Thursday - March 28, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Tennessee Newsletter for Sunday November 24, 2019 ( 28 items )  

Alexander: Congress Must Address 'Real Driver' of Nearly $23 Trillion Federal Debt - Entitlement Spending
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah.) that would establish "rescue committees" tasked with creating legislation to help put the United States on the road to fiscal responsibility by bringing automatic "mandatory" spending under control. "The real driver of our out-of-control federal debt is mandatory or entitlement spending--wh  more

Alexander: Dr. Stephen Hahn is an 'Impressive Choice' to Lead FDA at This Critical Time
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: At today's Senate health committee hearing, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that Dr. Stephen Hahn is an "impressive choice" to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "This is a critical time for FDA, and there is a lot that FDA needs to do - review and approve lifesaving drugs and devices, regulate tobacco and e-cigarettes, complete the ongoing lung injury investigation, protect our nati  more

Bipartisan Legislation Limiting Public Debt Introduced by Reps. Burchett, Case
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) and Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) introduced the Reforming America's Fiscal Toolkit Act of 2019 (RAFT Act). This bipartisan legislation changes Congress's budget procedures in order to establish a lower public debt relative to America's gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is a measure of a nation's economic output. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis,  more

Blackburn's Bill Banning Export of Crowd Control Equipment to Hong Kong Police Force Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn's (R-Tenn.) legislation, S.2710, to prohibit the U.S. export of crowd control equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bill passed alongside Senator Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) S.1838, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, which seeks to assess whether political developments in Hong Kong justify changing Hong Kong's   more

Crapo, Risch Urge Successful Reauthorization of Higher Education Act
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) sent a letter to Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) and Patty Murray (D-Washington), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to urge the committee to include workforce development programs in any reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). "Each week, we hear from Idaho's employers   more

Rep. Burchett Issues Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Government
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement: The House of Representatives passed a short-term continuing resolution, or CR, this afternoon to fund the federal government through Dec. 20. Members of Congress did not receive text of the CR until yesterday afternoon, giving Representatives very little time to review the full impact of the multi-billion dollar spending bill they were asked to approve. Furthermore, the CR funds certain government initia  more

Rep. Cohen Announces $6 Million Airport Grant
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Funding for de-icing pads * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today announced a $6 million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to Memphis International Airport underwriting construction of de-icing pads and related facilities. The airport is nearing completion of the first construction phase of 12 de-icing pads.  more

Rep. Cohen Announces Community Development Financial Institution Grants to Tri-State Bank, River City Capital Investment
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Mission-driven financial institutions will invest in Memphis * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that two Memphis community development financial institutions (CDFIs) will be receiving grants from the U.S. Treasury Department totaling $500,000. Tri-State Bank of Memphis will receive $275,000 and River City Capital Investment Corporation will receive $225,000. The funds are inten  more

Rep. Cohen Applauds State Decision to Spend Down $732 Million Temporary Assistance to Needy Family Surplus
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Cohen pushed Governor Lee for answers and solutions * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded the Tennessee Department of Human Services announcement that it would begin distributing some of the $732 million in unspent block grant funding for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Family programs that support Tennessee families. But he expressed disappointment that $342 million will still   more

Rep. Cohen Votes to Advance Marijuana Bill
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today voted to advance the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act to the House floor. The committee vote was 24 to 10. The comprehensive legislation decriminalizes marijuana at the federal level, calls for a reassessment of marijua  more

Rep. Kustoff Applauds $1.4 Million USDA Investment in Rural Tennessee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Dyer County Board of Education will receive $497,252 * * * Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) investment in distance learning and telemedicine projects in the state of Tennessee, specifically, the $497,252 for the Dyer County Board of Education. The Rural Development investment will enable the Dyer County Board of Education t  more

Rep. Roe Issues Joint Statement on Receiving Grant, Loan for Ambulance
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement: Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) and Johnson County Mayor Mike Taylor released the following statements after the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced a grant of $50,000 and a loan of $110,000 to Johnson County Emergency and Rescue Squad, Inc. for the purchase of a new emergency vehicle: "Ensuring our emergency and rescue squads have the equipment they need to provide live-saving care i  more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement After Full Committee Hearing on IMPROVE Act
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the committee held a legislative hearing on the IMPROVE Act (H.R. 3495), which is bipartisan legislation cosponsored by 228 members of congress to prevent suicide among veterans: "2,960 - that's how many veteran and servicemember lives have been lost to suicide since the introduction of this bipartisan bill 148 days ago. "Preventing any oth  more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement on Grant of $500,000 to Expand Rural Health Service Consortium
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the Agriculture Department's Rural Development approved a grant of $500,000 to the Rural Heath Services Consortium Inc.: "America's rural health care system can and should leverage the technology we have today to expand access to more people. "This grant will help RHSC expand their reach those into communities with limited access to care because of location. "Thanks to this award, there will be interactive  more

Rep. Roe Issues Statement on Legislation to Prevent Veteran Suicide
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement: Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after the Committee held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3495, the IMPROVE Act, which is bipartisan legislation cosponsored by 228 Members of Congress to prevent suicide among our nation's veterans: "2,960 - that's how many veteran and servicemember lives have been lost to suicide since   more

Rep. Rose Cosponsors Veteran Suicide Prevention Legislation
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. John Rose, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: During this Veterans Appreciation Month, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-6) cosponsored the "Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act," which seeks to prevent veteran suicide. "Our nation's veterans represent the very best of America, and they deserve our full support," Rep. Rose stated. "Yet, every day, approximately 20 veterans are lost to suicide. This heartbreaking reality does not have to continue, and I a  more

Reps. Cohen, Garcia, Sen. Markey Introduce Legislation to Stop Rising Airline Fees
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - The FAIR Fees Act would limit fees for checked bags, ticket changes, and cancellations - In first half of 2019, U.S. domestic airlines collected $2.8 and $1.4 billion respectively in just baggage and reservation fees * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) today introduced the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing   more

Reps. Johnson, Murphy, Roe Introduce Worker's Choice Act
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), and Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN) today introduced the Worker's Choice Act, which would amend the National Labor Relations Act to empower employees in a unionized workplace to independently negotiate their employment terms with their employer. In Right-to-Work states like South Dakota, North Carolina, and Tennessee, an employee who opts-out of u  more

Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on HBCU Funding
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement regarding funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions: "Two weeks ago, Senate Democrats blocked my bipartisan package of higher education proposals that included $255 million in permanent annual funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions. "This package has plenty of time to become law because the U.S. Department   more

Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on Historically Black Colleges, Universities Funding
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement regarding funding for historically black colleges, universities and minority-serving institutions: "Two weeks ago, Senate Democrats blocked my bipartisan package of higher education proposals that included $255 million in permanent annual funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions. "This   more

Sen. Alexander: Dr. Stephen Hahn is an 'Impressive Choice' to Lead FDA at This Critical Time
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Says his experience as a physician, as an executive and at federal health agencies is what FDA needs * * * At today's Senate health committee hearing, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that Dr. Stephen Hahn is an "impressive choice" to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "This is a critical time for FDA,   more

Sen. Alexander: Senate Committee Approves Restore Our Parks Act
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said a bill he sponsored, along with three of his colleagues, to reduce the maintenance backlog at our nation's 419 national parks, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is "one step closer to becoming law." "This legislation could do more to restore our national parks than anything that has happened in the last half century, and the r  more

Sen. Alexander: Spend More on Clean Energy Research Instead of Wasteful Wind Tax Credit
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said asking the American taxpayer to pay more to extend the wind production tax credit - "the most wasteful, conspicuous taxpayer subsidy in Washington D.C." - is unjustifiable. "The wind production tax credit is so generous that in some markets wind developers can actually give away their electricity and still make a profit. This wasteful subsidy   more

Sen. Blackburn on Impeachment Hearings: I've Got Questions for Adam Schiff
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Fox News' Cavuto Live on Saturday to discuss the first week of public impeachment hearings. On Unanswered Questions About Whistleblower "I've got questions for Adam Schiff... If he knows the whistleblower? Who the whistleblower is? How many times did he meet with him? How many times did his staff meet with him? Did his staff work on writing that whistleblower  more

Sen. Blackburn to China: The World is Watching How You Respond to Protests
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Fox Business's Varney & Co. to discuss the protests in Hong Kong and the latest with the House Democrats' impeachment inquiry. On the Protests in Hong Kong "One of the ways we can continue to support them is of course through social media - letting them know we are watching and letting China know that the world is watching to see how they respond.... W  more

Sen. Blackburn, Rep. Nadler Lead Bipartisan Effort to Modernize Music Copyright Law and Empower Musicians
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Ask Musicians for Music Act (AM-FM) to modernize existing copyright law for radio stations and musicians. Under the current patchwork copyright system, radio stations can use sound recordings over their airwaves while creators, who own a stake in sound recordings, receive no payment in return. The AM-FM Act would require all radio services to pay  more

Sen. Portman Issues Statement on Multiemployer Pension Recapitalization & Reform Plan
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following statement upon the introduction of the Multiemployer Pension Recapitalization and Reform Plan released by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee: "Today is a positive step forward in our efforts to reform the multiemployer pension system on behalf of workers, retirees, and employers. I'd like to thank Chairmen   more

Senate Education Committee Chairman: Now is Time to Pass Permanent Funding for HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Senate Democrats block - for second time - permanent funding for HBCUs and FAFSA simplification for 8 million minority students * * * Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said "now is the time to pass permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Ins  more