WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of 13 individuals for positions in the federal government on Feb. 12: Craig Edward Leen, of the District of Columbia, to be Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management. James P. Danly, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2023. William G. Dauster, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insu  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The report (GAO-20-305) is entitled "Recent Economic and Workforce Trends". The report was sent to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Educati  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Timothy Burchett, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, the Trillion Trees Act, legislation that would plant 1 trillion trees globally by 2050 and incentivize the use of wood products as carbon sequestration devices, was introduced by Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) with Congressman Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) as an original cosponsor. U.S. Reps. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Pete Staub  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following floor remarks: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, spoke on the House floor in favor of a resolution to remove a deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and then voted for the measure. The vote on passage was 232 to 183. In his floor speech, Congressman Cohen said: "Nearly 100 years after women gained the righ  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Stephen Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced the Making Essentials Affordable and Lawful (MEAL) Act to lift restrictions on the receipt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for people with prior felony convictions. "Thousands of people are released from state and federal prisons re-enter society and find significant challenges, including lifeti  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Stephen Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) expressed his support for Tomeka Hart, the jury forewoman in the case against President Trump's friend Roger Stone. Stone was convicted in November on seven felony counts including obstructing a Congressional inquiry, lying to investigators under oath and trying to block the testimony of a witness whose account would have exposed his lies. Hart, who was Congressman Cohen's Dem  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Stephen Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement that the University of Memphis will receive a $205,978 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to study alcohol misuse in emerging adults: "Alcoholism takes its toll on society so any research that helps us understand it, and perhaps prevent it, is welcome. "I'm pleased the University will be able to put researchers to work on this problem thanks to this funding."  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release on Feb. 11: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) joined with Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.-47), Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Representative Katherine Clark (D-Mass.-5), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to introduce the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020, legislation that would phase out unnecessary single-use plastic products, hold corporations accountable for wasteful products, reduce wastef  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, wrote to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson to ask for accurate and credible evidence that the Amtrak ridership supports decisions to end dining car service on some long-distance routes. Congressman Cohen questioned Anderson at a hearing on "Amtrak Now and Into t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, wrote to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson to ask for accurate and credible evidence that the Amtrak ridership supports decisions to end dining car service on some long-distance routes. Congressman Cohen questioned Anderson at a hearing on "Amtrak Now and Into t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following testimony: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, testified this evening before the House Rules Committee, urging the panel to adopt a rule for consideration of a resolution enabling the full ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. It would become the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution. H. J. Res 79, intr  more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement: Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) released the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that they will be awarding Oak Ridge a $236,872 dollar Community Development Block Grant and awarding Chattanooga a $1,596,240 Community Development Block Grant and a $847,236 Home program grant: "I have been a consistent champion for the expanding economic o  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Rep. Mark Green spoke with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regarding the extensive rainfall and flooding experienced across Tennessee. Many constituents in Hardin and Decatur counties are at risk for excessive flooding from the Pickwick Landing Dam with the Tennessee River already elevated from heavy rainfall and runoff from last week's storms. Green said, "I am actively monitoring the flood  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: This week, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested $9 million in four high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 3,744 rural households, 31 businesses, 41 farms, and a critical community facility in Tennessee. Rep. Green said, "Access to high-speed broadband is a vital piece of the puzzle fo  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08) announced a $1,024,284 loan and a $1,024,284 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Program for Peoples Telephone Company. This investment will be used to deploy a fiber broadband network in Henry County as well as Houston, Montgomery, and Stewart counties. This will include 642 households spread over 39 square miles. "This inves  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08) announced a total of $917,346 in grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under their Community Planning and Development Program. $582,262 will go towards providing housing and a suitable living environment by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income people. $335,084 will go towards expanding the supply of  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release on Feb. 12: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08) led a member meeting at the United States Department of Agriculture with Secretary Sonny Perdue. They discussed how the Chinese tariffs have hurt America's hardwood lumber