Rob Portman

Portman, Warner Introduce Legislation to Provide Regulatory Relief

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Bill would bring independent agencies under the same burden-reducing principles that apply to other regulators...

Portman Urges Governor Kasich to Aggressively Pursue All Options to Aid Ohio Communities Threatened by Abandoned Properties

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Urges State To Use "Hardest Hit" Funding To Cut Down On Urban Blight, Building On Legislative Effort Permanently Allowing States Access To Fund For Demolition...

Portman Meets with Cincinnati Tea Party Member Targeted by IRS

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Arranges For Binik-Thomas To Meet With Senate Finance Investigative Staff Looking Into IRS Targeting Today...

Portman Cosponsors the Responding to Urgent Needs of Survivors of the Holocaust (RUSH) Act

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) cosponsored the Responding to Urgent Needs of Survivors of the Holocaust (RUSH) Act. This legislation would designate Holocaust survivors under the definition of “greatest social need” in the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). This prioritizes services to some of the most vulnerable older Americans including ensuring that meals provided through the OAA can meet seniors’ special cultural and religious dietary needs and adding transportation services for vulnerable seniors in need of mobility and self-sufficiency to the list of OAA programs authorized for appropriations.

“Survivors of the Holocaust faced unimaginable suffering, and yet through it all and in the years that followed, they have lived lives of honor and grace. As they grow older, it is our responsibility to ensure their remaining years are matched with the dignity in which they have lived their lives,” Portman said.

The legislation was introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D–Maryland), Mark Kirk (R–Illinois), and Barbara Mikulski (D–Maryland).

Portman Statement on Announcement that U.S. & EU Have Launched Negotiations on Transatlantic Export Agreement

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), former United States Trade Representative, today issued the following statement on the announcement that the United States and European Union (EU) have launched negotiations on a Transatlantic export agreement:

“I welcome today’s announcement that the United States and European Union have launched negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Comprehensive negotiations represent the best opportunity for American workers and businesses to overcome the complicated regulatory barriers that inhibit further economic growth between the U.S. and EU. I also urge the Administration to proactively engage the Congress in Trade Promotion Authority discussions to ensure that any potential U.S.-EU agreement can be passed without delay.”

To underscore the Congressional support for comprehensive negotiations with the EU, Portman, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), and 15 colleagues sent a joint letter to the President in February calling for “elimination of unnecessary trade and regulatory barriers in all sectors, including difficult areas like agriculture and services.”

That letter followed a similar effort led by Portman and then-Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in 2012 to express the Senate’s strong support for negotiating a broad-based agreement with the EU. The 2012 letter was signed by Portman, Kerry, Nelson, and 17 of their colleagues.

Portsmouth Daily Times Highlights Portman's Efforts to Advance the American Centrifuge Project

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Rob Portman’s (R-Ohio) efforts to advance the American Centrifuge Project were highlighted by the Portsmouth Daily Times in an article this past weekend. Portman sent a letter to the new U.S. Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz, last week inviting him to tour the American Centrifuge Project (ACP) facility in Piketon, Ohio.

Excerpts of the article are included below. Full article can be found here.

Portman invites Secretary of DOE to tour ACP
Portsmouth Daily Times
Frank Lewis
June 15, 2013

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) Thursday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz inviting him to tour the American Centrifuge Project (ACP) facility in Piketon, the facility Portman refers to as, “the cornerstone to fulfilling our national security requirements for a domestic source of enriched uranium.”

In the letter, Portman thanks Moniz for expressing his commitment to coming up with a long-term solution to fund the project.

“I appreciated hearing your thoughts on the American Centrifuge Project (ACP) technology and your understanding of the necessity of having a domestic source of enriched uranium to meet our long-term national security needs,” Portman said in his correspondence.

In addition, Portman also expressed his disappointment that the Obama Administration has yet to reveal its long-term plans for ACP.

“As shared with you during our most recent meeting, I continue to be disappointed that after four years there has been no progress on a conditional loan guarantee for the ACP project, using the fund Congress has already approved,” Portman said.
…

Portman said he hopes to tour the site with Moniz and work through the important issues. He is also reaffirming the critical nature of the project.

