releases: https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/robs-rundown/robs-rundown-week-december-14-december-18-2020
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/robs-rundown/robs-rundown-week-december-14-december-18-2020 | Robs Rundown: Week of December 14 December 18, 2020 | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Rob's Rundown: Week of December 14 December 18, 2020 December 18, 2020 | Rob's Rundown This week, Senator Portman delivered his 21st floor speech calling for the Senate to pass an emergency COVID-19 relief package. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in announcing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leadership is using most of the legislation for the basis of the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. Portman also issued a statement with Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and delivered floor remarks regarding the ongoing cyberattacks against our federal agencies, U.S. companies, and some state governments. Portman and Peters have been leaders in the Senate on legislative efforts to strengthen the federal government cyber response. They will lead the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the new Congress and plan to hold hearings and work on bipartisan comprehensive cybersecurity legislation in the new year. Portman penned an op-ed for The Cincinnati Enquirer, in which he discussed his efforts to secure additional aid for those facing evictions. Portman has long focused on ensuring Ohioans have affordable housing and is currently championing the bipartisan Evictions Crisis Act, which will help to address the national housing crisis that has been made worse by the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan legislation, which Portman introduced in December 2019, will shed light on the root causes of the eviction crisis, reduce preventable evictions, and limit the devastation to families when eviction is unavoidable. More than 75 national and Ohio based housing, civil rights, and homelessness groups have announced their strong support for the Eviction Crisis Act. On Thursday, Portman touted the distribution of $77 million in federal State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to help local communities combat Ohio's drug crisis. The SOR program, funded through the 21st Century CURES Act, has been used by states to increase access to naloxone and support access to long-term addiction treatment and recovery services. Portman championed the passage of the CURES law and consistently works to increase the federal funding for the SOR program. In addition, Portman highlighted the widespread support among Ohio stakeholders for his bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 - legislation to increase the funding authorization levels for the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic that has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. For a more detailed look at Senator Portman's week, please see the following: Monday, December 14, 2020 Widespread Support Across Ohio for Portman's Bipartisan CARA 2.0 to Increase Access to Treatment, Prevention & Bolster Fight Against Addiction Epidemic Addiction treatment, recovery, enforcement, and prevention stakeholders across Ohio support Senator Portman's bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 to increase the funding authorization levels for the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA) programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic that has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. Portman introduced the legislation yesterday with Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). CARA was a bipartisan, national effort designed to ensure that federal resources were devoted to evidence-based education, treatment and recovery programs that work. In FY 2020, CARA programs were funded at $658 million. CARA 2.0 builds on this effort by increasing the funding authorization levels and laying out new policy reforms to strengthen the federal government's response to this crisis. The addiction treatment, recovery, enforcement, and prevention stakeholders across Ohio have voiced their support for the legislation can be found here. Portman Statement on the Electoral College Vote Portman released the following statement on the Electoral College vote: In accordance with the Constitution and federal law, the Electoral College cast their votes for President today. The Electors met in their respective state following certification of the results. I think we need to respect this process the Founding Fathers established, and we must respect the will of the voters. As I've said previously, the Trump campaign had every right to pursue recounts and legal challenges. That has now happened over the past six weeks, and although there were instances of fraud and irregularities, it has not been shown to be widespread enough to change the result of the election. States must take seriously the proven examples of fraud and irregularities, prosecute anyone who engaged in it, and review voting systems to maintain the integrity of our elections. The transition process and briefings for the Biden team began three weeks ago at the direction of President Trump, and I commend him for that. The orderly transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy, and although I supported President Trump, the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect. Portman, Bipartisan, Bicameral Members Share Details of Two Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bills Senators Rob Portman, Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) shared additional details for the two bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief bills. The Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, co-sponsored by Senators Portman, Manchin, Collins, Warner, Cassidy, Shaheen, Murkowski, King, Romney, Hassan, and Durbin, would provide as much as $748 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Bipartisan State and Local Support and Small Business Protection Act of 2020, co-sponsored by Senators Portman, Manchin, Collins, Cassidy, Murkowski, and Romney, would provide $160 billion in funding for state and local governments and liability protections for businesses, schools, health care providers, and other organizations. The Problem Solvers Caucus is working on a version in the House. The Senate should not adjourn until we have passed a new COVID-19 package to provide the relief Americans need, and I'm pleased to announce this bipartisan effort with my colleagues. Together, we have crafted two packages, one that will support our health care response to this pandemic and, just as important, provide a bridge of additional aid to bolster our economy until vaccines are widely available and Americans feel safe returning to normal life. The second package is focused on ensuring that state and local governments have the funding they need to provide essential services while protecting businesses, nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations from frivolous lawsuits. I hope all of our colleagues will support these bipartisan products, said Senator Portman. Tuesday, December 15, 2020 Portman Statement on Former Nationwide Children's Researcher and Chinese Talents Program Member Pleading Guilty for Alleged Theft of Scientific Trade Secrets and Wire Fraud Portman issued the following statement after John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that a former Nationwide Children's Hospital's Research Institute researcher pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal scientific trade secrets and commit wire fraud while receiving benefits from the Chinese government. The researcher's wife previously pleaded guilty to the same crimes in July 2020. Senator Portman, as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), led a year-long investigation into China's talent recruitment programs like the Thousand Talents Program, culminating in a bipartisan report in November 2019 that detailed how China has recruited U.S.-based scientists and researchers since the late 1990s and incentivized them to transfer U.S. taxpayer-funded research and IP to China for their own military and economic gain. This case follows the string of arrests of academics affiliated with American universities for alleged crimes related to their participation in China's talent recruitment programs while accepting American taxpayer-funded grant funding. Earlier this year, Portman introduced the bipartisan Safeguarding American Innovation Act to protect American research and IP from global competitors. Both FBI Director Wray and Attorney General Barr, have spoken about the threat to American taxpayer-funded research and intellectual property from foreign governments, particularly China, which would be addressed by this legislation. I'm pleased that our committee investigation and resulting report last year continues to spur action by federal law enforcement to hold China accountable. For too long, China has exploited the lack of transparency in our education system to steal our taxpayer-funded research and innovation. I commend U.S. Attorney DeVillers and the DOJ for their work to stop another alleged member of China's talent programs, adding to the string of arrests that have been announced this year. This case further underscores the need for my bipartisan legislation to safeguard American innovation, hold countries like China accountable for their actions, and ensure our world-class research enterprise is protected here in America. I am encouraged by the actions taken by DOJ and the FBI to stop the exploitation of the openness and transparency of our research enterprise. China's ongoing theft of America's research and innovation must stop. Portman, Heinrich Secure Groundbreaking Advancements for Artificial Intelligence in FY 2021 NDAA Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the co-founders of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, have secured the most significant advancements for Artificial Intelligence (AI) ever included in a defense policy bill. The FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes versions of four major pieces of legislation championed by Senators Portman and Heinrich that include: Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act (AI-IA), Artificial Intelligence for the Armed Forces Act, National AI Research Resource Task Force Act, Deepfakes Report Act We cannot take America's AI leadership for granted. Right now, China is engaging in a full court press to unseat the United States' dominance in AI, said Portman. I'm pleased the FY 2021 NDAA conference report includes the AI-IA, National AI Research Resource Task Force Act, Artificial Intelligence for the Armed Forces Act, and the Deepfakes Report Act which provide groundbreaking advancements in AI in our nation. By coordinating and synchronizing our country's research and development efforts, these bipartisan bills ensure not just that the United States remains an AI leader, but that it does so by developing AI technology that prioritizes American values. Senate-Passed FY 2021 NDAA Conference Report Includes Wins for Ohio, Increases Troop Pay, Supports Ukraine Security Assistance Portman announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes a number of initiatives to support Ohio's military installations, increase troop pay, and provide additional assistance to Ukraine. The report now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. He released the following statement: I'm proud that the Senate-passed conference report provides needed resources to continue rebuilding our military, support our troops, and provide upgrades and support to Ohio's defense installations. Our country faces significant security threats around the world, and this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that our soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and space professionals have the vital resources they need to accomplish their national security missions. Ohio is home to the best and brightest serving our country and some of our nation's premier defense installations, and this legislation provides for their continued success. This conference report also takes additional steps I've fought for to help Ukraine defend themselves against Russian aggression. This security assistance package sends a clear message that America continues to stand with the Ukrainian people in their struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future and I hope the president signs it into law soon. Portman Announces $12.7 Million in FEMA Grants to Ohio Health Care Systems to Help Continue to Provide COVID-19 Treatment, Testing & Protective Measures Portman applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for announcing two grants totaling $12.7 million to help health care systems in Ohio with costs associated with COVID-19. FEMA awarded these grants from replenished funds accessible thanks to the bipartisan CARES Act, which Senator Portman supported and was signed into law by President Trump. The $12.7 million in FEMA funding announced today is great news for the Ohio State University and Premier Health because it will help them continue to provide the treatment and health care that Ohio desperately needs during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, said Portman. This pandemic has created significant and unprecedented challenges across Ohio and these grants will provide much-needed additional support for these hard-working health care providers. I will continue to work with my bipartisan colleagues in Congress to ensure that Ohio has the necessary resources during these uncertain times. Wednesday, December 16, 2020 Portman Applauds Service of Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District Portman issued the following statement on the service of Justin Herdman as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. The Northern District of Ohio consists of the 40 northern counties in Ohio and has offices in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown. Portman praised the confirmation of Justin Herdman for the position of U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Ohio in 2017. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman for his outstanding service to northern Ohio and the U.S. Department of Justice. I was proud to recommend him for his role as U.S. Attorney and I enjoyed working with him on issues important to Ohio and the country. Under Justin's leadership, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio has led the charge on nationwide efforts to reduce violent crime and the trafficking of dangerous narcotics like fentanyl and synthetic opioids. I have particularly appreciated working with him on addressing the addiction crisis and stopping the theft of our nation's intellectual property by foreign governments like China. Justin has made a real difference in his office and in his community and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. At Hearing, Portman Questions Witnesses on Election Security & Cybersecurity Threats Facing United States At a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Portman questioned witnesses about election security and the cybersecurity threats facing the country. Portman has led efforts to address state and local cybersecurity threats and has worked to combat cyberattacks and ensure elections are free, fair, and secure from foreign interference. Last week, Portman announced that the Senate-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report included his bipartisan provision to require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state. In 2018, Senator Portman's bipartisan Hack Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Act and Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act were included in a package of bills that were signed into law. In addition, earlier this year, Senators Portman and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the bipartisan Risk-Informed Spending for Cybersecurity (RISC) Act to require the federal government to make better investments in cybersecurity protections to keep Americans' data safe. The legislation would require federal agencies to efficiently allocate limited cybersecurity resources to acquire capabilities that address the most pressing cyber threats. In addition, earlier this month, the senators introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase transparency and modernize how the government responds to cybersecurity incidents on federal information systems. Federal System Incident Response Act will update and add critical new sections to FISMA, increasing transparency by clarifying how and when agencies must notify impacted individuals and Congress when data breaches occur. The bill would also require agencies to share information about cybersecurity incidents with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure that attacks against one agency can be compared to other agency incidents. In June 2019, Senator Portman, as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, released a bipartisan report that found that the vast majority of federal agencies reviewed by the Subcommittee failed to implement effective and comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks. This included the failure to protect sensitive personally identifiable information and an overreliance on outdated legacy systems. Excerpts of the hearing can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman, Brown Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Rename NASA's Plum Brook Station Test Facility After Neil Armstrong Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing their bipartisan legislation to rename NASA's Plum Brook Station, the agency's test facility in Sandusky, Ohio, after Neil Armstrong. Portman and Brown introduced the legislation last year and it was passed by the Senate in June. Plum Brook is part of the NASA Glenn Research Center. It houses unique world-class facilities that conduct critical and innovative ground tests for the international aerospace community. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. From his service as a Navy fighter pilot, to his courageous experiments as a test pilot, to his space exploration and first step on the surface of the Moon, Neil Armstrong left an indelible mark in mankind's history of flight. In all his accomplishments, he considered himself first and foremost a test pilot who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the air and in space, Senator Portman said. Neil was a humble and patriotic Ohioan who believed the honor of serving his country was a reward in and of itself. That's why, when I asked him the year before he passed away whether he wanted me to pursue naming Plum Brook after him, he demurred. But he was a strong supporter of Plum Brook Station and the important simulations and testing being done there, and I believe it is precisely because of his humility, coupled with his unparalleled accomplishments, that the renaming is appropriate. In consultation with his family and NASA, Senator Brown and I introduced this legislation last year and I applaud the House for passing it today. I urge the president to sign this legislation into law soon as a fitting tribute to Armstrongs amazing accomplishments in air and in space. On CNBC, Portman Discusses Bipartisan Efforts to Pass COVID-19 Relief Package On CNBC's Squawk Box, Portman discussed his bipartisan efforts to pass a COVID-19 relief package. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leadership is using most of legislation for the basis of the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. In addition, Senator Portman highlighted the importance of coming together on a bipartisan basis to focus on what's best for the American people in the new Congress. Senator Portman believes it's vital that Congress set the example by coming together to solve important problems facing all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Excerpts of the interview can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman Op-Ed in The Cincinnati Enquirer: Help is on the Way to Prevent Evictions Today, in an op-ed for The Cincinnati Enquirer, Senator Portman discussed his bipartisan efforts to pass a COVID-19 relief package, including additional aid to help those facing evictions. Portman has long focused on ensuring Ohioans have affordable housing and is currently championing the bipartisan Evictions Crisis Act, which will help to address the national housing crisis that has been made worse by the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan legislation, which Portman introduced in December 2019, will shed light on the root causes of the eviction crisis, reduce preventable evictions, and limit the devastation to families when eviction is unavoidable. More than 75 national and Ohio based housing, civil rights, and homelessness groups have announced their strong support for the Eviction Crisis Act. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The legislation includes a provision to provide an additional $25 billion in rental assistance across the country to help cover the rent for thousands of households. Congressional leadership is using most of the legislation as the basis for the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. The full op-ed can be found here. Portman Applauds HUD for Awarding Lucas County $450,000 Initiative Planning Grant to Ensure Stable Housing Portman applauded the announcement that Lucas County Metropolitan Housing and the City of Toledo have been selected to receive a $450,000 2020 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Choice Neighborhoods program leverages significant public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. Portman has long focused on ensuring Ohioans have affordable housing and is currently championing the bipartisan Evictions Crisis Act which will help to address the national housing crisis that is undermining the efforts of millions of Americans to rise into the middle class. The bipartisan legislation will shed light on the root causes of the eviction crisis, reduce preventable evictions, and limit the devastation to families when eviction is unavoidable. More than 75 national and Ohio based housing, civil rights, and homelessness groups have announced their strong support for the Eviction Crisis Act. Portman released the following statement: This $450,000 grant is great news for those struggling to find or stay in stable housing in Lucas County and the city of Toledo. I'm pleased to see that they have been selected for this grant that will help them to complete their Transformation Plan that will ultimately improve and create housing opportunities, said Portman. Stable housing is a key factor to keeping people out of poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made this issue more important than ever. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure Ohioans have the resources they need to address this housing and evictions crisis. Portman: $77 Million in Federal Funds Will Help Combat Addiction in Ohio Portman praised the announcement today from Governor Mike DeWine, Recovery Ohio Director Alisha Nelson, and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director Lori Criss on how the state will distribute $77 million in federal State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to help local communities combat Ohio's drug crisis. As Portman announced in August, Ohio received $96 million in SOR funding and today's grants represent a portion of that funding. The SOR program, funded through the 21st Century CURES Act, has been used by states to increase access to naloxone and support access to long-term addiction treatment and recovery services. Portman championed the passage of the CURES law and consistently works to increase the federal funding for the SOR program. Today's SOR grant announcement comes at a time when many communities are suffering from an increase in addiction, overdoses, and the need for behavioral health services due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Portman has repeatedly discussed the impact the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is having on the addiction epidemic and called for a redoubling of efforts to save lives. OhioMHAS will award $58.8 million in grants directly to local county alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services boards and their community partners. OhioMHAS will make the remaining funding available for organizations utilizing innovative approaches for connecting people to care. State Opioid Response funds are vital for Ohio's continued efforts to combat the addiction epidemic, and I'm pleased to have led efforts to create this federal funding stream through the CURES legislation and to help secure this funding for Ohio, said Portman. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges and we are now seeing a heartbreaking surge in overdose deaths. That's why I'm glad this federal funding will make a difference and continue to help save lives throughout Ohio. I will continue to work with my colleagues and Governor DeWine to ensure that our local communities and addiction providers have the resources they need to continue to combat this epidemic. On Former U.S. Trade Representatives Panel, Portman Highlights Importance of Renewing Trade Promotion Authority, Proposes Supercharging' American Competitiveness Portman participated in a Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual event entitled A Conversation with Former USTRs, and highlighted the importance of renewing the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). He also proposed using TPA, or a similar opportunity, to invest in American workers with new anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws, as well as in American manufacturing and high technology, like artificial intelligence, all in an effort to keep the United States competitive with respect to China. Portman, who was the U.S. Trade Representative during the George W. Bush administration, has been a leading voice in the Senate on U.S. trade policy and serves on the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade issues. In addition, Senator Portman discussed his support for President-Elect Biden's nomination of Katherine Tai to be the next U.S. Trade Representative. Excerpts of the event can be found here and a video of Senator Portman's remarks can be found here and here. On Senate Floor, Portman Calls on Senate to Pass Critical Legislation to Respond to Challenges of COVID-19 On the Senate floor, Portman gave his 21st speech since March calling on Congress to pass legislation to respond to the health care and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leadership is using most of the legislation for the basis of the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. In addition, Portman pushed for the year-end agreement to include the Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act, bipartisan legislation he has championed and cosponsored to make tax relief permanent for the craft beverage industry. Portman has consistently discussed the importance of supporting America's craft beverage industry, especially since brew pubs and other craft beverage retail operations have been hit hard by the COVID-19 economic slowdown. He urged his colleagues to support both the COVID-19 relief package and the upcoming end-of-year funding agreement so that Americans get the relief they need in time for the holidays. A transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. House Passes Portman, Shaheen Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Peace Corps Commemorative Project Senators Rob Portman and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Peace Corps Commemorative project. Representatives Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) and Garret Graves (R-LA) led the legislation in the House. In 2014, Senator Portman's and Rep. Kennedy's bipartisan Peace Corps Commemorative Act was signed into law to create a commemorative in Washington, D.C.'s National Capital Area to celebrate the mission of the Peace Corps and the ideals on which the Peace Corps was founded. This bipartisan legislation designated the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation as the lead nonfederal sponsor for the project, and prohibits the use of federal funding. The current authorization