Blog

Friend,

I wanted to provide you with a quick recap of my time around the 2nd District this past week. I enjoyed meeting with constituents, employers, veterans, health providers, and others to get their feedback and hear their perspective on some of the challenges our nation needs to address.

We may not always agree on how to solve every problem, but I greatly appreciate the constructive conversations we can have as we all work to leave our communities, state, and country better than we found them for our kids. Below are a few highlights:



Discussing the Affordable Care Act. I sat down with Lauren, a speech language pathologist in the Forest Hills School District, to discuss the Affordable Care Act, and hear her ideas for how we need to improve our healthcare system.



Meeting about Medicaid. Gary and Craig of Cincinnati came to my office in Anderson Township to share their thoughts on Medicaid and Social Security. I appreciate them taking time to discuss the issue with me.



Touring companies helping fight the opioid epidemic. In Amelia, I toured Genoa, a pharmacy and telepsychiatry provider that serves the behavioral health and addiction treatment communities with four Cincinnati area locations and one in Portsmouth, at the Shawnee Mental Health Center. In the midst of the opioid crisis in our region, I appreciated learning more about how Genoa helps those with mental health disorders manage the quality and cost of their care.



Honoring those who have served. The Traveling War Memorial Wall - which is a 3/5 scale of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., came to Brown County for the first time last week. Titled "The Wall that Heals," this traveling memorial serves as a way to honor those who gave their lives and to connect with communities, families, and veterans across the country, who may be unable to visit Washington. It was a privilege to participate in the opening ceremony as well as go connect with hundreds of constituents and hear their families' stories of service to this country. 



Discussing VA healthcare with local employers. Appreciated hearing how the men and women at Ohio Pharmacy Counseling Services in Milford are working to bring telehealth capabilities and counseling to VA hospitals, in an effort to increase access to care for veterans. As our nation continues to debate solutions for increasing healthcare access for all Americans, we must never stop working to give our veterans options for timely, high quality and timely medical treatment.



Spending time with graduating seniors. I snapped a selfie with graduating seniors at Huntington High School after some great conversations about current events, service, and the importance of staying involved in your community. Congratulations on your upcoming graduation - I look forward to seeing where your potential takes you! 



Thanking our future servicemembers. Thanks to the Chillicothe High School digital media editing students for helping me record a message congratulating the CHS seniors who have made a lifelong commitment to join the U.S. Armed Forces. My prayers and best wishes as you make this important decision to answer the call and serve our nation. We are proud.



Catching up in Ross County. The Ross County Right to Life opened in February of 2017. This week, I sat down with Judy, a nurse and the leader of the Ross County Right to Life, to hear about the work they're doing to make a positive impact on some of Ohio's most vulnerable citizens, including advocating for the rights of the unborn. 



Meeting with local small business owners. After a few meetings at Paper City Coffee in Chillicothe, I had the chance to chat with Megan, a co-owner, about the youth mentoring program that the shop funds. Currently, the Paper City Mentoring Project has 21 high school students matched with adult mentors. They meet each week, with the coffee shop providing a safe place to work together on school work, job applications, and college and career planning. This is just one example of the many local programs right here in our community that are on the ground, leading the fight against poverty and the opioid epidemic.



Improving our local communities. ODNR Director Jim Zehringer and Rocky Fork Lake community leaders announced safety and improvement project updates that are taking place at Rocky Fork State Park and the surrounding area in Hillsboro. I was glad Brad, Jr. and I could join Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dave Daniels, ODNR Director Jim Zehringer, and several dozen constituents to hear these updates. 

Yours in service,


P.S. Don't forget, my offices are here to serve you. If you need help dealing with a federal agency, scheduling a tour in D.C., or requesting a Presidential greeting, contact one of my district offices who would be happy to assist you in any way we can. Or, if you want to share your thoughts or feedback with me, send me an email, call my office, sign up for a telephone town hall, or request an in-person meeting