Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023

The117th United States Congress began on January 3, 2021 and ended on January 3, 2023. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in theU.S. House of Representatives (222-213), and theU.S. Senate had a 50-50 makeup. Democrats assumed control of the Senate on January 20, 2021, when PresidentJoe Biden (D) and Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D), who acted as a tie-breaking vote in the chamber, assumed office. We identified the key votes below usingCongress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023
Vote	Bill and description	Status
Yea	Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act   TheInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) was a federal infrastructure bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on November 15, 2021. Among other provisions, the bill provided funding for new infrastructure projects and reauthorizations, Amtrak maintenance and development, bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, and clean energy transmission and power infrastructure upgrades. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[40]Click here to read more.	Passed (69-30)
Yea	American Rescue Plan Act of 2021   TheAmerican Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 11, 2021, to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key features of the bill included funding for a national vaccination program and response, funding to safely reopen schools, distribution of $1,400 per person in relief payments, and extended unemployment benefits. The bill required a 1/2 majority vote in the Senate.[41]Click here to read more.	Passed (50-49)
Yea	Inflation Reduction Act of 2022   TheInflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 16, 2022, to address climate change, healthcare costs, and tax enforcement. Key features of the bill included a $369 billion investment to address energy security and climate change, an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, allowing Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices, a 15% corporate minimum tax, a 1% stock buyback fee, and enhanced Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement, and an estimated $300 billion deficit reduction from 2022-2031. The bill required a 1/2 majority vote in the Senate.[42]Click here to read more.	Passed (51-50)
Yea	National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022   The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (S. 1605) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 27, 2021, authorizingDepartment of Defense acitivities and programs for fiscal year 2022. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[43]	Passed (88-11)
Yea	James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023   The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2023. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[44]	Passed (83-11)
Yea	Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022   The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (S. 3373) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 10, 2022, that sought to address healthcare access, the presumption of service-connection, and research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[45]	Passed (86-11)
Yea	Chips and Science Act   The Chips and Science Act (H.R. 4346) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 9, 2022, which sought to fund domestic production of semiconductors and authorized various federal science agency programs and activities. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[46]	Passed (64-33)
Yea	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021   The Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives. The bill proposed prohibiting governmental restrictions on the provision of and access to abortion services and prohibiting governments from issuing some other abortion-related restrictions. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[47]	Failed (46-48)
Yea	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022   The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 15, 2022, providing for the funding of federal agencies for the remainder of 2022, providing funding for activities related to Ukraine, and modifying or establishing various programs. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[48]	Passed (68-31)
Yea	Respect for Marriage Act   TheRespect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 13, 2022. The bill codified the recognition of marriages between individuals of the same sex and of different races, ethnicities, or national origins, and provided that the law would not impact religious liberty or conscience protections, or provide grounds to compel nonprofit religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[49]Click here to read more.	Passed (61-36)
Yea	Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023   The Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 6833) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on September 30, 2022. It provided for some fiscal year 2023 appropriations, supplemental funds for Ukraine, and extended several other programs and authorities. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[50]	Passed (72-25)
Yea	COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act   The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (S. 937) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on May 20, 2021, that included provisions to designate an officer or employee of theDepartment of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate expedited review of hate crimes, required the DOJ to issue guidance to law enforcement agencies aimed to establish online hate crime reporting processes and to raise awareness about hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and established state grants to create hate crime reporting hotlines, among other related provisions. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[51]	Passed (94-1)
Yea	Postal Service Reform Act of 2022   The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (H.R. 3076) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on April 6, 2022, that sought to address healthcare and retirement benefits for postal workers, allow USPS to provide certain nonpostal products and services, and expand service performance and budgetary reporting. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[52]	Passed (79-19)
Yea	Bipartisan Safer Communities Act   TheBipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938) was a firearm regulation and mental health bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 25, 2022. Provisions of the bill included expanding background checks for individuals under the age of 21, providing funding for mental health services, preventing individuals who had been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor or felony in dating relationships from purchasing firearms for five years, providing funding for state grants to implement crisis intervention order programs, and providing funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[53]Click here to read more.	Passed (65-33)
Yea	Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act   The Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (H.R. 5305) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on September 30, 2021, that provided for continuing fiscal year 2022 appropriations to federal agencies through December 3, 2021, in order to prevent a government shutdown that would have otherwise occurred if fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills had not been passed by October 1, 2021. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate.[54]	Passed (65-35)
Guilty	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.   This was a resolution before the 117th Congress setting forth anarticle of impeachment saying thatDonald Trump (R) incited an insurrection against the government of the United States on January 6, 2021. The House of Representatives approved the article of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of the charges. Conviction on the impeachment charges required a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate.[55]Click here to read more.	Not guilty (57-43)
Yea	Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022   The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022 (H.R. 350) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives and voted down by the Senate in a failed cloture vote that sought to expand the availability and reporting of information about domestic terrorism, enhance the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) ability to prosecute domestic terrorism, among other things. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[56]	Failed (47-47)
Yea	A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through 2031.   This concurrent resolution (S.Con.Res. 14) was a budget resolution passed by the 117th Congress outlining the fiscal year 2022 federal government budget, setting forth budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023-2031, and providing reconciliation instructions for legislation that increased the deficit. It contained a proposed framework for theBuild Back Better Act. The resolution required 1/2 majority vote in the Senate.[57]Click here to read more.	Passed (50-49)
Yea	Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act   TheFreedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act was a federal elections bill approved by the House of Representatives and voted down by the Senate in a failed cloture vote that sought to, among other provisions, make Election Day a public holiday, allow for same-day voter registration, establish minimum early voting periods, and allow absentee voting for any reason, restrict the removal of local election administrators in federal elections, regulate congressional redistricting, expand campaign finance disclosure rules for some organizations, and amend the Voting Rights Act to require some states to obtain clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice before implementing new election laws. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage.[58]Click here to read more.	Failed (49-51)
Yea	Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022   TheElectoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act was a bill passed by the 117th Congress in the form of an amendment to a year-end omnibus funding bill that was signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022. The bill changed the procedure for counting electoral votes outlined in the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Elements of the bill included specifying that the vice president's role at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes is ministerial, raising the objection threshold at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes to one-fifth of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, identifying governors as the single official responsible for submitting the certificate of ascertainment identifying that state’s electors, and providing for expedited judicial review of certain claims about states' certificates identifying their electors. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to concur in the House's version of the bill.[59]Click here to read more.	Passed (68-29)