“I strongly believe that ACP is too important to our nation’s national and energy security and too important to the economy of southern Ohio to allow this important project to fail,” Portman said.
…

During Moniz’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee nomination hearing in April, Moniz agreed with Portman that the United States must have the technology for a fully domestic source of enriched uranium to support the nation’s nuclear weapons program and the Navy nuclear reactors program, saying, “It’s a requirement that we have American origin technology for enrichment.”

Portman also discussed with Moniz the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant at Piketon. Moniz agreed to maintain the uranium barter program which has helped to pay for cleanup activities at the gaseous diffusion facility…

Portman and Cantwell Call for Expedited Trade Authority in Roll Call Op-Ed

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

"Now is the time for Congress to push forward and lead, giving American exporters — and American jobs — the edge in the global economy"...

Portman Presses Administration for More Decisive Action in Syria

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST

"We can no longer afford to stay on the sidelines."...

Portman Invites DOE Secretary Moniz to Tour ACP In Piketon, Ohio

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST

"I strongly believe that ACP is too important to our nation’s national and energy security and too important to the economy of southern Ohio to allow this important project to fail."...

International Trade Commission Rules In Favor Of Continued Trade Penalties on Imported Rebar Following Portman-Brown Push

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST

Order Ensures Level Playing Field For Ohio Companies, Such As Marion’s Nucor Steel and Cincinnati's David J. Joseph Company & Byer Steel Group, Who Face Illegally Undersold Competition From Dumping Of International Products In U.S. Markets...

Your Tax Dollars...Down The Drain: IRS spent $50 million on conferences over 3 years

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement in the first of a monthly series highlighting Washington’s wasteful spending during a time of record debt and deficits.

A new audit by the Treasury Department’s Inspector General discovered that the IRS spent nearly $50 million to hold at least 220 employee conferences between 2010 and 2012.

“The abusive overreach of IRS government workers unfairly targeting certain groups for their political beliefs has further weakened our trust and confidence in our government,” Portman said. “On top of this, we recently learned that the IRS also recklessly spent $50 million on elaborate employee conferences. Rather than throwing taxpayer dollars down the drain on expensive guest speakers, elaborate videos of staffers taking line dancing lessons, travel mugs, and lanyards – we should be investing in programs that work and getting rid of duplicative and wasteful programs that are driving up Washington’s spending and deficits and weighing down future generations.”

According to a new audit by the Treasury Department’s Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) spent almost $50 million on over 200 employee conferences held between 2010 and 2012. The audit outlined various exorbitant costs, including the IRS spending $4.1 million on a gathering in Anaheim, CA rather than using the money to hire new employees, as originally intended. Wonder how they racked up the bill? Look no further.

• The conference was organized by outside event planners that did not take advantage of government rate rooms.

• $17,000 was spent on a keynote speaker who charged a large fee to bring along 6 paintings of famous people – 2 were given away to IRS employees, 3 were donated to charity, and 1 was misplaced and never accounted for.

IRS Inspector General Report

• The IRS spent over $35,000 on travel just to plan for the conference.

• 45 local IRS employees, who did not need to travel and could have stayed at their homes, were paid over $30,000 in per diem costs to remain overnight at the hotel with the out-of-town IRS employees.

• Over $50,000 was spent on videos. While the IRS did not provide details on how this money was spent, two videos were leaked – one of employees learning how to dance the Cupid Shuffle on stage, and another of employees acting in a Star Trek spoof video.

• $64,000 was spent on gifts and promotional items, including “brief bags” with engraved with the conference logo, hard-covered spiral-journals also sporting the logo, “800 lanyards, 75 travel mugs, 75 picture frames/clocks,” engraved pens, and “give-away items from Oriental Trading.”

Portman, Brown, Manchin, Renacci and Gibbs Renew Push for Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and U.S. Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH-16) joined members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to renew their push for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act in advance of the Hall’s 50th anniversary in September.