for the project is set to expire in January 2021. This legislation would extend the authorization for the project for an additional seven years, to January 2028, in order for the project to secure the necessary design approvals and raise the funding for construction. The legislation now awaits action in the Senate. For more than 50 years, the Peace Corps has served as a powerful vehicle for volunteers who wish to use their talents to carry America's humanitarian values to other parts of the world, said Portman. By reauthorizing this project, we can ensure the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation can finish this important project and honor those Americans who have donated their time and talent to serving others. I am pleased that this legislation was approved by the House today, and I urge my Senate colleagues to support it so that it can head to the President's desk for his signature. Friday, December 18, 2020 Portman, Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Urges Leadership to Continue Moving Forward on COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) urged Senate and House Leadership to continue moving forward to finalize a COVID-19 emergency relief package. Earlier this week, the Senators and the Problem Solvers Caucus announced two bipartisan packages, one of which, the bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, is serving as the framework for the final COVID-19 relief package. This pandemic has been devastating for millions of Americans and without Congressional action they will lose the lifelines that are keeping them afloat. We appreciate the ongoing efforts of Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and Leader McCarthy to craft an emergency COVID-19 relief package that will help the American people weather the next few months of this pandemic. We know first-hand how hard it can be to find common ground on some of these issues. We encourage the leaders and their staff to continue this important work. By working together, we can and we will deliver immediate assistance to the workers, the families, and the businesses that need it most. Portman, Peters Statement on Widespread Cyberattacks, Plan Hearings & Legislation in Early 2021 Senators Rob Portman and Gary Peters (D-MI) issued the following statement on the ongoing cyberattacks against our federal agencies, U.S. companies, and some state governments. Portman and Peters have been leaders in the Senate on legislative efforts to strengthen the federal government cyber response. They will lead the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the new Congress and plan to hold hearings and work on bipartisan comprehensive cybersecurity legislation in the new year. The recently discovered and ongoing cyberattacks cannot be tolerated and demonstrate the weakness of our cyber defenses and capacity to respond. These attacks were highly complex and they must be unraveled to know the full extent of the exposure to federal and state agencies and the private sector. The immediate effort must be to stop the immediate threat and ensure our systems are secure. We will in the future need to understand the full scope and impact to ensure that we know what damage has been done and to better prepare to respond next time. These types of sophisticated attacks are going to continue and we must work across the federal government, as well as with our private sector and state and local partners, to learn from this and strengthen our cyber defenses moving forward. In June 2019, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a bipartisan report that extensively documented the cybersecurity vulnerabilities and weaknesses in many of our federal agencies, including the Departments of State and Homeland Security. Next Congress, through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, we intend to work together to understand the origin, scope, and severity of this breach, and plan to work on bipartisan comprehensive legislation to improve our cyber defenses to ensure this doesn't happen again. Portman, Warner, Blumenthal, Grassley Urge U.S. Trade Rep to Not Include Tech Liability Shield in US-UK Trade Agreement Senators Rob Portman, Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer urging the Trump Administration to refrain from including sweeping liability protection language modeled on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 in a trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. We are optimistic that a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom will ensure fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade. But we want to note that we have concerns with the inclusion of safe harbor language modeled on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, wrote the Senators. Including a safe harbor clause in any future trade agreements will further allocate more power to companies at the expense of individuals. They continued, Congress can and should debate about Section 230 and how it has enabled platforms to turn a blind eye as their platforms are used to facilitate discrimination, cyber-stalking, terrorism, online frauds, and more. We urge USTR to refrain from including this provision in this and future free trade agreements until that debate has concluded. A copy of the letter is available here. On Senate Floor, Portman Condemns Widespread Cyberattacks, Calls for Bipartisan Efforts to Bolster Cybersecurity Portman strongly spoke out against the ongoing cyberattacks on our federal agencies, U.S. companies, and some state governments on the Senate floor. Earlier today, Portman, who will serve as the top Republican on Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the new