{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\" and state = \"TN\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoff-co-leads-bipartisan-motion-picture-television-and", "Congressman David Kustoff Co-Leads Bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "September 25, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) helped lead the introduction of H.R.10582, the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. The bill would establish a federal tax credit for qualified film and television productions, with additional incentives for productions in qualifying rural communities and disaster areas.\n\n\u201cFilm and television production supports workers and small businesses across the country, including in Tennessee,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cWhen productions are made in the United States, that work reaches far beyond the set. It supports the crews, local contractors, restaurants, hotels, and small businesses that bring a project to life. This bipartisan bill will help Americans compete for those jobs and keep more of that economic activity here at home.\u201d\n\nThe Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would:\n\nEstablish a 20 percent federal tax credit for qualified compensation paid or incurred for qualifying services performed in the United States in connection with film and television productions. The credit rate could increase by five percentage points under specified circumstances, subject to a 30 percent cap.\n\nFor a film, television pilot, or television season to qualify for the credit they must generally have total costs exceeding $1 million and at least 75 percent of its principal-photography days in the United States.\n\nEncourage more production activity throughout the United States:\n\nProducers that increase their domestic production activity relative to their prior foreign production activity could receive an additional five-percentage-point credit.\n\nProducers that meet substantial production and payroll thresholds in at least 10 states could receive an additional five-percentage-point credit.\n\nIncrease the credit by five percentage points for productions that conduct at least 30 percent of their principal photography days in a rural qualified opportunity zone or eligible disaster area.\n\nIncrease the credit by five percentage points for productions completed by independent producers.\n\nExtend the credit to qualifying traditional post-production and visual effects projects when at least 75 percent of the associated costs are incurred in the United States.\n\nThese projects could receive an additional five-percentage-point credit if completed by an independent producer or performed in a qualifying rural opportunity zone or disaster area.\n\nEligible labor costs would include work performed in the United States during pre-production, production, and post-production. Profit-sharing and residual payments would not qualify. Traditional post-production work would include editing, sound editing, scoring, music editing, and dubbing.\n\nThe federal credit would supplement, rather than replace, existing state production incentives.\n\nCongressman Kustoff introduced the legislation alongside Reps. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Brian Jack (R-GA-03), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA-38), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03). Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate.\n\nBackground\n\nAccording to the Motion Picture Association, the American film and television industry supported 2.74 million jobs and paid $242 billion in wages in 2022. By 2024, those figures had declined to 2.01 million jobs and $202 billion in wages.\n\nTennessee established its Film/TV Incentive Fund in 2006 and adopted its current grant formula of up to 25 percent in 2012. In 2021, the state authorized a tax credit for qualified production payroll expenses. H.R.10582 would build on these programs with a federal incentive, helping Tennessee compete with countries that offer national production incentives.\n\nThe bill would apply to qualifying feature films, television pilots, and television seasons. News programs, live sporting events, talk shows, daytime dramas, social media content, advertising campaigns, and corporate productions would not qualify.\n\nThe credit would be available for eligible productions beginning in taxable years after December 31, 2026.\n\nClick here to read the bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-16-million-fema-grants-shelby-county", "Congressman Cohen Announces $1.6 Million in FEMA Grants to Shelby County, the University of Memphis and Covington", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced four grants totaling $1,642,481, for Shelby County, the University of Memphis and Covington from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).\n\nShelby Couty will receive two grants. One for $760,859, is for Warning and Alert Systems. A second, for $119,267, will fund rip rap, and other repair or replacement projects at bridges.\n\nThe University of Memphis will receive a grant of $390,355 for Liquefaction Advance Assistance.\n\nThe City of Covington will receive a grant of $372,000 to fund box culvert and other related components repair or replacement.\n\nAll four grants are precautionary responses to previously declared FEMA disasters.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see FEMA reaching out to anticipate future damage from inevitable disasters caused by climate change. This funding will permit these local entities to prepare for what is coming and mitigate the impact of these storms.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-introduces-comprehensive-articles-impeachment-against", "Congressman Cohen Introduces Comprehensive Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald Trump", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and an authority on the U.S. Constitution\u2019s impeachment provisions, today introduced 26 Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump. The articles cite multiple abuses of power, violations of his oath of office, the corrupt use of the pardon power, and emoluments clause violations, among other misconduct and unlawful acts. (See listing below.)\n\nCongressman Cohen, while serving as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, introduced five articles of impeachment against Trump in November of 2017.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cTrump is clearly the most impeachable President our country has ever endured. His continued presence in office is a danger to our democracy. That the sycophantic Republican majority in Congress is derelict in its duty does not mean that I must abandon my responsibilities. I took an independent oath to support and defend the Constitution. That commitment compels me to introduce this resolution today. When historians write about this period, and our constituents ask who stood up to President Trump\u2019s lawlessness, this resolution is the answer.\n\n\u201cI sincerely believe that the 120th Congress will better live up to its duties as co-equal branch of government and a check on the executive. I hope this resolution paves the way to accountability. We cannot tolerate this kind lawlessness and corruption.\u201d\n\nThe 26 Articles:\n\nARTICLE I: UNDERMINING DEMOCRACY\u2014SOWING DOUBT IN ELECTIONS\n\nARTICLE II: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014WAGING WAR ON IRAN WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL\n\nARTICLE III: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS OF VENEZUELA\n\nARTICLE IV: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014DEPLOYING MILITARY FORCES AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIES\n\nARTICLE V: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP EXECUTIVE ORDER\n\nARTICLE VI: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014CANCELING FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUNISH STATES FOR THEIR VOTES\n\nARTICLE VII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014IMPOSING LOYALTY TESTS ON THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE\n\nARTICLE VIII: DISREGARD OF COURTS\u2014THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT AND THE CASE OF KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA\n\nARTICLE IX: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT AT CECOT\n\nARTICLE X: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014UNLAWFUL WITHHOLDING OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS AND DISMANTLING OF CONGRESSIONALLY ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS\n\nARTICLE XI: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014OBSTRUCTING THE LAWFUL APPOINTMENT OF UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS\n\nARTICLE XII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014DEFYING COURT ORDERS IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT\n\nARTICLE XIII: ABOLISHING A CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED AGENCY\u2014THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION\n\nARTICLE XIV: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014UNLAWFUL MASS TERMINATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL WITHOUT STATUTORY NOTICE TO CONGRESS\n\nARTICLE XV: UNLAWFULLY AND UNILATERALLY TAXING UNITED STATES CITIZENS THROUGH EMERGENCY POWERS TARIFFS\n\nARTICLE XVI: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS OF COMEY, JAMES, AND SCHIFF\n\nARTICLE XVII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014THE IRS SETTLEMENT AND THE CORRUPTION OF THE JUDGMENT FUND\n\nARTICLE XVIII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014THE CORRUPT USE OF THE PARDON POWER\n\nARTICLE XIX: ATTACKS ON A FREE PRESS\u2014BANISHING REPORTERS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE FOR DISFAVORED COVERAGE\n\nARTICLE XX: ATTACKS ON A FREE PRESS\u2014COERCING CBS AND ABC TO CHANGE EDITORIAL CONTENT\n\nARTICLE XXI: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014FREE SPEECH AND RETALIATORY EXECUTIVE ORDERS AGAINST LAW FIRMS\n\nARTICLE XXII: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014FREE SPEECH AND COERCING UNIVERSITIES THROUGH WITHHELD FEDERAL FUNDS\n\nARTICLE XXIII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014DEMOLISHING THE WHITE HOUSE EAST WING WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL\n\nARTICLE XXIV: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014THE ILLEGAL IMPOUNDMENT OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS\n\nARTICLE XXV: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT THROUGH THE RENAMING OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, SEIZURE OF CULTURAL AND CIVIC PROPERTY, AND PERSONAL APPROPRIATION OF NATIONAL CURRENCY\n\nARTICLE XXVI: EMOLUMENTS VIOLATIONS\u2014PROFITING PERSONALLY AND DIRECTLY FROM THE PRESIDENCY\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-criminal-court-judge-arthur-t-bennett", "Congressman Cohen Remembers Criminal Court Judge Arthur T. Bennett", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today noted the passing of Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Arthur T. Bennett and made the following statement:\n\n\u201cWe all mourn Judge Bennett\u2019s passing. He was an outstanding judge. His court was always courteous to both sides and ruled quickly and properly on motions. He was a gentleman at all times and there\u2019s not a finer criminal court judge I ever knew.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoffs-social-security-identity-theft-bill-advances-senate", "Congressman David Kustoff\u2019s Social Security Identity Theft Bill Advances in Senate, Now Heads to President Trump's Desk", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) announced the United States Senate unanimously passed H.R. 5345, the Improving Social Security\u2019s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act, on September 17, 2026. The bill would provide victims of identity theft involving their Social Security numbers with a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration throughout the resolution of their case. It now heads to President Donald Trump\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\n\u201cVictims of identity theft deserve clear, consistent support rather than getting lost in a maze of federal bureaucracy,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cThe Senate\u2019s passage of my bill brings us one step closer to cutting red tape and ensuring victims receive timely support from the Social Security Administration. I appreciate the bipartisan support this legislation received in both chambers and look forward to President Trump signing it into law.\u201d\n\nAccording to the Identity Theft Resource Center\u2019s 2025 Annual Data Breach Report, the United States experienced a record 3,322 data compromises in 2025. Of those, 2,236 involved Social Security numbers. Federal Trade Commission identity-theft reports rose to 1.36 million in 2025, a 19.6 percent increase from 2024.\n\nUnder H.R. 5345, trained employees serving as the point of contact would coordinate with other SSA offices, maintain continuity of case records, and remain accountable until each case is resolved. The legislation would also apply when a Social Security card is lost in the mail.\n\nBackground:\n\nCongressman Kustoff introduced H.R. 5345 on Sept. 15, 2025. It passed the House Committee on Ways and Means 39\u20131 and passed out of the House of Representatives by unanimous consent on Dec. 1, 2025.\n\nThe bill builds on Kustoff\u2019s legislative record of combating fraud and streamlining federal bureaucracy:\n\n- Introduced the bipartisan Recovery of Stolen Checks Act (H.R. 1155) and DO NOT Call Act (H.R. 6449) to support fraud victims.\n\n- Introduced the Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act (H.R. 10512) to create an IRS liaison assisting employers with child care tax benefits.\n\nClick here to read the bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-chuck-fleischmann-applauds-25-million-for-tennessee-wesleyan-university-s-health-science-stem-education", "Congressman Chuck Fleischmann Applauds $2.5 Million for Tennessee Wesleyan University\u2019s Health Science, STEM Education", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) is proud to announce that he has secured $2,500,000 in federal funding for Tennessee Wesleyan University to enhance its Health Science and STEM education programs. The funding will support major renovations, and equipment upgrades at the university\u2019s Fisher Hall of Science in Athens, Tennessee.\n\n\u201cThis $2.5 million investment is about building a brighter future for East Tennessee,\u201d said Congressman Fleischmann. \u201cModernizing Fisher Hall of Science empowers our students, including many from first-generation and underserved backgrounds, to excel and launch successful careers right here at home. These graduates are essential to meeting the workforce needs in advanced manufacturing, nuclear technologies, and artificial intelligence, vital to our region\u2019s economic growth. This is a win for our students and for our region\u2019s future.\u201d\n\nThe project will modernize the 30,000-square-foot Fisher Hall of Science, which has not been significantly updated since its completion in 1968. Planned improvements include new flooring, laboratory countertops, HVAC system upgrades, network cabling, and advanced scientific equipment. The initiative will also provide faculty training and implement systems to track student progress from enrollment through job placement.\n\nWith these enhancements, Tennessee Wesleyan University aims to increase student enrollment and research participation in biology, chemistry, and environmental science, while also improving student outcomes such as graduation rates and job placements. The upgrades will particularly benefit first-generation and low-income students who rely on the university\u2019s science programs, as well as regional employers seeking a pipeline of highly skilled graduates.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-condemns-plan-further-politicize-nih-grant-decisions", "Congressman Cohen Condemns Plan to Further Politicize NIH Grant Decisions", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), co-chair of the Biomedical Research Caucus, and whose district includes St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and other internationally recognized scientific research institutions, made the following statement after learning of White House plans to further politicize National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding decisions. The plan calls for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya to co-chair a committee to review and potentially veto projects deemed too \u201cwoke\u201d by the White House.\n\nCongressman Cohen\u2019s statement:\n\n\u201cThe NIH is highly respected and highly effective at finding cures and treatments that are needed for the well-being of families, the American public and the world. In other words, the NIH is the \u2018National Institutes of Hope.\u2019 Early in Trump\u2019s second term, the scientific and medical research communities were thrown into chaos when National Institutes of Health funding already approved was withheld over concerns that projects could advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts by the grantee institutions. This new plan would make official the explicit politization of grant making. The OMB has no expertise to review scientific grants; that is what the NIH internal review panels are for. This is bad for science, bad for public health, and bad for America\u2019s role as the undisputed leader in scientific research. A depoliticized NIH is why the USA has led the world in discovering medicines to cure and treat diseases, and in being awarded Nobel Prizes. I will work with scientific and medical research institutions to make sure this plan is scuttled and that science alone guides decisions on federal funding for scientific research for the betterment of mankind.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-hosts-sixth-annual-military-academy-day", "Harshbarger Hosts Sixth Annual Military Academy Day", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Kingsport, TN \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) welcomed more than 100 students, parents, and educators to the Kingsport Center for Higher Education on Saturday for her sixth annual Military Academy Day. The event offered prospective cadets across Tennessee's First District a chance to hear directly from our nation's premier service academies and explore a path to a military education.\n\n\u201cThis annual event is about the next generation of Americans who are willing to raise their hand and serve,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cEvery student who walked through that door is thinking seriously about a life spent serving this country, and it's my job to make sure they don't have to figure out how to get there on their own. East Tennessee produces exactly the kind of grit and character our service academies are looking for, and my office will keep doing everything we can to help these young men and women get there.\u201d\n\nThe program opened with remarks from Harshbarger, followed by a presentation on the application process from Col. Scott Gerblick. Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and East Tennessee State University's Army ROTC program then held academy-specific sessions, giving students the chance to put their questions directly to cadets, officers, and admissions staff.\n\nPresenters included West Point cadet Skyler Floodquist, a junior from Sevier County; Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer Kristen Daniel; Air Force Academy admissions advisor 2nd Lt. Isabelle Flasch; Coast Guard Academy admissions partner Richard Hawkins; and East Tennessee State University JROTC representatives Scott Curtis and Sgt. 1st Class Josh Crabtree.\n\nThroughout the morning, presenters encouraged students to research each academy carefully, tailor every application individually, and build a backup plan through options such as JROTC or a year of college before seeking an appointment.\n\nStudents seeking a congressional nomination to a service academy must apply through Harshbarger's office by October 31, 2026, with in-person interviews scheduled for November 19, 2026. An independent panel reviews each application before making its recommendations to the office.\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the application process.\n\nCLICK HERE to access the application.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoff-introduces-legislation-strengthen-employer-supported", "Congressman David Kustoff Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Employer-Supported Child Care for Working Families", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) introduced H.R. 10512, the Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act, the House companion to bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The bill would help employers navigate and access federal tax benefits that support child care for working families. Congressman Kustoff has led congressional efforts to strengthen the Section 45F employer-provided child care tax credit, including provisions enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill.\n\n\u201cReliable child care supports working families and helps West Tennessee businesses recruit and retain employees,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cI worked to deliver the first major expansion of the employer-provided child care tax credit in more than two decades through the One Big Beautiful Bill. This bipartisan, budget-neutral legislation builds upon that work by giving businesses a dedicated resource to take advantage of these benefits and connect their employees with available options.\u201d\n\nA 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that relatively few businesses claimed the Section 45F employer-provided child care tax credit. The GAO cited limited awareness of the credit and the complexity of establishing and administering child care benefits as barriers to wider use.\n\nThe Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act would establish a Business Child Care Liaison within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help address these barriers. The liaison would educate businesses about the Section 45F credit and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow employees to set aside pretax income for eligible care expenses. The liaison would also help employers utilize these benefits and strengthen coordination among the IRS, businesses, and the child care sector.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn May 2025, Congressman Kustoff introduced H.R. 3155, the Child Care for American Families Act, to strengthen the Section 45F employer-provided child care tax credit and make it more useful for employers, particularly small businesses.\n\nKey provisions from Congressman Kustoff\u2019s legislation were included in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.\n\nThrough the One Big Beautiful Bill, Congressman Kustoff secured the following improvements to the Section 45F credit:\n\nFor most employers, the credit increased from 25 percent to 40 percent of qualified child care expenditures, and the annual cap increased from $150,000 to $500,000;\n\nEligible small businesses can receive a 50 percent credit with an annual cap of $600,000; and\n\nEmployers may partner with outside organizations or other businesses to provide child care.\n\nClick here to read the bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/immediate-release-doge-hearing-achieves-results", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DOGE Hearing Achieves Results", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. (09/18/2026): As a result of the DOGE hearing, \u201cFixing Fraud and Failure in Federally Funded Homelessness Services,\u201d Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has resigned from the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) Commission, and the Department of Justice has charged multiple individuals associated with organizations that contracted with LAHSA.\n\nThis hearing highlighted serious concerns about fraud, mismanagement, and accountability within Los Angeles\u2019 homelessness system. More than $1 billion in federal taxpayer dollars have been distributed to LAHSA, yet it is largely unaccounted for. What was found was free drug paraphernalia being widely distributed.\n\nLAHSA has now ceased serving as the distributor of homelessness funding in Los Angeles, but the investigation is not over. Mayor Bass\u2019s cowardly resignation will not stop the committee from issuing subpoenas and demanding answers. The American people deserve to know how their tax dollars were spent, who benefited, and who will be held accountable.\n\n\u201cThe DOGE Subcommittee is tasked with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, and that is exactly what we have done,\u201d said Rep. Tim Burchett. \u201cThis is just one of many examples of how Republicans and the Trump Administration are committing to bringing transparency to government.\u201d\n\nTo view the entire DOGE hearing, click HERE :\n\n###\n\nFor questions and media inquiries, please contact Will Garrett, Communications Director for Congressman Burchett", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-and-17-congressional-colleagues-seek-gao-review-blm", "Congressman Cohen and 17 Congressional Colleagues Seek GAO Review of BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and 16 of their colleagues sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Thursday requesting a review of the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program following reports that wild horses have been slaughtered. Supporters of the letter include Congressional Wild Horse Caucus Co-Chairs Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Congressman Cohen, and Mark Pocan (WI-02) as well as Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. The letter is endorsed by American Wild Horse Conservation.\n\n\u201cThe Administration knows what it is doing. It is circumventing the law to benefit landowners who want to get rid of all the wild horses, which are an American heritage that we should value. More oversight is needed,\u201d said Congressman Cohen.\n\n\u201cWe now know what we have long suspected \u2014 that the BLM has been selling off wild horses that end up in slaughterhouses,\u201d said Congresswoman Dina Titus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus. \u201cThis practice must end now. I am leading my Congressional colleagues in demanding an investigation of the Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program to ensure wild horses and burros received the protections they are guaranteed by federal law.\"\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time to fix the ongoing failures in how America\u2019s wild horses are managed. For years, across both Republican and Democrat administrations, we\u2019ve seen alarming reports of hostility toward these animals and serious questions about how the Bureau of Land Management is carrying out its responsibilities. This cannot be a partisan issue. It\u2019s a stewardship issue. I\u2019m proud to join this bipartisan effort to demand accountability, protect our wild horses, and push for real solutions that address the problem head-on.\u201d said Congressman Juan Ciscomani\n\n\u201cOur laws demand that we protect wild horses, not send them to slaughter. Congress has always worked in a bipartisan manner to protect these animals, and we need accountability and oversight at the Bureau of Land Management immediately. We hope this request will force the Administration to do the right thing,\u201d said Congressman Mark Pocan.\n\n\u201cWild horses are a national treasure. Year after year, Congress has barred the Bureau of Land Management from slaughtering them. Yet now there is a concerning report that Trump\u2019s agency is recklessly selling wild horses to buyers who slaughter them. I am calling on GAO to investigate,\u201d said Senator Cory Booker.\n\n\u201cThe GAO investigation is a critical step toward uncovering and eliminating abuses within the Sale Authority Program, abuses documented through AWHC\u2019s longstanding investigation and recently brought to national attention by The New York Times. No federal program should allow America\u2019s treasured and legally protected wild horses and burros to be funneled into the slaughter pipeline\u201d, said Patricia Miller, Chair, Board of Directors & Executive Director, American Wild Horse Conservation. \u201cWe are deeply grateful to Representative Dina Titus and her fellow Congressional Wild Horse Caucus co-chairs, Representatives Ciscomani, Cohen, and Pocan, for leading this essential oversight effort and advancing the agency accountability and lasting reform necessary to ensure these animals receive the protections promised to them under federal law.