releases: https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rob-s-rundown?ID=C0D8A408-38ED-4BD3-9E17-FB1F27A997F1
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| https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rob-s-rundown?ID=C0D8A408-38ED-4BD3-9E17-FB1F27A997F1 | Robs Rundown: Week of December 3-7, 2018 | 2018-12-07 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Republican | House | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | This week, Senator Portman met with General Motors CEO Mary Barra to discuss the company's decision to shut down its plant in Lordstown, Ohio. Portman urged Barra to bring new production to the plan and help save these jobs. In addition, Portman honored the life of his friend and mentor, President George H. W. Bush by paying his respects in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where the president lied in state, attending the funeral services at the National Cathedral and through his remarks on the Senate floor. Portman announced that the Pentagon has decided to locate the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator (HPSI) Organization at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The new mission will mean at least 400 new jobs in Ohio, with the potential for more to be located at the base over the next several years. In addition, the Senate passed Portman's bill honoring Larry Doby, the first African American to play in the American League, with the Congressional Gold Medal for his career and contributions to the American civil rights movement. Portman announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded three BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Developments) grants to boost infrastructure investment in Ohio: $10.8 million to Youngstown, $20 million to Monroe County,and $9.6 million to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). Lastly, Portman toured Henny Penny World Headquarters, an employee-owned manufacturer of premium commercial food equipment based in Eaton, Ohio, where he participated in an employee town hall with Henny Penny employees and members of the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT). For a more detailed look at Senator Portman's week, please see the following: Monday, December 3 On CNN & MSNBC, Portman Honors the Life of His Friend and Mentor, President George H.W. Bush On Saturday, Senator Portman joined CNN's Jake Tapper and MSNBC's David Gura to discuss the passing of his dear friend and mentor, President George H.W. Bush. In a statement after his passing, Portman said: An early boss and mentor, President Bush was one of the most decent and honorable menI've ever known, and a model that I have tried to follow in my years in public service. The CNN interview can be viewed here and MSNBC interview can be viewed here. Portman, Brown to Meet With GM CEO Mary Barra This Week, Will Press Company to Save Lordstown Plant U.S. Senators Portman and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that they will meet with General Motors CEO Mary Barra on Wednesday afternoon, December 5, 2018, of this week. The meeting will take place in Senator Portman's office. Both Ohio Senators have spoken with Barra, proposed solutions, and urged GM to work with them to save the Lordstown jobs. Last week, GM announced it would lay off its final shift of workers and close its Lordstown plant in March of 2019. Earlier this year, GM announced plans to build the new Chevy Blazer in Mexico on the same day the company ended the second shift at a plant. GM has eliminated nearly 3,000 jobs at the plant over the last two years. We have the best workers in the world in Ohio, and I'm proud of the workers at Lordstown, said Portman.They have proven themselves time and again, and Senator Brown and I will continue to fight on their behalf. I look forward to continuing our engagement with GM. I hope the company sees the incredible potential in this plant, by keeping it open and bringing other production back to the Valley. Tuesday, December 4 Portman Applauds President for Signing Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill to Help Protect Great Lakes Portman, co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, applauded President Trump for signing the Frank Lobiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act, which includes language he negotiated to establish a rulemaking framework for vessel discharge regulations to ensure the Great Lakes are protected against pollution and the spread of invasive species while creating regulatory certainty for the competitive shipping industry across the region. Today is a great day for those who enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Erie and our freshwater treasures as well as those who make a living on the Great Lakes, said Portman. This law helps protects the Great Lakes against the spread of invasive species and pollution while ensuring that our shipping industry in Ohio and across the region is competitive. It is the product of bipartisan work and is a balanced legislative solution to ensure the regulations regarding vessel discharges protect the ecosystem in the Great Lakes. I'm proud of this legislation and want to thank Senator Stabenow for working with me to get it across the finish line. On Fox Business, Portman Discusses Trade News at G20 Summit & GM's Decision to Close Lordstown Plant In an interview with Fox Business, Portman highlighted the positive news on trade at the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina last week. Senator 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. Last week, Portman issued a statement applauding the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Portman also discussed General Motor's decision to shut down its plant in Lordstown, Ohio in March of 2019. Portman is scheduled to meet with GM CEO Mary Barra tomorrow to urge her to keep the plant open. Excerpts of his interview can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman, Brown, Turner Announce Air Force Has Selected Wright-Patterson For Critical New Mission That Will Bring At Least 400 Jobs to Base Portman and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10) announced that the Pentagon has decided to locate the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator (HPSI) Organization at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The new mission will mean at least 400 new jobs in Ohio, with the potential for more to be located at the base over the next several years. In April, Portman, Brown, and Turner led the entire Ohio congressional delegation in writing a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. The lawmakers made the case for Wright-Patt and said the base was uniquely qualified to handle the new mission. In June, Portman, Brown, and Turner, along with other members of the Ohio delegation, met with Secretary Wilson in Washington, where they made the case for Wright-Patt in person. The Air Force's decision to locate the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator at Wright-Patt is great news for the Dayton region and more than 400 new jobs at the base, said Senator Portman. This decision is a testament to our incredible work force and reinforces the Miami Valley's critical role in supporting our national defense. In addition to bringing high-paying jobs to Dayton, this Support Integrator will help contribute to the effectiveness of our F-35 program. Wright-Patt's highly qualified workforce supports the Air Force's critical national security mission and the base is further supported by the broader Dayton defense community, which is full of engineering and contracting specialists. The lawmakers said that Dayton's research industry and universities have long been the center for developing, acquiring, and sustaining the next level of air superiority to counter U.S. adversaries and, therefore, locating HPSI at Wright-Patt was the best choice for the Air Force. On Senate Floor, Portman Honors Memory of President George H.W. Bush Portman delivered remarks on the Senate floor in memory of his friend and mentor, President George H.W. Bush, who passed away last Friday at the age of 94. Jane and I send our condolences to the entire Bush family and to his many, many close friends. At the close of this truly great American life, this guiding light, let us honor his legacy by following his example of patriotism, public service, and civility. Godspeed, George Bush. Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Wednesday, December 5 On Bloomberg, Portman Discusses How Tax Reform is Strengthening the Economy, GM's Decision to Close Lordstown Plant In an interview with Bloomberg, Portman highlighted the current economic growth in the United States due in part to tax reform. He also stressed the need for balanced trade and providing a level playing field for all countries. Senator 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. Portman also discussed General Motors' decision to shut down its plant in Lordstown, Ohio in March of 2019. Portman is scheduled to meet with GM CEO Mary Barra to urge her to recommit to Lordstown and bring new production to the plant. Excerpts of his interview can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman Remarks Following Meeting With GM CEO Mary Barra Portman delivered remarks to the media following the joint meeting he hosted with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra. For video of the remarks click here, and the text follows: Senator Brown and I just had a meeting with GM CEO Mary Barra about their decision a couple of weeks ago to put the plant in Lordstown, Ohio, on unallocated status. And she can talk more about what that means, but we're very disappointed by that decision. We believe that the workers and the community of Lordstown have proven themselves time and time again for almost five and a half decades. Those workers have done their part. Just as the workforce has stood with General Motors over the years, we expect General Motors now to stand with this workforce and give them a chance. We talked a lot about the possibility of bringing another product into the plant and that's what we'd like to see. General Motors has made an announcement that they plan to build 20 new electric vehicles in the next five years, 20 new models. We want one or more of those models to be built in Lordstown, Ohio. That's where it belongs. We had a good, very candid discussion. We are going to continue to work at every level. The local level, working with state government, Sherrod has spoken with Governor Kasich and I spoke with Governor-elect DeWine, we're ensuring that we're working closely with the state. The local community, the Drive It Home campaign is UAW and the Chamber of Commerce working together to show the support we have locally. We've also talked at the federal level. I spoke to President Trump today on this issue. He's very committed to helping us keep this assembly plant in Ohio. I've also spoken to Secretary Acosta as recently as today. He is eager, wants to be helpful. We're trying everything we can to ensure that these workers in Lordstown get the support they deserve now and are able to build another product. We're not asking for charity. What we're asking for is to give the community and workforce the opportunity to once again show what they can do. This is the commitment that we've received so far: one as Senator Brown said, they are ongoing negotiations, I think there's a September or fall deadline for the UAW contract. Both of us want to be sure that both the company and UAW expedite that as much as possible to get to a decision so there is less uncertainty. She agreed that was a potential opportunity. Also, she has said to us that she is going to keep an open mind but does not want to raise expectations. Thursday, December 6 On Fox News, Portman Honors the Legacy and Memory President George H.W. Bush Portman joined Fox News' Dana Perino to discuss the legacy of his dear friend and mentor, President George H.W. Bush. In a statement after his passing, Portman said: An early boss and mentor, President Bush was one of the most decent and honorable menI've ever known, and a model that I have tried to follow in my years in public service. Portman attended the funeral services for President Bush at the National Cathedral. Excerpts of his interview can be found here and a video can be found here: Portman, Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act to Bolster Cybersecurity Senators Portman