{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"TN\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/blackburn-applauds-206-million-for-tennessee-from-rural-health-transformation-program", "Blackburn Applauds $206 Million for Tennessee from Rural Health Transformation Program", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced a $206,888,882 award to strengthen rural health care in Tennessee. This funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, which Senator Blackburn supported as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation that President Trump signed into law over the summer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/general/video-blackburn-wishes-tennesseans-a-merry-christmas", "VIDEO: Blackburn Wishes Tennesseans a Merry Christmas", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a video message wishing Tennesseans a Merry Christmas:\n\n\u201cFrom all the Blackburns, I want to say Merry Christmas to you,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThere is nothing so special or nothing more wonderful than a Tennessee Christmas. Our wish is for all Tennesseans to know firsthand the blessings of the Christmas and holiday season. So, from our family to yours, Merry Christmas.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/veterans/blackburn-resolution-recognizing-importance-of-community-care-for-veterans-passes-senate", "Blackburn Resolution Recognizing Importance of Community Care for Veterans Passes Senate", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) released the following statements after their resolution recognizing community care as essential to meeting veterans\u2019 health care needs unanimously passed the Senate:\n\n\u201cFederal government bureaucracy should not get in the way of America\u2019s veterans getting the health care they need,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThis resolution reaffirms my commitment to ensuring veterans in Tennessee and across America can access high-quality, affordable health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans deserve prompt, high-quality care and greater flexibility in choosing when, where and how to use the healthcare benefits they have earned through their service,\u201d said Senator Moran. \u201cThis resolution reaffirms our commitment to making certain that veterans have a choice in where they receive care \u2013 whether at VA or in the community \u2013 while acknowledging the essential role community care partnerships play in strengthening the VA health care system. I thank Sen. Blackburn for leading this resolution and for her continued dedication to supporting our nation\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve the best care possible, and that means ensuring they can access timely, high-quality treatment through VA facilities and trusted community providers,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis resolution cuts red tape and makes sure no veteran is forced to wait for the care they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\n\u201cMississippi\u2019s veterans rely on community care providers,\u201d said Senator Wicker. \u201cThe VA health system cannot meet every imaginable need, and these providers stand in the gap for those who have given so much to our country.\u201d\n\nThis resolution is also co-sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nA decade ago, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faced a nationwide access-to-care crisis that left many veterans waiting too long for essential medical services. In response, Congress passed the VA MISSION Act, a bipartisan reform designed to ensure that veterans could access timely, high-quality care, including through community providers when the VA could not meet veterans\u2019 needs.\n\nCommunity care has become an indispensable part of the VA health care system, expanding veterans\u2019 options and improving access, especially for those living in rural areas, facing mobility or transportation challenges, or requiring specialized treatment.\n\nSpecifically, this resolution:\n\nRecognizes community care as an essential tool for meeting veterans\u2019 health care needs;\n\nAffirms that community care complements the VA\u2019s mission to serve veterans;\n\nUrges the VA to fully and faithfully implement the VA MISSION Act, ensuring veterans can seek community care when the VA cannot provide timely or appropriate treatment; and\n\nReaffirms the Senate\u2019s commitment to ensuring every veteran has access to high-quality, affordable, and veteran-centered care, whether provided at a VA facility or through community providers.\n\nClick here for resolution text.\n\nRELATED\n\nAhead of Veterans Day, Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Recognizing Importance of Community Care\n\nBlackburn, Tuberville Support Expanding Veterans\u2019 Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids\n\nBlackburn, Booker, Boozman, Rosen, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Female Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-announces-2025-app-challenge-winner", "Rep. Ogles Announces 2025 App Challenge Winner", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Columbia, TN \u2013 Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) has selected the 2025 Congressional App Challenge winner for Tennessee\u2019s Fifth Congressional District, Rohan Gunasekar. Rohan, an 11th-grade student at Ravenwood High in Brentwood, designed an app called DermaTrack. The app would help families and individuals track medications and care for their skin conditions.\n\n(Pictured: left - Rep. Ogles' District Director, James Amundsen; right - 2025 Winner Rohan Gunasekar.)\n\n\u201cCongratulations, Rohan! DermaTrack is a fantastic idea that could help countless families and individuals. I am convinced that Tennessee\u2019s Fifth Congressional District is home to some of the best and brightest youth in America,\u201d said Congressman Ogles. \u201cThis type of ingenuity and thoughtfulness will serve you well throughout your life and in future endeavors. Again, my sincerest congratulations. Thank you for participating in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge!\u201d\n\nWATCH ROHAN EXPLAIN HOW DERMATRACK WORKS!\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-06-06T06:16:30Z", "2026-06-06T06:17:47Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-joins-hhs-secretary-kennedy-announcement-protecting-children-sex", "Harshbarger joins HHS Secretary Kennedy for Announcement on Protecting Children from Sex-Rejecting Procedures", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Last week, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) joined Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz, and other senior HHS officials for a press conference announcing new federal actions to protect children from chemical and surgical sex-rejecting medical procedures and to ensure taxpayer dollars are no longer used to fund them.\n\nHarshbarger issued the following statement after the event:\n\n\u201cAs a mom, a grandmother, and a lifelong advocate for parental rights, I strongly support these actions to end the dangerous, unproven medical interventions being pushed on vulnerable children,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cFor years, the Biden administration allowed ideology to override science and common sense while families paid the price. I\u2019m grateful to see President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy restore accountability, reinforce biological reality, and put the wellbeing of children first. Protecting kids shouldn\u2019t be controversial, and I will continue fighting in Congress to ensure parents are the decision makers when it comes to their child\u2019s health.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nLast week\u2019s announcement includes several actions proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services to fulfill President Trump\u2019s Week One commitment to protect children, including:\n\nA declaration from Secretary Kennedy stating that sex-rejecting medical interventions for minors do not meet professionally recognized standards of care.\n\nProposed CMS rules prohibiting hospitals that receive Medicare or Medicaid funds from performing sex change procedures on individuals under the age of 18 and preventing Medicaid from covering such procedures.\n\nRevision of a Biden-era civil rights rule that suggested gender dysphoria could be treated as a disability.\n\nA public health message from the Assistant Secretary for Health explaining that current evidence does not support puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgical interventions as safe or effective treatments for minors.\n\nFDA enforcement actions targeting the illegal marketing of medical devices used for gender transition in children.\n\nAdditionally, a comprehensive, peer-reviewed 400-page review commissioned by HHS found that these interventions carry serious risks \u2014 including infertility, loss of sexual function, reduced bone density, metabolic and cognitive impacts, and irreversible physical harm \u2014 while lacking high-quality evidence of benefit.\n\nCongresswoman Harshbarger has been a consistent champion for parental rights, medical transparency, and restoring evidence-based standards in pediatric care.", 1, "2026-05-01T06:06:26Z", "2026-05-01T06:08:22Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/technology/blackburn-unveils-national-policy-framework-for-artificial-intelligence", "Blackburn Unveils National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) unveiled a section-by-section summary of The Republic Unifying Meritocratic Performance Advancing Machine intelligence by Eliminating Regulatory Interstate Chaos Across American Industry (TRUMP AMERICA AI Act). This legislative framework would codify President Trump\u2019s executive order to create one rulebook for artificial intelligence (AI) that protects children, creators, conservatives, and communities from harm while ensuring the United States wins the global race for AI supremacy.\n\n\u201cInstead of pushing AI amnesty, President Trump rightfully called on Congress to pass federal standards and protections to solve the patchwork of state laws that have hindered AI innovation,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cI look forward to introducing the TRUMP AMERICA AI Act in the new year to create one federal rulebook for AI to protect children, creators, conservatives, and communities across the country and ensure America triumphs over foreign adversaries in the global race for AI dominance.\u201d\n\nTRUMP AMERICA AI ACT\n\nBelow is a summary of how Senator Blackburn\u2019s TRUMP AMERICA AI Act would protect the \u201c4 Cs\u201d (children, creators, conservatives, and communities) from exploitation, abuse, and censorship and ensure American AI companies can innovate without cumbersome regulation. This framework includes legislation Senator Blackburn has previously introduced, the Kids Online Safety Act and NO FAKES Act, to protect children and creators.\n\nProtecting Children\n\nPlaces a duty of care on AI developers in the design, development, and operation of AI platforms to prevent and mitigate foreseeable harm to users.\n\nRequires AI platforms to conduct regular risk assessments of how algorithmic systems, engagement mechanics, and data practices contribute to psychological, physical, financial, and exploitative harms.\n\nReforms Section 230 by incentivizing the development and utilization of blocking and filtering technologies that empower parents to restrict their children\u2019s access to objectionable or inappropriate online material.\n\nRequiring interactive computer services to notify users that parental control protections (such as computer hardware, software, or filtering services) are commercially available that may assist the user limit access to material that is harmful to minors.\n\nRequires covered online platforms, including social media platforms, to implement tools and safeguards to protect users and visitors under the age of 17 to protect children from sex trafficking, suicide, and other abuses.\n\nRequires covered platforms to exercise reasonable care in the design and use of features that increase minors\u2019 online activity to prevent and mitigate harm to minors (e.g., mental health disorders and severe harassment).\n\nRequires covered platforms to provide certain safeguards to minors, such as protections for minors\u2019 data; tools for parents of minors, such as access to minors\u2019 privacy settings; and a mechanism for account holders and visitors to report harm to minors on the platform.\n\nProhibits covered platforms from conducting market or product research on children under the age of 13 and may only conduct research on those under the age of 17 with parental consent.\n\nEstablishes requirements for companies providing AI chatbot and companion services to protect kids.\n\nPrevents systemically important platforms from disseminating sexual material harmful to minors.\n\nProtecting Creators\n\nCreates a federal right for individuals to sue companies for using their data (personal, copyrighted) for AI training without explicit consent and requires affirmative consent for data use in AI models, addressing issues like unauthorized scraping of creative works.\n\nAddresses the use of non-consensual digital replications in audiovisual works, images, or sound recordings by:\n\nHolding individuals or companies liable if they produce an unauthorized digital replica of an individual in a performance.\n\nHolding platforms liable for hosting an unauthorized digital replica if the platform has actual knowledge of the fact that the replica was not authorized by the individual depicted.\n\nDeems derivative works generated, synthesized, or produced by an AI system without authorization as infringing works, which would be ineligible for copyright protection.\n\nPreserves and promotes competition among AI developers by mandating nondiscriminatory access to licensed content.\n\nProtecting Conservatives\n\nCombats the consistent pattern of bias against conservative figures demonstrated by Big Tech and AI systems by requiring:\n\nAudits of high-risk AI systems to undergo regular bias evaluations to prevent discrimination based on protected characteristics, including political affiliation.\n\nHigh-risk AI systems cover those that could pose significant risks to health, safety, rights, or economic security, including those in education, employment, law enforcement, or critical infrastructure.\n\nFederal agencies and covered entities to provide AI ethics training to personnel.\n\nCovered entities are any person, partnership, corporation, or other entity engaged in the development, deployment, or operation of AI systems, including federal agencies, that meet thresholds established by the Federal Trade Commission.\n\nProtecting Communities\n\nRequires certain companies and federal agencies to issue reports on AI-related job effects, including layoffs and job displacement to the Department of Labor (DOL) on a quarterly basis.\n\nRequires the DOL to compile data on AI-related job effects and publish a report to Congress and the public.\n\nRequires data center operators to be responsible for the full cost of all energy and water infrastructure needed for their operation, including construction, maintenance, and upgrades with no impact on ratepayers.\n\nClick here to read the full section-by-section summary of the TRUMP AMERICA AI Act.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThis legislative framework is supported by Mike Davis and Steve Bannon:\n\n\u201cSenator Marsha Blackburn\u2019s TRUMP AMERICA AI Act is a major MAGA victory that follows President Trump\u2019s leadership in putting America first in the AI race while protecting our values and our freedoms. This bill protects the Four C\u2019s: children, conservatives, communities, and creators. This bill finally forces Big Tech to build in real guardrails... It pushes back on blue-state speech policing and bias mandates, ensuring AI isn\u2019t weaponized to silence lawful viewpoints. It prioritizes American workers and infrastructure... Finally, the TRUMP AMERICA AI Act establishes national rules on training data, deepfakes, and AI-generated knockoffs so artists, writers, and innovators get paid and protected. President Trump\u2019s executive order set the national policy: end the 50-state patchwork, stop coercive \u2018algorithmic discrimination\u2019 mandates that force false outputs, and preempt unlawful state overreach. Senator Blackburn\u2019s bill puts that vision into action... This is how we make America the global leader in AI: a single, constitutional framework that unleashes our entrepreneurs, safeguards our rights, and serves our people. President Trump is leading. Senator Blackburn is delivering. Congress should pass the TRUMP AMERICA AI Act and keep America great, and first, in AI,\u201d said Mike Davis, Founder and President of the Article III Project.\n\n\u201cOver the summer, Senator Blackburn led the movement to defeat the AI amnesty push in the One Big Beautiful Bill, and she has been a fierce advocate in protecting all Americans from the abuse of AI. The TRUMP AMERICA AI Act would establish an enforceable federal standard to ensure that tech bros can\u2019t get rich by exploiting Americans in the AI Wild West,\u201d said Steve Bannon, Host of the War Room on Real America\u2019s Voice News.\n\nRELATED\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Leads Effort to Remove AI Moratorium from Big Beautiful Bill, Protecting Tennessee Creators & Kids from Harm\n\nBlackburn, Blumenthal, Thune, and Schumer Introduce the Kids Online Safety Act", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-kustoff-applauds-senate-confirmation-mitch-graves-tva-board", "Congressman Kustoff Applauds Senate Confirmation of Mitch Graves to TVA Board", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted last night to confirm Mitch Graves to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors.\n\n\"I applaud the U.S. Senate\u2019s vote today confirming Mitch Graves to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)\u2019s Board of Directors. President Trump made an outstanding choice nominating Mitch Graves for the TVA Board of Directors.\n\nWith his experience leading as Chairman and President of the Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLG&W) Board, Mitch has a deep and profound understanding of how energy policy and infrastructure impact our communities.\n\nMitch\u2019s executive leadership as the CEO of the West Cancer Center will be big benefit to the TVA Board as it makes critical and crucial decisions for the Mid-South. Mitch Graves will also bring a high level of expertise to the TVA Board of Directors. His confirmation is a win for Memphis, a win for West Tennessee, and a win for the entire TVA region. Thank you to Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Bill Hagerty for their support of this important nomination.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-matt-van-epps-announces-senior-leadership-team", "Congressman Matt Van Epps Announces Senior Leadership Team", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Matt Van Epps (TN-07) today announced his senior leadership team, naming Sam Nienow as Chief of Staff, Alex Joyner as Senior Advisor, and Steve Allbrooks as District Director. Together, the team brings decades of experience serving Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District and deep institutional knowledge of both district and Washington operations.\n\n\u201cFrom day one, my priority has been building a team that understands this district and knows how to deliver results,\u201d said Congressman Van Epps. \u201cSam, Alex, and Steve bring unmatched experience and a shared commitment to serving the people of Tennessee.\u201d\n\nSam Nienow will serve as Chief of Staff, overseeing Congressman Van Epps\u2019 Washington, D.C. operations. Nienow began serving under former Congressman Mark Green in 2019 as a Field Representative before becoming District Director, Deputy Chief of Staff, and ultimately Acting Chief of Staff during the final months of Green\u2019s tenure. His experience across nearly every level of congressional office operations provides strong continuity and leadership.\n\nAlex Joyner will serve as Senior Advisor, overseeing district operations and providing guidance on communications, legislative strategy, and operational matters. Joyner previously served as Congressman Van Epps\u2019 campaign manager and began his career with Congressman Mark Green in 2018 as a Field Representative for his initial campaign for Congress. He later served as Bodyman, Staff Assistant, and Special Assistant, and managed Green\u2019s successful congressional campaigns in 2022 and 2024.\n\nSteve Allbrooks will serve as District Director. Allbrooks brings 23 years of experience serving Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District and has served as District Director for two previous Members of Congress, making Congressman Van Epps the third Member of Congress he has served in this role. His career includes service with then-Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn and later as District Director and Senior Advisor to Congressman Mark Green. His deep institutional knowledge and long-standing relationships will be a tremendous asset to Congressman Van Epps.\n\nWith over 36 years of combined experience and deep knowledge of Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District, this team is ready to serve from day one.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-matt-van-epps-is-assigned-to-the-homeland-security-and-science-space-and-technology-committees", "Congressman Matt Van Epps is Assigned to the Homeland Security and Science, Space, and Technology Committees", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Matt Van Epps announced today that he has been appointed to serve on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology\u2014two key committees that directly impact the safety, growth, and future of Tennessee\u2019s Seventh Congressional District.\n\n\u201cI am honored to serve on the Homeland Security Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee,\u201d said Congressman Van Epps. \u201cThese assignments give me the opportunity to work on legislation that protects our communities, keeps our borders secure, strengthens our economy, and ensures Tennessee\u2019s Seventh District has a strong voice in shaping our nation\u2019s future.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Van Epps will work on legislation to protect communities, keep our borders secure, combat drug and human trafficking, secure critical infrastructure, and support the men and women who work every day to keep our nation safe. These issues are especially important to the Seventh District, where strong law enforcement partnerships, secure supply chains, and resilient infrastructure are essential to public safety and economic growth.\n\nAlso serving on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Congressman Van Epps will focus on unleashing American innovation and supporting visionary industries that drive job creation and economic opportunity. The committee\u2019s work supports STEM education, emerging technologies, and space and scientific research\u2014areas that align with the district\u2019s growing workforce, rich research institutions, and advanced manufacturing base.\n\n\u201cOur district is full of hardworking Tennesseans who want safe communities, good-paying jobs, and opportunities for the next generation,\u201d Congressman Van Epps added. \u201cI look forward to serving on these committees to fight for the values and priorities of the people of Tennessee\u2019s Seventh District and to deliver real results for our communities and for our country.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/blackburn-statement-on-confirmation-of-tennesseans-jeff-hagood-and-mitch-graves-to-tva-board", "Blackburn Statement on Confirmation of Tennesseans Jeff Hagood and Mitch Graves to TVA Board", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after Jeff Hagood and Mitch Graves were confirmed to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors:\n\n\u201cToday, the Senate confirmed two outstanding Tennesseans to the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Jeff Hagood and Mitch Graves,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThese two Tennesseans will help achieve America\u2019s nuclear renaissance and deliver affordable and abundant energy. With Jeff and Mitch on the board, we will make certain Tennessee leads in next-generation nuclear and helps the United States win the global race for energy dominance.\u201d\n\nRELATED\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Introduces TVA Board Nominees Mitch Graves and Jeff Hagood at Senate Committee Nomination Hearing\n\nAmerica\u2019s Nuclear Renaissance: How the TVA Can Lead Our Energy Future", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/crime/jobs and economy/immigration/video-blackburn-highlights-republicans-accomplishments-in-2025", "VIDEO: Blackburn Highlights Republicans\u2019 Accomplishments in 2025", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor highlighting some of the accomplishments achieved by President Trump and Republicans in 2025. President Trump has made America safer and stronger, fixed the Biden border crisis, restored law and order in American cities, rooted out wokeness in our institutions, secured trillions in new investments, and restored peace through strength after the four years of weakness from Joe Biden. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts passed by Republicans and signed into law by President Trump, Americans\u2019 tax refunds next year are projected to be about one-third larger than usual, or roughly an extra $1,000 per filer.\n\nClick hereto download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor.\n\nEXCERPTS OF REMARKS", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/general/blackburn-welch-introduce-legislation-to-empower-visual-artists-to-protect-their-work", "Blackburn, Welch Introduce Legislation to Empower Visual Artists to Protect Their Work", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act (VACRA), which would modernize copyright registration for visual artists to make it easier and less costly for high-volume visual artists to register and protect their works.\n\n\u201cVisual artists produce incredible work that deserves to be protected, but current copyright law has fallen short,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act would modernize copyright registration so creators like photographers, illustrators, and graphic artists can protect their work and enforce their rights. This bill would fix a broken system by cutting unnecessary costs and bureaucracy, helping America\u2019s creative community thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermont\u2019s visual creators make significant contributions to our country, and their work should be protected. But visual artists often struggle to protect the authenticity of their work because of the unique challenges facing high-volume artists,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cWe\u2019re working to modernize copyright processes and safeguard the creativity of visual artists.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Copyright Act offers the promise that copyrightable works are automatically protected the instant they are created. This is a cruel fa\u00e7ade as those rights cannot be enforced unless each work is registered with the Copyright Office.\n\nThe registration process is so bureaucratic and complicated that the time and expense of compliance is too high for high-volume creators like photographers, illustrators, and graphic artists.\n\nThe Copyright Office is aware of these shortcomings but has failed to address them.\n\nTHE VISUAL ARTISTS COPYRIGHT REFORM ACT\n\nThe VACRA would:\n\nDirect the Register of Copyrights to establish a process for an individual to submit a single application for copyright registration of a group of up to 3,000 photographs;\n\nAdopt a deferred copyright registration option. Under current law, the Copyright Office calculates registration fees based on their administrative costs, regardless of ability to pay or the punitive impact of high fees on photographers and all creators. These high fees ultimately result in many high-volume visual artists not registering their works because they cannot afford to do so. This bill would create a less costly \u201cdeferred examination\u201d option for those who need it;\n\nDirect the Register of Copyrights to establish regulations that allow for all-you-can-eatannual registration subscriptions for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works; and\n\nDirect the Register of Copyrights to create a modern, secure, searchable registry of electronic copies of copyrighted photos and the copyright holders\u2019 information. Until the Copyright Office can achieve this, photographers would be allowed to submit copies of their photos to Copyright Office-certified private sector registries. Depositing a photo in such a registry would satisfy all necessary copyright deposit requirements. Allowing creators to submit their deposits to third party registries rather than the Copyright Office would streamline the process while also providing the public with useful information about the deposited work. This provision would sunset when the Copyright Office is able to provide its own modern, efficient online system.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThe VACRA is endorsed by Professional Photographers of America and the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP):\n\n\u201cProfessional photographers are important to our world. They are the keepers of our societal memory,\u201d said Professional Photographers of America CEO David Trust. \u201cThe United States is the only country that requires creators to register their works before receiving full protection. It has been inexcusable that this problem has gone on for so long. We cannot praise Senators Blackburn and Welch enough for stepping in to correct the injustice.\u201d\n\n\u201cVACRA breaks down the barriers that prevent so many creators and photographers across the country from being able to protect the fruits of their life\u2019s work and passion,\u201d said ASMP Chief Executive Officer Thomas Maddrey. \u201cThese sorely needed and common-sense reforms are long overdue and are a first step in bringing so many artists back into the very copyright system that is designed to support their efforts in the creative economy. ASMP applauds Senator Blackburn and Senator Welch for their leadership and support of VACRA, and the far-reaching effects this bill will have on photographers and all visual creators in this country.\u201d\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn, Welch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Musicians, Artists, and Creators from Unauthorized AI Training", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-kustoff-introduces-legislation-strip-tax-exempt-status-terrorist", "Congressman Kustoff Introduces Legislation to Strip Tax-Exempt Status from Terrorist-Supporting Non-Profits", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman David Kustoff introduced legislation to revoke the tax-exempt status of any non-profit organization that provides material support to terrorist groups. Senator John Cornyn (TX) introduced the Senate companion bill.\n\n\u201cOur tax laws should never be used to subsidize or shield organizations that help terrorists,\u201dsaid Rep. David Kustoff.\u201cThere should be zero ambiguity and tolerance for non-profits that fund terrorists. This legislation ensures that groups providing material support to terrorist organizations lose their tax-exempt status and are held accountable. We must use every tool available to cut off support for terrorism and protect our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m introducing legislation to strip CAIR of its tax-exempt status because no organization who bankrolls terrorists should get a tax break, period,\u201dsaid Senator Cornyn. \u201cCAIR is a radical group of terrorist sympathizers with a long history of undermining American values and trying to unconstitutionally impose Sharia Law on Texas, which is why I stand behind Governor Abbott\u2019s decision to designate it as a foreign terrorist organization. I also call on President Trump to do so at the federal level to ensure this breeding ground for anti-American hate is starved of funding and forced to close its doors once and for all.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThis bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations that provide material support to terrorist groups. It defines a terrorist-supporting organization as one that provides more than a de minimis level of support to a designated terrorist organization within a three-year period.\n\nThe bill excludes lawful humanitarian aid approved by the Office of Foreign Assets Control or the State Department, with the concurrence of the Attorney General. It establishes a Treasury-led designation process that includes written notice, an opportunity to cure or contest the designation, administrative review through the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, and judicial review in federal district court, ensuring due process while protecting national security.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-introduces-trump-tariff-rebate-act", "Rep. Burchett Introduces the Trump Tariff Rebate Act", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "For Immediate Release:\n\nToday, Congressman Tim Burchett introduced the Trump Tariff Rebate Act (TTRA). The legislation would increase the standard deduction for all taxpaying Americans. By increasing the standard deduction, taxpayers would be placed in lower tax brackets, resulting in lower annual tax obligations. Thanks to President Trump\u2019s tariff revenue, taxes could be lowered through the TTRA.\n\nThe Trump Tariff Rebate Act (TTRA) includes the following standard deduction increases for all tax-paying Americans:\n\n$4,000 for joint filers and surviving spouses\n\n$3,000 for heads of household\n\n$2,000 for all other Americans\n\n\u201cWhen I first decided to run for Congress, one of my top priorities was to ensure that folks spend less of their hard-earned dollars in taxes. That hasn\u2019t changed.\u201d said Rep. Burchett. \u201cThe Trump Tariff Rebate Act is simple: lower taxes, and more money in your pocket.