releases: https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7396c4fe-b38e-4df2-b169-8825c534c27e
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7396c4fe-b38e-4df2-b169-8825c534c27e | Despite Blocked Action in the Senate, Portman Delivers for Ohio in 2014 | 2014-12-22 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Republican | House | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Over the past months, Americans have made clear they are tired of partisan bickering and not getting anything done. I couldn’t agree more, which is why I’ve worked to break the gridlock and deliver results for Ohioans. I have remained focused on solutions and addressing the issues I hear about from people all across Ohio—from protecting Lake Erie to helping people connect with jobs to Ohio’s small business owners struggling in a weak economy. My efforts have focused on helping Ohioans, ensuring that our taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, promoting jobs and pro-growth policies, and protecting our national defense. While I am proud of our successes on behalf of Ohioans there is so much more work that needs to be done. In the 113th Congress, I introduced 69 bills and 15 have been signed into law. Here is a rundown of some of our legislative accomplishments in 2014: Fighting for Ohio’s Workers and Jobs My top priority in the Senate continues to be boosting Ohio jobs and the economy. That’s why I’ve worked to combat unfair trade practices that hurt Ohio workers. We were able to achieve a success recently when the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled to crack down on countries that illegally dump their steel in the U.S. market, hurting Ohio steel manufacturers. This ruling came after I worked side-by-side with the United Steelworkers and a bipartisan coalition to protect oil country tubular goods being manufactured by hundreds of workers at the US Steel plant in Lorain. In 2014, I also supported Ohio manufacturers of solar panels, tires, thermal paper, and rebar in the face of trade violations by their foreign competitors. When I’m on the road in Ohio, I often hear that employers are having trouble finding workers with the skills needed to fill available jobs. That’s why workforce training has been a major focus of mine and I was pleased when major provisions of my CAREER Act were signed into law. These provisions will help train Ohioans for the jobs that are out there and connect unemployed Ohioans with good-paying jobs. Boosting Ohio’s Resources It’s crucial that we’re protecting Lake Erie and Ohio’s other fresh bodies of water for both their environmental and economic benefits to our state. That’s why I was pleased when my legislation to combat harmful algal blooms, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act, was signed into law. I was able to create a specific section for the Great Lakes that will ensure federal agencies appropriately prioritize efforts to protect Lake Erie and other freshwaters. Additionally, my bill that makes technical corrections to External Power Supply (EPS) efficiency standards was signed into law. The bipartisan EPS Service Parts Act of 2014 extends current energy efficiency standards so manufacturers can continue to produce, distribute and service energy efficient EPS for older, out of production products, saving both consumers and manufacturers money. Improving Government Efficiency and Transparency I’ve continued my work to make the federal government more efficient and improve transparency through my Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act which was signed into law earlier this year. The DATA Act allows taxpayers and lawmakers to track the dollars spent by federal agencies and more easily identify waste, fraud, and abuse in order to create a more efficient government. It expands the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act to require full disclosure of all federal agency expenditures. I also led bipartisan legislation called the Security Clearance Oversight and Reform Enhancement (SCORE) Act which was signed into law. This law increases oversight over how the government conducts background investigations in an effort to fix faults in the system. Additionally, I was able to pass my Smart Savings Act which will help ensure more federal employees have their retirement funds in an account that provides a larger nest egg and more security as they move towards retirement without increasing federal spending. Protecting National Security and Ohio Military Installations I was pleased that this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes several of my provisions to strengthen Ohio’s military installations including my amendment to improve Wright Patt’s Air Force Research Lab’s ability to hire science, technology, engineering, and math bachelor’s and master’s degree students directly into the lab. As part of my ongoing efforts to support C-130 modernization, I co-sponsored an amendment to the NDAA with U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) that would allow the Air Force to use alternative programs and funding in addition to the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) to modernize the C-130 aircraft fleet, with the intent of ensuring the aircraft receive necessary airspace compliance improvements. The language included in the compromise conference bill requires the Air Force to move forward with the AMP program, as I had previously advocated to the Armed Services Committee, while permitting the service to make these near-term airspace compliance improvements. This is an important step to keep these planes flying, while keeping on track with the long-term modernization needs of the fleet. The NDAA also includes a provision requiring the Defense Department to examine the feasibility of providing mental health screenings for servicemembers prior to enlistment and discharge from service, a central component of bipartisan legislation I introduced called the Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers (MEPS) Act. The NDDA requirement that the military examine this issue marks an important step towards developing a more comprehensive and holistic approach to mental health care in the military that ensures our men and women in uniform receive the care they deserve. I am proud of my record defending America’s national security interests and core values abroad. In September, the Senate passed my resolution calling on the President to reaffirm America’s commitment to religious liberty by leading an international effort to provide safety for refugees fleeing persecution, ensuring timely processing of visa applications from religious minorities, and working with the Iraqi government to strengthen protections for religious minorities. The legislation, which had 44 bipartisan cosponsors, was supported by the Christian Coalition of America, the Ohio Christian Alliance and the American Center for Law and Justice. Honoring Those Who Serve In an effort to honor those brave men and women who have served our country in World War II, I authored the World War II Memorial Prayer Act. This bill, which was signed into law shortly after D-Day of this year, directs the Secretary of the Interior to install a plaque or inscription at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the nation on June 6, 1944. I also authored the Peace Corps Memorial Act which honors Americans who have volunteered to do humanitarian work through the Peace Corps. This legislation, which involves no public funding, was signed into law earlier this year. This year’s NDAA includes language expanding the eligibility for the Purple Heart to include servicemembers killed or wounded in domestic acts of terrorism inspired by foreign terrorist groups. This would allow the victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and their families to receive the honor and recognition they deserve. I have advocated for this policy change for some time and cosponsored the Honoring Fort Hood Heroes Act, which formed the legislative basis for the provision in the bill. I was joined by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in the Senate and Representatives Pat Tiberi (OH-12) and Steve Stivers (OH-15) in the House in passing legislation to rename United States Postal Service facilities located in Central Ohio after fallen heroes from Ohio. H.R. 4919 will rename the United States Postal Service facility located at 715 Shawan Falls Drive in Dublin, Ohio, as the “Lance Corporal Wesley G. Davids and Captain Nicholas J. Rozanski Memorial Post Office” in honor of United States Marine Wesley G. Davids and United States Army National Guardsman Nicholas J. Rozanski. Additionally, my bill to designate the Lance Corporal Daniel Nathan Deyarmin, Jr., Post Office Building was signed into law. Fighting Human Trafficking As co-founder of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking, I’ve continued my push to combat human trafficking through federal legislation. We had a success when key provisions of my Child Sex Trafficking Data and Response Act were signed into law. These provisions require state child welfare workers to identify and document victims of sex trafficking within the child welfare system, which would help provide accurate statistics on these crimes for the first time. Further, child welfare workers would also be required to immediately report information on missing and abducted children to law enforcement authorities for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Additionally, I was able to pass an amendment to the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization that would protect children from violent criminals. This amendment ensures that a child care staff member convicted of a violent misdemeanor against a child or child pornography is ineligible for employment under CCDBG. Empowering Local Communities Through my Improving Trauma Care Act, I was also able to help modernize the federal definition of trauma by including burn injuries, therefore allowing hospitals to apply for funding made available under trauma and emergency care programs. The Senate also passed a portion of my Propane Supply and Security Act which will allow Ohioans to be better prepared for potential propane shortages. Many Ohioans were affected by last winter’s shortage which caused a tremendous burden for those who rely on propane to heat their homes and Ohio livestock operations and I’m hopeful this legislation will prevent that from happening again. Commonsense Conservation In August, the Senate passed my endangered species semipostal stamp bill, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2013. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes a special postage stamp to benefit conservation programs for six years at no cost to the taxpayer. The difference from this first-class stamp is transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to benefit the Multinational Species Conservation Funds which covers tigers, rhinos, elephants, great apes and sea turtles. Honoring Remarkable Ohioans I recently announced with Sen. Brown and Rep. Tiberi that our legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the “Golden Bear,” Ohio native Jack Nicklaus, in recognition of his service to the nation in promoting excellence, good sportsmanship, and philanthropy would become law. For over two centuries, Congress has awarded gold medals as an expression of public appreciation for the contributions of its most distinguished citizens. Advocating On Behalf Of Ohioans, Helping Solve Problems, and Getting Results Too often, citizens feel alone as they attempt to weave their way through a vast federal bureaucracy. As a senator, I believe I was hired as an advocate for fellow Ohioans when they need assistance in their dealings with federal agencies. In 2014, our casework team worked on over 2,900 new cases for Ohioans who came to our office in need of aid. We were able to resolve over 74% of all of these cases favorably. I am proud of our team, and wanted to share a few examples of the work we were able to do just this year: A Cincinnati businessman was required to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in 2012 in excess of $100,000 due to an oversight. While payment was made in August of 2012, his attorney and accountant continued to run into roadblocks on having the payment applied to his account. After reaching out to my office, we were able to quickly have the IRS identify the payment and properly credit his account, bringing to an end a two year frustration. A Coshocton man who had his Social Security benefits terminated by error and placed his home in jeopardy reached out to our office for help. My staff was quickly able to work with Social Security officials to identify the error and immediately have his benefits reinstated and check issued. A Westerville organization that provides a weekend food program for children in the Westerville City Schools and raises awareness of the hunger issue in the community wrote to our office for assistance in expediting their application for nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service. My team was able to work with IRS officials to fast track the application and as a result, the organization was was eligible to compete for and was one of 40 organizations nationwide to receive a $25,000 grant. A veteran who lost his construction business due to the economy and his wife developing cancer fell behind on payments on the home they chose to retire in. The county veterans service office referred him to our office and we were able to help him navigate the application process for the Save A Dream program. He was approved and their home was saved. After a University of Cincinnati student was seriously injured in an off-campus robbery and hospitalized, my staff was able to work with the U.S. Consulate in India to immediately expedite visitors visas for his parents to travel to Cincinnati to be with their son. The letters I get back from Ohio families like these make this one of the most rewarding parts of the job: "Your office is wonderful. My case is very complex and unusual. Nevertheless, your staff quickly grasped the complexities of my case and went to work to help me get my backpay/retroactive benefits. Your staff showed such genuine care and concern and tremendous understanding about me and my case." M.D. - Cincinnati, Ohio "With a great deal of enthusiasm and compliments, I am writing this letter to express my appreciation for your Columbus, Ohio office. They exercised their position to cut through the red tape and what I viewed as incompetence at the IRS to get the job done! I literally spent countless hours getting nowhere. Your staff immediately set things in motion. The display of professionalism, determination and direction to the IRS people ultimately brought resolution to this nightmare. What rare and refreshing attributes." J.S. - Cincinnati, Ohio "I want to take a moment to thank you and your staff from the bottom of my heart for your help. I can honestly say that without your help that we would have lost our home without a doubt....If there is a heaven, you and your team have earned a place." B.O. - Fremont, Ohio "My wife and I want to thank you and your staff for your help in resolving our issues regarding recovery of our 2011 and 2012 Medicare reimbursements. We have now received refunds of all four charges. We believe that it was only through your help and the help of your staff that we were able to accomplish this...Without your help and contacts within the Social Security bureaucracy, we doubt that we would have been able to finally receive our refunds." J.M. - Sylvania, Ohio "...You may think you just completed another request from a veteran, but that is an understatement. I contacted Senator Portman's office because I had a difficult and almost impossible request. I knew that the only way I had any chance of making the correction in my military record was through the influence of my Senator and the effective work of his staff. You accomplished that challenge." D.B. - Medina, Ohio "I would like to express my gratitude to you and your staff for assisting Hathaway Brown School in securing the visas to India for the Harriet Mullin Barry India program. Your staff is a testament to you and the Senate. The girls recently returned from India and had an incredible time." J.V. - Shaker Heights, Ohio "On behalf of my family and my mother, I would like to express the utmost sincere gratitude to your office, as well as to your dedicated and professional staff members for helping my family reunite this summer...Your immigration specialist was instrumental in helping my mom and I navigate through the complexities of the modern day international visa process, as well as addressing immigrant visa application related issues...we feel very blessed that among numerous political offices, there was one that actually treated us as important." S.K. - Cleveland, Ohio ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |