Thursday - March 28, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Tennessee Newsletter for Sunday August 04, 2019 ( 23 items )  

Alexander Votes to Fund National Defense, National Laboratories, National Parks, NIH
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, saying it increases discretionary spending, which funds our national defense, national laboratories, national parks and the National Institutes of Health, which "is not the part of the federal budget that is driving our $22 trillion federal debt." "What this two year budget agreement does is important. First, it suspe  more

Alexander: Amid Washington's Turmoil, Three Senate Committees Approved Legislation to Lower Out of Pocket Health Care Costs
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following floor remarks on health care costs: Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today called for Congress to take up legislation to reduce the cost of health care in September. "I often recommend that Tennesseans look at the United States Congress as if it were a split screen television set. Here's what I mean by that: during the last month amid Washington's turmoil--Trump vs. The Squad, Mueller testi  more

Alexander: New Middle Tennessee Boulevard Creates a Great First Impression for Great University
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today spoke at the opening of Middle Tennessee Boulevard, which runs along Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro. "Middle Tennessee Boulevard creates a great first impression for a great university. According to landscape architecture professor Phillip Waite, most prospective students decide within ten minutes of being on campus whether the colle  more

Blackburn Unveils Rural Health Agenda to Bring Care to Underserved Areas
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced her Rural Health Agenda, aimed at addressing health care delivery challenges in rural America to maintain quality care close to home. The Rural Health Agenda includes three bills: the bipartisan Rural America Health Corps Act, cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska); the Rural Hea  more

Blackburn, Colleagues Sponsor Pro-Life Legislation to Save Human Embryos
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) to introduce the Patients First Act, which would promote stem cell research without the creation, use, destruction, or discarding of human embryos. "Medical breakthroughs achieved via stem cell research need not come at the expense of innocent life," said Senator Blackburn. "Protecting the s  more

Blackburn, Tester Bringing 21st Century Care and Benefits to Veterans With Information Technology Oversight Bill
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), unveiled bipartisan legislation yesterday to improve the information technology (IT) system at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Department of Veterans Affairs IT Reform Act holds the VA accountable by increasing transparency into proposed and current IT spending on critical programs for veterans. The bill also ensures that vetera  more

Congressman Mo Brooks Defends Tennessee Valley From Cnn Mean-Spirited and Dumb Fake News Attack
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: Tuesday morning, CNN's John Berman drew Alabama's Tennessee Valley into the President Trump versus Congressman Cummings/Baltimore fray. Today, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) responded to CNN's mean-spirited, bad "Fake News," and rather dumb attacks on the Tennessee Valley. While interviewing Republican Party Chair Ronna McDaniel about President Trump's ruckus with Congressman Elijah Cummings and Baltimore, Berma  more

GAO Issues Report on Electronic Health Records
WASHINGTON, July 28 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on key aspects of Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture and the Department of Veterans Affairs's plans for the new acquisition of the Cerner system. The report (GAO-19-125) is titled "Electronic Health Records: VA Needs to Identify and Report System Costs". The report was sent to Rep. Mark Takano, D-California, chairman, and Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking member of the House Veterans'   more

Rep. Cohen Announces $11.2 Million Grant to Memphis International Airport
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Funding will upgrade electrical infrastructure in Concourse B and replace passenger boarding bridges * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that Memphis International Airport will receive $11,286,390 from the Federal Aviation Administration to upgrade the electrical infrastructure of Concourse B and replace four passenger boarding bridges. The funding also reimburses the Memphis-Sh  more

Rep. Cohen on Fact-Finding Visit to Mexican Border
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Will observe implementation of Trump immigration policies * * * On Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) will join Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and a delegation of 22 additional House Members to investigate the impact of Trump Administration immigration policies in and around El Paso, Texas. Co  more

Rep. Fleischmann Issues Statement on Senate's Confirmation of Kilbride
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm William B. "Bill" Kilbride to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors: "I am thrilled to hear that the Senate voted to confirm Bill Kilbride to the TVA Board of Directors. "I know Bill will bring an abundance of knowledge and expertise to the TVA Board. From his track record of success at Mohawk Industries, to his time leading the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Co  more

Rep. Kustoff Introduces Bill to Expand Options for Insurance Claims in Times of Disaster
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the Claims Licensing Advancement for Interstate Matters Act (CLAIM Act). This bill will help independent insurance adjusters file insurance claims more efficiently, ensuring consumers expeditiously receive the funds needed to repair and rebuild communities - particularly in times of disaster. "West Tennessea  more

Rep. Kustoff Names Post Office in Honor Of USPS Workers Killed in Line of Duty
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), introduced legislation to name the Post Office in Henning, TN after two USPS workers, Judy Spray and Paula Croom Robinson, who were killed in the line of service in 2010. H.R. 3680 will designate the Post Office at 415 North Main Street in Henning, TN to be named as the "Paula Robinson and Judy Spray Memorial Post Office Building." This measure was supported by every mem  more

Rep. Kustoff Surveys Border Crisis in El Paso, Texas
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), visited El Paso, TX to see and hear first-hand what must be done to address the humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. Rep. Kustoff visited El Paso Del Norte border crossing, met with Customs and Border Patrol, saw the construction of the border wall, met and was briefed by the Joint Task Force-North, and went to the El Paso Intelligence Center. "I am   more

Reps. Cohen, Rush, Sarbanes, Price Demand Answers on Coal Ash From EPA
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Thirty-one Members of Congress send letter to force agency to deal with toxic ground water contamination * * * In light of yesterday's announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposal to continue to weaken safeguards for coal ash piles, Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09), Bobby Rush (IL-01), John Sarbanes (MD-03), and David Price (NC-04) wrote a letter to Andrew Wheel  more

Reps. Green, Walker to Introduce Resolution Condemning Antifa Terrorism
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: This week, Reps. Mark Green (R-TN) and Mark Walker (R-NC) will introduce a resolution condemning Antifa violence and recognizing that it engages in domestic terrorism. "America should reject all forms of political violence, whether it comes from the right or the left." said Rep. Mark Green. "For too long Antifa has evaded justice. This brutal organization is a threat to the First Amendment and every value t  more

Sen. Alexander Issues Floor Remarks on Health Care Costs
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following floor remarks on health care costs: "I often recommend that you look at the United States Congress as if it were a split screen television set. "Here's what I mean by that. "During the last month, on one side of the screen you saw the usual turmoil: Trump vs. The Squad, Mueller testifying, impeachment votes, battles over the border, presidential candidates posturing, and of course the daily tweets. "On the other s  more

Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on Proposal to Increase Hospital Price Transparency
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration's proposal to give patients more information about hospital prices: "This step by the Administration to help patients know better what they are paying for health care services is complementary to several provisions in the Alexander-Murray Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 that was approved by a vote of 20-3 by the Senate health committee  more

Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on Senate Labor Committee Approval of EEOC Nominations
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the committee advanced two Equal Employment Opportunity Commission nominations: On the nomination of Sharon Gustafson to be General Counsel of the EEOC: "Ms. Gustafson is an attorney with 28 years of experience in handling a wide variety of employment-related disputes before the EEOC and the federal courts. In 2016, the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawye  more

Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on Trump Administration Drug Importation Plan
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration's drug importation action plan: "This is the first administration to take concrete steps to allow importation of prescription drugs to reduce their cost and I welcome it. "The key for me is whether this plan preserves the Food and Drug Administration's gold standard for safety and effectiveness. "Millions   more

Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on Trump Administration Drug Importation Plan
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration's drug importation action plan: "This is the first administration to take concrete steps to allow importation of prescription drugs to reduce their cost and I welcome it. "The key for me is whether this plan preserves the Food and Drug Administration's gold standard for safety and effectiveness. "Millions of Americans every day buy pre  more

Sen. Blackburn Issues Statement on 150th Anniversary of McKenzie
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on July 29, on the 150th anniversary of McKenzie: I rise today to acknowledge and honor the city of McKenzie, Tennessee's sesquicentennial anniversary. McKenzie has come a long way since her first settlers followed the Natchez Trace to the tall grasses and fertile soil of western Tennessee's "Barren Lands." What started as a cluster of fiercely competitive   more

Sen. Blackburn Issues Statement on Budget Vote
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after her vote against the proposed bipartisan budget agreement: "Governance requires tough choices, and if everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. "Our priority should be ensuring our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend U.S. interests, our allies, and freedom. Holding those resources hostage to bloated, inefficient and wasteful federal spending is shameful and in  more