\u201d\n\nThe letter states: \u201cThis request is particularly urgent in light of recent reporting by The New York Times detailing how changes in the BLM\u2019s management of wild horses and burros could exploit a legal loophole to facilitate their movement into the slaughter pipeline. The reporting raises renewed concerns about whether BLM's Sale Program is being used to circumvent longstanding congressional protections intended to prevent federally protected wild horses and burros from being sold or otherwise funneled into slaughter.\n\n\u201cA comprehensive GAO review would provide Congress with an independent assessment of whether BLM's current practices adequately protect federally managed wild horses and burros, comply with congressional directives, and appropriately safeguard taxpayer resources. It would also build upon GAO's prior examination of BLM's wild horse management and sales practices, allowing Congress to determine whether safeguards remain effective nearly two decades later.\n\n\u201cMost importantly, this review would help Congress determine whether the Sale Program is functioning as a legitimate placement mechanism or has become a pathway through which federally protected wild horses and burros can predictably enter the slaughter pipeline after title transfers. The recent reporting in The New York Times, together with BLM's expanded reliance on removals and sales, makes an independent examination especially timely.\n\n\u201cGAO's findings would provide Congress with the factual basis necessary to strengthen safeguards, improve reporting requirements, ensure compliance with appropriations restrictions and the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, and consider additional statutory changes where necessary.\u201d\n\nThe letter asks the GAO to address the following issues:\n\nImplementation of Sale Authority\n\nHow has BLM implemented its Sale Authority, including \"sales without limitation,\" since enactment of the 2004 amendments to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act?\n\nHow many horses and burros have been sold annually under Sale Authority since 2004, and what trends have emerged over time?\n\nHow has BLM's reliance on sales changed following implementation of \"The Path Forward\" and the substantial increase in congressional funding for removals?\n\nTo what extent do current group and individual sales operate differently from the historical \"sales without limitation\" that Congress sought to restrict through appropriations language?\n\nPurchaser Screening and Internal Controls\n\nWhat policies, procedures, and internal controls govern purchaser screening, approval, monitoring, and post-sale oversight?\n\nHow does BLM identify and manage high-risk or repeat purchasers?\n\nDoes BLM maintain records of individuals or entities that have purchased large numbers of horses or burros over time, including purchases made through related individuals or entities?\n\nWhat mechanisms exist to identify purchasers with connections to livestock auctions, kill buyers, brokers, slaughter facilities, or other high-risk entities?\n\nHow frequently has BLM investigated allegations that sold animals entered slaughter channels, and what enforcement actions, including repossessions, purchaser suspensions, or debarments, have resulted?\n\nPost-Sale Outcomes and Enforcement\n\nWhat information does BLM collect regarding the disposition of horses and burros after title transfers?\n\nTo what extent can BLM determine whether sold animals ultimately enter commercial slaughter channels?\n\nUnder what circumstances does BLM have authority to repossess or otherwise recover an animal after a sale?\n\nWhat criteria does BLM use to determine whether to intervene when a sold horse or burro is subsequently identified at an auction, kill pen, or other slaughter-related facility?\n\nHow many horses and burros has BLM repossessed following a sale during the past ten years, and what circumstances led to those actions?\n\nHow many purchasers have been suspended, debarred, or otherwise restricted during the same period?\n\nDoes BLM distinguish between adoption and sale outcomes when reporting placement success to Congress and the public?\n\nCompliance with Congressional Direction\n\nIs BLM administering the Sale Program in a manner consistent with annual appropriations language prohibiting the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros or their sale for processing into commercial products?\n\nAre BLM's current sales practices consistent with the purpose and intent of congressional restrictions on \"sales without limitation\"?\n\nDoes BLM have adequate safeguards to prevent sales that it knows, or reasonably should know, are likely to result in animals entering the slaughter pipeline?\n\nTo what extent could current Sale Authority practices undermine congressional prohibitions by transferring animals to purchasers who subsequently resell them for slaughter?\n\nAre current policies and oversight mechanisms sufficient to ensure that federally protected animals are not predictably diverted into slaughter?\n\nProgram Management and Congressional Oversight\n\nWhat relationship exists between BLM's removal targets, off-range holding population, adoption rates, and reliance on sales?\n\nHas BLM evaluated whether its current removal and sale strategies create incentives to prioritize rapid disposal over durable placement outcomes?\n\nWhat statutory, regulatory, administrative, or reporting changes would strengthen congressional oversight and accountability?\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-805047-nih-grants-st-jude-and-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces $805,047 in NIH Grants to St. Jude and UTHSC", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive two grants and the University of Memphis will receive one grant from the National Institutes of Health. The first of the St. Jude grants for $416,250, from the National Cancer Institute, is for pancreatic cancer research under the direction of Dr. Christopher Vakoc. The goal of the project is to identify new cellular signaling pathways to help develop novel therapeutics. The second St. Jude grant, for $79,780 from the National Institute on Aging, is for Alzheimer\u2019s disease research under the direction of Dr. Jay Michael Yarbro.\n\nThe University of Memphis grant, for $309,017 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, is for work on wearable sensing devices for precision COPD risk prediction under the direction of Dr. Maryam Karimi of the School of Public Health.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cUnderstanding and treating pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s and COPD will improve the quality of patients\u2019 lives. I commend Drs. Vakoc, Yarbro and Karimi for the life-saving work they are doing.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/two-harshbarger-bills-advance-through-energy-and-commerce-committee-0", "Two Harshbarger Bills Advance Through Energy and Commerce Committee", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statements after the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced two of her bills at this week\u2019s full committee markup. Members passed the Automotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026 and the Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for (MAIN) Event Ticketing Act, sending both bills to the full House for consideration.\n\nAutomotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026:\n\n\"China has a playbook: control manufacturing and hold the world hostage. This week's vote brings us one step closer to giving Washington the facts we need to counter their strategy,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \"We\u2019ve watched Beijing run this same play on critical minerals and shipbuilding, and now they're setting their sights on the U.S. automotive industry. As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, that's not just an economic threat, it's a national security threat and a risk to the data of every American behind the wheel. I want to thank Chairman Guthrie and my colleague Congresswoman Dingell for their partnership on this bipartisan bill, and I'll keep pushing to get it signed into law.\"\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the Automotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026.\n\nMAIN Event Ticketing Act:\n\n\"This vote brings us one step closer to shutting down the ticket bots that have turned buying a ticket to your favorite show into an uphill battle,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \"Americans deserve a fair shot at the tickets they've saved up for, not a marketplace rigged by scalper bots and shady resellers. This bill strengthens the Better Online Ticket Sales Act with real cybersecurity safeguards and enforcement tools so the FTC can hold bad actors accountable. I'm grateful for my colleague Congressman Carter's partnership on this bill, and I look forward to seeing it head to the House Floor.\"\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the MAIN Event Ticketing Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tim-burchett-drops-two-bills-address-affordability", "Rep. Tim Burchett Drops Two Bills to Address Affordability", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett filed two bills to address the rising price of diesel fuel in the United States, which would make the lives of ALL Americans more affordable.\n\nDiesel fuel powers the trucks, farm equipment, and machinery that keep our economy moving, meaning higher fuel costs are ultimately passed on to consumers through higher prices for groceries, goods, and services. By addressing diesel prices, these bills will provide relief to American families and businesses.\n\n\u201cDiesel export controls drive down prices while also helping Americans keep more money in their pockets,\u201d said Rep. Burchett. \u201cRefiners typically make a profit of around $15 per barrel, or roughly 35 cents per gallon. Instead, refiners are choosing to sell their diesel for higher prices in Europe. Shipping American diesel overseas reduces domestic supply drives up prices at home. Today, refiners are profiting $117 per barrel, or $2.78 per gallon. That is a nearly 800% increase. American companies should prioritize American consumers and keep American diesel in America.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-bill-empowers-domestic-violence-victims-to-seek-help", "Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Bill Empowers Domestic Violence Victims to Seek Help", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C.\u2014Today, Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) introduced the Screening Harm, Identifying Escalating Lethality Danger (SHIELD) For Victims Act. This legislation would implement an evidence-based intervention program used by first responders to identify victims of intimate partner violence called a Lethality Assessment.\n\nUnder the Lethality Assessment protocol, victims identified as being at high risk are immediately connected with a domestic violence crisis hotline. This on-the-spot intervention gives victims an opportunity to speak with an advocate, develop a safety plan, and access resources while law enforcement officers are still present.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cNearly one in four women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Even more disturbing is how often domestic violence turns deadly. In 2021, intimate partners were responsible for 34% of all murders and nonnegligent manslaughters of women in the United States. It is clear that more must be done to combat domestic violence. That is why I introduced the SHIELD For Victims Act. This legislation trains federal law enforcement officers to conduct a Lethality Assessment when encountering a domestic violence situation. Lethality assessments and similar interventions have proven to reduce the homicides of women by an intimate partner by 40 percent,\u201d he continued.\n\nThe Congressman concluded, \u201cI am confident that connecting domestic violence victims with resources while in the presence of law enforcement will empower them to protect themselves and their children from an abuser. Taking away an abuser\u2019s ability to intimidate or manipulate is crucial. Domestic violence resource centers can help victims find safe housing and transportation, develop safety plans, and navigate the court system. This bill won\u2019t just help shield victims from domestic violence; it could help them build a new life.\u201d\n\nSharon K. Roberson, Esq., President and CEO, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, said, \u201cFor more than a decade, YWCA Nashville has partnered with the Metro Nashville Police Department through the Lethality Assessment Program, and we know firsthand that this saves lives. When law enforcement is trained to recognize the warning signs of escalating danger, they can quickly connect victims at the highest risk of being killed with advocates and service providers like the YWCA and our Weaver Domestic Violence Center. The SHIELD for Victims Act would bring this proven, life-saving approach to individuals and communities that interface with federal law enforcement.\u201d\n\nChief John Drake, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, said, \u201cConducting proven lethality assessments in response to intimate-partner violence saves lives and breaks cycles of abuse. That\u2019s why the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, in coordination with counselors and victim advocates, has been conducting lethality screenings for years. All Nashville police officers have been trained in the process. Expanding lethality assessment protocols nationally through the SHIELD for Victims Act will help make families and communities safer.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-hernia-research-grant-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces Hernia Research Grant to UTHSC", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has received a $783,237 grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to conduct research on inhaled nitric oxide for congenital diaphragmatic hernia. These hernias affect 2 to 4 per 10,000 births in the U.S., amounting to roughly 1,500 children per year, with an annual societal cost of nearly $400 million. Nitric Oxide is a different chemical than Nitrous Oxide, often utilized in dentist offices. This study aims to better understand the effects that Nitric Oxide has on the level of oxygen in the blood, to refine treatment options for patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernias. The research is under the direction of Dr. Timothy Jancelewicz.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see this substantial investment in lung disease research at our medical school. I commend Dr. Jancelewicz for conducting this important treatment trial.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-applauds-final-passage-american-music-tourism-act", "Harshbarger Applauds Final Passage of American Music Tourism Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 195, the American Music Tourism Act of 2025, sending the bipartisan bill to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) led the House companion, H.R. 617, which passed the House in April 2025, while Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led the Senate companion, S.195, which passed the Senate in May 2025.\n\n\u201cAfter more than two years of work, our bipartisan American Music Tourism Act is officially headed to President Trump's desk. As home to iconic destinations like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and the Birthplace of Country Music in Bristol, Tennessee's First District plays a vital role in the music tourism industry, and this bill will have a direct impact on a district that lives and breathes it. I'm grateful to Senator Blackburn for getting this bill through the Senate, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.\n\n\u201cThe Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to experience \u2013 from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,\u201d said Senator Marsha Blackburn. \u201cMusic tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee\u2019s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world continue to celebrate our state\u2019s rich history of music for generations to come. The American Music Tourism Act will promote and support the fast-growing music tourism industry, and I am pleased it is heading to President Trump\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the American Music Tourism Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbargers-affordable-innovation-grid-act-passes-us-house", "Harshbarger's Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act Passes U.S. House", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 9339, the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act, legislation to direct the U.S. Secretary of Energy to assess how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) technologies can strengthen the capacity, reliability, and efficiency of America's bulk-power system.\n\n\u201cToday's vote gets us one step closer to a grid that can actually keep pace with America's energy needs,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cInterconnection backlogs are a drag on grid performance and American competitiveness at a moment when energy demand is skyrocketing like never before. Understanding how AI and HPCs can help our bulk-power system run on full power will be critical to ensuring affordable rates for the long term. I'm grateful to Congressman Mullin for partnering with me on this bipartisan solution, and I'll keep pushing to get it to the President's desk.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/van-epps-and-mccollum-introduce-bipartisan-critical-materials-future-act", "Van Epps and McCollum Introduce Bipartisan Critical Materials Future Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Matt Van Epps (R-TN) and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced the Critical Materials Future Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would establish a pilot program at the Department of Energy to financially support domestic critical material processing projects.\n\n\u201cRelying on foreign sources for our critical mineral supply is gambling with both our economic and national security. Today, China leads global processing of key critical minerals, refining more than 90% of graphite and nearly all gallium, which are essential to semiconductors and batteries. China also refines more than 90% of rare earth elements used in magnets for advanced defense technologies,\u201d said Rep. Van Epps. \u201cIt is far past time for the United States to end this dangerous dependence. We can do this by paving the way for more critical mineral processing right here at home. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Critical Materials Future Act alongside Congresswoman McCollum. This bipartisan legislation establishes a pilot program to support companies committed to building critical mineral processing operations here in the United States. By strengthening our domestic supply chains, this legislation will reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries and move us one step closer to revitalizing the American defense industrial base.\"\n\n\u201cSecuring a domestic critical mineral supply chain is essential for manufacturing clean energy technologies,\u201d said Rep. McCollum. \u201cFor far too long, critical minerals extracted from our public lands have been shipped overseas for processing to be sold on the global market or bought back by American companies. That is not good stewardship of our natural resources, nor is it a good national security strategy. The Critical Materials Future Act will ensure that when we extract these resources, we also have the capacity to process them here at home.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. critical minerals list contains 50 minerals\u2014including graphite, nickel, and cobalt\u2014that are essential to our economy, infrastructure, and military capability. Critical minerals are used in smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and more.\n\nIn December 2024, China announced that it would immediately block the export of three critical minerals\u2014gallium, germanium, and antimony\u2014to the U.S. China currently controls 90% of the global processing capacity for rare earth elements and over 80% of the processing for other critical minerals like cobalt, gallium, and graphite. Experts have become increasingly concerned with U.S. dependence on China for critical materials, arguing it poses a significant risk to national security.\n\nThe Critical Materials Future Act supports critical material processing projects in the United States by granting the Secretary of Energy the authority and funding to deploy innovative financial mechanisms, such as contracts for differences and advanced market commitments, within this sector.\n\nThe bill also requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of these financial tools on market dynamics and processing projects within the critical materials sector, and to provide recommendations for expanding their use to strengthen America's processing capabilities.\n\nThe Senate companion, S. 596, was introduced by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Todd Young (R-IN), and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\nIn the 118th Congress, Congresswoman McCollum introduced H.R. 5021, the Securing American Critical Minerals Act, a bill to prohibit the sale or transfer of critical minerals to our adversaries.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-s-remarks-on-innovation-and-disaster-prevention-at-sst-committee-hearing", "Rep. Van Epps\u2019s Remarks on Innovation and Disaster Prevention at SST Committee Hearing", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Rep. Van Epps (TN-07) participated in a Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Committee hearing titled \u201cInnovation in Disaster Prevention: Advancing Technology for Prediction and Response.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Van Epps\u2019 statement and questions here.\n\n\u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today.\n\nI\u2019m grateful for the work the Chairman and this committee have done to prioritize natural disaster preparedness and response.\n\nIn 2023, Middle Tennessee was hit by an EF-3 tornado, resulting in 4 fatalities and significant damage. In 2021, deadly flash floods struck Humphreys County, tragically killing 20.\n\nWhen a catastrophic weather event strikes, the lives of Americans can change dramatically \u2013 I've seen it firsthand in Tennessee working in the State Government. That\u2019s why we must use the best technology at our disposal to equip first responders to appropriately prepare and respond to these natural disasters.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-commends-lonnie-g-bunch-lifetime-service-american-history-and", "Cohen Commends Lonnie G. Bunch for a Lifetime of Service to American History and the Smithsonian", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement that Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III will retire from his position after nearly four decades of service to the Smithsonian Institution:\n\n\u201cLonnie G. Bunch has had an extraordinary career from start to finish, and our country is better because of his commitment to telling the full and honest story of America.\n\nDr. Bunch\u2019s work as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture was a splendid contribution to American history and to our National Mall. He took what was once an idea and built it into one of our nation\u2019s most important cultural institutions. Today, millions of Americans have walked through its doors and encountered the history, contributions, and experiences of African Americans as an essential part of the American story.\n\nAs Secretary of the Smithsonian, Dr. Bunch continued that work by protecting the integrity of our museums and their commitment to truth. In the face of relentless attacks from President Trump, he stood firmly for the importance of preserving and presenting history honestly. He understands that the strength of America comes from confronting our history honestly, learning from it, and passing that knowledge on to the next generation.\n\nI have been highly honored to know Dr. Bunch over the years. He is thoughtful, gracious, and incredibly easy to work with, and his integrity has always been evident.\n\nDr. Lonnie G. Bunch will be remembered as one of the great voices speaking truth to future generations about the importance of museums, the preservation of history, and the First Amendment. I thank him for his extraordinary service to our country, the Smithsonian, and the American people.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-884991-nih-grants-st-jude", "Congressman Cohen Announces $884,991 in NIH Grants to St. Jude", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Coen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive four grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling $884,991. One grant of $263,328 is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for training staff in infectious disease therapeutics. A second, for $289,458, is for research on pediatric leukemia from the National Cancer Institute. A third, for $49,114, is for a predoctoral program at the hospital\u2019s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. And a fourth, for $283,091, is for mapping Real-World CAR T-cell implementation from the National Cancer Institute.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis investment in staff training and cancer and biomedical research will result in better outcomes for patients and potentially save lives.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-commemorates-the-25th-anniversary-of-september-11th", "Rep. Van Epps Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of September 11th", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Matt Van Epps released a video reflecting on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, remembering the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives that day and honoring the first responders, servicemembers, and their families who sacrificed in the years that followed.\n\nClick below to watch Rep. Van Epps\u2019 video.\n\nImage\n\nTwenty-five years ago, our country changed forever.\n\nI was a freshman at West Point on September 11, 2001. I remember watching the towers fall in the classroom.\n\nIn that moment, we knew America was under attack.\n\nAnd for those of us at West Point, that day changed the course of our lives. We knew we would graduate into a nation at war, and we began preparing for the fight ahead.\n\nMy class became known as the \u201cClass of 9/11.\u201d We graduated in 2005, and many of us went on to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.\n\nI eventually joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, flying missions to hunt down high-value targets and terrorist leaders in search of justice for that September day.\n\nFor many of us, serving was the honor of a lifetime. But the privilege of serving our country came with a heavy price, paid by servicemembers and their families.\n\nSadly, some of my classmates and thousands of servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror.\n\nToday, as we mark the 25th Anniversary of September 11th, we remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who were killed that day.\n\nWe remember the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and every American who ran toward danger and gave their lives trying to save their brothers and sisters.\n\nWe remember the servicemembers who answered the call in the years that followed and didn\u2019t come home.\n\nFor my generation, September 11th was a defining moment.\n\nFor new generations, it is becoming a date in history.\n\nThat is why we have to keep telling the stories.\n\nWe must never forget what happened, who we lost, and the sacrifices that were made in defense of our freedom.\n\nTwenty-five years later, America\u2019s resolve must remain steadfast.\n\nNow, more than ever, we must unite.\n\nMay we never forget September 11th.\n\nMay we never forget those we lost.