Senator Portman: Rob's Rundown: Week of September 25 - 29, 2017

This week, Senator Portman, along with his House and Senate Republican colleagues and the White House, unveiled a unified framework to achieve pro-growth tax reform. Senator Portman is working hard to simplify and reform our broken tax code to create more jobs and increase wages for Ohio families and workers. Also this week, Portman hosted Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry in Piketon, continued his efforts to get his Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) signed into law to help end online sex trafficking and get victims for the trafficking the justice they deserve, supported relief efforts in Puerto Rico, saw his priorities to strengthen focus on chronic care services for seniors pass the Senate and more. For a more in depth look at Senator Portman’s week, please see the following: Monday, September 25 At Senate Finance Hearing on Graham-Cassidy Health Plan, Portman Shares Stories from Ohioans Impacted by Skyrocketing Costs During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) discussed the skyrocketing cost of health care in Ohio and the need for a better system that lowers the cost of coverage for Ohioans who are facing premium increases as high as 34 percent next year. Transcript can be found here and a video can be found here. Tuesday, September 26 Across Ohio, Portman Highlights Need to Pass Bipartisan Bill to Help Stop Online Sex Trafficking Last week, Portman testified during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, legislation he authored to help victims of sex trafficking get the justice they deserve and hold accountable websites such as Backpage.com, which knowingly facilitates sex trafficking. Here are highlights from Ohio TV coverage on the hearing and on the subsequent video released by Portman highlighting the testimony of Yvonne Ambrose, whose daughter, Desiree Robinson, was trafficked on Backpage.com and tragically murdered. Wednesday, September 27 Portman: Simplifying & Reforming Broken Tax Code Will Create More Jobs & Increase Wages Portman issued the following statement after House and Senate Republicans and the White House unveiled a unified framework to achieve pro-growth tax reform on Wednesday: “This is a big day for our country, our economy, and our efforts to create more jobs and provide better wages for all Americans.  While our economy has been improving, not every American is feeling the effects of that improvement.  Too many Ohio families are facing the middle-class squeeze of stagnant wages and a higher cost of living.  They deserve relief, and a strong economy that enables them to live out their God-given potential. “Our current tax code encourages U.S. companies to take jobs and investments overseas.  The United States is falling behind while other countries are attracting more investment and more jobs at our expense.  That is unacceptable.  Our reform effort will encourage more investment in America, bring jobs home, and give American workers a competitive advantage. “I’ve been working with Leader McConnell, Speaker Ryan, Chairmen Hatch and Brady, my Finance Committee colleagues and the Trump Administration over the last nine months on this plan and I’d like to thank them for their hard work to get us to this point.  I’ve been very pleased to see President Trump talking about the urgency of this issue around the country, including again today in Indiana.  I’m optimistic about the prospects for getting tax reform signed into law this year.  Working together, we can simplify our tax code in a common-sense way to increase investment here in America, create more jobs & increase wages for American workers.” NOTE: The full framework can be found HERE, and a one page overview can be found HERE. Portman has been a leader in efforts to reform the tax code and protect taxpayer rights.  This year, Portman has hosted tax reform roundtables in Columbus and Dayton with local business leaders, in Cleveland with the Greater Cleveland Partnership, and in Cincinnati with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.  Last Congress, three Portman-authored bills designed to help in this effort to stop IRS abuses were signed into law by then-President Barack Obama. He has been named a “Hero of Main Street” and “Fiscal Hero” for his work on these issues. Portman: Tax Reform is About Jobs, Wages, and Opportunity Portman discussed how he believes tax reform will help create jobs, increase wages, and lead to greater opportunity for all Americans at the joint House-Senate Unified Tax Reform Framework press conference. Said Portman in his remarks, “This is about wages. It’s about jobs. It’s about opportunity.” Full transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found below: Senate Passes Bipartisan Portman Bill to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms Portman announced that the Senate has passed bipartisan legislation he authored with Senators Bill Nelson (D- Florida) and Gary Peters (D-Michigan) – called the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act.  This legislation would reauthorize 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 government’s research and response toolkit for harmful algal blooms. Senator Portman worked with Senator Nelson to reauthorize the program in 2014 and negotiated a Great Lakes section that has ensured federal agencies prioritize monitoring and mitigation efforts in fresh water bodies such as Lake Erie.  He issued the following statement: “This legislation takes critical steps toward protecting Lake Erie and other freshwater bodies throughout Ohio and the nation from toxic algae.  It is important that these water bodies are protected, as they supply drinking water to millions of Ohioans and are critical for Ohio’s tourism and fishing industries. I am pleased that this program has provided a toolkit and forecasts that help our communities prepare for and respond to the impact of HABs. For the first time, our legislation also allows funding to be potentially provided to communities with significant HAB outbreaks to help protect against environmental, economic, and public health risks. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this important legislation to the president for his signature.”   NOTE: Portman was recently named Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force.  Recent HABHRCA efforts include NOAA’s seasonal forecasts on the expected severity of HAB events in Lake Erie and a biweekly Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom bulletin issued by NOAA to provide forecasts of the movement and toxicity of HAB events in the lake. In addition, the HABHRCA program has provided a toolkit for communities with HAB outbreaks in freshwater bodies, such as Buckeye Lake or Grand Lake St. Marys, to help identify the cause of, monitor, and mitigate the HAB event. The HABHRCA program has provided research on HABs, including the most recent report, “Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia in the Great Lakes Research Plan and Action Strategy: An Interagency Report”, released in August 2017. A second report, “Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Comprehensive Research Plan and Action Strategy”, was completed in February 2016. At Hearing, Portman Questions DHS About Puerto Rico Relief Efforts & Bipartisan STOP Act to Address Fentanyl Crisis Portman questioned Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on threats to the homeland. He questioned Duke on steps being taken to help Puerto Rico in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes. Portman, who spoke Tuesday night on the Senate floor on our responsibility to respond quickly, said the federal government must play a pivotal role in their recovery efforts. Portman also questioned the department about his bipartisan Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, legislation designed to help stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States Transcript can be found here and a video can be found here. Thursday, September 28 Portman: Tech Community Should Partner With Us to Stop Online Sex Trafficking In a speech on the Senate floor, Portman discussed the significant momentum behind the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act.  While noting the support of some in the tech community for this legislation, Portman expressed disappointment that others aren’t doing more to support this bipartisan effort to stop online sex trafficking, saying “They should be as concerned as anyone, if not more, because online, on the internet, this is taking place. They should want to support addressing this injustice where traffickers exploit women and children with immunity.”  Portman urged his colleagues to act quickly, citing the progress made during last week’s hearing and the testimony of Yvonne Ambrose, whose daughter, Desiree Robinson, was trafficked on Backpage and tragically murdered.  Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. Portman Calls on Senate HELP Committee to Save Perkins Loan Program Senators Portman, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) wrote to leaders of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee urging them to immediately act to save the Perkins Loan Program before it expires this Saturday, September 30th. In the letter to HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), the Perkins Loan Program Extension Act lead cosponsors urge for the committee to take up and pass legislation to extend this popular and effective campus-based financial aid program. “We strongly support the Perkins Loan Program and write to urge the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to act on its extension expeditiously and allow the full Senate to swiftly follow suit,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to take up and pass the Perkins Loan Program Extension Act without delay. We thank you for your consideration and stand ready to work with you to advance this important legislation.” Unless Congress acts, approximately 1,500 colleges and universities across the country will not be able to make these low-interest loans, leaving approximately 700,000 students without access to an important source of financial aid. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have also cosponsored the legislation. U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House that has gained over 220 cosponsors. A copy of the letter is available here. Friday, September 29 Portman, Energy Secretary Perry Visit Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Portman and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, as well as U.S. Representatives Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), visited the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and former American Centrifuge Project facility in Piketon. They toured the facilities, met with plant leadership and workers, and discussed the importance of this plant to the local economy and the United States’ national security.  “I was proud to show Secretary Perry the top-notch infrastructure and highly-skilled workforce at Piketon’s biggest employer—the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. For decades, the workers here provided our military and our energy sector with critical natural resources, including enriched uranium for our country’s nuclear defense system. It now employs nearly 2,000 Ohioans through the cleanup effort, which, when finished, will provide the infrastructure and resources to employ thousands more,” said Portman. “Unfortunately, during the Obama administration, we had to fight every year just to keep these efforts funded and move the project forward. I am pleased that we now have an Energy Secretary and an administration that supports these hardworking Ohioans and their important work. The United States should get back to producing its own enriched uranium, and it is the workers here at Piketon