Chairman’s Update 11/22/20

As the final results of the election continue to play out, it is important that we allow recounts and law suits to run their course to ensure it was a free and fair election. As of November 19th, there are a combined 485 sworn declarations in 5 states and there have been more than 13,500 incident reports filed in those states since Election Day. We must continue supporting President Trump and see this through.

In Georgia, it is imperative we continue the fight for the two Senate seats that will now have run off elections in January. If it is determined that Joe Biden is truly our next president, we must keep his liberal policies in check by maintaining a Republican majority in the Senate. Georgia Democrats have been attacking the safeguards of our elections processes for years, and we must fight to maintain conservative control of these seats.

We need people to volunteer their time to ensure that we win these run-offs. If you are interested in helping us win two of the most important Senate races in our nation’s history, you can Volunteer Here! 

Our Thanksgiving celebrations may look different this year, but I wish you all a safe and happy holiday spent with loved ones.

On Fox News’s The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino, Senator Portman discussed his participation in the ENSEMBLE phase 3 trial for the COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by Johnson & Johnson and managed by CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services (CTI) at its research center in Cincinnati, Ohio. At a time when COVID-19 cases are surging in Ohio and across the country and only about half of Americans have confidence in the upcoming vaccines, Portman felt it was important to participate in a vaccine trial to raise awareness of the safety and effectiveness while encouraging others to participate as well. He discussed the importance of the vaccines to ensure Americans feel comfortable returning to retail establishments, schools, the workplace and gathering with friends and family. Portman also applauded the Trump Administration’s Operation Warp Speed, which has led the unprecedented development of the vaccine candidates and urged his fellow elected officials to stop casting doubt on a potential vaccine for the sake of political victories.

In addition, Portman discussed the need for Congress to come together and negotiate in good faith on a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package that bolsters our health care response, helps our economy and small businesses continue to recover, provides funding for schools and state and local governments, permanently expands telehealth options for addiction treatment, and provides enhanced federal unemployment benefits to help people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Portman has given 18 floor speeches calling for bipartisan action focused on the bipartisan areas of agreement, saying that now is the time to put aside political differences and act on behalf of the American people.

The interview can be found here.

DeWine Urges Ohioans to Continue COVID Efforts; Launches New PSA

On Monday and Wednesday, Governor DeWine, joined by local medical professionals, traveled across the state to hold press conferences in areas heavily affected by COVID-19. From his home in rural Cedarville to some of Ohio’s largest cities, Governor DeWine continued to plead with Ohioans to not let up on their efforts to protect themselves and others while awaiting a vaccine.

“Every single day, do something that cuts back on your contacts with other people,” said Governor DeWine at Cincinnati’s Lunken Airport. “If we don’t step up now, a lot of things we cherish are going to take a heavy, heavy hit.”

On Thursday, Governor DeWine shared the Ohio Department of Health’s new COVID-19 public service announcement by CBS sports analyst and former basketball player for Ohio State University and the NBA, Clark Kellogg. Kellogg also spoke during the press conference on Ohioans’ grit, perseverance, teamwork, and unity.

“My hope and prayer is simply this: That we all, as Ohioans, as citizens of this great state and country we live in, that we not grow weary in the doing of good, for we know that the harvest comes as we don’t give up,” said Kellogg. “And I hope that message resonates with all of us as we move into a challenging and difficult period here in the next several weeks. But victory’s on the other side; we just have to stay committed and vigilant in those things that we can do for ourselves and for each other.”

Kellogg’s public service announcement is available at https://youtu.be/5t87JKmzgEo