\n\nAnd may we always remember what it means to keep freedom alive.\n\nBackground", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/from-the-battlefield-to-congress-911-shaped-the-men-and-women-who-answered-the-call-to-serve", "From the Battlefield to Congress, 9/11 Shaped the Men and Women Who Answered the Call to Serve", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Twenty-five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks devastated our nation, a generation of patriots stepped up to answer the call to service. In a brand-new episode of the Republican Study Committee\u2019s (RSC) Right to the Point podcast, Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) sits down with Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08) to discuss the events leading up to 9/11, reflect on the twenty-five years since 9/11, and share their unique perspectives as members of the generation whose lives and careers were shaped by the impacts of the worst terrorist attack in history.\n\nBoth Congressmen recall where they were on America\u2019s darkest day. Rep. Van Epps was a freshman at West Point when the whole trajectory of his young career was changed, and Rep. Evans was a young high schooler with his whole life ahead of him. They recount how the event influenced their decision to serve, led them to the Middle East, and continues to inform their service in the halls of Congress today.\n\nThe Congressmen also highlight the progress the U.S. military has made to rebuild its strength and deterrence under President Trump and Republicans. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act delivered a $150 billion investment into America\u2019s national security, helping equip servicemembers with the resources to meet the threats of tomorrow. House Republicans also passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, taking a major step toward ensuring the United States remains the world\u2019s preeminent fighting force.\n\nYou can listen to the full episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-legislation-fix-outdated-fda-drug-preclusion-rules", "Harshbarger Introduces Legislation to Fix Outdated FDA Drug Preclusion Rules, Protect Access to Dietary Supplements", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cAmbiguous FDA standards can leave manufacturers without guidance and consumers guessing about which products are available,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cFor decades, this broken drug preclusion process has allowed Washington bureaucrats to threaten lawful dietary supplements that have safely been purchased over the counter for years, stifling innovation and denying Americans access to products they already trust. My bill delivers the regulatory certainty manufacturers need to innovate and invest with confidence, while establishing transparency and predictability within the drug preclusion framework and preserving consumer access to dietary supplements.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepresentative Harshbarger has introduced exactly the kind of thoughtful, balanced legislation this issue has needed for years,\u201d said Steve Mister, President & CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition. \u201cThis bill doesn't weaken FDA or undermine pharmaceutical innovation. Instead, it restores the balance Congress intended when it enacted DSHEA by creating evenhanded, transparent, or predictable rules that allow both industries to innovate while protecting consumer access to safe dietary supplements. We commend Representative Harshbarger for her leadership and strongly urge Congress to advance this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Representative Harshbarger for introducing this important legislation, which modernizes an outdated provision of law, provides much-needed regulatory certainty, and helps ensure consumer access keeps pace with innovation,\u201d said Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) President and CEO Scott Melville.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoff-meets-west-tennesseans-during-august-district-work", "Congressman David Kustoff Meets with West Tennesseans During August District Work Period", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "September 10, 2026\n\nMEMPHIS, TN \u2014 During the month of August, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) spent the district work period back home in Tennessee\u2019s 8th Congressional District, meeting directly with West Tennesseans and discussing the issues important to communities across the region.\n\n\u201cThe heartbeat of America is found in places like West Tennessee,\u201d said Congressman Kustoff. \u201cLast month, I met with farmers, health care providers, manufacturers, law enforcement officers, small business owners, and civic leaders across Tennessee\u2019s 8th Congressional District. Those conversations shape my work in Washington, and I will continue fighting for the West Tennesseans who make our community strong.\u201d\n\nCongressman Kustoff\u2019s August stops and events included:\n\nShelby County\n\nFedEx: Met with FedEx President & CEO Raj Subramaniam in Memphis to discuss the logistics company\u2019s vital role in our state and national economy.\n\nOrgill: Toured Orgill\u2019s state-of-the-art Innovation Center with President & CEO Boyden Moore and learned more about the company\u2019s work supporting independent retailers.\n\nEpicenter Memphis: Led a roundtable discussion at Epicenter Memphis with Launch Tennessee CEO Lindsey Cox, local entrepreneurs, and startup founders.\n\nFrederick W. Smith International Airport: Attended the renaming and dedication ceremony for Frederick W. Smith International Airport, honoring FedEx founder Fred Smith.\n\nInternational Port of Memphis: Toured the International Port of Memphis with local transportation and economic development leaders, including EDGE Memphis President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey, Executive Director of the Port of Memphis and Vice President of Port and Industrial Properties Randy Richardson, and Port Operations Manager Larry Baker.\n\nFedEx Freight: Met with FedEx Freight CEO John Smith to discuss the company\u2019s freight transportation operations.\n\nMedtronic: Toured Medtronic\u2019s Shelby County facility with Site Director Brandon Gentry and discussed the company\u2019s work in spinal, cranial, and surgical technologies.\n\nSmith+Nephew: Visited Smith+Nephew\u2019s Shelby County manufacturing facility with Oxinium Manufacturing Operations Lead Jasmin Nuhic and met with employees supporting the company\u2019s orthopedic technology portfolio.\n\nMiCare Path: Met with MiCare Path CEO Scott Laster and John Bobango to discuss the Memphis-based health care technology company\u2019s work in remote patient monitoring.\n\nStryker: Met with Stryker Division Counsel Tom McAllister to discuss the company\u2019s Shelby County operations supporting orthopedic trauma and extremities care.\n\nSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium: Toured the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, home of the Memphis Tigers, with University of Memphis Senior Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ed Scott and Senior Deputy Athletics Director Tim Duncan.\n\nMemphis Zoo: Visited the Memphis Zoo and met with President & CEO Matt Thompson and Chief Development Officer Michele Correia about its role as a major Mid-South attraction.\n\nLe Bonheur Children\u2019s Hospital: Toured Le Bonheur Children\u2019s Hospital and met with President Dr. Trey Eubanks, Trauma Program Director Dr. Regan Williams, and members of its leadership team.\n\nAlliance Healthcare Services: Met with Alliance Healthcare Services CEO Laurie Powell, Board President Quintin Robinson, Shelby County Commissioner Mark Billingsley, who represents District 4, and members of the Alliance Healthcare Services team, a Memphis behavioral health care provider.\n\nTennessee Breast Cancer Coalition: Met with members of the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, including Board Member Julie Evert, to discuss efforts to support Tennesseans affected by breast cancer.\n\nInsurance and Financial Advisors: Met with members of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, including Tim Moran, Rebecca Schulter, and Mark Miller of UCL Financial Group, to discuss his work supporting financial professionals and the families they serve.\n\nCollierville National Night Out: Joined Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane, Town of Collierville Mayor Maureen Fraser, and local residents for National Night Out, an annual event bringing together members of the community and law enforcement.\n\nGermantown Police Department: Spoke at the swearing-in ceremony for new Germantown police officers Brian Quinn and Cameron Reverts alongside Germantown Municipal Court Judge Robert Brannon, City of Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, and Germantown Police Chief Mike Fisher.\n\nSheriff Floyd Bonner Retirement Ceremony: Attended Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner\u2019s retirement ceremony and presented him with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of his 46 years in law enforcement.\n\nTennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Delivered welcome remarks at the TVA Board of Directors meeting in Memphis and thanked TVA Board Chairman Mitch Graves for his leadership.\n\nEast Memphis Rotary Club: Spoke with East Memphis Rotary Club President Mark Beutelschies, Mike Edwards, and Rotary members about his work supporting Tennessee\u2019s economy and local employers.\n\nArlington Chamber of Commerce: Spoke with Arlington Chamber President Tonia Howell, Chamber Board President Chris Willoughby, Town of Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman, and Chamber members about his work supporting local businesses.\n\nBartlett Chamber of Commerce: Met with Bartlett Area Chamber President & CEO John Threadgill, City of Bartlett Mayor David Parsons, Chamber leadership, and local officials.\n\nTennessee Bankers Association: Spoke to Shelby County bankers about his work on the House Ways and Means Committee.\n\nTipton County\n\nMueller Fittings Company: Toured Mueller Fittings Company with General Manager Kevin Gay and City of Covington Mayor Jan Wade Hensley, visiting the Covington manufacturer of copper fittings for plumbing, HVAC, and industrial use.\n\nMagnum Ice Cream: Toured the Magnum Ice Cream factory in Tipton County with Head of Factory Andres Borrero.\n\nBaptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton: Toured Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton and met with CFO Carlos Mendoza, Administrator for Quality and Compliance Madalyn Mason, Director of HR Myra Cousar, and hospital leadership.\n\nMadison County\n\nTennessee Bankers Association: Spoke with Madison County bankers at an event hosted by Tennessee Bankers Association President Colin Barrett about the One Big Beautiful Bill and his work to support West Tennessee\u2019s financial institutions.\n\nStanley Black & Decker: Toured Stanley Black & Decker\u2019s Madison County facility and met with Plant Manager Nichole Hally, Distribution Site Leader David Eastman, and the manufacturing team.\n\nMars Snacking: Visited Mars Snacking\u2019s Jackson site and met with Plant Director Bryan Sparks, HR Director Laura Borchardt, Public Affairs Director Carlos Monje, and the team at the food manufacturing facility.\n\nVolunteer Ag Services: Joined farmer John Verell and Tennessee State Representative Chris Todd, who represents House District 73, at the Brandon Karcher Memorial Field Day hosted by Volunteer Ag Services, an agricultural services company supporting farmers across the region.\n\nToyota Motor Manufacturing Tennessee: Toured Toyota\u2019s Jackson facility and met with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tennessee President Todd Williams, Regional Director William Downey, Plant Manager Scott Hastings, Senior Manager of HR Jason Bates, and the automotive manufacturer\u2019s West Tennessee team.\n\nDynamix Physical Therapy: Toured Dynamix Physical Therapy with Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer Heath Ladd, Chief Clinical Officer Nick Nordtvedt, and members of the team at the local physical therapy provider in Madison County.\n\nDream Center: Toured the Dream Center with Tennessee State Senator Ed Jackson, who represents Senate District 25, Executive Director Gail Gustafson, and Assistant Director Robin Apelgren. The Dream Center is a nonprofit helping women and mothers with children overcome homelessness in Madison County.\n\nAARP: Met with AARP Associate State Director of Advocacy Makayla McCree and AARP team leaders Gwen Ragland and Gary Ragland to discuss advocacy for seniors across West Tennessee.\n\nGenPac: Visited GenPac, a family-owned packaging business based in Madison County, and met with GenPac President Charles Woodside.\n\nJudge Steven W. Maroney Investiture: Spoke at the investiture ceremony for Judge Steven W. Maroney\u2019s appointment to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section, alongside Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and congratulated Judge Maroney, Holly, and their family.\n\nLane College: Attended the investiture of Dr. Donald W. Comer as the 11th President of Lane College alongside Madison County Mayor AJ Massey and City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger.\n\nGibson County\n\nGibson County Farm Bureau: Joined Gibson County Farm Bureau County President Justin Pope, Tennessee Farm Bureau Director-at-Large Todd Littleton, UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Dr. Keith Carver, and local agriculture leaders for a discussion on issues affecting West Tennessee farmers.\n\nWHMc Gun Shop: Visited Lance Sherer, owner of WHMc Gun Shop, a local firearms business in Gibson County, to discuss federal firearms regulations and his work to eliminate the federal suppressor tax.\n\nCrockett County\n\nDirect Customer Solutions: Toured Direct Customer Solutions, a pharmaceutical logistics company in Crockett County, and met with Direct Customer Solutions President Steve Shirley, Executive Vice President Jesse Walters, and company leadership.\n\nMayor Gary Reasons Retirement Celebration: Attended Crockett County Mayor Gary Reasons\u2019 retirement celebration and presented him with a certificate recognizing his 42 years of service.\n\nChester County\n\nExchange Club Carl Perkins Center: Visited the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and met with Director Kirby Fahs, Vice President Delanie Bottoms, and its leadership.\n\nJones Contractors: Met with Jones Contractors Vice President of Finance Patricia Jones and the team at the West Tennessee contractor specializing in pipeline and energy infrastructure.\n\nHenderson-Chester County Chamber of Commerce: Spoke with Chamber President Craig Casey, Vice President Heather Griffin, Executive Director Blake Hopper, Chamber members, and local business leaders about his work on the House Ways and Means Committee to support small businesses.\n\nLocal Health Care and Business Meetings: Met with health care providers Dr. Carey Frix and Dr. Nicole Jennings at Frix-Jennings Clinic, Chad Cherry and Eddie Cherry of Cherry & Son Sales, and Chester County cattle producers Todd Terry and Don Terry.\n\nHenderson County\n\nScotts Hill High School: Spoke with Tennessee Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Bryan Wright, Libby Wilson, and West Tennessee farmers about the Farm Bill and his work in Washington to support the agriculture industry.\n\nHenderson County Sheriff\u2019s Office: Met with retiring Henderson County Sheriff Brian Duke and presented him with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to thank him for his 20 years of service to Henderson County.\n\nAfter a month of meetings across TN-08, Congressman Kustoff remains committed to listening to West Tennesseans and advocating for their priorities in Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-host-sixth-annual-military-academy-day", "Harshbarger to Host Sixth Annual Military Academy Day", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Kingsport, TN \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) announced today that she will host her sixth annual Military Service Academy Day, connecting students and families across Tennessee's First Congressional District with representatives from our nation's elite service academies and giving students a firsthand look at the path to a military education.\n\n\"Six years in, and it's still one of my greatest privileges to help students across Northeast Tennessee pursue their dream of serving our country,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \"Attending one of our nation's elite service academies is a tremendous honor, and I am proud to assist students in East Tennessee who seek to serve our country in the future. Each year, this event opens the door for young folks to engage directly with representatives from our military academies, ask questions, and begin charting their course toward a future of service to America.\"\n\nStudents will get the chance to speak with representatives about course selection, extracurricular activities, and more.\n\nThe event will be held on Saturday, September 19th at the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, located at 300 W. Market Street in Kingsport, TN 37660. Registration begins at 9:00 AM.\n\nRSVPs are required for attendance: TN01.Academy@mail.house.gov\n\nRepresentatives from the following Military Academies will be in attendance:\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy\n\nU.S. Coast Guard Academy\n\nU.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n\nU.S. Naval Academy\n\nU.S. Military Academy - West Point\n\nFor frequently asked questions regarding military service academy nominations, please clickHERE.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-questions-intelligence-experts-export-controls", "Congressman Cohen Questions Intelligence Experts on Export Controls on Sensitive Computer Chips", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today questioned expert witnesses on intelligence and national security issues about why the Trump administration lifted export controls to allow the Chinese Communist Party to purchase high-performance but sensitive H200 GPU computer chips that can be used to strengthen the Chinese military to the detriment of the United States.\n\nThe Congressman noted that everyone who has testified before the committee has recognized the decision was a dangerous mistake, including the witnesses today.\n\nIn his remarks, the Congressman said in part:\n\n\u201cIt all comes down to that decision. I think it\u2019s pretty obvious who made the decision to give them chips: President Trump. Is that not correct?...All the experts we\u2019ve had, and everybody, says \u2018don\u2019t do it. Big mistake. We\u2019re giving away our country\u2019s future.\u2019 He\u2019s more worried about the Kennedy Center\u2019s naming and the ballroom and the golf course.\u201d\n\nSee his line of questioning here.\n\nThe witnesses at today\u2019s hearing were:\n\nMr. Frank Cilluffo \u2013 Director of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University;\n\nMr. David Feith \u2013 Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute; and\n\nDr. Seth Jones \u2013 President of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-resolution-honoring-life-and-legacy-dolly-parton-0", "Harshbarger Introduces Resolution Honoring Life and Legacy of Dolly Parton, Leads Moment of Silence on House Floor", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, the Sevier County native whose music, generosity, and devotion to her East Tennessee roots continue to touch the lives of millions following her passing on Aug. 25, 2026, in Nashville, at age 80. The resolution was co-led by Congressman John Rose (R-TN) and cosponsored by the entire Tennessee House delegation. Harshbarger also led a moment of silence on the House Floor this evening in Parton's honor.\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was one of our own, and she never forgot where she came from,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cHer music told the truth about hard work, faith, and family, and that truth is why the whole world fell in love with her. But it was her heart that made her a legend at home. Whether she was rebuilding after the wildfires that tore through her own community, opening doors for children to learn to read, supporting healthcare and research for Tennessee families, or protecting the mountains she loved, Dolly gave back every chance she got. Guided by her faith and shaped by her East Tennessee upbringing, she used her success to lift up the people around her at every turn. My prayers are with her family and everyone who loved her, and I am honored to lead this effort in the House to make sure her legacy is remembered for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe couldn\u2019t have asked for a better ambassador for Tennessee than Dolly Parton,\u201d said Congressman John Rose. \u201cShe will continue to touch countless lives through her music and philanthropy, including the Imagination Library, and her impact on tourism in East Tennessee will be felt for decades to come. I was honored to sign onto this resolution which recognizes her extraordinary life.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly Parton embodied everything it meant to be an East Tennessean. Her voice, her style, and her outlook on life were all born from her upbringing in Sevierville. She rose from a poor, rural farmhouse to the peaks of stardom, never forgetting the people and the place that helped her get there. The American Dream resonates with every person in this country, and as much as we love to claim her in Tennessee, she represented all of America. Rest in peace, Dolly,\u201d said Congressman Tim Burchett.\n\n\u201cDolly was a living embodiment of grace, unwavering love and support, and generosity. She was the greatest representative of Tennessee ever. Not just from her musical talents and her philanthropy, but from her big heart and outstanding generosity. She made us all proud. The world would be a better place if more people were like Dolly,\u201d said Congressman Steve Cohen.\n\n\u201cNot one Tennessean has ever done more for our great state than Dolly Parton. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution to honor her life and legacy of always putting others first,\u201d said Congressman Scott DesJarlais.\n\n\u201cAs we mourn the passing of Dolly Parton, we remember not only a legendary voice but a true Tennessee treasure. Dolly\u2019s kindness, generosity, and unwavering spirit brought pride to our state and joy to millions around the world. Her remarkable legacy in music, philanthropy, and the hearts of so many will never be forgotten. From the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to stages worldwide, Dolly embodied the best of our community's values and touched lives everywhere she went. We honor her memory and give thanks for the extraordinary life she shared with all of us,\" said Congressman Chuck Fleischmann.\n\n\u201cI am honored to cosponsor this resolution recognizing the life and legacy of Dolly Parton,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cDolly brought pride to our state and joy to millions. Dolly\u2019s legacy will remain a part of Tennessee and our nation for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cTennessee has lost one of its brightest stars,\u201d said Congressman Andy Ogles. \u201cDolly Parton was a model Tennessean. A woman of faith, humility, generosity, and extraordinary talent who never forgot where she came from. Our prayers are with Dolly\u2019s family and all those mourning this tremendous loss. Tennessee will never be the same without her.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly Parton represented the very best of Tennessee, and her loss is being felt around the world. She grew up one of twelve children in a two-room cabin in the mountains of East Tennessee, and no matter how far her career took her, she never forgot where she came from. While widely known for her music and acting, her philanthropic work left its own legacy as well. When wildfires devastated Sevier County in 2016, Dolly stepped in and provided more than 900 families who had lost their homes with $10,000 each. In addition to her many other charitable gifts, her commitment to giving back also led her to establish the Imagination Library in 1995, which began in her home county and grew into a worldwide program that has provided more than 330 million free books to children. While Dolly was always proud to call Tennessee home, Tennessee could not have been prouder to call her one of our own. We will miss her dearly,\" said Congressman Matt Van Epps.\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was a Tennessee treasure who lived out the Volunteer Spirit, loved our nation, and opened doors of opportunity for countless people,\u201d said Senator Marsha Blackburn. \u201cWhile there are no words to fully express the sorrow all Tennesseans feel in her loss, I hope this resolution plays at least a small part in ensuring that her legacy is never forgotten, and I am honored to lead it in the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly is truly a Tennessee legend,\u201d said Senator Bill Hagerty. \u201cFrom her humble beginnings in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to worldwide fame, Dolly exemplified the American Dream. Whether she was performing on stages across the globe, creating opportunities for families to make memories in Dollywood, or fostering a love of reading through her Imagination Library, Dolly lived a life dedicated to encouraging others to dream just as boldly as she did. She never forgot where she came from and left an indelible cultural and economic impact on our state. She will be very dearly missed.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to read the resolution.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbargers-nuclear-advisory-committee-reform-act-advances-through-energy-and", "Harshbarger's Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act Advances Through Energy and Commerce Committee", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced her Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act at today's full committee markup, sending the bill to the full House for consideration:\n\n\u201cChina is racing to build reactors while we bury our own designs in paperwork, and that ends with this bill. Today's vote takes us one step closer to making sure our nuclear safety experts are spending their time on the issues that actually matter instead of duplicating work the NRC has already done. I'm grateful to Chairman Guthrie for helping get this through committee, and I'll keep pushing until it's signed into law,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-14-million-national-cancer-institute-grants", "Congressman Cohen Announces $1.4 Million in National Cancer Institute Grants to UTHSC", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced two grants totaling $1,441,914 to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) from the National Cancer Institute. One, for $1,052,689, will support research into the contribution of microbial-derived metabolites to protective immunity in obesity-driven cancer risk under the direction of Dr. Liza Makowski-Hayes. Her group will work to address the questions: how and to what extent are the underlying mechanisms of obesity-mediated increases in chronic inflammation related to an increase in cancer risk? A second grant, for $389,215 will support research into drug discovery for triple-negative breast cancer (absence or substantial lack of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2), which accounts for 15-20 percent of breast cancers, under the direction of Dr. Michio Kurosu.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am always pleased to see these kinds of investment in the work of our University of Tennessee medical school. Cancer research saves lives. I commend both Drs. Makowski-Hayes and Kurosu for undertaking this work.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-celebrates-901-day-9-01", "Congressman Cohen Celebrates \u201c901 Day\u201d on 9-01", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today went to the House floor to speak on \u201c901 Day.\u201d\n\nIn his remarks, he said:\n\n\u201cToday we celebrate 901 Day \u2014 a day to celebrate Memphis, Tennessee, and the people who make our city what it is. 901 is more than an area code. It represents people who have never been afraid to stand up and demand better. In 1968, sanitation workers, AFSCME workers, in Memphis marched for dignity, fair wages, and the basic right to be treated with respect. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis to stand with those workers and tragically lost his life there. This history reminds us that progress has never simply been given to Memphis. We have fought for it.\n\n\u201cNow, with the gerrymandered redistricting effort that took away the vote of black voters and the large-scale ICE raid that was carried out this past weekend, we must fight harder.\n\n\u201cSo yes, today we celebrate the history, the music, the culture, and the BBQ, but most importantly we celebrate the people \u2014 the generations of Memphians who refused to accept that things had to stay the way they were. And we carry that spirit forward.\n\n\u201cHappy 901 Day Memphis.\u201d\n\nSee the speech here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-questions-witnesses-hearing-sanctuary-jurisdictions", "Congressman Cohen Questions Witnesses at Hearing on Sanctuary Jurisdictions", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The Republican-led Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement today held yet another hearing on sanctuary jurisdictions in advance of the November midterm elections. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents\u2019 accountability after killings in Minnesota and the competence of immigration policy leadership, and then focused on an incident over the weekend in Memphis.\n\nIn his remarks, he said in part:\n\n\u201cIf we had better people running ICE what happened (in Minnesota) may not have occurred. We need experts - law enforcement experts \u2013 top notch people who know what they\u2019re doing and can zero in on \u2018the worst of the worst\u2019 and get them off the streets and out of the country.\u201d\n\nCongressman Cohen said neither of Trump\u2019s picks to run the Department of Homeland Security \u2013 Kristi Noem and Markwayne Mullin \u2013 were qualified.\n\nHe continued:\n\n\u201cSanctuary cities are not the problem. Memphis is not a sanctuary city, but just this weekend we had the largest ICE raid in Memphis history. They picked up a hundred people out of a bar and took them and put them in buses at 2 o\u2019clock in the morning. They claim they went to the bar, which is in a Hispanic neighborhood, because they had gambling going on\u2026They took people out of the community. The Memphis mayor objected. I object. We don\u2019t need the National Guard in Memphis. We don\u2019t need ICE in Memphis. We need rational law enforcement and rational immigration (policy). We don\u2019t have it.\u201d\n\nSee his remarks here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-urges-governor-lee-request-fema-assistance", "Congressman Cohen Urges Governor Lee to Request FEMA Assistance", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to Governor Bill Lee urging him again to seek assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to the damage done by storms on Saturday, August 22. The Congressman wrote to Lee on August 24 making the same request.\n\nIn his letter today, Congressman wrote in part:\n\n\u201cI am writing to follow up on my earlier letter urging you to request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Shelby County in response to the severe storms that struck Memphis and Shelby County on Saturday, August 22. Since my previous correspondence, conditions on the ground have continued to demonstrate the urgent need for additional support.\n\n\u201cThe storm caused extensive damage to homes, public infrastructure, and utility systems, leading to prolonged power outages and significant disruptions to essential services. Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW) reported power outages to 148,000 customers. As many as 11,000 customers were without power through Wednesday, August 26. Restoration crews, including both local personnel and external support teams, are working tirelessly, but the scale of tree damage, downed lines, and infrastructural impact has made recovery efforts especially challenging.\n\n\u201cAs of August 31, the Shelby County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has reported over $19 million in recorded damages. Given the severity of the damage and the continued burden on critical services, prompt action is necessary to ensure access to all available federal resources that can support recovery and stabilization.\n\n\u201cI respectfully reiterate my request that you seek the appropriate federal disaster assistance as soon as possible. I stand ready to support this effort in any way needed.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohens-statement-sundays-ice-raid-macon-road", "Congressman Cohen\u2019s Statement on Sunday\u2019s ICE Raid on Macon Road", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), who has raised his strong opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) being in Memphis on the House floor, in House Judiciary committee proceedings and in letters urging the immediate removal of ICE, made the following statement after hearing about an ICE raid at a bar on Macon Road in Memphis:\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again: we don\u2019t have an immigration problem in Memphis and ICE\u2019s presence in our streets is doing more harm than good. The people detained \u2013 for whatever reason \u2013 are our neighbors. The harshly negative reaction to Sunday\u2019s ICE raid reflects our community\u2019s assessment that ICE needs to leave Memphis. Governor Lee needs a job when his term ends so he is acting with immigration like he did with redistricting, helping Trump.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-chuck-fleischmann-secures-3-million-for-utc-s-translational-research-program", "Congressman Chuck Fleischmann Secures $3 Million for UTC\u2019s Translational Research Program", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Congressman Chuck Fleischmann has successfully secured $3 million in federal funding to advance the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Translational Research Program. This significant investment underscores UTC\u2019s commitment to pioneering research and innovation that directly benefits the community and the region.\n\nThe funding, awarded as part of a federal appropriations package, will support UTC\u2019s efforts to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application. The Translational Research Program at UTC focuses on translating groundbreaking research into practical solutions.\n\n\u201cI am proud to champion investments that strengthen our region\u2019s future. This $3 million in federal funding for UTC\u2019s Translational Research Program will empower our university to turn cutting-edge research into real solutions that benefit Chattanooga, the entire state of Tennessee, and our great nation. Supporting innovation and higher education is critical to creating jobs, advancing technology, and improving lives right here at home,\u201d said Congressman Fleischmann.\n\n\u201cThis investment represents an important next step in expanding UTC\u2019s research enterprise and strengthening our ability to turn discovery into solutions that make a real difference in people\u2019s lives,\u201d Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce said. \u201cAs these funds become available, we can begin putting the people, tools and infrastructure in place to move promising ideas from the laboratory into practical application. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Fleischmann for once again investing in UTC and recognizing the important role our University can play in driving innovation, economic growth and opportunity for Chattanooga, Tennessee and beyond.\u201d\n\nCongressman Fleischmann\u2019s support reflects his ongoing commitment to advancing science, technology, and education in Tennessee. With this funding, UTC will expand research opportunities and foster collaborations with industry and community partners.", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-23-million-health-and-human-services-0", "Congressman Cohen Announces $2.3 Million in Health and Human Services Grants to UTHSC, St. Jude and Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a $1 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand the maternity care workforce under the direction of Dr. Mary Fouquier of the College of Nursing. Congressman Cohen also announced Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach will receive a grant of $450,000 for its Delta Region Maternal Care Coordination Program from HRSA.\n\nSt. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $921,871 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study the structural basis of signal instigation under the direction of Dr. Georgios Skiniotis, director of its Center of Excellence for Structural Cell Biology. Proteins are 3-dimensional and drug-binding, and can subtly alter that shape to induce, enhance, reduce, or prevent something else downstream in the biological system from occurring. Dr. Skiniotis\u2019 team will use advanced cryogenic electron microscopy techniques to directly observe several proteins, the metabotropic glutamate 2 and 5 (mGluR2 and mGluR5), and \u03b3-aminobutyric acid B receptors (GABABR) which bind the neurotransmitters glutamate and glycine receptor, in combination with another critical protein class, called the G-proteins. The mGluR2, mGluR5, and GABABR are part of a substantial class of receptors, called the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). Approximately 35 percent of all FDA-approved drugs target these GPCRs. Thus, the detailed structural information that Dr. Skiniotis\u2019 team seeks to uncover will assist in the development of new drugs for these critical targets.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cIn a region with high levels of infant and maternal mortality, these investments in training nurses and outreach to the community will save lives. St. Jude continues to do critical research at the cellular level that will result in discoveries and improve outcomes. I congratulate all three recipients of this funding for the life-saving work they are doing.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-916030-grants-federal-emergency-management", "Congressman Cohen Announces $916,030 in Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) announced today that Memphis Shelby County Schools, Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) and the Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, with offices in Covington, will receive a total of $916,030 to address storm disaster-related expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).\n\nMemphis Shelby County Schools will receive $250,850 for repairs and Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation will receive $541,134 for replacement utility poles and transformers as a result of the storm that was declared a disaster in February. Both figures represent the 75 percent federal share for reimbursements.\n\nMLGW will receive $124,046 for costs associated with managing public assistance grants as a result of storms last summer. That figure represents 100 percent of the cost incurred.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cOur region has taken quite a bruising in recent years from straight-line winds and tornadoes. This FEMA funding will help reimburse the costs incurred locally and the investment will improve the local economy.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-42-million-fema-grants-tipton-county", "Congressman Cohen Announces $4.2 Million in FEMA Grants for Tipton County, Covington and Munford", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Tipton County, Covington and Munford will share $4,222,558 in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The City of Covington will receive $3,743,581 to build a multi-purpose facility that can double as a Community Safe Room adjacent to the Covington Police Station. Its maximum occupancy would be 736.\n\nTipton County will receive $299,171 and Munford will receive $179,606 for weather warning and alert systems.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cTipton County has taken it on the chin recently with severe weather. These precautionary efforts to address the increasing frequency and severity of these events are practical and potentially life-saving.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-snap-timely-reporting-waiver-and-mass", "Congressman Cohen Announces SNAP Timely Reporting Waiver and Mass Replacement of SNAP Benefits for Shelby County", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Administration has approved two requests from the Tennessee Department of Human Services to loosen restrictions on the timely request for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) replacement benefits due to the major storm damage last Saturday, August 22. The second waiver authorizes replacement of those benefits.\n\nHouseholds already enrolled in the SNAP program in eight ZIP codes are eligible: 38004, 38108, 38111, 38115, 38116, 38119, 38126 and 38141. The number of SNAP beneficiaries in the affected area is estimated at 65,222. The total monthly issuance of benefits to the affected areas is $29,682,489.\n\nNormally, recipients would be required to request replacement benefits within 10 days of an emergency or disaster, but the waiver gives recipients until September 11.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe severity of the damage and length of time electric power was out after Saturday\u2019s storm makes these sensible waivers necessary. I am hopeful affected recipients will take advantage of this prolonged application period.\u201d\n\nSNAP enrollees can apply for replacement benefits through the Tennessee Department of Human Services through the state\u2019s One DHS portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov/csp.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-dingell-introduce-legislation-study-chinese-threats-us-auto", "Harshbarger, Dingell Introduce Legislation to Study Chinese Threats to the U.S. Auto Industry", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cChina has a playbook, and we've watched them run it on critical minerals, shipbuilding, and batteries,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cNow they're setting their sights on the global automotive market, building out their industrial base with state subsidies and flooding markets with artificially cheap products to undercut American manufacturers. As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, that strategy isn't just an economic threat, it's a national security threat and a risk to the data of every American behind the wheel. This bill gives policymakers the facts we need to understand how deep this penetration goes and to protect our automotive industry before it's too late.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm a car girl\u2014I will always fight for our auto workers and this critical industry that is the backbone of America's economy. I am proud to help lead this bipartisan piece of legislation that will create good-paying jobs and protect our national security. And we must continue our efforts to decrease our reliance on China and create a level playing field,\u201d said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-announces-nearly-2-million-federal-trio-funding-east-tennessee", "Harshbarger Announces\u00a0Nearly $2 Million\u00a0in Federal TRIO Funding for East Tennessee", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThese awards mean Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center staff at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Tusculum, and Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority can keep doing this work for another year,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cMy office heard directly from constituents in Johnson City, Greeneville, and across our district who were worried about what changes to this program would mean for their students, and we made sure the U.S. Department of Education understood how much this funding matters here. I'm proud of the work these grantees do every day helping first-generation and low-income students get ready for college, and I'll keep fighting for East Tennessee's fair share of these federal dollars.\u201d\n\n\u201cETSU has a longstanding tradition of serving first-generation and low-income students, helping them access the opportunities they need to thrive in college and beyond,\u201d said Dr. Brian Noland, East Tennessee State University President. \u201cFor more than 20 years, Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers at ETSU have annually served 1,600 students to pursue education and training beyond high school, whether at a TCAT, community college, four-year university, or through military service. Through personalized guidance, mentorship, and college and career readiness services, these programs have helped students build pathways to success. We are especially grateful to Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger for her leadership and tireless advocacy in securing funding for these programs, and we thank Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for their partnership and commitment to expanding educational opportunity. This investment will have a lasting impact on the lives of students and families throughout our region.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-legislation-end-federal-ban-home-distillation", "Harshbarger Introduces\u00a0Legislation to\u00a0End Federal Ban on Home Distillation", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today introduced the Freedom to Home Distill Act, legislation that would end the federal prohibition on home distillation and extend to distillers the same tax-free, personal-use exemption that home brewers of beer and wine have enjoyed since Congress updated the tax code in 1978.\n\n\u201cIt makes no sense that Americans can legally make beer and wine at home for personal consumption, but not a small batch of spirits,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cDistilling has deep roots in Tennessee and across Appalachia, tied to self-reliance and craftsmanship that go back generations. It's long past time we modernize this outdated federal law. My bill restores an important piece of that tradition and puts personal responsibility back where it belongs: with the American people.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nEric \u201cDigger\u201d Manes, star of the reality television series Moonshiners on the Discovery Channel and native of Tennessee\u2019s First Congressional District:\n\n\u201cIt would be an understatement to say that it was an honor to be involved in authoring the Freedom to Home Distill Act. When I initially approached Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger to explore the possibility of introducing a bill that would allow hobby distillers to engage in their craft without the fear of law enforcement intervention, it was a monumental step. The apprehension of prosecution has been a persistent concern for illegal distillers since George Washington participated in the same process that is now being carried out in these Appalachian hills. My hope is that everyone who reads this will contact their federal representatives, regardless of whether they intend to pursue the hobby themselves, and request their support for this bill. Given that multiple states have legalized marijuana, it appears logical that we should be permitted to engage in our hobby without facing repercussions. Congresswoman Harshbarger has dedicated three years of research and effort to the development of this bill solely because one of her constituents inquired about her interest in becoming a hero to four million citizens. The moonshine community cannot express its gratitude enough to Representative Diana Harshbarger!\u201d\n\nReps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Riley Moore (R-WV) joined as original cosponsors.\n\n\u201cNationwide prohibition ended nearly a century ago, yet the federal government continues to regulate domestic distilling operations. There is no reason to keep antiquated and inefficient laws on the books, nor is there any reason that this should not be state-level issue. I support the \u201cFreedom to Home Distill Act\u201d and any legislation that reduces red-tape and strengthens individual liberties,\u201d said Congressman Tim Burchett.\n\n\u201cWest Virginia has a proud tradition of craftsmanship, independence, and yes, moonshining. The federal government shouldn\u2019t stand in the way of responsible adults distilling spirits for personal use in their own homes. The Freedom to Home Distill Act is a commonsense bill that protects Americans\u2019 individual liberties,\u201d said Congressman Riley Moore.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nUnder current law, home brewers can produce up to 200 gallons of beer or wine per household each year tax-free for personal use. Home distillation of spirits, however, remains fully banned under federal law. The restriction predates Prohibition by more than 50 years and has not been substantively updated since, even as commercial distilling has grown into a legitimate and expanding industry.\n\nThe Freedom to Home Distill Act:\n\nCreates a tax exemption for spirits produced at a qualifying home distillery, defined as a private residence, or a connected shed, yard or enclosure, used solely for personal or family consumption.\n\nSets production limits mirroring current homebrewing limits: up to 10 proof gallons per year for single-adult households and up to 20 proof gallons per year for households with two or more adults age 21 or older.\n\nProhibits any sale or transfer for sale of home-distilled spirits.\n\nExempts qualifying home stills from federal registration and notice requirements, provided the equipment has a pressure release and vacuum relief valve and a capacity no greater than 50 gallons.\n\nRemoves criminal penalties under the tax code for distilling within a qualifying home distillery establishment.\n\nPreserves state authority. The bill applies only to federal law, and states retain full power to regulate or prohibit home distillation as they choose.\n\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\n\nBill text\n\nOne-pager\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-resolution-on-fifth-anniversary-of-afghanistan-withdrawal", "Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Resolution on Fifth Anniversary of Afghanistan Withdrawal", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Read the exclusive from Fox News\u2019 Liz Elkind here\n\nIn light of the fifth anniversary of the Biden administration\u2019s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) will introduce a resolution condemning the series of decisions that led to the death of 13 servicemembers at Abbey Gate.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cThe United States spent upwards of two trillion dollars fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. During these two decades, 2,400 servicemembers were killed while many more were injured. It\u2019s impossible to measure the price of the months and years men and women had to spend away from their families, or the other sacrifices servicemembers make daily when deployed to a war zone. I deployed to Afghanistan eight times after the September 11 terrorist attacks, flying many dangerous missions as part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). While in Afghanistan, I saw unspeakable horrors, including the Taliban\u2019s oppression of the Afghan people, and then I witnessed too many of my friends return home in flag-draped coffins. After all of this, watching twenty years of our nation\u2019s collective work collapse in a matter of days was traumatic for many veterans. Despite this, I take solace in the fact that we did our job. We took out high-value terrorist targets and made the world safer as a result. This, however, does not change the fact that this withdrawal was poorly planned.\u201d\n\n\u201cMost agree that the United States couldn\u2019t stay in Afghanistan indefinitely, but many also believe that there was a way to leave that didn\u2019t result in an immediate Taliban takeover. While that may be debatable, few disagree that it was President Biden\u2019s flawed decisions and strategic errors that resulted in the bombing at Abbey Gate, stranding 1,000 Americans, leaving billions of dollars' worth of military equipment behind, and deserting our Afghan and NATO allies,\u201d Rep. Van Epps continued.\n\n\u201cTo make matters worse, President Biden has only ever defended his decision over the years to withdraw from Afghanistan by an arbitrary date regardless of the consequences for U.S. personnel, servicemembers, or the Afghan people. Years later, there has still been no meaningful accountability for one of the most damaging foreign policy failures in recent history. That\u2019s why I am introducing this resolution to the House of Representatives. This resolution will remind the world what weakness on the world stage looks like. And this resolution will remind our country about the cost of capitulating to its enemies instead of leading with resolve,\u201d Rep. Van Epps concluded.", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/five-years-after-abbey-gate-republicans-say-biden-s-failures-still-haven-t-been-answered-for", "Five Years After Abbey Gate, Republicans Say Biden's Failures Still Haven't Been Answered For", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Five years ago, an ISIS-K terrorist detonated a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 13 American servicemembers in the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in over a decade. On this solemn anniversary, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Members honor the memory of these American heroes and the sacrifice they made in service to our country.\n\nThe botched withdrawal from Afghanistan was the direct result of the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s failure to adequately prepare for the operation and account for the consequences of their decisions. RSC Members remain resolute that a catastrophe of this magnitude must never happen again.\n\nPresident Trump and Congressional Republicans have moved decisively to rebuild the strength our fallen heroes deserved. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act delivered a $150 billion investment into America\u2019s national security, equipping our servicemembers to meet an increasingly evolving threat landscape. House Republicans also passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, taking a major step toward restoring American deterrence and rebuilding the United States as the world\u2019s preeminent fighting force.\n\nRSC Members released the following statements:\n\n\u201cFive years ago at Abbey Gate, 13 courageous American servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out a dangerous mission to bring others to safety. We will never forget their bravery, and we continue to mourn with and pray for the families. This solemn anniversary is also a reminder of the catastrophic failures that led to the attack during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Honoring the fallen requires accountability and resolve. We must continue to take the necessary steps to ensure our warfighters have the leadership and resources they need to prevent a tragedy of this magnitude from ever happening again,\u201d said Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services.\n\n\u201cThe 13 heroes of Abbey Gate represented the very best of our nation\u2014standing in the breach to save others with extraordinary courage and selflessness. Having made the ultimate sacrifice, their unwavering devotion to duty will forever be etched in our hearts and honored by a grateful nation,\u201d said Rep. Rick Crawford (AK-01), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.\n\n\u201cAbbey Gate showed the world what American weakness looks like. Thirteen heroes lost their lives because the Biden-Harris administration projected chaos instead of strength, and our adversaries took notice. Five years later, Republicans have worked tirelessly to restore what was lost that day. From rebuilding our military to reasserting American resolve on the world stage, we are proving that the era of American weakness is over. We owe it to the fallen at Abbey Gate to make sure this country is never caught in that position again,\u201d said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cWe must never forget the August 26th, 2021, Surrender in Afghanistan, one of the most disastrous military and foreign policy mistakes in American history. Sadly, 13 brave U.S. servicemembers were killed after successfully preventing resurgence of terrorism for 20 years. Biden capitulation to the Taliban has made Afghanistan a safe haven for terrorists, putting all Americans at risk. Today, we remember the lives lost, and the sacrifices made for our freedom and safety in America,\u201d said Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02).