WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) introduced the Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act to halt the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion services. "Sixty percent of Americans oppose their tax dollars being used to fund abortions," Senator Blackburn said. "We should honor their wishe  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that Methodist LeBonheur Community Outreach will be receiving a grant payment of $1,050,000 in its ongoing teenage pregnancy prevention program, "Be Proud! Be Responsible!" The funding underwrites the program through June of 2020. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "This important funding empowers teens to make educated choices through sexual d  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will be receiving a research grant of $742,480 from the Department of Health and Human Services to study diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism. UTHSC has received $8,908,184 in federal grants so far this year. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "I'm always pleased to announce signif  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams testifies * * * Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, presided over a hearing on "Continuing Challenges to the Voting Rights Act Since Shelby County v. Holder." The Act, repeatedly reauthorized on a bipartisan basis, most recently in 2006, was   more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Suggests his John Tanner Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act remedies partisan gerrymandering * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) reacted to today's 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to resolve the issue of partisan gerrymandering by pointing to a Congressional solution to the problem: his H.R. 124, the John Tanner Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act. Congressman Cohe  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Tells President "justice delayed is justice denied" * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today sent a letter to President Trump recommending he commute the sentences of non-violent drug offenders. See the letter here. Trump last year commuted the sentence of Congressman Cohen's constituent, Alic  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) t  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on U.S. airlines' foreign ownership and control laws. The report (GAO-19-540R) is titled "U.S. Airlines: Information on DOT's Oversight of and Stakeholders' Perspectives on Foreign Ownership". The report was sent to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, and Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, on June 25. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report. What GAO Found: "Department of T  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- The House Science, Space and Technology Committee issued the following testimony by Georgia Tourassi, distinguished scientist and director of the Health Data Sciences Institute of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, at a hearing entitled "Artificial Intelligence: Societal and Ethical Implications": "Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. My name is Georgia Tourassi. I am a Distinguished Scientist in the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate an  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: U.S Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected Alexander County as one of 47 jurisdictions nationwide to participate in a rural economic development program. USDA partners will collaborate for two years with Alexander County, as well as nearby counties in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, to help create long-term economic plans for the region w  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Tim Burchett this week introduced the Do Your Job Act, H.R. 3440, a bill that would cut pay for House and Senate members each year that Congress fails to pass a budget. "There's been a lot of discussion around pay increases for Members of Congress, but why not pay cuts? Nothing gets done - on either side - because of partisan games. Congress is required by law to pass a budget, yet we have  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision on the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census: "While I'm glad the Supreme Court did not allow the addition of the citizenship question to go forward today, I'm worried that Secretary Ross will continue to try and add it in the future. "Adding a question about citizenship to the 2020 Census is a blatant effort to marginalize members of our communities.   more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling that partisan gerrymandering cannot be decided by federal courts: "The Supreme Court's decision is shortsighted and dangerous for our country. "'One person, one vote' was decided in Tennessee (Baker v. Carr) and allowed federal courts to intervene in redistricting cases. "Now that the Supreme Court has failed to stop politicians from rigging the redistricting process, it's up to C  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, ranking member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement after voting in support of the Senate-amended border emergency supplemental appropriations bill: "After 57 days, it is good news that a number of Democrats prioritized the needs of our country and joined Republicans to do what we have been asking of them all along - address the crisis at our southern border. "This bill is neces  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, ranking member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement in opposition to the border emergency supplemental appropriations bill: "The Administration has been more than transparent in the urgent need for additional assistance at the border beginning with their request for $4.5 billion for emergency humanitarian aid over one month ago. "Additionally, Department officials have been fort  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement reacting to the reports that both the Senate and House are working on bills simultaneously to bring humanitarian relief to the border crisis: "Whatever Congress passes must include a permanent solution to the border crisis. "We must fix our legal loopholes. Via the president's emergency declaration, we are getting the physical wall built. But we need to build a legal wall by fixing the loopholes." Rep. Mark   more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the partisan border supplemental bill (H.R. 3401): Last night, Rep. Mark Green voted NO on H.R. 3401, a partisan border supplemental bill that passed with almost no Republican votes. "President Trump requested Congress pass an emergency border bill that'd address the cause of our immigration crisis by taking measures to stop the illegal flow of migrants to our southern border. It'd also provide humanitarian  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act (H.R. 3351): Today, Rep. Mark Green voted NO on H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020. "Congressional Democrats must not be able to help themselves. They love spending taxpayer money," said Rep. Mark Green. "The president requested lower spending via the budget he submitted to Congress. Yet again, D  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), greeted Congressional Art Competition Winner, Tierra Anderson from Fayette County, in Washington D.C. Tierra Anderson was the overall winner of the Congressional Art Competition for West Tennessee and attended the reception in D.C. celebrating the winners of the Congressional Art Competition. Tierra's artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year, whe  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Highlights Importance of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program * * * Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), spoke on the House floor in support of his amendment to highlight the importance of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program (HIDTA). Congressman Kustoff also co-sponsored two significant law enforcement bills: Protecting America's First Responders Act (H.R. 2812) and   more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Mark Green, veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, introduced an amendment to the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act that'd direct the Department of Defense to assess the availability and usage of the assistance of chaplains, houses of worship and other spiritual resources for members of the Armed Forces of all self-identified religious affiliations in order help counter the tragic rate of militar  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Senate amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act (H.R. 3401): "I'm proud we were finally able to come together and pass this critically-needed bill. "I applaud President Trump for his work to address this crisis. "Although this bill does not contain the necessary funding to construct a physical barrier,   more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after voting against the Border Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 3401): "In May, the Trump administration requested $4.5 billion in emergency funding to provide our border enforcement agencies with drastically needed resources to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border. "Unfortunately, House Democrats have refused for weeks to provide the necessary funding and instead introduced a partisan bil  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after voting against the fiscal 2020 Minibus appropriations bill (H.R. 3055): "Once again, House Democrats have put an appropriations package on the floor at unrealistic spending levels. This proposal, which is $176 billion over current budget caps, puts our nation on a direct course towards sequestration. "This disregard for fiscal discipline will have a very real and negative impact on our nation's security. Ad  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: One of the first policy questions I was ever asked was, "Do you think Iran should have a nuclear weapon?" I remember my answer clear as day: "During the Vietnam War, I served nearly 13 months near the Demilitarized Zone in Korea. Does anyone believe the world is safer and more stable now that North Korea has the capability to develop nuclear weapons?" Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' support for militant gr  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, issued the following speech, which was published in the Congressional Record on June 25, honoring the memory of ex-Highland Park Mayor Linsey Porter: I rise today to honor the memory of Linsey Porter, a former mayor of the city of Highland Park, Michigan. His advocacy and leadership will be missed. Born in Detroit in 1954, Linsey Porter grew up in Highland Park, where the Porter Family moved to in 1955. He graduated from Highland Park High  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Reps. Mark Green (R-TN) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced today the bipartisan China Technology Transfer Control Act of 2019 in the U.S. House. The bill would stop the Chinese military's acquisition of sensitive American technology and formally admonish China for its predatory trade practices. In recent years, China has aggressively advanced its military capabilities through IP theft and exploitation of l  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Reps. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following statements praising House passage of the BRAVE Act (H.R. 2109) and a bill (H.R. 2196) to reduce the credit hour requirement for the Edith Nourse Rogers Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics scholarship program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: "Our nation's veterans leave the military with tremendous skills,   more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Reps. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), Van Taylor (R-TX), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH) and Donna Shalala (D-FL) introduced the bipartisan Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act, legislation that will protect patients from unfair and expensive surprise medical bills. The legislation is building support, wit  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Reps. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, Bobby Rush, D-Illinois, Neal Dunn, R-Florida, and Judy Chu, D-California, issued the following statements on the introduction of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Transparency and Accountability Act: "As a physician, I know it doesn't matter how statistically rare your disease is. When you are diagnosed with a serious life-threatening illness, you want to know that there isn't any more you could have done to prevent it. Unfortunately, to  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Reps. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and Mark Takano, D-California, chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement after the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299) was signed into law: "Today, we are proud to say that the tens of thousands of Blue Water Navy veterans can rest easy tonight knowing that the benefits that they earned while serving off the coasts of Vietnam will be guarante  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and Chairman Mark Takano, D-California, issued the following joint statement after the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299) was signed into law: "Today, we are proud to say that the tens of thousands of Blue Water Navy veterans can rest easy tonight knowing that the benefits that they earned while serving off the coasts of Vietnam will be guaranteed. "The Blue Water  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Mark Takano, D-California, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and Ranking Member Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following joint statement after the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299) was signed into law: "Today, we are proud to say that the tens of thousands of Blue Water Navy veterans can rest easy tonight knowing that the benefits that they earned while serving off the coasts of Vietnam will be guaranteed. "The Blue Water Navy Vietn  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Reps. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.), Terry Sewell (D-Ala.), Bradley Wenstrup, D.P.M (R-Ohio), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) and Jason Smith (R-Mo.) led 90 colleagues in a letter to Secretary Alex Azar of the Department of Health and Human Services and Administrator Seema Verma of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of finalizing their efforts to reform the Medicare A  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following floor statement on Poison Center Network Enhancement Act (S. 1199), Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Reauthorization Act (S. 1173) and Lower Health Care Costs Act (S.1895): "First, I'd like to outline the process today. "For senators' convenience, I am going to aimtoward noon for roll call votes on amendments and the bills, if that is all right. "After Senator Murray and I make our opening statements  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump administration announced an executive order to increase price transparency in the health care industry and expand access to direct primary care: "This Executive Order is consistent with bipartisan efforts in the Senate to increase price transparency in health care costs. "Patients can't know how to reduce the cost of their health care unless they kn  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump administration announced an executive order to increase price transparency in the health care industry and expand access to direct primary care: "This Executive Order is consistent with bipartisan efforts in the Senate to increase price transparency in health care costs. "Patients can't know how to reduce the cost of th  more

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the University of Tennessee Board of Directors approved the creation of the Oak Ridge Institute: "The Oak Ridge Institute at the University of Tennessee is an inspired idea that will meet head on one of the most strategic needs of our country by creating a new pipeline of American-trained scientists and engineers to help the United States compete in the global economy. "It also will remind everyone o  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the supplemental appropriations package to address the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border: "President Trump is right to address the humanitarian crisis on the Southern border, and this is exactly the right way to go about doing it - identifying a problem and proposing a solution, then asking Congress for the funding. I'm glad the president and Congress are working together in a bipartisan way   more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the National Defense Authorization Act passed by the Senate today establishes the nation's military spending priorities for troops, including those at Ft. Campbell, and supports important U.S. Department of Energy national security programs at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. "Governing is about setting priorities, and this bill shows  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: After Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, policy experts and advocacy organizations across the spectrum voiced their support of the bipartisan legislation to deliver better health care at lower cost. National Associa  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: After Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, policy experts and advocacy organizations across the spectrum voiced their support of the bipartisan legislation to deliver better health care at lower cost. National Association of Insurance Commissioners: "We are writing to express our apprecia  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: The Senate health committee today approved by a vote of 20-3 the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, legislation that includes 54 proposals from 65 senators -- 36 Democrats and 29 Republicans. "The Lower Health Care Costs Act will reduce what Americans pay out of their pockets for health care in three major ways," said Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). "First, it ends surprise billing. Second, it c  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Includes 54 proposals from 65 senators to reduce what Americans pay out of their own pockets for health care * * * The Senate health committee today approved by a vote of 20-3 the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, legislation that includes 54 proposals from 65 senators -- 36 Democrats and 29 Republicans. "The Lower Hea  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Today, Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) introduced a concurrent resolution condemning the Houthi movement in Yemen for human rights violations, violence against civilians and its ties to Iran. U.S. Representatives Will Hurd (R-Texas), and Michael McCaul (R-  more