industry. "It was great to meet with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today to discuss the economic challenges facing the hardwood lumber industry. "Th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release on Feb. 11: U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08) questioned Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, on the state of our national economy and what Memphis' new Amazon facility means for West Tennessee's local economy. "Under President Trump's economy, we have seen record low unemployment and rising wages for all Americans. It was reassuring to hear from Chairman Powell today that despite advan  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Ranking Member Greg Walden, R-Oregon, Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, and Ranking Member Patty Murray, D-Washington, on the surprise medical billing proposals from the House Education and Labor and House Ways and Means committees: "Surprise medical bills are the outrageous result of a broken system that takes ad  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Veterans' Affairs Department announced their fiscal 2021 budget request: "Just as he has every year he has been in office, President Trump has yet again requested a record level of funding to support our nation's veterans. If enacted, this $240 billion top-line budget represents a quintupling of VA's bottom line over the last twenty year  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following column: The U.S. economy is better than ever before much thanks to President Trump's leadership, with steady economic growth and robust job creation. This week, President Trump released a responsible budget for Fiscal Year 2021, a budget that will lower our deficit by $4.6 trillion by 2030. I think the President is right to begin the conversation about tackling our debt and deficits. Our country has a spending problem, and   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. John Rose, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-6) reaffirmed his commitment to helping Tennessee hardwood lumber producers and industry workers in a meeting with United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. "Secretary Perdue provided an in-depth report on the continued progress of a Phase One trade deal with China, specifically as it relates to the hardwood lumber industry," Rep.  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, and Ranking Member Patty Murray, D-Washington, on the surprise medical billing proposals from the House Education and Labor and House Ways and Means committees: "Surprise medical bill  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement on his vote to approve the Iran War Powers Resolution: "This vote is about the United States Constitution. It preserves the commander in chief's Article II constitutional responsibility to defend the country and Congress' Article I responsibility to declare war."  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after President Trump announced his intent to nominate Tyreece Miller to serve as the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee: "Deputy Chief Miller has served in the Jackson Police Department for more than 20 years, overseeing law enforcement operations and conducting criminal investigations involving both violent crimes and drug cases. "He knows how to get results and how to get local, state a  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal 2021: "I appreciate the president's budget suggestions and will carefully consider his recommendations as Congress begins the process to fund the federal government for the next fiscal year. Under the Constitution, it is Congress' job to set spending priorities and pass appropriations bill  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) released the following statement on President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2021: "I appreciate the president's budget suggestions and will carefully consider his recommendations as Congress begins the process to fund the federal government for the next fiscal year. Under the Constitution, it is Congress' job to set spending priorities and pass   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said Chickamauga Lock construction will continue for the sixth consecutive year under the work plan released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which reflects Alexander's priorities as chairman of the appropriations subcommittee overseeing the agency. "This funding will keep construction of the new Chickamauga Lock on time and schedule and is the sixth consecuti  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to acquit President Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress: "Over the past three weeks, the Senate considered arguments for and against two articles of impeachment sent over by the House of Representatives: one, charging the President with abuse of power for asking Ukraine to assist him in investigating Hunter Biden's work for Burisma, and a second, charging him with  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced legislation to reauthorize a provision of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA) commissioning a two-part comprehensive federal study on human trafficking by the Department of Justice. While the TVPRA had called for biennial comprehensive studies on the issue, the only   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is introducing legislation that delivers tough financial consequences to states that flout federal immigration enforcement and harm public safety and national security. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) are cosponsoring the legislation and Rep. Ken Buc  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sens. Patty Murray, D-Washington, and Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, ranking Democratic member and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following joint statement with Reps. Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey, and Greg Walden, R-Oregon, chairman and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the surprise medical billing proposals from the House Education and Labor and Ways and Means committees: "Surprise medical bills  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) in introducing legislation that delivers tough financial consequences to states that flout federal immigration enforcement and harm public safety and national security. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Kelly Loeffler (R-Georgia), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) are  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) along with Senators Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) yesterday introduced the Financial Defense of Industrial Contractors (FDIC) Act, which would combat political discrimination by some of the largest banks operating in the United States against federal contractors, including those which operate f  more