U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) will visit and tour Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial on Saturday, August 18, 2018 to see first-hand the backlog of long-delayed maintenance needs at the site.  Following the Memorial visit, Portman will host a Lake Erie Roundtable in Oak Harbor to discuss harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and other threats to Lake Erie.

Event #1

Recently, Senator Portman introduced the Restore Our Parks Act, bipartisan legislation that would help address the nearly $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service (NPS). The bill, which has been praised by key stakeholders, would establish the “National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund” from existing unobligated revenues the government receives from on and offshore energy development to fund deferred maintenance projects at NPS sites across the country.  Notably, the measure would help tackle the more than $100 million maintenance backlog at Ohio’s eight national park sites.  Specifically, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial has $47.7 million in unmet maintenance needs such as building renovations, road, and infrastructure improvements.

WHAT:           Portman to Visit and Tour Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial

WHO:             U.S. Senator Rob Portman

WHEN:          Saturday, July 18

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Open Press Visit and Tour

WHERE:       Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial

Event #2

Following the Put-In-Bay visit, Portman will host a Lake Erie Roundtable in Oak Harbor to discuss ways to protect Lake Erie from threats such as harmful algal blooms (HABs) and invasive species.  As co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Portman has successfully led the Ohio congressional delegation in protecting funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) from cuts in both the Obama and Trump administrations. He has also fought to pass his Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA) in the Senate, which is being used to fund HAB research, monitoring, and forecasting.  In addition to these efforts, Portman has also worked to ensure that invasive species, such as Asian carp, do not disrupt the lake’s ecosystem, improve water quality by preventing plastic microbeads from being discharged into the lake,  , and protect the fish and wildlife that depend on the Great Lakes.

WHAT:           Portman to Host Lake Erie Roundtable

WHO:             U.S. Senator Rob Portman

WHEN:          Saturday, July 18

12:15PM—1:15PM: Open Press Roundtable

WHERE:       Green Cove Condominiums Pavilion

Across the street from:  6536 Harris Harbor Drive, Oak Harbor, OH 43449

 For more information, please contact Senator Portman’s press office at (202) 224-5190 or portman_press “at” portman.senate.gov.