WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today said that the Lower Health Care Costs Act--legislation sponsored by Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), which contains 55 specific provisions from 65 different Senators--will reduce health insurance premiums and lower prescription drug costs. "The Lower Health Care Costs Act contai  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined CNBC's Ylan Mui and Wilfred Frost on Closing Bell following the first Senate Judiciary Committee Tech Task Force to tackle technology issues including privacy, data security, censorship and anti-trust. Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) named Senator Blackburn Chairman of the Tech Task Force, with Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing on "Google and Censorship through Search Engines." In her remarks, Senator Blackburn spoke directly to Karan Bhatia, Vice President for Government Affairs & Public Policy for Google. "When we talk about privacy, or lack thereof, data security, or lack thereof, offenders that  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) encouraged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to urge his Brazilian and Paraguayan counterparts to acknowledge the devastation of Hezbollah's presence in their home countries. The letter comes during Secretary Pompeo's visit to Argentina this weekend to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the tragic bombi  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) introduced the Providing Veterans Access to In-State Tuition Act. This bipartisan legislation gives student veterans access to in-state tuition rates at public institutions that receive GI Bill payments, regardless of whether the student veteran is a state resident. Previously, the provision required the student to be  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a decision denying a bid protest filed by AvKARE of Pulaski, Tennessee. According to the GAO, AvKARE "protests the agency's cancellation of request for proposals (RFP) No. 36E79719R0003, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the provision of sildenafil citrate tablets. The protester argues that the agency's decision to cancel the solicitation was unreasonable." The bid protest decision (B-417250) was issued   more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the extent to which the Border Security Improvement Plan includes the elements required by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The report (GAO-19-538R) is titled "Border Security: Assessment of the Department of Homeland Security's Border Security Improvement Plan". The report was sent to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, chairman, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, ranking member of the Se  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. House passed H.R.748, the Middle-Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019. Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) is a co-sponsor of this bill, which repeals the 'Cadillac Tax' provision within Obamacare. Without a repeal, starting in 2022, this controversial Cadillac Tax would be implemented and impose a 40 percent excise tax on all employer-provided health insurance plans that exceed an   more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, issued the following floor speech: Wednesday, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing and America's continued spirit of exploration in a House Floor speech. Congressman Brooks represents the Tennessee Valley of Alabama, home to Marshall Space Flight Center, the birthplace of America's space program. "Mr. Speaker, this week, America celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of mankind's-- and Amer  more

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, ranking Republican member of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release: Last week, House Committee on Small Business members Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced H.R. 3661, the Patriotic Employer Protection Act, which would strengthen Small Business Administration (SBA) programs that protect small business owners whose employees are members of the National Guard and Reserve   more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Aviation subcommittee hearing reviews aircraft safety * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, questioned witnesses about the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) inaction on implementation of the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act that became law more than nine months ago. The law required the FAA to set minimum  more

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Racist and xenophobic comments about members of Congress cannot be tolerated * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced H. Res. 490, a resolution of censure against President Trump for his racist and xenophobic comments about freshman Democratic Members Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts. Th  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Says credit scores should not be a factor in hiring decisions * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Equal Employment for All Act to protect job seekers from unfair discrimination from employers based on credit ratings. The legislation would protect prospective employees from being forced to disclose their credit history as part of an employer's application process. Specifical  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Witness agrees having criminal records expunged is smart policy * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, today questioned witnesses at a hearing on "Women and Girls in the Criminal Justice System." During the question-and-answer session, Congressman Cohen asked Jesselyn McCurdy, Deputy Director of the American   more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, provided opening remarks at a hearing on "Responding to Hate Crimes: The Role of Religious Actors." In the hearing, Congressman Cohen said: "We all need to take religion and use it for good and find common purposes, common values, and not use it to divide us." Find the  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Expresses concerns about political interference at federal agencies * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology Committee, today questioned a witness at a Joint Subcommittee hearing on "Scientific Integrity in Federal Agencies." Congressman Cohen is a cosponsor of the Scientific Integrity Act which requires federal agencies that fund or direc  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) cosponsored and voted in favor of H. Res. 489 that reaffirms our national values and condemns President Trump's recent tweets that four Members of Congress should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came." The vote was 240 to 187. In voting for the measure, Congressman Cohen said: "Since our founding, the United States has been  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Resolution cites failure to comply with lawful subpoenas * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today voted to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in criminal contempt of Congress for their willful failure to comply with lawful subpoenas and document requests. The vote was 230 to 198. Afterward, Congressman Cohen  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - First increase in federal minimum wage in more than a decade * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for and the House passed H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act, legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2025 and give 33 million Americans a raise. The vote was 231 to 199. After the vote, Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "Raising the minimum wage makes sense.  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the passage of the Raise the Wage Act: The bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage from its present rate of $7.25 per hour. "It is virtually impossible to support yourself and your family when you earn $7.25/hour. "I've met with and heard the stories of Metro Nashville school employees, fast-food workers, and others who go to work every day while they try to sup  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Democrat infighting nearly prevented passage of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives today. The annual defense policy bill, which for 58 years has passed with bipartisan support, instead passed on a party-line vote, surviving only because of concessions to far-left socialists, insisting on the elimination of programs critical to defending the United States  more

