WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today introduced a long-term solution to fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions as part of a legislative package of eight bipartisan higher education proposals drafted by 35 Senators -- 20 Democrat, 15 Republican. "I am today introducing a long-term solution to permanently provide funding f  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said today on the Senate floor that Congress should pass a permanent solution to fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and other Minority Serving Institutions, and that such a package should include additional bipartisan higher education proposals while he continues working with Senator Murray on a larger Higher Education Act re  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the bill he voted for today in the Senate Appropriations Committee will give states like Tennessee a boost in their fight against the opioid crisis. "This bill provides $505 million for U.S. Department of Justice grants to help states including Tennessee tackle the opioid crisis. States could use these grants to help fund their drug courts, educatio  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the Senate Appropriations Committee took "a promising step," to reduce the maintenance backlog at our national parks, including at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. "The funding bill approved today includes increased funding to reduce the $11.6 billion maintenance backlog in our nation's 419 national parks. Alexander said. "This funding will help   more

WEARS VALLEY, Tennessee, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said naming "one of the most beautiful bridges in America" on the Foothills Parkway the "Dean Stone Bridge" ensures that visitors to the parkway will always know Stone's legacy. "No one worked harder for the Foothills Parkway than Dean Stone. No one celebrated the Great Smokies more enthusiastically then Dean Stone. And no one told the  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), the first female Senator from Tennessee, joined The Atlantic's 'Women of Washington' event on Tuesday for a conversation about encouraging conservative women to run for office, the 100th anniversary of the women's right to vote, the security women want for their families, and more. The Atlantic's deputy editor, Gillian White, moderated the conversation. On Encourag  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Congressional Western Caucus issued the following news release: This week, Members of the Western Caucus and stakeholders held a roundtable discussion and unveiled a draft legislative package currently comprised of 19 bills to modernize the Endangered Species Act. The following are excerpts from yesterday's event: Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04): "Our ESA roundtable with real people impacted by ESA listings was a huge success! Participants with a seat at  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Rep. Mark Green's bill, the Unifying DHS Intelligence Enterprise Act, passed the House of Representatives today. The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish a homeland intelligence doctrine, synchronizing intelligence sharing and improving coordination across the Department. Green said, "During my time as an Army special operations flight surgeon, I learned the value of streamlined i  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Last week, Ranking Member Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) testified before the House Judiciary Committee regarding H.R. 3826, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. This 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) fi  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's announcement of an official impeachment inquiry into President Trump: "I do not support the Democrats' efforts to impeach President Trump and undermine his presidency. I am not surprised with Speaker Pelosi's decision to give-in to 'the Squad' and the far left. "No matter what Speaker Pelosi and 'the Squad' say, there are no grounds for impeachment, and all the uproar abou  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Volunteers to participate in FAA airplane-evacuation tests in November * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Aviation, today demanded answers from Federal Aviation Administration Deputy Administrator Daniel Elwell about why provisions of the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act have not been fully impleme  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement commending House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, for opening an impeachment inquiry into President Trump: * * * - Has been leading proponent of impeachment since 2017 * * * "Today is a historic day for our nation. The President has breached his oath, violated the law and risked our national security. "This week we learned that the President has abused his power and broken the law by pressuring a foreig  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Supports ban on assault weapons and armor piercing ammunition * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a hearing on "Protecting America from Assault Weapons." Congressman Cohen is a cosponsor of H.R. 1296, Assault Weapons Ban of 2019. See Congressman Cohen's full exchange with witnesses here (https://www.youtube.co  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Says lease with the GSA is a serious conflict of interest * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, questioned witnesses at a hearing today about the Trump Administration's oversight of the Trump Organization's lease of the Old Post Office. The Inspector General of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) admitted that   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Hearing addresses disproportionate impact of gun violence in communities of color * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today questioned witnesses at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Securing examining "Community Responses to Violence in Our Cities," noting that Memphis is affected by poverty and violent crime. Congressman Cohen also described his H.R. 3738, the Sa  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Endorses Speaker Pelosi's full impeachment inquiry * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today spoke on the House floor and condemned President Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine's president to interfere with the 2020 U.S. presidential election. See Congressman Cohen's remarks here (https://yout  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement in support of impeachment proceedings against President Trump: "It's time for the House of Representatives to begin the impeachment process against President Trump. "The President's invitation to yet another foreign power--this time Ukraine--to undermine U.S. elections requires that Congress begin the process in our Constitution to levy formal charges against him. "This