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021

The116th United States Congress began on January 9, 2019, and ended on January 3, 2021. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in theU.S. House of Representatives (235-200), and Republicans held the majority in theU.S. Senate (53-47).Donald Trump (R) was the president andMike Pence (R) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below usingCongress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021
Vote	Bill and description	Status
Yea	CARES Act   The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 27, 2020, that expanded benefits through the joint federal-state unemployment insurance program during the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation also included $1,200 payments to certain individuals, funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and funds for businesses, hospitals, and state and local governments. The bill required a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate.[60]	Passed (96-0)
Yea	National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020   The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (S. 1790) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, setting policies and appropriations for the Department of Defense. Key features of this bill include appropriations for research/development, procurement, military construction, and operation/maintenence, as well as policies for paid family leave, North Korea nuclear sanctions, limiting the use of criminal history in federal hiring and contracting, military housing privatization, and paid family leave for federal personnel. This bill required a simple majroity vote in the Senate.[61]	Passed (86-8)
Yea	Families First Coronavirus Response Act   The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 18, 2020, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing access to unemployment benefits and food assistance, increasing funding for Medicaid, providing free testing for COVID-19, and requiring employers to provide paid sick time to employees who cannot work due to COVID-19. The bill required a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate.[62]	Passed (90-8)
Yea	Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020   The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1865) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, providing appropriations for federal agencies in fiscal year 2020. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[63]	Passed (71-23)
Yea	Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020   The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2020, providing emergency funding to federal agencies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Key features of the bill include funding for vaccine research, small business loans, humanitarian assistance to affected foreign countries, emergency preparedness, and grants for public health agencies and organizations. This bill required a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate.[64]	Passed (96-1)
Yea	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019   The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.J.Res. 31) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 15, 2019, providing approrations for Fiscal Year 2019. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[65]	Passed (83-16)
Yea	John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act   The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Doanld Trump on March 12, 2019. This bill sought to set provisions for federal land management and conservation by doing things such as conducting land exchanges and conveyances, establishing programs to respond to wildfires, and extending and reauthorizing wildlife conservation programs. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[66]	Passed (92-8)
Yea	William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (passage)   The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote to overcome the veto.[67]	Passed (84-13)
Yea	William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (overcoming veto)   The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote to overcome the veto.[68]	Passed (81-13)
Nay	Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019   The Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 (S. 1) is a bill approved by the Senate that sought to address security in certain Middle Eastern countries by sending resources to Israel, extending defense cooperation in Jordan, establishing sanctions related to the conflict in Syria, and allowing states to divest from entities boycotting Israel. The bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[69]	Passed (77-23)
Yea	Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act   The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 8337) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on October 1st, 2020, continuing appropriations to federal agencies for Fiscal Year 2021 as well as extending certain expiring programs that address issues such as health care, surface transportation, agriculture, and veterans benefits. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[70]	Passed (84-10)
Yea	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020   The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1158) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 20, 2019, providing appropriations for the 2020 Fiscal Year for federal agencies. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[71]	Passed (81-11)
Yea	Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019   The Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 (H.R. 3055) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, providing Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations to federal agencies through December 20, 2019 and extending certain programs and authorites that were set to expire. This bill prevented a government shutdown, and provided a pay raise for the military, repealed a revocation of state highway funding, and modified the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.[72]	Passed (74-20)
Yea	Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act   The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act (H.R. 1327) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 29, 2019, providing funds for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Key features of the bill included allowing claims to be filed until October 2090, removing the cap on noneconomic damages in certain circumstances, and periodically adjusting the annual limit on economic loss compensation for inflation. This bill required a simple majority vote from the Senate.[73]	Passed (97-2)
Guilty	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (article 1)   The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry.The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. Conviction on the impeachment charges required a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.[74]	Not Guilty (52-48)
Guilty	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (article 2)   The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry.The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. Conviction on the impeachment charges required a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.[75]	Not Guilty (53-47)
Yea	United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act   The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (H.R. 5430) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on October 21, 2020, establishing a trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada meant to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by establishing provisions such as labor and environment monitoring and enforcement, de minimis levels for U.S. exports, and cooperation among treaty members to prevent duty evasion. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[76]	Passed (89-10)
Yea	Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act   The Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (S. 151) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 30, 2019, setting forth rules to reduce criminal robot calls. Some key featues of the bill included requiring voice service providers to develop call authentication technologies, creating rules to protect a subscriber from receiving unwanted calls or texts from a caller using an unauthenticated number, and protecting individuals from one-ring scams. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[77]	Passed (97-1)
Yea	Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019   The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 (H.R. 3401) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on July 1, 2019, providing emergency approprations for humanitarian assistance and security to respond to people attempting to enter the United States at the southern border. This bill required a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate.[78]	Passed (84-8)
Yea	Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019   The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (H.R. 2157) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on June 6, 2019, providing approprations to certain federal departments in order to address expenses incured by recent natural disasters. This bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[79]	Passed (85-8)
Yea	Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019.   H.J.Res.46 (Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019.) was a resolution passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump (R). This resolution sought to terminate the national emergency related to the U.S.-Mexico border, declared by President Trump on February 15, 2019. The bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate.[80]	Passed (59-41)

114th Congress

The first session of the114th Congress enacted into law six out of the 2,616 introduced bills (0.2 percent). Comparatively, the113th Congress had 1.3 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the first session. In the second session, the114th Congress enacted 133 out of 3,159 introduced bills (4.2 percent). Comparatively, the113th Congress had 7.0 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.^[81][82] The Senate confirmed 18,117 out of 21,815 executive nominations received (83 percent). For more information pertaining to Brown's voting record in the 114th Congress, please see the below sections.^[83]

Economic and fiscal

Trade Act of 2015

See also:The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, 2015

On May 22, 2015, theSenate passedHR 1314, which was used as a legislative vehicle for trade legislation with the titles "Trade Act of 2015" and the "Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015," by a vote of 62-37. The bill proposed giving the presidenttrade promotion authority (TPA). TPA, also known as fast track authority, allows the president to negotiate trade deals that cannot be amended byCongress. Congress casts a simple up or down vote on a trade agreement, and the legislation only requires a simple majority for approval. The bill also included a statement of trade priorities and provisions fortrade adjustment assistance. Brown voted with 30 otherDemocraticsenators against the bill.^[84][85]
Trade promotion authority
On June 24, 2015, by a vote of 60-38, theSenate approvedtrade promotion authority (TPA) as part ofHR 2146 - Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act. Brown was one of 31Democrats to vote against the bill. After, SenateRepublican leadership honored a pledge to supporttrade adjustment assistance (TAA) by passing the measure as part ofHR 1295 - Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 by voice vote. TheHouse passed HR 1295 the following day, on June 25, 2015, and both TPA and TAA were signed into law on June 29, 2015.^[86][87][88]

2016 Budget proposal

On May 5, 2015, theSenate voted to approveSConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 51-48. The non-binding resolution will be used to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government before funding runs out on October 1, 2015. The vote marked the first time since 2009 thatCongress approved a joint budget resolution. All 44Democrats, including Brown, voted against the resolution.^[89][90][91]

Defense spending authorization

On November 10, 2015, theSenate passedS 1356 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 91-3. The second version of the $607 billion national defense bill included "$5 billion in cuts to match what was approved in the budget" and language preventing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison.^[92][93] Brown voted with 41Democrats, 48Republicans and one independent in favor of the bill.^[94] On November 5, 2015, theHouse passed the bill by a vote of 370-58, and PresidentBarack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015.^[95]

On June 18, 2015, theSenate passedHR 1735 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 71-25. The bill "authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation." Brown voted with 21Democrats, twoRepublicans and one Independent against the bill.^[96] TheHouse passed the bill on May 15, 2015.^[97] PresidentBarack Obamavetoed the bill on October 22, 2015.^[98]

2015 budget

On October 30, 2015, theSenate passedHR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 by a vote of 64-35. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017.^[99] Brown voted with 43Democrats, 18Republicans and two independents in favor of the bill.^[100] It passed theHouse on October 28, 2015.^[101] PresidentBarack Obama signed it into law on November 2, 2015.

