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Congressional Report: March 18-March -24, 2018

Congressional Report: March 18-March -24, 2018

Representative Turner

Major Vote

None.

Other Activity

March 19: Turner issued a statement supporting a change to a law that prevents Medicaid from paying for care at certain treatment facilities with more than 16 beds, including facilities with incarcerated patients. He said incarcerated individuals need the treatment the most, and the TREAT Act would address that. (Turner.house.gov)

 

Senator Portman

Major Votes

None

Other Activity

March 19: Portman and others sent a letter to Senate leadership urging inclusion of the Retirement Security Preservation Act in the FY 2018 budget. It was noted that if congress does not fix the issue, approx. 200,000 Americans could lose their pension benefits. Sen Brown co-chairs the house/senate committee formed to solve the crisis. (Portman and Brown senate.gov sites)

March 20: Portman voted yea (to table vote) to direct the removal of US Armed Forces from hostilities in Yemen, which has turned into a massive humanitarian crisis. Brown voted to nay, to not table it. (votesmart.org) The senate ultimately voted to table it, 55-44.

March 22: Portman and Brown both announced on their senate.gov sites the FY 2018 appropriations bill includes full funding of $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration initiative, which the Trump administration had originally proposed

Senator Brown

Major Votes

None

Other Activity

March 21: Brown held a news conference discussing his work with Trump Administration for World Trade Organization reform. Brown has been advocating for a crackdown on unfair steel imports that have hurt the US steel sector. He called for a long term strategy to reset the US trade imbalance with China. He also called for a review of some foreign investments to determine if they are in the economic interest of the US, and not foreign governments.

March 21: Brown announced Ohio will be among the first in line to receive opioid funding secured in the omnibus spending package released today. The package also includes $65 million to fund opioid detection devices and equipment called for in Brown’s INTERDICT Act, which President Trump signed into law earlier this year. The devices will help Customs and Border Agents detect and stop dangerous drugs like fentanyl before they enter the U.S.

March 22: Portman and Brown both announced on their senate.gov sites the FY 2018 appropriations bill includes full funding of $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration initiative, which the Trump administration had originally proposed