Columns

EDITOR’S NOTE: This editorial first appeared in Barron’s.  While the main focus of Congress right now is and should be addressing the unprecedented coronavirus health and economic crisis, we must continue to look to address problems looming on the horizon. One of those looming crises involves our multiemployer pension system that, without reform, will result […]

CINCINNATI – This week the CDC released preliminary data from 2019 which shows that there were 70,980 reported deaths from overdoses in 2019, surpassing the peak of 70,699 deaths in 2017. U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) released the following statement: “The troubling CDC data ought to serve as a wake-up call for all of us. […]

At this time of year, thousands of Ohio students would normally be walking across stages in auditoriums, gyms and arenas to proudly accept their high school, college, or graduate school diplomas. With graduations canceled this year, students and their teachers, friends, and families will miss the chance to celebrate together. I will, too. I was […]

As the coronavirus pandemic has gripped the world, it seems as though every aspect of life before this crisis has been put on hold. Schools are closed, church pews are empty, and businesses have shuttered. Yet even in this unprecedented time, we cannot forget about the many concerns we had before the pandemic. For over […]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This Op/Ed from U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) first appeared on March 6 at RealClearPolitics. The United States is home to the best universities and research institutes in the world. The work being done in labs and classrooms across the country facilitates life-saving medical advances, bolsters our national security and profoundly changes the […]

Between the new United States-Mexico-Canada agreement and a substantial Phase One trade agreement with China, 2020 has already been an outstanding year for American trade. However, further opportunities are on the horizon to knock down barriers to trade and deliver wins for our workers, farmers and businesses.  A new opportunity arises as the United Kingdom […]

Last week, I participated in a roundtable at Fecon, an agricultural equipment manufacturer in Southwest Ohio. Our discussion included some of the biggest issues affecting Ohio business owners, farmers, and employees, including tax reform, workforce development, and the international trade agenda. Like many other businesses in Ohio, Fecon cares about trade because they want to […]

The new year is a time to look back on the accomplishments of 2019 and look forward into the new year. Reflecting back on 2019, I’m really proud of the work my team and I have done in Congress to help Ohioans and their families. Despite the partisanship and media focus on impeachment, we’ve quietly […]

Most Ohioans can get access to a steady, fast internet connection at work or home. Unfortunately, for Ohioans living outside our big urban areas, broadband access can be hard to come by. This lack of access creates problems every day.  Access is a problem in rural areas all over our state, but no area is […]

At the end of each summer, Congress typically adjourns, letting me spend more time in Ohio instead of commuting back and forth to Washington every week. I love it because I get more time to travel the state and meet people in every corner of Ohio. This summer was no exception. I traveled over 4,000 […]