Jena Powell

PRESS RELEASE: Powell, Schmidt Introduce Prosecuting Trafficking Proceeds Act

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COLUMBUS – State Reps. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) and Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) last week introduced House Bill 276, legislation that aims to better target pimps and traffickers and aid in the fight against human sex trafficking in Ohio.

The bill prohibits an individual from knowingly receiving money or anything of value from a prostitute that was exchanged for sexual activity, making it a third degree felony or a second degree felony if the prostitute is a minor.

“Ohio has the fourth highest rate of suspected human trafficking in the United States,” said Powell. “Victims, often underage girls, are coerced and abused while their victimizer walks away with a profit.”

The bill sponsors noted that current law makes it difficult to charge pimps and trafficking because they are not physically present at the scene where prostitution is occurring.

“In order to push against the indignity and horror of sex trafficking we must bring these people out of the shadows,” said Schmidt. “The goal of this legislation is to serve as a new tool that will make it easier for law enforcement and prosecutors to tie traffickers and pimps to illegal activity and return convictions for these heinous crimes.”

The measure has the support of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

H.B. 276 now awaits referral to a committee.

 

State Representative Jena Powell is currently serving her second term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County.

State Representative Jean Schmidt is serving her first term in the Ohio House of Representatives. She represents the 65th house district, which includes northwestern Clermont County.

For more information, contact Rep. Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov or contact Rep. Schmidt’s office at (614) 466-8134 or rep65@ohiohouse.gov.

Jena Powell

Powell Cosponsors Legislation Prohibiting Vaccine Passports

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COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) recently cosponsored legislation that prohibits vaccine passports.

“We’ve witnessed unprecedented government overreach during the course of the pandemic, and vaccine passports are another extreme method of stripping Ohioans of their freedom,” said Powell. “Showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination is an invasion of privacy and prohibits individuals from exercising their everyday rights.”

Powell noted New York is the first state to announce a vaccine passport program titled “Excelsior Pass,” which plans to use QR code technology to allow vaccinated individuals into venues.

“In Ohio, we value personal liberty and I will continue fighting to stop radical government overreach on my constituents,” added Powell.

The measure is sponsored by State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and currently awaits a bill number.

State Representative Jena Powell is currently serving her second term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County.
For more information, contact Rep. Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.
Jena Powell

Powell supports ‘Promise to America’s Children’

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COLUMBUS — State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) on Monday signed her support to The Promise to America’s Children, a collaborative effort between the Family Policy Alliance, The Heritage Foundation, and Alliance Defending Freedom that outlines 10 guiding principles to protect children in America.

The goal of the initiative is to rally support for legislation that promotes pro-family and pro-religious freedom policy.

“In today’s age, our children are constantly exposed to explicit, adult content through social media, entertainment, cultural forces, and oftentimes, our own government,” said Powell. “We have a collective responsibility to protect the health, privacy, safety, and relationships of children in America.”

Below are the 10 guiding principles for The Promise to America’s Children:

1. Every child deserves to be protected from being used in or exposed to pornography, graphic sexual content or activities as well as from being exposed to it in media and on the Internet.

2. Every child deserves an education that is suited for their specific needs and development as guided by their parents, including free from graphic sexual curriculum or content, the promotion of abortion, and politicized ideas about sexual orientation and gender identity. To protect this right, all public school sexual education programs should be opt-in, voluntarily chosen by parents. A general opt-out should be provided for other sensitive topics that families do not believe is appropriate for their children. Parents should have the right to review all curriculum, reading materials, teacher’s guides, and computer programs or apps.

3. Every child deserves the right to free speech, to either speak or not speak and to affirm or not affirm messages or ideas that violate their beliefs or conscience.

4. Every child deserves the opportunity to be guided and supported in making the healthiest decisions for their current and future physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual health, including obtaining counseling that the parents determine is safe, appropriate, and in the child’s best interest, without government interference that excludes parents or exhibits a bias based on beliefs about sexuality, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

5. Every child deserves safety and privacy in sex-specific spaces such as locker rooms, showers, and restrooms at schools and other federally-funded public facilities.

6. Every child deserves the opportunity to participate in fair and safe athletic competitions. Female athletes should not be forced to compete against biological males who identify as female in sports competitions intended for females.

7. Every child deserves the opportunity to be affirmed and in their genetically-determined sex, and to be supported as they mature through puberty and other normal adolescent changes that shape their maturity and reproductive capacity. Gender reassignment medical treatments (including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sterilizing surgeries) are neither natural nor healthy, and should not be permitted on minors.

8. Every child deserves a “forever family.” Authorities should not limit or reduce the pool of foster or adoptive parents by forcing either child welfare agencies or prospective adoptive or foster care parents to violate their moral or religious beliefs, including the belief that every child deserves a mother and a father.