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-real-healthcare-reform-harshbarger-votes-yes", "House Passes Real Healthcare Reform, Harshbarger Votes Yes", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today applauded passage of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, a major Republican-led effort to lower premiums, expand choice, and address the structural failures that have caused the health care marketplace to deteriorate.\n\n\u201cAs premiums keep climbing thanks to the Unaffordable Care Act, Democrats continue defending a broken status quo that has failed working families,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cRepublicans are advancing real reforms that finally lower premiums, expand choice, increase flexibility for small businesses, and save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. Democrats want to pour more money into a failed system they created; we\u2019re fixing the root causes of rising costs. Our goals are simple: restore choice, lower premiums, strengthen program integrity, and build a health care system that actually works for every American.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nFor years, Democrats have pushed a government-driven, one-size-fits-all health care model built on mandates, subsidies, and bureaucracy. That approach has failed working families and small businesses. Premiums have soared and big insurers have profited enormously, with revenues jumping from $245 billion when Obamacare passed to $1.4 trillion in 2023, while a GAO investigation found NEARLY 100%of fictitious applicants were approved for subsidies, exposing significant waste and fraud.\n\nThe Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act delivers lower costs by reducing premiums, expanding choice, and empowering workers, families, and small businesses.\n\nCracks down on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) middle-men, requiring transparency to help employers negotiate lower drug prices \u2014 saving taxpayers $1.9 billion.\n\nEnds \u201csilver loading\u201d and funds Cost Sharing Reductions (CSR), reducing ACA premiums by 11% (twice the reduction of Democrats\u2019 temporary COVID subsidies), saving patients up to $1,871 per year and taxpayers $36.7 billion.\n\nExpands Association Health Plans, allowing small businesses and self-employed workers to band together, cutting premiums by up to 30%.\n\nProtects employer-sponsored insurance, including access to stop-loss insurance so small businesses can manage high-cost claims.\n\nStrengthens CHOICE Arrangements, enabling employers to offer flexible, tax-advantaged benefits \u2014 83% of participating employers are offering health coverage for the first time.\n\nThese reforms target the root causes of rising premiums instead of pouring more money into the failure that is the Unaffordable Care Act.", 1, "2026-05-01T06:06:26Z", "2026-05-01T06:08:22Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-introduces-bill-rename-post-office-after-tennessee-hero", "Rep. Ogles Introduces Bill to Rename Post Office After Tennessee Hero", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Andy Ogles introduced legislation to rename United States Post Office 38401-9998 in Columbia, Tennessee, after Columbia native and Medal of Honor recipient John Harlan Willis. Pharmacist's Mate First Class John Harlan Willis was born on June 10th, 1923. He joined the Navy at the age of 19 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines when they landed on Iwo Jima on February 9th, 1945.\n\nOn February 28, he was wounded while treating his fellow servicemen. Despite his injuries, he continued to assist his fellow soldiers. While he did this, the enemy began to assault his position with hand grenades. John threw back eight grenades before the ninth exploded in his hand, killing him. For his service, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.\n\n\u201cJohn Harlan Willis embodied the very best of the American spirit. In the face of overwhelming danger, he chose courage, selflessness, and duty. Renaming this Post Office in his hometown ensures that future generations will remember a Tennessean who gave everything for his country,\u201d said Congressman Ogles.\n\n\u201cHis heroism at Iwo Jima will never be forgotten, and our nation owes him a permanent place of honor,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.\n\n\u201cPharmacist\u2019s Mate First Class John Harlan Willis embodied the highest ideals of courage, sacrifice, and service, and I\u2019m honored to support this effort to name a post office in his hometown in recognition of his heroism. As a Tennessean and a Medal of Honor recipient who gave his life caring for others in the heat of battle, his legacy deserves to be preserved and remembered. I\u2019m proud to stand with my colleagues in paying tribute to an American hero,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger.\n\n\u201cIt is an honor to co-sponsor this legislation to ensure that Pharmacist\u2019s Mate First Class John Harlan Willis\u2019s service and sacrifice are permanently recognized in the community he called home. Naming the Columbia Post Office after him is a fitting tribute to a Tennessean whose courage and dedication to country exemplify the very best of our nation\u2019s values. This designation ensures that future generations will remember his legacy,\u201d said Congressman Van Epps.\n\nCosponsors (8): Reps Harshbarger [TN-01], Burchett [TN-02], Fleischmann [TN-03], DesJarlais [TN-04], Rose [TN-06], Van Epps [TN-07], Kustoff [TN-08], and Cohen [TN-09]\n\nREAD THE BILL HERE\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-05-16T06:05:00Z", "2026-05-16T06:06:37Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/military/blackburn-applauds-final-passage-of-fy26-national-defense-bill-with-wins-for-tennessee", "Blackburn Applauds Final Passage of FY26 National Defense Bill with Wins for Tennessee", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement following the final passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA authorizes funding levels and sets policies for the U.S. military. Senator Blackburn secured multiple provisions for Tennessee in the NDAA.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s national defense bill will help safeguard U.S. national security and support our men and women in uniform by enabling the Department of War to carry out President Trump\u2019s Peace through Strength agenda and ensuring we are prepared for the formidable threats posed by the New Axis of Evil,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cTennessee\u2019s tens of thousands of service members and military installations play a vital role in that mission, and this legislation will ban harmful DEI programs, modernize critical infrastructure, fund important research programs, and strengthen national security.\u201d\n\nBLACKBURN-SECURED NDAA WINS FOR TENNESSEE\n\nBelow is a list of key priorities for Tennessee included in the FY26 NDAA:\n\nFort Campbell Modernization Projects\n\nReplaces the current 49-year-old tower, which is the oldest tower on any power projection platform and is in desperate need of adequate height, space, and visibility for modern operations.\n\nProvides modern housing for the 101st Airborne Division.\n\nArmy National Guard Projects\n\nFunding for planning and design to support the Smyrna Training Site.\n\nResearch and Development in Tennessee\n\nExpands Vanderbilt\u2019s Pathfinder-Air Assault project with the Army to include the Tennessee National Guard.\n\nProvides funding for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Vanderbilt-led program to build secure, robust, and dependable artificial intelligence models.\n\nSupport for Oak Ridge Reservation\n\nContinues U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration funding to support national security operations, environmental cleanup, and long-term modernization across the Oak Ridge Reservation, including the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.\n\nADDITIONAL NDAA WINS\n\nBelow is a list of additional critical wins secured in the FY26 NDAA:\n\nQuantum Readiness Strategy (Provision Secured by Senator Blackburn)\n\nRequires the U.S. Department of Defense to submit a strategy to Congress on quantum readiness.\n\nEnsures the U.S. is prepared to compete with foreign adversaries\u2019 advances in quantum.\n\nReturning the U.S. Department of War (DoW) to Its Warfighting Mission and Eliminating Wokeness\n\nRepeals DEI statutes within the DoW and prohibits new DEI-related practices.\n\nProtects women\u2019s sports at service academies by prohibiting men from participating in women\u2019s athletic programs.\n\nImproving Service Member Quality of Life\n\nAuthorizes a 3.8% pay raise for service members.\n\nBans cell phones in DoW schools.\n\nImproves information-sharing with state veterans\u2019 agencies to connect service members transitioning out of service with benefits.\n\nModernizes the military food program and provides service members with healthier and more affordable dining options.\n\nSupporting President Trump\u2019s Efforts to Secure the Southern Border and Defend the Homeland\n\nExtends provisions keeping Guantanamo Bay open for Law of War detainees.\n\nAllows governors to utilize active National Guard and Reserve personnel for disaster response.\n\nAdvancing Reform of the Pentagon\u2019s Budgeting & Acquisition Processes\n\nRequires a Secretary of War report on audit progress and options to accelerate activities to meet the 2028 audit deadline.\n\nBuilding on President Trump\u2019s Military Recruitment Surge\n\nIncreases required Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units by 100 and authorizes a bonus for new instructors.\n\nStrengthening Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/technology/blackburn-blumenthal-press-toy-makers-on-ai-powered-toys-exposing-children-to-inappropriate-content", "Blackburn & Blumenthal Press Toy Makers on AI-Powered Toys Exposing Children to Inappropriate Content", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officers of Little Learners Toys, Mattel, Miko, Curio Interactive, FoloToy, and Keyi Robot sounding the alarm on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their toys. The Senators demanded answers on what safeguards these companies have in place to protect kids from sexually explicit, violent, or otherwise inappropriate content for children.\n\nAI Chatbots in Toys Pose Serious Risk to Children\u2019s Healthy Development\n\n\u201cWe write today to express our concern with the sale of toys powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These AI toys\u2014specifically those powered by chatbots imbedded in everyday children\u2019s toys like plushies, dolls, and other beloved toys\u2014pose risks to children\u2019s healthy development. While AI has incredible potential to benefit children with learning and accessibility, experts have raised concerns about AI toys and the lack of research that has been conducted to understand the full effect of these products on our kids. Many of these toys are not offering interactive play, but instead are exposing children to inappropriate content, privacy risks, and manipulative engagement tactics. These aren\u2019t theoretical worst-case scenarios; they are documented failures uncovered through real-world testing, and they must be addressed.\u201d\n\nAI-Powered Teddy Bear Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conversations and Explained Where to Find Knives\n\n\u201cMost concerningly, many of these AI toys use the exact same AI systems that have been dangerous for older children and teens. Many of these toys\u2014marketed towards young children and infants\u2014rely on AI systems that the companies themselves admit are not meant for children under 13. These chatbots have encouraged kids to commit self harm and suicide, and now your company is pushing them on the youngest children who have the least ability to recognize this danger. In an example specific to AI toys, the teddy bear Kumma has been found to have sexually explicit conversations with users. When a researcher asked the bear, \u2018what is kink?\u2019 The bear responded with a list of sexual fetishes. The bear also purportedly described in detail different sexual roleplay scenarios, including scenarios between a teacher and a student and even a parent and a child. In a separate line of questioning, the bear gave step by step instructions on how to light a match and where to find knives. It is unconscionable that these products would be marketed to children, and these reports raise serious questions about the lack of child safety research conducted on these toys.\u201d\n\nCompanies Are Collecting Sensitive Data from Children Using AI Toys That Is Highly Sought After by Criminal and Bad Actors\n\n\u201cNot only are these products potentially dangerous, but they also collect sensitive data on American families. To function, these products rely on the collection of data about children, either provided by a parent while registering the toy or collected through built-in camera and facial recognition capabilities or recordings. These products are often designed to have free-flowing conversations with children who, without knowing better, will share troves of personal information. This data collection comes with risk as companies store and sell the data they collect on children. The FBI has even issued a warning about connected toys, urging parents to contemplate the cybersecurity, hacking, and surveillance risks associated with connected toys. This data\u2014specifically voice data\u2014is highly sought after by criminals and bad actors.\u201d\n\nAI Toys Are Addictive By Design to Encourage Ongoing and Unhealthy Engagement with Kids\n\n\u201cAdditionally, these products are addictive by design, utilizing design features that encourage ongoing and, at times, unhealthy engagement. These toys are designed to engage children with humanlike interactions, so it is not surprising that they often try to aggressively keep the conversation going\u2014even when the child indicates they want to leave. Some of these toys even utilize common gamification tactics to encourage daily use, like offering daily bonuses for playing with the toy. Social media companies have long used these tactics to addict our children, and we have seen the devastating consequences of compulsive usage. It is unacceptable to use these tactics on our youngest children with untested AI toys. Toymakers have a unique and profound influence on childhood\u2014and with that influence comes responsibility. Your company must not choose profit over safety for children, a choice made by Big Tech that has devastated our nation\u2019s kids.\u201d\n\nClick hereto read the full letter.\n\nRELATED\n\nICYMI in Reuters: Blackburn Shreds Meta After Bombshell Report Reveals Company\u2019s AI Rules Allowed Bots to Engage in \u2018Sensual\u2019 Chats with Kids", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rose-delivers-upper-cumberland-veterans-new-state-cemetery-funding", "Rep. Rose Delivers for Upper Cumberland Veterans with New State Cemetery Funding", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "John W. Rose", "R000612", "johnrose.house.gov", "johnrose", "https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "COOKEVILLE, TN\u2014Today, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved full federal funding for the establishment of the new Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery in White County \u2014 less than a month after Rep. Rose led a letter urging the VA to prioritize the project.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have fought for the 25,000 veterans in the Upper Cumberland who\u2019ve gone far too long without a nearby state-run cemetery,\u201d Rep. Rose said. \u201cThis project will provide Tennessee\u2019s veterans and their families with a dignified, no-cost resting place close to home. I\u2019m grateful to Rep. DesJarlais and the Upper Cumberland Veterans Cemetery Association for their partnership and advocacy in making this possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cTennessee is home to some of the finest men and women who have served our country with honor. I am thrilled to have worked with Rep. Rose and other federal and state partners to secure funding for a new veterans cemetery in the Upper Cumberland region,\u201d Rep. DesJarlais said.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Upper Cumberland region\u2014spanning 14 counties and home to more than 25,000 veterans\u2014currently has no state or national veterans cemetery. Families must travel to Nashville, Knoxville, or beyond for burial options, leaving the region effectively \u201cunserved.\u201d\n\nThe new facility will close that gap by offering no-cost burials for veterans and no- or low-cost options for spouses and dependents, giving rural families a long-overdue local option. Once completed, the Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery will become Tennessee\u2019s sixth state-run veterans cemetery, ensuring the state\u2019s heroes have a fitting final resting place near the communities they served.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/veterans/blackburn-rosen-introduce-legislation-to-cut-red-tape-for-providers-to-take-care-of-america-s-service-members-and-veterans", "Blackburn, Rosen Introduce Legislation to Cut Red Tape for Providers to Take Care of America\u2019s Service Members and Veterans", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to cut red tape by eliminating duplicative credentialing and privileging when medical providers move between the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This bill would strengthen health care delivery for service members and veterans.\n\n\u201cHealth care providers shouldn\u2019t be hindered by bureaucratic red tape when caring for the men and women who have bravely served our nation,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation would end unnecessary duplication so that medical providers can move between the DoW and VA more quickly, ensuring service members and veterans get the high-quality care they need without delay.\u201d\n\n\u201cHealth care providers who work at the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense do critical work in caring for the men and women who serve and have served our nation,\u201d said Senator Rosen. \u201cI\u2019m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to remove bureaucratic red tape and allow medical providers to more easily practice between the two departments to improve care for veterans and servicemembers. As long as I\u2019m in the Senate, I\u2019ll always work to make sure everyone who has worn our nation\u2019s uniform has the care, support, and hope they deserve.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representatives Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-N.C.) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.) led the introduction of companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nCredentialing is the process of confirming a medical provider\u2019s education, training, licenses, certifications, and professional history. Privileging determines what specific medical services that provider is authorized to perform based on their qualifications and experience.\n\nCurrently, the DoW and VA use separate credentialing and privileging systems that do not transfer between Departments. As a result, when a provider moves from a DoW to a VA facility, or vice versa, they must often repeat the entire credentialing and privileging process from the beginning.\n\nThis duplication can take several months, during which qualified providers are unable to see patients, facilities remain understaffed, and access to care is delayed. These delays limit workforce flexibility, hinder medical readiness, and prevent DoW and VA from quickly sharing providers during staffing shortages or high-demand periods.\n\nThis bill would direct the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly move toward a single, uniform credentialing and privileging system for medical providers used by both Departments.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nRELATED\n\nAhead of Veterans Day, Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Recognizing Importance of Community Care\n\nBlackburn, Tuberville Support Expanding Veterans\u2019 Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids\n\nBlackburn, Booker, Boozman, Rosen, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Female Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-obernolte-torres-vasquez-introduce-bipartisan-bill-protect", "Harshbarger, Obernolte, Torres & Vasquez Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Consumer Choice and Strengthen Vehicle Safety", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Norma Torres (D-CA), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) introduced the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Functionality and Integrity Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure Americans can safely modify their vehicles without compromising critical safety systems.\n\n\u201cPersonalizing a vehicle is part of American culture, and millions of drivers shouldn\u2019t have to choose between the freedom to modify their car and the confidence that their safety systems will work properly,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cOur bill gives consumers the clarity they deserve by ensuring NHTSA, manufacturers, and the aftermarket industry are all working together to provide clear, data-driven guidelines for modern vehicle modifications. The ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act will strike the right balance between innovation, safety, and consumer choice, and I\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan solution.\u201d\n\nEach year, approximately 8.6 million vehicles are modified across the United States, from lift kits and suspension changes to engine upgrades, as millions of drivers enjoy the ability to personalize and adapt their vehicles. At the same time, newer vehicles increasingly rely on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and collision-avoidance technology. Without clear guidance, routine modifications can unintentionally affect sensors and calibration, potentially undermining key safety features.\n\nThe ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act addresses this challenge by strengthening safety while preserving consumer freedom. The bill directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop clear, data-driven guidelines for vehicle modifications on model year 2028 and newer vehicles, ensuring drivers understand how aftermarket changes may interact with ADAS technologies.\n\nThe legislation is supported by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).\n\n\u201cThe right to modify is a quintessentially American value shared by SEMA and automotive enthusiasts from coast to coast \u2013 but until the bold actions of Rep. Harshbarger there has never been a concerted effort to ensure this right is protected in American law. We applaud her leadership in introducing the ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act. This bill will provide the American people with certainty and protections to ensure that commonly modified vehicles remain as safe and functional as their manufacturers intended, while also protecting owners\u2019 ability to add wraps or upgrade bumpers and wheels, and live their best lives through their vehicles.\u201d - Karen Bailey-Chapman, Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs for SEMA\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act accomplishes three key things:\n\nEstablishes Clear Guidelines for Safe Vehicle Modifications: The legislation instructs NHTSA to publish comprehensive guidelines explaining how common aftermarket modifications may affect ADAS safety features. These guidelines will help consumers personalize their vehicles with confidence without imposing new regulatory burdens on industry.\n\nRequires Data-Driven Coordination with Industry and Experts: NHTSA must collaborate with vehicle manufacturers, standard-setting organizations, dealers, and the aftermarket industry. All guidelines must be rooted in empirical data and dynamic testing to ensure safety while supporting continued innovation.", 1, "2026-04-30T06:05:15Z", "2026-04-30T06:07:09Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/health care/blackburn-presses-cvs-on-driving-up-health-care-costs-and-forcing-taxpayers-to-fund-fraud", "Blackburn Presses CVS on Driving Up Health Care Costs and Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Fraud", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a letter CVS Health CEO David Joyner, pressing him on the company\u2019s lengthy record of fraud and regulatory violations at taxpayers\u2019 expense and the role the company has played in driving up health care costs. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), such as CVS Caremark, wield extraordinary power over which drugs are covered by insurance and where patients can fill prescriptions.\n\nSenator Blackburn has led the charge to rein in PBMs by introducing the Patients Before Middlemen (PBM) act earlier this year. This legislation would bring down the cost of prescription drugs by delinking the compensation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from drug price and utilization.\n\nTaxpayers Have Funded Fraud, Overbilling, Unsafe Practices, and Regulatory Violations at CVS\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has, rightfully, called for ending the massive taxpayer subsidization of big health insurance companies. CVS is the largest, most vertically integrated company in healthcare, and the federal government has quickly become CVS's largest funder. CVS Health, the fifth largest company in the United States by revenue, owns the second-largest pharmacy benefit manager (Caremark), the largest retail pharmacy chain (CVS), and the third-largest health insurer (Aetna), as well as other subsidiaries that extend into drug manufacturing and rebate aggregation. This vertical integration has not led to lower drug prices, but rather consolidated power that has enabled a lengthy record of fraud, overbilling, unsafe practices, and regulatory violations across the company, all subsidized by significant taxpayer funding. CVS itself acknowledges that programs funded by the U.S. government account for a \u2018significant\u2019 and growing share of its revenues\u2026 In 2024 alone, the federal government spent approximately $89.48 billion directly on CVS.\u201d\n\nCVS Drives Up Costs by Steering Patients to CVS-Owned Pharmacies Instead of Community Pharmacies\n\n\u201cAs one of the largest PBMs in the United States, CVS Caremark wields extraordinary control over which drugs are covered and where patients can fill prescriptions, whether those patients are insured by Aetna or by other plans. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accused Caremark of inflating insulin prices by excluding cheaper competitors, while state attorneys general have sued over reimbursement schemes that underpay independent pharmacies. By steering patients toward CVS-owned pharmacies, CVS drives up costs and eliminates competition, undermining widely bipartisan goals of increasing transparency and reducing middlemen-driven price inflation in the prescription drug market. CVS retains the power to under-reimburse independent and community pharmacies while giving preferential treatment to the more than 9,000 CVS-owned pharmacies. As CVS has consolidated market power, it has given itself the ability to weaken competition and leave community pharmacies, insurers, and patients with no real alternatives to sustain themselves. As CVS itself notes, its market power is so much greater than that of its clients that losing U.S. federal government contracts is the only thing that could impact its operations.\u201d\n\nCVS Refused to Provide Requested Information to Tennessee Auditors, Resulting in $750,000 in Fines\n\n\u201cIt appears clear that CVS does not want its role in rising healthcare costs to be examined by lawmakers. Just this year, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance attempted to audit CVS Caremark for its compliance with Tennessee law and its dealings with pharmacies that serve Tennessee residents. Despite having the requested information available and despite requirements in Tennessee law that the information be provided to state auditors, Caremark instead spent months delaying and concealing the requested information. This eventually resulted in three separate orders against Caremark, each levying $250,000 in fines for failure to provide auditors with information to review Caremark's dealings.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-weber-perry-introduce-driver-act-restore-americans-property-rights", "Harshbarger, Weber, Perry introduce DRIVER Act to Restore Americans\u2019 Property Rights and Protect Vehicle Data", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), along with her colleagues, Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX) and Congressman Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced the Data Rights for Information and Vehicle Electronics in Real-time (DRIVER) Act, legislation that reaffirms a basic principle: if you own the vehicle, you should own the data it generates.\n\n\u201cIf you buy the car, you should own the data. It\u2019s that simple,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cAutomakers have quietly taken control of information that rightfully belongs to consumers. The DRIVER Act restores those property rights, strengthens privacy protections, and ensures no foreign adversary can access Americans\u2019 sensitive vehicle data. This bill puts Americans back in the driver\u2019s seat and protects our data and national security in the digital age.\u201d\n\n\"In a day and age where data collection is the new gold rush, Americans shouldn\u2019t lose control over their own personal information just by turning the key in their car,\u201d said Congressman Weber. \"Drivers deserve clear ownership of the data their vehicles generate and the peace of mind that it isn\u2019t being misused or sent overseas. I\u2019m proud to work with Congresswoman Harshbarger on the DRIVER Act to implement these common-sense protections, safeguard privacy, and ensure vehicle data stays in the driver's hands.\u201d\n\n\"Auto manufacturers are secretly tracking where, when, and how you drive - and it\u2019s an obvious threat to your Constitutional right to privacy,\u201d said Congressman Perry.\u201cOur 'DRIVER Act' restores your property rights, ownership of your data, and revokes self-awarded, all-access pass to private property. When you buy a car, it's yours - to include your vehicle-generated data. The DRIVER Act is a win for common sense and drivers across America.\"\n\nAdditionally, the DRIVER Act has the support of the American Vehicle Owners Alliance.\n\n\"For too long, automakers have held the keys not just to our vehicles, but also to the data we generate by driving them. This bill is a critical step to restore trust and ensure that American drivers\u2014not just manufacturers\u2014access and control the information generated by their own vehicles. When you buy a car, you should own both the machine and the data it produces. For individual drivers, this means stronger privacy and property rights. For fleet owners and operators, it means fair access to their data, which they need to maintain vehicles, manage safety, and keep their businesses competitive. AVOA urges Congress to pass the DRIVER Act to protect consumers\u2019 property rights, foster competition, and prevent unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on owners\u2019 access to their data.\" \u2013 Richard Ward, Executive Director of AVOA\n\nYou can read the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nFor decades, vehicle owners\u2014whether individuals, small businesses, or fleet managers\u2014had full access to essential vehicle information like mileage, diagnostics, fuel levels, and even location data. But as modern vehicles became more connected, automakers increasingly claimed ownership of this data, restricting access and eroding the traditional property rights of vehicle owners.\n\nThe DRIVER Act restores control to the American driver. By ensuring real-time access to all vehicle-generated data, strengthening privacy protections, and blocking the sale of sensitive information to foreign adversaries, the bill establishes a future-ready framework that promotes safety, competition, and national security.\n\nKey Provisions of the DRIVER Act:", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-kustoff-panetta-introduces-bill-strengthen-americas-critical", "Congressman Kustoff, Panetta Introduces Bill to Strengthen America\u2019s Critical Mineral Supply Chain", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced the Restoring American Mineral Security Act, legislation aimed to reduce U.S. dependence on adversaries like China and Russia for critical minerals. Senators Bill Hagerty (TN) and Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.\n\n\u201cThe United States cannot afford to depend on foreign adversaries for critical minerals,\u201d said Congressman Kustoff. \u201cThis legislation takes an important step to forge a strong partnership with allied countries, stop adversarial manipulation, and strengthen our U.S. national security. A reliable supply of critical minerals is essential for our economy, our military, and our long-term competitiveness.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t want to lose out to the CCP and Russia in the race to control critical minerals, we need to get serious about strengthening our supply chains,\u201d said Congressman Panetta. \u201cThe RAMS Act confronts the underhanded tactics of our foreign adversaries head-on by creating a formal alliance to ensure we have a hand on the wheel when it comes to the critical minerals market. This is a commonsense step towards protecting our economic and national security interests.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nForeign adversaries have been flooding global markets with artificially cheap, low-quality minerals, undercutting American producers and gaining leverage over critical supply chains. China currently controls much of the world\u2019s mining and processing capacity, leaving the United States vulnerable to unfair trade practices, price manipulation, and strategic pressure.\n\nThe Restoring American Mineral Security Act addresses these challenges by establishing the Critical Minerals Security Alliance composed of trusted member nations. Members of the alliance would:\n\nAgree to raise tariffs on minerals from adversaries and enforce fair trade rules.\n\nShare information on mining and processing capacity.\n\nBe exempt from certain U.S. tariffs on critical minerals and related goods.\n\nReinvest tariff revenue into American and allied mineral projects.\n\nThe bill also mandates a five-year review to determine whether the alliance should expand or make other adjustments, with final approval resting with Congress.\n\nRead the full bill text of the Restoring American Mineral Security Act here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-10T06:36:00Z", "2026-06-10T06:37:32Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-co-leads-charlie-kirk-act", "Rep. Ogles Co-Leads \u201cCharlie Kirk Act\u201d", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Andy Ogles introduced a companion bill to Senator Mike Lee\u2019s (R-UT) \u201cCharlie Kirk Act\u201d. This bill will shut down taxpayer-funded propaganda aimed at the American people. Named for the great late American hero Charlie Kirk, the bill honors his commitment to fair and open debate. It restores the core protections of American citizens against false information from the government. These protections were removed by the Obama administration in amending the Smith-Mundt Act. This legislation creates a critical safeguard against an overreaching federal government.\n\n\u201cThe federal government has no business brainwashing the American people. For years, the government has controlled the media behind the scenes to spew globalist propaganda. The result has been a rightful erosion of trust in every institution. The United States government should never use its power to steer, shape, or censor the free flow of information in our own country. This bill begins the work of winning that trust back. I want to thank Senator Lee for his work on this, and I'm proud to co-lead his effort here in the House,\u201d said Congressman Ogles.\n\nCosponsors (1): Rep. Bryon Donalds [FL-19]\n\nREAD THE BILL HERE\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-04-16T05:48:36Z", "2026-04-16T05:50:08Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/health care/blackburn-releases-fact-sheet-on-how-republicans-health-plan-would-make-health-care-more-affordable", "Blackburn Releases Fact Sheet on How Republicans\u2019 Health Plan Would Make Health Care More Affordable", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a fact sheet contrasting Republicans\u2019 plan to lower health care costs with Democrats\u2019 proposal to line the pockets of big insurance companies and fund pandemic-era health care subsidies riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. A recent Government Accountability Office report found that the pandemic-era health care subsidies backed by Democrats are a \u2018mecca for fraud,\u2019 including approved applications with false or missing records and nearly 100,000 duplicate Social Security numbers enrolled in the program. Click here to watch Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks about this report on the Senate floor.\n\n\u201cRepublicans want to put money back in taxpayers\u2019 pockets and empower patients while Democrats are pushing to line the pockets of insurance companies and force taxpayers to foot the bill for fraud,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cInstead of expanding health savings accounts, Democrats want American taxpayers to spend $83 billion to extend pandemic-era subsidies that are riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse, including more than 6.4 million improper enrollees and 100,000 duplicate Social Security numbers.\u201d\n\nClick hereto download this fact sheet.\n\nRELATED\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Slams Democrats for Pushing to Extend Pandemic-Era Health Care Subsidies Riddled with Fraud\n\nBlackburn Introduces Legislation to Empower Families to Choose Health Care Coverage That Fits Their Needs", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rose-calls-usda-disaster-relief-huge-blessing-tennessee-farmers", "Rep. Rose Calls USDA Disaster Relief a \u2018Huge Blessing for Tennessee Farmers\u2019", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "John W. Rose", "R000612", "johnrose.house.gov", "johnrose", "https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) announced his support of United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) $38.1 million grant agreement with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) to cover losses from Hurricane Helene. The grant will target infrastructure and timber losses in addition to future economic losses and market losses.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, a fellow Tennessean, is a huge blessing for East Tennessee agriculture producers,\u201d Rep. Rose said. \u201cSome areas of Tennessee received up to 15 inches of rainfall during Hurricane Helene, ruining crops and forage, littering fields with debris, and resulting in loss of equipment and other infrastructure. This is yet another example of the Trump Administration following through on its commitment to our nation\u2019s farmers.\u201d\n\nThe finalized agreement between USDA, Governor Bill Lee, and TDA will cover qualifying losses not addressed by other USDA disaster programs. Tennessee agriculture producers should seek additional information through TDA.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-bipartisan-pharmacists-fight-back-act-crack-down", "Harshbarger Introduces Bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act to Crack Down on Predatory Drug Pricing", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R, TN-01), Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04), and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R, KY-01) introduced the Pharmacists Fight Back Act to tackle the manipulative practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) \u2013 the middlemen of drug pricing. PBMs are directly responsible for driving up drug costs by thousands of dollars, gouging community pharmacists, and limiting patient choice in federal health care plans.\n\nPatients, community pharmacies, and taxpayers have been forced to shoulder the burden of rising drug prices at the hands of PBMs. The lack of PBM accountability has inflated drug costs for families at the pharmacy counter and driven the closures of independent and community-based pharmacies. On average, one independent pharmacy closes every day in the US.\n\nThe Pharmacists Fight Back Act prohibits PBMs from engaging in predatory behaviors. The bill implements a transparent pharmacy reimbursement model using market-based pricing benchmarked to the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). It also removes the ability of PBMs to limit the network of pharmacies patients may choose to use and protects community pharmacists by prohibiting PBMs from steering patients to PBM-affiliated pharmacies. It enforces stricter penalties and more stringent oversight of PBMs working with federal health plans.\n\n\u201cPatients and community pharmacists are being hurt by a system that PBMs have distorted for years which drives up out-of-pocket costs and forces local pharmacies out of business,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cThe Pharmacists Fight Back Act introduces the transparency and fairness needed to stop PBM abuses and protect patient choice. This bill is about putting patients over profits and restoring a system that works for everyone.\n\n\"Americans want lower prices and a fair shot for small business. This bill delivers both. With support from the most progressive to the most conservative Members, Pharmacists Fight Back will lower prescription prices and put independent pharmacists on the level playing field they deserve.\u201d said Rep. Auchincloss.\n\n\"Rarely does a day go by without hearing from my constituents in Kentucky who are struggling under the weight of soaring prescription drug costs. The questions I hear time and again are: Why is this happening? And who is benefiting? My response is the same each time, it\u2019s the PBMs\u2014the pharmacy benefit managers\u2014who sit in the middle of nearly every prescription transaction,\u201d said Chairman Comer. \u201cPBMs have abused their position as middlemen to line their own pockets by retaining rebates and fees, undermine our community pharmacists and pass along costs to patients at the pharmacy counter. Congress has a responsibility to act and that's why I am proud to support the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act. This legislation takes meaningful steps to protect patients and our community pharmacists, ensuring they can access and provide affordable, life-saving medications to Americans without PBM interference. I look forward to working with Rep. Auchincloss, Rep. Harshbarger, and our local pharmacists to get this legislation to the President\u2019s desk.\"\n\n\u201cThe Pharmacists Fight Back Act is a vital step to protect patient access to their pharmacy of choice and bring transparency to PBM practices. Tennessee has led on PBM reform at the state level, but now Congress must act to ensure fair pharmacy reimbursement, ban patient steering, and enforce PBM accountability nationwide. We applaud Rep. Harshbarger for her leadership in introducing this important bipartisan legislation,\u201d said Anthony Pudlo, PharmD, MBA, MSHIA, Chief Executive Officer, Tennessee Pharmacists Association.\n\n\u201cPBMs, acting as government contractors in federal healthcare programs, are exploiting their position by under-reimbursing independent pharmacies. They are also steering patients towards and over-reimbursing PBM-affiliated pharmacies and denying patients the benefit of drug maker rebates at the pharmacy counter,\u201d said Greg Reybold, Vice President of Healthcare Policy & General Counsel at the American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. \u201cThese unfair PBM practices harm independent pharmacies, limit patient choice and access to care, and result in poorer medication adherence and health outcomes, all while increasing costs for patients and taxpayers. The Pharmacists Fight Back Act brings these unfair practices to a screeching halt and will restore transparent market-based pricing for patients and pharmacies. APCI proudly endorses the Pharmacists Fight Back Act, and we extend our gratitude to Representatives Auchincloss, Comer, and Harshbarger for their work in introducing this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cBig insurers have been gaming the system for years, using PBMs to boost their profits while patients, taxpayers, and local pharmacies pay the price,\u201d said Rachel Madley, PhD, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Health and Democracy. \u201cThe Pharmacists Fight Back Act will rein in profiteering by monopolistic insurers that own PBMs and pharmacies, and lower prescription drug costs for patients who depend on these medications to live.\u201d\n\n\u201cPharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have long exploited a lack of transparency and accountability, driving up patients\u2019 out-of-pocket costs for life-saving medicines,\u201d said Dr. Robert Popovian, Pharm.D., MS, Pioneer Institute and Global Healthy Living Foundation. \u201cFor decades, these intermediaries, who do not contribute to patient care, have evaded federal oversight. The Global Healthy Living Foundation commends bipartisan efforts to rein in PBMs and ensure patients can access innovative medicines at fair, affordable costs.\u201d\n\nWhile PBMs claim to create \"savings\" through manufacturer rebates and discounts, those \u201csavings\u201d rarely trickle down to the patient. The Pharmacists Fight Back Act will not only reduce beneficiaries out-of-pocket costs by passing rebates directly back to the patient, but will also ban plans from mandating higher priced brand name drugs over lower priced generics on formularies, foster transparency and promote fairness in the system by prohibiting PBMs from steering patients to their own pharmacies; not to mention the hefty fine PBMs will pay for each violation,\u201d said Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR; Rheumatologist; Vice President, Advocacy & Government Affairs; Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/ogles-responds-davidson-general-sessions-judges-dodging-oversight-alleged", "Ogles Responds to Davidson General Sessions Judges Dodging Oversight on Alleged Somali Rapist", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Congressman Andy Ogles issued a response to the Nashville Metropolitan General Sessions Court after it sent a letter to Governor Bill Lee seemingly criticizing Ogles for demanding accountability. The judges allowed a Somali migrant criminal to run free by dismissing his charges over 12 times before he raped and killed a young Nashville woman.\n\nStatement: \"Instead of apologizing to the family of that young woman who was raped to death, instead of apologizing to the people of Nashville, these judges have the gall to publicly complain about my oversight and call it 'dangerous rhetoric.\u201d A woman was raped and is now dead because of woke policies, and those on the Davidson County General Sessions Court who let off a dangerous migrant criminal more than twelve times,\u201d said Congressman Ogles.\n\nThese judges are asking Governor Lee to give them heightened security because they feel threatened by my comments. Where were these Judges when she was being raped? Where were they when she lay dying? Do they care at all about the safety of my constituents? Doubtful,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/health care/blackburn-introduces-legislation-to-empower-families-to-choose-health-care-coverage-that-fits-their-needs", "Blackburn Introduces Legislation to Empower Families to Choose Health Care Coverage That Fits Their Needs", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Health Coverage Across State Lines Act, which would allow health insurers to offer individual health insurance plans across state lines. This legislation would lower costs, expand options, and increase competition in the insurance marketplace.\n\n\u201cFamilies shouldn\u2019t be stuck with one or two overpriced insurance options just because of where they live,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Health Coverage Across State Lines Act would empower Americans to choose the health insurance plan that works for them by allowing insurers to sell plans across state lines. Opening up the marketplace would drive down costs, expand choice for families, and break up insurance monopolies.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nCurrently, millions of Americans are left with only one or two options when it comes to purchasing a health insurance plan and are prevented from buying across state lines.\n\nAcross-state-line purchases of health insurance would put consumers in the driver\u2019s seat, letting families shop for coverage that fits their needs instead of being locked into one state\u2019s limited offerings.\n\nAllowing health insurers to compete across state lines breaks up insurance monopolies, putting downward pressure on premiums.\n\nSmall businesses and self-employed Americans face the highest premiums and fewest choices in today\u2019s market. Across-state-line sales would allow them to access broader, more affordable enrollment options.\n\nTHE HEALTH COVERAGE ACROSS STATE LINES ACT\n\nThe Health Coverage Across State Lines Act would allow health insurance plans to be sold across state lines and ensure they are governed by the laws of the insurer\u2019s \u201cprimary\u201d state, even when sold in secondary states. This would remove regulatory barriers that currently fragment the insurance market along state boundaries and limit plan availability and affordability for consumers.\n\nThis legislation would create real competition where none currently exists for millions of Americans living in one or two insurer states.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Introduces Bills to Support and Expand Tennessee\u2019s Medicaid Innovation\n\nBlackburn, Bennet Introduce Bill to Support Lifesaving Emergency Services in Rural Communities\n\nBlackburn, Warner Introduce Bill to Lower Costs and Improve Access to Care for Rural Medicare Patients\n\nBlackburn, Colleagues Introduce Veterans Health Care Freedom Act", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/health care/video-blackburn-slams-democrats-for-pushing-to-extend-pandemic-era-health-care-subsidies-riddled-with-fraud", "VIDEO: Blackburn Slams Democrats for Pushing to Extend Pandemic-Era Health Care Subsidies Riddled with Fraud", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor slamming Democrats for pushing to extend pandemic-era health care subsidies that are riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse and would cost taxpayers $35 billion per year. Senator Blackburn highlighted a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report that shows just how easy it is to commit fraud with these subsidies. Excerpts of Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks are below, and video can be downloaded here.\n\nClick hereto download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor.\n\nEXCERPTS OF REMARKS", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/military/blackburn-leads-tennessee-delegation-in-urging-national-guard-bureau-to-make-greece-a-partner-nation-to-tennessee-national-guard", "Blackburn Leads Tennessee Delegation in Urging National Guard Bureau to Make Greece a Partner Nation to Tennessee National Guard", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), along with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the entire Tennessee Congressional delegation, sent a letter to General Steven S. Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, urging him to support assigning Greece as an additional partner nation to the Tennessee National Guard under the State Partnership Program. This decision would support U.S. priorities in the region, give the Tennessee National Guard access to new training opportunities, and improve regional stability and military readiness.\n\nThis partnership is a natural fit for Tennessee, given the state\u2019s existing air refueling mission with the 134th and the Hellenic Air Force\u2019s standing as one of NATO\u2019s largest and most capable air forces. Together, these strengths create meaningful opportunities for future training and cooperation.\n\nAdding Greece as a Tennessee National Guard Partner Would Improve Military Readiness\n\n\u201cWe write in support of assigning the Hellenic Republic of Greece as an additional partner nation to the Tennessee National Guard under the State Partnership Program (SPP). For more than thirty years, the Tennessee National Guard has demonstrated exceptional success and strategic value through its longstanding partnership with the Republic of Bulgaria, one of the earliest and most effective relationships in the SPP. Tennessee is uniquely positioned to expand this success by partnering with Greece to enhance regional interoperability while improving Guard readiness.\u201d\n\nPartnership with Greece Would Give the Tennessee National Guard Additional Training Opportunities and Advance American Interests\n\n\u201cTennessee would also benefit from a partnership with Greece. We understand that the Tennessee National Guard would gain access to additional training opportunities across air, land, maritime, and cyber missions, improving readiness here at home. A new partnership would also open doors for Tennessee businesses and strengthen academic collaboration, research, and student exchanges. Adding Greece as a second partner will build on Tennessee's thirty years' success with the program, strengthen U.S. relationships abroad, and advance American interests in a strategically important part of the world.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/general/video-blackburn-grills-broadcast-radio-executive-for-hurting-artists-and-creators", "VIDEO: Blackburn Grills Broadcast Radio Executive for Hurting Artists and Creators", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property hearing, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) grilled Henry Hinton, the CEO of Inner Banks Media and a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors, on his opposition to the American Music Fairness Act. This legislation would ensure artists are paid when their music is played on AM/FM radio stations.\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s opening remarks, and click here and here to download her exchanges with Henry Hinton.\n\nOn the Need to Pass the American Music Fairness Act\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cWhen you look at the civilized world and you look at all the countries that compensate our artists, we are unfortunately in a league with North Korea and Cuba and Iran in not valuing what the creator comes up with.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Music Fairness Act fixes this issue by closing a loophole in copyright law and ensuring that artists and music creators are paid for the use of their songs on terrestrial radio stations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill is about common sense and fairness\u2026 We have some big radio that doesn't agree with this... This bill protects small and local radio stations\u2026 They have created the soundtrack of our lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn my state of Tennessee, from Music Row to Beale Street to the hills of East Tennessee\u2026 We have an obligation to protect them and to ensure that they have the right to be paid for the product that they create. It is as simple as that.\u201d\n\nBlackburn Calls Out Big Radio for Causing Harm to Artists\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cLet me ask you this, not paying artists for their sound, their voice being on radio, they're getting zero money. Do you think that causes harm to the artist?\n\nHenry Hinton: \u201cThe reality is we American radio reaches 79% of Americans every week. 226 million people listen to radio every week.\u201d\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cI asked you about causing harm, not about your audience. So let me move on because you are causing harm. You\u2019ve got an oldie station you've never paid Sam Moore's estate a dime for \u2018Soul Man,\u2019 and I bet you use that as bumper music a good bit.\u201d\n\nBlackburn Invites Hinton to Nashville to Meet with Artists\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cI would invite you, sir, to come to Nashville with me. Come to Tennessee with me and do a roundtable with me, with some of these musicians and entertainers, and I will guarantee you will hear quite a different story. This is an issue of fairness.\u201d\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rose-introduces-ndaa-amendment-strike-senate-payday-provision", "Rep. Rose Introduces NDAA Amendment to Strike Senate Payday Provision", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "John W. Rose", "R000612", "johnrose.house.gov", "johnrose", "https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2014Today, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, the bill that sets policies and authorizes programs for the United States\u2019 national defense, Department of War, and related programs.\n\nThe amendment would repeal a provision of the government funding bill, signed into law on Nov. 12, that permits eight U.S. Senators to sue taxpayers for $500,000 or more following subpoenas of their phone data executed by the Biden-era FBI.\n\nRep. Rose released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe House passed a bill repealing this unconstitutional money grab 20 days ago \u2013 426 to 0 \u2013 and Leader Thune has yet to bring it to a vote,\u201d Rep. Rose said. \u201cSince the Senate sees fit to shove a self-serving money grab into a must-pass funding bill to reopen the government, then the House should do the same and shove a repeal into the must-pass NDAA.\u201d\n\nThe amendment is co-sponsored by Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA).\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-kustoff-moore-and-cuellar-introduce-legislation-strengthen", "Congressmen Kustoff, Moore, and Cuellar Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Enforcement of Carjacking", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On November 19th, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN), Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL), and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation updates federal statute to give prosecutors the tools they need to charge criminal carjackers and get them off our streets.\n\n\"Current federal statute makes carjacking cases difficult to prosecute,\u201d said Congressman Kustoff. \u201cThe bill changes that by requiring prosecutors to prove that a person knowingly took a motor vehicle by force, violence, or intimidation. This change closes a loophole that has allowed violent offenders to avoid being charged and held accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cCarjackings have increased across the country, particularly in our Nation's capital, and families are paying the price for Washington\u2019s failure to address this growing problem,\u201d said Congressman Moore. \u201cFederal prosecutors shouldn\u2019t have to read minds to put dangerous criminals behind bars. I thank Rep. Kustoff and Rep. Cuellar for partnering with me to restore common sense to the law by removing a decades-old drafting error that has handcuffed law enforcement and emboldened offenders. Every American deserves to know they can drive to work, church, or school safely, and this bipartisan legislation brings us one step closer to restoring law and order.\u201d\n\n\"Our bipartisan bill fixes a longstanding error in federal law that\u2019s made it harder to go after dangerous carjackers, and I want to thank my friend and colleague from Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore, for working with me on this effort,\" said Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28). \"I\u2019m focused on the rise in violent crime that families are seeing across the country. I want to make sure law enforcement has the resources they need to respond to these trends and keep our communities safe. I\u2019ll keep fighting for stronger public safety laws that support our communities.\"\n\nThe Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act is co-sponsored by Representatives Nehls (R-TX), Guest (R-MS), Luna (R-FL), Palmer (R-AL), Gill (R-TX), Harris (R-NC), Rutherford (R-FL), Williams (R-TX), Hunt (R-TX), McGuire (R-VA), Harrigan (R-NC), Mace (R-SC), Ogles (R-TN), Miller (R-OH), Carter (R-GA), Kim (R-CA) Huizenga (R-MI), Sessions (R-TX), and Babin (R-TX). Senator Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate in May of 2025.\n\nThis bill is endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.\n\nBackground:\n\nThis bill strengthens the federal carjacking statute by updating the elements prosecutors must prove in order to bring a charge. Under current law, prosecutors must prove that the offender intended to cause harm at the exact moment they took the vehicle, which has created a loophole that allows offenders to evade federal prosecution. The bill replaces that requirement with a standard that the person knowingly took the vehicle. This change restores Congress\u2019s original intent from the 1994 Crime Bill and closes a longstanding gap that has shielded violent offenders from accountability.\n\nRead the bill text HERE.", 1, "2026-04-24T05:51:25Z", "2026-04-24T05:53:00Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/kosa/technology/video-blackburn-speaks-with-mom-who-lost-her-child-to-suicide-after-he-was-targeted-in-sextortion-scheme", "VIDEO: Blackburn Speaks with Mom Who Lost Her Child to Suicide After He Was Targeted in Sextortion Scheme", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke with Tamia Woods, whose only son tragically died by suicide in 2022 after he was sexually extorted, about the importance of kids\u2019 online safety. Senator Blackburn has led the charge to pass the Kids Online Safety Act to stop Big Tech from turning a blind eye while criminals use their platforms to prey on innocent children like James Woods.\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s exchange with Tamia Woods on protecting kids online.\n\nOn the Need to Pass the Senate Version of the Kids Online Safety Act\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cThere are laws in the physical space that protect children. You cannot endanger a child, you can't sell them alcohol, you can't sell them tobacco, you cannot expose them to pornography. If you were a liquor store and you were selling to kids, they would padlock your store and take away your license. But in the virtual space, our children are vulnerable 24/7, 365\u201d.\n\n\u201cMs. Woods, I'm just heartbroken for you as a mother and a grandmother and having teenage grandsons. This is a fear, an absolute fear, that parents have because the sextortion schemes and the targeting of young boys. It's like something that happens within a matter of hours and days.\u201d\n\n\u201cYour son\u2026 was literally cyberbullied to death, and this is why we need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act. Ms. Woods, talk about why these platforms should be required to force safety by design and to put that burden on these social media platforms to root out these bad actors.\u201d\n\nTamia Woods: \u201cDid anyone know that on Google, if your child is 12 years old, and once they turn 13, Google directly messages your child and tells them that they no longer need parental control, and they can click here to opt out?\u201d\n\n\u201cParental controls are not enough\u2026 The other thing too is that by social media actually making sure that we have laws\u2026 making sure that our we can monitor our kids better\u2026 Like when my son said, \u2018I'm going to kill myself,\u2019 it would have alerted me. It would have alerted any parent that had lost their children's lives, and it would have told me something's wrong.\u201d\n\n\u201cI wish that, even today, three years later, that I would have known half of the things that I would have had, or even be put in a position where I could have taught my son to come to us.\u201d\n\nOn the Need for Parents to Talk to Their Kids About Child Exploitation\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cSo what advice would you give to parents right now, sitting there today?\u201d\n\nTamia Woods: \u201cTalk to your children about sextortion and any other child exploitation. I knew nothing about it. Every parent that lives here today that has a child has a privilege I did not have\u2026 I would give anything to have my son back, and if they have to learn, if they have to see James' faith, if they have to see my tears, I'm going to make sure that it happens. If it means that I can save your grandchildren, I'm going to do it.\u201d\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/blackburn-van-hollen-moolenaar-and-krishnamoorthi-grill-wada-on-reports-of-agency-intimidating-and-suppressing-whistleblowers", "Blackburn, Van Hollen, Moolenaar, and Krishnamoorthi Grill WADA on Reports of Agency Intimidating and Suppressing Whistleblowers", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "\u2018Whistleblowers are not the enemy, but instead are the reason doping scandals come to light in the first place\u2019\n\n\u2018When global institutions like WADA allegedly target those who come forward, they\u2026 shatter public trust and harm every athlete who competes honestly\u2019\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representatives John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) sent a letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) demanding answers over allegations that its officials have launched an internal operation called \u201cOperation Puncture\u201d to intimidate and suppress whistleblowers who have sounded the alarm about corruption and misconduct within the agency.\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Blackburn led a hearing following WADA\u2019s refusal to investigate Chinese swimmers testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs before the Tokyo Olympics.\n\nReports Say WADA Is Intimidating and Suppressing Whistleblowers\n\n\u201cWe write to express our concern over allegations that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been searching for whistleblowers who helped reveal the swimming doping scandal in 2021 involving People\u2019s Republic of China athletes. According to the reporting, WADA officials have launched an internal operation, \u2018Operation Puncture\u2019 to investigate the leak of the 2021 doping allegations. While WADA claims that their motivations are innocent, it appears this investigation\u2019s intent is to intimidate and suppress whistleblowers. If these allegations are accurate, WADA is not defending clean sport but is continuing to defend a cover-up.\u201d\n\nBlackburn Led Colleagues in Demanding Accountability from WADA for Chinese Doping Scandal\n\n\u201cThe signers of this letter have been leading the effort to demand accountability from WADA for its handling of the case of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the banned substance Trimetazidine before the Tokyo Olympics. We have urged full transparency and cooperation with investigators. Instead, WADA has met those calls with defensiveness, denial, and now alleged retaliation. This is unacceptable. Whistleblowers are not the enemy, but instead are the reason doping scandals come to light in the first place. If WADA is spending its time and resources chasing down those who reveal misconduct instead of addressing the misconduct itself, it has lost sight of its mission to ensure doping-free sport and is betraying the athletes it was created to protect. When global institutions like WADA allegedly target those who come forward, they not only silence whistleblowers\u2014they shatter public trust and harm every athlete who competes honestly.\u201d\n\nNew Allegations Reaffirm Need to Pass Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act\n\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Scorches World Anti-Doping Agency for Refusing to Investigate Chinese Swimmers for Doping\n\nBlackburn, Van Hollen, Colleagues Introduce the Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act as U.S. Withholds Funding to WADA\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/general/blackburn-cantwell-introduce-legislation-to-help-college-athletes-save-for-the-future-by-investing-nil-earnings", "Blackburn, Cantwell Introduce Legislation to Help College Athletes Save for the Future by Investing NIL Earnings", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced the Helping Undergraduate Students Thrive with Long-Term Earnings (HUSTLE) Act, which would create first-of-its kind name, image, and likeness (NIL) tax-advantaged investment accounts for student athletes, require trustees to provide financial education, and establish regulations to prevent abuse.