WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * - Helsinki Commission hearing on Human Rights in the OSCE Region * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), also known as the Helsinki Commission, questioned the director of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights about levels of anti-Semitism and   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on drug development. The report (GAO-20-251) is entitled "FDA's Priority Review Voucher Programs". The report was sent to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman, and Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, Republican leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee o  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the 340B Drug Discount Program. The report (GAO-20-212) is entitled "Oversight of the Intersection with the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Needs Improvement". The report was sent to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, republican leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, republic  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the National Nuclear Security Administration contracting. The report (GAO-20-292R) is entitled "Review of the NNSA Report on the Los Alamos National Laboratory Contract Competition". The report was sent to Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, chairman, Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Californi  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Medicaid. The report (GAO-20-260) is entitled "States' Changes to Payment Rates for Substance Use Disorder Services". The report was sent to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee,   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) introduced legislation to quickly deliver past-due benefits to individuals who are owed money from the Social Security Administration. Rep. Burchett's bill, H.R. 5634, amends the Social Security Act to require that past-due benefits be paid prior to the payment of social security representative fees. Individuals waiting on payment from the Social Security Administratio  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Alabama, issued the following statement after President Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law: "Alabamians have cause for celebration with the passage of a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada that will deliver jobs and drive up wages from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast. The USMCA is a major win for Alabama that replaces the flawed NAFTA and puts American workers first. "With our expanding Port of Mobile and vibrant automo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced that Shelby County will receive a $1,386,681 grant from the Ryan White HIV Emergency Relief program from the Department of Health and Human Services. This funding helps local governments provide HIV-related services to more than half a million people each year who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with the disease. "Al  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) spoke on the House floor Monday evening to condemn antisemitism and racism after returning from the commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the United Nations in New York. In his remarks, Congressman Cohen described the stirring and emotional event in the General Assembly Hall on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentrat  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, announced that the University of Memphis' Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) will receive a $675,000 grant from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The funding supports CERI's cooperative agreement with USGS in operating the Advanced National Seismic System. Congressman Cohen made the following statem  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Stephen Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: * * * - The framework released contains elements of his Complete Streets Act * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, applauded the release of House Democrats' framework to invest over $700 billion in our nation's roads, transit, rail, aviation, broadband, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. The framework contains elements   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Rep. Stephen Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day: "Each year, on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps in 1945, the world remembers some of the darkest days in history by vowing that 'Never Again' will we allow such horrors to occur. "The U.N. established this day in 2004 as a way for the world to remember the past and to prevent future genocides. "I join my fellow Americans,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement on Jan. 27: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) travelled to New York to attend the United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony today as one of two invited members of Congress. The event in the General Assembly Hall, marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp by forces of the Soviet Union in 1945. Congressman Cohen made the following statement after  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted for, and the House passed, the Comprehensive Credit Rating Enhancement, Disclosure, Innovation and Transparency (CREDIT) Act. The bill features elements of his Free Access to Credit Scores Act and his Equal Employment for All Act. The bill also incorporates two amendments the congressman introduced. One amendment defines the time period in which a credit reporting agency   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: * * * - Also votes to repeal 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq * * * Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted to prohibit federal funds from being used for military actions in or against Iran unless Congress has declared war. Congressman Cohen also voted to repeal the outdated and unnecessary 2002 Iraq Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). Under the Constitution, Congress   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, questioned General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily W. Murphy at a Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management hearing on "GSA Outleases and the Trump Old Post Office Hotel." Congressman Cohen asked Administrator Murphy about a confidentiality agree  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a sizeable, $55.3 million investment in high-speed broadband projects in Kentucky's 1st Congressional District as well as some counties in northern Tennessee. The project announcements were made on Wednesday morning at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, KY. Ballard Rural Telephone, Duo Broadband, and Gibson Electric each received funding in round  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) announced that he has invited his constituent and executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, Michele Johnson, to attend the 2020 State of the Union address as his guest. "I am honored to have Michele Johnson as my guest for this year's State of the Union address. Michele has devoted her career to helping underserved Tennesseans access the health care that they deserve," said   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Last fall, the Davidson County Election Commission, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper (TN-05), and the Mayor's Youth Council announced the partnership for the third year of nonpartisan high school voter registration drives. In-school registrations were conducted throughout the month of November at 36 area high schools. The voter registration drives successfully increased voter registration by 59% among partic  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08), announced a $31,981,608 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Gibson Electric Membership Corporation. This loan will provide Lake County, Obion County, Weakley County, Dyer County, and parts of Kentucky with residential and commercial broadband. This investment will create and improve rural e-Connectivity for more than 7,389 