NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 5 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today asked the nation's state legislators for their help to make it easier for students to apply for college. "You know, the hardest thing I have had to do in Washington is remind people you do not get any smarter flying an hour to Washington once a week. I believe, the best decisions are made state by state and community by community," Alexand  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) introduced S. 2430, the Paving the Way for Rural Communities Act of 2019 to remove outdated, burdensome regulatory hurdles from rural areas. This will increase rural communities' access to better economic opportunities and infrastructure projects. "Tennessee's rural communities are the heart of our state's agricult  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on issues regarding the approval of generic drug applications in the first review cycle. The report (GAO-19-565) is titled "Generic Drug Applications: FDA Should Take Additional Steps to Address Factors That May Affect Approval Rates in the First Review Cycle". The report was sent to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, an  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the prevalence of obesity and the use and insurance coverage of obesity drugs. The report (GAO-19-577) is titled "Obesity Drugs: Few Adults Used Prescription Drugs for Weight Loss and Insurance Coverage Varied". The report was sent to Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Patty Murray,  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: Each year, Heritage Action (the political action arm of the Heritage Foundation) evaluates Congressional records on the issues of "free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense." In 2019, Heritage Action ranks Tennessee Valley Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) #1 out of 435 Congressmen, with a 100% grade, for his support of America's foundational   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), announced the USDA will invest $13,729,000 in loans and $2,826,000 in grants to Crocket, Tipton, and Henry County. This money will go towards upgrading water lines, upgrading the wastewater collection system and treatment plant in Paris, and making the Tipton distribution system more fail-safe and well operations more energy efficient. "This money is great news an  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Memphis and Shelby County get funds to improve port security * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that Memphis and Shelby County will receive grants totaling $799,048 from the Department of Homeland Security to make transportation infrastructure improvements to meet their maritime security and facility security plans. Memphis will receive $283,953 and Shelby County will receive $5  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be receiving a grant of $201,210 for cancer research manpower from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "It's always good to see federal grants coming to our premiere children's cancer research hospital and especially nice to see that this one will und  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: * * * - Has long history of supporting sensible restrictions on access to guns * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today reacted to the 31 deaths and multiple injuries this weekend by shooters in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, with the following statement: "The horrific killings in Texas and Ohio are yet another grim reminder that people with nefarious motives are getting access to weapons of war and u  more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, July 30 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority project was awarded a Discretionary Grant totaling $2.2 million from the Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration: The funds are part of the FTA's Low-or No-Emission (Low-No) Program and -were awarded to 38 projects nationwide totaling $84.9 million in FY2019. To improve the efficiency and technology of modern tr  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the text of the following speech in the Congressional Record Aug. 6, recognizing the 75th anniversary of Operation Dragoon and the Southern France Campaign - the Second D-Day in France and the Liberation of Southern France: I rise today in recognition of the upcoming 75th Anniversary of Operation Dragoon and the Southern France Campaign--the Second D-Day in France and the Liberation of Southern France. Operation Dragoon began on 15 Aug  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 7 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) hosted an opioid roundtable with U.S Attorney-Mike Dunavant, Pharmacist-Jason Kizer, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Director-Brian Chambers, District Attorney for the 25th Judicial District-Mark Davidson, and Drug Task Force for the 25th Judicial District- John Thompson. They discussed community and law enforcement resources to help combat the opioid epidemic  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Daniel Lipinski, D-Illinois, issued the text of the following speech in the Congressional Record Aug. 6, on the 140th anniversary of La Grange: I rise today to honor the residents of La Grange, Illinois as the village celebrates its 140th anniversary. La Grange enjoys a long and vibrant history beginning in the early 19th century. The area, originally consisting of prairie land, was first settled as a result of land grants offered by President Martin Van Buren. One o  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Aug. 9 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Department of Human and Health Services announced $501,000 health cluster grants and an opioid response grant of $1 million in the 1st Congressional District of Tennessee: "For too long communities all over the United States have been completely ravaged by the ongoing opioid epidemic, specifically right here in East Tennessee. "I am so proud of the work being done to help address this crisis  more

SNEEDVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 9 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Appalachian Regional Commission announced an investment totaling $912,000 to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in Sneedville, Tennessee: "I am very pleased to see a such a strong investment being made in Hancock County. "The wastewater treatment plant, which was more than 30 years old, was in much need of an upgrade. "Not only will this pro  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Aug. 5 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement in response to the shootings in Texas and Ohio: "My heart breaks for the families and friends of the victims of these recent shootings. I join President Trump and all political leaders in denouncing the hateful ideology of white supremacy, which the El Paso shooter used as his justification. It has no place in our society. "I am troubled that instead of seeking to find common ground to stop future in  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Aug. 7 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: First, I'd like to take a moment to recognize the victims of the recent tragic events in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas. My heart breaks for the families and friends of the victims of these recent shootings. I join President Trump and all political leaders in denouncing the hateful ideology of white supremacy, which the El Paso shooter used as his justification. It has no place in our society. I am trou  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 5 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio: "Our nation cannot ignore these mass shootings. That is why last year I helped pass a new law to eliminate loopholes in the background check system for gun purchasers. Two years ago, I helped rewrite federal mental health laws to improve the quality and coordination of mental health care, focusing on early intervention. "New laws I co-  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 8 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the new Trump administration rule made final today will help curb the trend of rural hospital closures in Tennessee. "This final rule from the Trump Administration will help rural hospitals keep up with the cost of providing care by updating the formula that determines how much Medicare will reimburse hospitals for patient care,"   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio: "The mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton were horrific tragedies perpetrated by evil individuals, and I condemn all forms of hate and hateful acts of any kind. The actions of law enforcement officers and first responders in stopping both shooters saved lives and allowed the wounded to get immediate care. "We will work with the President to con  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Awards Grants to University Totaling More Than $1.1 Million * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that the University of Memphis will be receiving two grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services totaling $1,171,237. One grant, for $897,342, will go to an Opioid Workforce Expansion Program for Paraprofessionals. The o  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the shootings in El Paso and Dayton: "The senseless mass killings in El Paso and Dayton are tragic and inexcusable. "As the president said, hate has no place in our country, and I want to, once again, clearly and unequivocally condemn white supremacy in all forms. "The issue of mass violence that our nation faces must be addressed, but we must also be unwavering in defense of our Constitutional righ  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced the fiscal 2020 final inpatient prospective payment system rule that rebalances the Medicare area wage index to better protect rural hospitals: "For too long, hospitals in rural America have been adversely impacted by disproportionately lower reimbursement levels from the Medicare AWI. Rural hospitals - like those in East Tennessee - end up with reimbursement ra  more