\n\nIn 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allowed student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, which has now become a multibillion-dollar marketplace. With these NIL agreements opening the door to new economic freedoms, the HUSTLE Act would ensure college athletes have strong protections, clear guidance, and financial literacy to help them better navigate the world of college athletics.\n\n\u201cCollege athletes are now earning billions of dollars from their name, image, and likeness\u2014and rightly so. We must empower these students to safeguard their financial future and protect themselves against rogue agents,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe HUSTLE Act would allow college athletes to invest their earnings in a tax-advantaged account that grows over time, strengthen financial education, and create safeguards to prevent exploitation by dishonest agents.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill focuses in on the financial security and safety of college athletes who \u2013 finally \u2013 are earning compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL),\u201d said Senator Cantwell.\u201cMany of these athletes will be in a unique situation where they will earn NIL income during a relatively brief period of their careers. Our bill will set up a specific NIL Account where they can set aside some of that income and build long-term savings. The bill also will protect athletes and their NIL earnings against financial exploitation by unscrupulous agents. Since athletes have been able to earn NIL, some have been victimized by agents who have charged shockingly high commissions or have tried to take ownership of the athlete\u2019s intellectual property rights. Our bill will rein in these abuses and require agents to register with a state.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nSince the Supreme Court affirmed in 2021 that college athletes have a right to profit from their name, image, and likeness, college athletics has turned into a multibillion-dollar marketplace. NIL deals generated over $1.2 billion in the 2023-2024 period, with projections to exceed $2.5 billion by 2025-2026 if revenue sharing is fully implemented.\n\nAthletes who just a few years ago were prohibited from accepting basic sponsorships are now signing deals with national brands, monetizing social media platforms, licensing personal trademarks, and participating in increasingly complex commercial partnerships.\n\nWhile this new environment gives athletes unprecedented earning power, these athletes can often lack the financial tools, institutional support, or regulatory safeguards necessary to navigate such a complex market.\n\nIn a 2022 NCAA survey of over 9,800 athletes, 49% indicated a need for educational resources specifically on tax and financial literacy. In the same study, only 9% of student-athletes had ever met with a financial counselor.\n\nThis mismatch\u2014significant income paired with limited guidance\u2014shows that student-athletes must be further empowered to invest in their financial futures and protect their long-term financial well-being.\n\nTHE HUSTLE ACT\n\nThe HUSTLE Act would:\n\nAllow student-athletes to contribute their NIL income up to the annual gift-tax exclusion amount to an NIL Investment Account, with the funds growing tax-free;\n\nAllow up to $35,000 of unused NIL account funds to be rolled over into an IRA or other retirement vehicle once the athlete has been out of college sports for at least a year;\n\nRequire trustees to provide financial education to ensure athletes understand and manage their NIL savings responsibly; and\n\nDirect the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue regulations to prevent abuse, ensure proper reporting, track contribution limits, and define additional qualified expenses.\n\nThe HUSTLE Act would also modernize the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act by:\n\nRequiring athlete agents to register with a state before representing athletes in NIL endorsements;\n\nCapping agent fees at 5 percent and certifying their registration to the athletic association that governs the athlete\u2019s sport;\n\nFurther banning a range of deceptive practices, including misrepresenting NIL opportunities to influence enrollment or transfer decisions and signing athletes to contracts that extend beyond their eligibility; and\n\nRequiring athletic associations\u2014such as the NCAA or other national governing bodies\u2014to maintain a public, searchable online registry of all registered and certified athlete agents, dramatically increasing transparency for athletes and families.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nWHAT THEY ARE SAYING\n\nSenators Blackburn and Cantwell have worked with outside entities to solicit feedback for this bipartisan legislation to support college athletes:\n\n\u201cSenator Blackburn is an advocate for student-athletes and continues to pursue innovative solutions related to their name, image, and likeness. At UT, we have long prioritized providing student-athletes with opportunities to build strong financial literacy. Federal incentives that support saving and investing NIL assets will further empower them to secure a strong financial foundation and thrive long after their time on Rocky Top,\u201d said University of Tennessee, Knoxville.\n\n\u201cThe Southeastern Conference is grateful for the continued engagement of lawmakers in addressing the evolving needs of student-athletes. The HUSTLE Act represents a constructive approach by establishing tax-advantaged NIL investment accounts that encourage financial education, long-term savings, and responsible management of earnings. We appreciate Congress\u2019s sustained bipartisan commitment to developing national, consistent standards that support student-athletes and enhance their opportunities in this rapidly changing environment,\u201dsaid SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rose-congratulates-east-tennessee-airmen-garnering-historic-usaf", "Rep. Rose Congratulates East Tennessee Airmen on Garnering Historic USAF Designation", "2025-12-07", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "John W. Rose", "R000612", "johnrose.house.gov", "johnrose", "https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "COOKEVILLE, TN\u2014On Sunday, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) joined a crowd of servicemembers in East Tennessee to celebrate the recent decision by the United States Air Force to designate McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base as Main Operating Base (MOB) 7, equipping the 134th Air Refueling Wing with eight new KC-46 aircraft.\n\nPhotos from the event can be found here.\n\nThe announcement follows years of advocacy by Rep. Rose. Since coming to Congress in 2019, Congressman Rose and his team have heard from many stakeholders, including 134th Air Refueling Wing Commander Col. Ronald Selvidge and Tennessee National Guard Adjutant General Warner Ross. He\u2019s also raised the importance of this designation and the potential impact on national security, for years, to his House colleagues who serve on the House Armed Services Committee.\n\nRep. Rose released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe 1,350 servicemembers that make up the 134th Air Refueling Wing in East Tennessee make it possible for the United States to project power around the world,\u201d Rep. Rose said. \u201cThose men and women stand ready to defend liberty and freedom whenever they\u2019re needed, wherever they\u2019re needed. Bringing eight state-of-the-art aircraft to East Tennessee means their critical mission can be carried out with greater capacity and with more versatility, securing our nation\u2014and the globe.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe KC-46 Pegasus will enable the 134th Air Refueling Wing to service a wider variety of aircraft and execute non-fuel related aid, improving operations during peacetime mobility or times of conflict and rapid deployment. In November, USAF announced that the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base was selected as the preferred location for MOB-7.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-burchett-writes-letter-president-trump-requesting-investigation", "Congressman Burchett Writes Letter to President Trump Requesting an Investigation into NGOs", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "For Immediate Release:\n\nWashington, DC (December 4, 2025) \u2014 Today, US Congressman Tim Burchett wrote to President Trump about the wrongful use of taxpayer money to support non-government organizations (NGOs). With the creation of DOGE, the American public can now see where their money is going. These NGOs have diverted our tax dollars to organizations such as the Taliban and have played a significant role in the importation of over 80,000 Somalians, many of whom are currently under investigation for allegedly stealing over a billion dollars from child nutrition and social services programs.\n\n\u201cSome NGOs are continuing to rip off the American people and our hard-earned tax dollars.\u201d Said Congressman Burchett, \u201cI hope that President Trump can clean this mess up.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-tn-colleagues-introduce-house-companion-bill-secure-permanent", "Harshbarger, TN Colleagues Introduce House Companion Bill to Secure Permanent Hospital Support and Protect Care for Low-Income Patients", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) introduced the Delivering Support for Hospitals in Tennessee Act or the \u201cDSH in Tennessee Act\u201d (H.R. 6393), a House companion bill to legislation U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty introduced this week (S.3299). The landmark legislation would finally provide Tennessee with a permanent, modernized Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotment. Original House cosponsors include Tennessee Reps. Chuck Fleischmann, Scott DesJarlais, David Kustoff, John Rose, Tim Burchett, and Steve Cohen.\n\n\u201cFor too long, Tennessee has been the only state in the nation forced to operate without a stable, permanent DSH allotment. That uncertainty has put tremendous strain on hospitals that serve our most vulnerable neighbors, especially rural providers. This bill finally ends the patchwork approach and delivers the long-term clarity and predictability Tennessee hospitals deserve.\u201d \u2013 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger\n\nAdditionally, The DSH in Tennessee Act has the support of The Tennessee Hospital Association.\n\n\u201cMedicaid DSH provides critical funding to hospitals treating large numbers of low-income patients. These funds help offset hospitals\u2019 uncompensated care costs and improve access for Medicaid and uninsured patients. Unfortunately, Tennessee is at a unique disadvantage as the only state without a permanent Medicaid DSH allotment, and the state\u2019s most recent short-term appropriation expired in October, but has now been extended through January 30, 2026 as part of the continuing resolution package passed by Congress in November. The Tennessee Hospital Association appreciates the strong, bipartisan support from the Tennessee delegation to secure temporary, partial DSH payments for over two decades. The Delivering Support for Hospitals (DSH) in Tennessee Act will bring Tennessee hospitals back into statute and help provide relief and long-term certainty that hospitals in other states enjoy. On behalf of hospitals across Tennessee, THA applauds Senator Blackburn\u2019s and Rep. Harshbarger\u2019s leadership on, and appreciates the delegation\u2019s strong support of, legislation to achieve a permanent solution and ensure Tennessee hospitals will receive this critical funding in the future.\u201d - Dr. Wendy Long, President and CEO, Tennessee Hospital Association\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSenators Blackburn and Hagerty introduced the companion bill (S. 3299) on December 2, reinforcing a unified Tennessee delegation effort to secure this long-overdue fix.\n\nThe legislation directly addresses Tennessee\u2019s long-standing structural disadvantage under federal law by:\n\nEstablishing a permanent DSH allotment for Tennessee beginning in FY 2026, ending years of reliance on short-term carveouts, CRs, and temporary health extenders.\n\nModernizing the allotment to reflect real-world costs\u2014raising Tennessee\u2019s DSH amount from $53.1 million (set in 2015) to $72.9 million for FY 2026.\n\nEnsuring the allotment keeps pace with healthcare inflation by applying an automatic annual CPI-U adjustment so hospitals aren\u2019t forced to absorb rising costs year after year.\n\nTogether, these reforms replace instability with a predictable, long-term federal commitment, particularly important for hospitals that treat high numbers of low-income patients and depend on DSH support to remain operational.\n\nUnlike every other state, Tennessee has never had a permanent DSH authorization. The result has been a decade of stop-gap funding measures that create uncertainty for hospital administrators, limit long-term planning, and make it harder for rural and safety-net hospitals to maintain services.\n\nThe DSH in Tennessee Act would finally corrects this imbalance by giving Tennessee the same stability other states enjoy while updating the allotment to reflect today\u2019s economic and healthcare realities.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-david-kustoff-deborah-ross-reintroduce-bipartisan-do-not-call-act", "Reps. David Kustoff, Deborah Ross Reintroduce Bipartisan DO NOT Call Act", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced the bipartisan Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls (DO NOT Call) Act. This legislation is aimed at cracking down on unsolicited robocalls by increasing penalties for bad actors who harass and defraud consumers. Nevada Senator Cortez Masto introduced the Senate companion version of this bill.\n\nAmericans received more than 52.8 billion robocalls in 2024 and lost over $40 billion to scams and fraudulent schemes. That number continues to climb, even after years of work by Congress, regulators, and the telecommunications industry to curb illegal calls.\n\n\u201cAmericans are receiving these disruptive robocalls every day. Scammers are using artificial intelligence to mimic voices and spoof Caller ID, making these calls even harder to detect,\u201d said Congressman Kustoff. \u201cThis bipartisan bill gives our justice system more power to crack down on these bad actors and protect vulnerable people from fraud.\u201d\n\n\u201cRobocalls are becoming more aggressive, and North Carolinians are feeling the impact every day,\u201d said Congresswoman Ross (NC-02). \u201cAs technology advances, scammers find new ways to misuse personal information and to deceive the public \u2013 particularly targeting seniors and other vulnerable people. Congress has a responsibility to step up with stronger protections and clear consequences for those who profit from these harmful tactics. I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill with Representative Kustoff and will keep working with our partners in the Senate to see it signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpam calls and texts are not just a nuisance \u2013 they erode public trust and have real consequences for everyday Nevadans,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cI fought them on behalf of consumers as Attorney General, and it\u2019s past time to protect the seniors and vulnerable Americans that these scammers prey on and give our law enforcement the tools they need to bring them to justice.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlabamians are fed up with incessant scam calls that harass families, target seniors, and cost consumers billions every year. The DO NOT Call Act cracks down on this issue by strengthening penalties for illegal robocalls and closing loopholes in the law. I am proud to support this commonsense legislation as an original cosponsor in the 119th Congress,\u201d said Congressman Strong (AL-05).\n\n\u201cEverybody hates robocalls. While there are certain limited situations where they make sense, by and large they are a way of letting someone waste our time without wasting their time. I appreciate the efforts of Congressman Kustoff to stop this relentless annoyance and look forward to using the tools he is providing to protect Tennesseans from obnoxious interruptions,\u201d said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe DO NOT Call Act strengthens penalties for companies and individuals who deliberately harass consumers. Under this legislation, willful or knowing violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) could result in prison sentences of up to one year, while repeated or excessive violations could lead to sentences of up to three years. It also raises the maximum fine for falsifying caller ID information from $10,000 to $20,000.\n\nClick here to read the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-11T05:33:44Z", "2026-04-11T05:34:52Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/newest-member-of-congress", "Newest Member of Congress", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 4, 2025\n\nNew Member stands ready to join the 119th Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/taking-the-oath-of-office", "Taking the Oath of Office", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Representative Matt Van Epps to be sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House.\n\nThe Honorable Matt Van Epps was elected to serve as Representative of Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District. Representative Matt Van Epps to be added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/crime/blackburn-klobuchar-introduce-legislation-to-combat-cargo-theft", "Blackburn, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Combat Cargo Theft", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the Cargo Security Innovation Act, which would ensure that those on the front lines of the fight against cargo theft have state-of-the-art technology to protect their operations:\n\n\u201cCargo theft is a pressing issue impacting businesses in Tennessee, and we need to shut down these organized crime groups that steal essential goods from Tennesseans to traffic drugs and weapons,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOur bipartisan Cargo Security Innovation Act would help law enforcement bring more of these criminals to justice and disrupt these sophisticated cargo theft rings to protect our supply chains.\u201d\n\n\u201cCargo theft significantly impacts the supply chain, harming American businesses and consumers, especially food shippers. When criminals break into shipments, businesses are forced to return containers and dispose of compromised products,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation would equip law enforcement with the resources to combat these crimes \u2014 creating a pilot program that invests in technology to curb cargo theft.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nCargo theft committed by sophisticated theft rings tied to organized crime is exploding across the U.S. targeting the busiest intermodal hubs.\n\nCargo theft jumped 57% in 2023, with reported losses topping $400 million. In Memphis, cargo theft jumped nearly 60% in the first six months of 2024 compared to all of 2023.\n\nFrom food to electronics to pharmaceuticals, criminals are stealing essential goods in transit and disappearing without a trace. These aren\u2019t random heists; they\u2019re coordinated missions using fake IDs, GPS blockers, encrypted communications, and surveillance teams.\n\nOrganized crime groups treat cargo theft as a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise, funding violent drugs and weapons trafficking.\n\nFederal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating to stop these crimes that have a direct impact on the American consumer, but they often lack the technology and resources to bring these criminals to justice.\n\nTHE CARGO SECURITY INNOVATION ACT\n\nThe Cargo Security Innovation Act would:\n\nCreate a pilot program at the TSA to deploy advanced law enforcement or cargo security technologies at intermodal hubs across the country; and\n\nRequire a report to Congress evaluating the effectiveness of these technologies.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThe Cargo Security Innovation Act is endorsed by the American Trucking Associations, the Association of American Railroads, the Intermodal Association of North America, the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and IMC Logistics:\n\n\u201cSkyrocketing incidents of cargo theft undermine our supply chain, raise costs for consumers, and place truck drivers and warehouse workers directly in harm\u2019s way. Due to the complex, multi-jurisdictional nature of these highly sophisticated crimes, only the federal government has the resources to take down organized theft groups. ATA commends Senators Blackburn and Klobuchar for introducing legislation to equip law enforcement with the advanced technological capabilities they need to keep pace with evolving criminal techniques and strike an effective blow against organized crime,\u201d said Henry Hanscom, Senior Vice President, Legislative Affairs at American Trucking Associations.\n\n\u201cAs organized criminal groups become more sophisticated and brazen in targeting our supply chain, advanced technology is essential to staying ahead. Railroads appreciate Senator Blackburn\u2019s leadership on this critical issue and her support for expanding the tools and resources needed to disrupt and deter these criminal enterprises,\u201d said Ian Jefferies, President & CEO of Association of American Railroads.\n\n\u201cIANA applauds Senator Blackburn and Senator Klobuchar\u2019s leadership in addressing cargo theft through the introduction of the Cargo Security Innovation Act. By leveraging technology and fostering public-private collaboration, this legislation tackles a threat across all modes of transportation. With the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration and industry partnerships, this legislation will deliver meaningful solutions for America\u2019s supply chain as well as IANA\u2019s members,\u201d said Anne Reinke, President of Intermodal Association of North America.\n\n\u201cThe Greater Memphis Chamber welcomes the introduction of the Cargo Security Innovation Act by Senator Marsha Blackburn as a step toward addressing the escalating threat of cargo theft. Memphis, one of America\u2019s busiest intermodal freight hubs, is on the front lines of this challenge. Strengthening cargo security is critical to protecting goods in transit, supporting employers, and sustaining the economic competitiveness of Memphis and other freight gateways vital to U.S. commerce,\u201d said Ted Townsend, President & CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/general/photo-blackburn-hosts-tele-town-hall-with-davidson-and-shelby-county-residents", "PHOTO: Blackburn Hosts Tele-Town Hall with Davidson and Shelby County Residents", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after hosting a telephone town hall with residents of Davidson and Shelby County:\n\n\u201cIt was wonderful to hear from Tennesseans in Davidson and Shelby County tonight about the work to make our communities safe again, make life more affordable, and return to regular order to rein in wasteful spending,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cTennesseans are thrilled by the historic success of President Trump\u2019s Memphis Safe Task Force that has made over 3,500 arrests, including gang members, sexual predators, and murderers.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-applauds-house-passage-her-medical-supply-chain-security-provision", "Harshbarger Applauds House Passage of Her Medical Supply Chain Security Provision in Rep. McCaul\u2019s Give Kids A Chance Act", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "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) applauded the House\u2019s unanimous passage of H.R. 1262, the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act led by Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX), which includes her bipartisan provision to strengthen and \u201cfriend-shore\u201d America\u2019s medical supply chains through deeper cooperation with Abraham Accords nations.\n\n\u201cI am proud the House passed this bipartisan bill led by my colleague Congressman McCaul that included my provision to establish an FDA office in the Abraham Accords region and begin shifting critical medical supply chains to trusted allies,\u201d said Rep. Harshbarger. \u201cThis is an important step toward reducing our reliance on China and securing access to life-saving medicines. I want to thank Rep. McCaul for his leadership on this bill and for championing the children and families it will help.\u201d\n\n\u201cI introduced the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act with one overarching goal: saving lives. Congresswoman Harshbarger\u2019s provision will advance that mission by strengthening our collaboration with trusted Abraham Accord nations on medical research and development,\u201d said Rep. McCaul. \u201cThis partnership will not only bolster President Trump\u2019s successful Abraham Accords, but it will also diversify our supply chains and reduce our dangerous dependence on the CCP for critical medical treatments. I\u2019m grateful for the congresswoman's leadership on this important issue and am proud to have played a role in its passage through the House.\u201d\n\nBackground on Harshbarger\u2019s Provision\n\nHarshbarger\u2019s bipartisan language in Section 9 of H.R. 1262:\n\nEstablishes an FDA office in the Abraham Accords region to support regulatory cooperation, technical assistance, and joint development of life-saving drugs.\n\nReduces U.S. reliance on China, which currently dominates global active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production and poses significant national security risks.\n\nStrengthens America\u2019s resilience by diversifying medical supply chains and building production capacity with stable, trusted allies.\n\nLeverages the growing biopharmaceutical capabilities of Abraham Accords nations to secure access to essential medicines.\n\nBackground on the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act\n\nIntroduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the bill combines the Give Kids A Chance Act and the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act to expand pediatric cancer and rare-disease research, strengthen clinical trials, and reauthorize the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher program. Named in honor of Mikaela Naylon, the legislation passed unanimously and aims to accelerate the development of life-saving treatments for children battling cancer and rare diseases.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/immigration/video-blackburn-slams-biden-administration-s-failure-to-vet-afghan-migrants-following-national-guard-shooting", "VIDEO: Blackburn Slams Biden Administration\u2019s Failure to Vet Afghan Migrants Following National Guard Shooting", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor slamming former President Joe Biden\u2019s scheme to make illegal immigration legal through \u201cOperation Allies Welcome,\u201d a program his administration launched following his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.\n\nDespite the Biden administration\u2019s claim that Afghan nationals were properly vetted, a 2022 Inspector General report found that evacuees who were not fully vetted were admitted or paroled into the U.S. The suspect charged with the murder of National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom and the shooting of Guardsman Andrew Wolfe entered the country through this program.\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor.\n\nREMARKS AS PREPARED\n\nSuspect Charged in Shooting of Two National Guard Members Is an Afghan National Let in Under Biden", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/technology/video-blackburn-calls-on-congress-to-pass-senate-version-of-kosa-following-latest-meta-scandal", "VIDEO: Blackburn Calls on Congress to Pass Senate Version of KOSA Following Latest Meta Scandal", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor calling on Congress to pass the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act, which currently has a veto-proof majority of 69 co-sponsors. Earlier this week, Senator Blackburn penned an op-ed in TIME following new reporting that revealed sex trafficking on Meta platforms was both difficult to report and widely tolerated.\n\nClick hereto download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor.\n\nREMARKS AS PREPARED\n\nIt\u2019s No Secret Big Tech Has Sold Out Kids\u2019 Safety for Profit\n\nWe have known for years that Big Tech has sold out children\u2019s safety online for profit.\n\nTheir algorithms connect children with drug dealers and flood their feeds with pro-suicide content.\n\nTheir AI chatbots sexualize children in roleplaying fantasies.\n\nTheir design features allow children to share their precise, real-time location on a map with anyone, including predators eager to track them down.\n\nTheir entire profit model depends on addicting children to their products\u2014no matter the consequences.\n\nAnd every day, we learn more about this appalling abuse.\n\nNew Court Filings Reveal Meta Had \u201c17x Strike\u201d Policy for Individuals Who Engaged in Sex Trafficking\n\nA recent brief filed by more than 1,800 plaintiffs, including parents and children, shows how Meta knowingly exposed children to unthinkable harms.\n\nAccording to the brief, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, conducted internal studies showing that social media addiction among minors fuels anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts.\n\nBut when those findings surfaced, Meta buried the research and misled Congress about the results.\n\nAs a matter of policy, Meta allegedly refused to remove individuals who engaged in sex trafficking on its platforms until users reported the offender at least 17 times.\n\nEven when the company detected child sexual abuse material with \u201c100% confidence,\u201d Meta often failed to remove the content.\n\nAn internal audit even showed that the company knowingly connected minors with potential predators through its algorithmic follow recommendations.\n\nOn a single day in 2022, it made such recommendations 1.4 million times.\n\nSenate Version of KOSA Would Finally Require Big Tech to Take Responsibility for How Platforms Are Designed\n\nOne thing should be clear: Big Tech companies cannot be trusted to make their platforms safe by design because meaningful safety measures would cut into their bottom line.\n\nThat\u2019s why Congress must step up and ensure that these companies finally face accountability for the harm they have inflicted on an entire generation of children.\n\nEarlier this year, I reintroduced the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would ensure children are afforded the same protections from harm in the virtual world that they have in the physical world.\n\nThe Senate\u2019s version of KOSA would establish a clear duty of care for online platforms to prevent their algorithms from pushing dangers on minors, including sexual abuse, illicit drugs, and the promotion of suicide and eating disorders.\n\nThis duty of care is critical: Requiring Big Tech companies to take responsibility for making their own products safer is essential to protecting kids and giving parents peace of mind.\n\nIt\u2019s a big reason why this legislation has gained a veto-proof majority with 69 co-sponsors here in the Senate.\n\nBlackburn Makes the Case for the Duty of Care\n\nLast week, our colleagues in the House released a discussion draft of a new version of KOSA that would strip this duty of care.\n\nWhile our colleagues in the House have not yet formally introduced this weaker version of KOSA, it\u2019s important to note the difference in language.\n\nWith the Senate version, social media platforms would be required to \u201cexercise reasonable care in the creation and implementation of any design feature to prevent and mitigate \u2026 harms to minors where a reasonable and prudent person would agree that such harms were reasonably foreseeable.\u201d\n\nWith the House version, platforms would only be required to \u201cestablish, implement, maintain, and enforce reasonable policies, practices, and procedures that address\u201d such harms.\n\nWithout the duty of care to prevent foreseeable harms, this new requirement is completely unenforceable.That\u2019s not all. The House version weakens the standard to prove that Big Tech companies have knowledge of harms on their platforms. This would empower executives to bury their heads in the sand to avoid any accountability.\n\nWhile the Senate version only preempts state laws, rules, or regulations that \u201cconflict\u201d with its provisions, the House version would wipe out any state law that \u201crelates to\u201d the provisions of the bill\u2014even if they don\u2019t conflict.\n\nThis would do nothing to protect children online. It would only protect Big Tech from facing accountability.\n\nThe Senate version of KOSA would ensure that Big Tech Companies can\u2019t design their platforms to prey on our children for profit. We must preserve the duty of care and send this landmark legislation to President Trump\u2019s desk as soon as possible.\n\nFuture generations of American children and families are depending on us to rein in Big Tech. Failure is not an option.\n\nRELATED\n\nICYMI in TIME: Blackburn Makes Case for KOSA Following Latest Allegations Against Meta", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-joins-president-trump-white-house-signing-major-addiction-recovery", "Harshbarger Joins President Trump at the White House for Signing of Major Addiction Recovery Legislation", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House, along with families who have lost loved ones from addiction, as he signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, landmark legislation that continues critical programs to combat drug addiction and expand treatment options.