Senator Portman - Rob's Rundown: Week of January 8 - 12, 2018

The historic Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, signed into law last month, is already paying off for Ohio workers and families. After visiting Sheffer Corporation in Cincinnati and Wolf Metals in Columbus, Portman visited Tremco in Cleveland where the business announced its decision to increase investments in equipment, hire new workers, and reinvest in employees as a result of savings expected from tax reform. Also this week, Portman ramped up his efforts to get SESTA, his bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, signed into law. Portman delivered two floor speeches, attended a rally with trafficking survivors and anti-trafficking advocates, and hosted a roundtable in Cleveland on the importance of combating human trafficking. For a more in depth look at Senator Portman’s week, please see the following:
Monday, January 8

On Senate Floor, Portman Urges Senate to Pass SESTA, Help Stop Online Sex Trafficking

In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) urged action on his bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, legislation designed to ensure justice for victims of sex trafficking and ensure that websites such as Backpage.com, which knowingly facilitate sex trafficking, can be held liable and brought to justice. The bill, which now has more than 60 cosponsors, is supported by victims and advocates, anti-human trafficking leaders and law enforcement, 50 Attorneys General, the civil rights community, faith-based groups, the larger tech community, and courts and judges who have made clear that it is Congress’ responsibility to act to protect sex trafficking victims. Said Portman in his speech, “It’s not an issue of politics or partisanship, it’s about preventing exploitation and providing justice.”
Transcript of the video can be found here and a link can be found here.

Ohio Companies Respond to Tax Reform Law With More Investment & Benefits for Workers

Just weeks after the historic Tax Cuts & Jobs Act was signed into law, Ohio companies are beginning to respond by announcing more investment in plants and equipment, wage increases, bonuses, and higher 401(k) matches. This is exactly what Senator Portman and others had in mind when they passed long-overdue tax reform legislation designed to encourage more economic growth, investment and more money in the pockets of Ohio families. Here is a look at how Ohio companies have reacted in the last couple weeks to the passage of the tax reform legislation.

Tuesday, January 9

Portman Meets with Federal Reserve Chair Nominee Jay Powell, Discusses Economic Growth, Workforce Development

Portman, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, met Tuesday with President Trump’s nominee to be Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jay Powell. Portman and Powell discussed how the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act will help spur economic growth and job creation, the importance of boosting participation in the workforce, namely by closing the skills gap and helping to address the opioid epidemic, and more. Portman released the following statement:
“Jay Powell has the qualifications necessary to make him a highly-successful Chairman of the Federal Reserve. I was pleased to hear of his commitment to boosting economic growth and increasing participation in the workforce. I look forward to working with him on behalf of Ohio’s workers.”

Portman, Murphy, Graham, Brown Introduce “Buy American” Bill to Improve Transparency & Support Manufacturing Jobs

In light of evidence that U.S. federal agencies have granted an excessive number of waivers to Buy American laws in the last few years U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today unveiled the BuyAmerican.gov Act, new legislation that would establish a centralized online hub to increase transparency and ensure federal agencies prioritize the purchase of American-made goods in compliance with existing law.  Under current law, federal agencies may use domestic content waivers to Buy American laws to purchase goods or services from foreign companies only in certain circumstances: for example, when an American-made good is unavailable or will significantly increase the cost of a product. However, federal agencies overuse this waiver authority. There is currently no government-wide system tracking the use and abuse of these waivers by federal agencies.
The new BuyAmerican.gov Act would direct the General Services Administration to establish a central, publicly-available website, called BuyAmerican.gov, to collect and display information about each requested waiver to Buy American laws. This new website will allow manufacturers and other interested parties to identify contract opportunities and hold federal agencies accountable for abusing Buy American waivers.