and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) have introduced the bipartisan Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act, which would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a cyber-vulnerabilities disclosure program (VDP) so that vulnerabilities in DHS' cyber systems can be easily reported and fixed. This is a companion bill to legislation sponsored by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act (H.R.6735,) which passed the House earlier this year. At a time when cyber threats are on the rise, the United States government must protect itself. Doing so involves drawing upon the vast expertise of hackers and security experts in our country to identify vulnerabilities and report them to the people in a position to fix those flaws in our systems. This bill complements my work with Senator Hassan on our HACK DHS Act and I look forward to working with her and my colleagues to swiftly enact this common sense, bipartisan proposal, said Senator Portman. Portman Announces Youngstown Awarded $10.8 Million Federal Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Portman announced that Youngstown has been awarded a $10.8 million BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Developments)federal grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The BUILD grant will be used to make improvements to the Central Business District in Youngstown that includes Fifth Avenue, Park Avenue, Rayen Avenue, Commercial Street, Federal Street, Phelps Street, and Front Street. This is great news for Youngstown, said Portman. This enhancement of the Central Business District and nearby manufacturing plants will provide great multimodal access between key employers in the Mahoning Valley. I'm excited that this grant will invest in job creation through transportation improvements, which is vital to strengthening the economy in Northeast Ohio. I also commend the Youngstown leaders for how they came together to raise an impressive non-federal match, which is now at $10.9 million, over 50 percent. Portman, Brown Bill Honoring Baseball Legend and Civil Rights Pioneer Larry Doby With Congressional Gold Medal Set to Become Law The Senate passed U.S. Senators Portman and Brown's (D-OH) bill honoring Larry Doby, the first African American to play in the American League, with the Congressional Gold Medal for his career and contributions to the American civil rights movement. It now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. In joining the American League, Doby effectively integrated all of professional baseball. As the first African American player in the American League, Larry Doby broke down barriers with his remarkable skill and competitive spirit and forever changed the game of baseball, said Portman. Through sheer determination, Doby became a symbol for the fight for equality in our country and encouraged thousands of Ohioans and kids across our country to push the boundaries of what they thought possible. I'd like to thank my colleagues in the Senate for approving this bill and especially my colleague Jim Renacci for his leadership to get this bill done in the House. Lawrence Eugene Larry Doby joined the Cleveland Indians in July 1947, becoming the first African American to play in the American League. During his 13-year career in the American League, Doby tallied 1,533 games, batting .283, with 253 home runs and 970 runs batted in. He played in two World Series, leading the 1948 Cleveland Indians to a World Championship over the Boston Braves. He was the first African-American player to hit a home run in a World Series game, led the American League in home runs twice, and was voted to seven All-Star teams. In 1978, the Chicago White Sox hired Doby as their manager and he became the second African-American manager in Major League history. He later served as Director of Community Relations for the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association. He was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2013. Doby was born in Camden, South Carolina, in 1923 and moved to Paterson, New Jersey, in 1938, where he became a standout athlete at Paterson Eastside High School. He attended Long Island University on a basketball scholarship before enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 and went on to play baseball in the Negro National League for the Newark Eagles. Doby passed away in 2003. Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum support the bill. Portman Announces Monroe County Awarded $20 Million Federal Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Portman announced that Monroe County was awarded a $20 million BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Developments)federal grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The BUILD grant will be used to fund Monroe County's Appalachia NGL HubRail Transloading Project. This multi-modal, project will construct a rail yard and pipeline transloading facility to transfer propane and butane from pipeline to rail to be sent for export in the most efficient and safest way possible. This is great news for Monroe County and its economy, said Portman. By increasing energy exports from the Marcellus and Utica Shale, this project will create more jobs in Southeast Ohio and help make America less dependent on foreign energy sources. Portman Announces Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency Awarded $9.6 Million Federal Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Portman announced that Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) was awarded a $9.6 million BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Developments)federal grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The BUILD grant will be used for Geauga County's Amish safety improvements. This project aims to create safer roadways by widening roadway shoulders, establishing detection systems, and posting school zone and pedestrian signage and flashers at appropriate roadside locations. This is great news for the Amish community in Northeast Ohio, said Portman. As the center of the fourth largest Amish settlement in the U.S., I know that the leaders of Geauga County are working to maintain the safe use of the Amish buggy and pedestrian accessible roads. This grant will help the county