ROB PORTMAN ON JOHN KASICH’S PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – Following John Kasich’s presidential announcement, Rob Portman released the following statement:

“John will be a strong candidate because he has a terrific story to tell about what he has accomplished in Ohio over the past five years. He has valuable experience in both the public and private sectors that would serve him well as President. He has been a leader at the federal and state levels and knows how to solve problems.

“In Ohio, when he was sworn in as Governor, he inherited a mess from his predecessor Governor Ted Strickland. John applied conservative principles to turn things around. Under John Kasich, Ohio went from 48th in the country in job creation to eighth. Ohio lost over 350,000 jobs in the Strickland Administration, and during the Kasich Administration we’ve brought them all back. If we can keep the left wing of the Democratic Party from turning the clock back, the future will be bright. John’s wealth of experience and proven success will make him a formidable candidate.”

PORTMAN AND BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS RAISE CONCERNS WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD PRACTICES – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) joined U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and a bipartisan group of 48 senators in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell following the release of footage by the Center for Medical Progress depicting senior Planned Parenthood Federation of America executives discussing in gruesome detail the organization’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies.

In the letter, the senators draw attention to the legal, ethical, and policy issues raised by the footage and call on HHS Secretary Burwell to cooperate with ongoing and future investigations into these questions.

“The footage raises a number of questions about the practices of the organization, including whether they are in compliance with federal laws regulating both the use of fetal tissue and partial-birth abortions,” the senators wrote. “In addition to questions about Planned Parenthood’s compliance with applicable federal law and medical ethics, we believe the footage prompts important policy questions surrounding the issue of abortions permitted so late in a pregnancy – sometimes even later than 5 months – that an unborn baby’s organs can be identified and harvested.”

PORTMAN STATEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TRUSTEES REPORTS – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) released the following statement on the Social Security and Medicare Trustees reports released showing that the Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund will be depleted in 2016 and that the deficits plaguing the rest of Social Security and Medicare will bring their bankruptcy within 20 years:

“(The) troubling report unfortunately comes as no surprise. Washington has continually kicked the can down the road, and now, as 11 million Americans face cuts to Social Security disability benefits they rely on, it is time for Congress to take action and reform our important but unsustainable programs like Social Security and Medicare so that they are available for those Americans who need them the most,” said Portman. “Washington’s fiscal irresponsibility passes the problem to future generations, mortgaging the future of Ohio’s children and grandchildren. I hope that today’s report is a call to action – for both the Administration and both parties to finally come together to address this challenge.”