households,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on Jan. 29: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08), applauded President Trump for signing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law. The USMCA will replace the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It will create more balanced, reciprocal trade opportunities that support high-paying jobs and stimulate the United States economy. "Today is a win for all Americans. President   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release on Jan. 28: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08), joined President Trump at the White House for the unveiling of his Peace to Prosperity plan in the Middle East. This plan is a bold vision for peace that seeks to achieve mutual recognition of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people, as well as a future State for the Palestinian people, with equal civil rights for all citizens. For th  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08), voted against two measures that would support Iran and endanger our troops. These bills would repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which authorizes the President to defend our country against the continuing threat posed by terrorist countries in the Middle East, as well as undermine the President's authority and put our national securi  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: As this impeachment trial drags on, it becomes more and more obvious the Democrats' impeachment articles are backed by assumptions, not facts. They passed their two Articles of Impeachment - "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress" - without evidence President Trump committed a crime and without bipartisan support. Constitutional and criminal law scholar Alan Dershowitz said it best, "You picked the most dange  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on Jan. 30: Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), released the following statement after the text of H.R. 5543, a measure that would infringe on President Trump's Article II authority as Commander-in-Chief and Chief Executive, passed the House as an amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 550: "This legislation undermines President Trump's anti-terror efforts and puts our troops at risk. One of the president's duties   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee passed an amended version of the Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act: "I applaud Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Tester, and the other Members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee for voting unanimously this morning in support of an amended version of the IMPROVE Act that would allow veterans at-ris  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Surgeon General VADM Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H. released the following statements after meeting with community leaders and touring local health care facilities in the First District of Tennessee: "It was my pleasure to host Surgeon General Adams in East Tennessee and show him the great things happening in health care across the First District, as well as the challenges  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on his vote regarding additional evidence in the impeachment trial: "I worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses, but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution's high bar for an impeachable offense. "There is no need for more evidence to prove that the  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after President Trump announced his intent to nominate Beth Harwell of Tennessee to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority board: "I have encouraged and admired Beth Harwell and her style of leadership since she began her career in public service. "Throughout her time in the Tennessee House of Representatives, and as Speaker of the House, Beth has worked with the TVA on several issues. "She understands   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after President Trump announced his intent to nominate Brian Noland of Tennessee to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority board: "Brian is a respected leader in East Tennessee, and during his tenure as president, he has helped transform Tennessee's fourth largest university, East Tennessee State University. "His administrative experience makes him the right person to help keep TVA on a good path - to co  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after President Trump signed into law the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act: "Today, President Trump signed into law the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. This is very good news for Tennessee workers, especially autoworkers, in 88 of our 95 counties. It updates the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1994, which was also good for Tennessee because it meant we   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 29: * * * - Says trade agreement preserves elimination of tariffs, which has helped Tennessee nearly triple its auto jobs since NAFTA was enacted in 1994 * * * U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after President Trump signed into law the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) I  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement on his vote regarding additional evidence in the impeachment proceedings: "I worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses, but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution's high bar for a  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Congressional School Choice Caucus co-chair, introduced a resolution declaring this week as National School Choice Week. Senator Scott was joined by Senate Education Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The resolution was agreed to by the Senate. "As someone who was raised in a single-parent household in a distressed community, I  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- In the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, sent a question to the Chief Justice for review by the Senate: The CHIEF JUSTICE. Senators Blackburn, Loeffler, Cramer, Lee, and McSally ask of counsel for the President: Is the standard for impeachment in the House a lower threshold to meet than the standard for conviction in the Senate, and have the House managers met their evidentiary burden to support a vote of removal? Mr. Counse  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on Jan. 28 regarding President Trump path to peace for Israel and Palestine: "President Trump has been steadfast in his commitment to ensuring Israel's safety and security. "Last year's unprecedented recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel reaffirmed our commitment to this critical alliance in the Middle East. "Today, President Trump presented a path forward to peace which provides th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on Taylor Swift documentary: "Taylor is an exceptionally gifted artist and songwriter, and Nashville is fortunate to be the center of her creative universe. "While there are policy issues on which we may always disagree, we do agree on the need to throw the entertainment community's collective influence behind legislation protecting songwriters, musicians, and artists from censorship, copyright theft, and   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Ahead of Black History Month, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) are calling for a hearing on their bipartisan legislation to create a voluntary, nationwide network of African American burial grounds and to provide federal assistance to ensure the burial sites are preserved and maintained for future generations. In a letter to Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Li  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., a strong supporter of Donald Trump's America First trade agenda, cheered the President's signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The trade deal replaces the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement, fulfilling a major promise the President made to promote free and fair trade. The USMCA solidifies the partnership among the United States' clo  more