\n\n\u201cThanks to President Trump and Republicans, we are delivering real solutions to help combat the opioid and fentanyl crisis here in America,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cThis law will continue to provide prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery options for those struggling with addiction. I\u2019m proud to stand with President Trump in delivering this critical support for Tennessee\u2019s First District and communities across the country.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe bill builds upon the original 2018 SUPPORT Act\u2014also signed into law by President Trump\u2014which marked one of the most significant federal responses to the opioid epidemic in U.S. history. The 2025 reauthorization strengthens and expands those efforts, ensuring families and communities continue receiving the tools they need to prevent addiction and support recovery.\n\nAccording to preliminary CDC data, opioid-related overdose deaths dropped sharply\u2014from an estimated 83,140 deaths in 2023 to 54,743 in 2024. This progress reflects years of targeted Republican leadership\u2014and that passing the SUPPORT Act reauthorization was essential to sustaining that momentum.\n\nThe SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 will:\n\nEnsure first responders maintain access to lifesaving Naloxone\n\nExpand treatment options for pregnant and postpartum women\n\nStrengthen state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)\n\nEncourage workforce participation for individuals in recovery\n\nContinue support for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers, which provide a full spectrum of treatment and recovery services.\n\nAdditionally, more than 60 national advocacy organizations supported the original SUPPORT Act, recognizing its power to expand treatment and recovery models that work. The 2025 reauthorization builds on that success by securing vital programs that protect addiction treatment professionals, strengthen the recovery workforce, and expand community-based health services.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/energy/blackburn-applauds-funding-for-tva-to-deploy-small-modular-reactors", "Blackburn Applauds Funding for TVA to Deploy Small Modular Reactors", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R. Tenn.) joined U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Tennessee Valley Authority President and CEO Don Moul in applauding today\u2019s announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) of the selection of TVA and Holtec Government Services to support early deployments of next-generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the United States.\n\n\u201cTennessee is leading the way to deliver reliable, affordable, and secure energy for the American people,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Tennessee Valley Authority will play a critical part in shaping our country\u2019s nuclear energy future, and I\u2019m thrilled the TVA has been selected for a grant from the Department of Energy to accelerate the deployment of a small modular reactor at the Clinch River site.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations, and Tennessee\u2019s Appropriator in Congress, I have made it my mission to not only expand new nuclear nationwide but ensure that Tennessee leads our nation in developing and deploying cutting-edge nuclear technologies that will create America\u2019s New Nuclear Future,\u201d said Representative Fleischmann. \u201cThere is no denying the reality that America needs more power. The only way that we will meet our future energy demands is through a robust \u2018all-of-the-above\u2019 energy policy that puts nuclear power at the forefront. TVA and East Tennessee are primed to spearhead the deployment of next-generation SMRs that will fundamentally change America\u2019s energy future. Today\u2019s grant announcement from DOE is further proof that under President Donald Trump\u2019s leadership, we are unleashing American Energy Dominance and ushering in a Golden Age for new nuclear. I also want to congratulate Holtec Government Services, which intends to deploy two SMRs in Michigan, on being chosen for this award. The road to get to today began when Congress passed my historic Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water bill to strengthen our domestic nuclear industry, and I commend TVA, DOE, and the Trump White House for their work in making today\u2019s announcement a reality. We cannot slow down in our progress to create our New Nuclear Future, and I will keep working tirelessly as Energy and Water Chairman to continue to build on this phenomenal work that will be the foundation of America\u2019s energy future.\u201d\n\n\u201cTennessee is quickly becoming the epicenter for nuclear innovation,\u201d said Senator Hagerty. \u201cI appreciate President Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright for their confidence in our region. This grant will help advance the nation\u2019s first Gen III+ SMR which is an important step forward for strengthening America\u2019s energy future. It is clear that Tennessee is positioned to lead the next era of nuclear energy. President Trump\u2019s leadership has helped renew momentum in America\u2019s nuclear sector and support the resurgence of our industrial base. I look forward to seeing Tennessee play a central role in shaping the future of nuclear power for the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has made clear that America is going to build more energy, not less, and nuclear is central to that mission,\u201d said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. \u201cAdvanced light-water SMRs will give our nation the reliable, round-the-clock power we need to fuel the President\u2019s manufacturing boom, support data centers and AI growth, and reinforce a stronger, more secure electric grid. These awards ensure we can deploy these reactors as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cTVA is once again answering our nation\u2019s call,\u201d said TVA President and CEO Don Moul.\u201cOur employees are leading the way with advanced nuclear to power not just homes and businesses, but the technologies that will define America\u2019s future. As AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure drive unprecedented energy demand, we\u2019re building our nation\u2019s nuclear energy foundation right here in the Tennessee Valley. This is about more than innovation, it\u2019s about creating lasting opportunity, lowering energy costs, and securing a better tomorrow for American families today.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nTVA intends to deploy a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 at the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Tennessee and accelerate the deployment of additional units in coordination with Indiana Michigan Power in Indiana and Elementl in Alabama. The effort would also strengthen the domestic nuclear supply chain through planned work with Scot Forge, North American Forgemasters, BWX Technologies, and Aecon. Other partners supporting the project include Duke Energy, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the Electric Power Research Institute.\n\nIn March 2025, DOE issued a $900 million solicitation to de-risk the deployment of Gen III+ SMRs, and the remaining $100 million will be awarded later this year to support additional deployments and address key barriers in design, licensing, supply chain, and site readiness.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/health care/blackburn-introduces-bills-to-support-and-expand-tennessee-s-medicaid-innovation", "Blackburn Introduces Bills to Support and Expand Tennessee\u2019s Medicaid Innovation", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced a package of three bills to support and expand Tennessee\u2019s Medicaid innovation. The legislation includes the Access to New Community Health Opportunities and Recovery (ANCHOR) Act, the Delivering Support for Hospitals (DSH) in Tennessee Act, and the Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act.\n\n\u201cTennessee is leading the way when it comes to Medicaid innovation, and these bills would expand that effort to improve the lives of Tennesseans,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThis package would strengthen support for our hospitals, give states the flexibility to use more effective primary care models, and allow states to provide Medicaid coverage to those battling serious mental illness or substance use disorder.\u201d\n\nTHE ANCHOR ACT\n\nThe ANCHOR Act would:\n\nCreate a state plan option to provide Medicaid coverage to those suffering from severe mental illness or substance use disorder for a period of up to one year; and\n\nRequire states to create a care plan for individuals within 60 days of enrollment.\n\nThe ANCHOR Act is endorsed by Mental Health America (MHA), the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),Tennessee Hospital Association, Texas Academy of Family Physicians, and the Texas Hospital Association:\n\n\u201cMental Health America commends Congressman Pfluger and Senator Blackburn for their leadership in introducing the ANCHOR Act,\u201d said Tim Clement, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at Mental Health America. \u201cPeople with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders who lack insurance coverage are at great risk of suicide and overdose, and this bill will help them receive treatment and begin their journey to recovery.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe ANCHOR Act provides states with a means to expand Medicaid coverage for uninsured individuals facing significant behavioral health issues, guaranteeing timely and coordinated care to enhance health outcomes,\u201d said Brian Hepburn, M.D., Executive Director for National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).\n\nTHE DSH IN TENNESSEE ACT\n\nTennessee is the only state without permanent Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding, which provides payments to hospitals that treat large numbers of low-income patients. The DSH in Tennessee Act would:\n\nFix the long-standing issue where Tennessee had to rely on carveouts instead of a stable federal DSH allotment by giving Tennessee a permanent DSH allotment starting in fiscal year 2026; and\n\nIncrease Tennessee\u2019s DSH enrollment every year to keep pace with inflation.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nTHE MEDICAID PRIMARY CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT\n\nThe Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act would:\n\nAllow states to use Medicaid dollars to pay for Direct Primary Care Arrangements (DPC), which are fixed, monthly membership-style payments that cover a defined set of primary care services by giving the option for states to contract with DPC practices.\n\nThis would expand healthcare access for Medicaid beneficiaries and improve health outcomes, reduce emergency room visits, and save unnecessary medical costs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/energy-and-water-chairman-chuck-fleischmann-applauds-funding-to-deploy-us-small-modular-reactors", "Energy and Water Chairman Chuck Fleischmann Applauds Funding to Deploy U.S. Small Modular Reactors", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations, applauded today\u2019s announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) of the selection of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Holtec Government Services to support early deployments of next-generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the United States. Chairman Fleischmann established the $800 million federal cost-shared funding grant program in his Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Energy and Water bill.\n\n\u201cAs Chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations, and Tennessee\u2019s Appropriator in Congress, I have made it my mission to not only expand new nuclear nationwide but ensure that Tennessee leads our nation in developing and deploying cutting-edge nuclear technologies that will create America\u2019s New Nuclear Future. There is no denying the reality that America needs more power. The only way that we will meet our future energy demands is through a robust \u2018all-of-the-above\u2019 energy policy that puts nuclear power at the forefront,\u201d said Chairman Chuck Fleischmann.\n\n\u201cTVA and East Tennessee are primed to spearhead the deployment of next-generation SMRs that will fundamentally change America\u2019s energy future. I also want to congratulate Holtec, which will deploy two SMRs in Michigan, on being chosen for this award. The Clinch River Site and Palisades Nuclear Generating Station both have proud nuclear energy legacies and are deservedly at the forefront of this next step forward for American nuclear power. Today\u2019s grant announcement from DOE is further proof that under President Donald Trump\u2019s leadership, we are unleashing American Energy Dominance and ushering in a Golden Age for new nuclear.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe road to get to today began when Congress passed my historic Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water bill to strengthen our domestic nuclear industry, and I commend TVA, DOE, and the Trump White House for their work in making today\u2019s announcement a reality. We cannot slow down in our progress to create our New Nuclear Future, and I will keep working tirelessly as Energy and Water Chairman to continue to build on this phenomenal work that will be the cornerstone of America\u2019s energy future.\u201d\n\nU.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said, \u201cPresident Trump has made clear that America is going to build more energy, not less, and nuclear is central to that mission. Advanced light-water SMRs will give our nation the reliable, round-the-clock power we need to fuel the President\u2019s manufacturing boom, support data centers and AI growth, and reinforce a stronger, more secure electric grid. These awards ensure we can deploy these reactors as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn(R-TN) said, \u201cTennessee is leading the way to deliver reliable, affordable, and secure energy for the American people. The Tennessee Valley Authority will play a critical part in shaping our country\u2019s nuclear energy future, and I\u2019m thrilled the TVA has been selected for a grant from the Department of Energy to accelerate the deployment of a small modular reactor at the Clinch River site.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) said, \u201cTennessee is quickly becoming the epicenter for nuclear innovation. I appreciate President Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright for their confidence in our region. This grant will help advance the nation\u2019s first Gen III+ SMR which is an important step forward for strengthening America\u2019s energy future. It is clear that Tennessee is positioned to lead the next era of nuclear energy. President Trump\u2019s leadership has helped renew momentum in America\u2019s nuclear sector and support the resurgence of our industrial base. I look forward to seeing Tennessee play a central role in shaping the future of nuclear power for the country.\u201d\n\nDon Moul, TVA President and CEO said, \u201cTVA is once again answering our nation\u2019s call. Our employees are leading the way with advanced nuclear to power not just homes and businesses, but the technologies that will define America\u2019s future. As AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure drive unprecedented energy demand, we\u2019re building our nation\u2019s nuclear energy foundation right here in the Tennessee Valley. This is about more than innovation, it\u2019s about creating lasting opportunity, lowering energy costs, and securing a better tomorrow for American families today.\u201d\n\nGrant Award Background:\n\nTennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - $400,000,000\n\nTVA intends to deploy a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 at the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Tennessee and accelerate the deployment of additional units in coordination with Indiana Michigan Power in Indiana and Elementl in Alabama. The effort would also strengthen the domestic nuclear supply chain through planned work with Scot Forge, North American Forgemasters, BWX Technologies, and Aecon. Other partners supporting the project include Duke Energy, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the Electric Power Research Institute.\n\nHoltec Government Services, LLC (Holtec) - $400,000,000\n\nHoltec intends to deploy two SMR-300 reactors at the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in Covert, Michigan, providing a potential viability model for additional domestic and international orders. The company is pursuing an innovative one-stop-shop approach to SMR deployment, serving as the technology vendor, supply chain vendor, nuclear plant constructor, operator, and electricity merchant selling the power to nearby utilities and end users.\n\nIn March 2025, DOE issued a $900 million solicitation to de-risk the deployment of Gen III+ SMRs, and the remaining $100 million will be awarded later this year to support additional deployments and address key barriers in design, licensing, supply chain, and site readiness.\n\nFor more information, visit the Gen III+ SMR webpage here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoffs-bill-provide-relief-victims-identity-theft-passes", "Congressman David Kustoff\u2019s Bill to Provide Relief to Victims of Identity Theft\u00a0Passes the House", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, the House of Representatives passed Congressman David Kustoff\u2019s bill, the Improving Social Security\u2019s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act (H.R. 5345), by unanimous consent. This legislation creates a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration (SSA) for individuals whose Social Security numbers have been stolen.\n\n\u201cVictims of identity theft shouldn\u2019t have to fight their way through government bureaucracy just to get their identity restored,\u201d said Congressman Kustoff. \u201cThe Improving Social Security\u2019s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act is a commonsense bill that will improve government efficiency and ensure victims get access to timely relief.\"\n\n\u201cInstead of adding more red tape, callbacks, and confusion, our government should make it easier to help victims of identity theft. The Improving Social Security\u2019s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act ensures families have a single point of contact at the SSA when their Social Security number is compromised,\u201d said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). \u201cI want to thank Representative Kustoff for sponsoring this important bill, which will deliver much-needed help to victims of identity theft.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIdentity theft continues to pose a serious challenge across the country. In 2024 alone, there were more than 3,000 reported data breaches, including many leaks which involved Social Security Numbers. When that information is exposed, the fallout for victims can last for years, and dealing with federal agencies often adds to the frustration.\n\nH.R. 5345 gives victims a single, dedicated contact at the SSA to help them resolve issues tied to identity theft. This change gives Americans a more effective way to protect their assets when their information is compromised. It replaces a confusing, bureaucratic reporting process at the SSA with one that is far easier to navigate.\n\nCongressman Kustoff\u2019s bill now moves to the Senate for further action. Click here to watch Congressman Kustoff\u2019s remarks on the House Floor. Click here for the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-05T05:34:57Z", "2026-04-05T05:36:03Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/jobs and economy/photo-blackburn-hosts-tele-town-hall-with-east-tennesseans", "PHOTO: Blackburn Hosts Tele-Town Hall with East Tennesseans", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after hosting a telephone town hall with residents from Knox, Anderson, Blount, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Loudon, Sevier, and Union counties:\n\n\u201cTonight, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tennesseans in the eastern part of the Volunteer State about what we are doing to restore regular order to rein in wasteful spending, protect our kids online and in schools, support Tennessee veterans, and make our communities safe again,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cIt was also wonderful to share the news of the Air Force selecting McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base as the seventh main operating base for the next generation KC-46 Pegasus refueler, which will improve national security and create jobs for Tennesseans.\u201d\n\nClick here to download this photo of Senator Blackburn.\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/technology/icymi-in-time-blackburn-makes-case-for-kosa-following-latest-allegations-against-meta", "ICYMI in TIME: Blackburn Makes Case for KOSA Following Latest Allegations Against Meta", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) penned an op-ed in TIME making the case for the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act following new reporting that revealed sex trafficking on Meta platforms was both difficult to report and widely tolerated. Read the op-ed here and below.\n\nWe Need to Protect American Kids Online\n\nSenator Marsha Blackburn\n\nTIME\n\nImagine a major U.S. company\u2014let\u2019s call it \"Big Corp.\" It is one of the highest-valued businesses in the world, yet its entire profit model depends on addicting children to its products. And the consequences of this addiction are catastrophic.\n\nBig Corp\u2019s own internal studies show that this addiction fuels anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation among minors. But when those findings surface, the company buries the research and lies to Congress about the results.\n\nAt the same time, Big Corp exposes children to unthinkable harms, failing, and often outright refusing, to stop the abuse.\n\nSuch appalling behavior from a U.S. company would demand immediate accountability. Yet, according to a recent brief filed by more than 1,800 plaintiffs, including parents and children, Meta has allegedly committed these very offenses for years. The only difference: Instead of throwing our children to the wolves in the physical world, the Big Tech giant has allegedly sold out children\u2019s safety for profit in the virtual space.\n\nThe brief, first reported by TIME, provides just the latest evidence documenting how tech companies such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, have targeted children with addictive features\u2014no matter the consequences.\n\nAccording to the lawsuit, and Instagram\u2019s former head of safety and well-being Vaishnavi Jayakumar, Meta has a policy to not remove individuals who engage in sex trafficking on its platforms until users report the offender at least 17 times.\n\nIn September, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, which I chair, heard from courageous former Meta employees like Jayakumar who worked on youth safety research. In a bombshell hearing, they described how Meta suppressed internal research showing that children using its virtual reality headsets have been sexually propositioned by adults in the company\u2019s Metaverse.\n\nFor the child, the psychological and physiological harms of such abuse are no different than if it happened in person. Yet, according to the whistleblowers and hundreds of pages of internal documents, Meta sought \u201cplausible deniability\u201d by eliminating any evidence that would force the company to act. At one point, executives even warned researchers against referring to \u201ckids\u201d on their VR platforms. Their preferred euphemism? \u201cAlleged minors with young sounding voices who may be underage.\u201d\n\nAlthough the company has said it \u201cstands by its record\u201d and denies any fault, such damaging actions have long been routine at Meta. Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission revealed that in 2019, Instagram encouraged known \u201cgroomers\u201d to connect with minors through algorithmic follow recommendations. Although the company was aware of these dangerous interactions, CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly chose not to strengthen the platform\u2019s safety teams to save money.\n\nWith Meta and other Big Tech platforms, we\u2019ve seen this movie over and over: algorithms connect children with drug dealers and flood their feeds with pro-suicide content; AI chatbots sexualize children in role-playing fantasies; design features allow children to share their precise real-time location on a map with anyone, including predators eager to track them down.\n\nThe hard truth is that Big Tech companies cannot be trusted to make their platforms safe by design because meaningful safety measures would cut into their bottom lines. Congress must step up and ensure that these companies finally face accountability for the harm they have inflicted on an entire generation of children.\n\nEarlier this year, I reintroduced the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would ensure children are afforded the same protections from harm in the virtual world that they have in the physical world. The Senate\u2019s version of KOSA would establish a clear duty of care for online platforms to prevent specific threats to minors, including sexual abuse, illicit drugs, and the promotion of suicide and eating disorders. Requiring Big Tech companies to take responsibility for making their own products safer is essential to protecting kids and giving parents peace of mind.\n\nThe legislation has overwhelming bipartisan support, passing through the Senate last year by a vote of 91-3. This year, the legislation has already regained its veto-proof majority with 67 Senate co-sponsors.\n\nAt a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last year, Meta\u2019s Zuckerberg faced dozens of parents who had lost their children to harms on social media. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for everything you\u2019ve all gone through,\u201d he told them. \u201cNo one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.\u201d\n\nBut it isn\u2019t the first time he has issued such an apology. And for parents living with unimaginable loss, any apology without action is meaningless.\n\nThey deserve accountability. The Kids Online Safety Act could finally deliver it.\n\nRELATED\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Eviscerates Meta for Lobbying Against Kids Online Safety Act, Grills Google on Gemma AI Technology Fabricating News Stories\n\nICYMI in Punchbowl News: Blackburn Says Meta\u2019s Instagram Teen Accounts Announcement Is \u2018Nothing More Than a PR Stunt\u2019\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Eviscerates Meta for Suppressing Child Safety Research Following Whistleblower Allegations", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/general/video-blackburn-wishes-tennesseans-a-happy-thanksgiving", "VIDEO: Blackburn Wishes Tennesseans a Happy Thanksgiving", "2025-11-27", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement and video wishing Tennesseans a happy Thanksgiving and thanking law enforcement, first responders, and military families for their service this holiday season:\n\n\u201cThanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones to celebrate all of life\u2019s blessings,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cIn Tennessee, we are so grateful for our strong communities, our religious freedom, and President Trump\u2019s work to strengthen our economy, secure the border, and Make Memphis Safe Again. We are also grateful for the local law enforcement officers, first responders, and military families who are working overtime to make certain our communities, our state, and our nation are safe this holiday season. From the Blackburn family to yours, happy Thanksgiving.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/general/blackburn-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-adopt-act-to-protect-adoptive-families-from-exploitation", "Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan ADOPT Act to Protect Adoptive Families from Exploitation", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R. Tenn.) joined Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and their Senate colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency (ADOPT) Act to protect adoptive families, children, and expectant mothers from exploitation by unlicensed adoption intermediaries. This legislation would ensure that adoption providers and attorneys operate only in states where they are licensed to do so.\n\n\u201cUnlicensed \u2018baby brokers\u2019 are exploiting vulnerable Americans who hope to adopt a child and grow their families,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOur bipartisan ADOPT Act would protect expectant mothers and adoptive families from exploitation by ensuring they have access to licensed and trustworthy providers in their states.\u201d\n\n\u201cAdoption changes lives \u2014 for kids and adoptive parents alike. Unfortunately, unlicensed \u2018baby brokers\u2019 prey on vulnerable mothers and families, hurting everyone in the process,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar, co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption. \u201cThat\u2019s why Senator Britt and I are introducing the bipartisan ADOPT Act, which protects expecting mothers and adoptive families from exploitation by ensuring that parents pursuing private, domestic adoption are working with trusted, licensed professionals.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Katie Britt (R.-Ala.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Jon Husted (R-Ohio). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Laurel Lee (R-Fla.), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.).\n\nTHE ADOPT ACT\n\nThe ADOPT Act would protect adoptive families, children, and expectant mothers from exploitation by:\n\nProhibiting adoption advertising and the provision of private adoption services for compensation by any entity not licensed as a child-placing agency or attorney; and\n\nRestricting payments to expectant mothers unless made through a provider licensed in the state where the expectant mother resides.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThe ADOPT Act is endorsed by leading adoption organizations, including the National Council For Adoption (NCFA), Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), Ethical Family Building, Adoptees United, and Families Rising.\n\n\u201cThe ADOPT Act better ensures expectant mothers contemplating adoption have a trustworthy team around them, and that they have all the information and resources available to them before deciding whether to place their child for adoption,\" says Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of National Council For Adoption. \"What's more, the ADOPT Act will spare prospective adoptive families\u2014many of whom consider adoption after a painful infertility journey\u2014time, resources and the heartbreak that so often accompanies signing with a predatory, unlicensed adoption intermediary.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) applauds efforts to protect adoptive families and children during the adoption process, by ensuring they are served by licensed adoption professionals, with appropriate oversight and transparency,\u201d said Genie Miller Gillespie, Adoption Policy Director of AAAA. \u201cWelcoming a child into a family through adoption is a tremendous and joyous event; the legal process behind that adoption must match the magnitude of the event. Ensuring the guardrails of the legal process are maintained and that all parties to an adoption are protected will help ensure that families do not have their hopes exploited. The ADOPT Act is an important step in protecting families and children.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe ADOPT ACT delivers long-overdue safeguards for vulnerable women, families, and children by combatting the exploitation carried out by unlicensed adoption intermediaries, and by ensuring that both expectant parents considering adoption and families hoping to adopt receive compassionate, qualified support,\u201d said Celeste Liversidge, Executive Director of Ethical Family Building. \u201cThe Bill further reinforces essential protections for adopted children, whose long-term well-being must remain at the center of every adoption decision.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/crime/photo-blackburn-joins-attorney-general-bondi-for-memphis-safe-task-force-briefing-serves-dinner-to-task-force-members", "PHOTO: Blackburn Joins Attorney General Bondi for Memphis Safe Task Force Briefing, Serves Dinner to Task Force Members", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta, and other elected officials in Memphis for a briefing on the success of the Memphis Safe Task Force. In just 56 days, the Task Force made 3,151 arrests, seized 501 illegal firearms, apprehended 327 known gang members, and located 121 missing children.\n\nFollowing the briefing, Senator Blackburn served dinner to members of the task force to thank them for their hard work and dedication to making Memphis safe again. She also delivered remarks during the press conference led by Attorney General Bondi.\n\n\u201cMemphis is an iconic and historic city that has been held back by violent crime for too long,\u201dsaid Senator Blackburn. \u201cIt was wonderful to have Attorney General Bondi and other members of the Trump administration join us today in Memphis to recognize the historic success achieved by the Memphis Safe Task Force. The success of this task force would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the brave men and women on the ground taking violent criminals off the street.\u201d\n\nClick here to download photos of Senator Blackburn\u2019s trip to Memphis.\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks at the press conference.\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rose-introduces-bill-lower-housing-costs-increase-supply-nationally", "Rep. Rose Introduces Bill to Lower Housing Costs, Increase Supply Nationally", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "John W. Rose", "R000612", "johnrose.house.gov", "johnrose", "https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) introduced the Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025. The legislation, which has broad bipartisan support, will remove a federal chassis requirement that has served to unnecessarily raise the price of manufactured housing.