Following the press conference, the bicameral group, along with cosponsors Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Congressman Bob Gibbs (R-OH-7), are hosting a reception to celebrate the Hall of Fame’s 50th Anniversary and to talk about this legislation with their colleagues in the House and Senate. The Hall of Famers will join the reception after engaging in a series of meetings across the Senate to garner support for the measure.

Members include Floyd Little, RB Denver Broncos (Syracuse University), HOF Class of 2010; Lynn Swann, WR Pittsburgh Steelers (University of Southern California), HOF Class of 2001; Kellen Winslow, Sr., TE San Diego Chargers (University of Missouri), HOF Class of 1995; and Steve Largent, WR Seattle Seahawks (University of Tulsa), HOF Class of 1995. Former Virginia Governor and Senator George Allen will also be on hand to represent his father, George Allen, Hall of Fame coach of the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins, HOF Class of 2002.

In February 2013, Portman and Manchin introduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate authorizing the U.S. Mint to create a commemorative coin in recognition of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. In April, Renacci and Gibbs, along with 12 other members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, introduced corresponding legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Canton, Ohio is the birthplace of professional football. And anybody who's visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, with its instantly recognizable shape and iconic Fawcett Stadium, leaves with a fond memory and a better sense of where the positive values of America's most popular sport came from," said Portman. “Values like teamwork, integrity, and determination are distinctly Ohioan and are promoted by the Hall of Fame. This bipartisan legislation commemorates this important work and will help set the Hall of Fame on course for the next 50 years - and does so at no cost to taxpayers.”

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is not only the pride of Canton, but another example of Ohio’s strong inventive history,” said Brown. “The Hall of Fame represents the highest level of achievement in our country’s most popular sport and for the 23 Browns and Bengals who grace its halls. A commemorative coin is the appropriate way to recognize the jobs, economic impact, and honor the Hall of Fame has brought to Canton, Northeast Ohio, and our state.”

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is very special to West Virginians,” said Manchin. “We have six Hall of Famers from our little state, including two who came from my very own hometown of Farmington. What you don’t hear about these Hall of Famers is that they contribute more than just what they have achieved on the field. They gave hope and inspiration to every kid who watched them on and off the field. Sports can give so much back to our communities, and this coin will help us support the legacy that the Hall of Fame preserves. The Pro Football Hall of Fame truly shows us that if you have a little bit of God-given talent and you have the determination to succeed, you can be anything that you want to be no matter what size town you come from.”

“After successfully spearheading the effort to get the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act through the House last year, I look forward to working with Senator Portman, Congressman Gibbs and the Hall to get the bill across the goal line and into the record books,” said Renacci. “Once passed, the Hall will be able to use the proceeds from this no-cost legislation to further their philanthropic ventures and to continue their quest to preserve America’s most popular sport.”

“I am proud to join my colleagues, Senator Portman and Congressman Renacci, in support of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act,” said Gibbs. “The Hall of Fame, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in September, is a central landmark within Ohio’s 7th District, and I am pleased to recognize the tradition and longtime contribution professional football has made to American culture. The commemorative coin will help fund programs to support the Hall of Fame’s efforts to preserve this important facet of American history.”

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame preserves football history and features the great legends of the game, including their motivational, real life stories,” said former Senator George Allen. “The Pro Football Hall of Fame is a museum of American history that passes to future generations the timeless values of football: success is earned from hard work, teamwork, preparation and accountability.”

“The Hall of Fame stands proudly in Canton, Ohio as a shining tribute to the men who have made professional football America’s most popular sport,” said George Veras, President and CEO of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises. “As the Hall nears its 50th Anniversary in September, we are grateful that Senators Portman, Brown, and Manchin, Congressmen Renacci and Gibbs, and their colleagues have taken up this legislation to honor the legacy of the Hall, and promote the rich history and positive values of the game of professional football.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame represents the best in professional football by honoring the individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport, preserving the history of the game, and promoting the positive values of the sport. Canton, Ohio is the proud birthplace of pro football, as the American Professional Football League, which later became the NFL, was founded there in 1920. The Buckeye State claims 23 Hall of Famers who played for the Bengals and Browns.

