WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Fox News' Mornings with Maria to discuss her legislation to require a DNA test to substantiate the familial relationship between an alien and an accompanying minor. The legislation will prevent drug traffickers and gang members from trafficking children. The Senator also discussed the Department of Justice's Inspector General's report on alleged FISA abuse. O  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Department of Veterans Affairs Family Caregiver Program. The report (GAO-19-618) is titled "VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Improve Family Caregiver Program". The report was sent to Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia, chairman, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Rep. Mark Takano, D-California, chairman, and Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking member of the Hous  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Energy issued the following testimony by Claus Daniel, director of the Sustainable Transportation Program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, at a hearing entitled "Next Mile: Technology Pathways to Accelerate Sustainability within the Transportation Sector": "Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. My name is Claus Daniel. I am director of the Sustainable Transportation Program at the U.S. Depar  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 17 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) tonight gave U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) its "White Hat Award" for his leadership in enacting a new federal law helping make sure songwriters are paid a fair market value for their work. Last year in a White House ceremony, President Trump signed the Music Modernization Act, which Alexander introduced. The senator said it i  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Ranking Member Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), congratulated the Honorable James Byrne for being sworn in yesterday as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "I was thrilled to see the Senate confirm Mr. Byrne last week to serve as VA Deputy Secretary, and I congratulate him on being sworn in yesterday morning. Mr. Byrne disp  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the House passed a temporary spending package to keep the government open through Nov. 21: "Here we go again. We have to stop funding government this way. It's becoming way too common to pass short-term spending agreements just to get us to the end of the year, and it almost always results in a shutdown of the federal government. "Congress fails the American taxpayers by not passing a real budget.  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the National Science Foundation has awarded the University of Memphis a grant of $2,584,309 for a project entitled "The Learner Data Institute: Harnessing the Data Revolution to make the Learning Ecosystem more Effective, Efficient and Engaging." The project is directed by Computer Science Professor Dr. Vasile Rus. Congressman Cohen made the following   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Funding will permit Memphis to hire 36 firefighter paramedics * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the Memphis Fire Department will receive a $4,424,704 grant to hire 36 new firefighter paramedics. The grant addresses serious attrition in the paramedic ranks in recent years. The new paramedics will be used to staff ambulances with Advanced Life Support (ALS) first responde  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- 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 $9,965,625 from the National Cancer Institute for research on experimental and preclinical modeling involving acute leukemia. The funding is part of a cooperative agreement with the specialized research facility. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "This is an important gran  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - $500,000 awarded to University of Tennessee Health Science Center Initiative * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will be receiving a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to reduce gang violence. The grant underwrites UTHSC's work with Shelby Coun  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Finding for immunology and transplantation research * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that St. Jude Children's Research Center will receive a grant of $448,750 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for research involving immunology, allergies and transplantation. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "Transplant rejection research is criti  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - $683,760 for research into Diabetes, Endocrinology Vascular diseases * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center will be receiving two grants totaling $683,760 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The first, for $304,014, from the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, will be for rese  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Also cites concern over inaction on coal ash contamination * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, today questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler on his decision in April to disregard the advice of his agency's own scientists by issuing a rule that restricted but did not ban asbestos. Congressman Cohe  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Says clean up of coal ash should be a priority * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) questioned Dave Ross, Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Water, about the agency's retreat from protections of groundwater and, in particular, coal ash contamination. See the exchange here. Congressman Cohen noted that Tennessee has a serious problem with coal ash   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Establishes protocol for investigating use of deadly force by federal law enforcement * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Deadly Force Independent Review Act that would require federal law enforcement agencies to establish a protocol for investigating their use of deadly force by federal officers and require the inspector general for the investigating agency to review and   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the death of Ira A. Lipman, the founder of Guardsmark and a supporter of social justice causes and a free press: "My friend Ira was a passionate advocate for social justice and a defender of journalistic freedom. "He will be missed for his wisdom, courage and willingness to step up. His was a life well-lived." * * * Mr. Lipman was a leader in social justice organizations, and served as chairman, and lat  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Assessment based on voting record on religious freedom issues * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that he has been named as one of 34 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who are "Notable Leaders" on international religious freedom issues. The assessment was made by 21Wilberforce, a Christian human rights organization dedicated to defending universal rights of religion,  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Says "loyal soldier" offers testimony following a pattern of obstructing Congress * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today questioned former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski about Trump's request that Lewandowski instruct then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make a public statement that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Requests audit to see whether FISA is used disproportionately against minorities * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a hearing on "Oversight on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)." Congressman Cohen expressed concern about seeking surveillance warrants based on activity protected under the First Amen  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Also calls for a fourth hearing in Shelby County * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote letters to the Administrator of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and to Governor Bill Lee condemning the proposed block-granting of TennCare. In his letter to CMS, Congressman Cohen noted that the proposal would violate federal law and allow the state unprecedented freedom to d  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * -Hearing on Police Practices includes discussion of "crisis of trust" and use of excessive force * ** Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses at a hearing on police practices and improving the relationship between the law enforcement and the communities they serve. Many of the witnesses endorsed the principle of an independent review   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement in response to the announcement that $150 million in grants have been made available through the Agriculture Department's Community Facilities Program to further assist areas impacted by natural disasters including projects in east Tennessee's Anderson, Campbell, Hamilton, Morgan, Roane, Scott and Union counties. "Earlier this year, East Tennessee was devastated by record flooding. "Almost immediately,   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Last night, Rep. Mark Green (TN-7) was selected to serve on the House-Senate Conference Committee for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Conference Committee is tasked with reconciling the defense authorization bills passed separately by the Senate and the House into a final version for the upcoming year. "It is an honor to serve on the National Defense Authorization Act Co  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) is making $150 million in grants available through the Community Facilities Program to help rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of natural disasters. FEMA has declared the counties of Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, and Tipton as eligible to apply for this funding. Applicat  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the House passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act (H.R. 4285): "I applaud the House for passing this bipartisan legislation that will allow several important veterans' programs to continue. "This bill will allow VA to continue providing direct loans to buyers of VA-owned residences, serving veterans in the Philip  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Veterans Affairs' Department released the 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report containing an analysis of veteran suicide data from 2005 to 2017: "The release of this report today confirms that the rates of suicide among those who have served remains tragically high. Suicide is undoubtedly a public health crisis that every Ame  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the House Committee on Education and Labor passed the Dignity in Aging Act (H.R. 4334), legislation that reauthorizes the Older Americans Act: "Today, the House Education & Labor Committee took an important first step toward reauthorizing the Older Americans Act (OAA), legislation that helps ensure older Americans get critical care and services, and I am proud we did so in a bipartisan manner. "The OAA aut  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Rep. John Rose, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman John Rose filed his first bill, H.R.4219, to restore our country's constitutionally-established separation of powers. The bill is an effort to curtail nationwide injunctions, which have the potential to severely restrict new government policies. "I am proud to file H.R.4219 as my first bill, because nationwide injunctions impact every one of us. It is a harmful trend and a practice that must be   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement at a committee hearing to consider the nomination of Eugene Scalia to be Secretary of Labor: "Today we are considering the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as Secretary of Labor. "Yesterday I received a letter from Senator Murray asking me to delay today's hearing. "We have already delayed the hearing one week at the request of Senator Murray, but let me review Mr. Scalia's nomination process: "On J  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement saying that the agriculture funding legislation advanced by the Senate Appropriations Committee is good news for Tennessee farmers: "The bill I voted for today is a win for Tennessee farmers because it funds the Farm Service Agency, Rural Development programs, and agricultural research at Tennessee's universities. "The bill also includes $64 million to help provide access to broadband for rural communiti  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the death of Memphis businessman and philanthropist Ira Lipman: "Ira Lipman was one of Tennessee's most distinguished sons. "He founded from scratch one of the nation's leading companies and then used his financial success generously to help others. "His interests ranged from civil and human rights to education to American history. Honey and I have counted Ira and Barbara as great friends for many y  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following floor statement on funding for historically black colleges and universities: "Reserving the right to object, ensuring that Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions continue to receive federal funding is something that we all want to do. "However, instead of a short-term patch we should pass a long-term solution that will provide certainty to college presidents and their s  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, issued the following statement saying that Labor Secretary nominee Eugene Scalia has the skills to help continue to grow the economy and help workers gain the skills they need to succeed in the workplace: "Wages are growing at an annual rate of 3.2 percent. African American unemployment fell to 5.5 percent in August - and to a record low of 4.4 percent for African American women. And overall unemp  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 17 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that he welcomes Governor Bill Lee's proposal to give Tennessee more flexibility in spending federal Medicaid dollars and that he will encourage federal officials to consider it seriously. Alexander, who is chairman of the health committee in the U.S. Senate, said that he has always supported block grants and "Last Congress, I suppor  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today voted in the Senate Appropriations Committee to approve $189.1 million for the construction of a new Federal Courthouse in Chattanooga. "This bill, at my request, provides $189.1 million to build a desperately needed new courthouse in the largest and busiest Judicial District in Tennessee. Construction for this new courthouse has been through a rigorous ju  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a spending bill that takes an important step in addressing the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks -- including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. "Nearly half of the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks is roads. In the Great Smoky Mountains  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following floor remarks about the allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh: "I'll get straight to the point. "I find it incomprehensible that my colleagues across the aisle are making the same mistakes that turned last fall's Supreme Court confirmation battle into a black mark on the history of this body. "I want to make it clear that I have no desire to re-litigate the disputes born from  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement in response to the allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh: "Americans watched in real time as Justice Kavanaugh's confirmation was twisted into a political circus that aimed to destroy a good man's character. It is horrifying to see the media and Democrats try the same smear tactics a year after they failed the first time. "The Democrats are merciless in their efforts  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: On BIG TECH Senator Blackburn convened a Senate Judiciary Tech Task Force meeting on data portability: Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee's Tech Task Force was joined by a panel of industry leaders. After the meeting, Senator Blackburn said the following: "American consumers are asking for more control over their presence online - they want to own their 'Virtual You'," said Senator Blackburn. "  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee issued the following hearing information: Perspectives on the livestock and poultry sectors at 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building at 10 a.m. on Sept. 25: Witnesses * Jennifer Houston, President, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and East Tennessee Livestock Center, Sweetwater, TN * Ron Kardel, Vice Chairman and grower, National Turkey Federation and West Liberty Foods, Walcott, IA * Jayson Lusk, Distinguishe  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the Senate floor today that September 19 marks 9,024 days Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has been in office as either Tennessee's governor or U.S. senator, which is more combined years than any other Tennessean. "Tomorrow, Lamar Alexander, the senior senator from Tennessee, marks a milestone in his state's history. He will have se  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works issued the following testimony by Jamey Sanders, vice president of Choctaw Transportation, at a hearing entitled "Improving American Economic Competitiveness through Water Resources Infrastructure": "Thank you for inviting me to testify on this vitally important topic. My name is Jamey Sanders. I am Vice President of Choctaw Transportation Company located in Dyersburg, Tennessee. We are a fourth-generation construction company spec  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today announced the Committee will hold a hearing titled, "Perspectives on the Livestock and Poultry Sectors." Who: Mrs. Jennifer Houston, President, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and East Tenn  more