Foreign Affairs

Iran nuclear deal

See also:Iran nuclear agreement, 2015

On May 7, 2015, theSenate voted to approveHR 1191 - A bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran's nuclear program, and for other purposes, by a vote of 98-1. The bill required PresidentBarack Obama to submit the details of the nuclear deal with Iran for congressional review.Congress had 60 days to review the deal and vote to approve, disapprove or take no action on the deal. During the review period, sanctions on Iran could not be lifted. All 43Democraticsenators who voted, including Brown, approved the bill.^[102][103]

Hire More Heroes Act of 2015
On September 10, 2015, theSenate voted tofilibuster the measure to disapprove of theIran nuclear deal by a vote of 58-42.^[104] Sixty votes were needed to proceed toHJ Res 61 - the Hire More Heroes Act of 2015, the legislative vehicle the Senate was expected to use to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal. Brown voted with 39Democrats and two Independents against proceeding to the measure of disapproval.^[105]

Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 follow up votes
On September 15, 2015, theSenate voted for a second time tofilibuster the measure to disapprove of theIran nuclear deal by a vote of 56-42.^[106] Sixty votes were needed to proceed toHJ Res 61 - the Hire More Heroes Act of 2015, the legislative vehicle the Senate was expected to use to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal. Brown voted with 39Democrats and two Independents against proceeding to the measure of disapproval.^[107] The legislation was voted on for a third time on September 17, and it failed for a third time by a vote of 56-42.^[108]

Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 fourth vote
On September 17, 2015, theSenate voted tofilibuster a vote onS.Amdt.2656 to S.Amdt.2640 by a vote of 53-45. The amendment proposed prohibiting "the President from waiving, suspending, reducing, providing relief from, or otherwise limiting the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran."^[109] Brown voted with 42Democrats and two Independents against proceeding to the amendment.^[110]

Domestic

USA FREEDOM Act of 2015

On June 2, 2015, theSenate passedHR 2048 - the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 by a vote of 67-32. The legislation revisedHR 3199 - the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 by terminating the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from theForeign Intelligence Surveillance Court and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Brown voted with 42Democrats, 23Republicans and oneIndependent to approve the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015.^[111][112]

Cyber security

On October 27, 2015, theSenate passedS 754 - the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 by a vote of 74-21.^[113] The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Brown voted with 13Democrats, sixRepublicans and one independent against the bill.^[114]

Immigration

On October 20, 2015, theSenate voted against proceeding to a vote onS 2146 - the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act by a vote of 54-45. The bill proposed withholding federal funding from "sanctuary jurisdictions" that violate the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and other federal immigration laws. In addition, the bill proposed increasing "penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after being removed" and providing "liability protection for State and local law enforcement who cooperate with Federal law enforcement."^[115] Brown voted with 41Democrats, oneRepublican and two Independents against proceeding to the bill.^[116]

113th Congress

The second session of the113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.^[117] The Senate confirmed 13,949 out of 18,323 executive nominations received (76.1 percent). For more information pertaining to Brown's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.^[118]

National security

John Brennan CIA nomination

Brown voted for the confirmation of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2013, with a vote of 63 - 34. Most Democrats supported the nomination, while Republicans were somewhat divided with roughly one-third supporting the nomination.^[119]

Economy

No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013

Brown voted for H.R.325 -- No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013. The bill passed the Senate on January 31, 2013, with a vote of 64 - 34. The purpose of the bill was to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling and withhold the pay of members of Congress until a budget could be passed. The vote largely followed party lines with Democrats overwhelmingly supporting it and many Republicans in opposition to the bill.^[120]

Government shutdown

See also:United States budget debate, 2013

During the shutdown in October 2013, theSenate rejected, down party lines, every House-originated bill that stripped the budget of funding for the Affordable Care Act. A deal was reached late on October 16, 2013, just hours before the debt ceiling deadline. The bill to reopen the government, H.R. 2775, lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made bySenate Democrats was to require income verification forObamacare subsidies.^[121] The final vote on H.R. 2775 was 81-18, with all 18 votes against the bill fromRepublican members. Brown voted with the Democratic Party for the bill.^[122]

Brown donated his salary to the Honor Flight Network while the government was shutdown.^[123]

Immigration

Mexico-U.S. border

Brown voted against Amendment 1197 -- Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border. The amendment was rejected by the Senate on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 39 - 54. The purpose of the amendment was to require the completion of 350 miles of fence described in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 before registered provisional immigrant status may be granted. It would also require 700 miles of fence be completed before the status of registered provisional immigrants may be changed to permanent resident status. The vote followed party lines.^[124]

Social issues

Violence Against Women (2013)

Brown voted for S.47 -- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The bill was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2013, with a vote of 78 - 22. The purpose of the bill was to combat violence against women, from domestic violence to international trafficking in persons. All 22 dissenting votes were cast by Republicans.^[125]

Previous congressional sessions

Fiscal Cliff

Brown voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by an 89 - 8 vote on January 1, 2013.^[126]

ADVOCATING FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY“I respect the unique experiences of people with disabilities and work in the Senate to make sure every Ohioan has access to the care and resources they need. Like all of us, people with disabilities are supported by their families and communities who should also be recognized for their hard work, selflessness, and dedication.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

Fighting For Ohioans With Disabilities

Sherrod has worked to strengthen and modernize the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and has opposed efforts to weaken or undermine this critical legislation.He has pushed to break down barriers to information and communications technologies for people with disabilities. He’s opposed legislation that would have made it easier for businesses to discriminate against people with disabilities.Sherrod voted to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012, affirming his commitment to protecting the rights of all people with disabilities.

Creating Opportunities For People With Disabilities

Sherrod voted for the bipartisan Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act, which created job training programs for Ohioans of all abilities. With Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sherrod sponsored legislation to help veterans with service-related disabilities find good jobs.

Sherrod has fought to make sure that Ohioans with disabilities connected to their work, whether veterans wounded in service or miners with black lung, have access to the best possible care.

Championing Healthcare Access For All Ohioans

Throughout his career, Sherrod has worked to make sure every Ohioan, regardless of income, can get the healthcare they need. He helped pass the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has extended healthcare coverage for 5 million Ohioans with preexisting conditions and expanded access to community-based care and habilitative and rehabilitative services like occupational therapy and speech pathology. Sherrod also fought for nearly two decades to establish parity for mental health coverage, which he helped codify as part of the ACA.

Sherrod supports ending limits on Medicaid coverage for mental health care and has joined Governor Kasich in fighting back attempts to gut the Medicaid expansion, which has helped nearly 500,000 Ohioans get mental and behavioral health treatment.

Advocating For Children With Disabilities

No one has fought harder than Sherrod to protect the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which serves nearly half of Ohio’s children with disabilities. Sherrod has worked for years to pass long-term funding for CHIP. In 2018 he co-sponsored the bill that successfully extended the program for the next six years.

Sherrod has worked to give children with disabilities the support they need in the classroom by supporting the Individuals With Disabilities Education (IDEA) Act, which benefits one in seven Ohio students, and by securing and protecting millions of dollars in funding for staff and services to help students with disabilities.

Making Social Security More Accessible

Sherrod has worked with Republicans and Democrats to decrease the backlog and wait times for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

He joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in calling for full funding for the Social Security Administration and teamed up with Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) to do away with the five-month waiting period for individuals with terminal illnesses to access SSDI benefits.

Sherrod and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have worked together to expand Supplemental Security Income, which benefits nearly 300,000 Ohioans with disabilities.

CARING FOR OUR VETERANS

“We have no more important moral obligation than supporting the men and women who risk their lives in service to our country, and the family members who sacrifice so much to support their loved ones who serve.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:Protecting Veterans’ HealthcareSherrod is committed to making sure that those who have put their lives in harm’s way to defend our country have access to the best healthcare possible. He helped secure the largest-ever increase in VA funding and has held the VA accountable for the disability claims backlog, long wait times, understaffing, and inadequate care.

Sherrod knows that comprehensive care for our veterans must include mental and behavioral care, and he helped pass the Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act and the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act to expand treatment and support for those struggling with trauma and mental illness.

Creating Opportunities For Veterans

Sherrod is working to help servicemembers and veterans rejoin the civilian workforce, introducing and co-sponsoring the Wounded Warrior Employment Improvement Act, the VOW To Hire Heroes Act, and an expansion of the Yellow Ribbon Program to provide veterans with job training and placement services.

Sherrod’s Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act would reward companies that hire veterans and servicemembers. Solar by Soldiers, which he helped launch, trains veterans to succeed in Ohio’s clean energy economy. Sherrod has secured millions of dollars for career services and related support programs for Ohio’s veterans, and passed legislation that gives hiring preference to Gold Star families.

Investing In Veterans’ Education

For many who enlist, the military offers a pathway to an education that may otherwise be out of reach. In the Senate, Sherrod co-sponsored a law that permanently expanded GI Bill education benefits for post-9/11 veterans.

He has passed legislation that makes these benefits more flexible and accessible to the families of fallen soldiers. Sherrod has stood up for veterans targeted by shady for-profit colleges and worked to stop them from preying on those who have served in our military.

As part of his bipartisan GI Bill expansion, Sherrod saw to it that the veterans and servicemembers who had been taken advantage of by failed for-profit schools had their education benefits restored.

Working To End Homelessness For Veterans

Sherrod has secured millions of dollars to end homelessness and expand access to affordable housing for Ohio veterans.

Working with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI), Sherrod passed key provisions to ensure that no servicemember is discharged into homelessness.

Sherrod also worked with Senator Reed to introduce the Military Consumer Enforcement Act, which would protect veterans and their families from foreclosure and eviction.

Honoring Those Who Served

Sherrod is making sure we recognize the courage and sacrifice of those who serve. He has joined the entire Ohio congressional delegation to introduce bipartisan legislation to allow the battlefield cross to be displayed at the graves of fallen soldiers and presented long-overdue military medals to Ohio veterans.

Sherrod and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) have honored the legacy of Ohio veterans by pushing to designate the Ohio Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus as the National Veterans Museum and Memorial.

The Columbus Dispatch wrote that Sherrod was “responsible for legislation requiring the Department of Defense to deliver the remains of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan to airports convenient to their families, not just major hubs often hundreds of miles away.”

COMBATING THE OPIOID CRISIS

“Eleven Ohioans will die today of an opioid overdose, and Congress must be doing everything in our power to fight this epidemic on all fronts.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Working for a Comprehensive Response to the Opioid Crisis

Sherrod knows that there’s no one solution to the opioid addiction epidemic. That’s why he is proposing a comprehensive public health campaign to combat the crisis. Sherrod is calling on the federal government to launch a long-term campaign that includes widespread education and prevention efforts, expanding access to affordable addiction treatment, and recovery that includes better screening and protections against relapse.

Championing Efforts to Keep Opioids Out of Ohio

Sherrod and Senator Portman are united in working to prevent opioids from getting into Ohio. Together, they pushed Sherrod’s INTERDICT Act through Congress and signed into law by President Trump, giving law enforcement the tools to intercept opioids and synthetics before they enter our country. Sherrod and Portman are now working on new legislation, the POWER Act, to give local law enforcement officers access to the same fentanyl detection equipment to help them keep these drugs out of Ohio communities. Sherrod has fought to lower the amount of prescription drugs that manufacturers and distributors pump into our healthcare system, and to make their these processes more open and transparent. He has advocated for programs that let people safely dispose of expired or unused prescription drugs to ensure they don’t end up in the hands of someone who could misuse or abuse them.

Investing In and Expanding Treatment

Any long-term solution to ending the opioid crisis must include providing people suffering from addiction and mental health issues with the tools to get their lives back on track. Sherrod supported Governor Kasich’s decision to expand Medicaid, which funds treatment for more than 150,000 Ohioans, and worked with Portman on legislation to grant more Ohioans access to healthcare professionals and facilities. Sherrod knows that for infants and newborns affected by prenatal opioid addiction, treatment is especially critical, which is why he and Senator Portman have fought for measures to give affected newborns the best care available.

Bringing Vital Resources to Ohio Communities

Sherrod is working hard to make sure Ohio’s communities have the funding necessary to adequately address the opioid crisis. He supports a number of proposals, including the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act, that would give local communities the aid they need to effectively fight this epidemic. Sherrod was also a vocal opponent of the administration’s 2018 budget proposal, which called for slashing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to programs Ohio counts on to combat opioid addiction. And when the White House dragged its feet in declaring the crisis a national emergency, Sherrod held the Administration accountable for their inaction — and applauded them when they finally heeded his call. Senator Brown Is Working To Engage Communities In Awareness And Prevention Sherrod believes that community engagement is crucial to this fight. By holding roundtable discussions with Ohio law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and those affected by the opioid crisis, Sherrod works with community leaders to help raise local awareness and understanding of the epidemic. He has also championed successful legislation that provides opioid prescribers with the training to identify warning signs before addiction occurs.

FIGHTING FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

“Our state’s farms are an important economic engine, and as we work together to move this economy forward, I will continue to fight for the needs of our farmers.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Advocating For Ohio Farmers

Sherrod understands the importance of Ohio’s farming communities—one in seven Ohio jobs depend on agriculture and more than half of Ohio’s land is used for farming. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he’s played a critical role in crafting comprehensive, bipartisan Farm Bills.

Sherrod travels across Ohio to hear directly from farmers and local stakeholders to effectively advocate for them in the Senate. He’s secured a number of legislative victories for Ohio farmers across multiple Farm Bills, including his approach to farm risk management, which Reuters called the “centerpiece” of the 2014 Farm Bill. Sherrod has held roundtables on rural development and farming across the state to ensure that Ohioans’ priorities are represented in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Sherrod has been recognized by a host of leading rural policy and agricultural groups, including the National Farmers Union, which has honored his tireless advocacy with the prestigious “Golden Triangle” award.

Spearheading Efforts For Ohio’s Rural Development

Sherrod fights to expand access to broadband for Ohio’s rural communities, securing more than $2.5 billion for underserved areas so they can compete and thrive in the 21st century.

Sherrod’s work has secured more than $150 million to advance critical rural development programs that support rural businesses, infrastructure projects, and communities in Ohio and across the country.

Protecting Healthcare For Rural Ohioans

Sherrod supports the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has fought against repeal efforts that would hit rural communities hard. Ohioans living in rural communities have seen significantly expanded healthcare coverage under the ACA, and the already-shrinking pool of rural hospitals could suddenly become even smaller if repeal attempts succeed.

Sherrod continues to fight to give Ohio’s rural communities every possible tool and resource to fight the devastating opioid epidemic. He opposes the administration’s efforts to gut critical opioid and substance abuse programs, and has pressed the White House to give communities the necessary resources to combat this crisis. He led the passage of the bipartisan INTERDICT Act to help border agents intercept opioids as they enter the country and supports better education for doctors on addiction prevention and identification.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE

“Instead of repealing the Affordable Care Act, we should be working to improve and expand it so that every Ohioan has access to quality, affordable healthcare.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Supporting and Defending Expansion of Healthcare Coverage

Millions of families across our state and country have benefited from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Instead of repeating partisan talking points, Sherrod focuses on protecting those who have benefited from the ACA, including more than four million Ohioans who no longer have to worry about hitting lifetime coverage caps, more than three million Ohioans with private healthcare plans that now include access to preventive services, and nearly two million Ohioans with pre-existing conditions.