create safer roadways for the Amish and non-Amish alike. Friday, December 7 In Eaton, Portman Tours Henny Penny, Participates in Employee Town Hall With Workers and Members of the Center for Innovative Food Technology Portman toured Henny Penny World Headquarters, an employee-owned manufacturer of premium commercial food equipment based in Eaton, Ohio.Following the tour, Portman participated in an employee town hall with Henny Penny employees and members of the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT). CIFT is a membership consortium comprised of food industry businesses, suppliers, and academic institutions, to enhance the economic viability of Ohio's food and agricultural sector through advanced technology, research projects, and job creation. I enjoyed visiting Henny Penny today and hearing from their leadership as well as from members of CIFT regarding workforce development and what they, as business leaders, are doing to help boost their local economy, said Portman. We had very productive discussion, and I will take their ideas, feedback, and the good-work I saw here back to Washington because we need more like it. I will continue my work at the federal level to make sure that Washington is an effective partner with local communities in providing Ohioans with the skills training they need to succeed. As co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, Portman has led efforts in the Senate to strengthen CTE programs and help Ohioans find meaningful employment. In July, the president signed Portman's Educating Tomorrow's Workforce Act, legislation he crafted with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to allow states and localities to use Perkins grant funding to establish CTE-focused academies. He has also worked on other measures to strengthen CTE programs, including introducing the bipartisan CTE Excellence and Equity Act to support re-designing the high school experience to include courses more relevant to the 21st century workforce to better prepare students for future careers. He introduced the bipartisan JOBS Act to expand Pell Grant eligibility to cover high-quality and rigorous short-term job training programs so workers can afford the skills training and credentials they need for today's job market. Lastly, he introduced the Creating Quality Technical Educators Act to create a teacher residency grant program to help address the CTE teacher shortage in schools. Photos from the event can be found here. On Social Media Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman recalls George HW Bush as a mentor, friend When the ceremony for the arrival of the casket bearing the body of the late President George H.W. Bush began Monday night in the Capitol Rotunda, many grieved the passing of a commander-in-chief. Sen. Rob Portman grieved the passing of the man who helped launch him on a career of public service. Portman, an Ohio Republican, first worked for Bush in 1979, when the Cincinnati resident volunteered for his presidential campaign while still in college. He performed advance work, and did a good enough job that when Bush became vice president, Portman, then just a young lawyer, was assigned to do volunteer advance work to China, France as well as the U.S. After Bush became president, he hired Portman for his Office of Legislative Affairs. Though he had worked briefly for then-Rep. Bill Gradison, he was, frankly, very inexperienced. Portman worked hard and was rewarded with a view to history: He sat behind Bush in the Cabinet Room when the president, legislators and Cabinet members before the beginning of the Gulf War in 1990. Portman said many in the room advised him not to seek congressional approval for the war, fearing that Congress would not support it. But Bush insisted on a vote, and it passed the Senate narrowly. But in the end, the public and Congress were united behind the effort. He did the right thing because he brought the country together, Portman said. Bush, he said, gave me my start. He showed me how things could be done in an honorable way. Later, when Bush's son George W. was elected president, Portman called the elder Bush before he took the job as U.S. Trade Representative. He was very supportive, Portman said. In later years, Portman visited Bush, often in Kennebunkport. Bush asked him for the political gossip and descriptions of current players. Portman asked for advice, but Bush, ever humble, was often reluctant to give it. This summer, Portman visited again, bringing a Bush '88 campaign hat to amuse the former president. He just loved it, Portman said. He made you a better person by being around him, Portman said. I think that's one of the reasons you see all of these glowing tributes to him. (Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman recalls George HW Bush as a mentor, friend. Jessica Wehrman. Columbus Dispatch. December, 3, 2018.) Brown, Portman push to keep GM Ohio plant open Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman on Wednesday met with General Motors CEO Mary Barra to discuss ways to keep a manufacturing plant operating in the state. The plant is one of five in the U.S. and Canada that GM plans to shutter. The lawmakers "will continue to fight to get a decision quicker rather than later on putting, whether it's electric vehicles or some other the Chevy Blazer or something else in this plant," Brown told reporters after the meeting. The two emphasized they want to see the company bring production for models of next-generation electric vehicles to the Lordstown Assembly in Warren, Ohio. Talks with Trump: Portman said he spoke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday and the president remains "very committed to helping us keep this assembly plant in Ohio." Trump has been a vocal critic of GM's plan, saying the U.S. "has done a lot for" the company. The company didn't directly link its original announcement with Trump's tariff policies, but previously expressed concern that potential auto tariffs, combined with the administration's tariffs on China, steel and aluminum, could lead to higher prices and lower sales. (Brown, Portman push to keep GM Ohio plant open. Sabrina Rodreiguez. Politico Morning Trade. December 6, 2018.) ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |