This week, Senator Portman spoke on the Senate floor highlighting the sixth-month anniversary of tax reform. Portman has visited nearly two dozen businesses across Ohio that have benefitted from the new tax code by creating more jobs, raising wages, expanding benefits, and reinvesting in their workers. In addition, Portman supported passage of the Senate’s Farm Bill, which passed by bipartisan margin of 86-11. At a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Portman expressed his concern over the rising cost of some naloxone drugs, and pressed HHS Secretary Alex Azar to increase transparency of the CMS drug pricing dashboard. In addition, he questioned the HHS Secretary on the status of the Joint Concept of Operations between HHS and the DHS that will govern how the two agencies coordinate their efforts to protect unaccompanied minors from human trafficking and abuse.  Portman announced that the Senate’s first appropriations measure included a number of his key priorities, including to fully fund cleanup at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. Lastly, Portman introduced legislation with his bipartisan colleagues called the Restore Our Parks Act, consensus legislation that would address the nearly $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at the National Park Service (NPS). 

For a more detailed look at Senator Portman’s week, please see the following: 

Monday, June 25 

Portman Op-Ed in The Toledo Blade: “The STOP Act Will Help Push Back Against the Rise of Fentanyl” 

The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities in Ohio and throughout the United States. Fentanyl, a synthetic drug that is 50 times more potent than heroin, has now emerged as the leading cause of death in this epidemic. Unbelievably, fentanyl is mostly shipped from countries like China to drug traffickers here in the U.S. through the United States Postal Service. 

Senator Portman’s Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act is designed to help combat addiction on the front end by giving law enforcement the tools to identify and stop dangerous synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through the Postal Service to drug traffickers here in the United States. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed the House version of the STOP Act in an overwhelming bipartisan vote, and the Senate Finance Committee agreed to move the legislation through committee so the full Senate can vote on the bill and send it to the president’s desk. 

In a Toledo Blade op-ed Portman wrote: “People are desperate for solutions to this opioid crisis overtaking our communities. Addressing the overwhelming supply of these synthetic drugs is perhaps the most pressing challenge before us, and the STOP Act will make a real difference in keeping more of the deadliest drugs in this epidemic out of our country.” 

Excerpts of the op-ed can be found here and the full op-ed can be found at this link.   

Portman Praises Senate Passage of Funding Bill that Supports Ohio Priorities

Bill Includes Key Portman Priorities to Combat Opioid Abuse, Support Ohio’s Defense Installations, Ensure Cleanup at Piketon & Protect Lake Erie

Portman praised Senate passage of the FY 2019 Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, which will provide funding for various programs to benefit our men and women in uniform, address our energy and water infrastructure needs, and fund needed improvements and innovations at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve care for our veterans.  After the Senate passed the bill on an overwhelming bipartisan basis, Portman issued the following statement:

“This bill will benefit Ohio, and I’m pleased that the Senate worked together to pass it on a bipartisan basis.  It includes a number of my key priorities, including providing additional funding to combat opioid abuse at the VA, support Ohio’s defense installations, ensure cleanup at Piketon, and protect Lake Erie.  I am proud that we continue to deliver results for Ohio and I look forward to the president signing this bill into law in the coming weeks.” 

Portman Announces Funding for Wright Patterson Air Force Base’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center 

Portman announced that the FY 2019 Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act that passed the Senate includes $116.1 million in funding for 2019 to upgrade the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) located at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Portman had urged the Armed Services Committee’s leadership to authorize the funding. NASIC’s main campus facilities are overcrowded and require modernization to meet today’s missions. With significant total force growth that has outpaced their facility growth, NASIC has been forced to utilize antiquated World War II era facilities on base and temporary structures. This investment in NASIC infrastructure will provide the command with much-needed secure spaces that meet the demands of the growing workforce and the associated information technology requirements of modern facilities. Portman released the following statement: 

“I am pleased the Senate funding bill supports the mission of NASIC and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by providing $116.1 million for 2019 to start the necessary facility upgrades so that they can continue their important work. I look forward to the president signing this funding into law as these new facilities are critical for NASIC to fulfill its increasingly important intelligence analysis mission for our Air Force and national policymakers.” 

Portman Secures Funds for Cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Senate Funding Bill 

Portman announced that the FY 2019 Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, which passed, includes $30 million above the FY 2018 bipartisan funding agreement and $60 million above the president’s budget request to fully fund cleanup at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. This includes $366.9 million for decontamination and decommissioning of the plant and $41 million for the onsite disposal cell. This funding is needed to maintain current employment levels for the decontamination and decommissioning work. An additional $30 million was needed in order to fully fund the cleanup after Energy Secretary Rick Perry announced last spring that he would suspend the Department of Energy’s uranium barter program. Earlier this year, Portman announced that he secured a commitment from DOE to clean up the existing landfills and plumes at the plant. Portman issued the following statement: 

“The cleanup and redevelopment of Piketon is critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of Southern Ohio, and I’m pleased to announce this funding today. I’m committed to ensuring there are sufficient resources for the cleanup work at Portsmouth and am pleased that Secretary Perry is committed to supporting long term, stable funding for Piketon.  I want to thank Secretary Perry for keeping his commitments thus far, including visiting the site with me last fall, committing to its cleanup, and reconsidering the Obama administration’s decision to end the domestic uranium enrichment demonstration program.  I will continue to work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure this site gets cleaned up and ready for redevelopment.” 

Portman Announces Funding for Camp Ravenna – $7.4 Million for New Machine Gun Range Included in Senate Funding Bill 

Portman announced that the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, includes $7.4 million to expand training capabilities at the Ohio National Guard’s Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center with a new automated machine gun range. This funding announcement follows the authorization Portman requested in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for this investment in Camp Ravenna. Portman released the following statement: 

“I am pleased to announce this funding, which will help our National Guard units training at Camp Ravenna. A new automated multi-purpose machine gun range will give the Ohio Army National Guard an important, new, and much-needed training capability. It will provide our soldiers a realistic environment to meet their training requirements that currently is not available to them in the state of Ohio. As our men and women in uniform face dangerous threats around the world, it is important they have the training, equipment, and facilities they need to confront them. I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law so these resources can head to Camp Ravenna soon.” 

Portman, Brown Secure Language to Protect Lake Erie from Toxic Dredging in Senate Spending Bill 

Senators Portman and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and announced language in the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, which passed the Senate by an overwhelming bipartisan margin, to prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers from dumping toxic material dredged from the Cuyahoga River shipping channel into Lake Erie without the approval from the State of Ohio. The bill must now be reconciled with the House bill before becoming law. Portman and Brown will keep fighting for the language as the process moves forward.  

Together, Portman and Brown have fought to hold the Corps to its obligation to dredge the channel, which is critical to local jobs and businesses along Lake Erie. 

“The Cleveland Harbor project is vital to all of Ohio and we must ensure that the dredged material is not inappropriately disposed of by dumping it in Lake Erie without approval by the Ohio EPA,” said Portman. “I will continue use every tool available to make sure both the City of Cleveland’s water supply and Lake Erie’s ecosystem is protected.” 

Portman and Brown have urged the Corps honor its obligation to dredge the Cuyahoga River shipping channel to protect the thousands of jobs that rely on the Port of Cleveland. Legislation they co-authored to keep toxic dredged material from the Cuyahoga River out of Lake Erie was signed into law in December 2016. 

Tuesday, June 26 

At Senate Finance Committee Hearing, Portman Presses HHS Secretary on Drug Pricing Transparency & Efforts to Protect Unaccompanied Minors 

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Portman expressed his concern over the rising cost of some naloxone drugs, and pressed Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to increase transparency of the CMS drug pricing dashboard.

 In addition, he questioned the HHS Secretary on the status of the Joint Concept of Operations between HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that will govern how the two agencies coordinate their efforts to protect unaccompanied minors from human trafficking and abuse. The JCO originally was due on February 22, 2017.  After a Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing in April, the agencies committed to finalizing the JCO by July 30, 2018.  

The subcommittee had previously found in 2016 that HHS had failed to establish procedures to protect UACs, such as conducting sufficient background checks on sponsors and following up with sponsors and UACs to ensure UACs’ welfare.  

A transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. 

Portman, Blumenthal Urge DOD to Support Ukrainian Medical Professionals Caring for Wounded Ukrainian Soldiers

Portman, co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), member of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide funding for education and training for Ukrainian healthcare specialists so that they can provide continuing care and rehabilitation services for wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

“We urge you to prepare Ukraine’s medical professionals to address the unique needs of Ukraine’s soldiers as they transition to their civilian lives, both as a force multiplier and a demonstration of the United States’ commitment to support Ukraine as it defend its sovereignty. Improving Ukraine’s capability and capacity to care for wounded soldiers supports the country’s democratic trajectory and aligns with U.S. geopolitical interests in the region. Likewise, it sends a strong signal to Russia that the United States is willing to pursue all options to ensure Ukraine’s success and stability,” Portman and Blumenthal wrote in the letter to Secretary Mattis.

Russia’s persistent military aggression in Ukraine continues to inflict grievous injuries on Ukrainian soldiers – many of whom have combat-related injuries and illnesses that require long-term care. Portman and Blumenthal have been vocal advocates for improving access to care for Ukrainian soldiers, having previously secured a provision in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act that created a new funding authority for the treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers at DoD military treatment facilities. Portman and Blumenthal have also led calls to condemn Russia’s aggression in eastern Ukraine and to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity.

Portman and Blumenthal continue, “Ukrainian soldiers will not only have the capability to succeed on the battlefield against Russia, but when they transition out of military service, they will receive the quality care and treatment needed to succeed in their civilian lives.”

Since the conflict began in 2014, tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers now require treatment for conditions they developed in combat. Ukraine’s Chief Military prosecutor, Anatoliy Matios, recently reported that more than 500 Ukrainian soldiers who fought in Donbas committed suicide – an equivalent of two to three soldiers taking their lives each week since the start of the conflict.

The full text of the letter is here.

At Foreign Relations Hearing, Portman Highlights Need to Coordinate With Allies to Screen Chinese & Russian Investments, Maintain Unity on Russia Sanctions, Support Ukraine 

Portman, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned Wess Mitchell, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs about the need to develop and coordinate U.S.-European efforts to screen Chinese and Russian investments in Europe to prevent adversaries from using commercial tools to undermine shared national security interests, a key topic Portman discussed during a visit to Central and Eastern Europe earlier this year. He also praised the steps the Trump administration has taken to provide critical military assistance to Ukraine and support Ukrainian efforts to defend itself from Russian aggression. However, when discussing the likely summit between Russia and the United States, he also stressed that in any future summit between Russia and the United States, no decisions affecting the fate of Ukraine or the final settlement of the conflict should occur without Ukraine having a seat at the table. 

A transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here.

Portman, Senate CTE Caucus Support Bill to Strengthen Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century

The Senate HELP Committee voted to approve the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Important components of the bill include better alignment with workforce needs and preserving accountability measures designed by states and localities. The bill passed unanimously out of the HELP Committee by voice vote. 

This legislation includes Portman’s Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce Act as well as provisions related to a number of different bills sponsored and introduced by members of the CTE caucus including the SHOP CLASS Act, the SUCCESS Act, and the Perkins Fund for Equity and Excellence. Senator Portman joins fellow Senate CTE Caucus members, Senator Todd Young (R-IN) Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), in celebrating this vote.

“When I travel Ohio, employers of all sizes stress the urgent need to bridge the skills gap,” said Senator Portman. “Ohioans should have the chance to acquire the training needed for today’s jobs, and this legislation ensures that is possible, regardless of economic standing. I’m also pleased that this legislation includes my Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which will improve the quality of CTE programs so kids get a better education using the equipment and the standards of today’s industry. This legislation also includes important accountability information for our most vulnerable students on how well CTE programs are performing so we can ensure quality information and access to programs that meet the needs of students and parents. I want to thank Chairman Alexander and my colleagues in the Senate CTE Caucus for leading on this issue.”

At Senate Energy Committee Hearing, DOE Nominee Commits to Portman to Work on Bipartisan Energy Efficiency Reforms 

At a Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hearing, Portman highlighted his bipartisan energy efficiency legislation that he introduced with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, and secured a commitment from the nominee for Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at Department of Energy (DOE), Daniel Simmons, to working with the Senate to advance bipartisan energy efficiency reforms. 

A transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. 

Wednesday, June 27 

On Bloomberg, Portman Discusses Trade, Need to Provide Level Playing Field for American Workers 

In an interview with Bloomberg’s Daybreak this morning, Senator Portman discussed trade and steps the administration and Congress can take to ensure reciprocity with our trade partners. Portman agreed with President Trump’s call to reform the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to screen Chinese and Russian investments in Europe to prevent adversaries from using commercial tools to undermine shared national security interests. He voiced his optimism that CFIUS reform would pass in Congress. Portman also cautioned against the misuse of trade tools like Section 232 and urged that it should only be used in a targeted way as a national security tool.                                                                           

Excerpts of his interview can be found here and a video can be found here. 

Portman Delivers Opening Remarks at Permitting Roundtable, Highlights News that Permitting Council Has Already Saved $1 Billion in Infrastructure Project Costs 

Senators Portman and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) held a public roundtable titled “FAST-41 and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council: Progress to Date and Next Steps.” Roundtable participants discussed implementation of Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015 (FAST-41) and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s progress to date in streamlining federal permitting for infrastructure projects. Senators Portman and McCaskill have introduced new legislation – the Federal Permitting Reform and Jobs Act (S. 3017) – to build on the Permitting Council’s successes to date.  The bill would eliminate the current seven-year sunset on FAST-41, allow the Permitting Council to assist more projects, and encourage permitting agencies to complete the permitting process within two years. Portman delivered opening remarks to start off the roundtable discussion. 

Portman’s opening remarks can be found here and you can watch his full opening statement here. 

Portman Statement on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy 

Portman released the following statement regarding Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s announcement that he will retire on July 31, 2018.

 “I’m grateful for Justice Kennedy’s many years of service on the Supreme Court and wish him well in his retirement. I look forward to learning who President Trump plans to nominate and thoroughly assessing his or her qualifications for this important role. The job of a Supreme Court justice is to fairly and impartially apply the law and to protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, not to advance public policy goals by legislating from the bench. The president and Congress must now work together to do the important work of putting a highly qualified person in place who understands this role.”

Portman, McCaskill Welcome News that Federal Permitting Council Has Already Saved $1 Billion in Infrastructure Project Costs 

Senators Portman and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) welcomed news that the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council has already saved $1 billion in infrastructure project costs since it was created in 2015 as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41).  The news was announced at a public roundtable held to highlight the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s progress to date in streamlining federal permitting for infrastructure projects. Senators Portman and McCaskill have introduced new legislation – the Federal Permitting Reform and Jobs Act (S. 3017) – to build on the Permitting Council’s successes to date.  The bill would eliminate the current seven-year sunset on FAST-41, allow the Permitting Council to assist more projects, and encourage permitting agencies to complete the permitting process within two years. 

“When we came up with this idea, we hoped it would save both project sponsors and our government time and money,” said Portman.  “Based on the Council’s testimony today that it has saved $1 billion in infrastructure project costs, I think it is safe to say that the Permitting Council has significantly exceeded our expectations.  These cost savings show the Council is fulfilling its mission admirably.  I thank the Council for their hard work to date and look forward to continuing our work together to streamline the permitting process and ensure we expedite critical infrastructure projects around the country.”   

Portman Statement on FDA Opioid Summit With Internet Stakeholders 

Portman issued the following statement on the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) opioid summit with internet stakeholders led by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb: 

“Everyone has a role to play in helping to combat the opioid crisis in America, and I hope that tech companies take our recent PSI report seriously. Locating illicit opioids online should not be as simple as a google search of ‘fentanyl for sale,’ which is what our report found.  I agree with Commissioner Gottlieb that tech companies must do more to properly police their platforms and ensure they are not being exploited for nefarious purposes.” 

Thursday, June 28 

On Senate Floor, Portman Highlights the Benefits of Tax Reform After Six Months & Urges Senate to Continue Work Combatting Opioid Crisis to Grow Workforce 

Portman spoke on the Senate floor highlighting the sixth-month anniversary of tax reform. Portman has visited nearly two dozen businesses across Ohio that have benefitted from the new tax code and either created more jobs, increased wages, expanded benefits or reinvested in their businesses as a result. Many have done a combination of these things.

 Portman also urged the Senate to continue its efforts to combat the opioid crisis, calling on the chamber to pass his bipartisan Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act – which gives law enforcement the tools they need to help identify and stop synthetic opioids from being shipped into the U.S. The measure recently passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 353-52. 

A full transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here.

 At Committee Hearing, Portman Questions IRS Commissioner Nominee, Discusses Need to Protect Taxpayer Rights 

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Portman questioned the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner nominee, Mr. Charles Rettig, about his commitment to improve the IRS’s accessibility for American taxpayers and his views on the IRS Oversight Board. 

A transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here. 

Portman, Brown Secure Bipartisan Amendment in Farm Bill for Central State University in Wilberforce 

Senators Portman and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) secured an amendment to the Senate Farm Bill for Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. For more than 100 years, Central State University was denied 1890 Land Grant status, meaning it was ineligible for funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its innovative scientific research. Portman and Brown, along with Reps. Fudge, Beatty, and Turner, helped correct that injustice in the last Farm Bill in 2014 by ensuring Central State received land grant status. 

Now, the Senators have secured in this year’s Senate Farm Bill an amendment that would increase the amount of funding for schools with 1890 Land Grant Status to ensure that Central State will now be able to receive equitable funding from USDA, while not jeopardizing the funding of any other schools. 

“Central State University serves an important role in food and ag research and development in Wilberforce and throughout Ohio,” said Portman. “Central State deserves to be treated in the same way as other historically black colleges when it comes to accessing federal funding under the Farm Bill, and I was pleased this important amendment was included.”  

Portman Praises Senate Passage of the Farm Bill 

Portman voted to pass the Senate’s Farm Bill.  The measure passed by bipartisan margin of 86-11.  The House passed its version on June 21.  The two measures will now be reconciled before a final version is sent to the president for his signature.  

 “Agriculture is one of Ohio’s most important industries, contributing more than $100 billion to our economy and putting food on the table not only for thousands of Ohio workers, but people around the world,” said Senator Portman. “This Farm Bill will help provide Ohio’s farmers with the certainty and predictability that they deserve and it will promote economic development and more jobs in our rural communities.  I’m pleased the Senate passed two of my amendments to promote rural broadband services and ensure that Central State University in Wilberforce has access to federal funding under the Farm Bill like other 1890 land-grant institutions.

 “This Farm Bill reauthorizes several programs to expand broadband access and improve infrastructure in our rural communities,” Portman continued. “Improving access to broadband, upgrading water infrastructure, and implementing cost-effective energy efficiency measures are important priorities of mine, and this bill will help create jobs and spur economic development in rural communities throughout Ohio.  The bill also helps keep Lake Erie clean and our drinking water safe by maintaining funding for conservation programs, which help farmers implement best management practices on their farms and reduce nutrient runoff into waters like Lake Erie. Finally, this bill prioritizes funding for addiction treatment for rural areas, another important step forward in our effort to help combat the opioid crisis facing our country.  I am proud to stand with Ohio’s farmers and will continue my work to support them and our agriculture industry.” 

Friday, June 29

Portman, Warner, Alexander, King Introduce Consensus Legislation to Address National Park Service Maintenance Backlog 

U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Restore Our Parks Act, bipartisan legislation that would address the nearly $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at the National Park Service (NPS). The consensus proposal is the product of bipartisan discussions among the senators who had previously introduced similar bills, the National Park Service Legacy Act (Warner/Portman) and the National Park Restoration Act (Alexander/King). In addition to these four members, Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) are cosponsors of the bill.  This consensus legislation has been praised by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Pew Charitable Trusts’ restore America’s parks campaign, and the Outdoor Industry Association. 

“For more than a century, the National Park Service has been inspiring Americans to explore the natural beauty of our country,” Portman said. “But in order to keep that work going, we need to ensure that they have the right resources to maintain our national parks. This bill will create the Legacy Restoration Fund to provide the National Park Service with funds for deferred maintenance projects. This legislation will help tackle the nearly $75 million in maintenance backlog at Ohio’s eight national parks and will ensure the National Park Service can continue preserving American treasures like Cuyahoga Valley National Park.”

On Social Media

Ohio's U.S. Senators question HHS Secretary on immigrant child separation policies

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was supposed to discuss rising prescription drug costs on Tuesday with members of the Senate Finance Committee.