\n\n\u201cFive years ago, 13 brave American servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate during President Biden\u2019s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, we honor their heroism and stand with their Gold Star Families and the other wounded survivors. Their courage and sacrifice will forever be part of the story of our Nation, and we will remain committed to ensuring that American lives and American strength is never taken for granted again,\u201d said Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13).", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-passing-dolly-parton", "Statement on the Passing of Dolly Parton", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Following the death of Dolly Parton, Rep. Burchett (TN-02) released the following statement: \"Today, Tennessee lost one of our greatest ambassadors in Dolly Parton. Her music inspired generations of Americans, and her philanthropic work helped provide greater access to education for countless young Tennesseans. She represented the very best of the American Dream, and her legacy will live on for generations to come. Rest in peace, Dolly.\"-- U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (TN-02)\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-statement-passing-dolly-parton", "Harshbarger Statement on the Passing of Dolly Parton", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Pigeon Forge, TN \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement today after the death of country music legend and Sevier County native Dolly Parton, who died at age 80:\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was one of ours,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cShe grew up in the hills of Sevier County, right here in Tennessee's First District, and no matter how big her star got, she never stopped being one of us. She built Dollywood into a place that put East Tennessee on the map for the whole world to see, and through her Imagination Library, she put books in the hands of children who needed them most, including so many right here at home. Her music, her generosity, and her love for these mountains will outlast every one of us. Today, East Tennessee is praying for her family and grieving one of our own.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-urges-governor-lee-seek-federal-disaster-assistance", "Congressman Cohen Urges Governor Lee to Seek Federal Disaster Assistance", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to Governor Bill Lee urging him to seek assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after Saturday\u2019s devastating storm.\n\nThe letter reads in part:\n\n\u201cI strongly urge you to request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the provisions of Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR 206.35, for Shelby County in response to the severe storms that struck Memphis and Shelby County on Saturday, August 22.\n\n\u201cThe powerful storm brought winds exceeding 80 miles per hour and caused extensive damage to trees, utility poles, power lines, homes, and other infrastructure throughout our community. At the height of the storm, more than 140,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) customers were without power. MLGW has since determined that this was the seventh most damaging storm in its history based on outage impact and the number of circuits affected.\n\n\u201cWhile MLGW crews have made significant progress, the scope of the damage remains substantial. As of Monday morning, over 45,000 customers and constituents of mine remain without power. MLGW has deployed hundreds of its own employees and brought in dozens of additional outside crews, with approximately 700 to 800 personnel working across the service area to restore power. More than 200 tree-trimming personnel are also assisting with the recovery.\n\n\u201cMLGW has advised customers to prepare to be without power for multiple days because of the extensive number of downed and damaged trees, poles, and wires. The storm also affected water treatment facilities, schools, roadways, and other critical infrastructure. Memphis-Shelby County Schools were forced to close on Monday because of widespread outages affecting dozens of schools and administrative buildings.\n\n\u201cThe severity and widespread impact of this storm have placed a significant burden on Memphis and Shelby County residents, local governments, utilities, and emergency response agencies. Given the scale of the damage and the resources required for recovery, I believe a swift request for federal disaster assistance is prudent to ensure Shelby County has access to all available resources to address the damage and support affected residents.\n\n\u201cI respectfully urge you to act expeditiously to seek the appropriate federal assistance for Shelby County and stand ready to assist in any way necessary to support such a request.\u201d\n\nSee the letter here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/fleischmann-applauds-nist-award-for-quantum-workforce-development-fellowship", "Fleischmann Applauds NIST Award for Quantum Workforce Development Fellowship", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded $4,200,000.00 in federal funding as directed by Congressman Fleischmann to strengthen our quantum workforce, marking a significant investment in the future of quantum technology in the United States.\n\nThe program will recruit outstanding talent and provide rigorous, specialized training to the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers. The funding will support fellows, providing them with hands-on experience and advanced training in quantum computing and related fields. In addition to financial support for the fellows, a portion of the grant will be allocated to provide computing time, ensuring fellows have access to state-of-the-art quantum resources essential for their research and professional development.\n\n\"This investment by NIST is a clear signal that America is committed to leading the world in quantum science and technology. By supporting Empowering the Future Grid: Quantum Training for Software Innovation & Utility Applications, we are ensuring that our best and brightest have the resources and training needed to drive innovation and create good-paying jobs right here at home. I\u2019m proud to see investing in the next generation of quantum experts, strengthening our nation\u2019s competitiveness and securing our future,\u201d said Rep. Fleischmann.\n\nThe fellowship is expected to make a significant impact in addressing the growing demand for quantum talent across academia, government, and industry, reinforcing the United States\u2019 position at the forefront of quantum research and development.", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-cohen-and-roy-reintroduce-bipartisan-article-one-act", "Congressmen Cohen and Roy Reintroduce Bipartisan ARTICLE ONE Act Requiring Congressional Approval on National Emergencies After 30 Days", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Chip Roy (TX-21) today reintroduced the Assuring Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act, legislation that would require Congress to approve national emergency declarations and the powers used under them within 30 days for them to remain in effect. When first introduced in the last Congress, the bill passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in September 2024.\n\n\u201cAn emergency declared during the Carter Administration should not still be in effect. When I was Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, I held hearings on the National Emergencies Act and built bipartisan support for its reform. Our government is defined by checks and balances. But right now, Presidents can tap into emergency powers without any meaningful political check, time limit, or public rationale. We need to restore the balance of power and make sure that emergency powers are used only in true emergencies and that Congress is involved in their assessment and duration. I\u2019m pleased to join with my colleague Congressman Chip Roy in this continuing bipartisan effort at meaningful reform,\u201d said Congressman Cohen.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-18-million-nih-grants-st-jude-0", "Congressman Cohen Announces $1.8 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants totaling $1,882,804. Two of the grants, from the National Cancer Institute, will fund projects supported by the 21st Century Cures Act, authorizing what\u2019s referred to as the Beau Biden Moonshot. Congressman Cohen voted for the legislation in 2016.\n\nA third NIH grant, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will support research on enhanced T-cell function.\n\nCongressman Cohen announced five NIH grants totaling $2,657,819 on Monday.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI was pleased to support the 21st Century Cures Act and the research it authorizes and am glad to see some of that work is being done at St. Jude, our premiere children\u2019s cancer hospital. I commend all involved in these life-saving efforts.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-26-million-nih-grants-st-jude", "Congressman Cohen Announces $2.6 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced five National Institutes of Health grants totaling $2,657,819 to St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital. One, for $697,992, from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is for research on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-causing proteins. The second, for $455,000, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is for research on inflammatory caspases in innate immunity and inflammation.\n\nThree grants from the National Cancer Institute, for $688,385, $767,328, and $49,114, will support research on cardiovascular health outcomes, neuroblastomas, and acute myeloid leukemia respectively.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cSt. Jude scientists are working on critical projects that will improve outcomes and save lives. I commend the scientists involved in this research.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-219-million-grant-frederick-w-smith", "Congressman Cohen Announces $21.9 Million Grant to Frederick W. Smith International Airport", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the newly re-named Frederick W. Smith International Airport will receive a grant of $21,982,285 from the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding will pay for the reconstruction and reconfiguration of a terminal access outer road, construction of a snow-removal equipment building, the realignment of Taxiway B, and improvements to the ticketing and security screening areas.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cOur newly re-named Frederick W. Smith International Airport is an economic engine in our region. The substantial investment in improvements supported by this grant will increase its efficiency and aesthetic value for air travelers and improve the local economy by creating jobs.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-applauds-recent-hhs-crackdown-sex-rejecting-procedures-children", "Harshbarger Applauds Recent HHS Crackdown on Sex-Rejecting Procedures for Children", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement praising a series of recent actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to protect children from sex-rejecting procedures, including a report exposing fraudulent billing practices that led to referrals of hospitals and clinics to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule ending federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for these procedures.\n\n\u201cFamilies trust physicians with their children's care, and this week's revelations show that trust was betrayed in the worst possible way. HHS's report exposes an industry that turned vulnerable, healthy children into a cash cow business, using fraudulent diagnosis codes to bill nearly $120 million while inflicting permanent damage on children who deserved protection, not to be used for profit,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cEvery child is a precious gift from God, made exactly as He intended, and no doctor, no hospital, and no insurance company has the right to convince a child otherwise in order to add to their bottom line. I am grateful CMS is finally cutting off every taxpayer dollar that funded this abuse, and I will not rest until Congress passes my STOP Act and TRUTH in Coverage Act so this industry can never prey on another child again.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nHHS Report on Fraudulent Billing Practices\n\nA new HHS report titled \"Wolves in White Coats: How Doctors and Hospitals Pushed and Profited from the Fraud of 'Gender Medicine'\" found that financial incentives drove hospitals nationwide to treat physiologically healthy children as \"captive patients,\" billing nearly $120 million for sex-rejecting procedures on minors since 2019 and covering more than 5,500 surgeries and 8,500 courses of hormones or puberty blockers.\n\nThe report identified nearly $50 million in insurance claims for puberty blockers billed using vague or inaccurate endocrine disorder diagnosis codes instead of an accurate diagnosis, and nearly $11 million in claims for patients ages 13-17 billed under a precocious puberty diagnosis that does not typically apply at that age. In a separate case cited in the report, Texas Children's Hospital previously paid a $10 million settlement with the Texas Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve fraud allegations involving false diagnosis codes used to bill Medicaid for these procedures, agreeing as part of that settlement to establish the nation's first Detransition Clinic to provide free care for patients recovering from these interventions.\n\nThe report also found that the Biden administration actively promoted and expanded access to these procedures through executive orders, HHS civil rights guidance, CMS insurance mandates, and federal employee health benefits, pressuring hospitals and insurers to cover them for minors.\n\nFollowing the report's release, Vice President JD Vance, as chairman of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. referred hospitals and clinics identified in the report to the DOJ and the HHS-OIG, respectively, for possible violations of federal law.\n\nCMS Rule Ending Medicaid and CHIP Funding\n\nSeparately, CMS finalized a rule this week ending federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for sex-rejecting procedures on children and youth. The rule takes effect Oct. 13, 2026, allows a tapering-off period of up to six months for children currently on hormone therapy, and does not affect coverage of mental health services.\n\nHarshbarger\u2019s Efforts to Protect Children from Sex-Rejecting Procedures\n\nIn April, Harshbarger introduced theSafeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors (STOP) Actalongside Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). The bill bans gender transition procedures on minors, imposes civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation collectible by the Attorney General, and creates a private right of action allowing victims or their families to sue for damages in federal court. It also establishes the Victims of Gender Transition Procedures Compensation Fund in the U.S. Treasury to support those recovering from these procedures, funded by civil penalties collected from offenders.\n\nIn July, Harshbarger introduced the Treatment and Restoration Uniformity and Transparency in Health Coverage (TRUTH in Coverage) Act. The bill requires health insurance plans that cover sex-rejecting procedures to also cover restorative care for patients who suffer complications, adverse outcomes, or seek to restore healthy bodily function, applying the same coverage terms, deductibles, and cost-sharing rules to both.\n\nIn December 2025, Harshbarger joined HHS Secretary Kennedy, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz, and other senior HHS officials for a press conference announcing federal actions to protect children from sex-rejecting procedures, including a declaration that these interventions do not meet professionally recognized standards of care and proposed CMS rules restricting Medicare and Medicaid coverage of them.", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-742269-nih-grants-st-jude-and-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces $742,269 in NIH Grants to St. Jude and UTHSC", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive three grants totaling $515,239, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive one grant of $227,030, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)\n\nSt. Jude will receive two grants from the National Cancer Institute \u2013 one for research on acute lymphoblastic leukemia and one for research on SWISNF proteins. A third grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences will support research on RNA-guided DNA transposition systems.\n\nUTHSC will receive the grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism evaluating the synergistic effects of developmental and adult alcohol exposure on Alzheimers-related phenotypes,\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThese investments from our National Institutes of Health will advance of knowledge and potentially save lives. I commend both St. Jude and our medical school for undertaking this important work.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-45-million-department-justice-grants", "Congressman Cohen Announces $4.5 Million in Department of Justice Grants to Tennessee", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TH-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today announced two grants totaling $4,592,039 from the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Violence Against Women to the state of Tennessee.\n\nOne grant, for $3,623,147, will support the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Program authorized by the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. A second grant, for $968,892, will support the Sexual Assault Services Formula Program supporting rape crisis centers that provide services to victims of sexual assault.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis critical funding addresses both the effective investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and assists victims of this trauma. I\u2019m pleased to see the Department of Justice investing in these essential programs.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-100000-grant-soulsville-foundation", "Congressman Cohen Announces $100,000 Grant to the Soulsville Foundation", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Soulsville Foundation will receive a grant of $100,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to implement a curator-in-residence program.\n\nThe Stax Museum of American Soul Music program, according to IMLS, will be designed to strengthen the museum's interpretive capacity, expand access to its collections, and deepen scholarship related to African American music history and the global legacy of Stax Records. Each resident curator will conduct research using the museum\u2019s archives and artifact collections; collaborate with staff to develop interpretive materials, exhibitions, and digital storytelling content; and lead public programs such as lectures, listening sessions, and youth workshops.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe Stax Museum is one of our city\u2019s most prized cultural institutions. This grant funding, and the prestige it adds to the museum\u2019s outreach efforts, will enhance its international reputation. I commend Soulsville Foundation President and CEO Pat Mitchell Worley and the entire staff of the museum for this significant and well-deserved recognition.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-24-million-nih-grants-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces $2.4 Million in NIH Grants to UTHSC", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive four grants totaling $2,447,031 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).\n\nOne grant, for $678,934, is for research on novel host-adaptation mechanisms regulating Aspergillus pathogenic fitness under the direction of Dr. Jerrod R. Fortwendel from the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Aspergillus fumigatus are a species of fungi which are the most prevalent invasive mold infections in immunocompromised individuals. The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control list it as a pathogen of grave concern. Therefore, new treatments are urgently needed. This project focuses on the mechanisms of how these fungi cause damage, with the goal of identifying new targets for antifungal drugs. A second grant, for $645,060, is for breast cancer research to develop new classes of drugs which evade drug resistance under the direction of Dr. Wei Li from the National Cancer Institute. A third grant, for $624,442, is for research on epigenetic regulation of heart function in health and aging under the direction of Dr. Zhongjie Sun from the National Institute on Aging. Epigenetic changes to the DNA are those generated by environmental factors (such as proximity to chemical processing plants or exposure to toxins from environmental pollutants) or behavioral factors, such as from smoking. This work may offer new preventative and therapeutic approaches for aging-associated kidney dysfunction and hypertension. And a fourth grant, for $498,595, is for studying neonatal cerebral vascular injury by prolonged asphyxia under the direction of Dr. Helena Parfenova of the Department of Physiology from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The neonatal brain is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in its blood supply. Cerebral dysfunction caused by excessive production of certain inflammatory markers during asphyxia (the severe lack of oxygen reaching the body\u2019s tissues and organs) frequently produces lifelong complications. This project aims to identify new approaches to enhance vascular protection to reduce complications from asphyxia.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am always pleased to see this kind of major investment in medical research at our medical school. I congratulate Drs. Fortwendel, Li, Sun and Parfenova for obtaining this research funding and wish them all the best as they pursue their goals.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-528000-national-science-foundation-grant", "Congressman Cohen Announces $528,000 National Science Foundation Grant to the University of Memphis", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Dr. Xiaolei Huang, a professor of computer science at the University of Memphis, will receive a grant of $528,137 from the National Science Foundation. His project, creating a smart sensing network for precision soybean breeding, is in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI congratulate Professor Huang for being awarded this prestigious National Science Foundation funding. His research efforts will improve soybean yields and productivity, which will help feed the ever-growing population of our planet. It is especially encouraging that this work is being done in collaboration with the government of India which pioneered \u2018the green revolution\u2019 in the 1960s and averted future famines.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/today-rep-van-epps-celebrates-the-anniversary-of-nasa-s-founding", "Today, Rep. Van Epps Celebrates the Anniversary of NASA\u2019s Founding", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Van Epps released the following message in celebration of NASA\u2019s founding. As a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Rep. Van Epps is focused on ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of innovation, particularly in space technology. With an abundance of commercial investments in NASA and the space industry, Tennessee is helping lead the space race. Currently, Tennessee has $224.2 million in economic output due to NASA contracts alone. There are 26 Tennessee suppliers that contribute to NASA\u2019s Artemis program, and more Tennessee companies support the Kennedy Space Center.\n\nImage\n\nWatch Rep. Van Epps\u2019 message by clicking above or here.\n\nOn July 29th, we celebrate the birthday of NASA, an agency that has embodied one of the most powerful qualities of the American spirit: the belief that there is always something greater ahead.\n\nFor generations, NASA has reminded us of what is possible when Americans come together with a common purpose. It represents the dreamers who looked up at the night sky and wondered what lay beyond, the engineers who turned impossible ideas into reality, and the astronauts who climbed into rockets knowing they were carrying the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation.\n\nWhen Americans first reached the Moon, we did more than plant a flag. We showed what a free people can accomplish when we refuse to accept the impossible.\n\nThat moment reflected something deeply woven into the American character. We are a nation of explorers. A nation of builders. A nation that has always looked beyond the horizon and asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s next?\u201d\n\nThe story of NASA is the story of American perseverance. It is found in every scientist working late to solve a problem, every student inspired to pursue a career in science and engineering, and every astronaut who looks back at our beautiful planet and sees the incredible nation we are blessed to call home.\n\nFrom the Moon landings to the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, and from exploring Mars to the Artemis program preparing for humanity\u2019s return to the lunar surface, NASA has expanded our understanding of the universe and strengthened our belief in what America can achieve.\n\nAs we celebrate NASA\u2019s birthday, we remember the generations of Americans who made these achievements possible. We honor their courage, their creativity, and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.\n\nBut we also look forward. The next great discoveries are waiting. The next generation of explorers is ready. And the next chapter of America\u2019s story in space is still being written.\n\nBecause the spirit that carried us to the Moon is the same spirit that has carried our nation forward for nearly 250 years: a belief that tomorrow can be better than today, that challenges can be overcome, and that when Americans set our sights on a goal, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.\n\nHappy birthday to NASA. May we continue reaching higher, dreaming bigger, and taking one small step for mankind.", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-national-science-foundation-grant-study", "Congressman Cohen Announces National Science Foundation Grant to Study Earthquake Foreshocks to the University of Memphis", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Dr. Thomas Goebel of the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information will receive a grant of $272,211 from the National Science Foundation. His research project will attempt to answer the question: Why are earthquake foreshocks rare in nature?\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cMemphis is the largest big city near the New Madrid Fault which, when it slipped in 1811, rang church bells as far away as Boston. That\u2019s why we have such an outstanding earthquake center. Understanding earthquakes, and predicting them, could save thousands of lives. I congratulate Dr. Goebel on this prestigious grant award and wish him well in his ongoing work.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-nih-grants-st-jude-and-university-memphis", "Congressman Cohen Announces NIH Grants to St. Jude and the University of Memphis", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive two grants from the National Cancer Institute and that the University of Memphis will receive one grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.\n\nOne of the St. Jude grants, for $622,500, is for research on transcriptional regulation in ZFTA-RELA ependymoma under the direction of Dr. Mark C. Mack in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology. The second St. Jude grant, for $289,893, is for research on a treatment for pediatric patients with relapsed refractory sarcomas under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Epperly, a faculty member in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.\n\nThe University of Memphis grant, for $53,114, is for research into alcohol use by non-four-year college emerging adults, under the direction of clinical psychology doctoral student Jacob Tempchin.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cSt. Jude researchers are improving patient outcomes with the kinds of work these grants will underwrite. Understanding alcoholic behavior in young people is also likely to improve outcomes. I congratulate Drs. Mack and Epperly and Mr. Tempchin for the valuable work they\u2019re doing.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-announces-mobile-office-hours-for-july-and-august", "Rep. Van Epps Announces Mobile Office Hours for July and August", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Franklin, TN \u2013 Rep. Van Epps\u2019 district team will hold mobile office hours in communities across Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District throughout July and August. If you need assistance with a federal agency, our team will be available to help start a casework request and connect you with the appropriate federal resources.\n\nWhile Congressman Van Epps maintains district offices in Clarksville and Franklin, our team is committed to making constituent services accessible across the entire district. Through mobile office hours, staff members are able to meet Tennesseans closer to where they live and work, ensuring residents across TN-07 have direct access to assistance from their congressional office.\n\nIf you need help with a federal agency but are unable to attend one of the mobile office hour events listed below, please contact our office at (629) 223-6050 or visit our website here.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cFrom Montgomery County to Wayne County and from Benton County to Davidson County, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to meet incredible Tennesseans across our district. One of my top priorities in Congress has been building a team that is responsive, accessible, and committed to serving the people of TN-07. Whether you need help with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, passport services, or another federal agency, our office is here to help. It would be our honor to serve you.\u201d\n\nPlease come prepared to fill out a privacy release form, also found on the website here!\n\nThough Rep. Van Epps will not be at these mobile office hours, a member of his team will be!\n\nYou can listen to a message from Rep. Van Epps here.\n\nJuly\n\nWayne County\n\nDate: July 27, 2026\n\nTime: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Wayne County Courthouse, 100 Court Circle, Waynesboro, TN 38485 (3rd Floor Conference Room)\n\nDecatur County\n\nDate: July 29, 2026\n\nTime: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, Ayers Entrepreneur Center, Conference Room, 443 Virginia Ave. South, Parsons, TN 38363\n\nAugust\n\nWilliamson County\n\nDate: August 5, 2026\n\nTime: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Fairview City Hall Conference Room, 7100 Center City Way, Fairview, TN, 37062\n\nCheatham County\n\nDate: August 17, 2026\n\nTime: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Audrey Beck Meeting Hall, 420 North Main Street, Kingston Springs, 37082 TN\n\nRobertson County\n\nDate: August 17, 2026\n\nTime: 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM\n\nLocation: Greenbriar City Hall, 2414 US-41, Greenbrier, TN 37073\n\nDickson County\n\nDate: August 17, 2026\n\nTime: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM\n\nLocation: Dickson City Hall, 600 East Walnut Street, Dickson, TN 37055 (Mayor's Conference Room)\n\nHickman County", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-introduces-bill-protect-surrogate-mothers-forced-abortions", "REP. OGLES INTRODUCES BILL TO PROTECT SURROGATE MOTHERS FROM FORCED ABORTIONS", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) introduced the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2026, legislation prohibiting federal courts from enforcing provisions in surrogacy contracts that require a surrogate mother to obtain an abortion. The bill would also prevent intended parents from withholding agreed-upon compensation when a surrogate mother refuses a request to abort the child she is carrying.\n\n\u201cNo woman should ever be forced to murder a child because of a provision buried in a contract,\u201d said Congressman Ogles. \u201cThe Preventing Forced Abortions Act ensures that federal courts cannot enforce these coercive clauses or allow intended parents to withhold promised compensation when a surrogate mother chooses life,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.\n\nHon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said: \u201cWomen should never be forced or coerced into having an abortion. Yet, recent headlines reveal that this is still a tragic reality women face today. We applaud Rep. Ogles for reintroducing the Preventing Forced Abortions Act to protect women and babies in surrogacy arrangements. Studies have shown that pressure to undergo an abortion is associated with poorer mental health and emotional outcomes for women. Abortion coercion is wrong and this ought to be an area of bipartisan agreement.\n\nCarol Tobias, President of National Right to Life, said: \u201cNational Right to Life strongly supports Congressman Ogles\u2019 Preventing Forced Abortions Act. No contract should be used as a weapon to coerce a woman into an abortion or treat an unborn child as disposable.\u201d\n\nKelsey Reinhardt, President and CEO of CatholicVote, said:\n\n\u201cI want to thank Rep. Ogles for standing up for both women and the unborn. Every abortion treats the woman and child as a means to an end, violating her inherent dignity and exploits the woman for an agenda of death. Too often the abortion compounds injustice: many coerced cases involve domestic abuse, trafficking, economic threats, or authoritarian policies. The Catholic Church's social teaching prioritizes protecting the vulnerable from such manipulation. CatholicVote supports the Preventing Forced Abortions Act and encourages all Members of Congress to do the same.\u201d\n\nPenny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, said:\n\n\u201cAbortion always ends the life of an innocent unborn child, and forced abortions in the context of surrogacy arrangements are no different. Surrogacy all too often places unborn children at risk of abortion when the baby is diagnosed with certain complications. Congress must pass Rep. Andy Ogles' Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2026 to ensure that no child is subject to forced abortion when they aren\u2019t exactly what someone wanted. Children are not commodities to be controlled or products to be perfected; they are gifts from God intended to be treasured by one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage.\u201d\n\nCosponsors (5): Rep. Lauren Boebert [CO-04], Rep. Sheri Biggs [SC-03], Rep. Josh Brecheen [OK-02], Rep. Keith Self [TX-03], and Rep. Mary Miller [IL-15]\n\nSupporting Groups (5): Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, CatholicVote, National Right to Life Committee, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Students For Life Action.\n\nRead More On Breitbart\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-speaks-at-sst-budget-hearing-on-revitalizing-american-scientific-research", "Rep. Van Epps Speaks at SST Budget Hearing on Revitalizing American Scientific Research", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.-Rep. Van Epps (TN-07) participated in a Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Committee hearing titled, \u201cUnleashing the Golden Age of Science: Examining the Priorities of the FY2027 Research and Technology Enterprise.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Van Epps' statement here.\n\nRead Rep. Van Epps\u2019 opening remarks here:\n\n\u201cThank you, Director Kratsios, for being here today. In March 2025, President Trump charted out a clear vision for scientific progress and technological innovation: to position America to maintain leadership in emerging technologies like AI, quantum, and nuclear; to revitalize American scientific research; and to ensure that the growth of science and technology stimulates \u2026economic growth.\n\nDirector Kratsios and OSTP have delivered by supporting these goals: the National AI Legislative Framework provided clear direction on how Congress should act to spur\u2026on AI innovation that serves Americans, and an executive order signed by the President last month to accelerate U.S. innovation in quantum technologies to strengthen our national security.\n\nOne year after executive orders on nuclear energy, we are seeing real-world results. The President\u2019s bold goal of three advanced test reactors achieving criticality before the Fourth of July was not only met but exceeded with four reactors achieving criticality. Just yesterday, Director Kratsios published a report establishing a blueprint for renewing American scientific leadership for the 21st century.\n\nAfter the Biden administration floundered to position America for technology leadership and energy dominance, we are seeing tangible results from the Trump administration, with OSTP providing critical support.\u201d\n\nRead Rep. Van Epps\u2019 questions here:\n\nRep. Van Epps asked, \u201c We must maintain the lead across the board when it comes to AI. Microsoft\u2019s AI for Good Lab found that DeepSeek\u2019s free, open-source models have driven AI adoption across the developing world. Recently, the Chinese company, Moonshot, released\u2026a new open-weight model that performs competitively with American frontier models. US companies are turning toward open-source and open-weight models as they are cheaper, customizable, and\u2026 have less guardrails.\n\nJust earlier this morning, the director of your team posted that Moonshot AI conducted large-scale covert distillation to develop their newest K3 model, and so a few questions here: How do we balance an open innovation ecosystem while protecting American technology from IP threat, and how is OSTP responding to the threat to American AI leadership posed by Chinese open source and open weight models?\u201d\n\nDirector of White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Michael Kratsios replied, \u201cI think there's, for starters, an important distinction to be made between open source models and large scale industrial covert distillation of American models, and I think what was made public today was exactly that: the convert industrial distillation of\u2026American technology. The administration deeply believes that the future of American leadership in AI is contingent upon having a\u2026vibrant open and closed source set of models for Americans and the world to use. I think on the first or second page of the AI action plan the president released last year, we emphasized very strongly that the U.S. must lead in\u2026open source. So for us, we're doing everything we can to\u2026kind of push the open source community ahead in the U.S...and provide lots of alternatives for all of our entrepreneurs.\n\nRep. Van Epps asked, \u201cGreat, thanks, director. Modern research and AI model training runs on data, such as biological databases and materials data. American leadership in these fields depends on the quality and accessibility of that underlying data infrastructure. That's why I introduced the Web of Biological Data Act of 2026, which would establish a single point of entry for researchers to access high-quality biological data for use in research and development. Director, what\u2026role does access to high-quality data play in America's science and AI ecosystem, and how would a single point of entry for standardized data sets impact the pace of innovation?", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-says-congress-shouldnt-give-70-billion-more-failed", "Congressman Cohen Says Congress Shouldn\u2019t Give $70 Billion More for a Failed War in Iran While Trump Refuses to Pay Taxes on His Crypto Earnings", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) went to the House floor this morning to make a speech condemning the Donald Trump-Pete Hegseth war against Iran and its exorbitant expense.\n\nIn his remarks, he said in part:\n\n\u201cMr. Hegseth said we have spent $37 billion on an unnecessary \u2013 he didn\u2019t say \u2018unnecessary war\u2019 -- but it is an unnecessary and failed war in Iran: $37 billion and we\u2019ve lost 17 soldiers. He says he\u2019s going to ask for another $70 billion to fight this unnecessary and failing war. We resolved\u2026the fact that we can stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon when Barack Obama was president and negotiated a treaty. Right now, we don\u2019t know if they\u2019ve moved the enriched uranium outside the place where it was buried underneath a mountain or not. I suspect they might have.\n\n\u201cSo it\u2019s a failed war. I\u2019ll be willing to vote for a bill that has $70 billion in it when President Trump pays his share by paying his taxes on the $2.2 billion he earned last year mostly in crypto which cost people who bought crypto a billion dollars; that\u2019s what they lost. When Trump pays his share, I\u2019ll pay my share, and vote for it. But I won\u2019t vote for it otherwise. President Trump: Bring your chips to the table.\u201d\n\nSee the entire speech here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-votes-no-national-defense-authorization-act-0", "Congressman Cohen Votes No on National Defense Authorization Act", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today voted against the massive, $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, a major Trump priority.\n\nThe measure passed on a vote of 216 to 212.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI could not in good conscience hand Pete Hegseth $1.15 billion with another supplemental spending bill for his unnecessary war in Iran pending. The Defense Department has never passed an audit. How could it with Hegseth spending millions on lobster tails, king crab and ribeye steaks? There are some important provisions in this legislation that I support, such as the pay raise for our troops and assistance for military families. I understand better than many, as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the threat posed by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, but we must spend American tax dollars responsibly and the Trump Defense Department has established it is incapable and unwilling to do that.\n\n\u201cThe inclusion of the SAVE Trump Act which the president thinks will help him retain a Republican majority in the House, and avoid oversight in his final two years in office, made my decision on this vote even easier.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-secures-major-legislative-victories-in-fy27-ndaa-0", "Rep. Van Epps Secures Major Legislative Victories in FY27 NDAA", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) released the following statement after four of his amendments were included in the House\u2019s version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nHONOR Gold Star Families Act Amendment\n\nRep. Van Epps stated, \u201cI am proud that core provisions of my HONOR Gold Star Families Act made it into the FY27 NDAA. For the first time in nearly two decades, this legislation updates the military death gratuity by increasing the benefit for survivors from $100,000 to $165,000 and indexing future payments to inflation through a cost-of-living adjustment. This legislation will provide greater financial support to the families of fallen servicemembers who have sacrificed so much.\u201d\n\nRead more here.\n\nFort Campbell Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Amendment\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cThe fact of the matter is that aging water and wastewater infrastructure has become a growing concern for readiness and quality of life. Much of Fort Campbell\u2019s utility system is more than 60 years old and requires significant maintenance and modernization to reduce the risk of service disruptions. Should a major disruption occur, it could affect everything from mission execution to the health of military families,\u201d he continued.\n\nHe said, \u201cFort Campbell isn\u2019t the only aging base. According to a 2024 CBO report, the four services have $50 billion in deferred maintenance on their bases, with the Army and Navy making up 70 percent of the backlog. Yet, despite the scale of the challenge, the Department of War (DOW) lacks a comprehensive assessment that identifies and prioritizes the military's most critical aging utility systems. That\u2019s why I am introducing this amendment today.\n\nMy amendment directs the DOW to evaluate the condition, costs, and operational impacts of these systems across all military installations. Once that is done, the Department of War will rank the highest-risk projects and provide recommendations for prioritizing future investments.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis data-driven roadmap for modernization will ensure installations like Fort Campbell receive appropriate attention before infrastructure failures degrade military readiness,\u201d he concluded.\n\nRead more about this amendment here and here.\n\nReport on Defense Prototype Transition to Program of Record Amendment\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cMy amendment to accelerate the delivery of advanced technologies to our warfighters was also included in the NDAA. Too often, groundbreaking research and development from institutions like Vanderbilt University in my district or Tennessee\u2019s Oak Ridge National Lab take far too long to reach the battlefield. It doesn\u2019t help to have the best scientists, engineers, and innovators in the world, only to have their breakthrough discoveries stifled by bureaucracy. My amendment directs the DOW to identify and address the barriers that prevent successful prototype projects from transitioning into procurement and production. My hope is to get the best tools we have into our warfighters' hands faster. I hope this amendment will help do just that.\u201d\n\nRead more about this amendment here.\n\nDefense Contractor Maximum Production Plan Requirement Amendment\n\nRep. Van Epps stated, \u201cThis amendment will help ensure our nation can meet the demands of any future conflict. Recent events in Ukraine and Iran have shown how quickly modern conflicts consume artillery rounds, precision-guided munitions, air defense interceptors, and other critical systems. That is why I introduced an amendment requiring major defense contractors to outline how they would rapidly increase production capacity during a national emergency or major conflict. I am confident that this amendment will identify problematic bottlenecks, whether it be aging infrastructure or workforce shortages, that could keep us from being the most lethal fighting force on the planet.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-23-million-health-and-human-services-grants", "Congressman Cohen Announces $2.3 Million in Health and Human Services Grants to St. Jude", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced $2,316,842 in Department of Health and Human Services grants to St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital. One grant, for $784,842, will support graduate medical education. A second, for $1,077,000 from the National Cancer Institute is for integrating systems immunology with immunometabolism and cancer immunity under the direction of Dr. Hongbo Chi. A third grant, for $455,000 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, will study genome stability in glia and diseases under the director of Dr. Peter J. McKinnon.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cSt. Jude continues to undertake critical research in diverse fields. I congratulate Drs. Chi and McKinnon on receiving federal grants to aid in their ongoing, life-saving work. I\u2019m also pleased St. Jude is receiving support to help build the next generation of health care researchers.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-83-million-infrastructure-improvements", "Congressman Cohen Announces $8.3 Million in Infrastructure Improvements for Memphis VA Medical Center", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Lieutenant Colonel Luke J. Weathers Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis will receive $8,302,004 in infrastructure improvements in the third quarter of this fiscal year.\n\nThe funding includes upgrades of X-ray and MRI technologies, improvements to its food service capabilities and new roofs for Buildings 1, 1A, 5 and 7.\n\nCongressman Cohen, who introduced legislation to rename the medical center for the famed Tuskegee Airman in 2022, made the following statement:\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve the best. These investments in preventive maintenance and high-tech diagnostic equipment will improve the treatment the facility can provide, and I look forward to seeing these improvements implemented later this year.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-nih-grant-st-jude-0", "Congressman Cohen Announces NIH Grant to St. Jude", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $515,504 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for research on yeast transcription under the direction Dr. Tanja Mittag of the Department of Structural Biology. Yeast cells are one of the model systems in the field of genetics. Better understanding the components in the pathway which facilitates DNA transcription to mRNA and then into protein is crucial for understanding our own biology. The congressman announced three grants to St. Jude, totaling $2.3 million, earlier today.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see these substantial investments in our premiere children\u2019s research hospital. I congratulate Dr. Mittag and wish her well as she pursues this research.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-denounces-heartless-trump-miller-immigration-policies", "Congressman Cohen Denounces Heartless Trump-Miller Immigration Policies at Judiciary Committee Markup", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today denounced the immigration policies of the Trump administration including a proposal to deny legal representation to children facing deportation.\n\nHe said President Trump should resign.\n\nIn his remarks at the markup, he said in part:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to imagine we\u2019re sitting here and having discussions about giving children legal representation when they\u2019re subject to deportation. An (immigration) hearing is supposed to be confrontational, between two sides, adversarial, and a child without representation against an attorney is not a fair process. They do have a right to a hearing; we all understand that, but there needs to be fairness and the fact we\u2019re discussing this is hard to fathom\u2026\n\n\u201cThis is coming from Donald Trump. This is what he wants. He wants to deport as many people as possible. That\u2019s the message he gave to the Department of Homeland Security. Stephen Miller gave them head counts and they have to meet their head counts\u2026and they do it sometimes illegally. Sometimes they kill people. They make mistakes and they don\u2019t understand what they\u2019re doing. The President of the United States needs to resign. He\u2019s doing so many unimaginable things to this country, and to justice and to due process\u2026We don\u2019t have it here anymore\u2026\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s all about him\u2026a narcissistic grifter. That\u2019s who\u2019s guarding this country\u2026He doesn\u2019t want anyone to have counsel except himself\u2026Roy Cohn told him \u2018never admit you\u2019re wrong. Never back down\u2026\u2019 \u201d\n\nSee the entire five-minute speech here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-raises-questions-intelligence-committee-hearing", "Congressman Cohen Raises Questions at Intelligence Committee Hearing on Emerging Threats", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today questioned expert witnesses at a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on \u201cEmerging Threats 25 Years after 9/11.\u201d\n\nCongressman Cohen asked about threats to free and fair elections in the United States, the use of emerging technology in infantry warfare in Ukraine and future conflicts, President Trump\u2019s lifting of export controls on China to allow it to buy advanced computer chips, and the importance of Taiwan in the manufacturing of advanced computer chips.\n\nSee his line of questioning here.\n\nWitnesses at today\u2019s hearing were:\n\nLieutenant General (retired) H.R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor, Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution at Stanford University;\n\nDr. Seth G. Jones, President, Defense and Security Department, Center for Strategic and International Studies;\n\nFrank Cilluffo, Director, McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure at Auburn University;\n\nDr. Benjamin Buchanan, Dmitri Alperovitch Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-statement-fy27-appropriations", "Harshbarger Statement on FY27 Appropriations", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027. The vote comes as Senate Democrats yet again threaten to shut down the government ahead of the September 30 fiscal year-end deadline, just weeks before Election Day. This clean, short-term funding measure keeps the government open through December 4, 2026, taking that leverage off the table and sparing the American people from unnecessary uncertainty, disruption, and political brinkmanship:\n\n\u201cAfter Democrats drove the two longest government shutdowns in American history, they are once again obstructing the constitutional funding process. Senate Democrats are refusing to advance a single FY27 appropriations bill in the upper chamber, and House Democrats have shown today that this isn't only a Senate problem\u2014it's a Democrat problem, top to bottom.\n\n\u201cHouse Republicans have done the work. Every single appropriations bill is out of committee, three have already passed the Floor, and we're acting weeks ahead of the September 30 deadline to keep the government open. Democrats in both chambers have done nothing but obstruct, because a shutdown right before an election is the only leverage they've got left.\n\n\u201cWhile Democrats want to hold federal workers, military families, and Americans relying on SNAP and WIC hostage to score political points, House Republicans are taking proactive steps to reject last-minute governing and shutdown politics before the election.\n\n\u201cTennesseans don't want Washington playing games with a government shutdown, they want us doing our jobs. That's exactly what tonight's vote was about.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe legislation extends government funding at current levels while the House continues work on full-year fiscal 2027 appropriations. House Republicans have pushed to fund the government through regular order rather than a last-minute, pork-filled omnibus. All 12 FY27 appropriations bills have been reported out of the House Appropriations Committee, and three have passed the House Floor with bipartisan support. The Senate has yet to advance any FY27 appropriations bill due to Democrat-led obstruction.\n\nThe stopgap keeps the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the National Flood Insurance Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, and other essential programs funded without interruption, and includes no partisan add-ons.\n\nSupporting this legislation keeps the government open, protects national security and essential services, and preserves the path to completing full-year FY27 appropriations during the remainder of the 119th Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/two-harshbarger-bills-advance-through-energy-and-commerce-committee", "Two Harshbarger Bills Advance Through Energy and Commerce Committee", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statements after the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced two of her bills at today\u2019s full committee markup. Members passed the Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 2026 and the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act, sending both bills to the full House for consideration.\n\nNutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 2026:\n\n\u201cFor more than 30 years, I stood behind a pharmacy counter in East Tennessee and watched manageable conditions turn into life-altering ones because nobody caught them early enough,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cI've always believed that the best prescription is the one you never have to write. The MAHA agenda's focus on prevention, addressing the root causes of disease, and empowering Americans to live healthier lives is the right direction for this country, and that\u2019s exactly where this bill will take us. I'm grateful for Secretary Kennedy's leadership on this front, and I'll keep fighting to get this across the finish line.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 2026.\n\nICYMI: Harshbarger in the Washington Times: In rural America, prevention is the prescription we can\u2019t afford to skip\n\nAffordable Innovation for the Grid Act:\n\n\"Today's markup moves us one step closer to a smarter, more reliable power grid,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cAmerica shouldn\u2019t have to wait years for new energy resources to come online because of an outdated interconnection process, and I'm glad we're one step closer to fixing that. I want to thank Chairman Guthrie and my colleague Rep. Mullin for their partnership in getting this bill through committee.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-fema-grants-shelby-county-and-memphis", "Congressman Cohen Announces FEMA Grants to Shelby County and Memphis Shelby County Schools", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing grants to Shelby County and to Memphis Shelby County Schools. Shelby County will receive $190,926 for its warning and alert system, which represents 75 percent of the cost. Memphis Shelby County Schools will receive $224,908 for security camera repairs and replacements, also repenting 75 percent of the total cost.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cTwo recent severe storms did serious damage to our safety infrastructure. I\u2019m pleased to see these federal investments being made to shore up our ability to alert the public and critical first responders when a disaster threatens our region.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/fleischmann-awarded-hero-of-main-street", "Fleischmann Awarded \u2018Hero of Main Street\u2019", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013\u2013 The National Retail Federation has named Representative Chuck Fleischmann as a \u201cHero of Main Street\u201d for his support of the retail industry through legislation and his leadership in Congress.\n\n\u201cThe Volunteer State is proud to support millions of retail jobs that strengthen our economy and create opportunities for families across Tennessee. I have always been committed to advancing this vital industry by investing in workforce development and training programs. These efforts have helped Tennesseans secure good jobs, build rewarding careers, and provide for their loved ones. As the retail sector continues to evolve, I will remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that help our workforce thrive and keep Tennessee moving forward,\u201d Fleischmann said.\n\nThe National Retail Federation stands as the world\u2019s largest retail trade association, championing the people, brands, policies, and ideas that keep retail strong. Most retailers are small businesses, over 98 percent employ fewer than 50 people, making them the backbone of our communities and economy.", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-responds-trump-speech-obsessing-about-2020-election", "Congressman Cohen Responds to Trump Speech Obsessing about the 2020 Election", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) watched President Trump\u2019s prime time East Room speech to the nation tonight and made the following statement:\n\n\u201cDonald Trump is obsessed with the 2020 election that dozens and dozens of audits and court rulings established he lost. Sowing doubt about election results, I fear, is preparation for attempting to undo the loss Republicans will suffer in the midterms this November. We need to be vigilant in recognizing his lies and standing up for democracy.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-helps-get-hawkins-countys-words-wheels-bookmobile-back-road", "Harshbarger Helps Get Hawkins County's Words on Wheels Bookmobile Back on the Road", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Rogersville, TN \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) this week helped deliver a donation of children's books to Hawkins County Schools through the U.S. Library of Congress Surplus Books Program, timed to coincide with the return of the county's \u201cWords on Wheels\u201d bookmobile, which had been out of service for several months due to engine trouble.\n\n\u201cIt is always a joy to help put more books in the hands of East Tennessee kids, and there's no better time than right as Words on Wheels gets back on the road,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cI'm grateful to the Library of Congress and Joe Mahar for making these donations possible, and to Hawkins County's vehicle maintenance crew for their hard work getting this bookmobile running again. Programs like Words on Wheels keep kids reading all summer long, and I'm proud my office could play a small part in that.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongresswoman Harshbarger has been very generous with her willingness to contribute books from the Library of Congress surplus Book Program,\u201d said Erika Phillips, Hawkins County Schools Health Coordinator.\n\nThe Words on Wheels bookmobile\u2014a retired school bus retrofitted in 2022 to serve as a mobile library\u2014had been sidelined after its engine failed following hundreds of thousands of miles of use. Hawkins County Schools' maintenance staff sourced and installed a remanufactured engine using leftover funds from last year's operating budget, avoiding the need for a budget amendment, according to Director of Schools Matt Hixson.\n\nThe books were delivered to the school system on Wednesday, July 15, and loaded directly onto the bookmobile ahead of upcoming back-to-school events. While Congresswoman Harshbarger was in Washington, D.C. for votes and unable to attend the delivery in person, her son, state Sen. Bobby Harshbarger, stood in on her behalf. The Words on Wheels program will be back in service for back-to-school events beginning later this month.\n\nICYMI in The Rogersville Review:Words on Wheels is back, with a little help\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-legislation-hold-insurance-companies-accountable-sex", "Harshbarger Introduces Legislation to Hold Insurance Companies Accountable for Sex-Rejecting Procedure Harms", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today introduced the Treatment and Restoration Uniformity and Transparency in Health Coverage (TRUTH in Coverage) Act, legislation requiring health insurance plans that cover sex-rejecting procedures to also cover restorative care for patients who suffer complications, adverse outcomes, or seek to restore healthy bodily function. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n\n\u201cIt's outrageous that a health plan can cover sex-rejecting procedures but refuse to cover the restorative care patients need to address the harm they cause. That's not a fair deal for patients who want to restore healthy bodily function,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cPatients should never be abandoned after undergoing life-altering, harmful medical interventions once reality sets in. As a pharmacist, I've seen insurance companies find every excuse in the book to avoid paying for the care patients actually need. My TRUTH in Coverage Act restores fairness, promotes transparency, and ensures patients aren't left paying the price for care their insurance should cover.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs physicians, we take an oath to first do no harm. Unfortunately, too many Americans have undergone irreversible gender transition procedures only to be left with life-changing complications and nowhere to turn,\u201d said Senator Roger Marshall. \u201cInsurance companies have been more than willing to profit by covering these procedures, but when patients need care to treat complications and restore healthy human function, they're often left on their own. That's wrong. Patients deserve transparency before making life-altering medical decisions, and insurance companies should be consistent in their coverage when those decisions result in lifelong complications.\u201d\n\nAcross the country, many private health insurance companies have profited handsomely by covering sex-rejecting procedures that aim to alter a person\u2019s biological and anatomical characteristics. Yet patients who later experience complications, adverse medical outcomes, or seek restorative treatment often discover that while their insurance covered the original sex-rejecting procedures, it refuses to cover the care needed to treat resulting injuries or restore healthy bodily function.\n\nThe TRUTH in Coverage Act establishes a uniform federal coverage standard across private insurance markets by amending the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The legislation applies not only to state-regulated health insurance plans but also to self-funded employer health plans governed by ERISA, ensuring protections for patients nationwide.\n\nUnder the bill, any health plan that elects to cover sex-rejecting procedures or is required to cover them by state or local law or regulation, must provide coverage for restorative care under terms that are no more restrictive than those applied to the original procedures. This includes deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, prior authorization requirements, and other treatment limitations.\n\nThe legislation does not require any health plan to cover sex-rejecting procedures. Rather, it ensures that if a plan provides such coverage, it must also cover healthcare to address the harm caused by these procedures, and to restore healthy human form and functioning, to the greatest extent practicable. The requirements would take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.\n\nReps. Brian Babin (R-TX), Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Earl L. \u201cBuddy\u201d Carter (R-GA), \u201cJudge\u201d John Carter (R-TX), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Clay Fuller (R-GA), Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ), Mike Kennedy (R-UT), John McGuire (R-VA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), and Matt Van Epps (R-TN) join as original cosponsors. Sen. Lummis (R-WY) is an original cosponsor in the Senate.\n\nKEY PROVISIONS:\n\nRequires health plans that cover sex-rejecting procedures to also cover restorative care addressing resulting harms, regardless of when the original procedure occurred or which plan covered it.\n\nProhibits insurers from imposing separate, more restrictive cost-sharing or treatment limitations on restorative care than those applicable to the original procedures.\n\nDefines restorative care broadly to include treatment for reproductive injury, endocrine dysfunction, cardiovascular and metabolic complications, surgical complications, mental health conditions, and other harms tied to sex-rejecting procedures.\n\nPreserves exceptions for treatment of documented disorders of sex development, emergency medical care, treatment of precocious puberty, and male circumcision.\n\nEstablishes a uniform federal standard applicable to both state-regulated health insurance markets and ERISA self-funded employer health plans.\n\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\n\nFull text\n\nOne-pager\n\nWhat they are saying\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-burchett-introduces-bill-allow-president-issue-cyber-letters", "Congressman Burchett Introduces Bill to Allow to President to Issue Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. (07/15/2026) -- Today, Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) introduced the Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Senate version of this legislation.\n\nCybercrime poses a persistent and evolving threat to the United States, targeting individuals, businesses, and government institutions. Everything from financial scams to terrorist plots are facilitated through a vast cyberspace that our government agencies are tasked with protecting.\n\nThe Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act authorizes the President to commission private contractors and entities for the purpose of conducting limited cyberspace operations. Deputizing American patriots will bolster our ability to protect the U.S. against cyber criminals.\n\n\u201cWidespread cybercrime represents an existential threat to our national security,\u201d said Congressman Burchett. \u201cAllowing private operators to aid the federal government in combatting these crimes will strengthen our ability to defend the United States against terrorism. I am proud to partner with Senator Lee again to protect Americans. He continues to be a strong advocate for cyber security in Congress\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-supports-fy27-funding-strengthen-national-security-and-counter", "Harshbarger Supports FY27 Funding to Strengthen National Security and Counter Adversaries", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today voted to advance the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, legislation that delivers on President Trump's America First agenda by cutting waste, countering adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and ending the Biden-era woke spending spree.\n\n\u201cAn America First foreign policy means standing up for our own interests, not writing blank checks to countries and organizations that don't have our back. This bill delivers on that promise by realigning our foreign policy around the safety, strength, and prosperity of the United States, eliminating wasteful spending, ending woke programs that have no business representing American taxpayers abroad, and holding Communist China accountable at every turn. I'm proud to stand with President Trump and deliver on the America First agenda he promised the American people,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.\n\nKEY PROVISIONS:\n\nCounters the CCP by requiring opposition to multilateral development bank lending for the PRC and prohibiting funds that would help countries repay debt owed to Communist China.\n\nTakes on the fentanyl crisis by supporting the bureau of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) to counter the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.\n\nProtects life and American values, maintaining long-standing pro-life protections including the Helms and Kemp-Kasten amendments, prohibiting funds for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), and eliminating spending on DEI, gender ideology, and climate programs in foreign assistance.\n\nProhibits funding for DEI initiatives, radical gender ideology, climate mandates, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other programs inconsistent with President Trump's America First agenda.\n\nHolds foreign governments and bad actors accountable for persecuting people of faith, including by restricting assistance to Nigeria until measurable actions are taken to protect Christian communities suffering from religious violence.\n\nContinues to require the transition of global health programs toward greater country ownership and supporting the Department of State as they secure co-financing commitments from partner countries.\n\nImportantly, in an effort to force the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, House Republicans attached the election integrity legislation to this must-pass appropriations bill before sending it to the Senate.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoffs-rural-patient-monitoring-access-act-advances-ways", "Congressman David Kustoff's Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act Advances Ways & Means Committee", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 The Ways and Means Committee passed Congressman David Kustoff\u2019s (R-TN-08) Rural Patient Monitoring (RPM) Access Act, H.R. 3108, with bipartisan support. Introduced by Reps. David Kustoff, Donald Davis (D-NC-01), Troy Balderson (R-OH-12), and Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) in April 2025, this bill enables Medicare beneficiaries in rural and underserved communities to gain access to high-quality remote physiologic monitoring services.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s committee passage brings us one step closer to helping more Medicare patients receive the care they need closer to home,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cThe RPM Access Act will help more doctors and nurses monitor patients remotely, allowing them to manage complex chronic conditions in real time. I appreciate my colleagues\u2019 support as we work to expand access to high-quality health care in rural West Tennessee and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cTechnological advancement has created new opportunities to deliver better health care, but those opportunities mean little if patients cannot access them,\u201dsaid Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). \u201cRemote patient monitoring gives physicians valuable insight into their patients\u2019 health while allowing individuals to better manage chronic conditions from home. Unfortunately, rural communities that need these tools the most continue to face barriers that limit access, and as a result have a 33% lower rate of use of remote monitoring. Representative Kustoff\u2019s Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act ensures Medicare beneficiaries in rural and underserved communities can benefit from innovative care models that improve health outcomes and strengthen access to care.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nRemote physiologic monitoring is the use of digital technologies to collect health data from patients in one location and electronically transmit that information securely to providers in a different location. Medicare patients living in rural areas face higher rates of heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes compared to patients in urban areas. However, Medicare reimbursement for remote physiologic monitoring is lowest in the rural areas it is needed most.\n\nThe RPM Access Act would create new requirements to ensure high-quality services for Medicare. These requirements include:\n\nRPM providers must be capable of responding to data anomalies detected by the monitoring service.\n\nRPM providers must be capable of promptly transmitting captured vitals and treatment management notes to the electronic health record of the supervising provider.\n\nCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services may require providers of RPM to report data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to facilitate the evaluation of cost savings generated to the Medicare program through the proliferation of remote physiologic monitoring services.", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/immediate-release-congressman-burchett-introduces-bill-improve-snap", "For\u202fImmediate\u202fRelease: Congressman Burchett Introduces Bill to Improve SNAP Trafficking Data", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Low-income families rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for vital access to food security. SNAP trafficking occurs when benefits are illegally exchanged for cash or non-eligible goods.\n\nThe Stop Retail Food Store SNAP Trafficking Act improves the collection of SNAP trafficking data to enable better oversight of potential abuse across the country. Additionally, this legislation strengthens enforcement by increasing penalties on malicious actors from $100,000 to $250,000.\n\n\u201cSNAP has become notorious for being plagued with fraud and abuse,\u201d said Rep. Burchett. \u201cMy bill will empower the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct better oversight to ensure that your taxpayer money is being used to serve the least amongst us, not fraudsters.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-39-million-nih-grants-st-jude-and-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces $3.9 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude and UTHSC", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced five grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which will provide a total of $3,956,287 to St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital and to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).\n\nThe first St. Jude grant, for $665,425, is for research into deciphering the complexities of inflammasome activation following RSV infection under the direction of Dr. Steven M. Varga from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. RSV is one of the leading causes of severe respiratory disease in children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, and there is no currently available vaccine for it. The inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes which are responsible for the activation of inflammatory responses. This project aims to enhance our understanding of how RSV generates inflammatory responses and will impact the evaluation and design of new therapeutic targets for RSV. A second grant, for $1,834,564, is for research into sickle cell disease under the direction of Dr. Shannon McKinney-Freeman from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Sickle cell disease is associated with the development of additional hematological diseases as the patient grows older, however the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of additional diseases isn\u2019t fully understood. This project aims to test a new potential drug therapy for sickle cell disease in cell and non-human disease models and discern whether the body\u2019s own stem cells can return to normal function, and restore function to the bone marrow.\n\nThe first of three UTHSC grants is for $687,753 to research the role of genetic factors on nicotine abuse under the direction of Dr. Burt M. Sharp from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The second, for $517,060, is for research into therapeutic targeting of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler under the direction of Dr. Lawrence M. Pfeffer from the National Cancer Institute. Chromatin are the tightly wound packages of DNA in the cell\u2019s nucleus, and the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler plays a major role in gene transcription in eukaryotic cells. In glioblastoma, the most common primary malignancy of the adult brain, a portion of the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler enhances the ability for the tumor cells to repopulate and resist treatment with drugs such as temozolomide. This project will evaluate a potential new treatment which targets that portion of the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler to restore sensitivity to other therapeutic compounds in non-human and cell models. A third grant, for $251,485, is for biomedical research training under the direction of Dr. Shannon J. Moore. This project aims to promote healthcare-associated job training and learning for fields such as clinical laboratory sciences, to high school students.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis important investment in medical research conducted in Memphis will reveal critical insights. I congratulate Drs. Varga, Sharp, Pfeffer, McKinney-Freeman and Moore for receiving this funding and thank them for the work they do.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-demands-answers-ice-agents-and-task-force-crackdowns", "Congressman Cohen Demands Answers on ICE Agents and Task Force Crackdowns", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Following two recent killings in Memphis by members of the Memphis Safe Task Force and recent killings in Houston and Biddeford, Maine, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers about the policies, practices and standards employed by the accelerated federalized law enforcement in American cities.\n\nCongressman Cohen wrote several letters to Mullin\u2019s predecessor, Kristi Noem, which received no replies, and questioned her claim to be deporting \u201cthe worst of the worst\u201d at a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing in March.\n\nThe letter to Mullin reads in part:\n\n\u201cI write out of deep concern about the conduct of the Memphis Safe Task Force in my community. Just in the past four days, we have had two Memphians killed at the hands of Task Force members. I remain particularly concerned about the deployments of the National Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) patrolling the streets. The rush to put Task Force members on the street \u2013 without the proper training in community policing- has had deadly consequences.\n\n\u201cThis is a matter of absolute urgency. Just today, I learned of another individual shot by an ICE agent in Maine. Last week, before this most recent incident, The New York Times reported that since 2025, ICE has been involved in 29 shooting incidents, with over 20 people shot and at least 8 killed.\n\n\u201cI wrote your predecessor on several occasions to express my concerns and inquire about the composition of and training for the Memphis Safe Crime Task Force \u2013 particularly ICE agents. I renew those questions and look forward to your answers.\n\nLaw enforcement is most credible when it reflects the communities it serves. Please provide a demographic breakdown (including race, gender, and previous law enforcement experience) of ICE active agents by year of first employment by the agency.\n\nHow many individuals have been shot by either Memphis Safe Crime Task Force members in Memphis or DHS agents throughout the United States since January 20, 2025? How many were killed in those shootings or later succumbed to injuries caused by an ICE shooting?\n\nHow many DHS agents have been disciplined for excessive force since January 21, 2025? Please provide a short narrative describing those incidents, the resolution, and any disciplinary action resulting from such incidents.\n\nDid any current ICE agents participate in the January 6, 2021, insurrection? Were any current ICE agents convicted of a crime (pardoned or otherwise) for the crimes committed on January 6, 2021?\n\nHas any current ICE agent ever been associated with the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers?\n\nWe recently learned the federal government has begun to share evidence with state and local authorities in Minnesota regarding the killings of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti. Do you commit to sharing all evidence collected regarding a DHS agent firing upon a civilian with the respective state and local authorities should they request it?\n\nPlease describe and provide training materials for ICE agents on responding to individuals in crisis, de-escalation, cultural competency, and other skills that are essential for effective community policing.\n\nPlease describe and provide training materials regarding interacting with armed individuals and the use of deadly force. Does ICE policy permit shooting at a moving vehicle?\n\nPlease provide the standards for hiring agents. Do ICE\u2019s recruiting practices align with the Model Policies and Resources designed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police?\n\nIs an independent review conducted after every use of deadly force by an ICE agent? Please describe the review process.\n\nIs this the process that was used after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis?\n\nWere the Good and Pretti reviews completed? If so, please provide the findings. If not, what is causing the delay, and when will the full review be complete?\n\nI look forward to your prompt response.\u201d\n\nSee the letter here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-says-trump-stealing-american-public", "Congressman Cohen Says Trump is Stealing from the American Public", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today spoke from the House floor, focusing on aspects of the corrupt Trump presidency that he likened to theft from the American people. \u201cWe have a man who is out of control as our president, and it scares me tremendously,\u201d he said.\n\nIn his remarks, he said in part:\n\n\u201cMy friend, Mr. (Joe) Wilson (of South Carolina) made some remarks about how everybody benefitted from the Big Beautiful Bill. What he didn\u2019t tell you was President Trump made a deal with himself when he sued the IRS for a billion dollars for releasing his tax returns along with (those of) thousands and thousands and thousands of other Americans. He settled the case with himself and the man he wants to make Attorney General with a clause, an agreement, that the IRS would not prosecute, or even look at, his tax returns, his family\u2019s tax returns or any businesses they\u2019re involved with. That means the $2.2 billion they made this year off of crypto and other questionable companies will be tax free. That means he\u2019s stealing from you and me \u2013 the American public\u2026Our country\u2019s in trouble. We have a man who is out of control as our president, and it scares me tremendously and it should scare you as well.\u201d\n\nSee his entire remarks here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoff-celebrates-americas-250th-birthday-honoring-west", "Congressman David Kustoff Celebrates America\u2019s 250th Birthday by Honoring West Tennessee\u2019s Finest Across TN-08", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "MEMPHIS, TN \u2014 Last week, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) toured across Tennessee\u2019s 8th Congressional District to present flags flown over the U.S. Capitol to West Tennesseans whose service and hard work have helped shape America\u2019s story for 250 years..\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s 250th birthday is an opportunity to honor the people who keep our country moving forward,\u201dsaid Congressman Kustoff. \u201cHere in West Tennessee, that spirit is alive in the men and women who serve their neighbors and strengthen our communities. It was an honor to recognize West Tennessee\u2019s finest and present them with flags flown over the U.S. Capitol.\u201d\n\nAs part of the tour, Congressman Kustoff honored Major Billy Gene Key, an Army Reserve servicemember who was injured during a drone strike while deployed to Kuwait; and Larry Marshall, a U.S. Army veteran who received a flag in honor of his father, Phillip G. Marshall.\n\nThe tour included stops with local businesses, farms, first responders, educators, law enforcement, and community organizations across TN-08, where Congressman Kustoff presented flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, including:\n\nShelby County\n\n- Ducks Unlimited: Met with Ducks Unlimited leadership to discuss habitat conservation and recognize the organization\u2019s work protecting wetlands and waterfowl habitat.\n\n- Bartlett Fire Station 1: Thanked Bartlett firefighters for their service to the Bartlett community.\n\n- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: Joined TWRA officers on the Mississippi River and recognized their work protecting Tennessee\u2019s waterways.\n\n- Agricenter International: Met with agricultural leaders and toured the Helena research facility at Agricenter International.\n\n- Dinstuhl\u2019s Chocolate Factory: Toured the historic Memphis business and recognized its longtime contributions to the Mid-South.\n\nFayette County\n\n- Rhea Farm: Visited with farm owner Scott Rhea to discuss the Farm Bill, rising input costs, and West Tennessee agriculture.\n\n- Fayette County Sheriff\u2019s Office: Met with Sheriff Bobby Riles and deputies to thank them for their service to Fayette County.\n\nHaywood County\n\n- Mallard Estates: Met with farm owners and Mallard Estates operators Blake and Monte McWilliams to discuss agriculture, land management, and outdoor recreation in West Tennessee.\n\n- Haywood County Sheriff\u2019s Office: Met with Sheriff Billy Garrett and recognized his years of service to Haywood County.\n\nCrockett County\n\n- Tennessee Tractor: Visited with Tennessee Tractor leadership to discuss agriculture, equipment needs, and the farming economy.\n\n- Yukon Outfitters: Toured this West Tennessee small business and discussed its growth and work in the outdoor products industry.\n\nMadison County\n\n- Life Flight Air Evac: Recognized Air Evac crew members for their lifesaving emergency medical work across West Tennessee.\n\n- Lifeline Blood Services: Visited Lifeline Blood Services to highlight its role in supporting patients and medical facilities across the region.\n\nChester County\n\n- Freed-Hardeman University: Met with new university president Dr. Keith Harris.\n\nGibson County\n\n- Luckey Farms: Visited with farm owner Jason Luckey and his family to discuss agriculture and the needs of Gibson County farmers.\n\n- Milan Box Corporation: Toured the longtime Milan manufacturer and discussed its work supporting industrial packaging and local jobs.\n\nCarroll County\n\n- Carroll County 911 Center: Toured the new 911 center and recognized local emergency communications personnel.\n\n- Huntingdon Football Team: Honored the Huntingdon football team for winning the 2A state championship.\n\nHenderson County\n\n- AutoZone Distribution Center: Toured the Lexington distribution center and recognized its role as one of the area\u2019s largest employers.\n\n- Veterans Honor Guard of Parker\u2019s Crossroads: Recognized the volunteer veterans who provide military honors at funerals across West Tennessee.\n\nThese visits highlighted the service and patriotism of West Tennesseans who strengthen their communities and represent the very best of Tennessee\u2019s 8th Congressional District.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohens-statement-memphis-safe-task-force-shootings", "Congressman Cohen\u2019s Statement on Memphis Safe Task Force Shootings", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) has been closely following events involving two recent fatal shootings by members of the Memphis Safe Task Force, and made the following statement:\n\n\u201cAs I have said before, ICE and the National Guard are not needed in Memphis and should go home. These deadly encounters are the result of stepped-up law enforcement. I continue to be concerned, as I told former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at an oversight hearing, that we don\u2019t know where ICE agents are being recruited from, who they are, or what kind of training they receive in firearms or policing. They showed us in Minneapolis, in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, that they don\u2019t use deadly force as a last resort and, in both cases, the public has not been given the kind of information that would result in accountability for the officers involved.\n\n\u201cThese killings are tragic, and we must do better. In Tennessee, individuals don\u2019t need a permit to carry a firearm. That makes guns more common and law enforcement more difficult. All of this leads to a dangerous situation ripe for the use of deadly force.\n\n\u201cOne thing is clearly needed: an independent review of these incidents. A thorough, credible investigation is needed to understand exactly what happened, why, and to ensure accountability. We need to make it necessary to assure the public that proper procedures were in place and followed, and reduce the likelihood of these horrible incidents. My Deadly Force Independent Review Act, introduced in February, would require law federal enforcement agencies establish procedures to immediately, independently and impartially review every use of deadly force and conform to a uniform standard set by organizations evaluating best practices. We owe that comprehensive review to the victims and the officers. I will continue to monitor the response to the most recent incidents.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-rep-van-epps-major-non-nato-ally-terror-threat-assessment-act", "House Passes Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.- Today, the House of Representatives passed Rep. Van Epps\u2019 (TN07) Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA)Terror Threat Assessment Act.\n\nUpon passage of the bill, Rep. Van Epps stated, \u201cI am grateful my Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act passed the House of Representatives today. When the United States designates a nation as a Major non-NATO ally, it's a significant move. Giving a country MNNA status is not merely symbolic; it comes with practical benefits, but also risks. This legislation strengthens coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and Congress to better assess and support MNNA partners as they confront terrorist threats within their own borders. This will ensure Congress has the information it needs to provide effective oversight as a partner with this administration.\u201d\n\nWatch or read Rep. Van Epps\u2019 remarks on the House Floor below\n\nImage\n\n\u201cMr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 8168, the Major Non-Nato Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act.\n\nWhen the United States designates a nation as a Major non-NATO ally, it comes with security cooperation and possible trade deals for defense equipment. This is an important designation that our nation does not grant lightly.\n\nHowever, we cannot ignore the fact that foreign terrorist organizations continue to operate in or around some MNNA countries, creating threats that could have serious consequences for U.S. national security. For that reason, it's critical for Congress to have a full picture of the terrorist organizations that may be operating within our partner nations.\n\nAnd that\u2019s why I introduced this legislation.\n\nMy bill strengthens coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and Congress to better assess and support MNNA partners as they confront threats within their own borders. It requires the department to provide Congress with a comprehensive assessment identifying foreign terrorist organizations operating within MNNA countries, as well as each partner\u2019s capacity to counter those threats.\n\nThese partnerships are important, but we must also protect our own national security.\n\nI urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this bill and yield back.\u201d\n\nRead the bill here.\n\nRead the one-pager here.\n\nRead Rep. Van Epps\u2019 original press release here.\n\nRead about the bill\u2019s passage throughout committee markup here or watch his remarks here.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe MNNA designation is linked to provisions of the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act. Over time, limited oversight of the MNNA program has created a gap where U.S.-designated terrorist organizations are present in, or operating from, MNNA countries. This bill addresses this gap by providing Congress with regular visibility into where these groups operate, how they function, how partner governments are responding, and whether the United States has the capabilities and resources needed to help our partners mitigate threats before they reach the homeland. There are currently 20 countries designated as MNNAs plus one unofficial designation (Taiwan).", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-announces-2026-service-academy-day", "Rep. Van Epps Announces 2026 Service Academy Day", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Franklin, Tennessee - Rep. Matt Van Epps will host a Service Academy Day on Saturday, August 8, 2026, to provide students and families with information about the nation's prestigious U.S. Service Academies and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) opportunities.\n\nInvited to attend the event are representatives from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and ROTC programs to answer questions about admissions, nominations, scholarships, and military service.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cMy time at West Point shaped the leader I am today. Our service academies challenge young men and women to embrace duty, honor, and selfless service while preparing them to lead in uniform and beyond. Whether you're interested in attending a service academy or pursuing an ROTC scholarship, I encourage students and their families to join us to learn more about these life-changing opportunities to serve our country.\u201d\n\nService Academy Day Information:\n\nDate: Saturday, August 8, 2026\n\nDoors Open: 10:00 a.m.\n\nProgram: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.\n\nLocation: Franklin High School, 810 Hillsboro Road, Franklin, TN 37064\n\nStudents, parents, guidance counselors, and anyone interested in learning more about military service and academy admissions are encouraged to attend.\n\nPlease RSVP for the Service Academy Day here.\n\nFor more information about the nomination process, visit Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Service Academy FAQ page here, or you can call his Franklin District office at (629) 223-6050.\n\nTo request a military service academy nomination from our office, please complete the form here. The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 30th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.\n\nFor additional information, please contact Matthew Siciliano at matthew.siciliano@mail.house.gov.", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-fema-funding-125791-tipton-county-road-and", "Congressman Cohen Announces FEMA Funding of $125,791 to Tipton County for Road and Embankment Repairs", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced Tipton County will receive funding of $125,791 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair roads and embankments damaged in the straight-line winds and tornadoes of April 2025. The figure represents 75 percent of the total of costs incurred.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cTipton County received serious damage in the April 2025 storms that lashed our region. I am pleased to see Tipton County reimbursed for much of the expense it incurred getting roads back in good shape.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-bill-refocus-nuclear-safety-reviews-advanced-reactors", "Harshbarger Introduces Bill to Refocus Nuclear Safety Reviews on Advanced Reactors", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cAs the next generation of nuclear technology approaches rapid deployment at scale, it is critical that our nation\u2019s nuclear licensing process does not mistake procedure for safety,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cEvery application must complete NRC\u2019s full safety review. My bill ensures ACRS\u2019 independent secondary review is concentrated where it counts\u2014with novel, safety-significant issues\u2014and codifies provisions of President Trump's Executive Order. We cannot commit to protecting Americans if our top nuclear safety experts spend their time duplicating NRC reviews instead of providing meaningful oversight on reactor designs that demand closer scrutiny. We need to get this right so safety is never compromised, and we can get advanced reactors built here at home instead of ceding that ground to Communist China.\u201d\n\nImportantly, the bill would codify provisions of President Trump's Executive Order 14300 directing ACRS to focus its reviews on issues that are \"truly novel and noteworthy.\"", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-announces-applications-for-service-academy-nominations-are-open", "Rep. Van Epps Announces Applications for Service Academy Nominations are Open", "2026-07-07", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.- Rep. Van Epps is honored to announce that applications for Service Academy nominations are now open.\n\nThe honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.\n\nRep. Van Epps with U.S. Naval Academy nominees\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cAs a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, I understand the hard work and determination needed to apply and attend the service academies. Although it is no easy task, my time at West Point is one of my greatest accomplishments, and it truly prepared me to understand the fight for freedom. I wish each applicant the best of luck throughout this process.\u201d\n\nThe deadline to apply is Thursday, October 30th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.\n\nFor more information about the nomination process, visit Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Service Academy FAQ page here, or you can call his Franklin District office at (629) 223-6050.", 1, "2026-07-08T07:27:19Z", "2026-07-08T07:28:28Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-statement-one-year-anniversary-working-families-tax-cuts", "Harshbarger Statement on One-Year Anniversary of the Working Families Tax Cuts", "2026-07-04", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today released the following statement celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Working Families Tax Cuts, the historic tax relief law President Trump signed on July 4, 2025:\n\n\u201cAs America turns 250, the Working Families Tax Cuts are keeping the promise of 1776,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cOur Founding Fathers fought a revolution against taxation without representation because they believed Americans deserved a government that respected their freedoms and the fruits of their labor. One year after this landmark law took effect, East Tennesseans are seeing what that promise looks like in action. I was proud to help deliver meaningful tax relief for hardworking families, seniors, and small business owners, allowing them to keep more of what they earn and invest in their futures. As we commemorate our nation\u2019s 250th birthday, there's no better way to honor our founding principles than by protecting the freedom to earn, save, and build a better life.\u201d\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cuts made permanent the lower tax rates from President Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, preventing what would have been the largest tax increase in American history.\n\nAccording to a U.S. Department of the Treasury analysis, in its first year, American families and workers claimed $82 billion in individual tax relief under the Working Families Tax Cuts through the April filing deadline. The analysis found that 97% of filers received a tax cut, with 96% of those earning under $200,000 and nearly 70% earning less than $100,000.\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the Working Families Tax Cuts.", 1, "2026-07-05T07:55:27Z", "2026-07-05T07:56:42Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-introduces-the-declaration-of-independence-reaffirmation-act", "Rep. Van Epps Introduces the Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Read the exclusive from Joseph Buff at the Daily Signal here.\n\nImage\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Van Epps (TN-07) introduced the Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act of 2026 in honor of its 250th anniversary. This legislation passes a recognition of our nation\u2019s foremost Founding document into law. Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri introduced this legislation in the Senate, and it passed by unanimous consent.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cOn July 4, 1776, 56 of our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor upon signing the Declaration of Independence. They knew that this action would label them as traitors in the eyes of Great Britain, but they believed it was worth the sacrifice. And while many of these brave men did indeed sacrifice their fortunes and lives for this country, I think we can all agree that they not only kept their sacred honor, but greatly added to it. In fact, it is our nation\u2019s privilege to honor them on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThe Declaration of Independence isn\u2019t just a historical document; it lays out the fundamental liberties and constitutional principles that our nation was built upon. If we are a city on a hill, it's because the principles of the Declaration set us there in the first place. These principles include the idea that our rights and liberties come from God\u2014not government. It was upon this principle that our Founders set out to prove that a government can be created through reason and choice instead of mere accident and force. Upon this foundation, they built a Republic, and it is our great privilege to work to \u201ckeep it.\u201d That is why, on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I have chosen, along with my colleagues, to introduce a recognition of this great document into law. This is a fitting way to honor this Great Experiment.\u201d\n\nSenator Schmitt said, \u201cOn July 4, 1776, fifty-six men crossed a line from which there was no retreat. These men knew the king they defied. They knew the empire that would come for them\u2026They made a bold declaration to the world that never had been made before. It was in fact\u2014revolutionary. Our Rights come from God. Government rests on consent. Citizens are not subjects. America is a nation. Those truths made America possible. And every generation that inherits America must decide whether those truths still command it. That is why I rise today in support of repassing the Declaration of Independence\u2026\u201d\n\nThis bill was cosponsored by Reps. Buddy Carter (GA-01), Barry Moore (AL-01), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Celeste Maloy (UT-02), Clay Fuller (GA-14), and Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Gary Palmer (AL-06), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), Don Bacon (NE-02), Addison McDowell (NC-06), Mike Haridopolos (FL-08), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Randy Fine (FL-06), and Morgan Luttrell (TX-08).\n\nRead the text of the bill here.\n\nRead Senator Schmitt\u2019s press release here or watch his speech here.\n\nListen to Rep. Van Epps' audio press release here.", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-special-america-250-message", "Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Special America 250 Message", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Van Epps released the following special message for the 250th anniversary of our nation\u2019s founding. Also, in honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary, Rep. Van Epps introduced the Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act of 2026. You can read more about that here or here.\n\nWatch the video by clicking below\n\nRead excerpts from the video below:\n\nI was recently asked, \u201cDo you think America lived up to what it set out to do 250 years ago?\u201d My answer is a resounding yes!\n\nOur Founding Fathers set out to found a new nation, one built on the principles of freedom, inalienable God-given rights, self-government, consent of the governed, and the right to make your own way\u2014also known as the American Dream.\n\nToday, the United States isn\u2019t only one of the freest nations in the world, but we have also exported that freedom around the globe. This freedom empowers Americans to build and to innovate, to raise a family and to pursue what you\u2019re passionate about. This freedom allows Americans to speak their minds, to worship without fear, and to keep the fruits of their labor.\n\nHere in the United States, freedom isn\u2019t an abstract idea, it's tangible. We see it when we choose where to send our kids to school, we hear it when we express our faith in public, and we taste it when we see our brave men and women fight for our flag wherever it is threatened.\n\n250 years later, the United States continues to be the land of opportunity. And more people than ever before are achieving the American Dream.\n\nSo, Gold bless America and happy America 250th!", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-18-million-fema-reimbursement-mlgw-damage", "Congressman Cohen Announces $1.8 Million FEMA Reimbursement to MLGW for Damage from April 2025 Storms", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) announced that the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division (MLGW) will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for 75 percent of its cost to repair the power grid infrastructure damaged in storms and flooding in April of last year. That amounts to $1,850,109 for removal and replacement of utility poles, transformers, wire and other materials and the labor required to restore power.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe storms and tornadoes that ripped through our region in April of 2025 did serious damage to our power grid. I am pleased to see FEMA\u2019s reimbursement for most of the costs MLGW had to incur to restore power.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/july-1-2026-congressman-cohen-announces-22-million-nih-grants-st-jude", "July 1, 2026 Congressman Cohen Announces $2.2 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude and UTHSC", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced two National Institutes of Health grants to St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital and one to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).\n\nSt. Jude received a grant of $1,077,000 from the National Cancer Institute for research on innate immune sensors inflammasomes and inflammasome-mediated processes in cancer under the direction of Dr. Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti in the Department of Immunology. Inflammasomes are proteins in the immune system that regulate the activation of important signaling molecules and proteins and induce inflammation in response to infectious microbes and molecules. A second St. Jude grant, for $388,500, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, is for research on lipid metabolism under the direction of Dr. Joseph T. Opferman in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.\n\nUTHSC received a grant of $777,079 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for research on fungal-bacterial dynamics under direction of Dr. Brian M. Peters in the College of Pharmacy. This work aims to help develop improved therapeutic interventions to reduce the mortality from fungal-bacterial co-infection.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cImportant medical research is being done in Memphis by these internationally revered pillars of academic medicine in our community. I congratulate Drs. Kanneganti, Opferman, and Peters for receiving these federal investments in the work they undertake.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-introduces-ndaa-amendment-to-improve-water-infrastructure-at-fort-campbell", "Rep. Van Epps Introduces NDAA Amendment to Improve Water Infrastructure at Fort Campbell", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) introduced an amendment to the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to improve infrastructure at Fort Campbell, the majority of which is in Rep. Van Epps\u2019 district, as well as other older bases. By creating a data-driven roadmap for modernization, the amendment helps ensure installations like Fort Campbell receive appropriate attention before infrastructure failures degrade military readiness or impose greater long-term costs.\n\nRep. Van Epps stated, \u201cHaving served at Fort Campbell, I saw firsthand the challenges posed by its aging water and wastewater infrastructure. This is more than a personal concern. It is a readiness issue and a quality of life issue for our servicemembers and their families. Our servicemembers deserve better. That's why this amendment, which directs an evaluation of water and wastewater infrastructure at our oldest military installations, is so important.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe reality is, older bases like Fort Campbell have utility systems that are more than 60 years old. This requires significant maintenance to avoid service disruption or health impacts. That\u2019s where my amendment comes in. By requiring the Department of War to assess each system\u2019s condition, replacement costs, contingency operating costs, and impacts on servicemembers, military families, installation operations, and quality of life, this report will inform Congress which systems need the most urgent modernization,\u201d he concluded.\n\n\u201cWhen I ran for Congress, I promised to do everything in my power to improve the lives of those who serve. This is one way to do that,\u201d he finished.\n\nThis amendment was cosponsored by Rep James Comer (KY-01) and Rep. Andy Barr (KY-06).", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 11646, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "TN"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=TN", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 8856, "toggle_url": 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