US Senator Rob Portman received the Henry M. Mann Award during a special presentation at the annual luncheon of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI).

The occasion marked OKI’s first annual luncheon in two years, due to the pandemic.

“Senator Portman, it is fair to say, better than anyone, that your life embodies the qualities of dedicated and selfless service and high ethics for the good of all,” said the Chairman of the OKI Board, David Painter, who presented the award to Portman. “That, sir, is true for this region and that, sir, is true for this nation. “

Portman was instrumental in negotiating the passage of the bipartisan $ 1,000 billion infrastructure bill in the US Senate. He used today’s speech to highlight this historic investment and how it will “repair and improve our country’s crumbling infrastructure”.

The Henry M. Mann Award is OKI’s most prestigious honor. This is not an annual award, it is reserved for people whose service and dedication to the OKI region spans a lifetime.

The namesake of the award, Henry M. Mann, has served on OKI’s board of directors and executive committee for over 20 years. He was also President of OKI in 1986. He has been a teacher, WWII veteran, business executive and mayor of Lakeside Park.

Portman said he “enjoyed speaking to the OKI members at today’s annual luncheon. The work this organization does for the Tri-State region is essential to our region as we continue to address urgent infrastructure, economic and environmental needs. “

Nearly 400 people, including local elected officials, as well as representatives of the voluntary sector and the private sector, attended the sold-out event.

OKI is a council of local governments, business organizations and community groups committed to developing collaborative strategies, plans and programs to improve the quality of life and the economic development potential of the tri-state.