Good Afternoon-

Had a busy week here in Washington. While the media only covered the Comey testimony, the House was busy voting to lift more stifling regulatory burdens the Obama Administration had placed on small banks and businesses.

Media Mashup

This week, the Cleveland Plain Dealer published my opinion piece on why the Pairs Climate Accord was a bad deal for Ohio. Read my full piece here.

I spoke with Craig Marvin on MSNBC to discuss Anthem’s recent decision to pull out of the health care exchanges in Ohio, leaving 18 counties in Ohio without a health care provider under the current system designed by the Affordable Care Act. Obamacare is collapsing in front of our own eyes and leaving a trail of destruction in communities spanning the entire country. Watch my interview here. 

Washington Roundup 

My staff met with a cancer doctor from our District who came to visit with One Voice Against Cancer. It was great to hear and discuss how much science and medicine has progressed, especially in the treatment and search for cures of cancer. My staff also met with The Children’s Center from Medina who care for abused and neglected children at their center. It’s saddening to hear when children have to bear the burden and suffer the consequences of a broken family structure. Centers like these across Ohio are seeing an influx of children especially due to our current rise in opioid abuse.

Mike Baach, President & CEO of Philpott Solutions Group, stopped in to meet with my tax staff on Wednesday morning.  His organization, like many Ohio businesses, is closely tracking tax reform discussions and the potential implications.  The same day, I attended a Budget Committee hearing focused on the importance of economic growth and the policies that should be enacted in order to get our economy going again. And on Thursday I attended a hearing with HHS Secretary Price to discuss the effects prescription drugs have on our community and how the President’s budget proposal will provide necessary funding to help combat this devastating epidemic.

Lastly, I provided the key note address to American’s for Affordable Products, including BriskHeat, Jo-Ann Stores, and the Ohio Retail Merchants Association to talk about how tax reform proposals could impact the retail sector.

District Doings

My staff had the pleasure of presenting a Congressional certificate to Chief Robert Rasnick and firemen in recognition of the 75th Anniversary of the Suffield Township Fire Dept.

My staff also attended on open house for the new Ohio Technical Training Center of Dominion Energy. This brand new $19 million facility on 18+ acres is near Rt 8 and the Ohio Turnpike. This trade school will give ongoing training to all 1,600 field personnel of Dominion in Ohio in safety training, emergency response and efficient business practices.

My district staff was pleased to attend the Utica Summit/ Midstream Conference sponsored by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. This summit speaks to the midstream issues of storage and moving drilled gas and some oil from fracking sources to market, safely, and with cost efficiency. Ohio gas and oil is meeting state and regional needs at a better price, which is drawing manufacturers and jobs.

It was an honor to recognize Stark County Honor Court Mentor of the year, Al Revercomb. The Stark County Honor Court mentor and treatment teams are nationally recognized for their work with veterans in trouble. Al is the President of the Sobering Center, an Honor Flight Cleveland board member and a USMC veteran. Eleven years ago, Al changed his life around and now he is lifting his fellow veterans out of the hole they find themselves. 

Don’t miss the Veterans mobile office hours next Wednesday at the Strongsville VFW Post. This event provides veterans with the best opportunities to utilize local, state and federal benefits.

As always thanks for allowing me to represent the 16th district in our nation’s capital.