While he was there, members of the U.S. Senate took the opportunity to grill him about the Trump administration's handling of the more than 2,300 children of immigrants who were separated from their parents at the U.S. border and turned over to HHS.

Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman, who probed HHS' handling of unaccompanied children who enter the United States after human traffickers forced eight Guatemalan teenagers to work on Ohio egg farms, told Azar it was a "bad idea" to add children separated from their families to that mix. He commended President Donald Trump for last week's executive order changing that approach and asked Azar who's responsible for the children after they leave government custody.

"My concern is nobody is responsible," Portman said.

Azar told him that HHS has an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to vet the relatives or foster families that children are placed with. He said screening has improved since the children were discovered working at the egg farms, and children are well cared for in HHS custody. Once children are placed with sponsors, they're no longer subject to federal jurisdiction and are subject to state and local child welfare laws.

Portman noted that HHS hadn't notified authorities in Ohio about the Guatemalan children's placement, and said he is hopeful HHS and DHS will give him a plan in July to better monitor children's whereabouts and welfare.

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown questioned Azar about reports that children separated from their parents were being prevented from comforting each other at the facilities where they're being held. He called the Trump administration's policy "shameful" and "troubling."

Azar told him that there are no restrictions on comforting "tender-aged children" apart from any restrictions that state law might impose on the child care facilities where the children are being housed.

"These charities, I cannot tell you how seriously they take their mission to take care of these children," Azar told him. "It is actually inspiring."

"I wish the administration of which you're a part took equal care in caring for our children," Brown replied.

Azar told the committee that the number of children in HHS custody who were separated from their parents is down to 2,047 as children are being reunited with parents or other relatives. There are roughly 12,000 unaccompanied children under HHS supervision, he said, including infants who were left at the U.S. border.

He said that his agency works to confirm the children's parentage, and vet all placements to ensure that kids end up with actual relatives instead of human traffickers, as happened to the children at the egg farms.

He said a court order bars children from remaining for more than 20 days with their parents who are custody, and that's preventing HHS from reuniting children with their families. He called on Congress to change the law.

"If the parents didn't bring them across illegally, this would never happen," he said. "If Congress will get rid of the 20-day ban on family unification, we will act so quickly to get those kids back together with their parents."

(Ohio's U.S. Senators question HHS Secretary on immigrant child separation policies. Sabrina Eaton. Cleveland Plain Dealer. June, 26, 2018.)

22 pounds of fentanyl seized by federal agents in Columbus 

Federal agents raided an East Side residence on Friday, resulting in the arrest of four people for trafficking and netting one of area’s largest seizures of fentanyl at 22 pounds.

The men made their initial appearance Monday in U.S. District Court on federal charges of a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. They are: Tomas Sandoval, Alvaro Gasca-Cardoso, Salatiel Ramos-Rajos and Alexis Zazueta-Soto.

The Drug Enforcement Administration along with a task force of officers from state and local police departments had been tracking this large-scale drug trafficking operation, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman for the Southern District of Ohio.

A key to the case was when federal DEA agents and law enforcement officers on Friday descended on a residence on South Napoleon Avenue.

The search yielded 22 pounds of fentanyl, 10 ounces of heroin and 2.2 pounds of methamphetamine.

The amount of fentanyl seized on Friday is about five times the 4 1/2 pounds of fentanyl recovered from the trunk of a car at a hotel parking lot on Olentangy River Road last Oct. 25, which resulted in the arrest of three people. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said then that the amount of fentanyl had the potential to kill a large number of people in Columbus.

Exposure to only two or three milligrams of fentanyl can result in a fatal overdose.Earlier this month, four people were federally charged when 20 pounds of fentanyl was seized in the Clark County community of New Carlisle.

Fentanyl is a man-made painkilling drug that’s similar to heroin, but is considered 50 times more potent. The drug is typically used to treat cancer patients. Because fentanyl is relatively cheap, dealers mix the drug with heroin. A number of people who have died from overdoses have used heroin mixed with fentanyl. 

(22 pounds of fentanyl seized by federal agents in Columbus. Jim Woods. Columbus Dispatch. June 25, 2018.) 

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