WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on succession planning policies and guidance at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report (GAO-20-15) is titled "Department of Veterans Affairs: Improved Succession Planning Would Help Address Long-Standing Workforce Problems". 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, chai  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Forum to address safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users * * * Congressman Cohen will host a "Complete Streets" roundtable discussion with critical stakeholders to address Memphis' unfortunate distinction as one of the most unsafe cities in the nation for pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit users. Congressman Cohen has introduced H.R. 3663, the Complete Streets Act, that wo  more

FRANKLIN, Tennessee, Oct. 11 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the selection of a location for the Dover Veterans Affairs Clinic: "After speaking with TVHS Health System Director Jennifer Vedral-Baron, we are pleased that an alternate--and better--location has been found for the VA clinic in Dover, and that we can anticipate an opening in the next two months. "Our office is working closely with the VA and local officials to make sure every veteran continues to   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: After the Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) clinic in Dover, Tennessee abruptly closed its doors more than three weeks ago, the community still has received no answers regarding the future of the clinic. Rep. Mark Green sent the following letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie requesting answers on the clinic's September 15 closure and urging action to ensure that Dover's  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement regarding the White House letter to House Democrats on the impeachment proceedings: "House Democrats are taking our democracy down a dangerous path with this impeachment inquiry. "They have abused due process and standard House procedures. "This sets a dangerous precedent. "I stand with President Trump and will continue to fight for what is right for the American people."  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), spoke at the Healthy Tennessee Opioid Summit where health care professionals, law enforcement, and community leaders across the state come together to discuss ways to combat the opioid epidemic. While there, he unveiled his new bill, the Criminalizing Abused Substance Templates (CAST) Act of 2019. The CAST Act modifies the Controlled Substances Act to define the cr  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: I was just a young man in the summer of 1973, but I still remember that summer like it was yesterday. It was the summer when I was called to serve our nation during the Vietnam War. Many of those with whom I served and who returned came back to protests and opposition. Their sacrifices had seemingly gone unnoticed and underappreciated. Fortunately, Americans' attitudes toward servicemembers has changed since the Viet  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Justice Department announced a grant of $470,662 to Elizabethton City Schools to help prevent school violence: "Students should feel safe in the classroom, and no parent should worry about their child's safety during the school day. "I am pleased to see Elizabethton schools receive a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant to use improving the safety of  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, and Tim Thomas, Appalachian Regional Commission federal co-chairman, issued the following statements on $3,499,305 Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization grants to the 1st district of Tennessee: "The Appalachian region is unique and faces many challenges unlike those in other areas of the United States. Many communities like those across East Tennessee have been negatively impacted by job losses in coal mining. Th  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Rep. John Rose, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-6) was proud to welcome Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District today. Vice President Pence and Secretary Perdue visited Tennessee to emphasize the importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for Tennessee jobs and its passage by the United States House of Representatives. "What an hon  more

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 8 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Representatives Tim Burchett (TN-02) and Cheri Bustos (IL-17) requested information from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the $38 million worth of bonuses that Purdue Pharma is currently seeking to pay employees in bankruptcy. In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Representatives Burchett and Bustos urged the Department of Justice to request more informatio  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote today to Senate appropriators to request increased funding for missing and exploited children programs in the appropriations bill currently before Congress. The letter follows a recent report finding that over 45 million online images and videos were flagged as child sexual abuse last year, and that images are increasing exponent  more