Congress, condemned the cyberattacks and announced plans to hold hearings and work on bipartisan comprehensive cybersecurity legislation in the new year. Portman noted that these attacks demonstrate the vulnerabilities of our cyber defenses and the need for bipartisan action in Congress to do more to equip the federal government to defend against and deter future cyberattacks. He highlighted the bipartisan report he issued last year as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations warning of vulnerabilities at federal agencies to cyberattacks. Portman also spoke about his leadership in legislative efforts to strengthen the federal government cyber response. A transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman, Bipartisan, Bicameral Group: Finish What We Started Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) called on Congress to deliver immediate COVID-19 relief to the American people. Earlier this week, the Senators and the Problem Solvers Caucus announced two bipartisan packages, one of which, the bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, is serving as the framework for the final COVID-19 relief package. Today we find ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 310,000 Americans, and hours away from a government shutdown that threatens to delay urgent aid to people in need throughout the nation. We must set our differences aside. The American people elected us to govern on their behalf, and at a time when they need us more than ever we must end the partisan games and meet this moment together for the good of the country. On Monday, our bipartisan, bicameral group presented a bill that helps provide for the emergency needs of the millions of families struggling to make ends meet. Once again, we encourage the leaders to finish what we started and deliver immediate assistance to the workers, families and businesses that need it most. On Senate Floor, Portman Urges Colleagues to Pass Short-Term Funding Measure & End Government Shutdowns for Good On the Senate floor, hours before the government will shut down if a temporary funding measure isn't passed, Portman discussed the unnecessary costs of government shutdowns and highlighted his End Government Shutdowns Act, which would permanently prevent the federal government from shutting down, ensure that essential government services aren't disrupted, and protect taxpayers from resulting deficits. The measure would create an automatic continuing resolution (CR) in the event of a lapse of appropriations, and incentivize Congress to pass full-year appropriations bills through gradually reducing spending after 120 days. Last year, Portman released the findings of a nine-month investigation by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which he chairs, detailing the real-world costs of the last three government shutdowns. Alongside Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE), Portman found that the combined 54 days of partial or full government closures since FY 2014 resulted in at least $4 billion in costs for taxpayers and 56,938 years of missed work by furloughed federal workers. Transcript of his remarks can be found below and a video can be found here. SOCIAL MEDIA Portman: Help is on the way to combat opioid crisis The refrain I hear across Ohio about the opioid epidemic is clear: People are desperate for hope, and they want solutions. We've made progress recently, and we have much more to do. But I'm proud that Congress took another important step to make the federal government a better partner through new legislation the president just signed into law. The most urgent crisis we face in Ohio is the rise of fentanyl a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl overdose deaths in Ohio have increased by nearly 4,000 percent since 2013, and last year fentanyl was responsible for more than 70 percent of Ohio overdose deaths. Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan, co-chair of the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition, told me at a recent meeting that fentanyl continues to be the top killer in Greater Cincinnati and other drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth are being laced with it. In August 2016, Cincinnati experienced 174 overdoses over six days. That spike was caused by a fentanyl analogue called carfentanil. It drew national attention to this crisis and highlighted the need to act. Just days after we learned this spike was caused by synthetic opioids, I introduced bipartisan legislation to combat the rise of these drugs. Based on an 18-month investigation by a congressional subcommittee I chair, we know that fentanyl is mostly shipped into our communities from China through our U.S. Postal Service. Our legislation addressed that. The legislation the STOP Act was included in the new opioid law the president signed last week and closes the loophole in our international mail screening that drug traffickers have exploited. It requires the Postal Service to receive electronic advance data on packages entering the U.S., something private carriers are already required to do. This information allows law enforcement to identify suspicious packages, test them and seize fentanyl. I've seen this process in person, including at the DHL distribution center at the Greater Cincinnati airport, where I met with Customs and Border Protection officers who told me how badly they need this information to keep fentanyl out. Now that it is law, the STOP Act will act as a tourniquet, stemming the flow of fentanyl into Ohio and allowing prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to take hold. The new opioid law also expands access to treatment. When someone is ready to