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) attended the White House's Made in America event in support of an East Tennessee small business, Lightspeed Bicycles. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lightspeed's revolutionary handmade titanium frames offer cyclists an unparallel riding experience utilizing state-of-the-art technology. Congressman Fleischmann released the following statement regarding Lightsp  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement in remembrance of the five service members who lost their lives in the July 16, 2015 terror attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee: "Four years ago, tragedy struck East Tennessee when an unconscionable act of terror claimed the lives of five servicemen. "I ask for your prayers as the wounds in our community continue to heal. "Today, we honor the memory of the Fallen Five: Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, Ser  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), voted against H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act. This bill would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 dollars per hour. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, a $15 increase in the minimum wage would eliminate 1.3 million jobs across our country, and it has the potential to eliminate up to 3.7 million jobs. It is predicted to cost Tennessee over 6  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Internal Revenue Service released a guidance expanding the list of preventative care benefits for patients with high deductible health plans and pre-tax health savings accounts: "Nearly one in five Americans is enrolled in a HDHP and HSA in order to take more control over their health care spending. "For too long, using those pre-tax dollars on many drugs and medical equipment to treat chronic condition  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and several other Committee Members introduced H.R. 3788, the VA Child Care Protection Act. This bill would prevent a child care provider from caring for children in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) child care program   more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: One thing that makes America the greatest nation in the world is our belief in the dignity of work. Work can provide purpose in our lives, and we take pride in the work we do. Hardworking Americans can provide for their families because of good-paying jobs. Thanks to our booming economy, overall wages are higher, hourly earnings are up 3.1 percent in the last 12 months, and job opportunities are on the rise with cur  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: This morning, Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Representative Harley Rouda (D-CA) introduced H.R. 3820, the Effective Drug Control Strategy Act, along with Reps. David Trone (D-MD), Gus Bilrakis (R-FL), Ben McAdams, (D-UT), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Peter King (R-NY), and David Joyce (R-OH). The Effective Drug Control Strategy Act would require the Office of National Drug Control  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan bill has received the endorsement of the American Legion * * * Today, Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) and Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) introduced H.R. 3661, the Patriotic Employer Protection Act, which would strengthen programs intended to protect small business owners whose employees are military Reservists deployed on active duty. "Men and women in East Tennessee and across th  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: * * * - Would Provide Grants to Local Governments with High Crime Rates * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congresswoman Val Demings (FL-10) today introduced the Safer Streets Act, which would create a new grant program to support local communities with high rates of violent crime. Afterward, Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "The Safer Streets Act is intended to provide additional fun  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), a Member of the Committee, introduced H.R. 3826, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. This bipartisan bill would prevent veterans from losing their Second Amendment right to purchase or own a firearm because  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), a Member of the Committee, introduced H.R. 3826, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. This bipartisan bill would prevent veterans from losing their Second Amendment right to purchase or own a firearm because they receive help managing their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following floor statement on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services wage index rule: "Last month, during National Nurses Week, Ballad Health, a health care system in East Tennessee, announced it would be giving several thousand nurses a raise. "Alan Levine, who leads Ballad, announced a $10 million investment in pay increases for nurses. "He said, "Our nurses and those who work with them in the provision of direct patien  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on his vote to confirm Tennessean Cliff Corker as a district judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee: "Cliff Corker currently serves as a United States Magistrate Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. "He was selected to serve as a magistrate judge by the District Court Judges of the Eastern District of Tennessee - a testament to his qualifications to be a district co  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation also raises the tobacco age to 21, funds community health centers, diabetes research * * * The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today said that the Lower Health Care Costs Act--legislation sponsored by Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-W  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Employers across the country are voicing their support for the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation to reduce what Americans pay out of their own pockets for health care, which the Senate health committee approved by a vote of 20-3 in June and includes 55 proposals from 65 senators -- 36 Democrats and  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said on the Senate floor that a new Trump administration rule will help curb the trend of rural hospital closures in Tennessee by updating the formula that determines how much hospitals will be reimbursed by Medicare. "Last month, Alan Levine, who leads Ballad Health, a health care system in East Tennessee, announced a $10 million investment in pay   more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) convened the first Senate Judiciary Committee Tech Task Force to tackle tech industry issues on privacy, data security, censorship, antitrust and competition. Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) named Senator Blackburn Chairman of the Tech Task Force, with Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) serving as co-chair. Today's Tech Task F  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement about the confirmation of Clifton L. Corker as the district judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee: "East Tennessee will be well served by Cliff Corker. "I am glad my colleagues in the Senate have recognized that Cliff's time as a U.S. Magistrate Judge and over twenty years of legal experience make him a fantastic choice for this position. "Congratulations to Cliff - the 129th qualifi  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on July 15, on the bicentennial anniversary of Simpson County: Today I would like to join my fellow Kentuckians in Simpson County as they celebrate their bicentennial anniversary. Along our Commonwealth's southern border with Tennessee, Simpson County is home to two centuries of rich history and cultural heritage. Today, I would like to mark this impressive mi  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) joined Fox Business Network to discuss his legislation to lower out of pocket health care costs and "New Manhattan Project for Clean Energy." You can find excerpts below and click here (https://youtu.be/xKJ7vpI5rCg) to watch yesterday's interview. On the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019: Liz Claman: "I want to get to health care. Bernie Sanders says Medicare for A  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has received a response from Snap VP of Global Public Policy Jennifer Stout after she raised concerns that the Snapchat app enables child predators and exposes children to explicit sexual content. "Keeping our children safe online is paramount," said Senator Blackburn. "I am appreciative of Snap's responsiveness and willingness to engage in a productive  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of three individuals for positions in the Trump Administration on July 18: Clifton L. Corker, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Lynda Blanchard, of Alabama, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia. Donald R. Tapia, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to Jamaica.  more