9. Every child deserves a relationship with their mother and father. No child should be taken from their parents over disagreements between their parents and the state about sexual orientation/gender identity counseling, therapy, or medical procedures.

10. Every child deserves to have their parents informed of and involved in important life decisions. Authority figures (including teachers, counselors, or medical professionals) should not withhold information about a child’s sexual activity, development, or identity from parents or take any action that undermines the parents’ role in guiding the child in these areas. Nor should authority figures encourage or coerce a child to withhold information about important life decisions from the parent

Jena Powell

Rep. Powell Op-Ed: Happy Thanksgiving!

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On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln announced the nation would “observe the last
Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father.” This
announcement officially declared the last Thursday of every November to be a national holiday
of Thanksgiving.

This year, it’s no question we are facing hardships as a community, state, and nation. However,
we still have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I especially want to highlight one of
our greatest blessings – our constitutional freedoms in the United States.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, but it does not change our
inalienable rights. It does not change our right to assembly and association, protected by the First
Amendment. No governmental body can tell you who can and cannot gather in your home –
including the Governor. And for many Ohioans, Thanksgiving serves as a day of worship to
thank God for His many blessings. Your religious freedom is, of course, protected by the First
Amendment.

This is not the first pandemic America has seen, and it probably will not be the last. While our
way of life has changed this year, the Constitution remains the same. Thanksgiving is a time for
all of us to slow down and remember the blessings we are given. I believe one of the most
important blessings is being a citizen of the United States of America, where we can exercise our
First Amendment rights.

I hope you and your family have an enjoyable and healthy Thanksgiving.
Jena Powell

Jena Powell

COVID-19 Suicide and Overdose Call Data – Troy, Ohio

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Let’s talk about numbers. Americans have 1% chance of contracting Covid-19 and .04% chance of dying from it.

Year to date suicide calls in Troy, Ohio, our community, have increased 267%.

Two hundred and sixty-seven percent.

We cannot live in fear, we must care for our family, neighbors, and community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the years we’ve been at war with a raging drug epidemic. Through so much work in our community, we were seeing amazing headway on fighting the drug  epidemic that’s been plaguing too many families for years.

Sadly, year to date, we have a 178% increase in overdose calls in 2020.

This is heartbreaking to see in our community.

We cannot continue to live in fear over Covid-19 and allow individuals to be in isolation fighting suicide and overdose alone.

 

 

 

 

As a community, we must be aware of the true numbers and data in our community.

Overdose calls year to date are up 178%. Suicide calls year to date are up 267%.

1% of Americans have contracted COVID-19 and .04% have died from it. 

 

State Representative Jena Powell is currently serving her first term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County. For more information, contact Rep Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Jena Powell

Open Letter To Pastors & Churches of Miami and Darke Counties

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Hi! I’m Jena Powell, your State Representative. Thank you for serving our community through your calling as a pastor, and through your leadership with your Church.

I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself and about my testimony. I grew up on a farm in southern Darke County. Currently, I own a billboard company with my family across Ohio and Indiana called Huntington Outdoor. While in Columbus, I work to reduce regulation, cut taxes, enact pro-life and pro-family legislation, and defend our 2nd Amendment rights. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, I view every policy through the lens of Scripture.

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins and rose again, having eternal victory over sin. Romans 10:9 says that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

We are sinners in need of a Savior, because sin brings death upon us. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The good news is that Jesus came down to earth, lived a perfect life, and was the atonement for our sins. As Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are forgiven of our sins when we call upon the name of the Lord. That’s the gospel. But the chief good of the gospel is not forgiveness, justification, or eternal life — as wonderful as these are. The highest, fullest, deepest, sweetest good of the gospel is God Himself, enjoyed by His redeemed people. The gospel is the good news that we get to be in relationship with Jesus and get to worship Jesus, every single day. No work we do can earn salvation; it’s already bought by Jesus by His perfect life. What a beautiful gift He gives His people.

I am incredibly blessed by His gift of salvation in my life. As an undeserving sinner, my Hope is in Jesus Christ alone.

The Christian church is not a building, but a body of believers united in Christ. Its role is to worship God, nurture and edify and reach out to a suffering world with the saving message of the gospel as well as the practical compassion and mercy exemplified in Christ.

With this knowledge, the church should be at the heart of every community – sharing the Gospel, loving our neighbors, and providing a space for fellowship. I will always be fighting for religious liberty, and for the rights of churches to be faithful to their witness in the world.

Thank you again for everything that you do for individuals and families in our community. If there is ever anything that our office can do to serve you, or if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call us at 614-466-8114 or email us at Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Sincerely,

Jena Powell

State Representative | OH-80

State Representative Jena Powell represents Ohio’s 80th House District. She can be reached at Rep80@ohiohouse.gov or (614) 466-8114.

Team Powell

Congratulations, Troy Christian Graduates!

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Congrats, Troy Christian Class of 2020!

We are so proud of each of you, and of the effort you have put forth. Best wishes on your future successes!

Chase Aivalotis

Owen Bailey

Matthew Beachy

Jason Blake

Emil Bowen

Lauren  Camp

Jared Chong

Brady Clawson

Jenna Douglas

Sarah Earhart

Conrad Echemann

Claudia Fecher

Izaak Frantom

Abigail   Gilfillen

Aaron Gillespie

Gracie Glaser

Isaac Gray

Anna Hivner

CalebHundley

Nathaniel Hunnicutt

Jordan  Isenbarger

Gabriel Ison

Tyler Jackson

Laura Johnson

Joel Kellar

William Kenworthy

Ryley Kincaid

Preston Lair

Isaac Leganik

Samantha Lentz

Bennett Lowry

Jaelyn Manley

Jonah Mathews

Kaitlyn  Misirian

Craig Montgomery

Katie Nefedov

Connor Peters

Cherish Pierce

Kristen  Rodrigues

Alexis Salazar

Hope Sando

Caleb Schroer

Richard Schulte

Zachary Seagraves

Collin Sebor

Christopher Setser

Andrew Shaffer

Eleanor Smith

Rachel   Stewart

Kirsten  Strait

Kalista   Swihart

Chase Tanner

Emma Taylor

Kelly Tighe

Aiden Tkach

Micah Trimbach

Ethan Turner

Robert  Ventura

Olivia Voisinet

Nathan Waltz

Aaron Warden

Chase Weyrauch

Brittin Williams

Charles Wolfe

-Office of State Rep. Jena Powell

Team Powell

Congratulations, Bradford Graduates!

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Congrats, Bradford Class of 2020!

We are so proud of all the work you have put into your studies, and wish you all the best of success!

Hunter Beireis

Tristin Booker

Dalton Bubeck

Keanan Clark

Corey Cotrell

Drew Davidson

Victoria Derstine

Dylan Fair

Kegan Fair

Madison Fries

Erica Gaynor

Gabriel Gill

Caroline Gleason

Corie Hamilton

Brant Helman

Riley Houser

EJ Jones

Jaiden Leistner

Jeffrey Martin

Kaileigh McGlinch

Nick Mowery

Josh Nusbaum

Savannah Penny

Jacob Phillips

Kaitlynne Reineke

Jonathan Richardson-Welch

Jay Roberts

Jessica Roth

Brayden Sanders

Shelby Shafer

Jared Shellabarger

Mercedes Smith

Wyatt Spangler

Fischer Spencer

Jericka Thacker

Gavin Trevino

-Office of State Rep. Jena Powell

Jena Powell

OP-ED: Powell Announces House Passage of Oversight Bill

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For Immediate Release:
May 6, 2020

OP-ED: Powell Announces House Passage of Oversight Bill

When I go to Columbus, I fight to represent my community in Miami and Southern Darke County. We want to do everything we can to protect everyone in our community, including the elderly and the immunocompromised.

Back in March, we had limited data with regard to COVID-19. Governor DeWine made a decision with the data he had at that point.

Businesses, families, and nonprofits rose to the challenge of flattening the curve.
As we’ve looked at COVID-19 and the current data, we have a growing concern and frustration.
We worked tirelessly to flatten the curve and we protected the vulnerable… now, the data from the virus has shown us that it is not as deadly or as contagious as once thought back in March.
In our communities, we are seeing:


• Suicide rates increase
• Child abuse increase
• Small businesses fall apart
• Unemployment skyrocket


This is unacceptable with the data we now have.


When our community urged Dr. Acton to open Ohio safely, Dr. Acton instead extended the Stay Safe order through the month of May.

While bureaucrats can sit in their million dollar condos in Columbus and sign the Stay at Home order, my community doesn’t have the luxury of doing that. We have to get back to work and we can do it safely.


That is why Substitute Senate Bill 1 is crucial.


We have three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial – none of which is more important than the others. Checks and balances in government are crucial as we move forward.
We have to make sure that everyone’s voice is being heard. That is what Sub. S.B. 1 does.


Today, I voted yes on Sub. S.B. 1 to allow a legislative checks and balances on Dr. Acton’s power. All orders issued by the Director of the Department of Health will cease after 14 days unless the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review votes for an extension.


In addition, Sub. S.B. 1 will reduce government regulation and cut red tape by requiring state agencies to reduce their regulatory restrictions by 30% by 2022 and by prohibiting an agency from adopting new regulatory restrictions that increase their restriction percentage of rules.
I also voted yes on S.B. 55, which included an amendment to decriminalize violations of health department orders related to the pandemic.


This is a step in the right direction to ensure your voice is being heard in Columbus.


-Jena Powell – State Rep. | Ohio 80 

State Representative Jena Powell is currently serving her first term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County.