is a very serious step, but the Preside  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement in response to Speaker Nancy Pelosi's announcement of an impeachment inquiry against President Trump: "Democrats have been investigating for months - frankly since President Trump was elected - and they have come up dry. "Today's announcement is more of the same, the beginning of another baseless investigation from a so-called source that admittingly does not have firsthand knowledge of the exchange in   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Last night, Rep. Mark Green led the bipartisan fight to fix an inadequate bill that would advance modern healthcare technology for illegal aliens before that same technology is made available for America's veterans. In its current form, H.R. 3525 would require the Department of Homeland Security to develop an interoperable electronic health records system for illegal immigrants in just 90 days--while the s  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement following Speaker Nancy Pelosi's announcement of a formal impeachment inquiry: "Following two years of failed investigations into President Trump and three already failed impeachment votes, Nancy Pelosi is now making the reckless and irresponsible call for a formal impeachment of the President of the United States over unconfirmed and unsubstantiated accusations. "Our constitutional duty as Members of Cong  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Rep. Mark Green led debate on the House floor tonight against sanctuary cities, introducing a motion to ensure that the stories of victims and their families are told. The motion received bipartisan support with 16 Democrats voting in favor. Green cited the many accounts of innocent Americans who have been murdered, raped, or assaulted by criminal aliens released by sanctuary cities, saying: "The facts ar  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: Last December, the United States became a net exporter of oil - breaking an almost continuous 75-year streak of dependence on foreign oil and is now the world's 8th largest oil exporter. This was not always the case. I remember serving at the DMZ in Korea, where we only had heat 3 hours a day because the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries barred oil exports to the U.S. for our support of Israel - also k  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: Communities across the country are fighting an epidemic against opioid abuse, and Northeast Tennessee is at the epicenter of this crisis. Chances are you know someone - a friend, relative, or coworker - who has been affected. The opioid epidemic did not happen overnight but was decades in the making. There is no doubt it's a crisis. More Americans die every year from opioid overdoses than Americans who died during   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after voting against the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (H.R. 2474) when it was considered by the House Education and Labor Committee: "While unions once played a large role in our workforce, union participation has plummeted from as high as 25 percent in 1971 to just 11 percent today. Instead of trusting employees to make decisions for themselves, House Democrats today passed legislation that ignores this   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after voting against the U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act (H.R. 3525): "Before coming to Congress, I was a practicing physician for over 31 years and installed an electronic health record (EHR) in my own practice. It took over a year to transition just 80,000 charts from paper to electronic. This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to install an EHR for all illegal borde  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after voting against the U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act (H.R. 3525): "Before coming to Congress, I was a practicing physician for over 31 years and installed an electronic health record (EHR) in my own practice. It took over a year to transition just 80,000 charts from paper to electronic. "This bill would require the Depart  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Justice Department announced a $10,560 grant to the Greene County Sheriff's Department for in-car video cameras: "Technology plays an important role in preserving the integrity of law enforcement investigations and interactions. "Our police officers deserve and receive our thanks for the hard work they do every day to keep our communities safe. "This grant will give the department an added safeguard t  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Education Department announced a $164,590 grant to Northeast State Community College: "With our strong economy, one of the biggest challenge we face in East Tennessee is the skills gap, in which not enough workers are being trained for available careers in the region. "Nationally, it has been reported that as many as 35 percent of small businesses are unable to find qualified applicants for their posi  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, announced an impeachment inquiry into President Trump: "I'm glad the president is releasing a transcript of his call with the Ukrainian president so the American people can have full transparency about the president's conversations. "Half of the Democratic caucus believed impeachment was warranted after Robert Mueller declared he found no evidence of collusion. No  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, 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 American - including every service member and veteran - should be aware   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following testimony before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act (H.R. 3826): This 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) financial benefits. Roe said: "Every day, servicemen and women fight to defend the rights endowed by our constitution. But, upon  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Solution is part of a package of bipartisan proposals including FAFSA simplification, short-term Pell grants, Pell grants for parole-eligible prisoners, and increasing the maximum Pell grant award * * * Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today introduced a long-term solution to fund Historicall  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following floor remarks on Secretary of Labor nominee Eugene Scalia: "This week, the Senate will vote to confirm Eugene Scalia to serve as Secretary of Labor. "Businesses and workers need a Secretary of Labor who will steer the department with a steady hand. "I believe Mr. Scalia has the skills to help continue to grow our economy and to help workers gain the skills they need to succeed in today's workplace. "On July 18, P  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following opening statement at a Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the nomination of Eugene Scalia to be Labor Secretary: "The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will please come to order. "Today we are voting on the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as Secretary of Labor. "Senator Murray and I will each have an opening statement. "For the convenience of senators,  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 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 its overtime rule: "More than one million additional employees will now be eligible to receive overtime pay under the Trump Administration's final rule raising the overtime annual salary threshold to $35,568. "This is a reasonable update that should not have the same troubling effects for worke  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Eugene Scalia to serve as Labor Secretary: "Eugene Scalia is well-qualified to the lead the Department of Labor with a steady hand at a time when workers' wages are up and unemployment is near record lows. "His nomination is supported by small business owners, employers, workers, former colleagues and mentees. "Now that Mr. Scalia has been confirmed, I look forward to his get  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on his vote to disapprove of the Feb. 15 national emergency declaration: "At the time I cast this same vote six months ago, the president could have spent $5.7 billion already approved by Congress to build the 234 miles of border wall he requested in January without invoking a national emergency. "The U.S. Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority to spend tax dollars. The first act of every senato  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the bill he voted for today in the Senate Appropriations Committee would help secure our Southern border and take another step in the fight against the opioids crisis by helping stop illicit opioids, including heroin and fentanyl, from entering the United States. "I support the president on border security, and I commend him for pursuing funding for  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the new Ken Burns documentary, "Country Music," shows that "the whole world sings with Tennessee." "His new film plumbs the depths of the American soul using the one tool--music--that is most likely to touch the largest number of us," Alexander said. "As a United States Senator from Tennessee, I will confess my bias." Alexander continued: "The first   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: The Senate labor committee today approved the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as United States Secretary of Labor. "Mr. Scalia is well qualified to lead the Labor Department," Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said during the committee meeting to vote on Mr. Scalia's nomination. "He is currently a partner in the Washington office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he has sp  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Says Scalia has the skills to help continue to grow our economy and help workers gain the skills they need to succeed in today's workplace * * * The Senate labor committee today approved the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as United States Secretary of Labor. "Mr. Scalia is well qualified to lead the Labor Departme  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Says Scalia's nomination is supported by employers, small business owners, workers, colleagues and mentees * * * Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that the Senate should confirm Eugene Scalia to serve as Secretary of Labor. "I have received 32 letters in support of Mr. Scalia's nominat  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement urging the Senate to confirm Eugene Scalia to serve as Labor Secretary: "I have received 32 letters in support of Mr. Scalia's nomination from small business owners, employers, workers, and Mr. Scalia's colleagues and mentees, including a number of women and former career attorneys at the Department of Labor," Alexander said in a speec  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in congratulating Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on serving in a statewide office longer than any other Tennessean. Senator Alexander has served either as governor or as a United States Senator for 24 years, 8 months and 15 days. To view the Senator's full remarks, click below or HERE: https://youtu.be/YY7y1Rl  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined CNBC's Squawk Box to discuss the Senate Judiciary Committee's upcoming hearing on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights. "It is important to exercise some preemptions so you are not looking at fifty different standards, but you have a basic privacy standard...to make certain that this virtual space is competitive [and] that innovation cont  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on "Mass Violence, Extremism, and Digital Responsibility". She discussed social media algorithms and proposals to control content in a way that balances the need to protect free speech and police extreme content online. In her questioning, she urged Facebook officials to take stronger steps to maintain objectivity  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following op-ed on Justice Kavanaugh, which was provided to Fox News online: After the breakdown of due process and civility during Justice Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearing, I am appalled that many of my Senate colleagues have chosen to resurrect their attempted character assassination against a man a majority of senators deemed qualified and more than fit for the bench. By reigniting these attacks, the  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Fox News' Shannon Bream on Fox News at Night to speak about Planned Parenthood and proposals to reduce gun violence. On Planned Parenthood "This gets to the heart of the argument about Title X funding and the legislation, S.105 that I filed... which says: if you do abortion services, then you cannot get Title X, which are women's health care funds  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee issued the following testimony by Jennifer Houston, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, at a hearing entitled "Perspectives on the Livestock and Poultry Sectors": "Thank you for allowing me to testify today on behalf of cattle producers across this great nation. My name is Jennifer Houston, currently I serve as President of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). My husband Mark and I   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The Senate conducted 10 committee hearings for Sept. 25: LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PERSPECTIVES Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded a hearing to examine perspectives on the livestock and poultry sectors, after receiving testimony from Jennifer Houston, East Tennessee Livestock Center, Sweetwater, on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; Ron Kardel, West Liberty Foods, Walcott, Iowa, on behalf of the National Turkey Federatio  more