Portman and Manchin introduced the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act (S.3077) in the last Congress, along with 13 other Senate cosponsors. Renacci introduced corresponding legislation in the 112th Congress which passed the House of Representatives in August 2012.

Portman Statement on Motion to Proceed on Immigration

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

"The right reform is more important than simply getting something passed, and I am not able to support the legislation without stronger enforcement."...

Portman, Boustany Introduce Enrolled Agents Credential Act to Protect Taxpayers & Consumers

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Congressman Charles Boustany (R-LA-03) today introduced the Enrolled Agents Credential Act, legislation to ensure that individuals, families, and businesses across the country are able to identify and access trained specialists to assist them in filing their taxes. Enrolled Agents are tax specialists certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury (DOT) who have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Despite being an exclusively federal credential, some states prohibit Enrolled Agents from using their credential when representing taxpayers or advertising for potential clients. This bill would clarify that Enrolled Agents may use and display their credential when advertising their services and representing their clients.

“Our antiquated tax code is a burden on Ohio families and businesses and oftentimes requires them to seek professional assistance to pore over the complex paperwork,” said Portman. “This commonsense measure has no cost and will protect taxpayers and consumers by ensuring that those in need of help are able to receive quality care from qualified professionals.”

“Families and businesses in South Louisiana rely on tax professionals to navigate them through the federal government’s outdated and complex tax code,” said Boustany. “Allowing qualified professionals to highlight their credentials will not only lead to taxpayers being served more efficiently, it provides an added resource for Americans to utilize while paying taxes. Best of all, this legislation does not add one dime to the nation’s debt or deficit.”

“This bill is helpful because in the last year or so, the federal government has begun to promote the use of licensed tax return preparers like enrolled agents, CPAs and lawyers and it’s important that enrolled agents be able to use their credential to distinguish themselves from unlicensed preparers,” said David Rothstein, Project Director at Policy Matters Ohio. “We support any legislation that helps Ohio taxpayers have access to tax return preparers who have shown competency through testing and continuing education and are subject to a strict code of ethics. Far too many families in Ohio and across the country receive inadequate and sometimes predatory preparation.”

“Because of the complexity of the Internal Revenue Code and potential for abuse, Congress and the IRS should do everything they can to encourage the professionalization of the tax industry,” said Michael Fioritto, President of the Ohio State Society of Enrolled Agents. “By interfering with enrolled agents’ ability to advertise and brand themselves, a few states are hurting not only the enrolled agent profession but the consumers in those states who might utilize their services.”

“As America’s tax experts, enrolled agents represent millions of individual and small business taxpayers and are tested and licensed to practice by the Internal Revenue Service. NAEA is dedicated to helping enrolled agents maintain the highest level of knowledge, skills and professionalism in all areas of taxation, so that they may most effectively represent the needs of their clients,” said Betsey Buckingham, President of the National Association of Enrolled Agents. “The Enrolled Agent Credential Protection Act will ensure that enrolled agents around the country will be able to refer to themselves as enrolled agents and EAs.”

Unlike attorneys and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), who are state-licensed and may or may not choose to specialize in taxes, all enrolled agents specialize in taxation. To join America’s 47,000 enrolled agents, one must either pass a comprehensive tax code examination or have extensive experience interpreting the tax code as a former IRS employee. Enrolled Agents must also complete continuing education classes to stay current on tax changes.

Portman Statement on Senate Farm Bill Vote

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Senate Farm Bill:

"I had hoped to vote for this Farm Bill because I think there are some responsible reforms made to farm programs, such as dropping the outdated direct payments program, but more should have been done to trim back this $972 billion bill. Unfortunately, despite my efforts to improve the bill by supporting numerous amendments, the Senate refused to end the counter-cyclical payments program which can encourage farmers to base production decisions on federal subsidy levels rather than a crop’s market price. The bill retains the current USDA sugar program which has cost the country 127,000 jobs between 1997 and 2011.