that can make that happen. I will continue to work with Secretary Perry and my colleagues in Congress to advocate for the work happening at the facility as well as its capabilities, and the role it could continue to play in strengthening our national security.” NOTE: Portman last visited the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in June. Earlier this year, Portman invited Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to come to Piketon to see firsthand the decontamination and decommissioning operations. During his confirmation hearing, Secretary Perry committed to Portman that he would visit the Portsmouth site. Perry has also agreed that having a domestic capability to enrich uranium is a national security issue and that he is willing to re-evaluate the Obama Administration’s decision to end the domestic uranium enrichment demonstration program. Portman has worked every year to secure the funding necessary to keep the cleanup project on track and to protect jobs. Previously, Portman grilled former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz for his department’s failure to use funding provided by Congress and therefore causing layoffs in Piketon. Portman repeatedly called on the Obama Administration to uphold their promises to the Piketon community to provide adequate funding to avoid layoffs. Photos of today’s event can be found here. Key Portman Health Care Priorities Pass Senate as Part of CHRONIC Care Act Portman announced that several of his health care priorities have unanimously passed the Senate as part of the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act. The bipartisan bill will improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries living with chronic conditions. “The CHRONIC Care Act will help strengthen our health care system by empowering patients with tools they need to better manage their health care and increasing the coordination of care to help patients and providers better manage chronic conditions,” said Portman.  “The bill also includes a number of priorities I have worked on, 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.” Following is more specifics on key Portman priorities passed as part of the CHRONIC Care Act: Independence at Home Act (IAH) Extension. This bill would extend the IAH demonstration’s expiration date by two years (until September 30, 2019), increase the cap on the total number of participating beneficiaries from 10,000 to 15,000, and give practices three years to receive a shared savings payment. “I have seen the benefits the Independence at Home program has provided for seniors in Northeast Ohio—it has reduced hospital readmissions, prevented costly hospital and nursing home admissions, and, most importantly, kept patients healthy and in their preferred care setting,” said Portman.  “I am pleased the committee included a two-year extension of this program in the CHRONIC Care Act to ensure beneficiaries in Ohio and across the country can continue to receive high-quality care in their preferred setting—at home.  I will continue to fight to make the Independence at Home program permanent.” Better Health Rewards Program in the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Setting.  The CHRONIC Care Act includes a new program called the ACO Beneficiary Incentive Program, which would allow ACOs to make incentive payments to their members who seek out preventive care or chronic disease management services. “I am particularly pleased the Senate has passed a measure that draws on the idea of the Better Health Rewards bill I have worked on with Senator Wyden. This program will allow Medicare to engage seniors in their healthcare—incentivizing seniors to set goals and meet health targets,” said Portman.  “We should continue to promote programs that allow seniors the option to participate in programs that allow them to take control over their health care – enabling them to live better, healthier lives while also saving the Medicare system money without making cuts to benefits.” Ensuring Medicare Advantage Quality Measures Account for the Most Vulnerable Population.  The bill includes a provision that builds on Portman’s work with Senator Casey to ensure the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries—including low-income, disabled, and dually-eligible seniors—are able to maintain access to high-quality Medicare Advantage plans. A section-by-section summary of the CHRONIC Care Act can be found here. A one-page summary of the CHRONIC Care Act can be found here. The legislative text of the CHRONIC Care Act can be found here. On Social Media Experts emphasize role of human trafficking in prostitution Last week, Warren police closed down a house on Kenilworth Avenue Southeast and seized evidence after allegations surfaced that the owner, Daniel J. Blasco, 62, was giving drugs to women in exchange for their engaging in prostitution… At a recent meeting in Boardman about human trafficking, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio talked about what he sees as the need to treat women in these situations like victims, not criminals. “We need to change that paradigm,” he said. Asked how he views the difference between “prostitution” versus human trafficking, he said, “I don’t really see the distinction. Almost all women, girls or boys who are engaged in prostitution have someone selling them.” “It’s almost always about some kind of coercion or compelling. Right now it’s about drugs,” he said… Portman, a Cincinnati-area Republican, has been a strong advocate on behalf of human-trafficking victims, most recently with the introduction in the Senate last month of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017. The bill would amend the Communications Decency Act, which shields host websites from liability for content posted by others. Portman’s bill would clarify a section of the CDA to say that the law does not shield a website from federal trafficking laws and would impose liabilities for