When Washington Republicans tried to gut the Medicaid expansion that allowed more than 700,000 Ohioans to access low-cost insurance coverage — including 150,000 who struggle with addiction — Sherrod stood with Republicans like Governor John Kasich to fight back. Sherrod has also teamed up with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to propose legislation to bring targeted healthcare tax credits to seniors and secure hard-earned coverage for retired miners who sacrificed their health and safety to support their families and power our nation.

Taking on Rising Prescription Drug Prices

Sherrod has always stood with consumers and patients in the fight for fair prescription drug prices. Whether it’s going after price-gouging drug companies or spearheading proposals that would allow Medicare to directly negotiate prescription drugs and increase competition in the pharmaceutical marketplace, Sherrod’s track record shows he’s not afraid to tangle with Big Pharma to make sure Ohioans can afford the prescription drugs they need.

Fighting for Ohio’s Children

Last year’s Republican-led attempt to allow the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to expire demonstrated how vital it is that Ohio’s children have an advocate like Sherrod in the U.S. Senate. In addition to his relentless fight for CHIP, Sherrod is a strong supporter of policies to fund training for pediatricians and pediatric specialists. He has worked across the aisle with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) on proposals to create and fully fund a national pediatric research network, standardize care across state borders, and combat sudden childhood deaths.

Championing Affordable Healthcare for Seniors

Sherrod has worked throughout his career to protect and expand Medicare, beating back attacks on this essential program and advocating to lower the eligibility age to 55. He has championed proposals to allow Medicare to directly negotiate prices and increase competition through generic alternatives and to establish free preventive cancer and osteoporosis screenings under Medicare. Reaching across the aisle, Sherrod has worked with Senator Portman to introduce legislation to extend a critical healthcare tax deduction for seniors.

Combating Disease and Addiction

Ohio’s opioid epidemic is putting a huge strain on our families and communities. That’s why Sherrod has teamed up with Senator Portman on legislation to increase access to healthcare professionals and facilities, direct research treatment options, and prevent addiction before it begins. Sherrod is also a consistent advocate for increasing awareness and education to combat diseases from widespread ones like breast cancer to rarer diseases like Zika virus, Ebola, tuberculosis, and sickle cell anemia.

ENSURING QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN

“Every student deserves a community that supports their education. I’m troubled by the lack of oversight and transparency of many charter schools -- and will continue pushing for accountability. I will also keep up my efforts to bring critical resources to K-12 schools across Ohio, along with making higher education more accessible to every American.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Supporting Ohio Students

Sherrod’s record is proof of his commitment to Ohio students. He’s consistently voted to protect and expand Head Start and Early Head Start programs, spearheaded efforts for extra funding and staffing for Full-Service Community Schools, and defended federal funding for Ohio schools. He believes they should be pathways to opportunity for all students. He introduced legislation to address inequality in our public schools, and is a strong supporter of the My Brother’s Keeper program, a program launched by President Obama to mentor young African-American men.

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder With Ohio Educators

Ohio educators know that Sherrod has their backs. When Senate Bill 5 threatened to take away educators’ collective bargaining rights, Sherrod stood with teachers, firefighters, police officers, and organized labor to successfully overturn Ohio’s so-called “right-to-work” law. Sherrod has worked with teachers to make sure they’re paid the salaries and benefits they deserve. When teaching jobs were on the line, Sherrod rose to the challenge, fighting for funding to save and create jobs.

Holding Charter Schools Accountable

Oversight, transparency, and accountability are Sherrod’s focus for charter schools. When Sherrod called for additional oversight of Ohio’s charter schools, the Department of Education listened and announced it would only fund high-performing charter schools. Sherrod has also championed legislation to go after fraud and waste in charter schools by increasing community involvement and oversight.

Fighting For 21st-Century Schools

The discussion over infrastructure often ignores the declining state of our schools. Sherrod has introduced legislation that would repair, renovate, and build schools in Ohio and across the country, which would create almost two million jobs. He’s also proposed and helped pass a number of other proposals to bring much-needed aid to school facilities while creating good-paying jobs.

Working To End Bullying

No student should feel unsafe or unwelcome in their school. Sherrod is working to end bullying in the classroom and on the schoolyard. He has repeatedly co-sponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would require schools to adopt codes of conduct that prohibit bullying based on race, gender, ability, or nationality. Sherrod recognizes that some students are more vulnerable to bullying and discrimination than others. He has participated in the National Day of Silence and joined the “It Gets Better Project” to raise awareness of the bullying experienced by far too many LGBTQ students.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED

“Small businesses and manufacturers are the backbone of Ohio’s economy.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Fighting for Lower Taxes on Small Businesses

Sherrod knows that for small business owners, expanding and investing in employees is non-negotiable. He also knows that it can be difficult to cover costs while keeping pace with bigger competitors, which is why he has voted for over $1.3 billion in tax breaks for small businesses.

Sherrod has supported legislation that allows small businesses to stay competitive by writing off R&D costs and investments in business equipment and software. He was a vocal advocate for the Small Business Jobs Act, which the Akron Beacon Journal called “a most worthy response to the recovering yet still fragile economy.”

Sherrod recognizes that small businesses don’t have the time or resources to spend making sense of byzantine paperwork. He co-sponsored the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, which would have cut red tape by updating tax reporting requirements for small businesses.

Leveling the Playing Field for Small Businesses

Since joining Congress, Sherrod has stood up for Ohio’s small businesses by opposing unfair trade deals that allow corporations to send jobs overseas, hollowing out communities and leaving small businesses struggling to compete.

Sherrod voted against NAFTA in 1993 and is playing an active role in the Trump administration’s renegotiation of the agreement to deliver a better deal for Ohio. He stood up to members of his own party in opposing Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and led Democrats away from trade deals that hurt workers and small businesses. He has also opposed trade agreements with Central America, Colombia, China, and South Korea.

Sherrod has helped Ohio businesses enter the global marketplace by leading the reauthorization and expansion of the Export-Import Bank, which benefited 226 small businesses in Ohio between 2007 and 2015. He has been a vocal opponent of currency manipulation by foreign countries, which undercuts international trade law and puts American businesses at a disadvantage. Sherrod and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) wrote a letter to the Department of Labor asking Secretary Wilbur Ross to investigate and crack down on countries caught engaging in unfair practices.

Helping Small Businesses Innovate

Sherrod has worked with members of both parties to expand financing opportunities for small and mid-sized manufacturers, and to reward small businesses that hire more employees and invest in job training and retraining. His bipartisan SECTORS Act worked to match employees skills to existing jobs by requiring that job training programs be designed with input from partnering companies.

Sherrod has worked to create business incubators and innovation hubs around the country to ensure that the America remains a leader in high-tech manufacturing. He worked with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) to pass bipartisan legislation to create manufacturing innovation hubs across the country, the first of which was established in Ohio in 2015.

Since 2013, Sherrod has secured more than $17 million in federal grants and loans to support job creation and training in Ohio.

FIGHTING FOR SENIORS

“We have made promises to our seniors that we must honor – Medicare, Social Security, affordable prescription drugs. These men and women have worked their entire lives, taken care of their families, and they deserve a quality of life that reflects that.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Protecting Social Security

Time and time again, Social Security has been attacked by Republicans who have tried to raise the retirement age and privatize the program. These misguided efforts would enrich Wall Street by risking Americans’ savings in the stock market. Sherrod’s position on these attacks is simple: no way. He has consistently voted and spoken out against any attempt to undermine Social Security benefits and deny Americans their hard-earned benefits.

Championing Affordable Healthcare

Sherrod believes seniors should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. He has worked throughout his career to protect and expand Medicare, helping beat back multiple assaults on this essential program and advocating to lower the eligibility age to 55. With the cost of prescription drugs on the rise, Sherrod has championed proposals to allow Medicare to directly negotiate prices and increase competition through generic alternatives. He is also fighting to pass legislation that would establish free preventive cancer and osteoporosis screenings under Medicare.

Reaching across the aisle, Sherrod has worked with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to introduce legislation to extend a critical healthcare tax deduction for seniors.

Keeping Promises, Fighting For Retirement Security

During the tax debate, Sherrod promised “a hell of a fight” if Republicans moved forward with their plans to penalize workers with certain retirement savings accounts. Republicans relented, and Sherrod protected millions of Americans from new taxes on the money they put away for retirement.

Sherrod has also introduced a bold plan to stabilize pension funds, whose beneficiaries, through no fault of their own, often face a gap between what they were promised and what they actually receive in retirement. Sherrod will not allow mismanagement by corporate executives and Wall Street fund managers to upend workers’ retirement plans, and he’s committed to making sure promises made are kept. Sherrod was named the co-chair of a bipartisan committee in Congress tasked with developing bipartisan solutions to the pension crisis.

Supporting Strong Consumer Protections For Seniors

Sherrod knows scammers and criminals specifically target seniors. That’s why he strongly supported the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) fight against all shady and illegal financial practices. No one is more dedicated to protecting seniors from financial predators than Senator Sherrod Brown.

LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ALL OHIOANS

“It has been my honor to stand alongside you, fighting to make sure that every Ohioan is treated equally under the law and given the respect they deserve. I will never compromise on these principles and I will continue to work to drive your movement forward.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Fought For Marriage Equality

Long before it was a politically popular position, Sherrod stood with LGBTQ families and couples to fight for full recognition under the law.

He opposed the Defense Of Marriage Act in the 1990s and has consistently fought against legislative efforts to deny LGBTQ Americans the right to marry whomever they love. When the day finally came in 2015, Sherrod rejoiced with millions of Americans as the Supreme Court recognized the rights of LGBTQ couples and families across the nation.

Standing With LGBTQ Servicemembers

Any American who honorably serves our country in uniform should be treated like a patriot. Since the beginning of his career, Sherrod opposed the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which he helped repeal in 2010. Sherrod has co-sponsored legislation to correct military records and reinstate benefits of servicemembers discharged on the basis on their sexual orientation.

When President Trump pushed to ban transgender individuals from the armed services, Sherrod responded forcefully, saying, “I have deep respect and gratitude for anyone who volunteers to serve in our military. We should not turn away anyone who is willing and able to serve this country and help keep America safe.”

Combating Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination

While we have made progress toward equality, it is legal in many states to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Sherrod has led the charge to pass legislation that would expand federal civil rights protections and backed other bills to fight LGBTQ discrimination in housing, the workplace, and around the world.

Advocating For LGBTQ Youth

Sherrod has fought to protect LGBTQ youth because he knows they are especially vulnerable to harassment and discrimination. Not only has he called “conversion therapy” a “fraudulent, unfair, and deceptive” practice, he’s repeatedly moved to outlaw it.

Sherrod has worked to raise awareness of and bring an end to the all-too-common bullying and discrimination that LGBTQ youth face. In 2014, he participated in the National Day of Silence. In 2010 Sherrod joined the “It Gets Better Project” by giving a speech on the Senate floor in memory of LGBTQ teens driven to suicide by bullying, and in 2011 he participated in a video with his colleagues in support of LGBTQ students and youth. Building a more free and equal society begins with helping those who will inherit it, which is why Sherrod has so vigorously advocated for LGBTQ youth.

Reliably Partnering With LGBTQ Organizations And Leaders

Regularly meeting with Ohio and national LGBTQ groups allows Sherrod to listen, learn, and discuss important issues, which makes him a more effective advocate for the LGBTQ community in the U.S. Senate. His reelection has been endorsed by Human Rights Campaign.

MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE

“Student loan debt shouldn’t hold students back for decades after they’ve graduated.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Standing with Ohio Students

An entire generation is drowning in student debt, and Sherrod is committed to getting them relief. He has championed efforts to protect students from predatory student loan providers, called for stronger protections against unfair and abusive lending practices, and backed legislation to allow students and their families to refinance their existing student loan debt. Sherrod is also working to make college more affordable for Ohio families, fighting to expand student loan programs and pushing for tax reforms that would make it easier for middle-class families to afford higher education.

Making college more accessible to veterans and servicemembers is also a top priority for Sherrod. He has worked tirelessly to pass legislation that ensures our men and women in uniform, and their families, have the resources to go to college.

Supporting Ohio Colleges and Universities

Sherrod is proud of Ohio’s higher education system. He consistently works to ensure that our colleges and universities have the resources necessary to continue offering field-leading educational opportunities. Every Ohioan deserves the opportunity to study at a world-class in-state institution. Sherrod has also worked to ensure recognition and resources for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Standing With Ohio Communities

With Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos making it harder for Ohioans to get a college education, Sherrod is standing with students, educators, and families to fight for accessible, quality higher education. He regularly hosts educator forums and student leadership summits across the state so he can best advocate for those communities and hold the DeVos administration accountable for its anti-student actions.

Fighting Predatory For-Profit Colleges

Sherrod reached across the aisle to build a bipartisan plan that boosted GI benefits and provided relief to veterans who were taken advantage of by failed for-profit institutions. Sherrod has also worked towards ending deceitful marketing practices used by for-profit colleges — including some shamefully aimed at veterans — by holding high-paid executives accountable for their tactics.

Sherrod has been at the forefront of efforts to identify and investigate sham for-profit colleges and recoup losses for students. He is a vocal critic of forced arbitration clauses that make it nearly impossible for students at for-profit colleges to recover their tuition dollars if they’re defrauded or the institution fails.

PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT

“From protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species and toxic algal blooms to promoting a clean energy future, defending clean water and clean air is more important than ever.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Senator Brown Is A Fierce Defender Of Ohio’s Lakes And Waterways

Sherrod is a leader in defending Ohio’s lakes and waterways. Partnering with senators throughout the region, he’s championed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up and revitalize these vital water resources, and he joined Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) in a show of bipartisanship to vocally oppose the administration’s efforts to drastically reduce support for the project.

Sherrod knows the devastating effect algal blooms have on lakeshore communities. He has fought for more funding and pushed for more research to better understand their causes and consequences, to help develop new solutions. Partnering with Senator Portman, Sherrod has spearheaded legislation to coordinate federal, state, and local responses to combat Asian carp and other invasive species. The two have worked side by side across party lines to apply consistent pressure to ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers keeps the Cleveland Harbor and shipping channel clean.

Senator Brown Supports Clean Energy Innovation And Job Creation

Ohio has an opportunity to be at the forefront of our growing clean energy economy — that’s why Sherrod supports investing in a clean energy industry that will create good jobs for Ohioans. He’s fought for policies to give manufacturers the tools they need to not only adapt to a changing marketplace, but to shape it and lead it. In turn, strengthening this job-creating field will decrease our dependence on foreign oil and augment our national security.

Sherrod believes innovation across a diverse mix of energy sources is the best path toward a clean-energy economy. He’s supported policies to encourage investment in offshore wind energy, reached across the aisle to promote ethanol and biodiesel fuel, and championed carbon capture technology.

Senator Brown Fights For Environmental Protections

The health of our environment has a direct impact on the health of Ohioans. Sherrod has worked to protect our drinking water and is a strong proponent of increasing funding to prevent, monitor, and eliminate lead poisoning. He has also worked with Senator Portman to protect our water from microcystin, the byproduct of the algal blooms that created the 2014 water crisis in the Toledo area. Furthermore, Sherrod has spoken out against dangerous cuts to the federal budget that would make it nearly impossible to enforce clean air and water laws.

Senator Brown Has Strong Support From Environmental Groups

Sherrod’s record of stewardship and commitment to the environment has earned him a 93% lifetime score from the League Of Conservation Voters. His reelection has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund.

PROTECTING THOSE WHO PROTECT US

“At a time when it may seem like not much is getting done in Washington, supporting the officers who put their lives on the line each day to protect us—and the families who sacrifice alongside them—is something we can come together on in a bipartisan way.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Fighting To Keep Ohio Safe

Sherrod is committed to addressing the public health and safety crisis that opioids pose to communities across Ohio. His bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which was signed into law by President Trump, gives law enforcement the tools to intercept opioids and block them from entering our country.

Sherrod is also working with Senator Portman on new legislation, the POWER Act, to give local law enforcement officers access to the same fentanyl detection equipment made available through Brown’s INTERDICT Act. This will not only help officers keep these drugs out of Ohio communities, it will also protect them from accidental overdoses on the job.

Sherrod regularly meets with law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and community leaders at roundtable events to help local stakeholders build coalitions and find solutions. He fights for victims of human trafficking, and supports the efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement to root out this scourge. Inspired by retired Toledo FBI agents, Sherrod spearheaded the passage of additional funding for victims of human trafficking, with a special focus on help for high-risk runaway youth.

Supporting Those In The Line of Duty And Their Families

Sherrod is a loyal ally to law enforcement personnel and their families. When Ohio Senate Bill 5 threatened to strip public safety officers of their collective bargaining rights, Sherrod stood shoulder to shoulder with them and fought back. He knew the fight wasn’t just about wages and benefits—it was about the safety of first responders and their communities. Sherrod also worked to ensure that first responders and their families receive their full Social Security benefits.

Sherrod helped pass “Blue Alert” legislation to help apprehend criminals who committed crimes against on-duty law enforcement officers. He’s also backed measures to help the families of fallen or disabled officers, including providing vital mental health and wellness services for members of law enforcement.

Sherrod has supported numerous efforts to hire and train more officers, including the COPS hiring program that has allowed Ohio law enforcement to expand their force. Sherrod also worked to ensure that officers have access to the tools and equipment they need, including bulletproof vests, body cameras, new vehicles, and other innovative technologies.

SAFEGUARDING CONSUMERS

“The last thing Ohioans need is for politicians to turn back the clock to the days when Wall Street was free to prey on working families, wreck the economy, and hand taxpayers the bill.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Holding Wall Street Accountable

Sherrod played an active role in enacting the Dodd-Frank regulations, standing with students, homeowners, and taxpayers, who demanded a safer financial system after Wall Street caused the Great Recession. He opposes efforts to rollback key parts of the law and has called out the the big banks for their attempts to take us back to the days when Ohioans were on the hook for Wall Street’s reckless bets. Sherrod knows the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a critical consumer watchdog, and he stood with the agency against the Trump Administration’s efforts to compromise its independence. Sherrod believes the CFPB Director must be a relentless fighter for consumers, not an instrument of Wall Street and payday lenders. He’s also a staunch opponent of financial corporations that use forced arbitration clauses to avoid accountability. These provisions prevent victims their access to court when they’re taken advantage of. Sherrod has spearheaded efforts to give these victims the chance to recover damages and seek the justice that they deserve.

Fighting Identity Theft

Sherrod fought for the more than 145 million Americans who were affected by the Equifax security breach. He demanded answers for the victims and worked to hold the company accountable for its negligence. After Sherrod called for a closer look at the company’s taxpayer-funded government contracts, the IRS announced it would halt its business with Equifax.Standing Up to Predatory LendersSherrod has been a tireless advocate for consumers who are targeted and trapped by predatory payday lenders. Payday lenders’ abusive behavior furthers a cycle that prevents consumers from escaping high-interest loans, hurting those who need help the most. Sherrod has worked to provide fair and effective alternatives to the Ohioans who find themselves forced to turn to payday loans to pay for basic necessities like food and housing.

Protecting Consumers from Dangerous Products

Sherrod has a long record of making sure products are safe for consumers. His legislation to apply poison packaging protections to liquid nicotine containers has helped protect children from accidental poisonings. Sherrod has also worked to bring safety warnings to everyday consumer products, including crib bumpers, caffeine, sunblock, and electronic cigarettes.

STANDING UP FOR AMERICAN WORKERS

“We want more trade—Ohio businesses, including our auto supply chain, rely on trade with our neighbors. But trade should happen on a truly level playing field, and that’s not what we have right now.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Opposing Unfair Trade Agreements

For years, Sherrod has spoken out and voted against trade agreements that hollow out American manufacturing communities and put Ohio workers at a disadvantage. He voted against NAFTA and against trade agreements with Central America, Colombia, China, and South Korea.

Sherrod stood up to members of his own party in opposing Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and led Democrats in moving away from these harmful deals. He continues to lead bipartisan efforts to secure a better deal for workers, working with the Trump administration on renegotiating of NAFTA.

Sherrod is committed to making sure that those who have seen their livelihoods affected by unfair trade deals don’t get left behind. He has led senators from both parties in calling for full funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance and introduced legislation to expand this critical training and assistance program to service sector employees and workers who lose their jobs to countries like China.

Leveling The Playing Field

Sherrod understands that Ohio workers and manufacturers need an advocate to protect their role in the global marketplace. He has worked with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to call for greater scrutiny of and consequences for countries that engage in steel dumping and currency manipulation.

He supports setting steel and aluminum tariffs to ensure that American manufacturers who play by the rules will not be undercut by cheap imports from countries like China. He played a critical role in the Trump Administration’s decision in 2017 to set tariffs that will allow Ohio manufacturers like Whirlpool to hire hundreds more workers.

Sherrod has also worked to help American companies compete overseas. He led the reauthorization and expansion of the Export-Import Bank, which benefited 226 small businesses in Ohio between 2007 and 2015.

Sherrod has also teamed up with Senator Portman to crack down on Chinese currency manipulation. Sherrod has asked Presidents of both parties to work with him to hold China accountable for currency manipulation, and has introduced legislation to treat currency manipulation as an unfair subsidy, which would give Ohio manufacturers and their workers new tools to fight back against Chinese cheating.

Supporting Ohio Manufacturing

Sherrod knows that our competitiveness depends on maintaining our leadership in innovative, high-quality manufacturing.

In 2008, Sherrod fought to save the American auto industry, protecting the livelihood of more than 625,000 Ohioans. Since then, he has worked to help American manufacturers expand and innovate.

Sherrod has secured millions of dollars in investment to create jobs and train workers in Ohio’s manufacturing communities. He has helped create a national network of innovation hubs and business incubators to support Ohio’s growing high-tech manufacturing field and fought to make sure that the jobs created by these innovation zones go to people in the surrounding communities.

As part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Sherrod worked with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to ensure that employers play an active role in workforce development programs, giving workers the skills they need to thrive in the 21st-century economy.

STRENGTHENING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY

“We must continue to vigorously enforce and strengthen sanctions against Russia, to send a message to its leaders and the world that the United States of America will not tolerate efforts to undermine democracy around the world.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Securing Critical National Defense Resources

Sherrod advocates for Ohio’s defense industry, which creates thousands of jobs in the state and provides important equipment to our military. He’s authored and secured numerous federal funding provisions for Ohio that bolster America’s security arsenal, including billions of dollars to Lima’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center for Abrams Tank and Stryker Vehicle manufacturing, and millions for C-130 upgrades at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

Sherrod also champions Ohio’s military installations, and brought sustained investment in jobs and research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and major facility improvements to the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo to execute its Aerospace Control Alert mission.

Standing Tall Against Threats to America’s Security

Sherrod holds international bad actors accountable for their actions. As the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, he helped broker the bipartisan comprehensive sanctions package designed to combat Russian, Iranian, and North Korean aggression.

Sherrod has repeatedly called for maintaining significant sanctions on Russia for their invasion of Ukraine, and has advocated for expanding Ukraine’s cybersecurity capacities. He’s consistently supported sanctions to pressure Iran into dissolving their nuclear weapons program, and voted in 2016 to extend Iranian sanctions for an additional 10 years.

Sherrod refuses to allow the North Korean regime to escape punishment for its unconscionable crimes and human rights violations. He introduced legislation to strengthen and expand sanctions, and championed efforts to redesignate the regime a “state sponsor of terrorism” following the death of Otto Warmbier.

Sherrod knows how important our international alliances are to global security and stability. That’s why he worked with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to pass a bipartisan affirmation of America’s commitment to NATO’s mission of collective defense.

Working to Defeat Foreign and Domestic Terrorism

Sherrod supports efforts to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism, including ensuring that law enforcement, national security, and other public safety agencies across Ohio have the resources they need to address these threats. He also worked closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat domestic terrorism in the wake of the attack in Charlottesville.

Sherrod uses his leadership position on the Senate Banking Committee to work to defeat ISIS through financial sanctions, and supports efforts to combat homegrown recruitment and radicalization.

Supporting Key Allies Like Israel

Senator Sherrod Brown has an unassailable record of support for Israel — a nation he calls “our most important ally in the Middle East.” Since being elected to Congress, Sherrod has repeatedly supported aid to Israel and favored an aggressive stance towards terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and regional threats like Iran. For as long as he’s a U.S. Senator, Sherrod Brown will remain a stalwart ally of Israel.

SUPPORTING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

“We have to defend the affirmation that black lives matter. In doing so, we acknowledge the disparity between African-American men and women and their white counterparts and the racism that deepens those discrepancies.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Fighting for Economic Justice

Sherrod believes hard work needs to pay off for every American. No one should be denied a fair shot because of their race or their gender. Today, too many are. Sherrod is fighting to close the wage gap that puts African-American women and men at a disadvantage. He is pushing to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, protect unions’ ability to organize and bargain, and end abusive practices like tip pooling, which allows employers to keep hard-earned dollars from their employees. Sherrod defends the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, because he knows we cannot close the wealth gap in our country without cracking down on payday lenders and banks that prey on the vulnerable.

Standing Up For Civil Rights

Sherrod is working to expand and protect the right to vote, and to break down barriers to exercising this fundamental right. As Secretary of State, he expanded access to voter registration materials and in Congress, he helped pass the National Voter Registration Act. In the Senate, Sherrod fights back against discriminatory efforts to disenfranchise millions of Americans. He co-sponsored legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act and opposes the “Voter ID” laws that make it harder for people of color, as well as seniors, students, and low-income people to vote.

Sherrod works to strengthen the civil rights of formerly incarcerated Americans by restoring the voting rights of those who have served their time and helping them find their way when they re-enter society. In 2015 and 2017, Sherrod introduced the Fair Chance Act to “ban the box” on federal government job applications. He co-sponsored the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, which invests in affordable housing and job training for the formerly incarcerated.

Committed to Environmental Justice

Building a more just country means ensuring every American has access to a safe and healthy environment. As part of his work to prevent disasters like the ones in Flint and Sebring, Sherrod introduced a law to invest in safe new water infrastructure and to require public officials to inform their communities if they find evidence of lead contamination.

Championing Education

No child should start out behind because of the school they attend. Sherrod is working to invest in our children’s future by expanding Head Start and updating our aging school buildings, creating safe, inclusive spaces for all students. He consistently calls for oversight for the charter schools that too often try to profit at the expense of our kids’ education.

Fighting for Representation

Sherrod knows that our institutions should look like the communities they serve. He helped confirm Judge Benita Y. Pearson, the first African-American woman ever to serve as a federal judge in Ohio. He and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) investigated the lack of diversity in the private sector and led Congress to propose fairer hiring practices. Sherrod works to make sure his team reflects the diversity of our country and our state — more than a quarter of his office staff identify as people of color and over 20 percent of his campaign team are African-American.

Sherrod supports President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative because it connects young men of color to teachers and mentors who look like them and share their experience, which makes a difference as they grow and learn. He has helped preserve historic sites, from a stop on the Underground Railroad to the homes of civil rights leaders, that make sure that Ohio’s struggle for justice is written into our national history.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

“We have made great strides toward a more level playing field for Ohio women. I am proud to have helped pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and been an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act. But we still have work to do.”

-Senator Sherrod Brown

WHERE SHERROD STANDS:

Senator Brown Protects Women’s Healthcare

Sherrod believes a woman’s reproductive health decisions are between her and her doctor, and he’s repeatedly opposed efforts to take away that freedom. He has also worked to maintain and expand access to affordable birth control and family planning services, including championing efforts to defeat Republican attacks on Planned Parenthood.

Sherrod stands against the “global gag rule,” and has worked to both repeal the rule permanently and to protect federal funding for NGOs that provide family planning services.

Senator Brown Works To Address Threats To Women’s Safety

Sherrod is a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act, voting for its original passage and numerous reauthorizations. He’s also spearheaded legislation to tackle the scourge of human trafficking and get justice for the survivors of these heinous crimes.

Sherrod has advocated for initiatives to address sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. He backed proposals to hold powerful industries, as well as Congress, the military, and federal contractors accountable for their roles in these crimes.

Senator Brown Supports Women In The Workplace

Sherrod is committed to closing the gender pay gap and ending gender-based pay discrimination, which costs Ohio women nearly $30 billion every year. He’s co-sponsored all nine attempts to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and proudly helped pass the Lilly Ledbetter Equal Pay Act, which allows victims of pay discrimination to sue after discovering they have been paid less than men for equal work. Sherrod has also voted for workers to have more paid family, medical, and sick leave benefits to help support women’s economic equality and prosperity.

Senator Brown Defends Access To Comprehensive And Affordable Healthcare

Sherrod has been a staunch defender of the Affordable Care Act, and has resisted efforts to repeal the law and roll back protections that have benefited millions of Ohio women. He’s also a steadfast advocate for breast cancer education and research, and is committed to helping end breast cancer by 2020.

Senator Brown Has Strong Support From Women'

Sherrod consistently earns the support of leading women’s groups around the country. He holds a 100% voting record from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America since joining the Senate.^[129]

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