“We must do everything we can to protect and maximize American jobs, and that starts by ensuring that our tax dollars aren’t used to create jobs overseas. Unfortunately, in the last five years alone, U.S. federal agencies have spent $47.7 billion on goods manufactured by foreign firms, resulting in contracts and jobs lost to overseas competitors,” said Senator Portman. “By improving transparency, the BuyAmerican.gov Act will encourage federal agencies to support American workers and American jobs by faithfully complying with Buy American law. This is a bipartisan bill that is needed now to help protect American jobs.”

For more information about the bill, go here.

Portman Questions HHS Secretary Nominee Alex Azar About Combatting the Nation’s Opioid Epidemic

Portman, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, questioned President Trump’s nominee to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, during his Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing. Portman met with Azar last month to discuss challenges facing the department, including the need for the department to help tackle the opioid epidemic.  He questioned Azar about the bipartisan Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion (Medicaid CARE) Act, which will lift the cap on Medicaid funding for mental health and substance abuse facilities, and about the importance of providing incentives for better wellness programs.
Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here

Portman Urges Senate to Crack Down on Online Sex Trafficking, Pass SESTA

On Tuesday, Portman returned to the floor to share tragic stories of trafficking and to urge his colleagues to help end human trafficking by passing SESTA.
Transcript of the video can be found here and a link can be found here.

Thursday, January 11

At Rally With Trafficking Survivors & Advocates, Portman Calls on Senate to Pass SESTA

At a Capitol Hill rally, Portman thanked trafficking survivors and advocates for their courage and support in the effort to help end online sex exploitation and pass his bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which will help ensure justice for victims of sex trafficking and hold accountable websites such as Backpage.com that knowingly facilitate online sex trafficking. As part of his call to action, Portman said that “every single Senator needs to be engaged and involved in this because this is an outrage that this is happening in this country, in this century. It’s a stain on our national character. We can make a difference here.”
A video of Portman’s remarks at the rally today can be found here.

On Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Portman Highlights Bill to Help End Online Sex Trafficking on CNN

On Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Senator Portman discussed his bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) during an interview on CNN. Portman detailed how SESTA would help to end online sex trafficking on the Senate floor on Monday and Tuesday. Portman also discussed Russian disinformation and interference campaigns and border security.
Excerpts of the interview can be found here and a video can be found here.

 

Portman Praises Quick IRS Action to Change Withholding Tables, Deliver Historic Tax Cuts

Portman issued the following statement after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced updates to its withholding tables for employee paychecks after enactment of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act:

“This is another milestone day in our efforts to deliver historic tax relief for hard-working Americans across the country. I’m pleased that the IRS responded to my request to expedite changes to the tax withholding tables for employee paychecks. As I’ve said many times now, the proof will be in the paycheck and in a matter of weeks American families will see an increase in their take-home pay.”

NOTE: On December 20, 2017, Senator Portman urged the IRS to move quickly to change its withholding tables and deliver tax cuts as quickly as possible. The full letter can be found here.

On the Senate Floor, Portman Discusses Higher Paychecks, More Investments & Other Positive Benefits of Tax Reform

Portman spoke on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon to discuss the positive benefits the recently-signed Tax Cuts & Jobs Act is already having on American workers, families, and businesses.  Portman also discussed the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) announcement that it will update its withholding tables for employee paychecks after enactment of the tax reform legislation.
Transcript of the speech can be found here and a video can be found here

Friday, January 12

Portman Tours Cleveland Business Announcing Decision to Increase Investments in Equipment, Hire New Workers After Tax Reform Bill Signed Into Law

Friday morning, Portman visited Tremco in Cleveland as part of his Results for the Middle Class Tax Reform Tour. Tremco is a company that specializes in the manufacture and sale of roofing materials and services, construction sealants, glazing and gaskets, waterproofing systems, air barrier and fire stopping systems and a host of custom-designed products.  Portman toured the facility, held an employee town hall, and took part in the announcement of the business’ plan to increase and accelerate investments in equipment, hire new workers, and reinvest in its employees a result of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act.

