Blog

Friend --

It has been a busy month, and I wanted to share a few highlights with you. So far we have: passed legislation to hold North Korea accountable; worked on a tax relief plan for American families; and held hearings over how to more effectively battle the opioid epidemic; just to name a few.

As always, keeping you updated is a top priority for me, so be sure to follow me on Facebook or Instagram for real time updates or click here to request a meeting. Here are a few highlights from October:


Reviewing our Afghanistan strategy. This month, Secretary of Defense Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dunford testified before the House Armed Services Committee, on which I serve. They discussed U.S. defense strategy in South Asia, and answered questions about President Trump's strategy in Afghanistan. If you missed it, you can watch here. 


Battling the opioid epidemic. The opioid epidemic is devastating our communities across the country. I had the opportunity to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to share the local and personal stories of Southern and Southwest Ohio's fight against the opioid epidemic. You can watch here.


Hearing from local law enforcement. In Brown County, I sat down with law enforcement officers who see first-hand what the opioid epidemic is doing to our community. I appreciated hearing their thoughts, and look forward to bringing their ideas and insights back to Washington as we continue to work togther to find a long-term solution.


Working on tax relief. Throughout the month of October, the House has been working on legislation to bring tax relief to American families, individuals and employers. By throwing out special-interest loopholes and consolidating deductions, our goal is to make filing taxes so easy that you can use a form as simple as a postcard. Learn more here. 


Hearing from employers in OH2. Artectis recently relocated jobs from overseas and put them right here in Ohio's Second District -- in Manchester. These aren't just jobs -- they're careers in high-end IT openstack server support for over 186,000 clients across the globe. Bringing jobs and companies like this to our community is essential for economic growth and ensuring we have a thriving community for generations to come. 


Discussing why national defense matters in Ohio. I was honored to participate in the Ohio Defense Forum in Columbus this month. I am pleased that so many local, state, and national leaders were able to gather to have conversations about how Ohio can continue to support our national security objectives and provide strategic value. Read more here. 


Growing high-skilled jobs in Cincinnati. I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with the hardworking men and women at Siemens, a global energy and power company with a manufacturing plant in Norwood. We discussed the importance of education programs geared toward filling the high-skilled trade jobs that Siemens offers our community. 


Holding North Korea accountable. The House of Representatives passed the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act (H.R. 3898) to impose the most far-reaching financial sanctions yet to be directed at North Korea -- cutting off Pyongyang's ability to finance its weapons programs. Watch my remarks and learn more here. 


Empowering local health providers. Hopewell Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center that is serving on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic in Chillicothe. As we battle this crisis in our communities, I believe it is essential for the federal government to empower our local health providers to prevail in this crisis. These folks are face to face with those fighting addiction every day, and are steadily having a positive impact in Southern and Southwest Ohio.