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U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Tennessee Newsletter for Sunday October 20, 2019 ( 22 items )  

25 Trump Nominees, Including FEMA Administrator, Received by Senate
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Senate received the nomination of 25 individuals for positions in the Trump administration on Oct. 15: Bruce Poliquin, of Maine, to be a Director of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation for a term expiring December 31, 2021. Peter J. Coniglio, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Export-Import Bank. John Bobbitt, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Brian D. Montgomery, of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of Housing   more

Blackburn Leads Bicameral Bill to Speed Communications Recovery Following a Natural Disaster
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced S.2645, the Connecting Communities Post Disasters Act, to speed up communications recovery after a natural disaster. This legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to exempt projects that replace or make improvements to damaged communications facilities or equipment following a major disaster or Presidentially declared em  more

Blackburn on Fox: Agreement With Turkey Not a Final Solution
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: This afternoon, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto to discuss the Turkish attacks on the Syrian Kurds. Earlier today, Senator Blackburn joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in introducing sanctions against Turkey. "We want...to see Turkey stop the fighting and we want to see the Kurds protected," said Senator Blackburn. "The SDF has been very acti  more

Blackburn: Bipartisan Sanctions Remain on the Table Despite Temporary Ceasefire
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Earlier today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in announcing sanctions legislation against Turkey. Senator Blackburn gave this statement following the announcement of a negotiated ceasefire. "Without reservation, I lend my wholehearted support to this bipartisan, comprehensiv  more

Ranking Member Roe: 'This Decision Reflects the Bipartisan Spirit That Our Committee Is Known for and That Veterans Deserve'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) the Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after the Committee marked up six bills to support student veterans, assist homeless veterans facing legal challenges, and increase quality and transparency across the Department of Veterans Affairs: "This morning, our Committee continued to deliver on our promises to America's veter  more

Rep. Cohen Issues Statement on Death of Rep. Cummings
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "Elijah Cummings was a giant of integrity and knowledge in Congress, and an inspiration in our ongoing efforts to investigate President Trump. "Mr. Cummings clashed with the president as head of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, defending the Constitution, and always acted with grace. "Just last week, he was on the call with Speaker Pelosi, offering thoug  more

Rep. Cohen Presides at Hearing to Strengthen the Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Hearing focuses on need to reverse provisions of the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby County v. Holder ruling * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today presided over a hearing on legislative proposals to strengthen the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the Supreme Court's disastrous 2013 ruling in She  more

Rep. Cooper Announces Staff Appointments
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) announced today the addition of several members to his staff. Cheryl D. Mayes will serve as Director of Operations and Finance for Rep. Cooper. Prior to joining Congressman Cooper's office, Mayes served as the founder and principal consultant at My Toolbox Consulting, a firm that provides leadership and development training for organizations and individuals. Mayes previously worked i  more

Rep. Green Introduces Bill to Establish Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: This week, Rep. Mark Green introduced a bill to establish an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space. The Assistant Secretary would report to the Secretary of Defense and oversee the growth and expansion of the United States Space Force. "As China and Russia develop military capabilities in space, from laser weapons to anti-satellite missiles, establishing this position is a critical step to ensure our Nat  more

Rep. Kustoff Applauds $2.85 Million USDA Investment in Rural Broadband for West Tennessee
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for investing $2,856,167 in high-speed broadband infrastructure to create and improve e-Connectivity for 347 rural households in Tennessee. "This investment is great news for communities across West Tennessee. Rural communities need rural broadband to support and improve access to healthcare, education, small business   more

Rep. Roe Issues Column: Recent Turkish Aggression
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: In 2011, President Obama decided against negotiating a continued status of forces agreement for U.S. military forces in Iraq and instead went ahead with a rapid drawdown of forces. Too many American lives were lost fighting in Iraq, and no one believed we could continue on there forever. However, the rapid withdrawal proved to be a catastrophic mistake, as it enabled an enemy far worse to emerge - the Islamic State   more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement After Full Committee Markup of Six Bills
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the full committee marked up six bills to support student veterans, assist homeless veterans facing legal challenges and increase quality and transparency across the Veterans Affairs Department: "This morning, our Committee continued to deliver on our promises to America's veterans by voting unanimously in support of legislation to help them  more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement After House Passed Four Veterans' Bills
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the House passed four veterans' bills: "Tonight, the House continued our efforts to support and serve our nation's veterans by passing bipartisan legislation to help homeless veterans with children find transitional housing, help veterans with disabilities access important information from VA's website, and help preserve the legacies of thos  more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement Congratulating Dobyns-Bennett High School Teacher Krautkremer
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after congratulating Dobyns-Bennett High School teacher Kristina Krautkremer for receiving a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching: "I want to congratulate Kristina on this great honor that she well deserves. "As a teacher of 30 years, she's impacted the education and future of thousands of students in our community and across Tennessee. "Kristina's expertise has also benefited te  more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement on FCC's Announcement of $4.3 Million Grants for Rural Broadband Expansion
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission announced two grants totaling $4,312,977 that will enable rural broadband expansion for 10 years covering 1,508 homes in Hancock and Hawkins County: "Access to broadband is one of the critical factors that enables economic growth and job creation today. "Technology over high-speed internet has also opened up opportunities for people who live in rural areas to work, rece  more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement on Prescription Drug Legislation
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after voting against the Democrats' prescription drug legislation: "We can all agree that prescription drug prices are too high, and all of us know someone who is struggling to afford the high cost of a lifesaving treatment. "However, giving government bureaucrats the power to set prices will stifle innovation and limit access to these very same lifesaving drugs. "No family should worry about being able to affor  more

Reps. Cohen, Scott Introduce Bill to Protect Consumers From Fraudulent Tax Preparers
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congressman Robert "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) today reintroduced the Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act to protect consumers from unscrupulous tax preparation businesses. The legislation would give the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explicit authority to ensure that paid tax preparers are adequately trained and maintain high standards of integrity. "More than half of Amer  more

Sen. Blackburn Congratulates 2019 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke on the Senate floor this evening to congratulate the singers and songwriters who have been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year: Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Ray Stevens, and Jerry Bradley. To watch the Senator's remarks click below or HERE: Inductees music REMARKS AS PREPARED Thank you, Madam President. In Nashville, we have a saying: It all   more

Sen. Blackburn Discusses Troop Withdrawal From Syria, Impeachment Inquiry on Fox News
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 8 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: This morning, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Fox News' America's Newsroom as the "Headliner" to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and the Democrats' impeachment inquiry with Bill Hemmer and Sandra Smith. Senator Blackburn serves on the Senate Judiciary and Armed Services Committees. On Democrats' Repeated Efforts to Impeach the President "The Democrats want this to   more

Sen. Blackburn Issues Statement on Increase of Heavy Lift Capacity at Fort Campbell
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the announcement that the Army has decided to increase heavy lift capacity within the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell: "What a win for Fort Campbell. This long-sought activation will bring 12 Chinooks and 200 military personnel to our state. "Most importantly, it will increase the ability of the Screamin' Eagles to 'fight tonight' in this new era of Great Power Competition. "Tenne  more

Sen. Blackburn Issues Statement on Trump Administration Decision to Withdraw U.S. Troops From Syria
NASHVILLE, Oct. 7 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria: "For the past several years, American forces have fought alongside our Kurdish allies in Syria to provide safety and security to the region. "As the Syrian people seek stability post-conflict, we ought not to give ISIS any room to regain territory. "Syria's location leaves it vulnerable to adversaries, and an American pres  more

Sen. Blackburn Issues Statement on Turkish Attacks in Syria
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 9 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on the news that Turkey has launched an offensive military operation in northern Syria: "For years, American forces, including Tennessee's own elite 5th Group out of Fort Campbell, have stood alongside our Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Global Coalition partners to provide safety and security to Syria. Each time the possibility of American withdrawal from the region has been presented, I have call  more