“The historic tax reform legislation the president recently signed into law was created with two goals in mind: cutting taxes for middle-class families and re-opening the American economy as the best place in the world to do business. Just yesterday, the IRS announced updated tax withholding charts to reflect the tax cuts for hardworking Americans, and we continue to see businesses, in Ohio and across the country, reinvest in their workers, operations, or both, as a result of this law. Tremco is another great example of how tax reform benefits businesses small and large—and American workers. Tremco is upgrading their equipment, hiring new workers, and reinvesting in their employees through increased contributions to employee retirement plans. I’m pleased that we continue to see these kinds of positive responses from Ohio businesses as a direct result of this tax reform law, and I believe this is only the beginning.”

For more information, and for photos, go here.

Portman Participates in Human Trafficking Roundtable, Discusses Bipartisan Bill to Help End Online Sex Trafficking

Following Thursday’s rally on Capitol Hill in support of the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), Portman on Friday participated in a roundtable with the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association and members of Cleveland’s Collaborative to End Human Trafficking to discuss their ongoing efforts to raise awareness, recognize the signs, and help end the practice of human trafficking. Portman is urging the Senate to take up SESTA this month, during  National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, to hold accountable websites such as Backpage.com, which knowingly facilitate sex trafficking, and get victims of trafficking the justice they deserve.

“The horrific crime of human trafficking is occurring in communities throughout Ohio and the United States, often at hotels and motels. We had a great discussion today on the ongoing efforts of groups like Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association and the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking to help end trafficking and about what more can be done to fight back and stop this exploitation from occurring at their place of business, and anywhere in our country. I am grateful for their efforts to play a role in helping stop these crimes, but Congress must act to give law enforcement the ability to go after those who sell women and children online for sex. As I heard again today, human trafficking is increasing here in Cleveland because of the ruthless efficiency of the internet—it has moved from the street corner to the smart phone. It will continue to increase unless Congress acts. Congress must pass SESTA.”

For more information, and for photos, go here.

Portman Legislation Giving Certainty to Ohio LED Manufacturers Signed Into Law

Portman’s External Power Supply (EPS) Improvement Act into law. This bipartisan legislation will give needed certainty to Ohio LED manufacturers. Portman’s legislation will exempt the manufacturers of energy saving LEDs from an onerous Department of Energy regulation that could have curtailed or stopped production of LEDs.  Portman issued the following statement:

“I am pleased that President Trump signed this bipartisan measure into law. This bill gives needed certainty to Ohio’s LED manufactures from a regulation that was never intended to affect them, and now these Ohio made products will not have to fear future federal action that could have stopped production of these goods and threatened manufacturing jobs. Our economy has already begun responding positively from the historic tax reform law and regulatory rollbacks, and it is incredibly important that we keep pursuing pro-growth, pro-America policies like the president has done today by signing this bill into law.”  

NOTE: Portman issued a statement following the Senate passing this legislation last month.  
On Social Media:









Vote on anti-trafficking measure
Sen. Rob Portman has attracted 64 Senate co-sponsors for a bill that could prevent online trafficking of young people for sex, and yet the bill sits idly waiting to be put to a vote.
Mr. Portman worked hard to attract the bipartisan support he needed for the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. The bill would amend the Communications Decency Act so that sites such as Backpage.com could no longer exploit it to protect traffickers using it to post ads for sex with underage, and often unwilling, trafficking victims.
A two-year Senate investigation led Mr. Portman and others to focus their efforts on Backpage.com, which has used online classified ads to facilitate sex trafficking for years…
Mr. Portman has proven he has the 60-plus votes he needs to get the bill through the Senate. The Senate Commerce Committee held hearings on the matter before passing SESTA unanimously out of committee.
Now that tax reform is accomplished, there should be nothing distracting Senate leaders from this important issue. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) should bring the bill forward for a full Senate vote.
(“Vote on anti-trafficking measure,” Editorial. Toledo Blade. January 11, 2018)

Portman’s work on Capitol Hill benefits community
There is no limit to what a person can do or where they can go if they don’t mind who gets the credit. That proverb has guided generations of leaders as a constant reminder to prioritize results over recognition.
As president of one of Ohio’s largest business coalitions, I’ve seen it inspire our city’s greatest executives, from John F. Wolfe and Les Wexner to a new class of civic and corporate talent coming behind them. The growth and vitality happening in this community would not be possible without the quiet resolve of those who prefer to work outside the spotlight.
Fortunately, we have public servants who personify that quality as well, and Ohio’s U.S. Sen. Rob Portman is chief among them. Not one to tweet or trumpet the vital role he plays in the outcome of key public-policy achievements, he deserves a moment of unsolicited praise.
Thanks to Senator Portman’s leadership on Capitol Hill, Ohioans enter the new year with one of the most significant and historic tax reductions in a generation. His role to help craft the Senate bill, and on the conference committee that worked on the final details of the new tax law, gave him unrivaled influence and a powerful, key voice in the final outcome of the bill.
The results cannot be overstated. Beyond historic tax relief for hardworking families and individuals, the new tax reforms will lead to job creation, innovation and economic development that benefit all of us. The bill lowers the corporate tax rate, the highest in the world, helping central Ohio businesses invest in the region and provide extra benefits for employees. Fifth Third Bank, Nationwide Insurance and other Ohio companies have announced raises, bonuses and higher employer matches for retirement-savings accounts…
(“Portman’s work on Capitol Hill benefits community,” Alex Fischer, CEO of Columbus Partnership. Columbus Dispatch. January 11, 2018)
 
To catch mass killer, focus on fentanyl shipments
With people across the country dying at the rate of 53 a day from overdoses of fentanyl and similar compounds — now the leading killers in the opioid epidemic — efforts to stop this scourge ought to come from every corner of the federal government…
Since 2016, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and a bipartisan coalition that has grown to 29 senators and 252 House members have pushed a commonsense measure to require that all countries provide this electronic data.
The president’s commission on opioids supports it, too.
The Postal Service's response? In testimony prepared for the Senate hearing, a top official said that it “agrees with the goal” of the measure, but that requiring all nations to provide this data immediately is “impractical” and could cost as much as $4.8 billion over 10 years.
Why not start with maximum tracking of mail from China and any other countries that appear to be significant sources of synthetic opioids?
Nor has the U.S. given foreign countries a hard deadline to provide this potentially life-saving information. The best the Postal Service could offer was that it's "seeing substantial data" from China. It would not answer our questions about what percentage of Chinese mail comes with advance data.
“How many more Americans have to die before our government gets its act together … to keep this poison out of our communities?" Portman asked officials at the hearing.
Good question…
(“To catch mass killer, focus on fentanyl shipments,” Editorial. USA Today. January 7, 2018)

Portman says laws need more work to fight human trafficking and fentanyl
Even with President Donald Trump signing a bill this week providing additional funding to catch people trying to import fentanyl into the United States, Ohio Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said the job of lawmakers isn’t finished yet.
While the measure signed Wednesday provides additional funding so agencies like Immigration and Customs and Enforcement can detect fentanyl shipments, Portman claims additional regulations are needed to force the United States Postal Service to require those shipments to contain information making them easier to spot. It’s something the commercial delivery firms already do.
“This is where we’ve had pushback from the Post Office. Postal Service is not interested in having this legislation pass because they say it will cost too much and son. We are saying we are happy to provide the funding. This is about life and death for the people we represent,” Portman said.
Portman says the synthetically-made fentanyl has now passed heroin as the leading cause of death in Ohio and much of it is imported from China.
Portman also is taking a hard stance on human trafficking. He said changes need to be made to existing federal law to clamp down on companies making money off of it…
(“Portman says laws need more work to fight human trafficking and fentanyl,” Gerry Ricciutti. Youngstown WKBN. January 11, 2018)