"Finally, the Senate failed to appropriately scale back the SNAP entitlement program. Spending on the program has doubled and enrollment has increased by 70 percent under the Obama Administration as loopholes and an easement of asset and income considerations for participants have allowed the program to grow faster than economic conditions would have otherwise allowed. As a result, SNAP now represents 80 percent of the cost of the overall farm bill.

"It is my hope the House will attempt to address all of these issues and send back a more fiscally responsible bill I can support."

Portman Pushes For Answers from the VA Regarding the Loss of Over Half a Million Veteran Records in the Cleveland Regional Office

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

"…this incident only further exacerbates the frustration many veterans feel…"...

Portman, Brown Urge Commerce Department to Protect Ohio Curtain Wall Producers in Butler & Cuyahoga Counties

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

"It is critical we enforce our nation’s trade laws to prevent harm to American manufacturers and their hardworking employees."...

Portman Renews Push for Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, be sure to read the Associated Press story about U.S. Senator Rob Portman’s (R-Ohio) efforts on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act in advance of the Hall’s 50th anniversary in September.

In February 2013, Portman, along with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), introduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate authorizing the U.S. Mint to create a commemorative coin in recognition of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. In April, Renacci and Gibbs, along with 12 other members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, introduced corresponding legislation in the House of Representatives.

Excerpts of the article are included below. Full article can be found here.

NOTE: For more information regarding the press conference and reception, please contact the press office at (202) 224-5190 or portman_press@portman.senate.gov.

Ohio congressmen pushing football hall coin
Associated Press
June 9, 2013

CINCINNATI — Ohio's Republican U.S. senator and two of its House members will team up with all-time football stars to push for a commemorative coin to benefit the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sen. Rob Portman and GOP Reps. Bob Gibbs and Jim Renacci plan a press conference Tuesday in Washington with Hall of Fame players running back Floyd Little, wide receiver Lynn Swann, tight end Kellen Winslow Sr. and wide receiver Steve Largent.

Portman of Cincinnati and West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin introduced legislation earlier for the special U.S. mint coin. Proceeds after costs are covered would support the Hall of Fame in Canton as it plans to renovate and expand.
…

The Hall of Fame players plan to call on Senate members Tuesday to try to pick up more support, and Portman plans to host a reception with colleagues and the former players…

Weekly Column: Congress Must Protect Our Children

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

The rescue of three Cleveland women, found after being enslaved for years, left us asking how such a horrific incident could happen in our communities, right in our own backyard.

The troubling fact is that there’s a silent scourge sweeping our nation, where vulnerable children are exploited as a commodity and sexually trafficked. It’s easy and comfortable to think that sex trafficking only happens elsewhere, far away, but the truth is that exploitation of American children occurs every day in nearly every city and town across this country.

The stories of victims of sex trafficking are the headlines you don’t see on the nightly news. Children who are targeted are the most vulnerable in our society, often forgotten or disregarded by a system that was established to keep them safe. The void of vulnerability is created when children experience abuse or neglect, and it grows when they are displaced from family relationships where there is love and security. Even before they meet a trafficker, these factors place children in a dangerously vulnerable state.

Last November, I met Withelma “T” Ortiz and listened as she told her story, one that is all too common among victims of sex trafficking. T was born to parents who were drug addicts and was placed in the care of child welfare at a very young age. She was shuttled from foster home to foster home — 14 in all before she was 10 years old — often experiencing physical and sexual abuse.

Scared and alone, she was drawn to a man who promised the love and security she had never had. It was in this vulnerable place that a godsend boyfriend turned into a nightmare. T was forced to sell her body on the streets. Her day wouldn’t end until she made $1,000 for her trafficker. If she couldn’t meet that amount, she was beaten.

T’s experience is remarkable not because her sex trafficking story is unique, but because she was able to escape at 17. She now advocates for kids just like her who are forgotten and alone. It’s time for our government to join her in her fight.

Together with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), I introduced a bipartisan bill that will begin to break down the barriers to ending the sex trafficking of children.

First, we need to do a better job of keeping track of runaways and missing kids. Our bill requires that child welfare agencies immediately report a child missing to law enforcement for entry into the National Crime Information Center’s missing persons database of the FBI. We also require these agencies to notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children every time a child is reported missing from foster care family homes or childcare institutions.

We also must treat children who are exploited as victims, not as criminals. Under the current law, children who are trafficked by someone other than a family member are not eligible for child welfare services. Instead, they are funneled through the juvenile justice system. In many cases victims are locked up, adding to the trauma they’ve already experienced. Our bill breaks down this barrier to treatment by stating that children who are trafficked are victims of child abuse and eligible to receive treatment and care through the child welfare system.

Finally, we need to better understand the scope of sex trafficking in America. We need to streamline and enhance data collection on children who have been identified as victims of sex trafficking. States need to work to better coordinate with other agencies. And developing evidence-based policies at the federal, state and local level must be a priority.

Our bill addresses the lack of data on victims of sex trafficking by requiring that state agencies identify and document each child who is reported as being a victim of sex trafficking.

Additionally, our legislation encourages states to find solutions to address the needs of victims, including placements in stable housing, treatments for sexual trauma, and other measures to help them reach a full recovery.

For too long, we’ve treated sex trafficking as if it is a problem in other places, for other countries. But it is happening here, and it is happening now. We can no longer close our eyes to the suffering of the most vulnerable among us. Instead, we must do everything in our power to make sex trafficking of children a thing of the past. Our bill is the first step down the path to accomplishing that goal.

Portman Introduces Neighborhood Safety Act to Aid Communities Threatened by Abandoned Properties

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:01 EST

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today introduced the Neighborhood Safety Act, legislation that would allow municipalities and land banks to tap-into additional funds to demolish vacant structures, which pose a growing threat to the public safety and economic well-being of our communities. Ohio has nearly 100,000 vacant properties awaiting demolition, posing a significant risk to public safety and drastically decreasing the value of surrounding properties. Municipalities and local land banks have worked collaboratively to demolish vacant properties, but with municipal budgets already stretched, there is little money available to tackle this problem. A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Representatives David Joyce (R-OH-14), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11).

“The housing market still hasn’t recovered from its collapse in 2008 and the thousands of vacant properties throughout Ohio are stalling a much needed rebound,” said Portman. “Ohio’s communities have made some progress in demolishing abandoned properties, and this bill will provide them with needed additional resources to build upon those efforts.”

“Cities large and small are all struggling with the abandonment of housing that resulted from the Great Recession. Lima has sought every opportunity to attack this problem, but funding is essential to any strategy,” said David Berger, Mayor of the City of Lima. “Senator Portman’s bill will provide resources for a critical need facing our neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for many citizens who inhabit those neighborhoods.”

“There are 100,000 vacant, vandalized and never to be occupied again structures in Ohio,” said Rich Cochran, President and Chief Executive Officer, Western Reserve Land Conservancy. “Our ability to remove these structures is critical if we hope to rebuild neighborhoods and cities in Ohio.”

Vacant and blighted structures are a major public safety issue in large and small communities across our country. Tens of thousands of vacant homes dot the streets of our cities, and quickly become magnets for illicit activity including drug use, rape, gang activity and murder. Vacant structures also severely impact the housing values of other homes on that street. For neighboring homes that are still occupied, this can mean that up to 75 percent of their house value is lost due to near-by homes becoming vacant and quickly sending neighborhoods downhill.

For example, the City of Cleveland estimates that nearly 15,000 houses are vacant, and more than half of which are condemned and awaiting demolition. In the recent high-profile case involving three Cleveland-area women who were held captive for more than a decade, news outlets reported that the girls’ cries for help were not heard due to numerous abandoned homes on that street. Public data shows that kidnapping-suspect Ariel Castro’s home was nearly surrounded by vacant structures, with 4 of the 6 houses on his side of Seymour Avenue vacant.

This bill simply states that any amounts of assistance that have been allocated through the Hardest Hit Fund program may be used to demolish blighted structures. Over $7 billion of Hardest Hit Funds have been appropriated, but are not presently allowed to be used for demolition in states such as Ohio. States that experienced the sharpest decline in home prices during the economic downturn received these funds to help struggling homeowners refinance.