\n\nSince 1974, federal law has required that manufactured homes include a permanently installed chassis that allows it to be moved even after installation. This has significantly reduced the ability of young and low-income families to buy their own homes. Removing the permanent-chassis requirement for manufactured homes will lower construction costs, unlock modern design flexibility, and open far more locations for quality, affordable housing.\n\nRep. Rose released the following statement:\n\n\u201cManufactured housing is a great way to get more families into homes that they own,\u201d Rep. Rose said. \u201cRent prices across Tennessee continue to soar because demand for housing still far exceeds supply. By striking this outdated restriction on manufactured homes, my legislation will increase supply and ultimately help bring home prices down for everyone.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is being co-led by five Members of the House, including House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance Chairman, Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE), Ranking Member Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Vice-Chair Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA).\n\nRep. Mike Flood (R-NE), Chairman, FSC Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cIn order to get more young families on the path towards achieving the American Dream, we need more single-family homes at affordable price points. Manufactured homes are one type of product that can help fill that void in our market,\u201d said Congressman Flood. \u201cThe Housing Supply Expansion Act updates outdated rules applying to manufactured housing, and it makes changes that will ultimately get more supply on the market. I am proud to join Congressman John Rose, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Congressman Scott Peters, Congressman Lou Correa and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz in introducing this very important piece of legislation.\"\n\nRep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Ranking Member, FSC Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cManufactured housing is a key component to the nation's supply of quality, safe, and affordable housing,\u201d said Ranking Member Cleaver. \u201cBy removing an outdated requirement that manufactured homes retain a permanent chassis, we can increase design innovation, reduce costs, and provide relief to more American families and communities. I look forward to working with Representative Rose and our colleagues to see this bipartisan, common sense update passed into law.\u201d\n\nRep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Vice-Chair, FSC Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cAccess to affordable housing is a top concern for South Texas families. By updating outdated regulations and cutting red tape, the Housing Supply Expansion Act will expand housing options and open the door for innovation in manufactured housing. As Vice Chair of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring families can find a home that meets their needs and achieve their dream of homeownership.\u201d\n\nRep. Lou Correa (D-CA) released the following statement:\n\n\"Manufactured housing is one of the most affordable options on the market, but outdated regulations are keeping new designs from becoming widely available,\" Rep. Correa said. \"This legislation is a win-win, it unlocks more opportunities for affordable housing in California, without driving up costs for the government.\u201d\n\nRep. Scott Peters (D-CA) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cSan Diego suffers from a housing crisis that threatens prosperity; we can help remedy this by building more affordable and accessible housing. The Housing Supply Expansion Act will make it easier and cheaper to build manufactured homes. This provision has already advanced through the Senate. I look forward to working with Congressman Rose to get this bill across the finish line so we can put homeownership back within reach for countless San Diegans.\u201d\n\nThe Manufactured Housing Institute also issued a statement of support, which can be found here.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:22Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-introduces-charlie-kirk-gold-medal-act", "REP. OGLES INTRODUCES \u201cCHARLIE KIRK GOLD MEDAL ACT\u201d", "2025-11-24", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Andy Ogles introduced a resolution to posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his contributions to civic leadership, Christian ministry, and the revitalization of American youth culture. Founded at age 18, Turning Point USA grew under Kirk\u2019s leadership to more than 900 campuses nationwide, promoting civic engagement, constitutional literacy, and public debate at institutions often hostile to dissenting views.\n\n\u201cCharlie Kirk deserves the Congressional Gold Medal because he devoted his life to strengthening the moral and cultural foundations of this nation. He equipped young Americans to defend their Christian faith, uphold family values, and embrace their responsibility as citizens. This honor recognizes not just his accomplishments, but the lasting impact he left on a generation,\u201d said Congressman Ogles.\n\n\u201cThis medal acknowledges a man who transformed student engagement in public life. Charlie gave young Americans the confidence to speak boldly, think critically, and stand for what is right, even when culture demanded silence. This is not merely a memorial. It is a national declaration that Charlie Kirk\u2019s legacy deserves to be preserved, honored, and held up as an example for future generations,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.\n\nCosponsors (29): Reps. Anna Paulina Luna [FL-13], Vern Buchanan [FL-16], Jimmy Patronis [FL-01], Greg Murphy [NC-03], Chris Smith [NJ-04], Clay Higgins [LA-03], Lauren Boebert [CO-04], Josh Brecheen [OK-02], Andy Biggs [AZ-05], Diana Harshbarger [TN-01], Paul Gosar [AZ-09], Marjorie Taylor Greene [GA-14], Andy Harris [MD-01], Eric Burlison [MO-07], Randy Fine [FL-06], Riley Moore [WV-02], Andy Barr [KY-06], Russell Fry [SC-07], Sheri Biggs [SC-03], Erin Houchin [IN-09], Monica De La Cruz [TX-15], Vince Fong [CA-20], Stephanie Bice [OK-05], Derrick Van Orden [WI-03], Mike Flood [NE-01], Mike Lawler [NY-17], Barry Loudermilk [GA-11], Mike Collins [GA-10], Juan Ciscomani [AZ-06]\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/women/blackburn-merkley-urge-fifa-to-recognize-afghan-women-united-as-afghanistan-s-women-s-football-team", "Blackburn, Merkley Urge FIFA to Recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan\u2019s Women\u2019s Football Team", "2025-11-24", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) sent a letter to the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino urging FIFA to formally recognize Afghan Women\u2019s United as Afghanistan\u2019s national women\u2019s football team and to stop the Taliban from erasing Afghan women from international competition. Their letter calls on FIFA to enforce its human rights commitments and ensure these athletes can continue representing the women of Afghanistan on the world stage.\n\nFIFA Must Recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan\u2019s National Women\u2019s Football Team\n\n\u201cWe write to urge the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to take decisive action to formally recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan\u2019s national women\u2019s football team and to ensure that Afghan women athletes are not erased from international competition by the Taliban\u2019s repressive regime. These players have continued to train and compete in exile despite being banned from their own country. FIFA\u2019s support and recognition are essential to safeguard their right to play and to uphold the integrity of the sport.\u201d\n\nThe Afghan Women\u2019s Team, Now in Exile, Has Shown Extraordinary Courage\n\n\u201cSince the Taliban\u2019s takeover in 2021, women and girls in Afghanistan have been stripped of their most basic freedoms, including the right to receive an education, travel freely, and participate in sports. Yet, the Afghan women\u2019s team, now in exile, has shown extraordinary courage and perseverance by continuing to train, compete, and represent the spirit of their nation under unimaginably difficult circumstances. Their recent participation in a FIFA-supported tournament marked a powerful symbol of hope, but it also underscored a glaring truth: without formal recognition and consistent opportunities to compete, these women remain sidelined from the international stage. FIFA\u2019s creation of an Afghan women\u2019s refugee squad was an important step forward, but the players\u2019 ultimate goal is to represent Afghanistan as their national women\u2019s football team, and that goal remains unfulfilled.\u201d\n\nFIFA Must Honor Its Commitment to Upholding Human Rights Standards\n\n\u201cFIFA\u2019s own statutes commit the organization to upholding human rights and promoting non-discrimination in sport. Those commitments must extend to the Afghan women who have lost their federation, their home field, and their right to play. One day, these brave athletes will hopefully be able to safely return home to play free from the repression of the Taliban. Until then, FIFA should ensure that they can continue to represent the millions of Afghan women who have either been forced to flee or remain under the Taliban\u2019s brutal rule. FIFA has tools at its disposal. Yet despite its stated human rights standards, the body has too often failed to enforce them consistently. It should investigate Taliban-controlled the Afghan Football Federation for violations of those standards and consider restricting funding and access for federations that bar women from sport. Additionally, FIFA should take concrete action to recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan\u2019s official national women\u2019s football team, consistent with precedents in other contested or politically complex contexts.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-marks-national-rural-health-month-calls-continued-investment-rural", "Harshbarger Marks National Rural Health Month, Calls for Continued Investment in Rural Care", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 This week, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, delivered remarks on the House Floor celebrating National Rural Health Month and reaffirming her commitment to strengthening healthcare access in America\u2019s small towns and rural communities.\n\nImage\n\nHarshbarger recognized the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and first responders who \u201ckeep healthcare alive in America\u2019s small towns and rural communities,\u201d noting that in East Tennessee, \u201crural healthcare, it\u2019s a lifeline.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey [Rural Americans] depend on a nurse to drive during the night and before dawn to check on a patient, or the pharmacist who knows every family by name and stretches every dollar to keep medicine affordable. It\u2019s the doctor who stays late to see one more patient because there\u2019s no one else to take the next shift \u2014 these are the people who form the backbone of our rural healthcare communities,\u201d said Harshbarger. \u201cThey deserve a system that works as hard for them as they do for us.\u201d\n\nHarshbarger highlighted the challenges facing rural communities, including hospital closures, strained workforces, and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) driving independent pharmacies out of business. She underscored her bipartisan work to bring transparency and accountability to PBMs and to support domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, including facilities like USAntibiotics in Bristol, TN.\n\nAs Co-Chair of the Rural Health Caucus, Harshbarger celebrated this year\u2019s passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts, signed into law by President Trump, which contains the largest rural healthcare investment in American history \u2014 a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund.\n\n\u201cThis critical legislation included the single largest investment in rural healthcare in history, Harshbarger said. \u201cThat\u2019s $50 billion for a rural healthcare transformation fund to reinvest federal savings directly into the communities who need it most, expand telehealth, and recruiting and retaining rural healthcare workers.\u201d\n\nHarshbarger also highlighted her bill, the Rural Physician Workforce Production Act, which would give rural hospitals the tools they need to train, attract, and retain more physicians.\n\n\u201cThese aren\u2019t abstract policy debates \u2014 they are about real people in real places,\u201d Harshbarger said. \u201cThey are about the mom who drives an hour to find a pediatric specialist. They are about the veteran who can\u2019t get his prescription filled because his local pharmacy closed. They are about the nurse who works back-to-back shifts because there aren\u2019t enough hands to go around. And those stories are what drive my work every single day.\u201d\n\nHarshbarger closed by announcing a bipartisan resolution she introduced with Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and 37 bipartisan colleagues recognizing November 20th, 2025, as National Rural Health Day (H. Res. 891).", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/technology/blackburn-holds-google-s-feet-to-the-fire-after-company-dodges-accountability-for-gemma-scandal", "Blackburn Holds Google\u2019s Feet to the Fire After Company Dodges Accountability for Gemma Scandal", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn.\u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a follow-up letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, blasting the company for failing to meaningfully respond to her deep concerns about its large language model, Gemma, fabricating criminal allegations against her.\n\nSenator Blackburn\u2019s push for accountability follows a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, where she grilled a Google representative on Gemma\u2019 fabrication of news articles linking conservative activist Robby Starbuck and Senator Blackburn to false child abuse allegations. Senator Blackburn then discovered Gemma also manufactured links to fake news articles in response to the question, \u201cHas Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?\u201d\n\nGemma\u2019s Defamatory Outputs Are a Catastrophic Failure of Oversight\n\n\u201cYour reply fails to meaningfully address the core issues I raised. Google asserts that Gemma\u2019s defamatory outputs are unavoidable \u2018hallucinations\u2019 inherent to all large language models and that removing Gemma from Google AI Studio sufficiently mitigates the risk. Neither is accurate, and neither addresses the underlying problem. This is not simply a technical glitch; it is a catastrophic failure of oversight of an AI model downloaded by more than 200 million people. It is also emblematic of a broader pattern of bias against conservatives within Google\u2019s products.\u201d\n\nRemoving Gemma from AI Studio Does Nothing to Prevent Defamatory Content\n\n\u201cGoogle acknowledges that Gemma remains fully accessible to developers, who have already exported and deployed the same underlying model weights across hundreds of downstream applications and interactive tools. Removing Gemma from AI Studio does nothing to prevent those developers from continuing to deploy and distribute variations of the same model that generated patently false and defamatory statements about me and other conservatives. In other words, the model that produced the defamatory content has not been contained. It continues to be re-packaged and re-distributed across platforms you do not control but which your company enables.\u201d\n\nGoogle Turned a Blind Eye to Gemma\u2019s Harmful Hallucinations Until It Needed to Save Face\n\n\u201cGoogle has known about Gemma's harmful hallucinations for years but chose to turn a blind eye until it needed to save face. Google has demonstrated that it is technically capable of preventing these defamatory outputs. When the same query of whether I have been accused of rape is entered into your flagship Gemini model, the model does not fabricate criminal allegations. This proves that the harm is neither inevitable nor inherent to the technology. It is the outcome of design and deployment choices made by Google.\u201d\n\nGoogle Has Dodged Accountability and Blamed Heinous Criminal Allegations on Technical Issues\n\n\u201cThus, the distinction your letter draws between \u2018consumer products\u2019 and \u2018developer models\u2019 is not a justification. It is an admission that Google intentionally released a model without the safeguards that Google already knows how to implement. My message is simple: Shut your AI models down completely until you can control them. The American public deserves AI systems that are accurate, fair and transparent \u2014 not tools that smear conservatives with manufactured criminal allegations. Google's response is a desperate attempt to dodge accountability and blames the fabrication of heinous criminal allegations on 'technical issues.' Google's unacceptable excuses fail to address how this happened and how the company will prevent it from happening in the future.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Demands Answers from Google After Gemma Manufactured Fake Criminal Allegations Against Her\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Blasts Google for Targeting Conservatives, Demands Accountability", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/technology/blackburn-luj-n-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-fast-track-telecommunications-and-broadband-expansion-across-america", "Blackburn, Luj\u00e1n Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fast-Track Telecommunications and Broadband Expansion Across America", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) introduced the bipartisan Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act that would streamline the process to deploy telecommunications and broadband equipment in public and railroad rights-of-way. Rights-of-way are the corridors alongside public roads and railroad tracks where utilities can install infrastructure.\n\n\u201cAccess to reliable, high-speed telecommunications and broadband is a necessity for working families, schools, and businesses,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act would cut red tape to streamline the installation of telecommunications and broadband equipment in public and railroad rights-of-way, expanding essential connectivity for rural communities in Tennessee and across America.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce legislation that will make it easier to expand broadband in rural and Tribal communities across New Mexico. Expanding broadband access strengthens local economies and opens the door to better education, job opportunities, and health care,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n, Ranking Member of Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media. \u201cWith nearly 2,000 miles of freight rail across our state, this bill streamlines broadband construction along rail corridors to help connect regions that have long been underserved.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\n22.3 percent of Americans living in rural areas lack broadband coverage, compared to only 1.5 percent of Americans who live in urban areas.\n\nGetting permission to install broadband near railroads can be slow, inconsistent, and expensive. This causes delays in expanding telecommunications and broadband access, especially in rural communities that need it most.\n\nTHE BROADBAND AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RAIL ACT\n\nThe Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act would streamline the deployment of telecommunications and broadband equipment in public and railroad rights-of-way by establishing two separate processes:\n\nNotification: In public rights-of-way, broadband providers will work with the state or locality to determine the scope of work they are authorized to perform. The broadband provider will then notify the rail carrier and schedule the work to be performed. This bill sets strict timelines for the work to be performed.\n\nApplication: Broadband providers have to request permission before putting their equipment in railroad carrier owned rights-of-way. Under this bill, the rail carrier may only deny the request if the application fails to meet specific requirements related to safety, damage, or prohibiting the operations of the rail carrier. Similarly, the bill establishes timelines by which the railroad must respond and schedule the work.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThe Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act is endorsed by INCOMPAS, NCTA, CTIA, USTelecom, the Competitive Carriers Association, the Wireless Infrastructure Association, and theFiber Broadband Association.\n\n\"Today's introduction of the Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act marks a critical step toward solving a problem INCOMPAS members face daily: unreasonable railroad crossing delays and costs. We've seen permits languish for nearly 20 months without response, only for providers to be hit with fees exceeding $40,000 for a single crossing. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation finally establishes clear timelines, fair compensation rules, and meaningful dispute-resolution processes that will end these costly delays and put a stop to modern-day railroad robbery while maintaining strong rail safety standards,\" said Chip Pickering, CEO of INCOMPAS.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senators Blackburn and Luj\u00e1n for introducing the RAIL Act to address the barriers that have long slowed broadband deployment across railroad infrastructure. As government and industry share a commitment to bring high-speed, reliable internet connectivity to every American, this legislation will help streamline and accelerate that work, especially in rural communities. We look forward to continued collaboration with the bill\u2019s sponsors as this important effort moves forward,\u201d said NCTA, The Internet & Television Association.\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the leadership of Senators Blackburn and Luj\u00e1n in promoting efficient wireless deployment within public and railroad rights-of-way. We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers as this bill progresses through the legislative process,\u201d said Kelly Cole, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs at CTIA.\n\n\u201cIf our permitting is stuck in the past, our networks will be too. The Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, introduced by Senators Blackburn and Luj\u00e1n with Representatives Joyce and Landsman, is a big step in the right direction. It addresses many of the challenges broadband providers face when attempting to access railroad rights of ways and establishes a process that will ensure Americans are connected to fast, reliable broadband, said Brandon Heiner, Vice President of Government Affairs at USTelecom.\n\n\u201cCCA commends the introduction of the Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act to help remove barriers to broadband deployment. Excessive delays, arbitrary fees, and increased costs surrounding broadband deployments around and across rail lines have long presented significant obstacles for CCA members working to close the digital divide in rural and underserved areas. The RAIL Act brings greater certainty to an otherwise inconsistent process, providing needed reforms to cut through challenges that frustrate the building, expansion, and maintenance of America\u2019s mobile and fixed broadband networks. CCA urges Congress to move this important legislation forward,\u201d said Tim Donovan, President and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association.\n\n\u201cThe Wireless Infrastructure Association commends Senators Lujan and Blackburn for introducing the RAIL Act. Achieving universal connectivity requires that every element of the broadband infrastructure permitting process be predictable, proportionate, and transparent; historically, siting along rail corridors has lacked these qualities. This bipartisan, common-sense legislation provides a clear and consistent framework for all stakeholders, addressing a longstanding challenge in infrastructure deployment. We fully support the RAIL Act,\u201d said Mike Saperstein, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Chief Strategy Officer at the Wireless Infrastructure Association.\n\n\u201cThe Fiber Broadband Association thanks Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and U.S. Representatives John Joyce and Greg Landsman for their leadership in supporting reliable broadband connectivity through the Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act. Streamlining access to railroad rights-of-way is a critical step toward expanding high-speed internet across the country. We look forward to working with Sen. Blackburn, Sen. Lujan, Rep. Joyce, Rep. Landsman and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle as this legislation develops and advances,\u201d said Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association.\n\nRELATED\n\n\u201cBroadband Czar\u201d Harris Must Be Held Accountable for Mismanagement of Federal Initiatives\n\nBlackburn Announces Grant to Expand Broadband Access Between Memphis and Nashville", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-introduces-three-new-crime-bills", "Rep. Burchett Introduces Three New Crime Bills", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, US Congressman Tim Burchett introduced three bills to make everyday American life safer.\n\nThe Ending Crime and Disorder on America\u2019s Streets Act codifies President Trump\u2019s Executive Order 14321 and aims to address the growing crisis of homelessness and vagrancy by helping states implement stricter enforcement and better treatment options.\n\nThe Public Transit Crime Prevention Act imposes fines and up to five years in prison for individuals who vandalize transit property. More importantly, it increases the mandatory minimum of at least five years in prison for simple assault, and 15 years for aggravated assault.\n\nThe End Cashless Bail to Protect Americans Act codifies President Trump\u2019s Executive Order 14342 by prohibiting funding to states and localities that use cashless bail. Funding may be reinstated only after the U.S. Attorney General determines that the state or locality has stopped using cashless bail systems.\n\n\u201cI am confident that these three bills will help protect innocent Americans from violent criminals, reduce the revolving door of justice, and clean up our streets\u201d said Congressman Burchett. \u201cI am sick and tired of Washington politicians talking a big game about addressing crime and homelessness; I\u2019m going to stand up for innocent Americans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/crime/video-blackburn-blasts-democrats-for-blocking-resolution-recognizing-historic-success-of-memphis-safe-task-force", "VIDEO: Blackburn Blasts Democrats for Blocking Resolution Recognizing Historic Success of Memphis Safe Task Force", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) urged her colleagues to support her resolution recognizing the incredible success already achieved by President Trump\u2019s Memphis Safe Task Force.\n\nFollowing Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks, Senate Democrats blocked the resolution from passing, objecting to the arrest of nearly 2,900 criminals, including sex offenders and murders, the rescue of 116 missing children, and the seizure of 470 illegal firearms. Click here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s resolution.\n\nClick hereto download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor, and click here to download herresponse to Senate Democrats blocking the resolution.\n\nREMARKS AS DELIVERED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcghee-tyson-air-national-guard-base-receives-kc-46a-pegasus", "McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base Receives KC-46A \"Pegasus\"", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Knoxville, TN (November 19th, 2025) \u2014 Today, the Department of the Air Force announced that McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base will be home to eight new KC-46A \u201cPegasus\u201d and will be utilized by the 134th Air Refueling Wing. This announcement adds another major event to the state\u2019s rich military history and continues to strengthen the arsenal of aircraft already stationed in Knoxville.\n\n\u201cThere is no better place for these aircraft to call home than East Tennessee.\u201d Said Congressman Burchett, \u201cThank you to Secretary Meink for trusting the men and women of the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard to carry on their remarkable work.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-introduces-social-security-guarantee-act-2025", "Rep. Burchett Introduces The Social Security Guarantee Act of 2025", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC (November 19th, 2025) \u2014 Today, US Congressman Tim Burchett introduced H.R. 6079, the \u201cSocial Security Guarantee Act of 2025,\u201d into the US House of Representatives. This bill guarantees individuals the right to receive Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security Act in full, with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment.\n\n\u201cIt is important that folks have assurances that they will get their Social Security benefits that they have paid into their whole lives,\u201d said Congressman Burchett.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/military/blackburn-announces-selection-of-mcghee-tyson-ang-base-as-main-operating-base-for-kc-46-aircraft", "Blackburn Announces Selection of McGhee Tyson ANG Base as Main Operating Base for KC-46 Aircraft", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn released the following statement announcing the U.S. Air Force has selected McGhee Tyson Air National Guard (ANG) Base outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, as the seventh main operating base for the KC-46 Pegasus.\n\nSenator Blackburn spearheaded the push for the U.S. Air Force to select McGhee Tyson ANG Base and the 134th Air Refueling Wing to host the next generation KC-46 Pegasus refueler. She led the entire Tennessee congressional delegation in sending multiple letters urging senior U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of War officials to advocate for this outcome.\n\n\u201cMcGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base has a long, distinguished record of excellence, and today\u2019s announcement reaffirms what we\u2019ve known all along,\u201d said Senator Blackburn.\u201cDesignating McGhee Tyson as a main operating base for the KC-46 Pegasus will strengthen our national security by providing rapid access to key operational areas at home and abroad while supporting jobs for Tennesseans. After two years of sustained advocacy, I\u2019m pleased to see this decision come to fruition and appreciate Senator Hagerty, Representative Burchett, Representative DesJarlais, and the entire Tennessee delegation for their partnership on this effort. I look forward to watching our airmen of the 134th Air Refueling Wing continue their outstanding service to our nation.\u201d\n\nClick here to download this photo of Senator Blackburn with Airmen of Tennessee\u2019s 134th Air Refueling Wing.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe KC-46 Pegasus is the U.S. Air Force\u2019s newest aerial refueling aircraft, designed to replace the KC-135 Stratotanker, which first entered service in 1957.\n\nKC-46 Pegasus offers advanced boom and drogue refueling, secure communications, defensive systems, and support for cargo, passengers, and aeromedical evacuation. Its expanded range and modern systems enable the Air Force to meet mission demands in today\u2019s complex global environment.\n\nMcGhee Tyson ANG Base boasts over 68 years of volunteer excellence and service to the Air Force. The unit has received a remarkable 16 Air Force Outstanding Unit awards and is one of the most decorated air refueling units in Air Force history.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-appointed-chairman-house-homeland-cybersecurity-subcommittee", "REP. OGLES APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE HOMELAND CYBERSECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) has been appointed Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection. The Subcommittee oversees federal efforts to secure America\u2019s critical infrastructure, defend against cyber threats, and safeguard national security systems.\n\nAs Chairman, Congressman Ogles will lead oversight of key agencies and programs responsible for protecting the nation\u2019s digital and physical infrastructure from foreign adversaries, terrorist organizations, and emerging technological threats. His leadership will focus on strengthening the nation\u2019s resilience against both foreign and domestic attacks.\n\n\u201cAmerican national security rests on secured cyber infrastructure. As chairman of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, I vow to leverage every federal asset to fortify the cyber capabilities of every American city. I vow to hold accountable the hackers, doxxers, and cyber terrorists waging war against our land. America First cybersecurity is my mission, and I will not waver,\u201d said Congressman Ogles.\n\n\u201cThank you to Chairman Garbarino for the appointment and for trusting me to carry this mantle forward,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.\n\n\u201cI am proud to announce Congressman Ogles will lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee moving forward, a role that is vital to the Committee\u2019s efforts to protect the resilience of our federal civilian networks and the critical infrastructure that Americans rely on,\u201d House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Garbarino said. \u201cAt a time when our nation faces unprecedented cyber threats from sophisticated adversaries, Congressman Ogles is already leading legislation to reauthorize and enhance the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and create a whole-of-government effort to defend against cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party. As the Committee continues to work with the Trump administration to refocus CISA back to its core mission, Congressman Ogles\u2019 leadership and vision will be instrumental in guiding that effort. As the former chairman of this subcommittee, I know he will continue that mission with strength and clarity as we work together to secure America\u2019s cyber future.\u201d\n\nWatch Ogles On Homeland\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-pillar-act-and-hr-2659-pass-house-representatives", "REP. OGLES\u2019 PILLAR ACT AND H.R. 2659 PASS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Andy Ogles announced the House passage of two major cybersecurity measures, \"H.R. 2659\" and the \"Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act,\" known as the PILLAR Act. H.R. 2659 enhances the federal government\u2019s ability to identify and counter state-sponsored cyber operations by improving coordination across national security agencies. The PILLAR Act strengthens long-term support for state and local cybersecurity needs, directing one billion dollars toward upgrading networks and improving resilience in communities that often lack the resources to keep up with evolving cyber threats. Together, these bills give federal, state, and local partners a stronger, more unified defense posture against the growing wave of foreign cyber aggression.\n\n\u201cI am honored that H.R. 2659 and the PILLAR Act have passed the House and are now on their way to the Senate. H.R. 2659 takes direct aim at the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s state-sponsored cyber operations by creating a coordinated federal task force to confront actors like Volt Typhoon. The PILLAR Act locks in long-term support for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program so American communities are not left defenseless when foreign adversaries probe their systems. said Congressman Ogles.\n\n\u201cI want to thank House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino for his leadership and partnership on this mission. President Trump has called for unmatched American strength in every arena of modern warfare. With these bills, we bring that vision to reality. I urge my Senate colleagues to take up these bills as soon as possible so we can begin to fortify our nation from cyber threats,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.\n\nOn the \u201cPILLAR Act,\u201d Chairman Garbarino said:\n\n\u201cAs sophisticated nation-state adversaries and criminals target our nation\u2019s critical infrastructure and government agencies in cyberspace, it is essential that states and localities have the necessary tools to protect the networks our communities rely on. The PILLAR Act continues and improves the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, which provides vital resources to bolster our local cyber defenses. We have seen success through efforts such as deploying student-led regional security operations centers in partnership with community colleges to train local cyber talent and providing shared services across the state for endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities, multi-factor authentication, and cybersecurity training, just to name a few. I am grateful that the House has passed Congressman Ogles\u2019 bill to continue supporting proactive cyber resilience efforts across the country, while also enhancing this program to ensure it can continue doing so effectively for years to come.\u201d\n\nOn the \u201cStrengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act,\u201d Chairman Garbarino said:\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, it\u2019s critical for the federal government to take a proactive, whole-of-government approach to countering escalating cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party. I\u2019m pleased the House passed Representative Ogles\u2019 bill to protect our nation\u2019s critical infrastructure by improving interagency coordination efforts to detect, prevent, and prepare for cyber threats posed by our greatest geopolitical adversary. As threats in cyberspace evolve rapidly, I urge the Senate to help send this legislation to President Trump\u2019s desk without delay.\u201d\n\nPILLAR ACT TEXT\n\nH.R. 2659 TEXT\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/general/photo-blackburn-hosts-tele-town-hall-with-upper-east-tennesseans", "PHOTO: Blackburn Hosts Tele-Town Hall with Upper East Tennesseans", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after hosting a telephone town hall with residents from Carter, Claiborne, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties:\n\n\u201cTonight, I spoke with folks in Upper East Tennessee about what Republicans are doing to overcome Democrats\u2019 obstruction, lower health care costs for Americans, and make life more affordable,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cTennesseans are also encouraged by the tremendous success of President Trump\u2019s Memphis Safe Task Force, which has locked up violent criminals, seized illegal firearms, dismantled criminal gangs, rescued missing children, and restored law and order for those who call Memphis home.\u201d\n\nClick here for the latest data on the Memphis Safe Task Force. A recent poll found that the vast majority of Tennesseans support President Trump\u2019s deployment of the National Guard to Memphis.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-diana-harshbargers-statement-voting-reopen-federal-government", "Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger\u2019s Statement on Voting to Reopen the Federal Government", "2025-11-13", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement after the longest government shutdown in history, driven by Democrats\u2019 absurd political motivations, comes to an end:\n\n\u201cDemocrats caused unnecessary pain for families, farmers, federal workers and our service members during their shutdown charades. As the government opens back up, I hope Democrats have learned their lesson that the lives of the American people should never be used as political bargaining chips.\u201d \u2013 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rose-introduces-bill-prohibit-senators-suing-taxpayers-over-rogue-biden", "Rep. Rose Introduces Bill to Prohibit Senators from Suing Taxpayers over Rogue Biden DOJ", "2025-11-13", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "John W. Rose", "R000612", "johnrose.house.gov", "johnrose", "https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Ahead of the passage of H.R. 5371, a funding bill to reopen the federal government, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) introduced the Repealing Enrichment for Senators Exploited by Targeting Act (RESET Act), legislation which would undo a provision of the bill which enables eight U.S. Senators to seek $500,000 (per occurrence) in compensation following subpoenas of their phone data executed by the FBI under former President Joe Biden.\n\nRep. Rose released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe Senate should know better than to ask American taxpayers to foot the bill for the rogue actions of the DOJ under Joe Biden\u2019s leadership,\u201d Rep. Rose said. \u201cTennesseans have suffered enough because of the many failed policies of the last administration \u2013 and they shouldn\u2019t be forced to pay more. I voted in favor of this funding bill because the government simply had to reopen. However, I am committed to making sure no Senator can enrich themselves from this vital bill to reopen the government.\u201d\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:22Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-votes-end-democrat-shutdown", "Rep. Burchett Votes to End the Democrat Shutdown", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. (November 12th, 2025) \u2014 Today, U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett voted in favor of a funding package to reopen the federal government. After 42 days of Senate Democrats holding the government and the American people hostage, the House has passed a bill to fully reopen the federal government. The resolution includes no additional spending, maintaining current federal funding levels and extending funding through January 30th, 2026. It also includes three of the twelve appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026.\n\n\u201cThis is a win for all Americans, including the most vulnerable among us who rely on federal safety net programs, as well as federal workers who protect our borders and ensure safe air travel,\u201d said Rep. Burchett. \u201cAfter 42 days, we have finally reached the end of the Democrat-led shutdown, and I hope we can now work together to pass the remaining appropriations bills in a timely manner that reduces the deficit.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-fleischmann-statement-on-end-of-the-democrat-government-shutdown", "Chairman Fleischmann Statement on End of the Democrat Government Shutdown", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\"From the beginning of the Democrats' Government Shutdown, beginning on September 19, when I voted for the clean, non-partisan Continuing Resolution (C.R.) to keep our government open, I have said that this government shutdown - purposely caused by Democrat politicians like Chuck Schumer \u2013 was indefensible and a farce on the American People. Shutting down the government is always wrong, yet Democrats chose to cause innocent Americans unnecessary pain for over 42 days, said Congressman Fleischmann.\"\n\n\"For 42 days, Americans who rely on SNAP benefits have been in turmoil. For 42 days, federal workers like air traffic controllers, TSA agents, Border Patrol, and patriots in Oak Ridge who keep our nuclear deterrent secure have not been paid. For 42 days, Democrats have chosen to grind the basic functions of government to a halt, regardless of the consequences. For 42 days, the American People have paid the price for Democrats' political games. We cannot ever let a shutdown of this magnitude and length ever happen again.\"\n\n\"Tonight was one of the easiest votes I have taken in Congress. I will never vote to shut down our government and cause Americans needless pain. I am glad some Democrats have seen the error of their ways and worked with me and my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate to reopen our government.\"\n\n\"With passage of this bill to reopen our government, we now have time before the new January 30 deadline to pass the remaining Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills, including my FY26 Energy and Water bill, which passed the House earlier this year. I hope Democrats will work with us to pass commonsense, bipartisan FY26 appropriations bills that meet the American People's needs and will not force another needless government shutdown on our nation.\"", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:22Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/military/veterans/video-blackburn-pays-tribute-to-tennessee-veterans", "VIDEO: Blackburn Pays Tribute to Tennessee Veterans", "2025-11-11", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following video honoring the patriotism and service of more than 400,000 veterans across the Volunteer State on Veterans Day.\n\nIn January, Senator Blackburn introduced the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which would place veterans at the center of the community care referral process, empowering them to seek care from providers in their communities rather than being forced to rely solely on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. Click here for a compressive overview of Senator Blackburn\u2019s work to support Tennessee veterans.\n\n\u201cTennessee is home to 400,000 veterans of our U.S. military who choose to call Tennessee home,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOn this Veterans Day, I encourage all of our citizens, when you see a veteran, stop and say thank you for the sacrifices that they have made. It\u2019s an honor to represent these veterans as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.\u201d\n\nClick hereto download Senator Blackburn\u2019s video recognizing Tennessee veterans.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn, Tuberville Support Expanding Veterans\u2019 Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids\n\nBlackburn, Booker, Boozman, Rosen, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Female Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-kustoff-announces-military-service-academy-nominations-2026-2027", "Congressman Kustoff Announces Military Service Academy Nominations for 2026 \u2013 2027 School Year", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Last week, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) nominated students from West Tennessee to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and U.S. Military Academy. \"Each year, it is an honor to nominate exceptional students from West Tennessee to attend our country\u2019s military academies,\" said Congressman Kustoff. \u201cThese young men and women have demonstrated character and leadership in their schools and communities. I applaud each of them for their willingness to serve.\u201d\n\nCongressman Kustoff personally called each nominee to offer his congratulations and tell them which academies they would be nominated to attend.\n\nSee the full list of nominations below.\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy:\n\nHarold Anderson (Houston High School), Blake Bryson (Collierville High School), Dev Dalsania (St. George's Independent School), Victoria Davidson (Tipton-Rosemark Academy), Chase Ellingsworth (Evangelical Christian School), Brodi Lichliter (Collierville High School), Gray Patterson (Briarcrest Christian Academy), Parker Pounds (Briarcrest Christian Academy), Tristan Strauss (Nile C. Kinnick High School), Russell Wilson (Lexington High School)\n\nU.S. Coast Guard Academy:\n\nTristan Strauss (Nile C. Kinnick High School)\n\nU.S. Naval Academy:\n\nHarold Anderson (Houston High School), Blake Bryson (Collierville High School), Makayla Bullock (Houston High School), Chloe Bush (U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School), Dev Dalsania (St. George's Independent School), Victoria Davidson (Tipton-Rosemark Academy), Chase Ellingsworth (Evangelical Christian School), Lyle Grant (Collierville High School), Brodi Lichliter (Collierville High School), Sam Miraglia (St. George's Independent School), Andrew Painter (Briarcrest Christian Academy), Gray Patterson (Briarcrest Christian Academy), Jett Pickens (Lakeland Preparatory School), Tristan Strauss (Nile C. Kinnick High School), Russell Wilson (Lexington High School)\n\nU.S. Merchant Marine Academy:\n\nHarold Anderson (Houston High School), Blake Bryson (Collierville High School), Brodi Lichliter (Collierville High School), Gray Patterson (Briarcrest Christian Academy), Jett Pickens (Lakeland Preparatory School)", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/general/blackburn-cruz-hawley-scott-call-on-doj-to-release-arctic-frost-grand-jury-materials-on-republicans-phone-records", "Blackburn, Cruz, Hawley, Scott Call on DOJ to Release Arctic Frost Grand Jury Materials on Republicans\u2019 Phone Records", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) sent a letter asking U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to unseal the application for a non-disclosure order signed by Obama-appointed Judge James Boasberg that required phone carriers to keep the Biden DOJ and Jack Smith\u2019s subpoenas secret for one year.\n\nJudge Boasberg Ordered Phone Carrier Companies to Keep Biden DOJ\u2019s Subpoenas for Republicans\u2019 Phone Records Secret\n\n\u201cAs you know, the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) sought and ultimately obtained cell phone \u2018tolling data\u2019 from at least eleven members of Congress. While we have learned more about the corrupt nature of this investigation in the weeks that have followed this disturbing revelation, there is still much that we do not know. In May 2023, the Biden DOJ\u2014at the direction of Special Counsel Jack Smith\u2014issued grand jury subpoenas to several telecommunications companies regarding our cell phone records, gaining access to the time, recipient, duration, and location of calls placed on our devices from January 4, 2021, to January 7, 2021. As we have recently learned, attached to that subpoena was a non-disclosure order, signed by Chief Judge James Boasberg.\u201d\n\nJudge Boasberg Had No Right to Issue Non-Disclosure Order\n\n\u201cAstoundingly, Judge Boasberg found \u2018reasonable grounds\u2019 to conclude that, if we were notified of these unlawful subpoenas, \u2018such disclosure will result in destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and serious jeopardy to the [Arctic Frost] investigation.\u2019 In short, without citing any factual basis to support these supposed \u2018reasonable grounds,\u2019 Judge Boasberg determined that multiple United States Senators would destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses\u2014a conclusion that defies both logic and the facts. Plain and simple: we did nothing wrong, and there is zero evidence to conclude that we would have destroyed evidence or intimidated witnesses. We write because the American people deserve to know more about the \u2018reasonable grounds\u2019 that Judge Boasberg found to avoid informing us of these unlawful subpoenas.\u201d\n\nSenators Urge AG Bondi to Unseal Application for Judge Boasberg\u2019s Non-Disclosure Order\n\n\u201cThe Stored Communications Act makes clear that the government\u2026 when seeking a non-disclosure order\u2026 must submit an application that sets forth the factual background showing reasonable grounds for the gag order. It is our understanding that this application is currently under seal in the Arctic Frost grand jury materials. We urge you to immediately move to unseal and provide this application that accompanied the gag order. Judge Boasberg\u2019s order was a blatant abuse of power, and we must get to the bottom of how he arrived at the baseless conclusion that duly elected members of Congress would destroy evidence or intimidate witnesses. Jack Smith and the Biden DOJ spied on their political opponents, violated the Constitution, and weaponized the justice system to target members of Congress\u2014all in an effort to go after President Trump. The American people deserve transparency about this egregious investigation and the full extent of the corruption of Jack Smith\u2019s witch hunt. Unsealing this document is a critical step forward in our efforts to hold accountable Jack Smith, Judge Boasberg, and all individuals who participated in this miscarriage of justice. Thank you for your continued work to root out the two-tiered system of justice that existed for far too long under President Biden\u2019s watch.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Demands Answers from Cell Phone Carriers Who Allowed Biden FBI to Spy on Members of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/jobs and economy/blackburn-statement-on-senate-passage-of-government-funding-bill-to-end-schumer-shutdown", "Blackburn Statement on Senate Passage of Government Funding Bill to End Schumer Shutdown", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after voting for the funding package to reopen the federal government after 41 days of the Schumer Shutdown:\n\n\u201cToday, Senate Republicans defeated Chuck Schumer\u2019s demands for $1.5 trillion in wasteful far-left spending and passed a clean government funding extension to reopen the federal government,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cTennesseans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they will once again receive essential services, our brave service members will be paid, and families will get the paychecks they rely on after Democrats inflicted needless pain on the American people for more than a month to appease the radical left. Democrats forced the country into the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and Americans will not forget this.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act will extend government funding at Fiscal Year 2025 levels through January 30, 2026, or until full-year appropriations bills are enacted.\n\nThe Continuing Resolution maintains funding across federal agencies with standard restrictions, such as prohibitions on new program starts, multi-year contracts, or production increases. It also authorizes limited exceptions to sustain critical operations, including national security programs, disaster relief, and mandatory entitlements. Additional provisions address retroactive pay for furloughed federal employees, reimbursement to states for maintaining federal services during the lapse, and specific anomalies allowing agencies to meet operational or safety needs.\n\nThis legislation includes a package of three full-year appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026, including the:\n\nMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act;\n\nAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; and\n\nLegislative Branch Appropriations Act.\n\nRELATED\n\nWith the Schumer Shutdown, Democrats Are Trying to Bring Us Closer to Government-Run Health Care\n\nICYMI in Politico: Blackburn Warns of Security Risks During Government Shutdown\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Slams Schumer for Holding Government Hostage to Ram Through Reckless New Spending\n\nBlackburn Statement on Schumer\u2019s Government Shutdown", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/military/ahead-of-veterans-day-blackburn-leads-colleagues-in-introducing-resolution-recognizing-importance-of-community-care", "Ahead of Veterans Day, Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Recognizing Importance of Community Care", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Ahead of Veterans Day, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced a resolution recognizing community care as essential to meeting veterans\u2019 health care needs:\n\n\u201cFederal government bureaucracy should not get in the way of America\u2019s veterans getting the health care they need,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThis resolution reaffirms my commitment to ensuring veterans in Tennessee and across America can access high-quality, affordable, and veteran-centered health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans deserve prompt, high-quality care and greater flexibility in choosing when, where, and how to use the healthcare benefits they have earned through their service,\u201d said Senator Moran. \u201cThis resolution restates our dedication to making certain that all veterans have a choice in where they receive care \u2013 whether at VA or in the community \u2013 and the importance of strong community care partnerships to the VA healthcare system. I thank my colleague, Sen. Blackburn, for leading this resolution and for her continued support of our nation\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve the best care possible, and that means ensuring they can access timely, high-quality treatment through VA facilities and trusted community providers,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis resolution cuts red tape and makes sure no veteran is forced to wait for the care they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\nSenators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) co-sponsored this resolution.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nA decade ago, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faced a nationwide access-to-care crisis that left many veterans waiting too long for essential medical services. In response, Congress passed the VA MISSION Act, a bipartisan reform designed to ensure that veterans could access timely, high-quality care, including through community providers when the VA could not meet veterans\u2019 needs.\n\nCommunity care has become an indispensable part of the VA health care system, expanding veterans\u2019 options and improving access, especially for those living in rural areas, facing mobility or transportation challenges, or requiring specialized treatment.\n\nSpecifically, this resolution:\n\nRecognizes community care as an essential tool for meeting veterans\u2019 health care needs;\n\nAffirms that community care complements the VA\u2019s mission to serve veterans;\n\nUrges the VA to fully and faithfully implement the VA MISSION Act, ensuring veterans can seek community care when the VA cannot provide timely or appropriate treatment; and\n\nReaffirms the Senate\u2019s commitment to ensuring every veteran has access to high-quality, affordable, and veteran-centered care, whether provided at a VA facility or through community providers.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn, Tuberville Support Expanding Veterans\u2019 Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids\n\nBlackburn, Booker, Boozman, Rosen, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Female Veterans\n\nBlackburn, Colleagues Introduce Veterans Health Care Freedom Act", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/military/blackburn-introduces-respect-the-chief-act-to-ensure-military-bases-display-current-commander-in-chief-portraits", "Blackburn Introduces \u201cRespect the Chief Act\u201d to Ensure Military Bases Display Current Commander-in-Chief Portraits", "2025-11-07", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Respect the Chief Act following reported failures to display portraits of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on chain-of-command boards at U.S. military bases. This legislation would formalize a long-standing custom by requiring military bases to update chain-of-command boards to reflect leadership changes.\n\n\u201cThe President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief, and chain-of-command boards at America\u2019s military bases should reflect current leadership,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Respect the Chief Act would ensure military bases continue this longstanding tradition and prevent leftists from disrespecting the chain of command.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn April, the U.S. Army suspended the commander of Fort McCoy, Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez, after the base failed to update its chain-of-command board to display photos of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.\n\nThis incident highlighted how there are no federal statutes or formal service-wide regulations governing the requirement, content, or oversight of Command Boards, except within the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command. Instead, the practice remains largely a matter of custom, grounded in military tradition and shaped indirectly by service regulations on chain of command and protocol.\n\nTHE RESPECT THE CHIEF ACT\n\nThe Respect the Chief Act would require the separate military branches within the U.S. Department of War to submit reports to the executive branch to certify that all chain-of-command boards have been updated to reflect the current Commander-in-Chief and other leadership changes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-griffith-vice-chair-harshbarger-celebrate-inaugural-fda-voucher", "Chairman Griffith, Vice Chair Harshbarger Celebrate Inaugural FDA Voucher to USAntibiotics in Bristol", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Thursday, November 6, 2025 \u2013 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it will provide USAntibiotics \u2014 located in Bristol, Tennessee \u2014 a National Priority Voucher for the company\u2019s Augmentin XR (Amoxicillin Clavulanic Potassium) product. This medication treats community-acquired pneumonia and acute bacterial sinusitis caused by penicillin-resistant bacteria.\n\nUSAntibiotics was selected as part of the FDA Commissioner\u2019s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) Pilot Program, which is designed to expedite the review of pharmaceuticals that advance critical public health and national security priorities, including domestic drug manufacturing.\n\nU.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Vice Chair of the Health Subcommittee, welcomed this news and applauded the work of USAntibiotics.\n\n\u201cThe FDA created the CNPV Pilot Program to help American prescription drug and biological product developers meet the moment to power domestic drug manufacturing,\u201d said Chairman Griffith and Vice Chair Harshbarger. \u201cWith this recent announcement, Bristol\u2019s USAntibiotics can grow as a leading American pharmaceutical manufacturer of amoxicillin to help treat American communities. As Health Subcommittee Chairman and Vice Chair, we remain steadfast in pushing for \u2018America First\u2019 policies that attract companies to invest in the United States and help them manufacture safe, effective and serviceable drugs for the American people.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn 2021, USAntibiotics opened its facility in Bristol, Tennessee.\n\nChairman Griffith and Vice Chair Harshbarger toured USAntibiotics in June 2024.\n\nKey benefits of the CNPV Pilot Program include faster review times, collaborative and robust review efforts and advancement of U.S. national health priorities. Following submission of a complete application, the new voucher promises a review decision within 1-2 months as opposed to the typical 10-12 months.\n\nThis year, multiple companies announced billion-dollar investments in Virginia to increase domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. Eli Lilly, Merck and AstraZeneca all plan to build or expand operations in the Commonwealth.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/crime/blackburn-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-crack-down-on-violent-juvenile-crime", "Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Violent Juvenile Crime", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Violent Juvenile Offender Accountability Act, which would make it easier to bring federal criminal charges against certain violent juvenile offenders who are over the age of 16:\n\n\u201cViolent criminals shouldn\u2019t be let off the hook just because they are under the age of 18,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cWe must hold violent juvenile offenders accountable for their actions while also working to prevent youth crime in the first place. The Violent Juvenile Offender Accountability Act would build upon my work to combat juvenile crime by empowering prosecutors to bring federal criminal charges against offenders aged 16 and older.\u201d\n\n\u201cAge should not absolve someone of a heinous crime like murder, armed robbery, or assault on a federal officer,\u201d said Senator Cornyn. \u201cOur bill would ensure U.S. Attorneys have sole discretion to try a juvenile who commits certain violent crimes as an adult, ensuring no criminal is let off easy because of their age by a light-on-crime court.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bill will help keep Arkansas communities safe by holding teenagers over the age of 16 accountable for violent crimes,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\n\u201cAll Americans deserve safe streets where they do not have to worry about violent criminals robbing, assaulting, or murdering them or their families, but for too long, these crimes have gone unpunished and terrorized far too many communities,\u201d said Senator Sheehy. \u201cEnsuring Americans have safe communities to live in is both common sense and one of government\u2019s most basic duties, and we\u2019re working to deliver with this bill to restore law and order and protect hardworking, law-abiding families across the nation.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nVery few juveniles between the ages of 16 and 18 are currently prosecuted in the federal criminal system because the process to move a case from the juvenile system to the adult system is long and complicated. This \u201ctransfer\u201d process has contributed to the very low number of federal juvenile prosecutions.\n\nA 2025 Department of Justice report found that juveniles accounted for just 1.2% of all defendants charged in federal district court in fiscal year 2023.\n\nTHE VIOLENT JUVENILE OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT\n\nThe Violent Juvenile Offender Accountability Act would amend the federal criminal code and circumvent the \u201ctransfer\u201d process by making clear that any juvenile who\u2019s 16 years old or older and is accused of committing certain violent crimes like homicide, assault, carjacking, robbery, or aggravated sexual abuse may be prosecuted without having to go through the transfer process.\n\nIn May, Senator Blackburn also introduced the AFTER SCHOOL Act, which would establish a grant program administered through the U.S. Department of Justice for localities to receive funds to establish, maintain, and strengthen after school programs proven to reduce juvenile crime and recidivism.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThe Violent Juvenile Offender Accountability Act is endorsed by Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor:\n\n\u201cI strongly support Senator Marsha Blackburn's Violent Juvenile Offender Accountability Act. Juvenile crime has been a big focus of mine while I\u2019ve worked to Make Memphis Matter in Tennessee\u2019s Senate, and I've seen firsthand the devastating impact of violent crimes committed by juveniles who are let out of jail within hours of arrest because of a locally-elected Soros-backed district attorney. This legislation ensures that offenders aged 16 and older face appropriate federal prosecution for these serious offenses, promoting accountability and enhancing public safety in communities like Memphis. I urge the U.S. Congress to join Senator Blackburn in passing this critical measure to protect law-abiding citizens in cities across the country suffering from crime,\u201d said State Senator Taylor.