knowingly facilitating online sex trafficking. The proposed legislation is opposed by some internet freedom advocates. Portman’s introduction of the bill last month comes on the heels of an 18-month investigation of Backpage.com by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, of which Portman is chairman. The committee issued a report in January. “Stopping trafficking is one of the great humanitarian and human-rights causes of the 21st century. Our bipartisan investigation showed that Backpage knowingly facilitated sex trafficking on its website to increase its own profits, all at the expense of vulnerable women and young girls,” Portman said in a statement announcing the introduction of the bill. “For too long, courts around the country have ruled that Backpage can continue to facilitate illegal sex trafficking online with no repercussions. “The Communications Decency Act is a well-intentioned law, but it was never intended to help protect sex traffickers who prey on the most innocent and vulnerable among us.” Backpage has withstood numerous other legal challenges related to ads that it hosts, because of the protections provided by the CDA. At the meeting in Boardman with law enforcement, medical professionals and anti-trafficking advocates, Portman said the message from the courts has been clear: “It’s not a matter of litigation. It’s a matter of legislation. In other words, as I see it, begging us to do something.” Portman was unequivocal about the role of Backpage in human trafficking: Other websites, he said, “have chosen to stay out of that.” “The more we looked into it, the more we realized,” he said, that these ads are almost all posted on Backpage. The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act has earned bipartisan support, with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, saying in a statement, “We need to bring all traffickers to justice – no matter how they carry out this heinous crime. With evolving technology, we must ensure the law keeps pace with his modern-day slavery. I am pleased to join Sen. Portman in making sure law enforcement can protect Ohioans from online predators.” (“Experts emphasize role of human trafficking in prostitution,” Jordyn Grzelewski. Youngstown Vindicator. September 25, 2017) Portman, Tiberi praise Trump’s tax plan President Donald Trump unveiled the most sweeping overhaul of the federal tax code in three decades, saying it would “make the tax code simpler and more fair for everyday Americans” while simultaneously slashing taxes on corporations and individuals… Republicans such as Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Rep. Pat Tiberi of Genoa Township hailed the plan. At a news conference on Capitol Hill with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and other Republicans, Portman said “this is going to give people the opportunity to have a healthier family budget.” (“Portman, Tiberi praise Trump’s tax plan,” Jack Torry. Columbus Dispatch. September 27, 2017) Internet giants, once above the fray, on the defensive in Washington Internet giants, including Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O) and Facebook (FB.O), are moving to compromise on several major policy issues as they adjust to an abrupt shift in the political winds in Washington. Just last week, the U.S. Senate took a big step toward advancing legislation that would partially strip away the internet industry’s bedrock legal protection, a 1996 law that shields companies from liability for the activities of their users… Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, the lead architect of the Section 230 legislation, said in an interview with Reuters that he was confident his measure would become law this congressional term, with or without Silicon Valley’s cooperation. The bill has attracted bipartisan support from nearly a third of the Senate; a companion measure has similar backing in the House of Representatives. Portman said he had met with Trump’s daughter and advisor, Ivanka Trump, who expressed strong support. “Frankly, I am disappointed (that) more in the technology industry are not joining us on this effort,” Portman said. “It is in their interest to be supportive of a solution on this problem.” (“Internet giants, once above the fray, on the defensive in Washington,” Dustin Volz. Reuters. September 24, 2017) Greater Cincinnati drug prevention groups receive $125,000 annual grants $1 million dollars is coming to communities in Greater Cincinnati this year. The money is going to eight organizations that encourage teenagers to make smart choices, including staying as far away as possible from pain pills and heroin… Madisonville Weed and Seed is among eight organizations in Greater Cincinnati that learned Thursday they're getting federal grants. The grants are coming from the federal Drug Free Communities Act, co-authored by Ohio Senator Rob Portman two decades ago, when he was a member of the House of Representatives. (“Greater Cincinnati drug prevention groups receive $125,000 annual grants,” Todd Dykes. Cincinnati WLWT. September 22, 2017) 2017 harmful algal bloom blossoms across Lake Erie, as Toledo mayor wants water designated 'impaired' The harmful algal bloom has blossomed across Lake Erie, covering almost the entire western basin of the lake with chutes as far east Lorain County. On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman the Senate had reauthorized a program to help states deal with harmful algal blooms… "It is important that these water bodies are protected, as they supply drinking water to millions of Ohioans and are critical for Ohio's tourism and fishing industries," Portman said in a statement. "I am pleased that this program has provided a toolkit and forecasts that help our communities prepare for and respond to the impact of HABs." (“2017 harmful algal bloom blossoms across Lake Erie, as Toledo mayor wants water designated 'impaired',” Sabrina Eaton. Cleveland Plain Dealer. September 27, 2017) ###