get over their addiction, treatment centers have to be ready to accept them. I've talked with too many families who have lost loved ones from overdoses after they were turned away from a treatment center because there wasn't enough space. A decades-old policy restricts those with Medicaid from seeking care in facilities with more than 16 beds. The new law includes bipartisan legislation I authored to lift this arbitrary restriction. We want to help more people with the disease of addiction get treatment, and this initiative will do that. It will also ensure that all forms of substance abuse are covered and that treatment centers offer multiple forms of medication-assisted treatment to help people get treatment that is right for them. The new opioid law also helps protect pregnant and postpartum moms affected by addiction as well as babies born dependent on drugs. These innocent babies have to be taken through the process of withdrawal as infants and the long-term health effects are uncertain. Earlier this year, I introduced CARA 2.0 to build on the successes of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), my bipartisan legislation that became law in 2016. A number of provisions from CARA 2.0 are in this new law, including $60 million for a plan of safe care for babies born dependent on drugs. This is welcomed news for Cincinnati organizations like First Step Home, which provides support for expecting mothers, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, which has an innovative program to help babies born dependent on drugs. The law also includes the CRIB Act, a bipartisan bill I co-authored that will help newborns recover from addiction in the best care setting possible and provide support for their families. I've seen the love and care babies receive through these impressive recovery programs, like Brigid's Path in Dayton. This new law will assist that great program and support more like it. Despite overdose deaths rising to new highs last year, there are some encouraging signs. In Cincinnati, more Narcan is being distributed to save lives, medication-assisted treatment is being expanded at places like Center for Addiction Treatment and Talbert House to help more people get into effective treatment to overcome their addiction. Mercy Health in Cincinnati is partnering with treatment centers to bridge the transition from immediate medical assistance and detox to longer-term treatment and wellness. Through the commitment I have seen at the local level and this new law's renewed partnership from the federal level, I believe we can turn the corner and take back our communities from the grips of addiction. Election Political Poison' Needs Bipartisan Fix, Portman Says A bipartisan commission might be the solution to removing the partisan poison from debate over the 2020 election, the next top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said Pulling this out of politics a little bit and having a bipartisan group that is more independent look at the issue is a good idea, Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said during a sometimes tense panel hearing Wednesday. The hearing, Examining Irregularities in the 2020 Election, included at least one exchange between the current ranking member, Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and outgoing Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). Each senator accused the other of spreading disinformation or lies. The bitter exchange and the hearing come as President Donald Trump refuses to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, which the electoral college this week certified he lost to president-election Joe Biden, and continues to lean on claims of widespread election fraud that his own attorney general and the Department of Homeland Security have found to be untrue. Portman, who will either be chairman or ranking member of the committee next Congress depending on the outcome of two Georgia Senate runoffs Jan. 5, is discussing with at least one Democratic colleague creating such a commission, he said. His remarks and proposal to extract the dispute from the committee's purview suggest how he'd prefer to see the committee operate. Portman proposed something similar to the 2005 Commission on Federal Election Reform, co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III. Baker was a consigliere to George W. Bush, who won the presidency over then-Vice President Al Gore in 2000 after the U.S. Supreme Court halted a recount in Florida. Ken Starr, the former independent counsel in the investigation that led to President Bill Clinton's impeachment, lauded the idea of a new commission akin to Carter-Baker during the hearing Wednesday. In light of the acrimony and the division with respect to the 2000 election, bringing together Jimmy Carter and former secretary Baker was, I think, very efficacious. They made thoughtful recommendations. But they bring attention and shed light on what the issues are, he said. However, the Brennan Center for Justice panned much of the report at the time, saying its study was only of a cursory nature after two hearings and no public comment opportunities. Although a number of its recommendations could improve our electoral system, several of its suggestions would be damaging and should not be included in any proposal for election reform, the report said. One of the biggest issues voting rights advocates took with the report at the time were recommendations on voter ID, a sore point to this day. Portman wants to establish the 2020 look-back commission quickly so it would be able to offer best practices to states before the next midterm elections, he said. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |