it while all four Ohio Democrats in the House opposed it. The bill was finished hours before the federal government was scheduled to run out of cash midnight on Dec. 22. Though Republicans managed to escape the most scathing criticism about the possibility that theyd allow the Childrens Health Insurance Program to expire just days after passing tax cuts criticized as disproportionately aiding large corporations and wealthy Americans, some Democrats said the CHIP patch was not enough. Sen. Sherrod Brown, DOhio, said the $2.85 billion in funding would effectively pay for the three months since the program has expired basically, doling out back pay for unpaid obligations. This provides no certainty to states that are running CHIP programs, he said, speaking in front of a photo of Noble Lett, a Dublin first grader who suffers from a rare genetic disorder. Letts mother, Crystal, came to D.C. in July to lobby for an extension of the CHIP program, telling Brown that the CHIP program helped make the difference between her family living a middle-class lifestyle and living under the poverty line. Congress had time to hand out massive tax cuts for rich Americans and big corporations, but they didnt have time to help these families, Brown said. Its a disgrace. This article was originally published byThe Columbus Dispatch on December 22, 2017.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-sends-bipartisan-letter-speaker-ryan-urging-action-address,Kaptur sends bipartisan letter to Speaker Ryan urging action to address looming private pension crisis,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), sent a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI), requesting action to address the looming crisis in Americas private pensions, which puts the retirement of millions at risk. The letter was signed by Reps. David B. McKinley (R-WV), Rick Nolan (D-MN), Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Don Young (R-AK). Americas largest multi-employer pension plans face a looming stability crisis that requires immediate action. The retirement income on which millions of Americans depend is in jeopardy as plans like the United Mine Workers Pension Fund, the Central States Fund, and many others lurch toward insolvency. If serious discussion about a solution does not begin imminently, the options available to provide relief will become less flexible, and their cost will grow, said the Members. We urge you, Mr. Speaker, to support us in the coming months and please give this issue the courtesy of being heard and addressed, the Members concluded. Read the full letter here: 12-21-17 Pension Caucus Letter to Ryan - Signed.pdf Recently Kaptur shared the stories of several retirees and workers who discussed the importance of their pension and how they have paid into this earned benefit for more than 30 years. Watch those videos here. BACKGROUND: Kaptur is a cosponsor of several efforts to address the pension crisis and is a leader in Congress to protect the pensions of millions of Americans whose retirement is at risk through no fault of their own. In December 2014, Congress approved and the president signed a spending bill that included provisions that allow for dramatic cuts to financially troubled multiemployer pensions. Under this provision, the pension benefits of retirees could be cut by 70 percent or more. Before the law was changed, it was illegal for an employer to cut the pension benefits retirees had earned. Kaptur has championed the Butch Lewis Act and her bill, the Keep our Pension Promises Act, which establishes a legacy fund within the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to ensure that multiemployer pension plans can continue to provide pension benefits to every eligible American for decades to come. This legislation is paid for by closing two tax loopholes that allow the wealthiest Americans to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. For a one-pager on KOPPA bill click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/renacci-report?ContentRecord_id=DCD3F676-155E-4218-8146-76FDCDC90CEA,12.22.17: Week in Review,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"Good Afternoon, This week was a monumental one in United States history, as Congress passed the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, the first time our tax code has been reformed in over 30 years. This new legislation, signed into law by President Trump earlier today, ushers in a new era of prosperous economic growth and tax cuts for middle-income Americans. I hope as you celebrate the holidays in the coming weeks and welcome in the new year, you spend time reflecting on the past year with your family. Its been an honor to represent the 16thdistrict of Ohio and I look forward to representing you in the new year. You can watch a review of my weekhere. Media Mashup The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran my Op-Ed about my fight to save the historical tax credit in the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and the benefit it has on the community. You can read the full piecehere. On Tuesday, I spoke with Melissa Francis on Fox News about the tax reform vote that occurred later that day. You can view the cliphere. Washington Wrap Up Earlier this week, I introduced the Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior (CARES) Act. This bill waives the 3-day inpatient stay requirement for SNFs that meet certain quality measures. This legislation not only better serves patients with more accurately designated care, but also reduces costs to our already stressed healthcare system by relying less on the expensive inpatient hospital setting, and shifting the weight more towards patient-centered care settings such as in an SNF. Also, I led a bipartisan letter addressed to Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi to delay the implementation of 340B cuts before the end of the year. This program has been critical in supporting our safety-net providers in helping low income and vulnerable individuals across the country access affordable and comprehensive health care services. I am proud to be able to lead this letter. My staff spoke with local health insurance providers about the need to repeal or delay Obamacares Health Insurance Tax, which goes into effect next year. They discussed the negative effect this tax will have on consumers by driving up the cost of health insurance premiums. Im looking forward to working with my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee to deliver relief from this tax, and other Obamacare taxes, which drive up healthcare costs for Americans. District Doings My district staff volunteered at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank earlier this week, compiling produce for the food banks community food distribution. Overall, my district staff helped serve over 750 households for their December 2017 produce distribution. I am very grateful my staff had the opportunity to go out in the community and help those in need. As always, thanks for allowing me to represent the 16th district in our nations capital.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/videos?ContentRecord_id=ED498A5F-68FD-48B3-8425-A7DC522B6824,Week in Review: December Week 3,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"array 1 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_CFPAGE LINE 42 RAW_TRACE at cffloor2dschedule2ecfm1427030490.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\footer\floor-schedule.cfm:42) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\footer\floor-schedule.cfm TYPE CFML 2 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 168 RAW_TRACE at cflay2eroot2ecfm46086300.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\lay.root.cfm:168) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\lay.root.cfm TYPE CFML 3 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 44 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2elayouts2eapply2ecfm1968182580.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.apply.cfm:44) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.apply.cfm TYPE CFML 4 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 55 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2elayouts2eroot2ecfm806605951.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.root.cfm:55) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.root.cfm TYPE CFML 5 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 304 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor3(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:304) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 6 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 276 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor8(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:276) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 7 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 192 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor14(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:192) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 8 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 35 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor15(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:35) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 9 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 1 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:1) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 10 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 124 RAW_TRACE at cfmyopenbox2ecfm795925253.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\[myopenbox]\myopenbox.cfm:124) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\[myopenbox]\myopenbox.cfm TYPE CFML 11 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 198 RAW_TRACE at cfindex2ecfm1379643951.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\index.cfm:198) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\index.cfm TYPE CFML",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/article/congress-passes-sherrod-brown-bill-to-buy-fentanyl-detection-devices,Congress passes Sherrod Brown bill to buy fentanyl detection devices,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Cleveland.com Friday, December 22, 2017 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown that allocates $15 million for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to buy and use portable screening equipment to detect fentanyl before it enters the United States. The legislation will provide customs and border patrol agents with additional drug screening devices at ports of entry, mail and express consignment facilities, more fixed chemical screening devices at its laboratories, and the personnel and scientists to interpret the screening test results. Congress passes Sherrod Brown bill to buy fentanyl detection devices",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/multimedia/watch/browns-bipartisan-bill-to-keep-fentanyl-out-of-ohio-heads-to-presidents-desk,Brown’s Bipartisan Bill to Keep Fentanyl out Of Ohio Heads to President’s Desk,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If youre afraid you might be a victim of the Equifax data breach, Senator Brown encourages you to visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus website for more information and resources www.consumerfinance.gov. For information on how to help recovery efforts for recent hurricanes, go to www.fema.gov",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senators-urge-cdc-hhs-to-reverse-course-on-dangerous-banned-words-list,"Senators Urge CDC, HHS to Reverse Course On Dangerous Banned Words List",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators: Banning Words like Fetus, Transgender and Science/Evidence-Based Could Lead to Censorship, Impact Public Health Goals Friday, December 22, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Al Franken (D-MN),Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are calling for the reversal of reported internal policies across the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) that ban the use of seven words, including vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, fetus, evidence-based, and science-based. In a letter to HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Senators, led by Brown, warned that this policy could result in censorship and unscientific language that is damaging to public health and the goals of the agencies, particularly in the areas of minority health and health equity. Words matter, said Brown. Highlighting certain words may result in self-censorship and imprecision by CDC employees conducting work on important public health issues like minority health and health equity. Full text of the Senators letter is below and a PDF is available here. Dear Acting Secretary Hargan, Director Mulvaney, and Director Fitzgerald, We write to seek clarification over internal policies regarding the use of public health terminology across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). On Friday, December 15th, The Washington Post reported that policy analysts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were verbally instructed to avoid using a list of seven prohibited words and phrases in official department budget documents, including vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, fetus, evidence-based, and science-based. Employees from other HHS agencies confirmed that similar lists of forbidden words were banned from use in official documents. If these allegations are indeed true, we respectfully request that you immediately reverse these policies. Additionally, we request that you follow up with a written response to Congress regarding your plans to mitigate the adverse effects from these reports on HHSs commitment to science. According to The Washington Posts report, CDC analysts were told that the list of prohibited words should be applied to the budget and any supporting materials distributed to collaborators and members of Congress. Multiple HHS officials confirmed the existence of a list of discouraged words. According to the report, the announcement was met with alarm and incredulity from CDC staff members. Once published by the Post, the situation prompted outrage from the wider public health community, with groups such as the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and American Association for the Advancement of Science taking a public stance in opposition to the reported decision. We share their outrage. Dr. Fitzgeralds December 17th email to CDC staff, while not denying the existence of the seven banned words, asserted that science is and will remain the foundation of [CDCs] work. It is cold comfort that the Director of one of the worlds leading public health organizations is committed to sound science. Yet, the American people demand more than that. They deserve a Director and an agency committed to the highest quality science not hindered by political interference. As such, we believe that this issue warrants further discussion and clarification. Words matter. Experts in the field have noted that banning words from budget documents can send a signal to people in the agency that this is not just about the budget process. Highlighting certain words may result in self-censorship and imprecision by CDC employees conducting work on important public health issues like minority health and health equity. While HHSs guidance recommended clunky phrases such as CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes in lieu of science-based or evidence-based, such substitutions cannot be made for the word fetus when studying the in utero effects of Zika virus or for transgender when studying LGBT health. Particularly in light of additional media reports from December 18th, which revealed that HHS had withheld over 10,000 public comments about abortion and transgender health in the context of regulations for religious and faith-based groups, it is critically important that the agency rethink its policy decisions around censorship and transparency both within the agency and when soliciting stakeholder feedback. The CDCs Pledge to the American People states that CDC will [b]ase all public health decisions on the highest quality scientific data that is derived openly and objectively, and [p]lace the benefits to society above the benefits to our institution. In order to carry out these promises, the agency must remain steadfast in its commitment to the best science and the best words to describe that science. It is essential that CDC rely on science-based and evidence-based decisions, and use specific and accurate language to promote its work. In short, there is no place for censorship within the CDC, or within HHS at large. Furthermore, if other HHS agencies have promoted similar censorship policies, these steps must be reversed. We kindly request your response in writing regarding the agencys plans to reverse its budgetary language decision, as well as to address its broader implications. Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious issue. We look forward to receiving your response. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3A2132A2-A711-4760-B080-1E76E810ED0A,Portman: Historic Tax Cuts Signed Into Law,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after President Trump signed into law historic tax cuts that were approved by the House and Senate this week: These historic tax cuts will make a real difference for middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for Ohio workers.While our economy is improving, too many families today are still dealing with the middle-class squeeze of stagnant wages and higher expenses.Providing tax relief for middle-class families and reforming our business tax code to create more jobs and boost wages is the right thing to do, and I was proud to play a significant role in helping craft this measure. Im pleased that were already seeing a positive response from employers rewarding their workers with better pay and bonuses while increasing their investments in their businesses and their communities. These historic tax cuts will help create a better economy and a better future for all Americans, and Im pleased that they are now the law of the land. NOTE: Last night, Portman delivered this floor speech detailing how tax reform will help the middle class, boost jobs, and increase wages. A brief summary of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=64C53C0C-6164-405B-A74C-C5B1383EDBCD,A Year of Delivering Results for Ohio,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In 2017, Senator Portman continued his record of delivering results for Ohio, just as he did in 2016. This year, Portman delivered on his promise to fix our broken tax code as President Trump signed into law historic tax cuts to boost the middle class, create more and better jobs, and increase wages. In addition, Portman made significant progress on his efforts to combat the horrific crime of human trafficking, help Ohioans struggling with addiction, provide resources to the men and women in uniform serving our country at Ohios military installations, and more. Here is a look at what Portman accomplished for Ohio in 2017: Creating More Jobs & Higher Wages for Ohio Families. When Senator Portman ran for the Senate in 2010, he campaigned on a jobs plan, a key component of which was tax reform. He promised to help lead an effort to reform our tax code and provide relief to families and small businesses. In so doing, he kept his commitment to the people of Ohio. In addition to tax reform, Portman worked on a number of measures to help create jobs, level the playing field for Ohio workers, and make Ohio businesses more competitive. Senator Portman played a leading role in helping craft the landmark tax reforms which were signed into law on December 22, 2017. Portman worked throughout the process to develop and help improve the bill, including adding several amendments during Senate consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. Heres a quick rundown on how Portman worked to improve the tax bill, both during Senate deliberations and the final conference agreement: Pushing for Middle-Class Tax Cuts. Throughout this debate, Portman focused consistently on ensuring that the middle class get a significant tax cut, and at least maintaining the progressivity of the code. In particular, he focused on lowering tax rates and expanding the child tax credit, and he was successful in doing so. Expanding Tax Relief for Small Businesses. Reforms to the business tax code are an essential component of this tax reform law, especially lowering rates for small businesses. These pro-growth reforms will grow our economy, create more jobs, and make America more competitive with our foreign counterparts. The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) endorsed the bill. Leveling the Playing Field for American Companies & Workers. Portmans bipartisan work on international tax reform is a key component of this tax reform bill. In 2015, he chaired a bipartisan working group on international tax reform with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), now Minority Leader. Together they developed a bipartisan framework to reform the international tax code, transition from a worldwide to a territorial tax system, and give American companies a level playing field with their foreign competitors. The gist of that framework is now a part of the tax reform law. Details about this 2015 effort are here. Preserving Private Activity Bonds (PABs). Both in the Senate-passed bill and the final House-Senate agreement, Portman helped preserve PABs, which are an essential source of funding for important infrastructure and community redevelopment projects across Ohio. The original House bill eliminated PABs. Preserving the Historic Tax Credit (HTC). Portman is a strong supporter of the HTC and worked with Senator Cassidy (R-LA) to restore the current 20 percent credit in both the Senate-passed bill and the final House-Senate agreement after the House eliminated it entirely and an early draft of the Senate bill reduced it to 10 percent. The HTC encourages private investment in the rehabilitation of historic buildings. It has been used to preserve numerous historic Ohio buildings, including Cincinnatis recently rehabilitated iconic Music Hall. The Cincinnati Enquirer editorial board said Portman was true to his word and delivered a win for the region. Preserving the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC). While the House eliminated the NMTC, Portman led the effort to preserve it in the Senate bill and the final House-Senate agreement, which has been signed into law. The NMTC helps economically distressed communities attract private capital for community redevelopment purposes, and Cincinnati has been a significant beneficiary. Earlier this year, Portman visited the Nehemiah Manufacturing Company, which is using the NMTC to expand and provide meaningful employment opportunities to ex-offenders re-entering society. Preserving the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Portman led the effort to preserve the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides employers with a tax credit for hiring and retaining veterans, ex-felons, disabled individuals, summer youth employees, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Supplemental Security Income recipients. A 2015 Portman amendment added a $2,400 credit for first year wages paid to the long-term unemployed. The House bill eliminated the tax credit, but Portman helped preserve it in the final tax law. Easing the Burden of High Medical Expenses. The tax reform law includes changes from Portmans Seniors Tax Hike Prevention Act, which would allow seniors to deduct a greater share of their medical costs. Under the final bill, all taxpayers at any age may take advantage of this expanded deduction. Helping Families Combat Unfair Tax on Student Loans. The tax reform law includes Portmans bipartisanStop Taxing Death and Disability Act,legislation to eliminate a tax penalty levied on student loans forgiven for families after their child develops a permanent disability or dies. Promoting the Craft Beverage Industry in Ohio. The tax reform law includes the bipartisanCraft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act, legislation cosponsored by Portman thatwould provide excise tax relief to thegrowing craft beverage industry, helping these entrepreneurs reinvest more in their businesses and our communities. Ohio is number four in the country in craft beer production and supports 15,000 jobs in the state. Preserving Worker Retirement Security. The tax reform law includes aPortman amendmentto protect smallstartup businesses ability to utilize nonqualified deferred compensation programs for millions of employees and retirees; remove a provision that would have subjected 457 plan participants like Ohio police and firefighters to a harmful 10 percent early distribution tax; and preserve the ability of all 401(k) participants to make catch-up contributions after age 50. Portman also worked with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to preserve additional catch-up contributions available to 457 and 403(b) plans, including clergy in church pension plans. These amendments preserved popular retirement security incentives. Preserving Key Higher Education Tax Incentives. Along with his colleagues in the Senate, Portman worked to preserve key tax incentives for undergraduate and graduate students, helping Ohio students struggling with the high cost of college. In October, Portman, who this year received theNAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence,embarked on an Ohio Auto Manufacturing Jobs Tour. During the three-day tour, he covered more than 700 miles across Ohio to learn more about recent auto investments into Ohio, raise awareness for the economic impact of the automotive industry in our state, and discuss how tax reform will benefit auto manufacturers. Portman, who is co-chair of the Senate Auto Caucus, visitedFords Sharonville Transmission Plant, theGeneral Motors Parma Metal Center, theGeneral Motors Toledo Transmission Plant, theFiat Chrysler US Toledo Assembly Complex, and theHonda of America Manufacturing Plant in Marysville. During his visits, Portman discussed a host of issues including regulations, health care costs, trade, workforce development, and our outdated and burdensome tax code. A highlight video of his tour can be found here. In Ohio, Portman has put a priority on his efforts to create jobs and boost wages for Ohio workers. He held six tax reform roundtables in Ohio with local business leaders to get input on tax reform, and spent time meeting with Ohio businesses and manufacturers. In Columbus, Portman co-hosted a small business roundtable with Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon. They visited Burton Metal Finishing where they toured the facilities and hosted a roundtable discussion with local small business owners. This year alone, Portman visited Nehemiah Manufacturing in Cincinnati, Campbell Soup Company in Napoleon, International Paper and Food Services in Kenton, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. in Jackson, the Haessly Hardwood Lumber Company in Marietta, Sapa Extrusions in Sidney, Pennex Aluminum Company in Leetonia, Cincinnati Crane & Hoist, the General Tool Company in Cincinnati, the GE Aviation Engine Test Facility in Peebles, the BASF plant in Greenville, the Idea Foundry in Columbus, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) in Cleveland, and Rice Energy in Belmont County to listen to their concerns and learn about how he can help. Portmans bipartisan Leveling the Playing Field Actand bipartisan ENFORCE Actare working to help American manufacturers by cracking down on foreign competitors that launder products through other countries to try to get around our trade laws. In March, Portman and Senator Brown urged Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to address unfair trade practices by Korean producers of Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG). In April, the Commerce Department found that Korean steel producers have been unfairly dumping these imports into the U.S. market, leaving Ohio steelworkers and steel companies at a competitive disadvantage. The SenatorsLeveling the Playing Field Acthelped pave the way for the positive decision in the case. In addition to his work on the Leveling the Playing Field Act for Ohio steelworkers, Portman has continued to fight to protect steel jobs in the state. In February, Portman joined Senator Brown in introducing the Steel Industry Preservation Act, bipartisan legislation that would create a tax credit for domestic steel companies, lower the cost of steel production, and promote job growth within the industry. Portman and Brown also asked President Trump to prioritize reducing steel overcapacity, urging the administration to take swift action on the 232 investigation, which has been pending for months. Portman has been awarded the Congressional Steel Champion Award for his work to protect the steel industry and Ohio steelworkers. In July, Portman and Brown announced that, at their urging, the Commerce Department ruled that U.S. aluminum extrusions producers are being harmed by unfair trade practices by foreign competitors. The decision, which will help American manufactures fight back against Chinese efforts to avoid our trade laws, resulted from a letter Portman and Brown sent to Secretary Ross in June. In September, Portman, who in February hosted an employee town hall meeting with Whirlpool employees at their plant in Clyde, testified before the International Trade Commission (ITC) to fight on behalf of Ohio Whirlpool workers and against unfair trade practices. In October, the ITC ruled to impose restrictions on imported washing machines that will help stop South Korean manufacturers from unfairly flooding the American market, thus helping protect Whirlpool jobs. In April, Senators Portman and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced the bipartisan Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) designed to make federal regulations smarter and more effective so they better support businesses, families, and jobs. This bill will modernize a federal regulatory process that hasnt been significantly reformed in 70 years. The legislation, which is widely supportedby small businesses, workers, farmers and ranchers, was approved by the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee in May and now awaits a vote on the Senate floor. In 2015, Portman got his bipartisanFederal Permitting Improvement Act signed into law. This year, Portman worked to ensure the law is fully implemented in order to spur economic growth and job creation. Director of Office of the Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney and the Deputy Director of the OMB pledged to Portman that they would work to get the law up and running. In addition, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held an oversight hearing in September to examine implementation of the law and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Councils progress to date, with the goal of more efficiently and effectively rebuilding our aging infrastructure. Portman, who is the co-founder of theSenate Career and Technical Education Caucusand author of theEducation Tomorrows Workforce Act,continued his strong support for expanding CTE programs to help close the skills gap and put more Ohioans to work. As part of his efforts to close the skills gap, Portman joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) tointroducethe bipartisanJOBS Actto help students access training forthe 5.5 million vacant jobsthat are unfilled in part because of a shortage of qualifiedworkers.He also introduced the bipartisan CTE Excellence and Equity Actto support re-designing the high school experience to include courses more relevant to the 21st century workforce to better prepare students for future careers. In April, following a previous visit in February, Portman hosted Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) in East Liberty. Portman was instrumental in keeping the NHTSA facility in East Liberty, part of his continuing efforts to help Central Ohio become a model for the nation on how to use smart, 21st-century transportation to help create economic growth and expand opportunity. In May, Portman helped secure full funding for the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Portman has long fought to protect funding for the center, which is an economic driver for the local community and supports thousands of Ohio jobs. Combating Drug Addiction. No one in the Senate has been more active in the fight against drug abuse and addiction than Senator Portman. This year, he continued to lead the national effort to combat the opioid crisis that is devastating communities across Ohio and our country. After his bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA) was signed into law last year, Portman worked tirelessly in 2017 with the Trump administration to ensure it was implemented properly and ensure that federal resources are focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help make a difference in peoples lives. Portman also received the National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) Leadership Award for his longstanding work to combat the opioid crisis and, specifically, his relentless effort to get CARA signed into law. Also this year, Portman introduced the bipartisan Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, legislation he is working to get signed into law to help stop dangerous synthetic drugs likefentanyland carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States. The heroin and prescription drug epidemic is having a devastating impact on Ohio families and communities. Thats why Senator Portman worked tirelessly this year to make sure that CARA was fully funded and implemented as quickly as possible. Thanks in large part to Portmans efforts, key components of CARA to help expand education, treatment and recovery services to help combat addiction are now being implemented. As his work with CARA shows, Portman has been a leader in the fight for more funding to combat this crisis. In addition to fighting to fully fund CARA, Portman has worked to fully fund the21stCentury CURES initiative, and helped secure $250,000 for Portsmouth to help those on the frontlines turn back the tide of addiction. Fentanyla deadly synthetic drug up to 50 times more powerful than heroinis now killing more Ohioans per year than heroin, contributing to why drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of accidental death in the state. Fentanyl, and the even deadlier carfentanil, is being shipped to the United States from countries overseas like China. That is why, in February, Portman and a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the STOP Act, legislation designed to help stop dangerous synthetic drugs likefentanyland carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the U.S. In May, Portman chaired a Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) hearing on the STOP Act and stopping illicit drugs from being shipped into the United States. During the hearing, Newtown, Ohio Police Chief Thomas Synan, Jr. and Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson testified that the STOP Act would help them address the fentanyl crisis in Ohio. The Customs and Border Protection Acting Director and the Postal Service Inspector General also urged Congress to act on the bipartisan legislation. In May, the administration announced proposed cuts to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which supports the Drug Free Communities Act, legislation Portman authored in 1997, which has provided more than $1 billion to community drug coalitions around the country over the last 20 years. The ONDCP also supports the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, which has helped states like Ohio that are ground zero for this problem. Portman strongly opposed the cuts, and urged the administration to reverse course. Thanks in large part to Portmans efforts, the administration has not moved forward with the proposed cuts. In fact, in September, 27 Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant recipients in the state of Ohio were named, demonstrating that the program is working for Ohioans. The funding is desperately needed for drug abuse prevention and education, and Portman will continue to fight for these critical programs. Portman continues to tour the state meeting with those in recovery and those on the front lines dealing with the heroin and prescription epidemic. This year alone Portman hosted a roundtable on addiction in Fremont, met with recovering drug addicts at Racing for Recovery in Holland, co-hosted a workshop at Columbus State Community College to help local providers secure resources to tackle the epidemic, visited the Sojourner Recovery Services residential womens facility in Eaton and the Unity House for women in recovery in Delaware, joined the MetroHealth System in Cleveland to launch the MetroHealth Office of Opioid Safety, met with Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco to discuss the opioid crisis in Cincinnati, visited the Groups treatment facility in Chillicothe, and visited the Ohio Health Grant Medical Center and the Maryhaven Addiction Stabilization Center in Columbus. Working to End Human Trafficking. This year, Portman continued his longstanding work to combat human trafficking and help trafficking survivors. Portman who is the author offive federal anti-trafficking laws designed to better serve victims and help law enforcement end this horrific crime spent 18 months investigating the explosion of online sex trafficking. The bipartisan investigation, completed in January, resulted in a stunning report detailing how Backpage.com knowingly facilitated criminal sex trafficking of vulnerable women and young girls and covered up evidence of these crimes in order to increase its own profits. Portman turned the findings of his investigation into legislative action, authoring the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), a bill that now has 56 cosponsors in the Senate. Portman continued touring the state to meet with survivors of human trafficking to hear their stories as well. On January 10th, Senators Portman and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), held a hearing and published a stunningnew reportdetailing the Subcommittees findings from its 18-month-long investigation into the scourge of online sex trafficking. The widely praised report found that Backpage knowingly concealed evidence of sex trafficking crimes by systematically editing its adult ads all the while doing nothing to stop the traffickers committing these crimes. I Am Jane Doe, a film that chronicles the stories of young women who were trafficked on the website Backpage.com and Senator Portmans investigation into online sex trafficking, was released this year. Portman hosted screenings of the film in Cleveland, Toledo and Columbus. After issuing the PSI report, Portman and his bipartisan colleagues began to develop legislation to solve this problem, and in August, he and a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. The narrowly-crafted bill amends the Communications Decency Act to hold accountable companies like Backpage that knowingly facilitate the trafficking of women and children online and ensure that victims of sex trafficking can get the justice they deserve. In September, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on SESTA, during which Senator Portman testified along with Yvonne Ambrose, whose daughter, Desiree Robinson, was trafficked on Backpage and tragically murdered.The hearing demonstrated that there is a strong bipartisan consensus for passing this narrowly-crafted bill. Portman released this video highlighting the hearing. SESTA was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in November. Portman is now working on a bipartisan basis to get this bill passed in the Senate and to the presidents desk for his signature. Protecting Ohioans, Honoring Veterans, and Making America Stronger.Portman is committed to keeping Ohioans safe and giving our men and women in uniform the resources they need to protect themselves and best complete their mission. Now a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Portman has consistently advocated for a more robust and comprehensive American strategy to protect our allies and deter our adversaries. As part of that effort, Portman has sought to increase the range of capabilities for military installations throughout Ohio, and create jobs and opportunity for Ohios servicemembers. In August, Portmantraveled more than 1,400 miles and visited 13 counties over five days as part of his Ohio Defense Tour. Portman visited theWright-Patterson Air Force Basein Dayton, the178th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wingin Springfield, theJoint Systems Manufacturing Centerin Lima, the180th Fighter Wingin Toledo,the NASA Plum Brook Stationin Sandusky, the179th Airlift Wingin Mansfield, theAir Force Metrology and Calibration Centerin Heath, theUS Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor, theYoungstown Air Reserve Station, theRickenbacker 121st Air Refueling Wingin Columbus,Battelles Advanced Manufacturing Facilityin Columbus, and theOhio National Guard 123rd Air Control Squadronin Blue Ash.The tours purpose was to listen to military personnel and discuss ways he can further reinforce Ohios defense capabilities. A video highlighting the tour is here. Portman continues his strong advocacy on behalf of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima. In December, President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes more than $1.6 billion to increase the rate of production of the newest upgraded Abrams tanks. It also authorizes $622 million to complete the fourth Stryker brigade with upgraded survivability and mobility improvements as well as a second brigade of Stryker vehicles with an upgraded weapons system. The funding was included at the urging of Portman and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI). Portman has made clear he will continue to keep fighting for more funding for Lima. Included at Portmans request, the NDAA authorizes $15 million to support the construction of upgraded fighter aircraft hangars for the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio as part of the NDAA. Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI)includedthis funding after Portmansent a letterearlier this year urging them to do so. Portman and Senator Browns amendments to support jobs and the important research mission at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Air Force Research Lab were also signed into law as part of the NDAA. This legislation is critical to our national security and to maintaining our militarys technological edge. In May, the Senate passed Portman and Senator Joe Donnellys (D-IN) resolution honoring the cutting-edge work of Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories such as the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patt. In July, Portman pressed the administration to redesignate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, and in October, he led abipartisan letterto the State Department outlining the many destabilizing and terror-related acts taken by this rogue regime.In November, the president announced that North Korea would be relisted as a state sponsor of terrorism. Portman has also introduced the North Korean Enablers Accountability Act to tighten the economic embargo on North Korea and its enablers. In August, President Trump signed into law Portmans priorities to hold Russia accountable as part of the Russia, Iran, and North Korea sanctions legislation. The legislation mandates congressional review if sanctions on Russia are relaxed, suspended, or terminated, codifies and strengthens existing sanctions contained in executive orders on Russia, and more. Portman has also been vocal in urging the administration to pursue a tough Russia policy and a more coordinated effort between the United States and the European Union to counter Russian disinformation. In December, as part of the NDAA, the president signed into law Portman and Senator Chris Murphys (D-CT) language to improve the ability of the United States to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation from our enemies. The language builds on theirCountering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act,legislationsigned into lawlast year, by helping them to promote more seamless coordination between the Department of Defense and the State Department on this issue. Portman and Murphy successfully urged the State Department to step up its efforts to fully implement the law and secure sufficient resources for its Global Engagement Center to help counter the foreign propaganda and disinformation. Portman, who is co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, has continued to be Ukraines strongest advocate in Congress. This year, Portman who last year received the Shevchenko Freedom Award, the Ukrainian communitys highest honor successfully fought to boost security assistance for Ukraine in the NDAA, building on provisions that Portman got signed into law in 2016 and 2015. This years package includes $350 million in security assistance, including lethal and non-lethal equipment and training, and, for the first time, authorizes assistance to bolster Ukraines naval capabilities. Portman haslongledtheeffort to provide Ukraine the kind of assistance necessary to ward off Russian aggression and maintain its territorial integrity, including introducing a bipartisan resolution in March to condemn illegal Russian aggression. Portman recently praised the Trump administrations decision to approve the sale of lethal military equipment to Ukraine for the first time. Portmans bipartisan Hack Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Act, designed to strengthen cyber defenses at DHS by utilizing white-hat or ethical hackers to help identify unique and undiscovered vulnerabilities in the DHS networks and information technology, passed the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in October and awaits a vote in the Senate. Protecting the Great Lakes & Our Environment:Senator Portman continues to be a leader in the bipartisan effort to protect our Great Lakes and the environment. Portman, who serves as co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, has a lengthy record of accomplishments in protecting Lake Erie. This year, Portman has led the effort in the Senate to preserve and fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a results-driven program to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic well-being of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution, and toxic contamination. This year, Senator Portman built on his record of delivering results for the millions of Ohioans who depend on Lake Erie. By fighting to keep the lake clean, protect the lake from dangerous invasive species and harmful algal blooms, strengthen fish and wildlife restoration efforts, ensure that Ohioans have safe drinking water and much more, Portman has demonstrated his commitment to continue improving the health of Lake Erie and support the tourism, fishing, and recreation that surrounds it. Following news this year that the administration proposed to eliminate funding for the GLRI, Portman fought for and secured GLRI funding. In May, Portman announced that Congress approved full funding of $300 million for the program. In April, Portman joined Port of Cleveland leadership to host a roundtable discussion on the importance of the GLRI to Lake Erie and the surrounding communities. Later in the month, he saw a firsthand a GLRI success story in a visit to the restored wetland at Maumee Bay State Park and later at the University of Toledo Lake Erie Center. In May, Portman visited a farm in Dunkirn with the Ohio Farm Bureau to see firsthand how the GLRI is being used to implement farming practices to help protect the health of Lake Erie. In addition to fighting for full GLRI funding, Portman led an effort to keep Region 5 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)which serves Ohio, as well as Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Minnesotaup and running. He also introduced the Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act to give the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the legislative authority to support the $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industry. In September, Portmans bipartisan Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act passed the Senate. The legislation would help protect fresh water bodies such as Lake Erie by reauthorizing the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA), which was first enacted in 1998. For almost two decades, the HABHRCA program has served as the federal governments research and response toolkit for harmful algal blooms. In November, Portman and his bipartisan colleagues urged the Army Corps of Engineers to remain on target to complete the Brandon Road study, which is imperative to ensuring that Asian Carp do not enter the Great Lakes and threaten the lakes $7 billion fishing industry. Portman, who last year received aClean Water Awardfrom theNational Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), will continue working to preserve and protect the critical GLRI program and against efforts by the administration to eliminate GLRI funding altogether. Portman has consistently fought to ensure that that promises made to the Piketon community regarding the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant are kept. This year, Portman visited the plant twice, first in June, and then again in September with Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, who agreed with Portman that having a domestic capability to enrich uranium is a national security issue and that he is willing to re-evaluate the Obama administrations decision to end the domestic uranium enrichment demonstration program. Portman will continue to work every year to secure the funding necessary to keep the cleanup project on track and to project jobs. In March, the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee approved the bipartisan energy efficiency legislation Portman introduced with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC). The measure contains important energy efficiency policy reforms that will strengthen the economy and reduce pollution without any new taxes or mandates. Components of the bill were signed into law by President Obama in April 2015 and are already helping individuals and companies use less energy, creating jobs and reducing emissions. Taken together, these bipartisan reforms include common-sense initiatives that will create nearly 200,000 new jobs, save consumers $16.2 billion annually in reduced energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to taking 22 million cars off the road. Fighting for Better, More Affordable Health Care. This year, Portman continued to fight for a better health care system that lowers the cost of coverage, provides access to quality care, and protects the most vulnerable in our society. Obamacare isnt working for Ohio families and small businesses whove seen their premiums and deductibles skyrocket. Portman was an active voice in the health care debate, consistently advocating for a solution that would both repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with a more workable system that lowers costs, increases access to care, and protects the most vulnerable. He fought for Ohio priorities, including adding to the Senate replacement bill an unprecedented $45 billion in new resources for opioid treatment and $100 billion to help low-income Americans get high-quality, affordable health care. He also worked to ensure that those on expanded Medicaid continue to have good health care options under a new system, whether its under the current Medicaid structure or affordable health care options on the private market. He continues to work to stabilize the insurance markets and ensure that Ohioans have access to affordable health care. In October, President Trump signed into law Portmans bipartisan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act, legislation he authored with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to reauthorize current research and improve public health programs for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss in newborns, infants, and young children. In September, the Senate passed the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act, which included several Portman provisions, including ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries can receive high-quality, personalized care at home, incentivizing beneficiaries to receive preventive services and better manage their health care, and ensuring the Medicare Advantage program includes accurate quality measures to incentive plans to continue to care for low-income seniors. Portman has consistently urged the Senate to extend funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), praising the program that is vital to approximately 219,000 Ohio kids. Congress extended CHIP funding into early 2018, but Portman believes Congress must enact a long-term solution as quickly as possible. Portman also introduced the bipartisan Ace Kids Act to improve health outcomes and care coordination for children with complex medical conditions on Medicaid. In May, Portman announced that the bipartisan agreement to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year included a permanent fix to 22,000 miners who were set to lose theirhealth care. The agreement included language from the health portion of Portmans Miners Protection Act, bipartisan legislation Portman introduced in January with his colleagues to ensure that the federal government and coal operators honor their obligation of lifetime pensions and health benefits to retired miners and their families. Other Accomplishments.In addition to helping lead efforts to reform our broken tax code, continuing his work to combat addiction, working to end human and sex trafficking, bolstering the national defense, and protecting our environment, Portman has also been a leader on other issues. Here is a look at some of his other accomplishments over the past year: In April, Portman voted to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuchs nomination for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Portman made his decision to support his nomination after meeting with him in February. In addition to confirming Gorsuch, the Senate has voted to confirm 12 court of appeals judges and six district court judges. In November, President Trump signed into law Portmans bipartisan TSP Modernization Act to give much-needed retirement flexibility to federal employees by modernizing the Thrift Savings Plans (TSP) outdated withdrawal rules. The bill will make the TSP more responsive to the needs of its participants and give federal employees the retirement flexibility they deserve. In 2017, Senator Portman and his casework team opened 3,435 cases (as of 12/13/17) to help Ohioans in need. 2,627, or 88.54 percent, of those cases were closed favorably. Throughout his time in the Senate, Portman and his team have opened a total 20,228 cases and have closed 16,774, or 82.92 percent, of those cases favorably. Portman is committed to working across the aisle to deliver results. That has resulted in more than 50 bills signed into law on a myriad of important policy issues. This year, he was awarded the 2017 Jefferson-Lincoln Award from the Panetta Institute for Public Policy for his outstanding stewardship of our democracy through dedicated, responsible, and bipartisan leadership, and the Jacob K. Javits Prize for Bipartisan Leadership from the Javits Foundation for his achievements that advance the public interest without regard to political affiliation. Portman has long made clear that there is no place in our society or our country for hatred or religious intolerance of any kind. Earlier this year, with mounting threats made against Jewish Community Centers in Ohio, Portman came out strong in defense of religious tolerance and stood in solidarity with the Jewish community. Portman visited the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus to meet with Ohio Jewish leaders and urged the administration to take action in response to threats made against JCCs, Jewish Day School, and Synagogues in Ohio and across the country. After threats made to Islamic communities, Portman spoke out forcibly against hateful threats and visited the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati in a show of solidarity. Portman has helped lead the efforts in the Senate to pass legislation that would clear the way for the Delta Queen, a U.S. National Historic Landmark, to once again carry passengers on overnight trips on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In April, the Senate approved Portmans bipartisan legislation. The bill now awaits action in the House. The Senate recently approved Portmans Federal Register Printing Savings Act, legislation that would eliminate the mandatory daily printing and delivery of the Federal Register to congressional offices. This common-sense bill will save taxpayers about $1 million annually and make the federal government more efficient and effective. The Senate recently passed Portmans External Power Supply (EPS) Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that will give needed certainty to Ohio LED manufacturers. The bill will exempt the manufacturers of energy saving LEDs from an onerous Department of Energyregulation that could have curtailed or stopped production of LEDs. It is now headed to the White House for the presidents signature. Having volunteered and participated in dozens of builds for more than 20 years, Portman is a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity, which helps provide affordable housing to low-income families. In August, following his successful Buckeye Build last year, Portman returned to Cleveland to participate in another build and volunteered again on his birthday in December, as is his custom, while in Washington, D.C. for Senate votes. Portman is also using his platform as a U.S. Senator to help Habitat assist families throughout Ohio and the country. In June, his Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME) Act, legislation designed to ensure that Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other organizations can receive donated appraisals on the homes they build, passed the House of Representatives. It now awaits vote in the Senate. In April, the Senate passed Portmans resolution to designate April 2017 as Second Chance Month and honor those who work to remove unnecessary barriers that prevent those with a criminal record from becoming productive members of society. Portman is the author of the Second Chance Act, legislation designed to help break the cycle of recidivism through drug treatment and job training, which makes our community safer, saves taxpayer dollars, and most importantly, helps former inmates fulfill their God-given potential. In June, Portman and Brown presented Columbus Police Officer Keith Kise with the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery. Senator Portman has fought for all Ohioans and continued to deliver results for them. He helped lead the effort reform the broken tax code to create more jobs and boost wages. He has led the effort to combat Americas drug epidemic. He has led the effort to help end online sex trafficking. He has consistently stood up for American global leadership and Ohios servicemembers, and much, much more. Senator Portman will continue to deliver results for Ohio in 2018. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9E02597F-EE90-40B6-A7E9-B8F65C43D97B,Senate Passes Portman Legislation Giving Certainty to LED Manufacturers,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,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 has passed his External Power Supply (EPS) Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that will give needed certainty to Ohio LED manufacturers. Portmans legislation will exempt the manufacturers of energy saving LEDs from an onerous Department of Energyregulation that could have curtailed or stopped production of LEDs. He issued the following statement: This bill will give needed certainty to Ohios LED manufactures from a regulation that was never intended to affect them. Now these Ohio made products will not have to fear future federal action that could have stopped production of these goodsand threatened manufacturing jobs. I am pleased the bill is now on its way to the presidents desk and I look forward to it being signed into law. NOTE: Last night, the Senate passed the House-passed version of Portmans EPS legislation (H.R. 518), and its now headed to the White House for the presidents signature. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D533E3C5-7244-42A2-BBF4-FC578E01C59D,"On Senate Floor, Portman Discusses Historic Tax Reform That Will Help Middle Class, Boost Jobs, Increase Wages",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.In a speech on the Senate floor last night, U.S. Senator Portman Rob Portman (R-OH) discussed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, historic tax reform legislation that was signed into law by President Trump today. Portman, who served as a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee, discussed how the bill will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Transcript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here. Mr. President, Im standing heretonight to talk about a couplethings.First is the tax legislationthat was passed this week inCongress.This is going to help everybodyI represent because its goingto help our entire country.Its going to lift up ourcountry in ways were alreadybeginning to see.There have been a lot of peopleto thank, and today I was at thesigning ceremony where SpeakerRyan and President Pro temporeOrrin Hatch signed it and its onits way to the president for hissignature.I want to start by thankingthem, Speaker Ryan, ChairmanHatch and Chairman Brady of theWays and Means Committee withwhom I worked closely.He is a gentleman, always looking for ways tosolve problems and to get toyes.I commend him for that.I also want to thank some of thecolleagues on the FinanceCommittee who I worked closelywith.This core four group includingSenator John Thune, Senator PatToomey, Senator Tim Scott andmaybe most importantly is thestaff. We had an enormous undertakinghere and it was ambitious to tryto meet the goals that were setout early on of realmiddle-class tax cuts andenergizing the economy byhelping small businesses andchanging the whole internationalsystem so we could level theplaying field.There was a lot to do and ittook a lot of expertise, time,and effort.Mark Prater, Jay Khosla, BrendanDunn, who led that effort,we all owe you our thanks.Then of course a slew of otherstaff, including Zach Rudisill of mystaff who just spent hours andhours and put his heart and soulinto this.Thank you, all of you, forhelping us to get to this point. You know, for years, Mr.President, Democrats andRepublicans alike have calledfor middle-class tax cuts.We talk about it in campaigns.Im proud to say that this weekwe delivered on it.And I know some of my Democraticcolleagues have been critical ofthe legislation and some havesaid, well, these are not reallymiddle-class tax cuts becausethey expire.Yes, they expire after eightyears.We wish they didnt, but thatsthe rules, the budget rules here,but thats the same thing thathappened with the 2001 tax cuts,the 2003 tax cutsand Congress worked toextend those using the samebudget rules for about 95 percent ofthose taxpayers.Im strongly hoping that we willdo the same thing, and I believe we will, but this is real tax relief.And for families in Ohio, medianincome, the average saving will be justover $2,000 every year.That helps a family budget.Thats a little money you canput aside for retirement.Maybe thats money to use for avacation you didnt have.If youre living paycheck topaycheck, which is true with alot of people I represent,thats a big help.Its a big help.Thats from doubling the childcredit.Thats from doubling thestandard deduction, essentiallycreating $14,000 of a zeroincome bracket. By the way, doing those sorts ofthings in this bill means aboutthree million Americans or moreare going to be leaving the taxrolls all together.These are people who have taxliability now and under the newbill starting in a couple ofweeks, they will not have anincome tax liability.Theyll be out from under theIRSand theyll be able, as they movemany of them from welfare towork or from a federal programinto gainful employment, not toworry about the tax man.Thats really important, too.So I am proud of the legislationbecause I think its going toreally help the people Irepresent in an immediate way.And people will see it in theirpaychecks.The proof is in the paychecksbecause theyll see it probablystarting in February the withholding will change. The IRS has to go through aprocess on that.I wrote a letter to themyesterday encouraging them tomove on that quickly becausepeople want to see that in theirpaychecks.So the tax relief starts in acouple of weeks, January 1.It will be in the paychecks whenthe withholding changes, hopefullysometime late January or February.People will see less money beingheld from their paycheck becauseof the tax cuts that enable themto have a healthier familybudget.But Ive got to tell you, Mr.President, I believe that thisis going to go well beyond thatfor the people I represent. As important as thosemiddle-class tax cuts is whatwere doing to stimulate moreinvestment in this economy.And thats through the changesfor small businesses who willnow be able to put more moneyinto their business rather thanpaying more taxes.Many of these businesses,so-called pass-through companies,which is most of the businessesin America, they pay taxes asindividuals.They dont pay the business taxrate.They pay the individual taxrate, and many of them do take adividend.They take money out of thecompany every year for onepurpose and thats to pay theirtaxes.To the extent theyre not takingthe money out as much to paythose taxes because of thechanges we made here for smallbusinesses, theyre going to be able toinvest more in their people,more in their equipment, more intheir plants, and Im hearingthis from small business peoplearound the state of Ohio. Last weekend I was with a numberof them and theyre excited about thisbecause they want to be able toinvest more in their business.They want to be able to investmore in their people.They want to be able to givepeople who work for them theopportunity to have a higherwage.Right now, wages are flat, they reallyhave been for the past coupledecades when you take inflationinto account.This has the incredibleopportunity for us not just toprovide middle-class tax cuts,which are important, not just tohelp businesses invest, butactually to help get wages up sothat people will see that ifthey work hard and play by therules they are going to seehigher wages, the ability to getahead, and have more hope forthemselves and for their kidsand their grandkids.Everyone regardless of economicstatus, region, or party isgoing to see the benefits ofthis tax reform bill. By the way, some workers arealready seeing the benefit as wetalk today because there are abunch of companies thatannounced today that, because ofthe tax reform and tax cutlegislation, they are alreadytaking steps to increase the payof their employees, increasebenefits, or invest more moneyin building plants, equipment, oradding more jobs throughinvestmentor both.These companies include some bigcompanies youve heard of likeComcast.It includes other companies likeWells Fargo, Boeing, and AT&T.Theyve made these announcementstoday.One company that announced todayis in my hometown.Its Fifth Third Bank, kindof an unusual name, Fifth Third,but that makes them distinctive,right?They said today, were going tostart paying our people a higherentry-level pay.Instead of 13-something an hourit will be 15 bucks an hour andprovide bonuses to employees notaffected by that.And theyre going to do it rightnow, and theyre doing it becauseof the tax reform legislation.So to those who say, gosh, whatabout me?I would just say look at yourpaycheck, and if you work for oneof these businesses thatsalready made an announcement, ofcourse youre feeling good aboutit, but even if you work foranother company that maybe is alittle quieter about whattheyre doing, maybe theyre notgoing to make a bigannouncement, trust me itsgoing to be in their interestnow in a competitive market outthere to invest in thosecompanies, to invest in theirpeople, to invest in training,to invest in better equipment,better technology, and those arethe sorts of things that overtime, Mr. President, are goingto make the biggest difference, Ithink, in this tax bill. If you look at whats happeningin our economy today, the reasonwages are flat, and by theway, expenses are not flat.Expenses are up and wages areflat. Thats called the middle-classsqueeze.Whats the biggest expense formost people?Health care.The way to deal with that is toget the economy moving andspecifically to increase theproductivity.Thats what economists say.When you have low productivity,you have low economic growth.Thats not the America I grew upin and thats not the America Iwant my kids to grow up in.By making these investments inbetter technology, in betterequipment, in better training,what happens?You get more productivity.You get higher efficiency.You get the opportunity toincrease your business and,therefore, hire more people andthats something I think overtime will play out and willcreate the opportunity to liftup everybody. John F. Kennedy, who was aDemocrat, but had a lot ofthings to say that sound morelike what Republicans aretalking about today.One was he said that a risingtide lifts all ships. A rising tide.In the 1960s, he did cutcapital gains, by the way, thatand that increased economic liftactivityRonald Reagan put in tax reform,along with a bipartisan group inthe United States Congress, thatended up with strong economicgrowth in the 1980s and 1990s. But that was 31 years ago.Thats the last time we madethese kinds of substantive,comprehensive changes in the taxcode.Its past time to do it again.The final thing I will say aboutthe tax reform proposal is thatwhen you talk to businesses thatare competing globally, which ismore and more companies,including a lot of smallercompanies now, the globaleconomy is upon us.People say, gosh, I wonder whenthe economy is going to affectme globally.Well, it does.It affects all of us, because inyour town, wherever it is, inyour business, wherever you work,youre probably competingdirectly or indirectly on aglobal basis. Ill give you an example.There is a little company in myhometown called Standardtextile.Its a great company.They make linens.Its a company that competesevery day globally.And, in fact, a lot of thecompanies they compete with, asyou can imagine, are companiesthat make these linens somewhereelse, say, in Asia, where,traditionally, people have beenable to find lower costs.Guess what they are looking atnow with this tax reform bill?The ability to invest more herein America.American workers, American-madelinens.And they tell me, as do othercompanies, that this is going togive them a better competitivesituation because no longer areyou going to have a tax codethat has the highest businessrate in the entireindustrialized world and aninternational system that saysif you keep your money overseasrather than bringing it back,when you earn money, you cansave on your taxes.Thats whats resulted in$2.5 trillion to $3 trillionbeing locked out of America andbeing kept overseas. This tax reform proposal unlocksthat. It allows us to bring thatmoney back.People call it repatriation.I guess thats accurate, repatriation.I wish it had never beenunpatriotriated in the firstplace.If youre a patriot, you shouldwant that money to be spent herein America.Thats whats going to happenwith this tax reform proposal.So it is about the tax cuts forworking families, hardworkingfamilies who deserve it, who arenow stuck in a situation whereits tough to get ahead.This will help immediately.It is about helping smallbusinesses and other companieshere in America to be able toinvest more, being able to writeoff equipment when they buy itright away, as an example, havinga lower rate.But its also about levelingthat playing field and sayingthat America once again is goingto reposition itself as theleader in the world, once againbe that beacon of opportunitythat other countries look to and say, we would like to be likethat, a free market economywhere people who work hard andplay by the rules can get ahead.You cant say that now with ourcurrent tax code because workers are competing on anun-level playing field with onehand tied behind their backsbecause of our tax code. Three times as many Americancompanies were purchased byforeign companies last year asopposed to the other way around.4,700 U.S. companies becameforeign companies over the lastdecade or so because of our taxcode.Thats based on an Ernst &Young study that came outrecently that said if this taxreform proposal that we have nowpassed had been in place, those4,700 companies would still beAmerican companies.All of us are patriots here inthis body.All of us should want to bringback those jobs to America,repatriate those profits toAmerica, give American workersthe ability to compete on alevel playing field.I know there were somedifferences of opinion in this legislation.We have heard a lot of it onthe other side of the aisle.But on this issue, its beenbipartisan in the past, and Ihope it will be bipartisan goingforward, to hold these reformsin place so that we can showthat we have confidence andfaith in American workers.We have confidence that if wegive them the right toolsinthis case, the right tax code towork with, they can compete andthey can win. I think were going to see that,I think, again. With the hopefulsigns we have seen even today ofcompanies providing better payor benefits or making additionalcommitments on investments, evenwell beyond that, were going tosee, maybe quietly and maybespread out all over the countryin ways that wont be as obviousof decisions that are going to bemade, business budgets that aregoing to change as a result ofthis tax reform bill.Im hearing it from smallbusinesses.Im hearing it from the biggercompanies that compete directlyglobally.And Im certainly hearing itfrom families who are happy tosee a little tax break to beable to help them as we go intothe holidays. Mr. President, thats all good news, and I think passing that legislation is really going to help the people I represent. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DD1CE65A-1944-49A7-9AB4-26916C0985C2,"Senate Passes Portman Bill to Stop Unnecessary Printing of the Federal Register, Save Taxpayer Dollars",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate approved his Federal Register Printing Savings Act, legislation that would save taxpayer dollars by eliminating the mandatory daily printing and delivery of the Federal Register to congressional offices. He issued the following statement: This common-sense bill will save taxpayer dollars and make the federal government more efficient and effective. I am pleased that the Senate passed the measure unanimously and I will continue to work to get it signed into law. NOTE: TheFederal Register Printing Savings Actis estimated to save $1 million annually by eliminating the daily printing and delivery of the Federal Register to congressional offices. A congressional office could still receive the federal register if they ask for it, but the Government Publishing Office would no longer proactively deliver it to offices. Portmans measure (S. 1195) was approved by the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee in July. The Senate passed the House-passed version of Portmans bill (H.R. 195) yesterday, with an additional measure attached, so it will go back to the House for passage once again before heading to the presidents desk. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E032E349-4A66-453E-987B-4D956455CC21,"Portman Discusses Childrens Health Insurance Program, Need for Long-Term Funding Solution",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Portman Rob Portman (R-OH) discussed the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the need for a long-term funding solution. CHIP has enjoyed wide bipartisan support in the past. The Senate Finance Committee, which Portman serves on, recently passed legislation that would fund CHIP for five years by a unanimous vote. Ohio has the 10th largest CHIP program, and 219,000 Ohio childrenand nine million children nationwideget health coverage through CHIP. Portman addressed the need for bipartisan cooperation to enact a long-term funding solution to help some the most vulnerable members of society, children in need. Transcript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here. I also want to talk aboutsomething tonight that was notaccomplished.And it was not accomplished inthis vote we just had, which wasa continuing resolution thatkeeps the government funded fora little while longer intoJanuary.Some of us have pushed hard toinclude various things in thislegislation.I understand that some of theseitems are controversial, and itwas hard to get it done becauseyou needed 60 votes tonight.You needed a bipartisanconsensus, really, on how tomove forward not to shut downthe government.And I am not a fan of governmentshutdowns,they wont work.They are inefficient.They cost taxpayers more at theend of the day.They cause a lot of pain in theprocess. But I will tell you we had theopportunity to pass certainthings tonight that were notcontroversial, and I dont understand why we didnt do it.Some issues, again, Iunderstand on the spending frontwere more controversial.I understand some issues weremore controversial in terms ofhow you deal with theimmigration issue.The DACA issue is one I supportresolving.I think we should codify it andresolve that.People wanted to add differentthings there.Let me tell you about one whereI dont think there was anydisagreement.And if we could have passed it, it would have provideda lot of certainty andpredictability to families inOhio and around the country.Its one that passed mycommittee, the Finance Committeeby a strong vote, not abipartisan vote but a unanimousvote.And thats the Childrens HealthInsurance Program, the CHIPprogram.We passed it with a unanimousvote out of committee. People say well, but we need tofind pay-fors for it.It is about $8 billion to dowhat we did, which is afive-year extension of theprogram.Providing, again, certainty andpredictability to familiestonight who are wondering whats going to happen.Whats going to happen with thisprogram?Are my kids going to have thekind of quality health care thatthey can access through theChildrens Health Insurance Program, theCHIP program.But Ill tell you, there aresome pay-fors out there that are bipartisan.A big one that could covernearly half of that cost is onewhere you simply ensure that theMedicaid program has moreintegrity so that if athird-party payer is paying,then the Medicaid programdoesnt pay.Its always been a bipartisaninitiative.Its a pay-for that, again, wehave looked at through thisprogram.It would have been one that wecould have used.So I dont get this notion thatwe couldnt pass it because wecouldnt find the pay-fors.The pay-fors were there. I dont get that this wascontroversial because its not.I believe, on both sides of theaisle, we wanted to resolve theChildrens Health InsuranceProgram.Again, with all the otherissues, I understandIt's tough when you have got toget the 60 votes and have to getthis passed in order to keep thegovernment operating, which isnot a situation we should be in,but we're in.But I must tell you, I am verydisappointed that we were notable to deal with this one issuetonight that has not beencontroversial, that came out ofthe committee with a unanimousvote,not bipartisan, but unanimous. CHIP now helps 219,000 Ohiochildren get the health coveragethey needand nine million childrennationwide.Ohio has the 10th largestprogram.CHIP has been a leading cause indriving the uninsured rate downfor Ohio kids.In the case of my home state, wehave seen our CHIP funding bequestioned because the programwas authorized until the end ofSeptember.Now its no longer authorized,so were not sure exactly howmuch money we have left.We think we have enough to getinto February in Ohio.Some states, I tell you, areworried about even getting intoJanuary. So tonight there was ashort-term extension that, as Iunderstand it, will take theprogram into February, butagain, this doesnt provide thatlong-term certainty thatfamilies are looking for. And I must tell you Im disappointed from what I hearabout the reasons because Iasked and asked on both sides ofthe aisle, and the one reason I got,again, from leadership on bothsides of the aisle is that,gosh, we cant do it unless wedo other things with it.You know, it is called CHIP,Childrens Health InsuranceProgram.But it shouldnt be a politicalchip.It should be taken out ofpolitics.It should be something that wedeal with separately.So I will just tell you thatusing it as leverage for otherprograms is not the way I'mgoing to look at it.Its not the way we should lookat it.We should have passed ittonight.We should have passed it to helpprotect some of the mostvulnerable members of oursociety. Funding it should be a toppriority.Regardless of your partisanposition, regardless of thepolitical climate, it should beout of the political fray.And I urge my colleagues when wecome back after the first of theyear, lets make that apriority.Lets bring it to the floor.Lets have a vote.Lets keep it bipartisan.Maybe it could even beunanimous.And lets give those families inOhio, the 219,000 kids whodepend on it, and the millions offamilies around this country thepeace of mind to know that,yeah, were extending thisprogram. Lets do that five-yearextension, that five-yearauthorization.We have already passed incommittee.Lets take it out of thispolitical process and put itwhere it belongs, which is anissue that every single memberof this body should want toaddress for the kids theyrepresent. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rob-s-rundown?ID=F79784C4-9E51-4EE0-A301-C0A59EE135FE,"Rob's Rundown: Week of December 17 - 22, 2017",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"This week, President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, historic tax reform legislation that will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers. Portman, who served as a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee, worked tirelessly to get this bill over the finish line on behalf of Ohio workers and families. The House and Senate passed the bill earlier this week.Also this week, Portman delivered the commencement address at Ohio State University, continued his birthday tradition of participating in a Habitat for Humanity build continued to highlight the scourge of opioid abuse in Ohio and push for solutions like the STOP Act, and more. For a more detailed look at Senator Portmans week, please see the following: Sunday, December 17 Portman Delivers Commencement Address at Ohio State University On Sunday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) delivered the commencement address at Ohio State Universitys graduation ceremony. Portman has been working to help expand access to college, make it more affordable for students, parents and families, and help new graduates get good jobs so that they can achieve financial independence and become debt-free. Portman also fought to preserve key tax incentives for undergraduate and graduate students in the final tax reform legislation. Photos from his speech can be found here. Transcript of his speech can be found here and a video can be found here. Tuesday, December 19 Before Historic Senate Vote, Portman Details How Tax Reform Will Help Middle Class, Boost Jobs, Increase Wages In a speech on the Senate floor, Portman discussed the finalized House-Senate agreement on tax reform that was voted on in the Senate later in the evening. Portman, who served as a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee, discussed how the bill will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman Praises Senate Passage of Historic Tax Cuts Portman issued the following statement after the Senate passed historic tax cuts, which will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers: For years, Republicans and Democrats alike have called for middle-class tax cuts and a more competitive tax code for American workers and businesses, and today Republicans are delivering on that promise. This bill will cut taxes for middle-class families, reform our business tax code to create more jobs and higher wages for Ohio workers, and update our international tax code to encourage jobs and investments in America. This is the first time Congress has passed comprehensive tax reform legislation in 31 years. Id like to thank Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Paul Ryan, Chairman Orrin Hatch, Chairman Kevin Brady, and all of my colleagues who were united by the desire to help the middle class and re-open the American economy as the best place in the world to do business. This plan is made in America, for America. By passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congress is making good on its promise to help create a better economy and a brighter future. Wednesday, December 20 Portman Praises Authorization of Sale of Defensive Lethal Military Assistance for Ukraine Portman, co-founder and chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding media reports that the president has decided to approve lethal military equipment for Ukraine for the first time. Providinglethal weapons to Ukraine will send a clear message that America stands with the Ukrainian people in their nearly fouryear struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. This decision--while long overdue--will reversethe Obama administration's de facto arms embargo against Ukraine and will finally allow Ukraine to access the tools it needs to defend itself. As co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and author of several provisions authorizing expanded U.S. military assistance--including lethal aid--and establishing the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, I hope that this decision opens the door to the full implementation of the bipartisan legislation Congress has already passed to help the Ukrainians defend themselves against Russian aggression."" NOTE:Portman,whoreceivedthe Ukrainian-American communitys highest honor,the Shevchenko Freedom Award,haslongledtheeffortto provide Ukraine the kind of assistance necessary to ward off Russian aggression and maintain its territorial integrity. The co-founder and co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, Portman has visited Ukraine several times, including leading a Congressional election observation mission with Senator Ben Cardin during Ukraine's Presidential election in 2014. For the past threeyears, Portman has successfully introduced amendments to the annual National Defense Authorization Act that expanded U.S. military aid to Ukraine. These provisions helped build the primary statutory framework for U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. In addition, he has repeatedly writtenletters, deliveredmultiplefloorspeeches, andpressed?senior Administration officialson the importance of providing meaningful assistance to help Ukraine stand up to Russia's military aggression. Thursday, December 21 In a New Video, Portman Highlights Historic Tax Reform Legislation Congress Recently Passed On Thursday, Portman unveiled a new video highlighting the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, historic tax reform legislation that is on its way to the presidents desk. The once-in-a-generation legislation will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers. Portman released the following statement on the tax reform bill: Our plan gives middle-class families a tax cut so they can keep more of their hard-earned money; its going to reform the business tax code to create more jobs and create higher wages while making American workers more competitive in the global marketplace; and it will level the playing field internationally, creating a fairer tax system that encourages jobs and investments to occur right here in this country rather than sending them overseas. This bill is made in America, for America, and I look forward to the president signing it into law soon. Portman Urges IRS to Move Quickly to Change Withholding Tables, Deliver Historic Tax Cuts Following passage of historic tax cuts, Portman urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to move quickly to change its withholding tables and deliver these tax cuts as quickly as possible. On behalf of the hard-working Americans across the nation who are eager to see their paychecks reflect the benefits of this historic legislation, Portman said in a letter to the IRS, I request that you expedite any requisite updates to the relevant guidance on withholding. The full letter can be found here. Portman Statement on CDC Report Confirming Significant Increase in Drug-Related Deaths On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control released its 2016 mortality data report which found that there were 63,632 drug-related deaths last year, an increase of 21 percent from 2015.The report shows that nationally, overdose rates are 19.8 per 100,000. In Ohio, the rate is double that at 39.1 per 100,000. In fact, Ohio ranked second among all states for drug-related deaths with fatalities taking 4,539 lives. Deaths specifically associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids doubled. U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement on the report and impact of the heroin and prescription drug epidemic: Im saddened by new statistics from the CDC, which confirm that drug-related deaths continue to rise across the country and that fentanyl continues to be a primary driver in these deaths. With the rate of overdose deaths in Ohio double the national rate, this fight is personal for me and my fellow Ohioans. I will continue to fight in the new year for common-sense legislation like the STOP Act to help stop the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic drugs into the country and our local communities so that every American can reach their God-given potential. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill as quickly as possible. NOTE:Portmans bipartisan Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act will help stop dangerous drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States. President Trumps opioid commission endorsed the STOP Act in November. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has also endorsed the bill as well. On Senate Floor, Portman Discusses Historic Tax Reform That Will Help Middle Class, Boost Jobs, Increase Wages In a speech on the Senate floor, Portman discussed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, historic tax reform legislation that was signed into law by President Trump on Friday. Portman, who served as a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee, discussed how the bill will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman Discusses Childrens Health Insurance Program, Need for Long-Term Funding Solution In a speech on the Senate floor, Portman discussed the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the need for a long-term funding solution. CHIP has enjoyed wide bipartisan support in the past. The Senate Finance Committee, which Portman serves on, recently passed legislation that would fund CHIP for five years by a unanimous vote. Ohio has the 10th largest CHIP program, and 219,000 Ohio childrenand nine million children nationwideget health coverage through CHIP. Portman addressed the need for bipartisan cooperation to enact a long-term funding solution to help some the most vulnerable members of society, children in need. Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Friday, December 22 Portman: Historic Tax Cuts Signed Into Law Portman issued the following statement after President Trump signed into law historic tax cuts that were approved by the House and Senate this week: These historic tax cuts will make a real difference for middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for Ohio workers.While our economy is improving, too many families today are still dealing with the middle-class squeeze of stagnant wages and higher expenses.Providing tax relief for middle-class families and reforming our business tax code to create more jobs and boost wages is the right thing to do, and I was proud to play a significant role in helping craft this measure. Im pleased that were already seeing a positive response from employers rewarding their workers with better pay and bonuses while increasing their investments in their businesses and their communities. These historic tax cuts will help create a better economy and a better future for all Americans, and Im pleased that they are now the law of the land. Senate Passes Portman Bill to Stop Unnecessary Printing of the Federal Register, Save Taxpayer Dollars Portman announced that the Senate approved his Federal Register Printing Savings Act, legislation that would save taxpayer dollars by eliminating the mandatory daily printing and delivery of the Federal Register to congressional offices. He issued the following statement: This common-sense bill will save taxpayer dollars and make the federal government more efficient and effective. I am pleased that the Senate passed the measure unanimously and I will continue to work to get it signed into law. NOTE: TheFederal Register Printing Savings Actis estimated to save $1 million annually by eliminating the daily printing and delivery of the Federal Register to congressional offices. A congressional office could still receive the federal register if they ask for it, but the Government Publishing Office would no longer proactively deliver it to offices. Portmans measure (S. 1195) was approved by the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee in July. The Senate passed the House-passed version of Portmans bill (H.R. 195) yesterday, with an additional measure attached, so it will go back to the House for passage once again before heading to the presidents desk. Senate Passes Portman Legislation Giving Certainty to LED Manufacturers Portman announced on Friday that the Senate has passed his External Power Supply (EPS) Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that will give needed certainty to Ohio LED manufacturers. Portmans legislation will exempt the manufacturers of energy saving LEDs from an onerous Department of Energyregulation that could have curtailed or stopped production of LEDs. He issued the following statement: This bill will give needed certainty to Ohios LED manufactures from a regulation that was never intended to affect them. Now these Ohio made products will not have to fear future federal action that could have stopped production of these goodsand threatened manufacturing jobs. I am pleased the bill is now on its way to the presidents desk and I look forward to it being signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1915,Rep. Fudge Votes NO on Both the Continuing Resolution and Supplemental Disaster Relief Funding,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) issued the following statement after voting no on both the continuing resolution and supplemental disaster relief package that passed the House today: Today I voted no on yet another short-term, stop-gap funding measure. This Continuing Resolution provides only temporary relief for the nearly nine million children depending on the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and health care providers working tirelessly at our Community Health Centers. House Republicans wasted another opportunity to work with Democrats in a bipartisan way on behalf of millions of children and their families. I would have supported a bill that addressed the needs of the hardworking Americans that sent us to Congress; a bill that provided stable reauthorization and funding for CHIP and Community Health Centers, funding to combat the opioid epidemic, stabilized the health insurance marketplace, protected DREAMers, and addressed the pension crisis. Today, House Republicans also put forth a supplemental disaster relief funding package that does nothing to guarantee help for our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is a bill the Senate is not expected to consider until 2018. People without homes or electricity in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Texas, Florida, and California cannot wait. Rather than spending valuable time passing a tax cut that predominately benefits the wealthiest Americans, we should have been working to protect sick children and disaster victims. We should be voting on things that will affect peoples lives now. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399405,A Tax Overhaul Three Decades in the Making,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Christmas came a few days early for the American people this week. Its not the Jelly of the Month Club, but it is a gift that will keep on giving the whole year. share: f t Christmas came a few days early for the American people this week. Its not the Jelly of the Month Club, but it is a gift that will keep on giving the whole year. This week, Congress passed comprehensive tax reform, giving our tax system its first overhaul in more than 30 years. While there are many aspects to tax reform, throughout the legislative process, I have fought for what I know is important to the families and communities in the 15th District. Like many, when the original tax reform bill was introduced, I had concerns about the elimination of the tax exemption for graduate student tuition waivers. This important part of our tax code helps students at universities across the country including Ohio University and Ohio State University by exempting reduced tuition from being taxed as income. Many universities waive tuition costs for students who work as teaching or research assistants while attending graduate school. For some, this is the only way they can afford to pursue graduate degrees. However, without the tuition waiver provision, any discount in tuition would be considered taxable income, putting a great financial burden on our graduate students. Thats why I fought to preserve the tax exemption on graduate student tuition waivers and I am proud it is maintained in the final passed version of tax reform. With this provision preserved, students can have the opportunity to attend graduate school without the burden of being taxed for the additional work they do to offset the cost of tuition. I also fought successfully to expand the child tax credit for working parents in our country. As a parent, I know firsthand that raising children comes with expenses. From medical expenses, to new clothes, to just putting more food on the table, parents need all the help we can give them. The tax reform bill, as passed, will expand the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000, giving working families relief and support so they can provide for their children. Another important provision I worked to keep intact is the historic tax credit. No matter the size of the town or city, historic buildings on the national register are often the centerpiece of a community. It is important that we protect and preserve these historic landmarks for future generations. For many communities, the historic tax credit is relied upon to help with downtown restoration projects to ensure the integrity of the buildings is maintained while being functional. It was beneficial to our local communities that this tax credit was maintained in the final legislation. Finally, I was proud to work to ensure the low-income housing tax credit was preserved in tax reform. Thousands of families, individuals, and seniors rely on low-income housing for a safe and affordable place to live. Maintaining the low-income housing tax credit will ensure businesses can continue investing in these important projects so homes will still be available to those who are most in need. These are just a few of the provisions in the tax reform bill that will help families and communities across the country. Im proud to have supported tax reform because these issues will specifically help the 15th district. Tax reform is truly the gift that will not only keep on giving the whole year, it will keep on giving for years to come. To learn more about how tax reform will help you and your family, visit fairandsimple.gop. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398775,Freedom of Press Caucus Urges Secretary Tillerson to Pressure Burma to Release Two Reuters Journalists,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steven Chabot,C000266,chabot.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Reps. Steve Chabot (OH-01) and Adam Schiff (CA-28), today along with six other colleagues from the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press, wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson requesting that the State Department urge Burma to drop all charges and immediately release Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who could face up to 14 years in prison for their investigative journalism. Their reporting has extensively focused on the Rakhine States refugee crisis, where over 600,000 Rohingya, including at least 250,000 children, have fled into neighboring Bangladesh, as they sought refuge from assault, rape, and murder by Burmese state security forces. The journalists arrested have reportedly been charged for unlawful possession of military documents pertaining to the violence in Rakhine State. In the letter, the eight members write: Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo arrest shows that the Burmese military is attempting to silence the atrocities it cannot deny. By helping to expose ongoing violence in Rakhine State violence the Burmese military has denied journalists have helped keep international pressure on Burma to end its violence. That is why we believe that press freedom is essential to ending this crisis and that working to free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo will further American efforts to bring a resolution to the crisis. To that end, we ask you to use all available U.S. diplomatic tools to urge the Government of Burma to drop all charges and immediately release Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. Schiff and Chabot were joined in the letter by six of their colleagues: Rep. Joseph Crowley (NY-14), Rep. Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. (NY-11), Rep. David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Rep. Barbara Comstock (VA-10), Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-33). The full letter can be found below: Dear Secretary Tillerson, As Members of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press, we are deeply troubled by the recent arrest in Burma of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. These arrests come amid a growing crackdown on press freedom, which is having a grave impact on the ability of journalists to cover Burmas military persecution of the Rohingya in Rakhine State. Both journalists have reported extensively on the Rakhine States refugee crisis, where over 600,000 Rohingya, including at least 250,000 children, have fled into neighboring Bangladesh, as they sought refuge from assault, rape, and murder by Burmese state security forces. The journalists arrested have reportedly been charged for unlawful possession of military documents pertaining to the violence in Rakhine State. They have put themselves at great personal risk to report on the Rohingya crisis and could face up to 14 years in prison for their investigative journalism. We applaud the actions you have taken so far to help resolve the crisis in Burma, including providing humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh, correctly characterizing the violence against the Rohingya as ethnic cleansing, and a commitment to holding Burmese military officials accountable through U.S. law, including possible targeted sanctions. As you know, the House has been actively engaged in seeking a resolution to the crisis as well. Earlier this month the House passed H.Con.Res. 90 with near-unanimous, bipartisan support to condemn the ethnic cleansing in Burma. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs is also considering the bipartisan the BURMA Act of 2017, which would enhance sanctions against those who violate human rights in Burma. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo arrest shows that the Burmese military is attempting to silence the atrocities it cannot deny. By helping to expose ongoing violence in Rakhine State violence the Burmese military has denied journalists have helped keep international pressure on Burma to end its violence. That is why we believe that press freedom is essential to ending this crisis and that working to free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo will further American efforts to bring a resolution to the crisis. To that end, we ask you to use all available U.S. diplomatic tools to urge the Government of Burma to drop all charges and immediately release Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-and-house-democrats-send-letter-support-special-counsel-robert,Kaptur and House Democrats send letter of support for Special Counsel Robert Mueller,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and 171 Members of Congress, sent a letter to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Rod J. Rosenstein, to express their support for the investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III. The effort was led by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43). We write to express our support for the work of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III, and to urge you to ensure that he be allowed to continue his investigation unfettered by political influence or threats to his authority to its natural and appropriate conclusion based on the law, the facts, and the evidence, the Members wrote. Kaptur spoke at a press conference which you can watch here (Kaptur speaks at the 10 min mark). Special Counsel Mueller was appointed by Mr. Rosenstein on May 17, 2017 to lead an investigation into important matters arising out of the 2016 elections, including any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump. However, despite Mr. Muellers record of integrity, established through his previous service as the FBI Director for 12 years over two presidential administrations, and the clear progress that Mr. Mueller is making in his investigation, the partisan media, Republican Members of Congress and President Donald Trump, himself, have attempted to undermine Mr. Muellers investigation by advancing a false narrative that Special Counsel Muellers investigation is biased. Read the full text of the letter here: 2017-12-21 Letter from 171 MOCs to DOJ Rosenstein.pdf",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-congratulates-winners-ninth-congressional-district-invitational,Kaptur congratulates winners of Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Exhibition today at Light Up Toledo Event,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Toledo, OH Today Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), congratulated Ms. Micah Inak of Lakewood High School, Lakewood, OH and Mr. Ben Car of Bowsher High School, Toledo, OH for receiving the Downtown Toledo Coffee Cup Award as a result of their participation in the Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Exhibition. The awards will be presented today at 4:00 p.m. at Claro Coffee Bar, 1801 Adams Street, Toledo, Ohio. The student artwork we received this year showed great skill from many young artists throughout the region, and I commend each of our participants for their creativity and initiative. said Kaptur. Micahs and Bens work stood out among the many compelling pieces we reviewed. The Arts uplift all of us and we are fortunate to have such talent in the Ninth Congressional District. The Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Exhibition is hosted each year by Rep. Kaptur and The Arts Commission. The theme of todays Art Loop is Light Up Toledo in celebration of the holiday season. The artwork of the winners of the Art Exhibition will be on display, as well as artwork and creative talent by local artists throughout various venues in Downtown Toledo that are showcased during the Art Loop. The public is encouraged to attend the Art Loop today to support local artists. Below are the coffee cups that have been created for the winners of the Downtown Toledo Coffee Cup Award which will be on display at the event today. The title of Ms. Inaks work is I Have Rivers On My Mind. The title of Mr. Cars work is Puzzled.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AD50AED5-9FB4-4CD2-9E16-0268D8657731,Renacci Pushes to Preserve the Doctor-Patient Relationship by Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today Congressman Renacci reintroduced H.R. 4701, the Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior (CARES) Act. This bipartisan bill will reduce barriers to health care services for our nations seniors by eliminating the three-day inpatient hospital stay requirement for Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. Eliminating the three-day stay requirement is supported by both hospitals and nursing homes throughout the country. The Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior (CARES) Act will enhance access to quality care for our nations seniors by protecting the doctor-patient relationship and removing Washington red tape as a barrier to their health care, saidRep. Jim Renacci. Beneficiaries in need of skilled nursing care are typically the frailest and oldest of the Medicare population, and they should not be shut out of these critical rehabilitation services due to Washington over-regulation. As a former operator and manager of long-term care facilities in Northeast Ohio, I remain committed to finding bipartisan solutions that will allow Ohio seniors to receive the treatment they need at the time they need it without Washington standing in the way. Background: Enacted in 1965 by Congress, in order to meet Medicare criteria for coverage of post-acute care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF), patients must first have an inpatient hospital stay of three or more consecutive days, not counting the day of discharge. Medicare covers up to 100 days of SNF care per episode of carebut theres a catch following a qualifying three-day inpatient hospital stay. In July 2013, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reported that beneficiaries had 617,702 hospital stays that lasted at least three nights, but did not include three inpatient nights; these beneficiaries did not qualify for SNF services under Medicare. The OIG report concluded that CMS should consider how to ensure that beneficiaries with similar post-hospital care needs have the same access to and cost-sharing for SNF services. In September 2013, the Commission on Long-Term Care called for the enactment of legislation to eliminate the requirement of a prior three-day inpatient stays in an SNF. The Commission noted that with declining hospital lengths of stay, many inpatient stays that require post-acute skilled nursing may not qualify for coverage. The Commission report also included the fact that without the three-day inpatient stay, patients who should be transferred for a short post-acute stay in a SNF would not be eligible for coverage. This legislation not only better serves patients with more accurately designated care, but also reduces costs to our already stressed healthcare system by relying less on the expensive inpatient hospital setting, and shifting the weight more towards patient-centered care settings such as in an SNF.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CC7C3611-9775-4AE1-A219-03EFE86D6A5C,Renacci Leads Charge to Protect our Most Vulnerable and Frail Patient Population from CMS Cuts,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Congressman Renacciled a letteralong with 19other members from both sides of the aisle in Congress to Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi requesting a delay on the implementation of 340B cuts before the end of the year. The 340B program has been critical in supporting our safety-net providers in helping low income and vulnerable individuals across the country access affordable and comprehensive health care services. This past year, I have advocated on many occasions the importance of protecting our most vulnerable and frail patient populations by requesting a reconsideration of these cuts that CMS is making. While I acknowledge the concerns of the growth in spending in this program and lack in transparency, the across-the-board cuts that CMS is making will disproportionately affect our nations safety net hospitals and potentially put our patients at risk. With the cuts set take effect in January, a delay in the rule is a compromise to allow Congress to have time to examine the program while delivering relief to our safety-net hospitals. Read full letter with signatures HERE",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://timryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-tim-ryan-votes-against-continuing-resolution-and-inadequate-aid,Congressman Tim Ryan Votes Against Continuing Resolution and Inadequate Aid Package,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Congressman Tim Ryan today voted against the Continuing Resolution and legislation that inadequately funds disaster aid. As we continue to lurch from short-term funding bill to short-term funding bill, attempting to avert a last minute Congressional created crisis, the Republican majority continues to prove itself unable to govern. We need to be making strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and our national defensesomething these continuing resolutions do not allow. I cannot in good conscience vote for more temporary fixes that damage our ability to invest in our own future, especially without assurances that Congress will take up a permanent solution for the DACA program. The same goes with the inadequate disaster relief supplemental aid legislation, which was woefully insufficient. The Governor of Puerto Rico previously requested $94 billion just for its recovery efforts, but this measure only provided $81 billion to be split between Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also included an unacceptably low amount of funding to combat the ever-growing opioid epidemic. There were 63,600 overdose deaths in 2016, far more than the 58,000 deaths in the entire Vietnam War. Congress must get serious about the funding needed to turn the tide of this crisis, said Congressman Ryan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-votes-against-continuing-resolution-and-inadequate-aid-package,Congressman Tim Ryan Votes Against Continuing Resolution and Inadequate Aid Package,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Congressman Tim Ryan today voted against the Continuing Resolution and legislation that inadequately funds disaster aid. As we continue to lurch from short-term funding bill to short-term funding bill, attempting to avert a last minute Congressional created crisis, the Republican majority continues to prove itself unable to govern. We need to be making strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and our national defensesomething these continuing resolutions do not allow. I cannot in good conscience vote for more temporary fixes that damage our ability to invest in our own future, especially without assurances that Congress will take up a permanent solution for the DACA program. The same goes with the inadequate disaster relief supplemental aid legislation, which was woefully insufficient. The Governor of Puerto Rico previously requested $94 billion just for its recovery efforts, but this measure only provided $81 billion to be split between Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also included an unacceptably low amount of funding to combat the ever-growing opioid epidemic. There were 63,600 overdose deaths in 2016, far more than the 58,000 deaths in the entire Vietnam War. Congress must get serious about the funding needed to turn the tide of this crisis, said Congressman Ryan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/multimedia/watch/brown-takes-to-senate-floor-to-demand-funding-extension-for-chip,Brown Takes To Senate Floor to Demand Funding Extension for Chip,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If youre afraid you might be a victim of the Equifax data breach, Senator Brown encourages you to visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus website for more information and resources www.consumerfinance.gov. For information on how to help recovery efforts for recent hurricanes, go to www.fema.gov",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/as-ohio-tops-overdose-list-brown-calls-for-passage-of-his-bipartisan-bill-to-keep-fentanyl-out-of-ohio,"As Ohio Tops Overdose List, Brown Calls For Passage of His Bipartisan Bill to Keep Fentanyl Out Of Ohio",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"CDC Releases Overdose Data for 2016, Ohio Has Second Highest Death Rate by Drug Overdose in Nation; Browns Bipartisan INTERDICT Act Passed House, Awaits Senate Action Thursday, December 21, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called for Senate passage of his bipartisan bill to keep deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl out of Ohio as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data showing Ohio had the second highest death rate by drug overdose in the U.S in 2016. The CDC data reveals Ohios age-adjusted drug overdose death rate was 39.1 per 100,000 in 2016, second only to West Virginia. The report pointed to the rise in fentanyl as a major drive of drug-related deaths. Browns bill to help law enforcement detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. has passed the House and awaits action by the Senate. BrownsINTERDICT Actwould provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with additional hi-tech screening equipment and lab resources to detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. This report confirms what too many Ohioans already know the opioid epidemic is devastating our communities, said Brown. Law enforcement officers need every tool available to keep fentanyl out of the country and off of Ohio streets. This week, the FOP sent a letter to Senate leadership calling for passage of Browns bill to help law enforcement officers as they work to keep deadly synthetic opioids from entering the country. Browns bill is also supported by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Brown is supporting Portmans STOP Act, which is also endorsed by law enforcement. The two bills work together to help block the deadly synthetic opioid from reaching Ohio communities. During a Senate Finance Committee Hearing in October, Brown secured a commitment from CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to work with Brown to make sure customs agents have the equipment to identify fentanyl and keep the deadly drug out of Ohio. Browns bill would authorize $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities, and personnel for 24x7 lab support. The money will be used to: Provide more portable chemical screening devices at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories. Provide CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities including scientists available during all operational hours to interpret screening test results from the field. Providing CBP with more screening devices and lab support will not only stop more Fentanyl from coming into the U.S., it will also protect more agents in the field from exposure to dangerous substances. Brown is also leading legislation with Portman to increase access to treatment for opioid addiction. The Medicaid CARE Act would modify current law to allow Medicaid coverage for up to 40 beds at accredited residential addiction treatment facilities for up to 60 consecutive days. Medicaid covers 50 percent of all addiction treatment in Ohio, so lifting this cap is critical to ensuring that Ohioans on Medicaid get care. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-congress-should-stay-in-town-do-our-jobs,"Brown: Congress Should Stay in Town, Do Our Jobs",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Calls for Passage of CHIP Funding, Pensions Fix before Breaking for Christmas; So-Called Three-Month CHIP Extension Doesnt Provide Enough Funding to Cover All Kids Thursday, December 21, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said today that instead of going on Christmas break, Congress should stay in Washington until members do their jobs and pass a long-term extension of the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and secure the pensions of Ohio workers. Brown pointed out that the so-called three-month extension of CHIP, also known as Healthy Start in Ohio, doesnt provide enough funding to actually cover all children and pregnant women in every state for a full three months. And, because the bill does nothing to provide certainty for states, parents will continue getting letters that their children may lose insurance. Congress hasnt done its job all year long, and now Leader McConnell wants to pass another short term band aid and go on Christmas vacation,said Brown.Meanwhile, families are living in fear that their children are going to lose health insurance and retired workers are headed into Christmas without any security that the pensions theyve earned will be there next year. Congress needs to stay here and do our jobs. This afternoon on the Senate floor, Brown called on Congress to extend funding for CHIP for five years rather than the current three-month extension proposed by Congressional leadership. In October,Browns bipartisan bill to extend funding for CHIPfor five years passed the Senate Finance Committee, but Senate leadership has yet to take up the bill on the Senate floor. Brown has also called for passage of theButch Lewis Act, his legislation to ensure that Ohio retirees can keep the pensions theyve earned. His legislation has been consistently named as a top priority by Senate and House leadership. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-takes-to-senate-floor-to-demand-funding-extension-for-chip,Brown Takes to Senate Floor to Demand Funding Extension for CHIP,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator has Led Efforts to Extend Funding for Program that Insures More Than 209,000 Ohio Children Thursday, December 21, 2017 **Production Quality Video Available HERE** **Production Quality Audio Available HERE** WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) took to the Senate floor to call on Congress to extend funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as Healthy Start in Ohio, for five years rather than the current three-month extension proposed by Congressional leadership. In October, Browns bipartisan bill to extend funding for CHIP for five years passed the Senate Finance Committee, but Senate leadership has yet to take up the bill on the Senate floor. This body passed massive, permanent tax cuts for corporations, but cant give families more certainty than three months? Its past time for folks in Congress with taxpayer-funded health care, to do their jobs and extend CHIP, so families dont pay the price, said Brown. The Affordable Care Act reauthorized CHIP through 2019, but Congress allowed funding for the program to expire in September. Brown has led Senate efforts to extend funding for CHIP, which is also called Healthy Start in Ohio. Healthy Start insures more than 209,000 Ohio children. Brown highlighted the story of Noble Lett on the Senate Floor. Noble was born with a rare genetic disorder, and while the Letts insurance plan would only cover part of Nobles treatment, because of CHIP, Noble has access to the high-quality healthcare he deserves. CHIP, which was created in 1997, is a joint state-federal health insurance program for low to moderate income children and pregnant women who are not Medicaid eligible. Within three years of its initial passage, all 50 states opted into the program, providing millions with access to health insurance. Nationwide, CHIP provides access to comprehensive, affordable coverage to more than nine million children and Healthy Start helps cover more than 209,000 Ohioans. Brown led efforts in the Senate to protect CHIP and the vital coverage it provides children and pregnant women nationwide in 2015. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 extended funding for CHIP for two years, through September of 2017. In September, Brown joined families in Cincinnati and Cleveland to call for funding extension for CHIP. Earlier this year, Brown also secured a commitment from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma to work with Brown on extending CHIP. Brown was the lead sponsor of the Protecting and Retaining Our Childrens Health Insurance Program (PRO-CHIP) Act of 2015 in the Senate, which would have extended the program through 2019. Text of Browns remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below: Yesterday, a bunch of members of Congress with healthcare paid for by taxpayers were at the White House celebrating a handout for corporations that send jobs overseas while families here in America were getting letters in the mail saying their kids are about to get kicked off of their health insurance through CHIP. Thats right, because Congress hasnt done its job, families in some states have already started getting letters bringing devastating news: their children could lose their health care in the New Year. A new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families reports that 1.9 million children could lose coverage in January next month if Congress doesnt act. Another one million could lose insurance by the end of February. Parents are panicked and confused. Think about those families, getting that letter in the mail. It should be a joyful time of year for families, spending time with family and enjoying the holidays. Imagine checking your mailbox, expecting Christmas cards, and finding that letter instead. Imagine having to tell your daughter, Im sorry, Santa probably isnt bringing much this year, and we wont have many presents under the tree. Imagine trying to not let your child see the worry in your eyes, because you just got this letter in the mail, and now youre wondering how youll afford to take her to the doctor when she gets sick. These are often families with two working parents, who arent lucky enough to work for companies that offer health insurance coverage for their entire family. Or theyre families with children who have special needs, like Crystal Lett and her son Noble, a first-grader in Dublin, Ohio. I met Crystal and Noble this spring, when they came all the way from Ohio to talk about what CHIP means to their family. Noble was born with a rare genetic disorder. He needs three therapy sessions a week, and daily hormone injections, to treat his condition. His medications run $1,500 a month. I talked to Crystal at the end of last month. She and her family are scared to death about what will happen to them if Congress doesnt save CHIP. She said, CHIP is the difference between living a middle class lifestyle, or being part of the poverty line. Congress had time to hand out massive tax cuts to the richest Americans and the biggest corporations, but doesnt have the time to help these families? Its a disgrace. This is a program that was created in a bipartisan way, that has always been bipartisan, and that still has bipartisan support today. We passed a bipartisan CHIP extension out of the Finance Committee overwhelmingly. Its ready to go. And if Republican leaders put it on the floor today, it would pass. There is no excuse for this delay that is hurting families. Right now, theres talk the House is going to pass a three-month CHIP extension. This is unacceptable. Three months provides no certainty for families. And it provides no certainty for states. States like Alabama and Virginia are already taking steps to close down their programs and freeze enrollment. They have to give families a heads up, so these parents have time to do what they can whether its try to find an alternative source of coverage, or try to fit in one more doctors appointment before their coverage lapses. Providing a three-month extension doesnt solve the problem, it just makes the situation more complicated for families and kids across the country. This body passed massive, permanent tax cuts for corporations, but cant give families more certainty than three months? I want my colleagues here in Congress to explain to Crystal and so many mothers and fathers like her why corporate tax cuts are more important than their childrens health. There are more than 209,000 Ohio children who rely on this program. Thats more than enough to fill the Buckeye football stadium twice over. Senator Hatch said last month that we were going to get this done, but now were hearing that Senator McConnell is only going to let us vote on a three month extension of the program. This is about whose side youre on. Do we work for the corporations that send our jobs overseas, or for the children who may wake up on Christmas morning without health insurance? Its past time for folks in Congress with taxpayer-funded health care, to do their jobs and extend CHIP, so families dont pay the price. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/browns-bipartisan-bill-to-keep-fentanyl-out-of-ohio-heads-to-presidents-desk,Brown’s Bipartisan Bill to Keep Fentanyl Out of Ohio Heads To President’s Desk,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Forced Senate Vote on Legislation Today After CDC Placed Ohio at Top of List for Overdose Deaths, Now He is Urging President Trump to Sign the Bill into Law Thursday, December 21, 2017 **Download Production Quality Footage HERE** WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed U.S. Sen. Sherrod Browns bipartisan bill to keep illegal fentanyl out of Ohio, sending it to President Trumps desk to become law. Passage of the bill comes just as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data showing Ohio had the second highest death rate by drug overdose in the U.S in 2016. After months of Brown and law enforcement groups calling for passage of Browns bill, Brown joined his colleague Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) to force a vote on the legislation, which will help law enforcement detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. The bill has already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and now goes to President Trumps desk for his signature. BrownsINTERDICT Actwill provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with additional hi-tech screening equipment and lab resources to detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. Ohioans are dying from overdoses at the second highest rate in the country. Families are being torn apart. Children are losing parents. Parents are losing sons and daughters. And we know fentanyl is one of the main culprits, said Brown. I urge President Trump to sign our bipartisan bill into law immediately, so we can give law enforcement the tools they need to keep this drug out of Ohio and off our streets. This week, the FOP sent a letter to Senate leadership calling for passage of Browns bill to help law enforcement officers as they work to keep deadly synthetic opioids from entering the country. Browns bill is also supported by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Brown is supporting Portmans STOP Act, which is also endorsed by law enforcement. The two bills work together to help block the deadly synthetic opioid from reaching Ohio communities. During a Senate Finance Committee Hearing in October, Brown secured a commitment from CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to work with Brown to make sure customs agents have the equipment to identify fentanyl and keep the deadly drug out of Ohio. Browns bill will authorize $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities, and personnel for 24x7 lab support. The money will be used to: Provide more portable chemical screening devices at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories. Provide CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities including scientists available during all operational hours to interpret screening test results from the field. Providing CBP with more screening devices and lab support will not only stop more Fentanyl from coming into the U.S., it will also protect more agents in the field from exposure to dangerous substances. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/national-law-enforcement-group-joins-call-for-immediate-passage-of-browns-bill-to-keep-illegal-fentanyl-out-of-ohio,National Law Enforcement Group Joins Call for Immediate Passage of Brown’s Bill to Keep Illegal Fentanyl out of Ohio,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Letter Follows CDC Data Showing Ohio Has Second Highest Death Rate by Drug Overdose in Nation - Browns Bipartisan Bill Passed House, Awaits Action by Senate Thursday, December 21, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI), a nonprofit law enforcement organization, sent a letter to Senate leadership urging immediate passage of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Browns bipartisan bill to keep deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl out of Ohio. Browns bill, the INTERDICT Act, has passed the House and is currently awaiting action in the Senate. PAARIs letter follows data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing Ohio had the second highest death rate by drug overdose in the U.S in 2016. The Fraternal Order of Police also sent a letter to Senate Leaders yesterday calling for passage of Browns bill, the INTERDICT Act. Now is the time to act. This holiday season too many seats at too many tables are empty due to the unrelenting flow of fentanyl into the United States. We must give our law enforcement personnel the tools necessary to stop this flow. We can do that, in part, by getting the INTERDICT Act to the Presidents desk this year. That is why PAARI strongly supports this important legislation which will give U.S. Customs and Border Protection the additional resources it needs to fight the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States, wrote Chief Frederick Ryan, PAARI Board of Directors Co-Chair. Several state and national law enforcement organizations, including the Ohio FOP and the Buckeye Sheriffs Association, have endorsed Browns bill.Browns bill is also supported by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Brown is supporting Portmans STOP Act, which is also endorsed by law enforcement. The two bills work together to help block the deadly synthetic opioid from reaching Ohio communities. During a Senate Finance Committee Hearing in October, Brown secured a commitment from CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to work with Brown to make sure customs agents have the equipment to identify fentanyl and keep the deadly drug out of Ohio. Browns bill would authorize $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities, and personnel for 24x7 lab support. The money will be used to: Provide more portable chemical screening devices at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories. Provide CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities including scientists available during all operational hours to interpret screening test results from the field. Providing CBP with more screening devices and lab support will not only stop more Fentanyl from coming into the U.S., it will also protect more agents in the field from exposure to dangerous substances. Full text of PAARIs letter to Senate leadership can be found here and below: Dear Senators McConnell and Schumer, The Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI) is a nonprofit organization that trains and supports more than 360 law enforcement agencies that have launched programs that serve as a pre-arrest bridge to treatment. PAARI was pleased to offer its strong support for S.708, the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which was introduced by Senators Markey, Rubio, Brown, and Capito. This bill will expand U.S. Customs and Border Protections ability to use technology to detect fentanyl and other narcotics coming into the United States from abroad and which are causing a public health epidemic in our communities. While the Senate has yet to act on S. 708, the House of Representatives took action and on 25 October 2017, passed companion legislation HR 2142, by a vote of 412-3. As this year draws to a close, we urge the Senate to take up and pass the House version of INTERDICT this year. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with more than 54,000 overdose deaths reported in 2015. Almost 33,000 of those overdose deaths roughly 60 percent involved opioids, including prescription opioid pain relievers, heroin, or the synthetic opioid fentanyl. In particular, as the CDCs recent report has just shown, fentanyl and its analogs are becoming increasingly responsible for these overdose deaths. Fentanyl is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. It is dangerous and potentially life-threatening to simply touch or accidentally inhale the white powdery substance. Sometimes, unbeknownst to the user, fentanyl is often mixed with heroin or other substances, or formed to resemble prescription opioid pills. Most illicit fentanyl comes to the United States from China and Mexico, delivered through the mail or express consignment carriers, or smuggled across the southwest border of the United States. The INTERDICT Act will help the United States better identify and stop these dangerous substances from landing in communities across America. Now is the time to act. This holiday season too many seats at too many tables are empty due to the unrelenting flow of fentanyl into the United States. We must give our law enforcement personnel the tools necessary to stop this flow. We can do that, in part, by getting the INTERDICT Act to the Presidents desk this year. That is why PAARI strongly supports this important legislation which will give U.S. Customs and Border Protection the additional resources it needs to fight the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4794FC47-DA95-4A46-96CD-A4B50D39DC6A,"On CNN, Portman Praises Ambassador Nikki Haley After U.N. Vote on Jerusalem",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"During an interview on CNN today, Senator Portman, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, discussed todays vote at the United Nations (U.N.) condemning the United States decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and praised Ambassador Nikki Haley standing up for the United States and our allies. Portman believes that Jerusalem has always been the capital of Israel and has long supported moving the U.S. embassy there, including voting for the bipartisan Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995. Excerpts can be found below and a video can be found here. PORTMAN PRAISES AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY The people I represent who are paying those dues to the U.N. And again about one-third of the peace keeping is paid for by our taxpayers, they deserve to have representation in the U.N., which is Nikki Haley, that stands up for us. I think its totally appropriate. I do think it should be an aggregation of all positions, in other words, not just this one position, youve got to look at our alliances around the world to determine whos helping us and whos not. That should be one of the factors thats considered. PORTMAN ON THE U.N. VOTE REGARDING JERUSALEM I think it reflects a continued effort by the United Nations and frankly a double standard with regard to Israel. I am concerned about it, but its not surprising. The whole issue of boycotts, divestments, sanctions, BDS is something that Senator Ben Cardin and I have been involved in for some time on, trying to get the United Nations, including the Human Rights commission and other groups, to understand that Israel is being held to a different standard than other countries. You mentioned some of the countries that violate human rights. You missed Iran and North Korea by the way. You know, its ironic that here we are talking about the move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as being the seminal issue in the Middle East peace when there are so many other issues that need to be addressed. As you mentioned in Syria, as you mentioned there are human rights violations going on in other countries in the Middle East as well that are far more important for the U.N. to be taking a look at.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4F36F9BD-6C11-443B-9904-ED90DD0DBE11,"Portman Urges IRS to Move Quickly to Change Withholding Tables, Deliver Historic Tax Cuts",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Following passage of historic tax cuts, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) is urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to move quickly to change its withholding tables and deliver these tax cuts as quickly as possible. On behalf of the hard-working Americans across the nation who are eager to see their paychecks reflect the benefits of this historic legislation, Portman said in a letter to the IRS, I request that you expedite any requisite updates to the relevant guidance on withholding. NOTE: Following is the full letter, which can also be found here. December 20, 2017 David Kautter Acting Commissioner Internal Revenue Service 1111 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20224 Dear Commissioner Kautter: I write you following the recent passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a historic piece of legislation that will reform the United States Internal Revenue Code with the aim to provide much-needed tax relief to the middle class and improve the ability of domestic businesses to compete in the global economy. In order to realize these important reforms, particularly those affecting working individuals who bring home a paycheck every month, the IRS must take immediate action to update the relevant guidance documents for employers that are necessary for the administration of payroll in compliance with federal law. Along these lines, I was pleased to see the IRS issue a statement on December 13 indicating that the organization is already taking initial steps to prepare guidance on withholding for 2018. On behalf of the hard-working Americans across the nation who are eager to see their paychecks reflect the benefits of this historic legislation, I request that you expedite any requisite updates to the relevant guidance on withholding. As the IRS proceeds with such updates, please keep me apprised of the process so that I may relay to my constituents what they ought to expect in the coming year and when to expect it. In particular, please provide me the plan for administering the new tax law changes, including your planned implementation dates for sending employers the new guidance documents on withholding. I appreciate your help in this matter. Sincerely, ______________________________ Rob Portman United States Senator ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5378BD47-F538-45EE-88D8-0698A6ED2229,"In a New Video, Portman Highlights Historic Tax Reform Legislation Congress Recently Passed",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today unveiled a new video highlighting the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, historic tax reform legislation that is on its way to the presidents desk. The once-in-a-generation legislation will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers. Portman released the following statement on the tax reform bill: Our plan gives middle-class families a tax cut so they can keep more of their hard-earned money; its going to reform the business tax code to create more jobs and create higher wages while making American workers more competitive in the global marketplace; and it will level the playing field internationally, creating a fairer tax system that encourages jobs and investments to occur right here in this country rather than sending them overseas. This bill is made in America, for America, and I look forward to the president signing it into law soon. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8D34E77A-159F-4A0D-9725-B938E3BEF4CA,Portman Statement on CDC Report Confirming Significant Increase in Drug-Related Deaths,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Portman Calls on Senate to Pass STOP Act to Help Address the Epidemic WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the Centers for Disease Control released its 2016 mortality data report and found that there were 63,632 drug-related deaths last year, an increase of 21 percent from 2015.The report shows that nationally, overdose rates are 19.8 per 100,000. In Ohio, the rate is double that at 39.1 per 100,000. In fact, Ohio ranked second among all states for drug-related deaths with fatalities taking 4,539 lives. Deaths specifically associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids doubled. U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement on the report and impact of the heroin and prescription drug epidemic: Im saddened by new statistics from the CDC, which confirm that drug-related deaths continue to rise across the country and that fentanyl continues to be a primary driver in these deaths. With the rate of overdose deaths in Ohio double the national rate, this fight is personal for me and my fellow Ohioans. I will continue to fight in the new year for common-sense legislation like the STOP Act to help stop the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic drugs into the country and our local communities so that every American can reach their God-given potential. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill as quickly as possible. NOTE:Portmans bipartisan Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act will help stop dangerous drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States. President Trumps opioid commission endorsed the STOP Act in November. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has also endorsed the bill as well. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F8E3170F-24F4-481E-BF56-2B705969098F,"Day After Vote, Portman Discusses Historic Tax Cuts on Fox Business",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"During an interview of Fox Business today, Senator Portman, who served as a conferee on the House-Senate tax reform conference committee, discussed how these historic tax cuts will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Portman, who has held six tax reform roundtables in Ohio with local business leaders in recent months, has been vocal on the national stage calling for tax reform, including during recent interviews on CBS This Morning, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, and NBCs Meet The Press twice, as well as recently in op-eds in the Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Delaware Gazette, and Cincinnati Enquirer. The tax reform effort is widely supported by Ohio small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and other state and local organizations. Excerpts can be found below and a video can be found here. PORTMAN PRAISES ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO PASS TAX REFORM PresidentTrump and his administrationworked really well with us onthis tax reform bill and theydo deserve credit.As you know, Ive worked on taxreform for many yearsincluding trying with theObama administration to dealwith the huge problems in ourtax code on the internationalside and corporate side.We are losing jobs andinvestment every day nowthreetimes as many Americancompanies were bought byforeign companies last year.They indicated interestbecause it's an obviousproblem and yet were neverable to pull the trigger andget to work with us to actually solvethe problem.We now have a more competitivetax code that will helpworkers in my home state of Ohio.They deserve to be commendedfor that. PORTMAN ON HOW TAX REFORM WILL HELP THE MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES Even Democrats who areopposed to the bill admit thatmost people are going to get atax cut here.In fact, some of the Democratswho have been most against thebill when they spoke on the floor said that twothirds of people would geta tax cut that is greater than$100.This is middle-class familiesaround Ohio.The Democrats numbers just arentaccurate in terms of theamount of tax relief thats going outand they acknowledge that.What they do say is that theythink the tax cuts in thefirst eight years while realshould be made permanent.We agree with that. We Republicans agree with that. But we haveto live under the constraintsof the Senate budget rulesjust as what happened in 2001and 2003.In both of those cases, as youknow, the tax cuts wereextended for about 95 percent of those taxpayers.I hope that will happenagain. PORTMAN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHILDRENS HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM I think youre absolutelyright.Nobody wants a governmentshutdown.It doesnt help the economy orthe taxpayer because when wedo one of these governmentshutdowns we end up comingback and spending moreafter-the-fact.I think there is a commitmentto getting it done.Unfortunately, what were notdoing is dealing with some of theissues we ought to beaddressing.The Childrens HealthInsurance Program, for instance, bipartisan, its already come out of committee.I think we ought to includethat and deal with that issuenow andits a five-year authorization. I think Republicans, having just had agreat victory on this tax reform and tax cutbill, ought to be sure that we also leave towndealing with the spendingissues and do some substantivework in addition on thehealthcare front which we cando. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398562,"Latta Votes to Send Tax Reform to Presidents Desk; Employees to Benefit From Bonuses, Increased Wages",2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) voted to send tax reform to President Trumps desk after the bill passed the U.S. Senate last night. After the passage of the bill, companies around the country began announcing benefits that employees will receive due to the historic tax legislation.Ohios Fifth Third Bank has announced that they will pay more than 13,500 employees a $1,000 bonus and will raise the minimum wage for their workers to $15 dollar per hour. The bonuses will not be provided to senior managers and top executives. The news comes on the heels of similar announcements by AT&T and Boeing. AT&T said they will be providing $1,000 bonuses to 200,000 employees and are investing an additional $1 billion in the United States in 2018. Boeing will invest $300 million in workplace development, facilities, and charitable giving endeavors such as employee gift-match programs. Wells Fargo also announced that they will be increasing their minimum wage to $15 and providing $400 million in philanthropic contributions in 2018. The President hasnt even signed his name, and were already seeing what a big win this bill is for American workers, said Latta. Despite unprecedented attacks from those supporting the status quo, I voted for this legislation because I knew it would mean more money in the pockets of middle-class Ohioans. Starting in February, taxpayers are going to have a bigger paycheck because of this bill. In addition, were already seeing the benefit from from companies that are choosing to grow, expand, and invest in their workforce. With Christmas less than a week away, the announcements by these businesses to pass the savings from tax reform on to their employees and their families is a very welcome gift. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399404,Supporting an Open Internet,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Free and open internet should never be a partisan issue. Everyone uses the internet, regardless of their political affiliation, and therefore it is difficult to find someone who is opposed to maintaining access for all consumers on an equal basis. However, where we do not have consensus is on how best to preserve the ideas embodied by net neutrality. share: f t Free and open internet should never be a partisan issue. Everyone uses the internet, regardless of their political affiliation, and therefore it is difficult to find someone who is opposed to maintaining access for all consumers on an equal basis. However, where we do not have consensus is on how best to preserve the ideas embodied by net neutrality. Prior to 2015, the internet was governed by what is referred to as a light-touch framework. Classified as an information service, the internet was regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and instances of monopolistic behavior and rule breaking were handled on a case-by-case basis. This allowed innovation to flourish and the internet to become the incredible power that it is today. For the last two years, the internet has been reclassified as a Title II utility service regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and was subject to the same standards that were used to regulate rotary phones in the 1930s. In todays increasingly globalized and connected world, the internet has influenced virtually every factor of our daily lives, including how we communicate with loved ones, conduct business, or how our automobiles and public transit keep us safe on the roads. This technological marvel is something that wasnt even imagined in the 1930s, and therefore should not be regulated the way telegraph lines, rotary phones, or gas lines are. Rather than enforcing anti-competitive practices on a case-by-case basis, Title II regulation has installed a mother-may-I regime which has delayed engineering, created confusion for innovators, and cost billions of dollars to comply with. As a result innovation has stalled, and investment in broadband dropped each of the two years under the old FCC rules. In the wake of the FCCs decision to reclassify broadband as an information service, and reversing the rules on throttling and blocking I felt that it was essential to re-implement these important provisions. Congress has the responsibility to ensure that consumers are protected from predatory actions, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not have a right to pick winners and losers or prohibit users from legal content. These standards need to be implemented with the permanency of law so that consumers are protected and not subject to the whims of unelected bureaucrats. With that in mind, I am cosponsoring legislation in an effort to prohibit throttling, and blocking of online content by ISPs. H.R. 4862 is an important piece of legislation that seeks to prohibit ISPs from preventing access to lawful internet traffic and content, and from slowing traffic based on the content, source, or destination of the information. The legislation also provides proper authority to the FCC to enforce the prohibition on throttling and blocking, and ensures the FTC maintains the ability to prosecute any anti-competitive practices as they have done for over 100 years. Ive heard from many of my constituents who do not want ISPs deciding what sites they visit, what videos they watch, or how they conduct their business online, and I agree. This bill would prohibit those sorts of monopolistic practices. Additionally, by codifying the standards for ISPs and protecting consumers through legislative action, we can prevent future administrations from politicizing the principles and open nature of the internet. Amidst the hyperbole online, what is being missed is the common ground and agreement on the principles of net neutrality that almost everyone can agree on. While much of the debate has focused on reclassification to enforce these rules using Title II, many others believe that there is no place for government intervention in business. Instead of the all or nothing approach, the legislation I support is a middle ground approach that protects consumers with codified net neutrality rules, while preventing overly burdensome and broad regulations. The bottom line is, net neutrality is important, and I am committed to preserving the principles of a fair and open internet through legislation as opposed to executive action. I do not want ISPs to create a fast lane for their preferred content. That choice should remain with consumers I will continue working on this legislation and other solutions to protect consumers and the open internet. If you have questions about net neutrality, H.R. 4862 or any other issue before Congress, do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2015, my Hilliard office at (614) 771-4968, my Lancaster office at (740) 654-2654, or my Wilmington office at (937) 283-7049. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/7-reasons-to-support-congresswoman-joyce-beatty,7 Reasons to Support Congresswoman Joyce Beatty,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"HER TERM: U.S. House, Ohio, District 3 - Incumbent Party: Democratic Tenure: January 3, 2013 - Present Term Ends: January 3, 2019 HER EXPERIENCE: 1999-2008: Ohio State Representative 1983-1992: Director, Montgomery County Department of Community Human Services HER STORY: Joyce Beatty was once named one of Ebony Magazine's 150 Most Powerful African-Americans in the United States. She is a native Ohioan who currently owns a small retail business in downtown Columbus. She has also been a professor at Sinclair Community College. Joyce is a big supporter of the Congressional Black Caucus as well as the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion. HER VIEWS: Economy: The Democratic Congresswoman is a staunch advocate for tax reform to lessen the gap between the rich and the poor in America. The Senate GOP has officially passed its tax bill, but the fight is not over yet. When it comes to the economy and taxes, Joyce opposes the Republican's recent budget resolution and disagrees with President Trump's budget request. She believes that the tax cuts would only benefit the wealthiest Americans, while depriving seniors, students, veterans, the disabled, and working families of food, housing, jobs, and more. Education: Having previously worked on the faculty of a college, Joyce is passionate about raising students to be our nations future leaders. Joyces experience working as a college instructor has given her unique insight into the need for education reform. Joyce opposes Betsy DeVos being appointed to head the U.S. Department of Education, believing she is unqualified and on track to undercut the country's public education system. Joyce also introduced a bill called the 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act, empowering school districts to engage underrepresented students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Environment: Joyce strongly believes in protecting the environment, wildlife, and our natural resources. She is a huge promoter of policies that help reduce air pollution and protect our land and water. Foreign Policy: Joyce is committed to keeping Americans safe at home and abroad. She voted for the Iran Nuclear Agreement and believes the security of our nation requires strategic planning and working together with our allies. Health Care: When it comes to health care, Joyce believes all Americans should have access to affordable health care. She is in favor of improving on the Affordable Care Act and did not support Republicans attempts to repeal and replace it. Immigration: Joyce does not support President Trumps attempts to ban Muslims and refugees from coming to the United States, seeing it as unconstitutional and un-American. She supports protecting DACA ""Dreamers"" from being deported. Women's Rights: The Democratic Congresswoman is a staunch advocate for women's rights, supporting groups like the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion. Joyce is pro-choice and supports access to safe, legal abortions without restrictions. She co-sponsored the Womens Health Protection Act which banned anti-abortion limitations on services. She has also been a longtime advocate to end human trafficking, introducing legislation that was signed into law by President Obama. This article was originally published by women.com on December 20, 2017.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-beatty-stands-with-americans-votes-no-on-gop-tax-bill,Congresswoman Beatty Stands with Americans: Votes No On GOP Tax Bill,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Beatty Stands with Americans: Votes No On GOP Tax Bill Numerous polls indicate Americans overwhelmingly oppose plan andbelieve bill primarily benefits the wealthiest Americans WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Congressional Republican tax scam bill, H.R. 1 by a vote of 224 to 201. The planwhich Americans oppose by a nearly two-to-one margin according to numerous pollswill add at least $1.4 trillion dollars to the national debt, and the Tax Policy Center concluded that 83 percent of the bills benefits will go to the wealthiest Americans in 2027. In response, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement: I support tax reform that helps Americans most in need: the middle-class, seniors, veterans, students, small business owners and hardworking families. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans and Donald Trumps hastily written, haphazard plan does the exact oppositegiving a totally unnecessary, budget-busting tax cut to the super-wealthy and well-connected at the expense of ordinary Americans. Adding insult to injury, the bills $1.4 trillion price tag will be paid for by future cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other vital programs that help our most vulnerable Americans. This bill is nothing more than a trumped-up, trickle-down scheme that overwhelmingly benefits the fortunate fewpeople like Donald Trump and his croniesand scams the rest of us. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://davidson.house.gov/2017/12/davidson-statement-disaster-spending-bill,Davidson Statement on Disaster Spending Bill,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Warren Davidson,D000626,davidson.house.gov,davidson,https://davidson.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Warren Davidson released the following statement concerning his “NO” vote on the $81 billion Hurricane and Wildlife Disaster ""Stimulus” Supplemental. Davidson does not consider this bill to be emergency aid as it almost doubles the $44 billion funding request that was initially made by President Trump. “I fully support the families in California, Texas and Florida and all those affected by the destructive force of these recent hurricanes and wildfires; but including unaccountable spending projects in disaster relief efforts is different. I can't support a bill that masquerades as emergency aid while wildly spending America down a path to bankruptcy. In its current state, this is another example of a Washington, D.C. spending spree that sticks Ohioans and others with billions in debt. We should wholeheartedly respond to help families affected by these natural disasters, but we need to do so responsibly.” H.R. 4667, the Hurricane and Wildfire Disaster Supplemental bill appropriates $81 billion in total disaster relief of which: $27.6 billion for FEMA Disaster Relief Funds, $27.8 billion for Community Development Block Grants for disaster recovery and infrastructure, $12 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $4 billion for education and public health activities, $1.6 billion for Small Business Disaster Loans, $1.5 billion for defense facility repairs, and $3.8 billion for agriculture assistance. The bill also makes additional changes that would make cotton grows eligible for the Price Loss Coverage Program and removes the annual livestock insurance cap. According to Congressional Budget Office, less than 14 percent of these funds will actually be spent by the end of September 2018. What’s more, only $67 billion of these funds will be spent by 2027. Additionally, the Community Development Block Grants alone in the bill are retroactively made available to individuals affected by natural disasters that stretch back to Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Rep. Davidson supported the reforms in the National Flood Insurance Program which passed the House in November. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://davidson.house.gov/2017/12/davidson-swats-tax-cut-critics-during-cunningham-interview,Davidson Swats Tax Cut Critics During Cunningham Interview,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Warren Davidson,D000626,davidson.house.gov,davidson,https://davidson.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - During an interview with The Bill Cunningham Show on 700 WLW in Cincinnati, Congressman Warren Davidson outlined what tax deductions Ohio families can expect to see in the new tax reform bill and confronted calls that the tax reform bill will raise the deficit. You can access the full interview here. Deficit? The economy is currently growing at 4 percent with just the expectation of tax reform. …Here’s the thing, people are concerned about the deficit. The reality is, cash revenue, as in money into the government, has only gone up when the economy is growing. When the economy is not growing then revenue into the government is going down no matter what tax rates have been over the years. When you look at the Obama years, they were saying you know, 1.5 percent is the new normal and 2 and 3 percent are long gone. Just in the expectation that we’re going to pass tax reform the economy’s growing at 4 percent. So the CBO score, which is almost always wrong and likely wrong again in this case, says this tax reform will only grow the economy by an additional .04 to .08 percent – when in reality it’s already growing at an additional 2 percent just off the expectation. When the economy’s going to grow, take home pay is going to grow. Then when you get into the cuts, the cuts that are in there are going to benefit working class Americans ... We’ve run scenario after scenario and people are going to get more take home pay out of this. Tax rates go down and take home pay goes up. …Well it’s a straightaway for everyone. Let’s say you’re married. Right now your standard deduction is $12,000 and some change. With tax reform it’s now $24,000. So effectively your first $24,000 of income your tax rate on that is zero percent. Then as you go through the rate structure, the rates get lower as you move through your taxable income. It (the new tax reform bill) keeps all the popular deductions your mortgage deductions, charitable giving, 401K savings, there was a bunch of drama about that, and the good news is that it keeps medical expenses. So let’s say you’ve had a bad year and you spent a lot of money on medical bills. This bill keeps these medical deductions. So the final product for the most part, is better then what passed either body. What about the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT); and then this bill keeps the mortgage interest deduction limit around $750,000 is this true? …Yes, the vast majority of homes in the 8th congressional district would qualify for this and the vast majority of home across Ohio would be that way too and overwhelmingly across the country. The other part is that state and local taxes like ours are not very high compared to New York or Illinois. But if you look at our state and local taxes we have kind of a high tax burden in the state and it matters. It goes not just for property taxes, it goes for income state taxes too. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/videos?ContentRecord_id=46B6D179-45AA-4722-B6E7-DD4A3DA319F7,Rep. Renacci talks upcoming tax reform vote on Fox News,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"array 1 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_CFPAGE LINE 42 RAW_TRACE at cffloor2dschedule2ecfm1427030490.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\footer\floor-schedule.cfm:42) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\footer\floor-schedule.cfm TYPE CFML 2 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 168 RAW_TRACE at cflay2eroot2ecfm46086300.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\lay.root.cfm:168) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\lay.root.cfm TYPE CFML 3 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 44 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2elayouts2eapply2ecfm1968182580.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.apply.cfm:44) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.apply.cfm TYPE CFML 4 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 55 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2elayouts2eroot2ecfm806605951.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.root.cfm:55) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.root.cfm TYPE CFML 5 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 304 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor3(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:304) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 6 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 276 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor8(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:276) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 7 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 192 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor14(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:192) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 8 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 35 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor15(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:35) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 9 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 1 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:1) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 10 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 124 RAW_TRACE at cfmyopenbox2ecfm795925253.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\[myopenbox]\myopenbox.cfm:124) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\[myopenbox]\myopenbox.cfm TYPE CFML 11 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 198 RAW_TRACE at cfindex2ecfm1379643951.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\index.cfm:198) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\index.cfm TYPE CFML",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/videos?ContentRecord_id=9755E769-2C6C-4302-AE99-6806C8613DAB,To the President's Desk: Tax Reform 2017,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"array 1 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_CFPAGE LINE 42 RAW_TRACE at cffloor2dschedule2ecfm1427030490.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\footer\floor-schedule.cfm:42) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\footer\floor-schedule.cfm TYPE CFML 2 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 168 RAW_TRACE at cflay2eroot2ecfm46086300.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\lay.root.cfm:168) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\vendor\_skins\renacci\layouts\lay.root.cfm TYPE CFML 3 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 44 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2elayouts2eapply2ecfm1968182580.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.apply.cfm:44) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.apply.cfm TYPE CFML 4 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 55 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2elayouts2eroot2ecfm806605951.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.root.cfm:55) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.layouts.root.cfm TYPE CFML 5 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 304 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor3(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:304) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 6 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 276 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor8(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:276) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 7 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 192 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor14(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:192) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 8 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 35 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400._factor15(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:35) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 9 struct COLUMN 0 ID CF_FUSEACTION.PAGES.VIEW LINE 1 RAW_TRACE at cffuseaction2epages2eview2ecfm507489400.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm:1) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\_cache\fuseaction.pages.view.cfm TYPE CFML 10 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 124 RAW_TRACE at cfmyopenbox2ecfm795925253.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\[myopenbox]\myopenbox.cfm:124) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\[myopenbox]\myopenbox.cfm TYPE CFML 11 struct COLUMN 0 ID CFINCLUDE LINE 198 RAW_TRACE at cfindex2ecfm1379643951.runPage(C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\index.cfm:198) TEMPLATE C:\inetpub\wwwroot\renacci-jimbo\public\index.cfm TYPE CFML",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/newsletters/protecting-ohio-seniors-from-medicare-cuts,Protecting Ohio Seniors from Medicare Cuts,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Wednesday, December 20, 2017 This week, Congressional Republicans are expected to blow a $1.5 trillion hole in the national debt in order to cut taxes for millionaires and corporations that send jobs overseas. Independent analysis confirms that 83 percent of the benefit of the tax bill will go to the richest one percent of Americans. And everyone else will pay for it through cuts to Medicare, border security, and help for Ohio farmers and rural communities. Thats because of a law known as PAYGO, or the Pay-As-You-Go Act. Under PAYGO, the deficit increase caused by the tax bill will trigger an automatic $25 billion cut to Medicare next year alone, and a $16.4 billion Medicare cut for Ohio over ten years. Thats your money money youve paid in over a lifetime of hard work. Because of these cuts, 2.1 million Ohio seniors on Medicare could see cuts to their care, doctors could choose to cover fewer Medicare patients or none at all, home health services will get much more expensive, and Ohioans in the health industry could lose jobs. Im calling on everyone in Congress to take immediate action to waive these PAYGO requirements so millions of Ohioans dont suffer from significant cuts to Medicare. And Medicare isnt the only program facing drastic, arbitrary cuts. U.S. Customs and Border Protections operations and support will be cut by $1.3 billion. That makes U.S. borders less secure overall and takes critical resources away from Customs and Border Patrol officers working to keep fentanyl from entering Ohio communities. Support for Ohio farmers, transportation funding, payments to the Military Retirement Fund, the Appalachian Regional Commission all of these initiatives and more that Ohioans rely on will be automatically cut if Congress doesnt act. Reckless partisan politics shouldnt be the reason Ohioans face cuts to critical programs they depend on. Congress must take immediate action to waive PAYGO and prevent these cuts.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-pushes-year-end-legislative-priorities-for-ohio-workers-and-families,Brown Pushes Year-End Legislative Priorities for Ohio Workers and Families,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Calls for Host of Ohio Initiatives, Including Extending Funding for CHIP, Bill to Secure Pensions for Retirees Wednesday, December 20, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call to outline important priorities he is working to secure on behalf of Ohio workers and families before the end of the year. Brown discussed important legislative initiatives for Congress to act on, including: The need to extend funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as Healthy Start in Ohio. CHIP covers more than 209,000 children in Ohio. Browns bipartisan bill to extend CHIP funding for five years passed the Senate Finance Committee, but has yet to be taken up by the full Senate. Efforts to ensure Ohio retirees can keep the pensions they have earned. Brown has introduced legislation that will put the pension plans back on solid footing and ensure they can meet their obligations to current retirees and workers for decades to come, without cuts. Brown named the bill after Butch Lewis, the former retired head of Teamsters Local 100 in Evendale, Ohio. Its despicable that this Congress has spent all its time on a tax bill that rewards corporations that ship Ohio jobs overseas, when we have urgent business that must be done for working families, said Brown. Its time to stop the politics, roll up our sleeves, and get to work for the people we represent, before they pay the price for Republican leaders wrong priorities. While Ohio families anxiously await action on childrens healthcare and pensions for retirees, Senate Republicans last night passed a tax reform bill that will force Ohioans to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and corporations by taking away their healthcare, driving up insurance premiums and forcing cuts to Medicare. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/fop-calls-for-immediate-passage-of-browns-bill-to-keep-illegal-fentanyl-out-of-ohio,FOP Calls for Immediate Passage of Brown’s Bill to Keep Illegal Fentanyl Out of Ohio,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Browns Bipartisan Bill Passed House, Awaits Action by Senate Wednesday, December 20, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) urged Senate leaders to pass U.S. Sen. Sherrod Browns (D-OH) bill to keep deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl out of Ohio. Citing the increasingly deadly opioid epidemic, National FOP President Chuck Canterbury pointed to Browns legislation as a priority for making sure law enforcement officers have the necessary resources as they work to keep deadly synthetic opioids from entering the country. Our law enforcement officers at the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are on the forefront of stopping the deadly influx of synthetic fentanyl into our communities from these foreign countries. The CBP needs all the resources they can get to stop this devastating flow of drugs into our country, President Canterbury wrote. Several state and national law enforcement organizations, including the Ohio FOP and the Buckeye Sheriffs Association, have endorsed Browns bill.Browns bill is also supported by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Brown is supporting Portmans STOP Act, which is also endorsed by law enforcement. The two bills work together to help block the deadly synthetic opioid from reaching Ohio communities. During a Senate Finance Committee Hearing in October, Brown secured a commitment from CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to work with Brown to make sure customs agents have the equipment to identify fentanyl and keep the deadly drug out of Ohio. Browns bill would authorize $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities, and personnel for 24x7 lab support. The money will be used to: Provide more portable chemical screening devices at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories. Provide CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities including scientists available during all operational hours to interpret screening test results from the field. Providing CBP with more screening devices and lab support will not only stop more Fentanyl from coming into the U.S., it will also protect more agents in the field from exposure to dangerous substances. Full text of FOPs letter to Senate leadership can be found here and below: Dear Senators McConnell and Schumer, I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to urge the Senate to consider H.R. 2142, the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act, which passed the House 412-3 in October. Heroin and prescription opiates have created a devastating epidemic across our country, and now these overdoses outnumber gunshot deaths and motor vehicle deaths. This epidemic has worsened with the influx of synthetic opiates like fentanyl from foreign countries, especially China and Mexico. For example, synthetic fentanyl is cheaper than normal opiates bought on the street and is 50 times more deadly than heroin. Our law enforcement officers at the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are on the forefront of stopping the deadly influx of synthetic fentanyl into our communities from these foreign countries. The CBP needs all the resources they can get to stop this devastating flow of drugs into our country. This legislation will ensure that CBP will have additional portable chemical screening devices at ports of entry, mail and express consignment facilities, and more fixed chemical screening devices at CBP laboratories. The bill will also provide CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities; including scientists to interpret the screening test results from the field. With all the additional resources CBP will be better equipped on all fronts to thwart the deadly flow of synthetic opiates across our borders. On behalf of the more than 330,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I want to thank you for helping fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic and fighting every day to rid our communities of these drugs. If I can be of any additional help to you, please feel free to contact me or my Senior Advisor, Jim Pasco, in my Washington office. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5DEE0123-E1B8-4ED3-9B71-B444D5281EF8,Portman Praises Authorization of Sale of Defensive Lethal Military Assistance for Ukraine,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-founder and chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statementregarding media reports that the president has decidedto approve lethal military equipment for Ukraine for the first time. Providinglethal weapons to Ukrainewill senda clear message that America stands with the Ukrainian people in their nearly fouryear struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.This decision--while long overdue--willreversethe Obama administration's de facto arms embargo against Ukraine and will finally allow Ukraine to access the tools it needs to defend itself. As co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and author of several provisions authorizing expanded U.S. military assistance--including lethal aid--and establishing the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, I hope that this decision opens the door to the full implementation of the bipartisan legislation Congress has already passed to help the Ukrainians defend themselves against Russian aggression."" NOTE: Portman,whoreceivedthe Ukrainian-American communitys highest honor,the Shevchenko Freedom Award,haslongledtheeffortto provide Ukraine the kind of assistance necessary to ward off Russian aggression and maintain its territorial integrity.The co-founder and co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, Portman has visited Ukraine several times, including leading a Congressional election observation mission with Senator Ben Cardin during Ukraine's Presidential election in 2014. For the past threeyears, Portman has successfully introduced amendments to the annual National Defense Authorization Act that expanded U.S. military aid to Ukraine. These provisions helped build the primary statutory framework for U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. In addition, he has repeatedly writtenletters, deliveredmultiplefloorspeeches, andpressed?senior Administration officialson the importance of providing meaningful assistance to help Ukraine stand up to Russia's military aggression. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=699EA05E-5F72-4AF2-97F0-540A13680C54,"Portman, King, Coons Introduce Domenic's Law to Provide Relief to Parents of Disabled Children",2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bill Allows Student Loan Forgiveness for Families Suffering from Childs Permanent Disability WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced Domenics Law, legislation to allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to qualify for student loan discharge. This legislation was originally part of the Senators Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act which was included within both the House and Senate versions of H.R. 1, Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. The Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act would both amend Section 437(d) of the Higher Education Act to provide student loan forgiveness to parents who take out loans for their children and also change the Internal Revenue Code to exempt individuals from the tax liability created by the forgiveness of their student loans in cases of death and disability. However, the language pertaining to student loan discharge for parents was taken out of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act because amending the Higher Education Act was not permitted under the reconciliation rules. Families like the Carducci family of Steubenville, Ohio, whose son Domenic, has become permanently and totally disabled are going through unimaginable grief, said Portman, whose interest in this issue was spurred by the outreach from constituents in Ohio. Because of this tragic disability, they cannot afford a massive student loan bill. The last thing that families in these situations need is that kind of financial burden. I remain committed to addressing this legislative issue fully, and urge my colleagues to support providing relief to families enduring such difficult circumstances. Parents whose child becomes totally and permanently disabled suffer tremendous hardship, said Coons. The federal government should not be making life more difficult by requiring parents to pay off student loans taken out on behalf of their disabled child. Im pleased that the bipartisan Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act was enacted into law to make this type of loan forgiveness tax exempt. I call on my colleagues to enact this additional provision so that its clear in statute that all families are eligible for tax-exempt student loan forgiveness due to death and disability. To ask a parent of a child who becomes permanently and totally disabled to then turn around andpay off student loans is just wrong, Senator King said today in a statement. Families facing this adversity shouldnt have to endure anyadded financial hardship. The federal government authorizes the forgiveness of certain federal loans in the case of total and permanent disability of the borrower, including: Student loan discharge for disability.Each year, thousands of Americans, including veterans, develop disabilities or chronic health conditions so severe that they are determined by the federal government to be totally and permanently disabled. In recognition of the tremendous burden of their disabilities, Congress authorized the Department of Education to forgive outstanding federal student loans held by these Americans. Many private lenders also discharge student loans as a result of total and permanent disability. Despite this law, families of individuals who suffer great personal loss or severe injury are often shocked to learn that the parents who took out student loans for their children are not eligible for the same student loan forgiveness by the federal government and private lenders. Domenics Law will: Allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to qualify for student loan discharge.The bill resolves an inconsistency in statute by authorizing the Department of Education todischarge federal loans owed by a parent of a child who becomes totally and permanently disabled. Currently parents are allowed to discharge federal student loans if their child dies, but not if their child develops a total and permanent disability. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A6A65BB8-C1C1-4709-9B6E-FF3BDC616EBF,Portman Praises Senate Passage of Historic Tax Cuts,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Following House Passage on Wednesday, the Bill Will Be Sent to President Trump for His Signature WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after the Senate passed historic tax cuts, which will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers: For years, Republicans and Democrats alike have called for middle-class tax cuts and a more competitive tax code for American workers and businesses, and today Republicans are delivering on that promise. This bill will cut taxes for middle-class families, reform our business tax code to create more jobs and higher wages for Ohio workers, and update our international tax code to encourage jobs and investments in America. This is the first time Congress has passed comprehensive tax reform legislation in 31 years. Id like to thank Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Paul Ryan, Chairman Orrin Hatch, Chairman Kevin Brady, and all of my colleagues who were united by the desire to help the middle class and re-open the American economy as the best place in the world to do business. This plan is made in America, for America. By passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congress is making good on its promise to help create a better economy and a brighter future. NOTE: Prior to the vote, Portman delivered this floor speech detailing how tax reform will help the middle class, boost jobs, and increase wages. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399318,Bill Johnson Votes for Historic Tax Reform and Relief,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Bill Johnson,J000292,billjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bill Johnson released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the conference committee report for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: share: f t Congressman Bill Johnson released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the conference committee report for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: This is an historic week for the American people. For the first time in over 30 years, real tax relief and reform will be delivered. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will reduce taxes at every income level, double the standard deduction and child tax credit, and empower businesses to grow and hire more people. Important deductions for home mortgage interest, student loan interest, and charitable donations remain. Most importantly, the middle class hardworking Americans that are too-often left behind will see tremendous tax relief. This legislation delivers higher wages, lower taxes, bigger take-home paychecks, a simpler and fairer system, and a stronger economy across the board. Once approved by the Senate, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will be signed into law by President Trump, empowering individuals, families, and businesses to invest and succeed in the American Dream.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1914,Fudge Statement on House Passage of the GOP Tax Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) released the following statement after the House voted today to pass the Republican tax bill: Today, House Republicans voted to raise taxes on low and middle income families and explode the deficit, all to give tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations. The Republican tax bill will widen the income inequality gap and make it more difficult for working Americans to realize the American dream. The Republican tax bill means working families will pay more in taxes than corporations. The bill will increase health insurance premiums and leave 13 million Americans uninsured. With Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security next on the chopping block, this tax bill will disproportionately hurt our nations seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and the poor while benefiting the wealthy. Despite what Republicans claim, trickle-down economics doesnt work. History has proven that tax cuts for the wealthy add to our nations deficit, they do not decrease the debt or create jobs. I urge my Senate colleagues to grow a conscience and reject this partisan bill on behalf of the millions of hardworking American families across the country. We must get back to work on bipartisan solutions, not ramming through partisan bills that the majority of Americans oppose. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398552,Latta: Passage of Historic Tax Reform Legislation a Big Win for Ohio Families,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) joined his colleagues in passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, legislation 31 years in the making that would reform the nations broken tax code and provide needed tax relief for middle class families, grow the economy, and create jobs. The passage of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1 The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, means it now moves to the U.S. Senate for approval.One of the top pledges of this Congress was to provide needed tax relief to middle-class families and the small businesses that drive our economy and create jobs, said Latta. The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will mean a family of four in Ohios 5th Congressional District, making the median income, will keep $2,415 more of their hard-earned money. While the defenders of the status quo have used misdirection and misinformation to try to stop tax reform, our efforts to fix a broken tax code and provide needed tax relief wont be derailed. At the same time, the legislation has provisions to grow our economy including a new deduction for our nations small businesses and farmers that are pass-through entities and ensuring that American businesses are on a level playing field with their foreign competitors. Its taken 31 years since the last overhaul of the tax code, and the passage of this bill is a big win for the people of Ohio. Highlights of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Provides a tax cut of $2,415 for a family of four making the median income in Ohios 5th Congressional District. Nearly doubles the standard deduction, allowing Americans to protect more of their income AND making it so 9 out of 10 taxpayers can file on a form the size of a postcard. Doubles the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000, ensuring more tax relief will go to middle-class families. Protects graduate tuition waivers from taxation. Protects the deduction for student loan interest. Expands the deduction for qualified medical expenses. Establishes a new pass-through deduction to provide tax relief to small businesses, the engines of our economy. Eliminates the individual mandate which disproportionately punishes lower-income and middle-income taxpayers 79% of taxpayers that are forced to pay this fine make less than $50,000. Doubles the exemption for the death tax to provide more relief for family farms and small businesses. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399402,Statement from Rep. Stivers on House Passage of Tax Reform,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today is a historic day. After three decades, we have finally passed legislation to overhaul our nations tax system. Our tax reform package will make America more competitive, bring jobs back to our country, and put more money in the pockets of hardworking taxpayers leading to greater economic growth for our country. share: f t The following statement can be attributed to Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH):Today is a historic day. After three decades, we have finally passed legislation to overhaul our nations tax system. Our tax reform package will make America more competitive, bring jobs back to our country, and put more money in the pockets of hardworking taxpayers leading to greater economic growth for our country. Tax reform is also a win for Ohios 15th district. Throughout the process, I fought for what I know is important to the families and communities in the district, like the graduate student tuition waiver, expanding the child tax credit, continuing the historic tax credit, and preserving the low income housing tax credit. All of these provisions were included in the final package passed today. I am proud to have supported this once in a generation opportunity to provide much needed reform to our broken tax system and ensure continued economic growth for our nation for years to come. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399403,Rep. Stivers a Lead Co-Sponsor on Net Neutrality Law,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ive heard from many of my constituents who do not want ISPs deciding what sites they visit, what videos they watch, or how they conduct their business online, and I agree, Stivers said. share: f t WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the Open Internet Preservation Act was introduced in an effort to prohibit the anti-consumer practices of throttling, and blocking of online content by internet service providers (ISPs). Representative Steve Stivers is an original cosponsor of this important piece of legislation that seeks to prohibit ISPs from preventing access to lawful internet traffic and content, and from slowing traffic based on the content, source, or destination of the information. The Open Internet Preservation Act also ensures openness by requiring all ISPs to disclose their network management practices for consumers and entrepreneurs alike. In the wake of the decision of the FCC to withdraw the previous Open Internet Order, Stivers cosponsored the bill to fortify net neutrality standards and protect consumers through the legislative branch. This approach creates the permanency of law. Consumers deserve to know that these protections will remain in place as opposed to being subject to transitory bureaucrats. Anti-competitive practices should be illegal, regardless of the Administration. Ive heard from many of my constituents who do not want ISPs deciding what sites they visit, what videos they watch, or how they conduct their business online, and I agree, Stivers said. ISPs should never prohibit users from legal content and consumers should never be kept in the dark. ISPs do not have the right to pick winners and losers, consumers decide what they want on their screens. This bill would prohibit those sorts of monopolistic practices. Prior to 2015, the internet was classified as an information service, and was regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Instances of anti-competitive behavior and rule breaking were handled on a case-by-case basis. This bill would return regulation of anti-competitive business practices to the FTC, and the FCC would enforce these codified rules for consumer protection. Bottom line: free and open internet should never be a partisan issue, Stivers said. This bill would put into law crucial consumer protections that millions of Americans have asked for and that are emphasized in the principles of net neutrality. Furthermore, it does so without imposing the burdensome and overly broad aspects that were originally designed for the rotary telephone on the cultural and economic engine that is our modern internet. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://chabot.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398774,Chabot Applauds House Passage of Tax Reform Legislation,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steven Chabot,C000266,chabot.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congressman Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) today applauded House passage of the conference report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Following the vote on H.R. 1, Chabot issued the following statement: Today, the Republicans in the House followed through on our promise to the American people to pass real reform that simplifies the tax code, reduces taxes for the vast majority of Americans, boosts the economy and could create as many as a million new jobs. This important legislation isnt simply a tax cut. Its a fundamental transformation of the tax code that will make it easier for the American people to calculate and file their taxes; will reduce taxes on the typical Cincinnati family of four by as much as $2,000 a year; and make American businesses small, medium, and large more competitive in the world marketplace. And so this holiday season, American families have an extra reason to celebrate, because in the coming year, they will have more money to make ends meet, pay off bills, take a vacation, or save for the future. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gibbs.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gibbs-votes-historic-tax-cuts,Gibbs Votes for Historic Tax Cuts,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Bob Gibbs,G000563,gibbs.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC - After voting to approve the Conference Report for HR 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congressman Bob Gibbs released the following statement: Todays vote is a win for the American people. This is real tax relief for Americans at every income level. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers rates, simplifies the tax code, encourages economic growth, and helps families. While critics and naysayers are busy defending the status quo of higher taxes and special interest loopholes, House Republicans just delivered on our promise of real tax cuts for middle and working-class families. The typical family of four will get to keep $2,059 more of their own money because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a 58% tax cut. Were preserving and expanding the child tax credit to help working families cover the expenses of raising kids. This bill helps Americans with expensive medical bills and it ends Obamacares individual mandate. Next year, millions of workers will see larger paychecks, families will be able to save more for things like college or a vacation, American businesses will drive real economic growth, and our nation will be more competitive in the global economy. Updated information on HR 1 can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-and-house-democrats-urge-speaker-ryan-take-action-protect-us,Kaptur and House Democrats Urge Speaker Ryan to Take Action to Protect U.S. Elections from Foreign Hacking and Cyber Attacks,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Members of Congress from 18 states targeted by Russian hackers in 2016 called on House Speaker Paul Ryan to take immediate action to protect state voting systems from cyberattacks and to bolster state election infrastructure. In a letter, the Members asked Speaker Ryan to request a briefing from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about Russian cyberattacks on state election systems in 2016. The letter also urged Speaker Ryan to direct all relevant House committees to investigate the attacks and to support bipartisan legislation to strengthen the security of state election systems around the country. When a sovereign nation attempts to meddle in our elections, it is an attack on our country, the Members wrote. The attacks in 2016 were not a one-off occurrence. In March 2017, then-FBI Director James Comey testified before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that: [T]heyll be back. Theyll be back in 2020. They may be back in 2018. The threat remains, and Congress must act. Ohio was among the 21 states whose election systems were targeted by Russian hackers in 2016. To date, the Republican-led Congress has not held any hearings or opened any investigations into the Russian cyberattacks. It has also failed to take up any legislation to help improve the security and integrity of state voting systems. See below for a full copy of the letter: Letter_To_Speaker_Ryan_On_Election_Security_FINAL.pdf * * * The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker of the House H-232, United States Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker: We represent 18 of the 21 states whose elections were targeted by Russian hackers in 2016, and we write because we are deeply concerned about the security of Americas election infrastructure. Fair, free, and secure elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. Accordingly, we respectfully request that you ask DHS and the FBI to brief all Members of Congress on the Russian attack on 21 states voting systems, direct the relevant Congressional committees to investigate this attack, and seek bipartisan solutions to secure our elections going forward. The attacks in 2016 were not a one-off occurrence. In March 2017, then-FBI Director James Comey testified before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that: [T]heyll be back. Theyll be back in 2020. They may be back in 2018.[1] Days before the 2017 elections, Bob Kolasky, the acting Deputy Undersecretary of the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security said, We saw in 2016 that Russia had an intent to be involved in our elections and some capability to be active or to attempt to be active in scanning election systems. We have not seen any evidence that intent or capability has changed.[2] The threat remains, and Congress must act. Over the past six months, the Election Security Task Force, comprised of Democratic Members of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on House Administration, has conducted an in-depth examination of Americas voting systems. The Task Forces preliminary findings demonstrate that this issue needs urgent, bipartisan attention. Our voting machines can easily be hacked. In July, at DefCon, one of the worlds largest, longest-running, and best-known hacker conferences, 25 pieces of election equipment were successfully breached by participants with little prior knowledge and limited tools.[3] In over 40 states, elections are carried out using voting machines that were purchased more than a decade ago.[4] These machines are now either obsolete or at the end of their useful life. Some of these machines rely on operating systems like Windows XP or Windows 2000 which pose a particularly significant security risk as those operating systems either do not receive regular security patches, or have stopped receiving support altogether.[5] These issues are exacerbated by the fact that twenty percent of Americans cast their ballot on voting machines that do not have any kind of paper backup.[6] In other words, if these paperless machines were hacked, it would be nearly impossible to tell.[7] State voter registration databases are also vulnerable to attack. In Illinois, hackers successfully breached registration databases and attempted, but failed, to alter and delete voting records.[8] In Arizona, hackers successfully installed malware on a county election officials computer.[9] Russian hackers also targeted at least one election vendor with the hope of ultimately obtaining access into numerous state and local voter registration databases.[10] If these attacks had been successful, hackers would have been able to alter or delete voter registration records, causing a great deal of chaos on Election Day and potentially swaying the results of the election. State and local election officials are acutely aware of these issues, but many are struggling to get the necessary funding from their legislatures,[11] and are frustrated by Congressional inaction.[12] The plea for Congress to act is echoed by a bipartisan group of former government officials, academics and cyber security experts. Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security wrote in The Wall Street Journal, [L]awmakers and election officials lackadaisical response is both staggering and distressingThis is a matter of national security, and Congress should treat it as such. Given that were still dealing with the unfunded mandates of 2002s Help America Vote Act, theres a clear need for action to upgrade security systems and create meaningful standards. In June, a group of over 100 computer scientists and cyber experts wrote to Congress to take simple, straightforward, and cost-effective actions to set meaningful standards to protect American elections. [13] When a sovereign nation attempts to meddle in our elections, it is an attack on our country. We urge you to recognize that ensuring the security and integrity of our election system is a bipartisan issue, to request a briefing for all Members of Congress from DHS and the FBI, and to direct the relevant committees to open an investigation on securing Americas election infrastructure. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, ### [1] United States Cong. House. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Open Hearing on Russian Active Measures Investigation, March 20, 2017. 115th Congress. 1st session, 2017. 2 Morgan Chalfant, Homeland Security Cyber Unit on Alert for Election Day, The Hill (Nov. 4, 2017), available at http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/358710-homeland-security-cyber-unit-on-alert-for-election-day. 3 Matt Blaze et al., DEFCON 25 Voting Machine Hacking Village: Rep. on Cyber Vulnerabilities in U.S. Election Equipment, Databases, and Infrastructure, 4 (2017) https://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-25/DEF%20CON%2025%20voting%20village%20report.pdf. 4 Lawrence Norden & Ian Vanderwalker, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, Securing Elections from Foreign Interference, 9 (2017). 5 Id. 6 Norden & Vandewalker, 11. 7 Eric Geller, Virginia Bars Voting Machines Considered Top Hacking Target, POLITICO (Sept. 8, 2017) http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/08/virginia-election-machines-hacking-target-242492. 8 Pam Fessler, 10 Months After Election Day, Feds Tell States More About Russian Hacking, NPR (Sept. 22, 2017) https://www.npr.org/2017/09/22/552956517/ten-months-after-election-day-feds-tell-states-more-about-russian-hacking. 9 Id. 10 Matthew Cole et al., Top-Secret NSA Report Details Russian Hacking Effort Days Before 2016 Election, The Intercept (June 5, 2017) https://theintercept.com/2017/06/05/top-secret-nsa-report-details-russian-hacking-effort-days-before-2016-election/. 11 Cory Bennett et al., Cash-Strapped States Brace for Russian Hacking Fight, POLITICO (Sept. 3, 2017), http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/03/election-hackers-russia-cyberattack-voting-242266. 12 Reid Wilson, Election Officials Race to Combat Cyberattacks, The Hill (Nov. 8, 2017) http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/359243-election-officials-race-to-combat-cyberattacks. 13 National Election Defense Coalition, Expert Sign-On Letter to Congress: Secure American Elections (2017). https://www.electiondefense.org/election-integrity-expert-letter/.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-statement-after-voting-no-house-passage-gop-tax-bill,Kaptur statement after voting no on House passage of GOP tax bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcy Kaptur,K000009,kaptur.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), today issued the following statement after the House passed the final version of the GOP tax proposal: This bill does nothing to guarantee higher wages, create good jobs or even to prevent corporations from outsourcing jobs. This scam gives the bulk of its trillion-dollar windfall to real estate investors and the millionaire donor class. Where is the middle-class windfall? The American people deserve better than this tax deal that was negotiated in secret and rammed through Congress in a matter of weeks. Tax cuts for the rich wont grow the economy nor will it provide relief to the millions of Ohioans who need a leg up. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-statement-house-passage-gop-tax-conference-report,Congressman Tim Ryan Statement on House Passage of GOP Tax Conference Report,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Congressman Tim Ryan released the following statement in response to the House passage of the GOP Tax Conference Report. President Trump and Congressional Republicans have lied to the American people about the impact of this tax legislation since the beginning. This bill will increase taxes on half of all Americans, decrease long term economic growth, and send our national debt skyrocketing all to give huge multinational corporations who have been making record profits a tax break. We have pensions collapsing and communities that have been wiped out, and yet the GOP plan to fix all of this is to raise taxes on 82 million hardworking families. To make matters worse, we are going to need to borrow huge sums of money from China to give tax breaks to these corporations and inflict further pain on the middle class by cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, and other important programs Americans rely on every day. As the House took this final vote to raise taxes on hardworking people, families back in Youngstown and Akron are getting ready for the holidays: buying gifts, arranging travel, and cooking for their families. I wish Congressional Republicans cared as much about these men and women as they did about lining their donors pockets. But as this vote shows, clearly they do not, said Congressman Ryan. Washington, DC Congressman Tim Ryan released the following statement in response to the House passage of the GOP Tax Conference Report. President Trump and Congressional Republicans have lied to the American people about the impact of this tax legislation since the beginning. This bill will increase taxes on half of all Americans, decrease long term economic growth, and send our national debt skyrocketing all to give huge multinational corporations who have been making record profits a tax break. We have pensions collapsing and communities that have been wiped out, and yet the GOP plan to fix all of this is to raise taxes on 82 million hardworking families. To make matters worse, we are going to need to borrow huge sums of money from China to give tax breaks to these corporations and inflict further pain on the middle class by cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, and other important programs Americans rely on every day. As the House took this final vote to raise taxes on hardworking people, families back in Youngstown and Akron are getting ready for the holidays: buying gifts, arranging travel, and cooking for their families. I wish Congressional Republicans cared as much about these men and women as they did about lining their donors pockets. But as this vote shows, clearly they do not, said Congressman Ryan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-opening-statement-at-banking-committee-executive-session-on_export-import-bank-nominations,Brown Opening Statement at Banking Committee Executive Session on Export-Import Bank Nominations,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tuesday, December 19, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs released the following opening statement at todays executive session on the nominations to the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Sen. Browns remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow Mr. Chairman, thank you for scheduling todays votes. To put it plainly, we have lost American jobs because of the games that have been played with the Export-Import Bank. Our manufacturers and their employees dont have a level playing field when competing for overseas business. While the Export-Import Bank has been sidelined, 95 other export credit agencies around the globe have been aggressively helping foreign competitors win sales. American jobs have been lost as deals stall and U.S. manufacturers consider moving their production abroad. The responsibility for Ex-Ims empty board starts here in the Senate when our Committee failed to consider any Ex-Im nominees last Congress and never even had a hearing on the Obama nominees. This year, the Trump Administration has wasted six months by forcing us to debate Mr. Garretts inappropriate nomination. If the President is serious about a functioning Bank, he didnt show it by choosing Mr. Garrett and digging in when we tried in a bipartisan way to fix it. Most of our nominees credibly testified to their support of the Bank. Ms. Reed, Congressman Bachus, Ms. Slacik, and Ms. Pryor are all qualified to serve on the Banks board, and Mr. Greenblatt is well suited to be Inspector General. They support the Banks mission, and they want to provide leadership and oversight as the Bank resumes full operations. In sharp contrast, Mr. Garrett was a leader of the effort to slam shut the doors of Americas export financing bank, and he cannot hide his contempt for Ex-Im. Mr. Garretts testimony expressed no regret for his work to close the Bank. In his written responses, he would not acknowledge that American manufacturers have been harmed while Ex-Im has been hobbled. But most importantly, he did not and could not answer the key question posed by several of us what has changed? Why did he vote repeatedly in 2012 and 2015 to kill the Bank, but now wants to lead it? I asked that question, and I recall Senators Tester, Rounds, Donnelly, and Scott all asking that too, but we didnt get a straight answer. It is clear to me that Mr. Garrett is not being honest with this Committee about why he wants to lead the Bank, and many others feel the same. The National Association of Manufacturers, Chamber of Commerce, Aerospace Industries Association and the Ohio Manufacturing Association all oppose Mr. Garrett. Small business men and women have also registered their opposition. I hope this Committee will reject Mr. Garretts nomination. Ive had many conversations with Ohio business about Ex-Im, like Davenport Aviation in Columbus and U.S. Bridge in Cambridge. They have a simple, consistent message: we need the Ex-Im Bank. There are $37.5 billion of pending transactions that cant move forward because the board lacks a quorum, with $8 to $10 billion of deals that could be approved within a month. Without new transactions, the Bank will not be able to self-finance its operations next year. Every day of delay harms American workers and costs taxpayers money. We have four qualified nominees for the Board and one for Inspector General. Our Committee should advance them today, and the full Senate should immediately confirm them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-urges-defense-department-to-invest-in-c-130j-planes-as-he-continues-call-for-upgrades-at-mansfield-lahm-air-national-guard-base,Brown Urges Defense Department to Invest In C-130J Planes As He Continues Call for Upgrades at Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bipartisan Letter Calls for Increased Investment as Cost-Saving Measure to Support Critical Missions Tuesday, December 19, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) co-chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus joined a bipartisan group of Senators to call on the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to increase investment in C-130J planes as he continues to highlight the need to upgrade the C-130H planes flown at the Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base. The letter urges the DoD to abandon proposed cuts to the program and instead invest in more C-130J planes as a long-term, cost-saving measure. The Senators letter points to savings of more than 10 percent per aircraft over the course of the DoDs current procurement program to invest in C-130J planes. By design, the C-130J provides significant operational and support savings, more operational capability per aircraft, lower life-cycle costs, common logistics and training support, and improved active duty and air reserve component interoperability, the Senators wrote. In meetings this year with U.S. Secretary of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Air Force Secretary Dr. Heather Wilson, Brownhighlighted the need to upgrade the C-130H planesflown at the Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base. In June 2015, Brown co-sponsored an amendment offered by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) that would support jobs at Mansfield Lahm ANGB by calling on the Air Force to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to meet safety and compliance regulations by the 2020 deadline. Full text of Browns letter to the DoD can be found below: Dear Under Secretary Lord, We are writing to encourage the Department of Defense to consider a follow-on Multi-Year Procurement Program for the C-130J program. The current C-130J MYPII for FY14-18 has been a remarkable success. The MYPII resulted in validated DOD savings of greater than 10 percent per aircraft, and greater than $600 million over more than 80 C-130J aircraft. We were disappointed to see that last years sequestration-constrained budget plans for FY19-23 projected drastic cuts to annual C-130J purchases that we feel could threaten the future of the only remaining active U.S. airlifter production line. The C-130J is the longest continuously-running military production line in history. The current C-130J variant is the most capable tactical airlifter in the world. C-130J production is currently at a healthy rate of 24 aircraft per year, which includes 16 DOD aircraft per year. Last years forecasts suggest that future DOD procurement for FY19 and beyond would drop to approximately 7-8 aircraft per year. We are concerned that such a significant drop in production could increase C-130J pricing and undermine the only active tactical airlifter production line. The DOD has validated requirements for additional C-130Js that would be appropriate candidates for a follow-on MYP. This does not include any potential future recapitalization of 150 legacy C-130H aircraft currently flying in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. While the USAF, AFSOC, USMC, USCG, and others have embraced full fleet recapitalization with C-130J models, the proven concepts of proportional and concurrent fielding of C-130Js in the Air National Guard and USAF Reserve fleets appear to have been abandoned. By design, the C-130J provides significant operational and support savings, more operational capability per aircraft, lower life-cycle costs, common logistics and training support, and improved active duty and air reserve component interoperability. With those facts in mind, we respectfully urge the Department reassess its previous constraints-driven projections for FY19-23 for C-130J variants during the annual budget process, and return to a needs and strategy-driven request for C-130Js going forward. Further, in a resource-constrained environment, we request you consider an additional Multi-Year Procurement program, with accelerated buys to more sustainable quantities per year in the FY19-23 time frame, to realize cost savings and maintain the health of the industrial base. We look forward to your response. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-urges-defense-department-to-invest-in-c-130j-planes-as-he-continues-call-for-upgrades-at-youngstown-air-reserve-station,Brown Urges Defense Department to Invest In C-130J Planes As He Continues Call for Upgrades at Youngstown Air Reserve Station,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bipartisan Letter Calls for Increased Investment as Cost-Saving Measure to Support Critical Missions Tuesday, December 19, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) co-chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus joined a bipartisan group of Senators to call on the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to increase investment in C-130J planes as he continues to highlight the need to upgrade the C-130H planes flown at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS). The letter urges the DoD to abandon proposed cuts to the program and instead invest in more C-130J planes as a long-term, cost-saving measure. The Senators letter points to savings of more than 10 percent per aircraft over the course of the DoDs current procurement program to invest in C-130J planes. By design, the C-130J provides significant operational and support savings, more operational capability per aircraft, lower life-cycle costs, common logistics and training support, and improved active duty and air reserve component interoperability, the Senators wrote. In meetings this year with U.S. Secretary of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Air Force Secretary Dr. Heather Wilson, Brownhighlighted the need to upgrade the C-130H planesflown at YARS. Last December, Brown and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)announcedthe inclusion of their amendment to prioritize the C-130 upgrades at YARS in theNational Defense Authorization Act(NDAA), which was signed into law by President Obama. 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 for wings that fly specialty missions, like the 910th at YARS. In December 2015, Brown and Portmanwrotea letter with U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13), Bill Johnson (R-OH-6), and Dave Joyce (R-OH-14) urging the United States Air Force to replace the 910th Airlift Wings current fleet of C-130H aircraft with new C-130J aircrafts to ensure that the 910ths Department of Defense (DoD)-mandated specialized aerial spray mission continues safely and without interruption. Full text of Browns letter to the DoD can be found below: Dear Under Secretary Lord, We are writing to encourage the Department of Defense to consider a follow-on Multi-Year Procurement Program for the C-130J program. The current C-130J MYPII for FY14-18 has been a remarkable success. The MYPII resulted in validated DOD savings of greater than 10 percent per aircraft, and greater than $600 million over more than 80 C-130J aircraft. We were disappointed to see that last years sequestration-constrained budget plans for FY19-23 projected drastic cuts to annual C-130J purchases that we feel could threaten the future of the only remaining active U.S. airlifter production line. The C-130J is the longest continuously-running military production line in history. The current C-130J variant is the most capable tactical airlifter in the world. C-130J production is currently at a healthy rate of 24 aircraft per year, which includes 16 DOD aircraft per year. Last years forecasts suggest that future DOD procurement for FY19 and beyond would drop to approximately 7-8 aircraft per year. We are concerned that such a significant drop in production could increase C-130J pricing and undermine the only active tactical airlifter production line. The DOD has validated requirements for additional C-130Js that would be appropriate candidates for a follow-on MYP. This does not include any potential future recapitalization of 150 legacy C-130H aircraft currently flying in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. While the USAF, AFSOC, USMC, USCG, and others have embraced full fleet recapitalization with C-130J models, the proven concepts of proportional and concurrent fielding of C-130Js in the Air National Guard and USAF Reserve fleets appear to have been abandoned. By design, the C-130J provides significant operational and support savings, more operational capability per aircraft, lower life-cycle costs, common logistics and training support, and improved active duty and air reserve component interoperability. With those facts in mind, we respectfully urge the Department reassess its previous constraints-driven projections for FY19-23 for C-130J variants during the annual budget process, and return to a needs and strategy-driven request for C-130Js going forward. Further, in a resource-constrained environment, we request you consider an additional Multi-Year Procurement program, with accelerated buys to more sustainable quantities per year in the FY19-23 time frame, to realize cost savings and maintain the health of the industrial base. We look forward to your response. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=902DE4AE-49EA-4F8E-8372-C7FD205D3C0D,"Hours Before Vote, Portman Discusses Tax Reform on Fox News",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"During an interview of Fox News today, Senator Portman, who served as a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee discussed how tax reform will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Portman, who has held six tax reform roundtables in Ohio with local business leaders in recent months, has been vocal on the national stage calling for tax reform, including during recent interviews on CBS This Morning, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, and NBCs Meet The Press twice, as well as recently in op-eds in the Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Delaware Gazette, and Cincinnati Enquirer. The tax reform effort is widely supported by Ohio small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and other state and local organizations. Excerpts can be found below and a video can be found here. PORTMAN ON IF VICE PRESIDENT PENCES VOTE WILL BE NEEDED I dont think he will be needed. Im glad hes there and I know hes really excited about this tax cut and tax reform proposal. We have the votes. We saw that on the vote that just occurred, which was the motion to proceed on this legislation. Republicans all stuck together. So did Democrats. But there were enough votes to get it done without the Vice President breaking the tie. PORTMAN ON HOW TAX REFORM WILL HELP THE MIDDLE CLASS I think my colleagues are going to stick together because its exactly what weve been talking about for years. It does provide real middle-class tax cuts, but it also gives the economy an important shot in the arm that you and I have talked about on this program for years, which is to make us competitive againto make America the best place to do business. Thats going to create even more help to middle-class families in Ohio and around the country because youre going to see wages will start to go up. PORTMAN ON DOUBLING THE STANDARD DEDUCTION Many people who take the standard deduction wont have to change anything because they havent taken deductions. About two thirds of the people I represent already take the standard deduction. That doubles to $24,000 for a family instead of $12,000 for a family, which means probably 95 percent of the people I represent are going to take the standard deduction. There will be some opportunity there to clarify what your status is and what deductions youre still taking. Most people wont itemize. The vast majority of people will do the simpler form. Thats part of the simplification of this and its also part of how you get middle class tax cuts because that first $24,000 is essentially a zero bracket. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B2CFD066-F481-45DB-A283-7AD18DFA98BA,"Before Historic Senate Vote, Portman Details How Tax Reform Will Help Middle Class, Boost Jobs, Increase Wages",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Portman Rob Portman (R-OH) discussed the finalized House-Senate agreement on tax reform that will be voted on in the Senate this evening. Portman, who served as a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee, discussed how the bill will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Transcript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here. Mr. President, Iwant to talk tonight about aonce-in-a-generation opportunitywe have in this Senate to help middle-class families andto help grow our economy. AndIm going to talk about thefacts.Im not going to be making stuffup.Im going to talk about the realmiddle-class tax cuts that arein this legislation.Im going to show you chartsthat indicate not just what kindof tax relief is going to bethere for you and your family,but whos going to pay, wherethe burden is.And despite what youre hearingon the floor tonight from someon the other side of the aisle,the burden of taxation actuallyincreases in this tax bill forthe wealthiest Americans.And in terms of defending thestatus quo, which is thesituation now where jobs andinvestment are going overseas, Ithink it is an outrage that thisbody has sat and watched companyafter company go overseasbecause of our tax code.And to say we shouldnt fix it?I dont get that.If we dont lower the rate onbusinesses and workers who arecompeting every day when youhave the highest rate in theindustrialized world and youhave an international systemthat rewards revenues being keptoverseas$2.5 trillion to$3 trillion of earningsoverseas instead of bringingthem backthat status quo isnot acceptable.So we can engage in all kinds ofrhetoric here tonight, but if westick to the facts, I think wemight be able to see why thislegislation is not only going topass tonight, but why so manyAmericanswho are struggling becausethey are living paycheck topaycheckare going to be happywith this legislation. The proofs in the paycheck.People say the proofs in thepudding.The proofs in the paycheck.When people see theirwithholding changing, less moneybeing taken out of theirpaychecks for taxes, when theysee that they have a littlemore take-home pay, that thefamily budget is a littlehealthier, when they see theeconomy begin to take off andwhen they see the end of thisexodus of U.S. companies goingoverseas4,700, think of thatnumber, 4,700 American companieshave left our shores and goneoverseas, being bought byforeign companies in the last 13years that would not have goneif this tax code that werepromoting tonight had been inplace.Thats based on an Ernst andYoung study, check it out.Ernst and Youngits a big accounting firm.4,700 companies.And when they leave our shores,guess what?They take their jobs andinvestments with them.You might wonder why wages havebeen flat in this country forthe past couple of decades.Its because people who aresupporting the status quo anddont want to change this taxcode are leaving workers inAmerica with no opportunities toget ahead.Because not only are wages flatbut expenses are up.Thats called the middle-classsqueeze.It is very real, and it ishappening.So I would just ask folks whenthey are thinking about whatyoure hearing tonight on the floor, remember, one sideis supporting the status quo.And the status quo is notworking.It aint working for people inAmerica and people in my stateof Ohio who tell me, Rob, Imworking hard, Im playing by therules, Im not getting ahead.And the statistics bear thatout.Yes, some people are gettingahead, but its not the guy orthe woman working on the shop floor on the factory inCleveland, Ohio, or Columbus, orToledo, or Dayton, orCincinnati, because their wageshave been pretty darn flat.And again, their expenses areup, especially health care,which is the largest single oneof those expenses.They want some help. Thislegislation gives them that helpin two ways.One, real middle-class tax cutswell talk about in a second. Second, letting them becompetitive instead of competingwith one hand tied behind theirback because they are competingin a global economy, and theyknow that.Give them a chance.Give them a tax code that actually is upto date and competitive and letsthem have the opportunity tobuild a better life.Not just for themselves butfor their kids and grandkids,because thats what they reallycare about. So again, Mr. President, Imhappy to talk about thatopportunity weve got tonight.And it is a rare opportunitybecause we have not reformedthis tax code in anysubstantial way in 31 years.Think about that.I celebrated my 62ndbirthday today.That means we have not reformedthe tax code in 31 yearsthats half of my life.By the way, 31 years ago, RonaldReagan was president.Pete Rose was still playing forthe Cincinnati Reds.Top Gun was at all the boxoffices, and it was a big hit.Thats how long ago that was.And during that time, I willtell you, every other countrythat we compete with, all ofthem have reformed their taxcode except us.We have sat back and had thisdebate.We have had this gridlock,partisan gridlock, here inWashington because we cant getour act together.And by the way, if youre aworker trying to get ahead, youcant do it on your own becausethe tax code has you competingwith that one hand tied behindyour back.Only this place, Washington,Congress, a president, canpropose, develop, and signlegislation that can help toaddress this problem.This is our job.I sure hope well do it. Back in 1986, when that taxreform was passed 31 years ago,it led to two things.One, more economic growth.In the 1980s and 1990s, we didhave economic growth:three percent, 3.5 percent, four percent, even 4.5 percent growth.I mean, think about that.Were now living over the last10 years with growth on averageat about 1.5 percent to two percent.Thats a big, big difference.The second thing it did is it gotwages up.Wages actually increased duringthat period after that taxreform.We need to do it again.Our economy needs a shot in thearm again.Again, not just to improve theeconomy but to improve take-homepay.And thats what this tax reformproposal is designed to do. We have heard on the other sideof the aisle talk about how this has movedtoo quickly.Somehow there hasnt been enoughthought put into this.I will just tell you, I thinkits long overdue.I think we should have done thisyears ago.I also know from being involvedin these issues over the pastcouple of decadeson the HouseWays and Means Committee and nowhere in the Senate FinanceCommitteethat there has been alot of thought put into thisissue.Just since I was elected to the Senate in 2010, there have been70 hearings on this in theFinance Committee.70 hearings on tax reform.Chairman Hatch is in the chambertonight.He will tell you.Two years ago, we had fivebipartisan working groupscovering every part of the taxcode.The bipartisan working groupthat I co-chaired with DemocraticLeader Chuck Schumer focused onthe international side.Do you know what we decided?We decided we have got to have alower business rate because itsgot to be competitive, otherwisewe will continue to loseinvestments and jobs overseas.We decided we have to have aninternational system that iscompetitive and bring back someof that $2.5 trillion to$3 trillion that is stuckoverseas back to this countryfor more jobs and investment.Guess what?It was bipartisan then.And its in the tax bill now. Those are the ideas that arein this tax bill before us, andthey make sense.In fact, for years, there hasbeen a bipartisan agreement thatour tax code is broken, and itsCongress responsibility to fixit.Id like to commend tonightSpeaker Ryan, LeaderMcConnell, Finance ChairmanOrrin Hatch, who is here on the floor, and Ways and Means CommitteeChairman Kevin Brady, who hasbeen a strong and fairnegotiating partner with theSenate.I also want to thank mycolleagues who have spent somany hours in this effort.Senator Toomey you heard alittle while ago talking aboutthe economic benefits as he doesso well.Senator Scott, Thune, Cornyn,Enzi, Murkowski, all in theConference Committee, but manyothers, too.Senator Collins, Johnson, Rubio,and Corker who all helped us get tothis point and improve thelegislation. The bill that passed the Houseearlier today and were going tovote on tonight is the result ofyears and years of research anddebate.It makes good on the promise wehave made to create a tax codethat provides tax relief tohardworking families, but alsopositions America for leadershipin the 21st century globaleconomy.While we have seen someimprovements in the economyrecently, we have seen bettereconomic growth numbers, again, alot of people I represent arenot seeing the benefit of that.Thats why we have got to pass this bill. For years, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have called for middle-class tax cuts to help ease this burden. This legislation will finally actually deliver that middle-class tax relief. We have the opportunity to provide it tonight. And starting January 1st, less than two weeks from tonight, that tax relief goes into effect. People are going to see how this tax reform helps them as soon as the IRS can adjust withholding in paychecks, which I would hope would happen before the end of February. Again, the proofs in the pudding. The proofs in the paycheck. People are going to see it. People can go online now and see. They can use a tax calculator and see how its going to affect them and their families. But this is going to happen and its going to happen soon if we pass this legislation tonight. Again, the most immediate benefit is for working families and for the middle class. This bill doubles the child tax credit. It also increases the refundability of the child tax credit, so for those families with kids out there, you have the opportunity now to save a little more money to deal with the expenses of raising a child. It doubles the standard deduction from $12,000 per family to about $24,000 per family. This in effect creates a $24,000 zero bracket for families, zero income tax bracket and simplifies the tax code. Probably 90 percent to 95 percent of Americans are going to take that doubling of the standard deduction, I am told, and that will simplify their returns but also give them some tax relief right away. And it lowers tax rates for families across the board, with the largest proportional benefit going to those at the lower end of the income ladder, those who need it the most. In fact, the combination of these tax cuts for lower income Americans means that at least three million Americans who have income tax liability now are going to pay nothing in taxes. They will be off the tax rolls altogether. I have a letter from the Joint Committee on Taxation that affirms that. You can see at our meeting last week of the conference where the Joint Committee affirmed that again. Over three million people are going to pay no income taxes at all who pay income tax now. For those who say there is no benefit there, talk to those three million people. They feel the benefit. In fact, those people are going to be off the tax rolls altogether because of the tax relief were passing tonight. As this chart shows, every income group will receive a tax cut. This one is for the year 2019, so its a year after the tax cuts are put in place, which starts in just a couple of weeks. We have heard a lot from opponents that the top end, who are making a million dollars or more, as we just heard a little while ago, get all the benefits. Its simply not true. This shows that the biggest percentage cut is among folks making between $20,000 and $30,000 a year. Thats the biggest16.3 percent cut. It also shows that the smallest percentage cut is among those making a million dollars or more5.9 percent cut. So, again, yeah, there is tax relief across the board here, but the bigger benefit is among folks at the lower end of the economic scale. In fact, when you look at who pays the income tax, you will see that those at the top are going to pay a slightly bigger share of the tax burden under this bill. Today, those making between $20,000 and $50,000 a year pay 4.3 percent of the income tax. Under this bill, they are going to pay a little less, 4.1 percent of the income taxes. Those who make over $100,000 will go from paying 78.7 percent of the tax burden to 79.1 percent of the tax burden. So if you make over $100,000 a year, youre paying 78.7 percent of the tax burden today, that group is, and thats going to go up. Your share of the burden is going to go up. So the tax code is pretty progressive right now, and it gets even more progressive under this tax legislation. These are not my numbers. These are the numbers from the Joint Committee on Taxation, the nonpartisan group that scores these things. Check out the numbers yourself. Go on the website of the Joint Committee, JCT.gov, check it out. When you dont consider not choosing to buy health care insurance a tax increase, which is how the Joint Committee on Taxation scores ending the individual mandate, every income group of taxpayers gets a tax cut under this plan every year for the next eight years during the time this tax cut is in place. Yes, it does expire, as did the tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, Congress took those up and for 95 percent of Americans we extended that tax relief. I hope well do that again and I expect we will. But during the next eight years, this is real tax relief and its needed. I reject the premise that choosing not to buy health insurance under Affordable Care Acts individual mandate is a tax hike, and I think many Americans do too. Take a look at the Rules Committee website, rules.house.gov, and you will see how a typical family of four at the median income level will save more than $2,000 a year on their taxes as a result of this plan. So the median income family in Ohio, in your state, wherever you are, is going to be saving more than $2,000 a year on their taxes. Some have told me as I walk down the halls here, well, thats not much money. Well, you know what? For families that are living paycheck to paycheck, that is a lot of money and it does help. It can be used to pay for health care, buy gas, buy groceries, maybe add a little more to your retirement. Of course, beyond the middle-class tax cuts that are in this legislation, families and workers are going to benefit from more jobs and higher wages as we talked about earlier, and this is because there will be new investment. There will be more productivity which is a thing that is really lacking in our economy right now. Our productivity is weak. All the economist agree on this, right, left, or center. You have to do something to boost that productivity, because thats going to result in higher wages; more competition for workers is going to result in higher wages. And thats going to happen because this tax code is focused on increasing wages through more investment. Weve talked about how companies are going overseas now and how the status quo isnt working. Its crazy that Congress allows that to happen and fixing it is long overdue. We talked about the $ 2.5 trillion to $3 trillion stuck overseas right now. We want to bring that home. We want to add more jobs and investment in this country. We did a study in the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigationsa bipartisan effortand we studied these companies that go overseas through whats called inversions or by being purchased by a foreign company. What happens? Do they just move their headquarters overseas? No. We found out they also move jobs and investment. This is real. Its happening now. We can fix it. Thats what this bill is intended to do, and I believe you are going to see not just middle-class tax relief to help with the take-home pay and the family budget, but youre going to see this increase, finally, not just in economic growth, but in wages that also makes the family budget a whole lot more healthy. I see Senator Cassidy just came on the floor. Let me address an issue that has been misrepresented on the floor this afternoon. I heard one of my colleagues say that this bill gets rid of the historic tax credit. It does not. Thanks to the efforts of some of us who strongly support it including Senator Cassidy, we actually retain the current 20 percent credit in the Senate-passed bill and in the final legislation. By the way, this historic tax credit has been helpful. Its been instrumental in generating more private funds to restore historic buildings across my state of Ohio including my hometown of Cincinnati, and Cleveland and Columbus and elsewhere. We also preserved important tax credits for urban redevelopment through the new markets tax credit and the private activity bonds, which are still in this legislation, just as they are in current law. In Ohio, again, this these tax incentives have leveraged a lot more private sector dollars, spurred economic growth and job creation, affordable housing and I think have ultimately increased the tax revenue because as people are working and as you get these buildings up and going, economic growth is generated and so is tax revenue. They pay for themselves in my view. I shared some of those success stories in my home state throughout the process, and we maintained those provisions in the final bill. The final result is that we have a good tax reform bill that achieves the things that Republicans and Democrats alike have long supported: tax cuts for the middle class and a more competitive tax code for American workers and companies. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle tonight have talked about this being bad for the deficit. I just have to tell you, I respectfully disagree. The most important thing we can do right now to get the deficit down is get this growth back. Economic growth results in more revenue. One point in economic growth alone brings $2.7 trillion more in revenue into the coffers of the federal government. Thats based on the numbers from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Think about that$2.7 trillion more with just one point more economic growth. The budget score we are forced to use for this legislation estimates a very conservative level of economic growth, a weak 1.9 percent over the next 10 years. That was the last 10 years. We dont want to repeat that. We dont have to repeat that. The average economic growth over the past 30 years has been more than 2.5 percent, and over the last two quarters weve had economic growth of 3.1 percent and 3.3 percent. The federal reserve and private forecasts are both above CBOs growth projections for next year, as an example to show you why I think CBOs scores are too small, too weak. That 1.9 percent growth is not only wrong, I believe it is unacceptable. It cant be the new normal. With the strength of our economy right now paired with the pro-growth changes in this tax reform plan, I belief economic growth will surpass this relatively low projection were forced to use. And by increasing economic growth at just 0.4 percent more than this 1.9 percent projection, so growing the economy to about 2.3 percent rather than 1.9 percent on average, theres sufficient revenue to pay for all the tax relief in this plan, plus begin to pay down the debt. Thats what I believe will happen. If you do the right kind of tax reform. It has to be the right kind. It has to be pro-growth and I believe what weve done in the bill is exactly that, theres no question we will have more economic growth and more investment in America. The current tax code is so broken, its pretty easy to do that, honestly, to create a more efficient and effective and productive tax code. I believe a more confident America with rising wages and stronger economic growth is much more likely to address the very real fiscal challenges we face as a country. This tax reform bill isnt just about dollar amounts and bottom lines, though. It is about an investment were making in American families, American workers, American businesses. Were giving families the freedom to spend more of their own money how they see fit, putting faith in American entrepreneurs and workers to compete and win in the global market, and creating a fairer tax system that levels the playing field and creates jobs and investment here in America rather than overseas. Our constituents deserve this. They deserve better than the status quo and they deserve more than just hollow promises. They deserve a brighter future. I believe the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will reopen our economy as the best place in the world to do business and create that brighter future for all Americans. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398551,"Latta Applauds Changes to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Highlights Benefits for Middle-Class Families",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) applauded the changes made to the House Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the final compromise bill released by the Conference Committee on Friday. In addition, Latta highlighted the benefits for middle-class families in Ohios 5th Congressional District.Latta had recently joined his colleagues in sending a letter to conferees asking that the final bill not count graduate student tuition waivers or tuition waivers for family members of university employees as income. The legislation released on Friday maintains the current policy of exempting tuition waivers from income and also allows taxpayers to continue to deduct student loan interest. At the same time, the bill protects the medical expense deduction and expands it by reducing the percentage of adjusted gross income that taxpayers must spend on medical expenses to qualify for the deduction from 10% to 7.5%. The bill nearly doubles the standard deduction, which means that 90% of taxpayers will be able to file their taxes on a form the size of a postcard. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also doubles the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 a provision that will support working families. Starting as soon as next year, a family of four making the median income in Ohios 5th Congressional District would keep $2,415 more annually if this legislation becomes law, said Latta. At the same time, tax filing will be much simpler with nine out of ten taxpayers being able to submit their taxes on a form the size of a postcard. While I agreed with much of the legislation originally passed by the House, Im glad the conferees have improved that legislation by keeping provisions that help college students, those with high medical expenses, and working families. In addition to the benefits that individual families will receive, everyone will benefit from the economic growth and job creation that will be spurred by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Its been 31 years in the making, and tax reform is long overdue. This legislation will mean more Ohioans can keep more of their hard-earned money and receive the tax relief they deserve. In addition to the previous provisions, the legislation also retains the Historic Tax Credit, an important provision to Ohio communities. The bill also maintains the tax treatment of Private Activity Bonds, which are important for a number of economic development projects. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://davidson.house.gov/2017/12/tax-bill-includes-davidson-supported-provisions,Tax Bill Includes Davidson-Supported Provisions,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Warren Davidson,D000626,davidson.house.gov,davidson,https://davidson.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Warren Davidson applauded overall passage of the tax bill calling it a win for hardworking Ohio families and American companies. H.R. 1 “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” passed the U.S. House of Representatives 227 to 203. “The pro-growth reforms in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act fix the broken elements of our existing tax code. No bill is perfect and thinking that all our problems can be accomplished in one miracle-bill is foolish. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lets hardworking Ohio families keep more of their money and empowers American companies to compete and succeed globally. This bill snaps the status-quo of today and sets the stage for further reform. I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law.” Congressman Davidson began talking about the need for pro-growth tax reform during his 2016 Election. While applauding final passage of the tax bill, there were certain provisions Representative Davidson advocated for throughout the committee process. Some of these provisions were included in the final bill and some were not. The following is an outline of provisions that Representative Davidson supported and opposed. Individual Some Parts of Tax Reform are Permanent and some are not: Rep. Davidson advocated to make all tax rates permanent. The final tax reform bill includes certain corporate provisions that are permanent while the individual tax rate reduction will expire in 2025 due to a Senate provision. Medical Expense Deduction is included in Tax Reform: The final tax reform bill retains the medical expense deduction with a temporary expansion. The threshold for this deduction has been lowered to what it was before Obamacare – for medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of gross adjusted income. After two years, this will revert to the current rate of 10 percent adjusted gross income. Rep. Davidson advocated to include the medical expense reduction within the final tax reform bill. Individual Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT): The final tax reform bill keeps the AMT for individuals; but includes a temporary increase in the exemption amount and the phase-out threshold. The end result is fewer households that will be subject to the AMT. Rep. Davidson advocated for a full repeal of the AMT and expressed concerns about how the individual AMT will interact with his efforts to provide tax relief for pass-through businesses. Full repeal of Death Tax not in final bill: Rep. Davidson advocated for a full repeal of the death tax and even led a letter with 54 of his colleagues to GOP leadership asking for a full repeal. The final tax reform bill doubles the threshold for the death tax exemption, but does not include a full repeal. Eliminating the Individual Mandate Penalty: The “Individual Mandate” provision is one of the most unpopular provisions in Obamacare as it penalizes individuals who do not purchase health insurance. The final tax reform bill eliminates this monetary penalty which is a provision Rep. Davidson advocated for. Higher Education: The final tax reform bill expands the use of 520 accounts to cover homeschooling and tuition for k-12 private schools. Additionally, the tax reform bill retains the current loan interest deduction for law students and tuition waivers paid for graduate school education. Rep. Davidson supports keeping these provisions. Business New Corporate Rate Tax Structure: The final tax reform bill eliminates the multi-bracket corporate income tax structure and instead creates a single rate of 21 percent. This new rate is effective for tax year 2018. Rep. Davidson advocated for a 20 percent tax rate as he believes it will make America more competitive globally. Support for Full Business Expensing: The final tax reform bill allows for full expensing of capital investments. The full expensing provision in the tax reform bill expires after five years and then will gradually phase out over the remaining five years. Rep. Davidson advocated for this provision. Opposition to Mandatory “First in First Out” Provision: This was a Senate provision that would have increased taxes on investment by requiring the selling of stocks on a first-in, first-out basis. Rep. Davidson opposed this provision and is glad to see it is not in the final tax reform bill. ?International Base Erosion Provisions: Rep. Davidson wanted to ensure that the base erosion provision dealt with the “Bermuda loophole.” This loophole is a provision which allows foreign insurers to move to offshore tax havens, thus avoiding U.S. tax and putting domestic insurers at a disadvantage. The final bill does address the Bermuda loophole. Miscellaneous Historic Tax Credit (HTC) and New Market Tax Credit (NMTC): The final tax reform bill preserves the existing law for New Market Tax Credits. Additionally, HTC is retained but with small changes. For example, the ability to claim the HTC is spread out over five years. (Currently, you can claim full value of the credit in the first year). The current bill also repeals the 10 percent building rehabilitation credit for non-historic buildings that were in operation pre-1936. Rep. Davidson supported the NMTC and HTC. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://turner.house.gov/2017/12/turner-and-davis-save-higher-education-benefits-in-tax-reform,TURNER and Davis Save Higher Education Benefits in Tax Reform,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Michael R. Turner,T000463,turner.house.gov,turner,https://turner.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"[[{""fid"":""560"",""view_mode"":""full"",""fields"":{""format"":""full"",""field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]"":false,""field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]"":false},""link_text"":null,""type"":""media"",""field_deltas"":{""2"":{""format"":""full"",""field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]"":false,""field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]"":false}},""attributes"":{""class"":""media-element file-full"",""data-delta"":""2""}}]] Congressmen Mike Turner (OH-10) and Rodney Davis (IL-13) today won their fight to preserve education tax benefits in the final tax reform bill. Both the graduate tuition waiver (Section 117(d)) and employer tuition assistance benefits (Section 127) were maintained in the tax reform conference report released today. The House is expected to vote on the report next week. “This tax package is an incredible step forward for our country to achieve economic growth,” said Congressman Turner. “Students pursuing a higher education are working to better themselves. More highly educated Americans means a better workforce, and a better workforce means a stronger economy. By including the provisions Rodney and I fought for, this tax package encourages people to pursue the American dream and helps grow the U.S.” “No bill is perfect, but we fought to make it better and we did,” said Congressman Davis. “This is the legislative process at work. I appreciate Chairman Brady and my other colleagues for coming together to preserve these provisions that will help graduate assistants and mid-level university employees trying to send their kid to college. Maintaining the employer tuition assistance provision helps those looking to further their education, but I also hope that one day we can use it to help address the one trillion-dollar existing student debt crisis that is facing our county. The changes in this bill make it even stronger for the middle class and those living paycheck to paycheck. I’m looking forward to voting ‘yea’ next week to deliver the first real tax relief for hardworking Americans in more than three decades.” “This is a historic moment for the American people,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (TX-8). “Our legislation to finally reform America’s broken tax code will deliver more jobs, bigger paychecks, and fairer taxes to hardworking families and job creators throughout the country. I’m grateful to Congressmen Davis and Turner for their leadership on preserving graduate student tuition assistance and tuition waivers, and for their work in support of making pro-growth, pro-family tax reform a reality for the American people.” Last week, Congressmen Turner and Davis sent a letter with 24 of their colleagues to Chairman Brady and Chairman Orrin Hatch (UT) of the Senate Committee on Finance to include two provisions in the final tax reform bill to help students pursuing a higher education. Both provisions ended up included in the final tax reform package. Congressmen Turner and Davis previously had a colloquy with Chairman Brady on the House floor about this issue. The first provision the Congressmen secured in the final tax reform bill allows taxpayers to exclude qualified tuition reductions from income. If tuition reductions were not maintained, university employees and their spouses and dependents, as well as graduate students, would have faced an unnecessary burden in pursuing a higher education. The second provision included due to the Congressmen’s work is business-provided incentives for employees seeking a higher education. Tax-free qualified educational assistance increases the quality of the American workforce.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://turner.house.gov/2017/12/turner-on-america-first,TURNER on America First,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Michael R. Turner,T000463,turner.house.gov,turner,https://turner.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Chairman Mike Turner (OH-10) of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s America First National Security Agenda: “This week, Congress will have the opportunity to ensure national security by voting to fully fund national defense at the levels authorized by the FY18 NDAA. Expecting our military to successfully operate on a system of fictional and unreliable budgeting is incredibly irresponsible. A vote against funding what we have already promised our troops would be playing politics with their lives. I encourage both the House and Senate to take swift action to rebuild our readiness.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-and-davis-save-higher-education-benefits-in-tax-reform,TURNER and Davis Save Higher Education Benefits in Tax Reform,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Michael Turner,T000463,turner.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressmen Mike Turner (OH-10) and Rodney Davis (IL-13) today won their fight to preserve education tax benefits in the final tax reform bill. Both the graduate tuition waiver (Section 117(d)) and employer tuition assistance benefits (Section 127) were maintained in the tax reform conference report released today. The House is expected to vote on the report next week. This tax package is an incredible step forward for our country to achieve economic growth, said Congressman Turner. Students pursuing a higher education are working to better themselves. More highly educated Americans means a better workforce, and a better workforce means a stronger economy. By including the provisions Rodney and I fought for, this tax package encourages people to pursue the American dream and helps grow the U.S. No bill is perfect, but we fought to make it better and we did,said Congressman Davis. This is the legislative process at work. I appreciate Chairman Brady and my other colleagues for coming together to preserve these provisions that will help graduate assistants and mid-level university employees trying to send their kid to college. Maintaining the employer tuition assistance provision helps those looking to further their education, but I also hope that one day we can use it to help address the one trillion-dollar existing student debt crisis that is facing our county. The changes in this bill make it even stronger for the middle class and those living paycheck to paycheck. Im looking forward to voting yea next week to deliver the first real tax relief for hardworking Americans in more than three decades. This is a historic moment for the American people, said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (TX-8). Our legislation to finally reform Americas broken tax code will deliver more jobs, bigger paychecks, and fairer taxes to hardworking families and job creators throughout the country. Im grateful to Congressmen Davis and Turner for their leadership on preserving graduate student tuition assistance and tuition waivers, and for their work in support of making pro-growth, pro-family tax reform a reality for the American people. Last week, Congressmen Turner and Davis sent a letter with 24 of their colleagues to Chairman Brady and Chairman Orrin Hatch (UT) of the Senate Committee on Finance to include two provisions in the final tax reform bill to help students pursuing a higher education. Both provisions ended up included in the final tax reform package. Congressmen Turner and Davis previously had a colloquy with Chairman Brady on the House floor about this issue. The first provision the Congressmen secured in the final tax reform bill allows taxpayers to exclude qualified tuition reductions from income. If tuition reductions were not maintained, university employees and their spouses and dependents, as well as graduate students, would have faced an unnecessary burden in pursuing a higher education. The second provision included due to the Congressmens work is business-provided incentives for employees seeking a higher education. Tax-free qualified educational assistance increases the quality of the American workforce. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://turner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turner-on-america-first,TURNER on America First,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Michael Turner,T000463,turner.house.gov,,,legacy,"Chairman Mike Turner (OH-10) of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces released the following statement on President Donald Trumps America First National Security Agenda: This week, Congress will have the opportunity to ensure national security by voting to fully fund national defense at the levels authorized by the FY18 NDAA. Expecting our military to successfully operate on a system of fictional and unreliable budgeting is incredibly irresponsible. A vote against funding what we have already promised our troops would be playing politics with their lives. I encourage both the House and Senate to take swift action to rebuild our readiness. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/-brown-releases-new-episode-of-canarycast-focused-on-retirement,"Brown Releases New Episode of “Canarycast,” Focused On Retirement",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Latest Podcast Episode Features Ohioans Working with Brown to Save Pensions; Canarycast Builds on Browns Plan to Make Hard Work Pay Off Monday, December 18, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released a new episode of his new podcast, Canarycast. The latest episode is titled, Dont take what we earned, and features discussions with Ohio Teamsters in danger of losing the pensions they worked for. Brown introduced legislation to ensure that Ohio retirees can keep the pensions they have earned. Download Canarycast, Episode 2 Dont take what we earned: Brown joins Mike Walden, President of the National United Committee to Protect Pensions, and Rita Lewis, a widow of a southwest Ohio Teamster, who has continued her late husbands fight for the retirement security American workers earned over a lifetime of hard work. Brown named the bill The Butch Lewis Act, after Butch Lewis, Ritas husband and the former retired head of Teamsters Local 100. Browns legislation would put the pension plans back on solid footing. Workers gladly gave up higher pay for the promise of a pension to be there when they retired, said Brown. They earned their pensions and they gave up pay raises to do it. Americans value hard work and they deserve a government and a society that does the same. One way Congress can value work right away is to pass the Butch Lewis Act and protect these pensions. Browns podcast is named Canarycast, a nod to the canary pin Brown wears on his lapel instead of the official Senate pin. An Ohio steelworker gave Brown the pin. He wears it as a reminder of the progress the country has made since the days when the only thing coal miners had to protect them was a canary and all the work still left to do to ensure American workers are valued. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-stands-with-ohio-retirees-to-call-for-action-on-plan-to-protect-ohio-pensions-keep-promises-to-ohio-workers,"Brown Stands with Ohio Retirees to Call for Action on Plan to Protect Ohio Pensions, Keep Promises to Ohio Workers",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Browns Bill to Protect Pensions Named in Honor of Southwest Ohio Teamster, Butch Lewis Monday, December 18, 2017 CINCINNATI, OH Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Ohio retirees at Teamsters Local 100 as he calls for Congressional action on his legislation to ensure that Ohio retirees can keep the pensions they have earned. Brown named the bill the Butch Lewis Act, after Butch Lewis, the former retired head of Teamsters Local 100. Numerous Ohio pension plans, including the massive Central States Teamsters Pension Plan, the United Mine Workers Pension Plan, the Ironworkers Local 17 Pension Plan, the Ohio Southwest Carpenters Pension Plan and the Bakers and Confectioners Pension Plan are currently on the brink of failure and threatened by massive cuts. Browns legislation would put the pension plans back on solid footing and ensure they can meet their obligations to current retirees and workers for decades to come, without cuts. Brown intends to lead the charge in Congress to include the fix for pensions in any year end legislative priorities. If we truly value a hard days work in this country, we can start by keeping our promise to these Teamsters and these miners, said Brown. Workers gladly gave up higher pay for the promise of a pension to be there when they retired. They earned their pensions and they gave up pay raises to do it. Brown was joined by Rita Lewis, Butchs widow, who has continued her late husbands fight for the retirement security these workers earned over a lifetime of hard work. The Butch Lewis act, and the passing if it, will restore our dignity, our security and peace of mind, knowing we will have security at last! No one should ever be forced to fight for, or die for the pension they were promised! A promise, is a promise, is a promise, said Lewis. If nothing is done to the plans they will fail and retirees will face massive cuts to the benefits they earned over decades of work. If the plans are allowed to fail, not only will they no longer be able to pay promised benefits, but taxpayers would be at risk of having to pay billions because the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) would be on the hook for billions of dollars it cannot pay. PBGC is the arm of the federal government that insures pension plans. Browns Butch Lewis Act would: 1. Put failing pension plans back on solid ground to ensure they can meet their commitments to retirees today and workers for decades to come. 2. Do so without cutting a single cent from the benefits retirees have earned. 3. Put safeguards in place to encourage pensions to remain strong so they can be there for todays workers when they retire. Browns plan is supported by the National United Committee to Protect Pensions. Like many of my fellow Teamsters, I served my country proudly in the military and worked hard for decades to provide for my family, said Mike Walden, retired Teamster, President of the National United Committee to Protect Pensions, and Vietnam Veteran. Ive never asked for anything from this country, but I dont want to see my government take away something weve worked hard for and earned. How does the Butch Lewis Act Work? This legislation creates a mechanism for the Treasury Department to allow pension plans to borrow the money they need to remain solvent and continue providing retirement security for retirees and workers for decades to come. The money for the loans would come from the sale of Treasury-issued bonds to financial institutions. To ensure that the pension plans can afford to repay the loans, Treasury would lend them money for 30 years at low interest rates. The 30-year loans would buy time for the pension plans to make smart long-term investments for the future, while continuing to pay benefits owed to current retirees. The bill would not allow any plan to borrow more than it can pay back to taxpayers. It would also prohibit any borrowed funds from being used to make risky investments. And it requires plans that borrow money to submit reports every three years to demonstrate that the plans are on track to getting back on solid footing. The PBGC would fill the gap between money borrowed and any additional funding needed to pay benefits owed to current retirees while the plans get back on track. The bill provides this money to the PBGC, but any money needed for the PBGC would be a tiny fraction of what it would otherwise be on the hook for if Congress fails to act. Who is Butch Lewis? Estil Butch Lewis was a Vietnam War veteran who returned home and worked for 40 years as a trucker and Teamster. He was the retired head of Teamsters Local 100 in Evendale, Ohio. Butch led the fight to preserve his fellow Teamsters pensions, and passed away due to a stroke on New Years Eve in 2015. Doctors attributed his stroke, at least in part, to the stress he faced fighting the proposed pension cuts. His wife Rita Lewis, with whom he was set to celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary before he died, has continued her late husbands fight for the retirement security these workers earned over a lifetime of hard work. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5233FC79-882F-46C9-B5CB-C5CF6922EC99,"ICYMI Lima News Op-Ed from Senator Portman: ""Fighting to Pass Critical Legislation for Lima Region""",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In a Lima News op-ed, Senator Portman highlights two pieces of legislation, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As a conferee in the House-Senate tax reform conference committee, Senator Portman played an important role in the tax reform debate and the negotiations over the now-completed final tax bill between the House and the Senate. On Friday, the conferee committee released the conference report for the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers, with the goal of getting it to the presidents desk for his signature before Christmas. Recently, President Trump signed into law the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act conference report, which authorizes funding to upgrade Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles. Critical work is done on both systems at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, where Portman recently hosted an employee town hall as part of his Ohio Defense Tour. The NDAA authorizes more than $1.6 billion for upgrading Abrams tanks to increase the rate of production of the newest upgraded Abrams tanks in Lima and ensure that our forward deployed tanks have the most cutting-edge survivability enhancements. The bill also authorizes $622 million in funding to complete the fourth Stryker brigade with upgraded survivability and mobility improvements as well as a second brigade of Stryker vehicles with an upgraded weapons system. These important resources were included by Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) in the NDAA following a letter sent by Senators Portman and Gary Peters (D-MI), and builds on last years NDAA which included $652 million to support upgrades to the Abrams tank and $579 million for the Stryker vehicle. Excerpts of the op-ed can be found below and the full op-ed can be found at thislink. Fighting to Pass Critical Legislation for Lima Region By Rob Portman Lima News December 16, 2017 As a U.S. senator, I enjoy traveling around Ohio to meet with the people that make up our great state. In Lima, I have had the chance to meet with the doctors and nurses at St. Ritas Medical Center to see the compassionate love they give babies born to opioid-addicted mothers. Ive met with small business job creators at the Lima Area Chamber of Commerce, visited with the best tank builders in the world at the Lima Tank Plant, and talked with customers while enjoying a Kewpee burger and pie. The folks I meet in Lima are some of the best. My job in the Senate is to deliver results for themand the people of Lima will benefit from two critical pieces of legislation we are finalizing this year. President Trump recently signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law, and Congress is working to get a final tax reform bill passed and to the presidents desk before Christmas. The defense authorization bill is a big win for Limaand the hardworking, patriotic employees at the Lima Tank Plant, also known as the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC). I recently had the pleasure of touring JSMC again and meeting with the skilled employees who make the best armored vehicles in the world, and Im pleased that the additional resources I fought for were included in the final bill. The NDAA authorizes more than $1.6 billion in funding to increase the rate of production of the newest upgraded Abrams tanks and ensure that our forward deployed tanks have the most cutting-edge enhancements. The bill also authorizes $622 million in funding to upgrade Strykers made in Lima with survivability, mobility, and weapons system improvements. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=59E910DD-64D2-4937-87E7-93B7279C8B01,"ICYMI Cincinnati Enquirer Op-Ed from Senator Portman: ""Preserving Key Tax Incentives a Big Win for Cincinnati""",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Portman, who praised the House-Senate conference committee report on the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, worked tirelessly to develop and help improve the conference report so it can pass the House and Senate and be sent to the presidents desk for his signature. The once-in-a-generation legislation will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers, and this week the House and Senate will send a final bill to the presidents desk before Christmas. As Portman says in the piece, Key among the tax incentives that have proven successful for Ohio have been the Historic Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, and Private Activity Bonds all of which have played a role in spurring development and revitalizing neighborhoods in Cincinnati. I fought hard to retain these important tax incentives for redevelopment and urban renewal, and Im proud to say the final tax agreement preserves them. Excerpts of the op-ed can be found below and the full op-ed can be found at thislink. Preserving Key Tax Incentives a Big Win for Cincinnati By Rob Portman Cincinnati Enquirer December 18, 2017 As a member of the tax-writing committee and the House-Senate tax conference that negotiated the final bill, I worked throughout the process to develop and improve the bill on behalf of Ohio. Key among the tax incentives that have proven successful for Ohio have been the Historic Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, and Private Activity Bonds all of which have played a role in spurring development and revitalizing neighborhoods in Cincinnati. I fought hard to retain these important tax incentives for redevelopment and urban renewal, and Im proud to say the final tax agreement preserves them. I have long been a strong supporter of the Historic Tax Credit and worked with my colleagues to restore the current-law 20 percent credit in both the Senate-passed bill and the final legislation Likewise, the city has been a major beneficiary of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which helps economically distressed communities attract private capital for community redevelopment purposes. It has been instrumental in the transformation of much of Cincinnatis urban core I was also pleased to help preserve Private Activity Bonds, which are an essential source of funding for important infrastructure and community redevelopment projects across Ohio. Of note, these bonds have been critical in our efforts to provide more affordable housing in Cincinnati and around the state. Taken together, these tax incentives have leveraged more private sector investment for Cincinnati, spurred economic growth and job creation, and ultimately generated more tax revenue over time ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F07B753D-95C8-4B2C-A88D-6771203551E2,Portman Delivers Commencement Address at Ohio State University,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"COLUMBUS, OH Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) delivered the commencement address at Ohio State Universitys graduation ceremony. Portman has been working to help expand access to college, make it more affordable for students, parents and families, and help new graduates get good jobs so that they can achieve financial independence and become debt-free. Portman also fought to preserve key tax incentives for undergraduate and graduate students in the final tax reform legislation that was finalized in the House-Senate Conference last week. Photos from his speech can be found here. Transcript of his speech can be found below and a video can be found here. Dr. Drake, thank you very much for that kind introduction. We all appreciate your leadership of this remarkable university and I look forward to continuing to partner with you, as you said, to further the mission of the University and also to ensure that the Universitys growing role as a global leader in research and education continues to grow. Its really amazing. I also want to thank the faculty-student staff committeefor inviting me to speak today and I want to thank the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman Alex Shumate, my friend and former colleague. And then most importantly, I want to say congratulations to the 2017 graduating class of The Ohio State University. Way to go! What a day. I know you probably know this, but you are record breakers. This is the largest fall graduation in the history of Ohio State. Youre a record-breaking class not just because of your size, but also in so many other ways with your many accomplishments. I have gotten to know some of you over the past few years, and today I had the chance to meet others. Its an impressive group. Many of you are first in your family to attend college. From age 17 to 64, and from 44 states and 66 countries, you are a diverse, talented, focused and restless to make your mark. And you know what? Youll have some help doing that, because with your graduation today, your family just got a lot bigger. You are joining more than 550,000 Ohio State graduates worldwide and more than 285,000 Ohio State graduates living in the state of Ohio. Theyre there to help you. My graduation gift to you today is that Ill be brief. Even though this is your big day, for starterslets celebrate somebody else. For many of you, the support and encouragement from your family and your friends, from the professors and administrators, have played a major part in your ability, first to be able to attend this great university, but also your success in reaching this amazing milestone in your life. For some of you, they were your strength on the days when you didnt think you could make it. Maybe they believed in you when you didnt believe in yourself. Maybe they encouraged you to applymaybe they helped you to stay in. Maybe they join you today in celebrating the end of tuition checks! But the success we celebrate today is not just your successits their success, too. So, to the class of 2017, lets give everyone here supporting you a round of applause. To the moms and dads who are in the audience today, about six months ago, Jane and I sat in the audience and watched our last child graduate. Enjoy it. Frankly, I wish I had taken more time to let that sink in because it is the culmination of so much love, and support, and work, and sacrifice. Its an honor for me to be here today to join a distinguished list of Ohio State commencement speakers. From George W. Bush to Barack Obama, and plenty of others, this institution has welcomed a wide variety of views and, in general, the University has encouraged spiritedbut respectfulpublic discourse. That tolerance and respect for other points of view is part of what makes America extraordinaryand what should be the hallmark of any great university. As President Drake said, before running for the Senate I co-taught some courses at the Glenn College, and there I had the chance to get to know some of the secrets of Ohio State. I learned that when some students said they were up all night at The Library, they were actually talking about a bar on High Street. But I also learned that going to the Thompson Library is important because thats where you need to go before your finals to rub the statue for good luck. I learned that for some students, including some of my students, their finals week diet consisted entirely of Buckeye Donuts and coffee. I learned that TBDBITL isnt an acronym for some government agency in Washington, although it sounds like it, but a source of pride for all Buckeyes as The Best Damn Band In The Land marches Across the Field to perform Script Ohio in front of more than 100,000 fans. By the way, the orchestra was awesome this morning and the band was awesome. The last time I got to see the band march was at the Penn State game, where I learned something else: never give up on Ohio State! I know youll have your own special memories and you will cherish them from your time at Ohio State. I hope graduation is one of those because its an incredible accomplishment. To be honest, I must say I dont remember who spoke at my college graduation. I doubt you will either. But let me share a few thoughts for you just to think about. First, hard work was mentioned earlier, dont make the mistake of underestimating the value of hard work. I know all of you are already pretty hardworking, otherwise you wouldnt be graduating from this prestigious university. But its easy sometimes to fall into the trap of believing that getting ahead is somehow out of your control, or a matter of luck. I have found in my life that the harder I work, the luckier I get. Hard work is the ingredient to success over which you actually have the most control. Circumstances and conditions will change, but the role you play in your own success never changes. You alone have the power to decide your own potential. So take pride in the work you do regardless of what it is, and as you climb your ladder of success there will be some tough jobs youre asked to take on. Take pride in that, and work hard. Which brings me to my next point. Follow your dreamnot someone elses dream for you. You will be more inclined to pour all of your passion and energy into the things you love. Thats a good reason to do it. That could mean continuing in the field you are getting your diploma in today. Probably your family would like that since this is a lot of sacrifice to get this degree. But you know what? For some of you it could mean changing the direction your life is heading. Whatever the passion is that gets you out of bed in the morning is the one worth pursuing, even if it is going to involvewhich it likely willtaking some risks. The truth is that this journey is now yours alone, and the choices you make should be in pursuit of your dreams, your goals. Your parents, professors, and friends have helped you get this farand they can continue to support you from the sidelinesbut what you do next is up to you. Dont let the expectations from others overshadow your dreams and your goals. And, by the way, for those wondering do I really have a passion? Dont worry about it. Its OK to be unsure about your exact direction in life at this point. Trust meI didnt plan on being a United States Senator when I was 22 years old. Nor did my professors by the wayespecially the microeconomics professor who gave me a C. In fact, I graduated with a degree in cultural anthropology, which I think has helped me understand the unique culture and strange rituals in Washington D.C, but beyond that, frankly, the degree doesnt overlap too much with public policy or government service. Shortly after graduation, I worked in government and I recognized that was my passion: public service, and ever since then I have looked for ways to contribute through government and public policy. You dont need to have your life mapped out right nowbut try different things and follow what you think youll like, give it your most every day, be willing to take a chance, and I believe you will find your passionor it will find you. My final piece of advice for you is really pretty simple: be kind and true. This is an old family saying that came from my grandfather, and my namesake. I grew up with him telling me that all the timeand my kids have grown up with me telling it to them. They roll their eyes when I end my text with BEKAT or be ever kind and true, but I hope it sinks in, because nothing is more important. All of your relationships, whether in your personal life or in your professional life, are going to be based on trust, and trust comes from a sense of someones honesty and good will. Thats as true in a family as it is in a businessas true on the shop floor as it is on the Senate floor. It sounds simple, and it is, but we all need to be reminded of it once in a while. You will find that it will work for you, too. Just as youll never regret doing your best or following your dreams, youll never regret practicing kindness and honesty in pursuit of your goals. I love that graduations are called commencements. Look at today as commencing a new exciting phase in your life. Your families, your university, and all of us in Ohio are proud of you. Proud for what you have achieved today, and we cant wait to see what youll do next. Godspeed, Ohio State Class of 2017! ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399424,Congressman Stivers says GOP tax overhaul will make US more competitive,2017-12-17,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"In Congress, Republicans are optimistic about reaching an agreement on tax reform in both the House and the Senate. share: f t WASHINGTON (WCMH) In Congress, Republicans are optimistic about reaching an agreement on tax reform in both the House and the Senate.The tax bill is in a joint conference committee right now, and central Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers is one of the GOP members claiming the bill is good for the middle class. I think it is a tax package that will do three things, Stivers said. It will make America more competitive, it will bring jobs back to the United States, it will put money in the pockets of hard-working tax payers. Stivers thinks that lowering the corporate tax rate and allowing businesses to expense everything they do will spur job creation and increase wages for workers, something he says most Americans havent seen in 10 years. However, Democrats say the tax plan will hurt the middle class. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty says the bill will limit deductions for property taxes, mortgages and payments on student loan interest. Stivers rejects claims from Democrats that middle class families will be worse off if the bill passes because of the elimination of local and state tax credits and the plan to tax tuition waivers for graduate students. We do eliminate some deductions, but I think we will actually fix a lot of the stuff with grad students at Ohio State on the tuition waivers, Stivers said. We will fix a lot of the individual issues.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399425,Ohio lawmakers idea leads to resting place for unidentified war dead,2017-12-17,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- After reading news stories about the Dover Air Force Base mortuary sending cremated veterans remains to a Maryland landfill in 2011, U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers was horrified. share: f t WASHINGTON- After reading news stories about the Dover Air Force Base mortuary sending cremated veterans remains to a Maryland landfill in 2011, U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers was horrified.Then he decided to do something to make sure it would never happen again. Stivers, an Upper Arlington Republican who has served more than 30 years in the Ohio Army National Guard, began pushing for a resting place to inter the partial, unidentified remains of those who died while serving in the U.S. armed services. It took six years, but the results of his efforts the Tomb of Remembrance was dedicated Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery. No remains were interred yet, but Stivers took comfort in knowing that cremated remains would have a dedicated resting place. It felt great to know that there is now a very honorable place for these remains to go, he said. Stivers and his staff came up with a idea for the tomb after reading the stories about the Air Force dumping incinerated partial remains of unidentified soldiers in a Virginia landfill. He said he wanted a place that could accept new remains long after he left Congress. Stivers introduced a bill in May 2012, but more importantly he got the superintendent of Arlington Cemetery interested. The bill passed the House but was still in the Senate when the superintendent decided to move forward without congressional help. It wasnt about passing a bill, Stivers said. It was about making it happen. There were more practical issues at play as well. Arlington National Cemetery is quickly running out of space. Storing cremated remains of unknown service members together, Stivers said, made more sense than burying each set of co-mingled fragments in a separate grave. Tucked in a corner of the cemetery, not far from the columbarium a wall holding cremated remains of other veterans the tomb is simple and reminiscent of a cairn, or pile of rocks known as a traditional type of tomb. Underneath the cairn, a humidity-controlled vault will hold the cremated remains. Above it, those visiting can sit on a bench with a full view of the site and the graves that lie beyond it. During a brief 10 to 15 minute ceremony, military representatives blessed the tomb with Hebrew, Catholic and Protestant prayers. They played taps. And one cemetery representative pulled Stivers aside and told him that his idea would endure for 100 or possibly 200 years to come. Stivers was overwhelmed. It feels like I made a difference, he said, and that feels great.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/cbs10-face-the-state-beatty-on-sexual-harrasment,CBS10 Face the State: Beatty on Sexual Harrasment,2017-12-17,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"471 East Broad Street, Suite 1100 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone: 614-220-0003 Fax: 614-220-5640 Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399399,Stivers Statement on the Conference Report of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"Stivers Statement on the Conference Report of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act f t # e Washington, December 15, 2017 The following can be attributed to Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) regarding the Conference Report of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: During the Conference process, I have fought for what I know is important to the families in the 15th District, like the graduate student tuition waiver for students at Ohio University and Ohio State, expanding the child tax credit for working parents, and continuing the historic tax credit for buildings on the national register, and the low income housing tax credit for those who want to invest in our community. Im glad that they were all included in the final passage. Were one step closer to a bill that will grow our economy and put money in the pockets of hardworking taxpayers. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/ohio-lawmakers-react-to-details-of-tax-bill,Ohio Lawmakers React to Details of Tax Bill,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Joyce Beatty,B001281,beatty.house.gov,,,legacy,"Republican Sen. Rob Portman and Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, hailed the final version of the bill to overhaul the tax code that was unveiled Friday, while Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown denounced the measure as a tax cut for millionaires and corporations. With the House and Senate expected to vote next week on the package, lawmakers from both parties had predictable reactions to the details released about the bill, with GOP lawmakers insisting the $1.5 trillion tax cut would help expand economic growth. Portman, one of the chief architects of the bill, said it would provide tax relief for middle-class families and reform our business tax code to create more jobs and increase wages for American workers. But Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Columbus Democrat, called it a hastily written, haphazard plan that provides a totally unnecessary, budget-busting tax cut to the super-wealthy and well-connected at the expense of ordinary Americans. This bill is nothing more than a trumped-up, trickle-down plan that overwhelmingly benefits the fortunate few people like Donald Trump and scams the rest of us, Beatty said. Portman, a member of the conference committee that hammered out final details with House Republicans, said he was proud to play a significant role in this conference, working alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to craft this bill and improve it on behalf of middle-class families. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, said a family of four in my district making $59,000 a year will see about $1,000 additionally in their pockets that they can use for home improvements or sending their kids to college. Some final tweaks to the bill brought in wavering Republicans like Sen. Marco Rubio Friday, and the GOP appeared poised to pass the bill next week without any Democratic support. Brown complained President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans rejected a chance to craft a bipartisan bill and instead chose to cut taxes for millionaires and corporations and pay for it by cutting Medicare and kicking people off their health insurance. In a sharply worded statement, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, said Trump and GOP lawmakers have lied to the American people about the impact of this abhorrent tax legislation. This bill will increase taxes on half of all Americans, decrease long term economic growth, and send our national debt skyrocketing all to give companies like Apple a $47 billion tax break, he said. Turner had a very different take, saying the bill will help both businesses and middle-class families. Businesses here will get an incentive to buy new equipment, expand, hire new employees, he said. That means well be growing the economy at the same time people see more money in their pockets. Tax bill key details Individual Brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37% Corporate Tax Rate: Cut from 35% to 21% Child Tax Credit: Increased from $1,000 to $2,000, $1,400 of which is fully refundable. Standard Deduction: Roughly doubled to $12,000 for singles and $24,000 for couples. Those taking standard deduction cannot itemize. Home mortgage interest deduction for new homes: Deduct up to $750,000 per new home. State and Local Tax Deduction: Caps at $10,000 annually, including property taxes. Obamacare mandate: Ends fines for those who dont buy health insurance. Deductions: Stays same for 401ks and charitable contributions. Medical Deductions: Increase to 10 percent of adjusted gross income starting in 2020. This article was originally published by The Dayton Daily News on December 15, 2017.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/renacci-report?ContentRecord_id=33685FB0-634C-45EF-A560-6DCEEBE1487F,12.15.17: Week in Review,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Jim Renacci,R000586,renacci.house.gov,,,legacy,"Good Afternoon, Our final push for pro-growth tax reform was one of the focal points this week in Washington. Fixing our broken tax code, one that hasnt been reformed in over 30 years, is vital to the success of our economy and the middle class. I held a tele town hall on Wednesday discussing the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act in length and answered any questions Ohioans had regarding this legislation. If you participated, I hope you found that conversation beneficial in dissecting this bill. You can watch my weekly highlights here. Media Mashup I spoke with Varney & Co. on Fox Business about our final push to fix our broken tax code. You can view the clip here. Last weekend, I was in-studio with Alex Witt on MSNBC to discuss the future of the tax reform process. Watch the segment here. Washington Wrap Up My staff met with representatives from Johnson C. Smith Universitys foster care initiative regarding my Preparing Homeless Youth for Education and Employment Act. JCSU is dedicated to helping youth aging out of the foster system be successful in higher education. They discussed the barriers to academic success for homeless and foster youth, how my bill aims to address them, and the growing number of members sponsoring this bipartisan legislation. You can read an op-ed I wrote about the bill here. District Doings My district and DC office have been working hard throughout the year making sure my office provides exceptional services for its constituents and that your opinions get heard on issues in Washington. To date, my office has sent 33,877 messages this year alone to constituents regarding their thoughts on issues. I am always appreciative of the input I receive and am thankful to represent such a caring and passionate district of our great nation. Working Women Wednesday Each Wednesday, I like to shed a light on fantastic women and their career accomplishments in our 16th District. This week, my spotlight was Stefani Schaefer, anchor of Fox 8 News in the Morning. You can view her spotlight here. As I continue to feature the superb women of our district and their accomplishments, I invite you to nominate someone you know to be featured. Please send all nominations to RenacciWWW@gmail.com. Thank you. As always, thanks for allowing me to represent the 16th district in our nations capital. God Bless,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-statement-republican-tax-bill,Congressman Tim Ryan Statement on Republican Tax Bill,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Congressman Tim Ryan made the following statement after Congressional Republicans released their compromise tax legislation. From day one, President Trump and the Republicans in Congress have lied to the American people about the impact of this abhorrent tax legislation. This bill will increase taxes on half of all Americans, decrease long term economic growth, and send our national debt skyrocketing all to give companies like Apple a $47 billion tax break. Today, 63% of families could not withstand a $500 emergency. We have pensions collapsing and communities that have been wiped out, and yet the GOP plan to fix all of this is to raise taxes on 82 million middle class families. To make matters worse, we are going to need to borrow huge sums from China to give tax breaks to these corporations already making record profits, and inflict further pain on the middle class by cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, and other important programs Americans rely on. This bill weakens our country and will make it impossible for us to grow our economy, lift wages, and secure pensions for American families.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-portman-work-to-ensure-ohio-and-erie-canalway-can-continue-supporting-northeast-ohio-jobs,"Brown, Portman Work to Ensure Ohio & Erie Canalway Can Continue Supporting Northeast Ohio Jobs",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area Supports 4,200 Jobs, Generates $408 Million Each Year Friday, December 15, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) this week introduced legislation to ensure that the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which spans more than 110 miles between New Philadelphia and Cleveland, can continue to draw investment, and support local jobs, tourism and economic development in northeast Ohio. Ohioans take great pride in our states historic role in building the Erie Canal and connecting our state to the rest of the country, said Brown. From Tuscarawas County to Cuyahoga County, the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area draws millions of dollars to our state each year, supporting thousands of jobs. We owe it to all Ohioans and visitors to continue to support this treasure. This legislation will provide greater funding certainty for the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which will help ensure that this site is protected and continues to attract jobs and investment, said Portman. The canal holds great significance to the state of Ohio, from helping our early towns and communities prosper to linking our state to the rest of the nation. I am proud to be one of the 2.5 million visitors who enjoy the canals towpath trail each year, and I look forward to working with my colleague Senator Brown on getting this legislation signed into law. The Senators bill makes a legislative fix to make sure the Canalway doesnt face funding uncertainty each year. In 2015, Congress reauthorized the Canalway through 2021, but failed to simultaneously lift its funding cap to reflect its extended authorization, leaving the Canalways work to enrich the communities it spans in jeopardy each year. The Senators want to permanently lift this cap, so it can continue to receive its federal funding, which helps it raise additional funds from the State of Ohio, private organizations and foundations. The Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition supports Brown and Portmans efforts. On behalf of all of our partners along the Ohio and Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, we are grateful to Senator Brown and Senator Portman for their continued strong support and commitment for the Ohio and Erie Canalway, Towpath Trail and Connector Trail Trails, said Daniel Rice, Co-Executive Director, and President and CEO of the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition. Working together, we are fulfilling the legacy of Congressman Ralph Regula and creating a legacy for future generations. Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area spans the first 110 miles of the canal. The annual economic impact on Ohio is more than $408 million. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-tax-bill-takes-healthcare-away-from-ohioans-to-pay-for-handouts-to-millionaires-corporations,"Brown: Tax Bill Takes Healthcare Away From Ohioans to Pay for Handouts to Millionaires, Corporations",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Latest Version Cuts Taxes for Millionaires Even Further than Senate Bill Friday, December 15, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said the latest version of the GOP tax reform bill released this evening will force Ohioans to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and corporations by taking away their healthcare, driving up insurance premiums and forcing cuts to Medicare. The latest version of the bill cuts taxes for millionaires even further than the Senate bill by dropping the top statutory tax rate. Tax reform should have been an opportunity to work together to cut taxes for working people. I offered to work with the President and Republicans, and I introduced multiple amendments that could have put real money in the pockets of Ohioans. Instead Washington chose to cut taxes for millionaires and corporations and pay for it by cutting Medicare and kicking people off their health insurance, said Brown. And it wont stop there Congressional Republicans are already planning to steal the money Ohioans have paid into Medicare and Social Security to pay for the hole they are blowing in the deficit. In order for Republicans to pay for their permanent tax cuts for corporations, many Republicans including President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan have said they will take up so-called entitlement reform and make cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Learn more about those cuts HERE. Brown has repeatedly called for a bipartisan process and offered to work with his colleagues. Throughout the process, Brown offered several amendments, including one to expand the child tax credit and another to cut taxes only for corporations that do not send jobs overseas. The amendments were blocked from passage. Here are quick facts on the GOP proposal: ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3C59F04F-0B0B-4687-8ADB-031D08F88A31,"Portman, Brown Work to Ensure Ohio & Erie Canalway Can Continue Supporting Northeast Ohio Jobs",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area Supports 4,200 Jobs, Generates $408 Million Each Year WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) this week introduced legislation to ensure that the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which spans more than 110 miles between New Philadelphia and Cleveland, can continue to draw investment, and support local jobs, tourism and economic development in northeast Ohio. This legislation will provide greater funding certainty for the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which will help ensure that this site is protected and continues to attract jobs and investment, said Portman. The canal holds great significance to the state of Ohio, from helping our early towns and communities prosper to linking our state to the rest of the nation. I am proud to be one of the 2.5 million visitors who enjoy the canals towpath trail each year, and I look forward to working with my colleague Senator Brown on getting this legislation signed into law. Ohioans take great pride in our states historic role in building the Erie Canal and connecting our state to the rest of the country, said Brown. From Tuscarawas County to Cuyahoga County, the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area draws millions of dollars to our state each year, supporting thousands of jobs. We owe it to all Ohioans and visitors to continue to support this treasure. The Senators bill makes a legislative fix to make sure the Canalway doesnt face funding uncertainty each year. In 2015, Congress reauthorized the Canalway through 2021, but failed to simultaneously lift its funding cap to reflect its extended authorization, leaving the Canalways work to enrich the communities it spans in jeopardy each year. The Senators want to permanently lift this cap, so it can continue to receive its federal funding, which helps it raise additional funds from the State of Ohio, private organizations and foundations. The Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition supports Portman and Browns efforts. On behalf of all of our partners along the Ohio and Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, we are grateful to Senator Brown and Senator Portman for their continued strong support and commitment for the Ohio and Erie Canalway, Towpath Trail and Connector Trail Trails, said Daniel Rice, Co-Executive Director, and President and CEO of the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition. Working together, we are fulfilling the legacy of Congressman Ralph Regula and creating a legacy for future generations. Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area spans the first 110 miles of the canal. The annual economic impact on Ohio is more than $408 million. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A33301F5-CE32-445B-910A-910EBF8052C3,"On Fox News, Portman Discusses Outlook for Tax Reform, How Tax Cuts Will Boost Middle Class, Jobs & Wages",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"During an interview on Fox News today, Senator Portman, a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee that is negotiating the final tax reform bill, discussed how tax reform will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Portman, who has held six tax reform roundtables in Ohio with local business leaders in recent months, has been vocal on the national stage calling for tax reform, including during recent interviews on CBS This Morning, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, and NBCs Meet The Press twice, as well as recently in op-eds in the Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Delaware Gazette, and Cincinnati Enquirer. The tax reform effort is widely supported by Ohio small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and other state and local organizations. Excerpts can be found below and a video can be found here. PORTMAN ON THE OUTLOOK FOR TAX REFORM: I feel good about it.I think it will be out tonightor tomorrow, and then we will have avote Tuesday or Wednesday.I think the votes were therelast time in the Senate, andthey will be there this time because the bill, if anything, has improved after theHouse-Senate conference.You will see substantial middle-class tax relief, which is a lotof people are looking for, and in terms of the child tax credit for folks who are on the lower end of the economic ladder.I think it will be a verypopular bill and among ourRepublican colleagues I think we willget the votes. PORTMAN ON SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Marco has a passion for making sure that the child tax credit really works for families whoare maybe not paying income tax butpaying payroll taxes, and that'swhat he is insistent on therefundability.I respect that.He is looking out for the verypeople were all trying to help.I think in the end, the bill will beimproved, and we will get thesupport of our Republicancolleagues.I hope some Democrats will takea look at it.After all it is tax cuts for middle class families and it is helping folks at thebottom of the economic ladder,as Marco has insisted.It also makes our businessesand our workers competitive again.We cant have the current situation where jobs and investment are going overseas. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A6D7588D-8982-4828-B187-1A7292670C1B,ICYMI The Columbus Dispatch Op-Ed from Senator Portman: Helping Ohioans Live Up to God-Given Potential,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In a Columbus Dispatch op-ed Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) highlights his effortsto combat the heroin and prescription drug crisis gripping Ohio.Portman worked to secure $1 billion in new funding for state grants to fight opioid abuse in the CURES law and $181 million annually in discretionary spending for new programs through his bipartisanComprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act(CARA) signed-into-law last year. As the author of the CARA legislation, Senator Portman has helped lead the national effort to combat this epidemic that is devastating communities across Ohio and our country.The legislation 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 peoples lives. Portman is also working on a series of bipartisan bills to help combat the opioid epidemic, including his bipartisanSynthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Actlegislation to help stop dangerous synthetic drugs from being shipped into our country, his Prescription Drug Monitoring Act to help stop overprescribing,his Medicaid CARE Act to lift the cap on Medicaid funding for mental health and substance abuse facilities,and the CRIB Act, which will help newborns born dependent on drugs recover. Excerpts of the op-ed can be found below and the full op-ed can be found at thislink. Helping Ohioans Live up to God-given Potential By Rob Portman The Columbus Dispatch December 15, 2017 There are an estimated 200,000 Ohioans suffering from opioid addictionthat is approximately four times the population of Guernsey County. Approximately 11 Ohioans a day die from unintentional drug overdoses. This is a national epidemic, and sadly, Ohio is at the center of it. Addiction affects Ohioans regardless of age, area code, or economic status. While we have made some progress, we must continue assisting those battling addiction as well as those harmed by its effects. One of the most vulnerable groups affected by this epidemic are pregnant and postpartum women battling addictionand children born dependent on these drugs. I recently visited the Ohio Health Grant Medical Center in Columbus, where they treat babies who are born dependent on opioids. This is a tragic and all too common occurrence in Ohioexpectant mothers battling addiction give birth to children who are dependent on these drugs before taking their first breath. Last year, President Obama signed the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA), a bipartisan bill I authored, into law. CARA also provides funding and resources for pregnant and postpartum women as well as vulnerable babies affected by addiction, and it helps fund critical programs like the one I saw at the Ohio Health Grant Medical Center. The opioid epidemic in Ohio is a complex problem that requires comprehensive solutions. Addiction affects every aspect of our communities. Overcoming this crisis will take strength from those in recovery and support from those in the community. I will continue working to help stop the devastation created by opioid addiction and restore peoples ability to achieve their purpose in life. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D7CE79DD-6E19-4B19-A644-67DBE7CF9D85,How Senator Portman Worked to Improve the Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Portman praised the House-Senate conference agreement on theTax Cuts & Jobs Act, landmark tax reforms focused on helping middle-class families and creating more jobs with higher wages. After the final agreement was released, Portman said: Today marks another important milestone in our efforts to provide tax relief for middle-class families and reform our business tax code to create more jobs and increase wages for American workers. I look forward to both the House and Senate passing this legislation next week and the president signing these historic tax cuts before Christmas. Portman worked throughout the process to develop and help improve the bill, including adding several amendments during Senate consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. Heres a quick rundown on how Portman worked to improve the tax bill both during Senate deliberations and the final conference agreement: Pushing for Middle-Class Tax Cuts. Throughout this debate, Portman has been consistently focused on ensuring that the middle class get a significant tax cut, and that the progressivity of the code is at least maintained if not made more progressive. In particular, he focused on lowering tax rates and expanding the child tax credit. Expanding Tax Relief for Small Businesses. Reforms to the business tax code are an essential component of this final agreement, especially lowering rates for small businesses, which Portman played a key role in developing. These pro-growth reforms will grow our economy, create more jobs, and make America more competitive with our foreign counterparts. According to theTax Foundation, the Senate bill would help create nearly onemillion new American jobs, including more than 35,000 in Ohio. The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) endorsed the bill. Leveling the Playing Field for American Companies & Workers. Portmans bipartisan work on international tax reform is a key component of this tax reform bill. In 2015, he chaired a bipartisan working group on international tax reform with Senator Chuck Schumer, now Minority Leader. Together they developed a bipartisan framework to reform the international tax code, transition from a worldwide to a territorial tax system, and give American companies a level playing field with their foreign competitors. The gist of that framework is now part of both the Senate-passed bill and the final agreement. Details about this 2015 effort can be found here. Preserving Private Activity Bonds (PABs). Both in the Senate-passed bill and the final agreement, Portman helped preserve private activity bonds, which are an essential source of funding for important infrastructure and community redevelopment projects across Ohio. The House bill eliminated PABs. Preserving the Historic Tax Credit (HTC). Portman is a strong supporter of the HTC and worked with Senator Cassidy to restore the current-law 20 percent credit level in both the Senate-passed bill and the final agreement after the House eliminated it entirely and an early draft of the Senate bill reduced it to 10 percent. The HTC encourages private investment in the rehabilitation of historic buildings. It has been used to preserve numerous historic Ohio buildings, including Cincinnatis recently rehabilitated iconic Music Hall. Preserving the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC). While the House eliminated the New Markets Tax Credit, Portman led the effort to preserve it in the Senate bill and the final agreement. The NMTC helps economically distressed communities attract private capital for community redevelopment purposes, and Cincinnati has been a significant beneficiary. Earlier this year, Portman visited the Nehemiah Manufacturing Company, which is using the NMTC to expand and provide meaningful employment opportunities to ex-offenders re-entering society. Preserving the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Portman led the effort to preserve the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides employers with a tax credit for hiring and retaining veterans, ex-felons, disabled individuals, summer youth employees, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Supplemental Security Income recipients. A 2015 Portman amendment added a $2,400 credit for first year wages paid to the long-term unemployed. The House bill eliminated the tax credit. Helping Families Combat Unfair Tax on Student Loans. The final agreement includes Portmans bipartisanStop Taxing Death and Disability Act,legislation to eliminate a tax penalty levied on student loans forgiven for families after their child develops a permanent disability or dies. Promoting the Craft Beverage Industry in Ohio. The Senate-passed bill and the final agreement includes the bipartisanCraft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act, legislation cosponsored by Portman thatwould provide excise tax relief to thegrowing craft beverage industry, helping these entrepreneurs reinvest more in their businesses and our communities. Ohio is number four in the country in craft beer production, and supports 15,000 jobs in the state. Preserving Worker Retirement Security. The Senate-passed bill and the final agreement includes aPortman amendmentto protect smallstartup businesses ability to utilize nonqualified deferred compensation programs for millions of employees and retirees; remove a provision that would have subjected 457 plan participants like Ohio police and firefighters to a harmful 10 percent early distribution tax; and preserve the ability of all 401(k) participants to make catch-up contributions after age 50.Portman also worked with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to preserve additional catch-up contributions available to 457 and 403(b) plans, including clergy in church pension plans. These amendments preserved retirement security incentives with a proven track record of success. Easing the Burden of High Medical Expenses. The Senate-passed bill and the final agreement includes changes from Portmans Seniors Tax Hike Prevention Act which would allow seniors to deduct a greater share of their medical costs. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, all taxpayers at any age may take advantage of this expanded deduction. Preserving Key Higher Education Tax Incentives. Along with his colleagues in the Senate, Portman worked to preserve key tax incentives for undergraduate and graduate students, helping Ohio students struggling with the high cost of college. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E23E6B17-15E9-4383-BDA3-71939CC08D7E,Portman Praises Final House-Senate Conference Agreement on Tax Cuts & Jobs Act,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after the House and Senate conference committee released the conference report for the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers: Today marks another important milestone in our efforts to provide tax relief for middle-class families and reform our business tax code to create more jobs and increase wages for American workers, said Portman. I was proud to play a significant role in this conference, working alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to craft this bill and improve it on behalf of middle-class families.Through this tax reform plan, Congress is helping create a better economy and a better future for all Americans. I look forward to both the House and Senate passing this legislation next week and the president signing these historic tax cuts before Christmas. NOTE: The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act is focused on helping middle-class families. More information on Senator Portmans work to improve the Senate-passed Tax Cuts & Jobs Act can be found here. Statements of support from Ohio small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and other state and local organizations can be found here. A brief summary of the conference report can be found here and the full text of the conference report can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F62614C0-DEBF-4C95-9808-F9CDC669B849,Portman Statement on Final Tax Agreement Preserving Key Tax Incentives for Undergraduate & Graduate Students,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement regarding the House-Senate conference report on the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and its support for college students: I fought alongside my colleagues in the Senate to preserve key tax incentives for undergraduate and graduate students in the final tax reform legislation. This was a hard-fought victory for Ohio students struggling with the cost of college. Im also pleased that the final bill includes my Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act, which will eliminate a tax penalty levied on student loans forgiven for families after the death of their child and Americans who develop permanent disabilities. I am pleased to continue my support for this important legislation that will not only help middle-class families, but also assist undergraduate and graduate students as they work finish their education and enter the workforce. The final House-Senate agreement preserves key tax incentives that support undergraduate and graduate students, incentives that were preserved in the Senate-passed bill but repealed in the original House bill. Chief among these tax incentives, the final agreement: Preserves the deduction for interest paid on student loans; Preserves the deduction for tuition and related higher education expenses up to $4,000; Preserves the exclusion forinterest earned fromU.S. savings bonds if used to cover for higher education expenses; Preserves the exclusion for tuition reductions (i.e., if a graduate student is teaching a class in addition to pursuing their degree, the college may absorb their costs of tuition as a form of compensation for their service); and Preserves the exclusion for employer-provided education assistance payments of up to $5,250. Of note, the final conference report also includes PortmansStop Taxing Death & Disability Act, which exempts families from paying tax on the forgiveness of a student loan that automatically occurs if when the student dies or becomes permanently disabled. Portman, who has held six tax reform roundtables in Ohio with local business leaders in recent months, has been vocal on the national stage calling for tax reform, including during recent interviews on CBS This Morning, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, and NBCs Meet The Press twice, as well as recently in op-eds in the Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Delaware Gazette, and Cincinnati Enquirer. The tax reform effort is widely supported by students, small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and other state and local organizations. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rob-s-rundown?ID=088C9052-C930-4561-A910-6D6F71558E21,"Robs Rundown: Week of December 11 15, 2017",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Rob Portman,P000449,www.portman.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As a conferee in the House-Senate tax reform conference committee, Senator Portman continued to be a leading player in the negotiations of the final tax reform bill between the House and the Senate, with the goal of getting it to the presidents desk for his signature before Christmas. Portman is working to fix our broken tax code to provide tax relief to help boost the middle class and create more jobs and boost wages for American workers. Also this week, the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law by President Trump. The legislation included Portmans provisions to support Ohios men and women in uniform, strengthen Ohio military installations such as the Wright-Patterson Air Force base, counter foreign propaganda and disinformation from countries like Russia, and support and defend allies like Ukraine. For a detailed look at his week, please see the following: Tuesday, December 12 Portman, Murphy Announce Measure to Counter Foreign Propaganda in NDAA Conference Report Signed Into Law U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) announced that the president signed into law the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report, which includes their language to improve the ability of the United States to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation from our enemies. The language builds on their Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act, legislation signed-into-law last year, by helping them to promote more seamless coordination between the Department of Defense and the State Department in countering foreign propaganda and disinformation. Last year, the United States took a critical step towards confronting the extensive, and destabilizing, foreign propaganda and disinformation operations being waged against us by our foreign adversaries by passing the bipartisan Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act, and today marks another step forward, said Senator Portman. By better coordinating and synchronizing our governments response to foreign propaganda and disinformation, the United States will be more successful in ensuring that our ideas win. I am pleased the president signed this legislation into law to build on our previous efforts and encourage proper coordination between government agencies so that the disinformation and propaganda used against us, our allies, and our interests will fail. For more information about the bill, please go here. President Signs Into Law Portman, Brown Amendments to Support Jobs & Research at Wright-Patts Air Force Research Lab Portman and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the NDAA includes several bipartisan amendments they offered that will support jobs and the important research mission at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Air Force Research Lab. I have seen firsthand the innovative research and development conducted at the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patt that is critical to our national security and to maintaining our militarys technological edge, said Portman. I am pleased the president signed this legislation into law that will further support Wright-Patts mission, and I will continue to work with Senator Brown to support Wright-Patt and ensure that its highly-skilled workforce has the tools and resources it needs to carry out its missions. For more information about the bill, please go here. Following Portman Request, President Authorizes $15 Million for New Toledo Air Base Hangars Portman also announced that the NDAA authorizes $15 million to support the construction of upgraded fighter aircraft hangars for the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio. Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) included this funding after Portman sent a letter earlier this year urging them to do so. The 180th Fighter Wing, which Portman visited earlier this year as part of his Ohio Defense Tour, carries out the critical Aerospace Control Alert (ACA) mission to protect Americas airspace. This is a huge win for the Airmen of the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo who are carrying out one of our nations most important homeland defense missions: protecting our skies through the Aerospace Control Alert, said Portman. Defending the homeland remains the number one national security mission for our military, so it is critical that the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo has the best equipment available. The current ACA hangars are outdated and dont provide the protection needed for the aircraft and the airmen maintaining them. Now that the president has authorized funding to replace these outdated hangers, the men and women serving our country in Toledo will be able to better perform their critical national security mission. I look forward to returning to the 180th soon to see these hangars fully operational. For more information about the bill, please go here. Portman Announces President Signs Into Law Funding to Modernize Stryker Vehicles, Increase Production of Abrams Tanks as Part of NDAA Portman announced that the NDAA authorizes funding to upgrade Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles. Critical work is done on both systems at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, where Portman recently hosted an employee town hall as part of his Ohio Defense Tour. The NDAA includes more than $1.6 billion for upgrading Abrams tanks to increase the rate of production of the newest upgraded Abrams tanks in Lima and ensure that our forward deployed tanks have the most cutting-edge survivability enhancements. The bill also includes authorization of $622 million in funding to complete the fourth Stryker brigade with upgraded survivability and mobility improvements as well as a second brigade of Stryker vehicles with an upgraded weapons system. The funding authorization was included by Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) in the NDAA following a letter sent by Senators Portman and Gary Peters (D-MI), and builds on last years NDAA which included $652 million to support upgrades to the Abrams tank and $579 million for the Stryker vehicle. In this heightened global security environment, we need to ensure our soldiers have the proper resources and tools necessary to carry out their critical missions, said Portman. The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima is now producing the latest-generation Abrams tank and Stryker vehicles, the Armys most versatile and deployable combat vehicle. The additional funding provided in the NDAA would allow JSMC to increase the rate of production of the newest Abrams tank and make needed upgrades to Stryker vehicles. The work done at JSMC boosts Limas economy and provides critical national security assets that strengthen our military resolve. I am pleased that the president signed this bill into law to support the skilled JSMC employees I met with in August. I believe it will make a difference for our military and allow JSMC to continue assisting our men and women in uniform. For more information about the bill, please go here. Portman Announces Ukraine Security Assistance Amendment Signed Into Law as Part of NDAA Portman a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, announced that his amendment boosting security assistance for Ukraine has been signed into law as part of the NDAA. As amended by Portmans provisions, which he introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the FY 2018 NDAA authorizes $350 million in security assistance, including lethal and non-lethal equipment, training, and technical assistance. For the first time, the amendment authorizes assistance to bolster Ukraines naval capabilities, which were severely degraded following Russias seizure of Crimea. The amendment also conditions U.S. aid on progress towards key reforms including instituting civilian control of the military, cooperation and coordination with Ukrainian parliamentary efforts to exercise oversight of the Ministry of Defense and military forces, and improvements in sustainment capabilities, inventory management, and security of sensitive foreign technologies. This years Ukraine security assistance package maintains the framework that Portmans previous amendments to the FY 2016 and FY 2017 NDAAs helped build. There is longstanding bipartisan agreement on the policy tools that the United States should utilize as part of its comprehensive strategy to support Ukraine, deter future aggression against our allies and interests, and uphold the fundamental principles of the U.S.-led international system that Russias actions ultimately threaten. Now, the United States Senate is taking a critical step forward in its support for Ukraine, said Senator Portman. As Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine persists, and as it continues to utilize hybrid warfare techniques such as propaganda and disinformation, it is critical that the U.S. and NATO provide the sustained economic, political, and military support necessary to allow Ukraine to secure its democratic future. An independent Ukraine is critical not just to Eastern Europe, but it also impacts broader U.S. interests in the region and beyond. I am pleased the president signed this measure into law. I now urge the administration to quickly get Ukraine the assistance they need. For more information about the bill, please go here. A summary of Portmans provisions that were signed into law in the NDAA can be found here. Wednesday. December 13 Portman Discusses How Tax Reform Will Help the Middle Class at House-Senate Conference Committee Negotiations Portman delivered remarks during Wednesdays conference committee meeting detailing how tax reform will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Portman, who has held six tax reform roundtables in Ohio with local business leaders in recent months, has been vocal on the national stage calling for tax reform, including during recent interviews on CBS This Morning, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, and NBCs Meet The Press twice, as well as recently in op-eds in the Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Delaware Gazette, and Cincinnati Enquirer. The tax reform effort is widely supported by Ohio small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and other state and local organizations. Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Also at the hearing Portman discussed with Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold how tax reform will help provide tax relief to every tax bracket and will give three million Americanswho currently have tax liability and are working hardno tax liability at all. Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Thursday, December 14 Bipartisan Senators Say New House Bill Wont Help Trafficking Survivors Get Justice, Echo Concerns Expressed by Victims Advocacy Groups Senators Portman, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John McCain (R-AZ), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today issued the following joint statement on a new House trafficking proposal rushed through the House Judiciary Committee yesterday: Here in the Senate, weve taken a thoughtful, deliberative approach to our efforts to help combat online sex trafficking, meeting with key stakeholders for months before ever introducing legislation. Our work together culminated in the Senate Commerce Committees unanimous support for the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act bipartisan legislation now cosponsored by 53 senators. We are pleased that this legislation has the strong support of major stakeholders in this debate, including victims and advocates, law enforcement, the civil rights community, faith-based groups, and the larger tech community. We are confident the full Senate will pass this proposal very soon in an overwhelming, bipartisan fashion. It is disappointing that the House Judiciary Committee rushed through a new proposal after House members expressed concerns that it had not been fully vetted and was opposed by all of the leading organizations dedicated to supporting trafficking victims. Any legislative effort must ensure that trafficking survivors get the justice they deserve. Unfortunately, this rushed House proposal raises the legal standard and ensures that bad actors like Backpage continue to have blanket immunity.Dont take our word for it; the victims advocacy groups have told us with a clear voice that the House Judiciary bill is harmful to our efforts to protect trafficking survivors. Were in this fight to help trafficking survivors whove long been denied justice and ensure that state and local prosecutors have the tools they need to hold accountable bad actors that knowingly facilitate online sex trafficking. As this process moves forward, we will continue the dialogue with all stakeholders, but were not going to enact a hollow proposal masquerading as a serious solution. Portman, Cantwell Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help People Receive Care in their Homes, Reduce Health Costs Senators Portman and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have introduced the Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act or EMPOWER Care Act to help Medicaid beneficiaries receive long-term services and support in their community or home and help save taxpayer dollars in the process. The bill would renew and expand the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration Program, which promotes community-based care and services and is as a sterling example of an initiative that improves patient outcomes while saving money for state and federal taxpayers. The program extended in Portman and Cantwells legislation provides states with funding and flexibility to help Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly elderly and disabled individuals, transition from institutional to home and community-based long-term care settings. Im proud to continue my support for the Money Follows the Person program, by introducing the EMPOWER Care Act. Money Follows the Person has provided over 10,000 Ohioans with the opportunity receive the care that they need in their homes and communities, and I will continue to fight to ensure that all Ohioans can continue to have a choice in where they seek long-term care support, said Senator Portman. For more information, go here. On Fox Business, Portman Discusses Tax Reform Negotiations, How Tax Cuts Will Boost Middle Class, Jobs & Wages During an interview on Fox Business, Senator Portman, a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee that is negotiating the final tax reform bill, discussed how tax reform will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Excerpts can be found here and a video can be found here. Friday, December 15 Portman, Brown Work to Ensure Ohio & Erie Canalway Can Continue Supporting Northeast Ohio Jobs U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) this week introduced legislation to ensure that the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which spans more than 110 miles between New Philadelphia and Cleveland, can continue to draw investment, and support local jobs, tourism and economic development in northeast Ohio. This legislation will provide greater funding certainty for the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which will help ensure that this site is protected and continues to attract jobs and investment, said Portman. The canal holds great significance to the state of Ohio, from helping our early towns and communities prosper to linking our state to the rest of the nation. I am proud to be one of the 2.5 million visitors who enjoy the canals towpath trail each year, and I look forward to working with my colleague Senator Brown on getting this legislation signed into law. Ohioans take great pride in our states historic role in building the Erie Canal and connecting our state to the rest of the country, said Brown. From Tuscarawas County to Cuyahoga County, the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area draws millions of dollars to our state each year, supporting thousands of jobs. We owe it to all Ohioans and visitors to continue to support this treasure. The Senators bill makes a legislative fix to make sure the Canalway doesnt face funding uncertainty each year. In 2015, Congress reauthorized the Canalway through 2021, but failed to simultaneously lift its funding cap to reflect its extended authorization, leaving the Canalways work to enrich the communities it spans in jeopardy each year. The Senators want to permanently lift this cap, so it can continue to receive its federal funding, which helps it raise additional funds from the State of Ohio, private organizations and foundations. The Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition supports Portman and Browns efforts. On behalf of all of our partners along the Ohio and Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, we are grateful to Senator Brown and Senator Portman for their continued strong support and commitment for the Ohio and Erie Canalway, Towpath Trail and Connector Trail Trails, said Daniel Rice, Co-Executive Director, and President and CEO of the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition. Working together, we are fulfilling the legacy of Congressman Ralph Regula and creating a legacy for future generations. Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area spans the first 110 miles of the canal. The annual economic impact on Ohio is more than $408 million. On Fox News, Portman Discusses Outlook for Tax Reform, How Tax Cuts Will Boost Middle Class, Jobs & Wages During an interview on Fox News today, Senator Portman, a conferee on the House-Senate conference committee that is negotiating the final tax reform bill, discussed how tax reform will help the middle class, create jobs, and boost wages for American workers. Excerpts can be found here and a video can be foundhere. Portman Praises Final House-Senate Conference Agreement on Tax Cuts & Jobs Act U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after the House and Senate conference committee released the conference report for the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which will help middle-class families, create more jobs, and increase wages for American workers: Today marks another important milestone in our efforts to provide tax relief for middle-class families and reform our business tax code to create more jobs and increase wages for American workers, said Portman. I was proud to play a significant role in this conference, working alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to craft this bill and improve it on behalf of middle-class families.Through this tax reform plan, Congress is helping create a better economy and a better future for all Americans. I look forward to both the House and Senate passing this legislation next week and the president signing these historic tax cuts before Christmas. NOTE: The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act is focused on helping middle-class families. More information on Senator Portmans work to improve the Senate-passed Tax Cuts & Jobs Act can be found here. Statements of support from Ohio small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and other state and local organizations can be found here. A brief summary of the conference report can be found here and the full text of the conference report can be found here. Portman Statement on Final Tax Agreement Preserving Key Tax Incentives for Undergraduate & Graduate Students U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement regarding the House-Senate conference report on theTax Cuts & Jobs Actand its support for college students: I fought alongside my colleagues in the Senate to preserve key tax incentives for undergraduate and graduate students in the final tax reform legislation. This was a hard-fought victory for Ohio students struggling with the cost of college. Im also pleased that the final bill includes my Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act, which willeliminate a tax penalty levied on student loans forgiven for families after the death of their child and Americans who develop permanent disabilities.I am pleased to continue my support for this important legislation that will not only help middle-class families, but also assist undergraduate and graduate students as they work finish their education and enter the workforce. The final House-Senate agreement preserves key tax incentives that support undergraduate and graduate students, incentives that were preserved in the Senate-passed bill but repealed in the original House bill. Chief among these tax incentives, the final agreement: Preserves the deduction for interest paid on student loans; Preserves the deduction for tuition and related higher education expenses up to $4,000; Preserves the exclusion forinterest earned fromU.S. savings bonds if used to cover for higher education expenses; Preserves the exclusion for tuition reductions (i.e., if a graduate student is teaching a class in addition to pursuing their degree, the college may absorb their costs of tuition as a form of compensation for their service); and Preserves the exclusion for employer-provided education assistance payments of up to $5,250. Of note, the final conference report also includes PortmansStop Taxing Death & Disability Act, which exempts families from paying tax on the forgiveness of a student loan that automatically occurs if when the student dies or becomes permanently disabled. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1913,Rep. Fudge Encourages All Eligible Ohioans to Sign Up for Affordable Health Insurance,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"“According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, nearly 4.7 million Americans have signed up for health care coverage since November 1, including more than 109,000 Ohioans.  Despite Republicans’ repeated attempts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Americans across the country continue to prove the need for access to quality, affordable health insurance.   “Last year, eight in ten people qualified for financial help to pay their monthly premiums.  Millions of Americans can find health insurance coverage for little or no cost per month.  I encourage my fellow Ohioans to sign up for healthcare coverage online at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 before Open Enrollment closes tomorrow.” Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, more than 664,000 Ohioans have gained health coverage.  The ACA also expanded Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Ohio to cover 1,260,252 children and 206,885 seniors and people with disabilities covered by both Medicaid and Medicare. In November, Congresswoman Fudge released a video to remind Ohioans about the start of the 2018 Open Enrollment period.  You can watch the video here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398549,Latta Statement on FCCs Vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to approve the Restoring Internet Freedom Order.“I firmly believe in and support net neutrality principles such as no blocking, no throttling, and no paid prioritization that are important elements of a free and open Internet. At the same time, it is not necessary to use Depression-era regulations and a heavy-handed government approach to achieve them. Today’s decision by the FCC will simply restore the light-touch rules that governed the Internet for decades and helped usher in massive investment and innovation in the technology sector. It’s now important that Congress pursue legislation that will provide certainty on this issue and ensure a dynamic Internet for years to come.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398550,Latta Votes for Two Bills to Stop Funding of Iranian-Supported Terrorism,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Robert Latta,L000566,latta.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) joined his colleagues in passing two pieces of financial legislation that would deter Iranian-supported terrorism. The bills, H.R. 1638, the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act, and H.R. 4324, the Strengthening Oversight of Iran’s Access to Finance Act, would provide more transparency and make funding sources for the Iranian regime public. Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. “Iran is the largest state sponsor of terror, and the Iranian regime has a destabilizing effect on the Middle East,” said Latta. “It’s essential we make clear that financially supporting the bad behavior of the Iranian government will not be tolerated. While the Trump Administration reviews the Iran deal, these two pieces of bipartisan legislation will hold the ayatollahs accountable and protect U.S. financial institutions by shining a light on the regime’s financial backing.” The Iranian Leadership Transparency Act publicizes the assets associated with Iran’s government and military leadership. Under the bill, the Department of Treasury would submit a report to Congress on assets under control, how the assets were acquired, and how they are used by top Iranian political and military leaders. Making this information public will help provide information for legitimate businesses that would prefer not to do business with Iran. The bill would also highlight corruption of Iranian leaders who steal from the Iranian citizens. The Strengthening Oversight of Iran’s Access to Finance Act would combat the well-documented problem of Iran using civilian planes for military purposes. Iran Air has been known to use commercial planes to transport rockets, missiles, and other military cargo on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s Defense Ministry. While the Department of Treasury had sanctioned the carrier in 2011, the Obama Administration lifted sanctions on Iran Air as part of the Iran nuclear deal. Iran Air has transported weapons to Syria, a site of civil conflict that has claimed 400,000 lives. The bill would inform Congress on financial institutions that provide funding for the export or re-export of aircraft to Iran and require Treasury to certify whether or not this financing supports Iranian terrorism or military efforts. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399384,Stivers Joins Arlington National Cemetery for the Dedication of the Tomb of Remembrance,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,OH,Steve Stivers,S001187,stivers.house.gov,,,legacy,"This week, Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) joined Arlington National Cemetery for the official dedication of the Tomb of Remembrance. The Tomb of Remembrance is a final resting place where the cremated remains of service members that may be comingled, unidentified, or unclaimed are protected with respect. share: f t WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) joined Arlington National Cemetery for the official dedication of the Tomb of Remembrance. The Tomb of Remembrance is a final resting place where the cremated remains of service members that may be comingled, unidentified, or unclaimed are protected with respect. In 2011, the Washington Post reported that the Dover Air Force Base mortuary had sent fragments of remains from 274 military personnel to the Prince George Landfill. This report prompted Stivers to introduce legislation to establish the Tomb of Remembrance, which Arlington National Cemetery ultimately moved forward on after the bill was passed by the House of Representatives on September 19, 2012. “When I first read the report in 2011, I was absolutely horrified. All fragments of fallen service members – even the smallest – deserve a dignified burial site,” Stivers said. “The Tomb of Remembrance will ensure this injustice will never happen again. I am proud to have worked with Arlington National Cemetery on this project to honor the service and sacrifice of fallen soldiers.” Located near the intersection of Patton Drive and York Drive in Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of Remembrance is made entirely of granite and features a cairn with a bench and Memorial Wall circling it. The inscription on the Tomb reads: Here We Remember Those Who, “Have Laid, So Costly a Sacrifice upon the Altar of Freedom.” Abraham Lincoln. Specifically, the Tomb of Remembrance is for portions of cremated unidentifiable or unclaimed remains of deceased active duty members of the Armed Forces as an alternative to retirement at sea.  Additionally, the Tomb may be used for comingled, unidentifiable, or unclaimed cremated remains received from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner (AFMAO). The Tomb may also be used for comingled unidentified cremated remains from an incident where every person involved has previously individually identified remains, provided they are received from AFMAO. When the Cemetery receives remains for the Tomb, the placement receives a simple, dignified committal service attended by a cemetery representative, military chaplain, and cemetery caretaker. Visitors can pay respects at the Tomb any time the cemetery is open. A career soldier, Stivers has served over 30 years in the Ohio Army National Guard and holds the rank of Brigadier General. He served the United States overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti where he led 400 soldiers and contractors and is proud that each and every one returned home safely to the United States.  Stivers received the Bronze Star for his leadership throughout the deployment. For more information about the Tomb of Remembrance, click here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z