January 03, 2013
Senator Rob Portman Joins Senate Finance Committee and Republican Whip Team in 113th Congress
Continues to Serve on Senate Budget, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, & Energy and Natural Resources Committees
Washington, D.C. – Today, as the 113th Congress begins, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) announced that he will be joining the Senate Finance Committee as he continues to serve on the Senate Budget, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Energy and Natural Resources Committees. Since 1981, no Republican Senator has joined the Senate Finance Committee more quickly than Portman. In addition, Portman announced that Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the incoming Senate Minority Whip, has asked him to continue serving on the Whip team as a Deputy Whip.
“The Finance Committee is the place where I think I can help Ohio and my constituents most. The big issues that must be addressed to avoid a fiscal crisis all run through the Committee, and I look forward to being in the middle of efforts to both grow the economy and address the out of control spending. This means we must reform and preserve our vital yet unsustainable entitlement programs, modernize and simplify an out of date tax code, and substantially increase our exports by opening new markets for American workers, farmers, and service providers," stated Portman. "The Senate Finance Committee will be at the center of each of these debates, and I'm looking forward to using the experience gained on the House Ways & Means Committee, and as the U.S. Trade Representative and Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to ensure we do what is needed to truly turn the economy around and avoid a fiscal crisis.”
Portman added, “I’m also pleased to continue as a Deputy Whip and plan to use this important role to get our economy back on track and encourage job creation.”
“I want to thank Senator Portman for stepping up to help lead our caucus in the 113th Congress as a part of our Whip team,” said Cornyn. “With Senator Portman’s help, Senate Republicans will continue to lead the charge for a conservative agenda that will grow the economy and create jobs while putting our nation on a path towards fiscal prosperity.”
After less than two years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Portman was honored to be chosen to serve on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, serving on the Committee until leaving the House in 2005. He was one of the most junior Members ever to be named to this panel, which has jurisdiction over key national policies, including federal tax laws, international trade, and health care and welfare reform.
Also during his time in the House, Portman served, with then-Senator Bob Kerrey, as Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service, a bipartisan panel of experts charged with thoroughly examining the management and practices of the IRS and developing ways to improve its efficiency and quality of service.
In 2005, Portman left the House when he was asked to serve as the United States Trade Representative, the Cabinet-level official responsible for negotiating, implementing, and enforcing U.S. trade policy. In his year on the job, Portman was successful in reducing barriers to U.S. exports and increasing enforcement of trade laws. He worked with Congress to pass the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and played a leading role in the negotiations regarding the Panama, Korea, and Colombia export agreements, helping level the playing field for American farmers, workers, and service providers. Under his leadership, American exports increased and the U.S. brought successful legal challenges against international trade law violations. Portman also initiated the first successful World Trade Organization case against China, which protected Ohio auto workers from illegal trade practices.
Following his accomplishments as Trade Representative, Portman was asked to serve in another Cabinet post, this time as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. A deficit hawk, Portman made his mark by proposing a balanced budget, fighting irresponsible earmarks, and putting in place new transparency measures for all federal spending.
During his first two years in the U.S. Senate, Portman has been a leading advocate for deficit-neutral corporate tax reform and has worked with Republican Leadership and Finance Committee members on finding a way forward for export agreements.
“The Finance Committee is the place where I think I can help Ohio and my constituents most. The big issues that must be addressed to avoid a fiscal crisis all run through the Committee, and I look forward to being in the middle of efforts to both grow the economy and address the out of control spending. This means we must reform and preserve our vital yet unsustainable entitlement programs, modernize and simplify an out of date tax code, and substantially increase our exports by opening new markets for American workers, farmers, and service providers," stated Portman. "The Senate Finance Committee will be at the center of each of these debates, and I'm looking forward to using the experience gained on the House Ways & Means Committee, and as the U.S. Trade Representative and Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to ensure we do what is needed to truly turn the economy around and avoid a fiscal crisis.”
Portman added, “I’m also pleased to continue as a Deputy Whip and plan to use this important role to get our economy back on track and encourage job creation.”
“I want to thank Senator Portman for stepping up to help lead our caucus in the 113th Congress as a part of our Whip team,” said Cornyn. “With Senator Portman’s help, Senate Republicans will continue to lead the charge for a conservative agenda that will grow the economy and create jobs while putting our nation on a path towards fiscal prosperity.”
After less than two years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Portman was honored to be chosen to serve on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, serving on the Committee until leaving the House in 2005. He was one of the most junior Members ever to be named to this panel, which has jurisdiction over key national policies, including federal tax laws, international trade, and health care and welfare reform.
Also during his time in the House, Portman served, with then-Senator Bob Kerrey, as Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service, a bipartisan panel of experts charged with thoroughly examining the management and practices of the IRS and developing ways to improve its efficiency and quality of service.
In 2005, Portman left the House when he was asked to serve as the United States Trade Representative, the Cabinet-level official responsible for negotiating, implementing, and enforcing U.S. trade policy. In his year on the job, Portman was successful in reducing barriers to U.S. exports and increasing enforcement of trade laws. He worked with Congress to pass the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and played a leading role in the negotiations regarding the Panama, Korea, and Colombia export agreements, helping level the playing field for American farmers, workers, and service providers. Under his leadership, American exports increased and the U.S. brought successful legal challenges against international trade law violations. Portman also initiated the first successful World Trade Organization case against China, which protected Ohio auto workers from illegal trade practices.
Following his accomplishments as Trade Representative, Portman was asked to serve in another Cabinet post, this time as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. A deficit hawk, Portman made his mark by proposing a balanced budget, fighting irresponsible earmarks, and putting in place new transparency measures for all federal spending.
During his first two years in the U.S. Senate, Portman has been a leading advocate for deficit-neutral corporate tax reform and has worked with Republican Leadership and Finance Committee members on finding a way forward for export agreements.