\n\nRELATED\n\nICYMI: Blackburn Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Preventing Juvenile Crime in Memphis\n\nBlackburn Introduces Bills to Combat Juvenile Crime and Crack Down on Carjacking", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/human trafficking/blackburn-cortez-masto-introduce-legislation-to-crack-down-on-human-trafficking-in-transportation-industry", "Blackburn, Cortez Masto Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Human Trafficking in Transportation Industry", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the Trafficker Restrictions for Aviation, Federal Freight, and Interstate Carriers (TRAFFIC) Act, which would strengthen federal efforts to combat human trafficking by ensuring that individuals convicted of human trafficking crimes are permanently prohibited from holding any professional transportation license issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS):\n\n\u201cHuman trafficking is one of the fastest-growing illicit industries, and anyone convicted of these despicable offenses should be permanently barred from holding a federally issued transportation license,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOur bipartisan TRAFFIC Act would strengthen federal law to better prevent and combat human trafficking and expand protections for vulnerable individuals.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have been fighting against human trafficking since my time as Nevada\u2019s Attorney General,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cTransportation workers should be focused on safety and security. People who have been convicted of human trafficking should never be allowed to fly commercial planes or conduct passenger trains \u2013 it\u2019s just common sense.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nDOT\u2019s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking\u2019s 2024 report estimates that the exploitation of victims of commercial sex and forced labor across all modes of transportation generates $150 billion in illicit profits annually.\n\nThe report found that nearly 80% of international human trafficking cases involved crossing official border entry points, including approximately 34% by bus, 33% by train, 20% by airplane, 11% by car, and 1% by boat.\n\nThe report also found that among those who crossed unofficially, 28% traveled by car, 26% by bus, 15% by train, and 12% by boat.\n\nHuman trafficking is not confined solely to commercial motor vehicles, and the law must be updated to expand lifetime bans of transportation credentials to all modes of transportation.\n\nTHE TRAFFIC ACT\n\nThe TRAFFIC Act would close existing gaps in federal law to include lifetime bans for all federally regulated transportation credentials.\n\nThis lifetime ban would apply to all licensed positions for individuals convicted of human trafficking, including locomotive conductors, pilots, and merchant mariners.\n\nThe TRAFFIC Act would reinforce protections for vulnerable individuals, strengthen interagency coordination within DOT, and ensure that America\u2019s transportation workforce upholds the highest ethical and safety standards.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThe TRAFFIC Act is endorsed by the Association of American Railroads and the American Trucking Association:\n\n\u201cThe American Trucking Associations is proud to be a leader in the fight against the scourge of human trafficking. Nearly a decade ago, we endorsed a law banning anyone convicted of this horrific crime from operating a commercial motor vehicle. Now it is time for the rail, aviation, and maritime industries to be a part of the solution. We applaud Senators Blackburn and Cortez Masto for introducing this bipartisan bill that would close loopholes for licensed positions across our transportation network in order to crack down on predators and protect vulnerable individuals,\u201d said American Trucking Association SVP of Legislative Affairs, Henry Hanscom.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Urges DHS to Combat Migrant Child Trafficking by Utilizing Critical Resources She Secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill\n\nBlackburn, Klobuchar Introduce Bill to Help Rescue More Victims of Human Trafficking\n\nBlackburn, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Help Rescue Children from Violence by Recording Child Protective Services Interviews", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-john-rose-visits-those-hit-hardest-government-shutdown", "Congressman John Rose Visits Those Hit Hardest by Government Shutdown", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "John W. Rose", "R000612", "johnrose.house.gov", "johnrose", "https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GALLATIN, TN\u2014On day 37 of the government shutdown, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) continues to hear from concerned constituents, unpaid federal workers, farmers, aspiring homebuyers, and air travelers about the impact the shutdown is having on their lives and livelihoods.\n\nCongressman Rose spoke with Terri Turner, co-owner of Turner & Sons Nursery in Smithville. Prior to the shutdown, Turner was anticipating a crew of 50 H-2A workers arriving on Nov. 14. Now, she's preparing for the possibility of an arrival date in late December or next year. \"There's been a lot of sleepless nights for my husband and two sons,\" Turner said. \"We just need them here. They love to work for us, and we love to have them.\" She also noted delays to their operation will hurt independent garden centers, landscapers, and orchards in the region.\n\nRep. Rose also heard from LaNelle Godsey, Deputy Director of the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA). Funding for three of their programs has been suspended as a result of the shutdown, including a program aimed at providing home visits to vulnerable seniors. A lapse in funding, for that program alone, has already resulted in six layoffs. \u201cThese clients are some of our most vulnerable clients,\" Godsey said. \"I think, emotionally, it's starting to get people down.\u201d Godsey is also concerned about how the shutdown will impact LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) in the coming weeks, particularly with freezing temperatures on the way.\n\nDean Selby, Vice President of the Tennessee Aviation Association and Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, fears the shutdown could result in months or years of delays in airspace and environmental reviews and processing of grant applications. \u201cWe've got to be thinking about the long-term problem that's being created,\u201d Selby said.\n\nRep. Rose released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis has gone on for far too long. Senate Democrats have put food assistance for millions at risk. They\u2019ve put our skies at risk. They\u2019ve withheld paychecks for hundreds of thousands of Americans, including the brave men and women of our armed forces,\u201d Rep. Rose said. \u201cCritical loans and grants aren\u2019t going out, and applications aren\u2019t being reviewed. Every county I represent is being affected by this politically motivated obstruction. I will continue to do all I can on behalf of Tennesseans. That includes sharing their stories and bringing attention to the pain this shutdown is causing.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nOn Sep. 19, Representative Rose voted in favor of the measure to keep the government funded, at current levels, through Nov. 21. The U.S. Senate has unsuccessfully voted 14 times since to fund the government. The chamber is roughly five votes short of meeting the 60-vote threshold needed to pass.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:22Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchetts-visit-second-harvest-food-bank", "Rep. Burchett's Visit to Second Harvest Food Bank", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: With the ongoing government shutdown, U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (TN-02) visited Second Harvest, where he met with CEO Elaine Streno and her team. Congressman Burchett toured their warehouse, where volunteers have already packed 1.3 million meals this year. They discussed how the organization relies on community support, with food and funding provided by local donors, corporate sponsors, and food partners.\n\nIf you or someone you know needs assistance, Second Harvest can be a lifeline for families, children, and seniors who don\u2019t qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or who have temporarily lost access to those benefits during the government shutdown. For more information about available programs, please visit feedtn.org.\n\n\u201cSecond Harvest is one of many food banks serving East Tennessee, providing hungry families with nearly 23 million meals last year,\u201d said Rep. Tim Burchett. \u201cThey work with 789 partner agencies to deliver food to our neighbors across the region. I\u2019m proud to see Tennesseans living up to the standard of the Volunteer State.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve visited food banks across my district to see firsthand the harm Democrats have caused in East Tennessee. This is exactly why I voted yes to pass a clean government funding package, which would have fully funded SNAP and paid our federal workers, and I call on my Democrat colleagues in the Senate to end the government shutdown.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/technology/video-blackburn-blasts-google-for-targeting-conservatives-demands-accountability", "VIDEO: Blackburn Blasts Google for Targeting Conservatives, Demands Accountability", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on her recent letter to Google demanding answers after the company\u2019s AI large language model, Gemma, fabricated criminal allegations against her:\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor.\n\nREMARKS AS PREPARED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/technology/blackburn-presses-facial-recognition-company-for-evading-responsibility-for-activists-using-its-technology-to-dox-ice-agents", "Blackburn Presses Facial Recognition Company for Evading Responsibility for Activists Using Its Technology to Dox ICE Agents", "2025-11-04", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a follow up letter to Giorgi Gobronidze, the CEO of PimEyes, after the company failed to adequately address her concerns and take responsibility for its facial recognition technology being used by leftist activists to dox Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.\n\nSenator Blackburn introduced the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act, which would make it illegal to publish the name of a federal law enforcement officer with the intent to obstruct a criminal investigation or immigration operation. Death threats against ICE officers have increased by 8,000% in fiscal year 2025.\n\nBlackburn Calls Out PimEyes for Downplaying the Role It Plays in Increasing Threats Against ICE Agents\n\n\u201cYour response sidesteps the role that your platform specifically plays in perpetuating and broadening the range of these harms. As technology continues to outpace lawmaking, your overreliance on regulatory compliance is an insufficient defense. Additionally, I disagree that this platform empowers the reclaiming of identities more than it compromises them. I am following up in writing to reiterate these concerns. Your claim that, \u2018[f]ollowing full cooperation, authorities identified no violations of applicable data protection law,\u2019 places too little emphasis on ethical responsibility and too much on regulatory compliance. Current regulatory frameworks lack sufficient data protection, and mere compliance is not a strict enough threshold in comparison to the possible harms.\u201d\n\nPimEyes Cannot Hide Behind Technicalities\n\n\u201cSecond, you rely heavily on the distinction between biometric identifiers and photographic analysis, which is a semantic rather than substantive distinction. A photo of an individual\u2019s face is perhaps one of the best likeness and identity matches, regardless of whether it is arrived at through pixel comparison or biometric data. You have stated in your response that the larger risk to officer safety is already public information that is not generated by PimEyes. Despite the fact that PimEyes does not text search, Mr. Skinner\u2014who used image recognition software such as yours to dox federal officers\u2014has publicly acknowledged that name alone is sufficient to find other personal data regarding an individual or their family online. Both statements are factual realities: Searching names alone can easily generate corresponding facial matches and searching faces alone can easily lead to names. Therefore, platforms like PimEyes are vital links in the chain of potential harm and are not vindicated by the absence of name identifiers. Even if the software is not technically assigning an identity during the search, there is certainly no debate that the process itself is used for the very purpose of identification.\u201d\n\nPimEyes Indexes and Amplifies Doxxing Content\n\n\u201cAlthough PimEyes does not create the content it indexes and that content is already publicly accessible, your platform amplifies the already available content. Downplaying this reality as a symptom of the open web refuses to take ownership over PimEyes\u2019s part in discovering, recovering, concentrating, and linking information once scattered. Accordingly, regardless of the self-characterizations, any legislative or regulatory efforts to combat doxxing, protect law enforcement, or protect personal likeness and data should consider platforms similar to but not exclusive to PimEyes within its scope.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Sounds Alarm on Leftist Activists Doxxing ICE Agents by Using Facial Recognition Technology\n\nBlackburn Introduces Legislation to Protect Federal Law Enforcement Officers from Doxxing", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/crime/video-blackburn-u-s-marshals-director-discuss-historic-progress-in-making-memphis-safe-again", "VIDEO: Blackburn, U.S. Marshals Director Discuss Historic Progress in Making Memphis Safe Again", "2025-11-03", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a new episode of \u2018Unmuted with Marsha\u2019 with U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta to discuss the historic success during the first month of the Trump administration\u2019s Memphis Safe Task Force. Director Serralta told Senator Blackburn the number of criminals arrested in Memphis will surpass the number of those arrested during the same time frame during the crime crackdown in Washington, D.C.\n\nThey also discussed how the U.S. Marshals Service is coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies to rescue missing children, put violent criminals behind bars, and dismantle criminal networks.\n\nClick here to download this episode of \u2018Unmuted with Marsha.\u2019\n\nOn the Latest Arrest Numbers from the Memphis Safe Task Force:\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cOver the last month, the stats are just amazing because you've had nearly 1,700 arrests, more than 350 illegal guns, you have found over 80 missing children, and you've got 119 of these gang leaders that have been apprehended. So, this is absolutely fantastic\u2026 When I talk to people in Memphis, they are absolutely thrilled that they have this here.\u201d\n\nDirector Serralta: \u201cI believe today we hit the 84 missing children mark\u2026 As far as the criminal arrests, we are crossing the 1,700 mark\u2026 The FBI, they're a great partner. Their prior work [in Memphis] in the summer has been the driving force for the intelligence that we use to hit the ground running\u2026 In contrast to the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, you know, today, we hit 5,000 arrests. We're over 5,000 arrests and 500 guns. Well, Memphis, Tennessee, is going to surpass those numbers in the same amount of time because, as you mentioned, it is a target rich for violent crimes because it's been too long since we since we focused on that beautiful city.\u201d\n\nOn the U.S. Marshal Service\u2019s Role in Making Memphis Safe Again:\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cI know the U.S. Marshals under your direction, kind of are coordinating a lot of this work from the different agencies. How did you go about doing that?\u201d\n\nDirector Serralta: \u201cThe Marshal Service has been tapped to organize this task force. You know, it takes everyone to pitch in. Every agency has strengths\u2026 ATF brings an enormous amount of intelligence and knowledge about firearms and ammunition\u2026 We have what we call a JOCC. It's Joint Operations Command Center that has been supplied to us by Shelby County Emergency Operations Center. We're able to sit there with the different agency representatives. I was on the phone with TBI. I had a question for TBI, so they just walk over to that individual and hand them the phone, and I ask the agency the question. So, everybody is present, everybody's pitching in. We have meetings where we tweak and adjust our plan going forward because criminals, they don't stay stagnant. They don't do the same thing every day, so we're constantly changing our plan of action to make sure that we keep up with them and pass them up.\u201d\n\nOn the Overwhelming Positive Response from Memphians to the Memphis Safe Task Force:\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cI was on the floor today talking about Memphis, and I actually quoted someone who had been to the Grizzlies opening game down at the FedEx Forum, and their comment that they gave, which I thought was great, was that everybody was out and about. They were having a great time. They were enjoying being out, and they said, \u2018This feels like freedom.\u2019 I think that's so indicative of where people are right now. They're excited that their city is safe, and they're not afraid of going to dinner and it getting dark before they could get back home.\u201d\n\nDirector Serralta: \u201cI was on Beale Street, and numerous individuals came up to us and thanked us for our service and for being there. One couple told me that they hadn't been on Beale Street for 12 years, and the only reason they came out was because they knew it was safe\u2026 That\u2019s what fills the gas tank of the law enforcement officers that are out there. We all trade stories about how wonderful Memphians have treated us, the kind words that they tell us\u2026 I\u2019m very proud of what we\u2019ve done in Memphis, and I look forward to continuing our service there.\u201d\n\nRELATED\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Sounds Alarm on Biden FBI Weaponization, Praises Memphis Safe Task Force Success\n\nICYMI: VIDEO: Blackburn, AG Bondi Discuss Biden FBI Spying Scandal, Memphis Safe Task Force, and Threats to Law Enforcement\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn, Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor Discuss Crime Crackdown in Memphis\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Joins President Trump at White House for Announcement of \u201cMemphis Safe Task Force\u201d to Combat Crime\n\nBlackburn Applauds President Trump\u2019s Decision to Send National Guard to Memphis", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/technology/icymi-in-techcrunch-google-pulls-gemma-from-ai-studio-after-senator-blackburn-accuses-model-of-defamation", "ICYMI in TechCrunch: Google Pulls Gemma from AI Studio After Senator Blackburn Accuses Model of Defamation", "2025-11-03", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after Google reportedly removed Gemma from its AI studio following a letter Senator Blackburn sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding answers after Gemma manufactured fake criminal allegations against her:\n\n\u201cGoogle has a long history of targeting, censoring, and smearing conservatives, and Gemma\u2019s so-called \u2018hallucinations\u2019 are both dangerous and deeply concerning,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cIt is absolutely unacceptable that Google did not prevent its large language model from pulling heinous criminal allegations out of thin air and presenting them as fact to unknowing users. Google owes the American people answers, and I will be eagerly awaiting the company\u2019s response to my letter.\u201d\n\nGoogle pulls Gemma from AI Studio after Senator Blackburn accuses model of defamation\n\nAnthony Ha\n\nTechCrunch\n\nGoogle says it has removed Gemma from its AI Studio after a U.S. senator accused the AI model of fabricating accusations of sexual misconduct against her.\n\nIn a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Senator Marsha Blackburn \u2014 a Republican from Tennessee \u2014 said that when Gemma was asked, \u201cHas Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?\u201d it responded by falsely claiming that during a 1987 state senate campaign, a state trooper alleged that Blackburn \u201cpressured him to obtain prescription drugs for her and that the relationship involved non-consensual acts.\u201d\n\n\u201cNone of this is true, not even the campaign year which was actually 1998,\u201d Blackburn wrote. While there are links to news articles that supposedly support these claims, she said, \u201cThe links lead to error pages and unrelated news articles. There has never been such an accusation, there is no such individual, and there are no such news stories.\u201d\n\nThe letter also said that during a recent Senate Commerce hearing, Blackburn brought up conservative activist Robby Starbuck\u2019s lawsuit against Google, in which Starbuck claims Google\u2019s AI models (including Gemma) generated defamatory claims about him being a \u201cchild rapist\u201d and \u201cserial sexual abuser.\u201d\n\nAs recounted in Blackburn\u2019s letter, Google\u2019s Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy Markham Erickson responded that hallucinations are a known issue and Google is \u201cworking hard to mitigate them.\u201d\n\nBlackburn\u2019s letter argued that on the contrary, Gemma\u2019s fabrications are \u201cnot a harmless \u2018hallucination,\u2019\u201d but rather \u201can act of defamation produced and distributed by a Google-owned AI model.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\nIn a Friday night post on X, Google did not reference the specifics of Blackburn\u2019s letter, but the company said it\u2019s \u201cseen reports of non-developers trying to use Gemma in AI Studio and ask it factual questions.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe never intended this to be a consumer tool or model, or to be used this way,\u201d the company said. (Google promotes Gemma as a family of open, lightweight models that developers can integrate into their own products, while AI Studio is the company\u2019s web-based development environment for AI-powered apps.)\n\nAs a result, Google said it\u2019s removing Gemma from AI Studio while continuing to make the models available via API.\n\nTechCrunch has reached out to Google for additional comment.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Demands Answers from Google After Gemma Manufactured Fake Criminal Allegations Against Her", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/10/general/senate-passes-blackburn-kaine-resolution-designating-october-as-national-country-music-month", "Senate Passes Blackburn, Kaine Resolution Designating October as \u201cNational Country Music Month\u201d", "2025-10-31", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) released the following statements after their resolution designating October as \u201cNational Country Music Month\u201d passed the Senate. This resolution honors the contributions of country music to the story and history of the U.S. and encourages the American people to observe \u201cNational Country Music Month\u201d with appropriate ceremonies and activities.\n\n\u201cTennessee is the heart of country music, from the birthplace of country in Bristol to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cCountry music captures the spirit of our nation, reminding every American of the importance of faith, family, freedom, hope, opportunity, and patriotism. It is my honor to recognize October as National Country Music Month.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhether listening with my family or playing harmonica with friends, music has always played a major role in my life,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cI\u2019m glad the Senate unanimously passed this bipartisan resolution to designate October as National Country Music Month so we can honor and celebrate the history of an incredible genre that was born in Bristol.\u201d\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s video recognizing October as \u201cNational Country Music Month.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the resolution.\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/10/technology/blackburn-demands-answers-from-google-after-gemma-manufactured-fake-criminal-allegations-against-her", "Blackburn Demands Answers from Google After Gemma Manufactured Fake Criminal Allegations Against Her", "2025-10-31", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) demanded answers from Google CEO Sundar Pichai after discovering the company\u2019s large language model, Gemma, manufactured serious criminal allegations against her, generating fake links to fabricated news articles in response to the question, \u201cHas Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?\u201d Senator Blackburn requested a detailed explanation for how and why Gemma generated these false accusations, what steps Google has taken to eliminate political bias, and a list of concrete measures Google will take to remove defamatory material from Gemma.\n\nThis follows the Senate Commerce Committee hearing earlier this week, where Senator Blackburn grilleda Google representative on Gemma\u2019s fabrication of news articles linking conservative activist Robby Starbuck and Senator Blackburn to false child abuse allegations.\n\nBlackburn Outraged Over Defamatory and False Material Generated by Google\u2019s Gemma\n\n\u201cI write to express my profound concern and outrage over defamatory and patently false material generated by Google\u2019s large language model, Gemma. Yesterday, during a Senate Commerce Hearing titled, \u2018Shut Your App: How Uncle Sam Jawboned Big Tech Into Silencing Americans, Part II,\u2019 I raised the issue of Google\u2019s repeated failures to prevent its AI systems from fabricating malicious stories about conservative public figures. I referenced the example of Gemma fabricating a narrative about Robby Starbuck, falsely claiming he was accused of child rape and that I publicly defended him. At the hearing, Google\u2019s Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy, Markham Erickson, responded that \u2018hallucinations\u2019 are a known issue in large language models and Google is \u2018working hard to mitigate them.\u2019\u201d\n\nBlackburn Sounds the Alarm on the Grave Consequences of Gemma Disseminating Fake News\n\n\u201cThe scope of this problem is far broader than mere technical errors, and the consequences of these so-called \u2018hallucinations\u2019 cannot be overstated. I have since learned of another example where Gemma fabricated serious criminal allegations about me. When prompted with, \u2018Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?\u2019 Gemma produced the following entirely false response: During her 1987 campaign for the Tennessee State Senate, Marsha Blackburn was accused of having a sexual relationship with a state trooper, and the trooper alleged that she pressured him to obtain prescription drugs for her and that the relationship involved non-consensual acts.\u201d\n\nGoogle\u2019s AI Systems Show a Consistent Pattern of Bias Against Conservatives\n\n\u201cGemma went on to generate fake links to fabricated news articles to support the story. None of this is true, not even the campaign year which was actually 1998. The links lead to error pages and unrelated news articles. There has never been such an accusation, there is no such individual, and there are no such news stories. This is not a harmless \u2018hallucination.\u2019 It is an act of defamation produced and distributed by a Google-owned AI model. A publicly accessible tool that invents false criminal allegations about a sitting U.S. Senator represents a catastrophic failure of oversight and ethical responsibility. The consistent pattern of bias against conservative figures demonstrated by Google\u2019s AI systems is even more alarming. Conservative leaders, candidates, and commentators are disproportionately targeted by false or disparaging content.\u201d\n\nBlackburn to Google on Unacceptable Gemma Hallucinations: \u201cShut It Down Until You Can Control It\u201d\n\n\u201cWhether intentional or the result of ideologically biased training data, the effect is the same: Google\u2019s AI models are shaping dangerous political narratives by spreading falsehoods about conservatives and eroding public trust. During the Senate Commerce hearing, Mr. Erickson characterized such failures as unfortunate but expected. That answer is unacceptable\u2026 During the hearing Mr. Erickson said, \u2018LLMs will hallucinate.\u2019 My response remains the same: Shut it down until you can control it. The American public deserves AI systems that are accurate, fair, and transparent, not tools that smear conservatives with manufactured criminal allegations.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://desjarlais.house.gov/media-center?ID=1F798233-AC5F-4911-96E0-C3107E1ABDC5", "DESJARLAIS EXPRESSES CONCERN TO USDA & DHS OVER ILLEGAL MIGRANT SNAP BENEFIT USE", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Scott DesJarlais", "D000616", "desjarlais.house.gov", "desjarlais", "https://desjarlais.house.gov/media-center", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) \u2013Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) authored a letter to United States Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing concern over illegal migrants potentially using SNAP benefits.\n\nRep. DesJarlais expressed his gratitude for the work President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and Secretary Noem have done so far to ensure those who are in the U.S. illegally are unable to take advantage of social programs. He highlighted his concern that progressive state leaders across the country may still be gaming the system due to a lack of reporting requirements.\n\n\u201cI write to you today to express my concern that the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is continuing to be utilized by illegal aliens, despite multiple Trump Administration directives, when we have American citizens who are in need. I strongly believe that without strict reporting requirements from states that manage their individual SNAP programs, corruption will occur from progressive governors and state leaders,\u201d said DesJarlais in his letter.\n\nThe Tennessee Congressman placed blame on former President Biden\u2019s failed open border policies for the reason the current SNAP system is being utilized by illegal migrants.\n\nHe says in the letter, \u201cPresident Biden stopped the enforcement of former President Trump\u2019s Public Charge Rule in March of 2021, which denied migrants\u2019 entrance into the U.S. if they possessed the potential to need government welfare assistance. This enticed even more migrants to flood our southern border. We are also aware that under the direction of Biden, many migrants were granted asylum or asylum-seeking status without proper investigation or adjudication into these claims.\u201d\n\nRep. DesJarlais requested answers to the following questions:\n\nQuestions for the United States Department of Agriculture:\n\nHow many Americans are currently enrolled in SNAP benefits?\n\nHow many non-American citizens are currently enrolled in SNAP benefits?\n\na) How many non-American citizens enrolled in SNAP benefits are minors?\n\nb) How many non-American citizens enrolled in SNAP benefits are claiming asylum-seeking status?\n\nc) How many non-American citizens began immediately receiving SNAP benefits based on the other nine exceptions listed above?\n\nAre there means of tracking the number of non-American citizens who immediately receive SNAP benefits upon arriving in the United States to ensure there is not widespread fraud and abuse? If no, is this something that can be mandated to states to receive funding for their SNAP programs?\n\nWhat is the annual cost to the SNAP benefits program for non-citizens who are seeking asylum?\n\nQuestions for the United States Department of Homeland Security:\n\n\u2022 How many migrants crossing the southern border are minors?\n\n\u2022 What percentage of border crossers claim they are seeking asylum?\n\n\u2022 What is the total number of asylum seekers currently awaiting adjudication?\n\n\u2022 What is the average wait time for adjudication for asylum seekers?\n\n\u2022 What percentage of those seeking asylum are granted asylum?\n\nHe ended the letter by saying he is grateful for the work the Trump Administration has done so far to remediate the devastating impact Biden\u2019s open border policies have had on Americans. DesJarlais says he hopes to partner with Rollins and Noem to continue this work.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/10/general/video-blackburn-debunks-democrats-lies-about-obamacare-biden-covid-credits", "VIDEO: Blackburn Debunks Democrats\u2019 Lies About Obamacare, Biden COVID Credits", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor debunking Democrats\u2019 lies about the Biden COVID credits and laid out how Obamacare mandates and regulations have increased the cost of individual health insurance for Americans. Senator Blackburn called on her Democrat colleagues to stop lying to the American people and reopen the government.\n\nClick hereto download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor.\n\nREMARKS AS DELIVERED\n\nChuck Schumer Is Holding Government Hostage to Ram Through Reckless Spending\n\n\u201cToday marks nearly a full month since the Schumer Shutdown started. That's really a time where the Democrats decided to just go on strike and filibuster a clean C.R. And what has happened is our federal law enforcement is being forced to work without pay. Air traffic control towers are understaffed. Flights are delayed, and it has jeopardized nutritional programs for millions of low-income families. And this crisis is something that was entirely, completely unavoidable.\n\n\u201cYet the Democrats have voted over and over to keep the government closed, and the reason that they are doing this is the Democrat doing this is the Democrat leader, Chuck Schumer, is holding government hostage to ram through hundreds of billions of dollars in inflationary spending. In other words, we're not spending enough. $38 trillion in debt is not enough. They want to run it up some more.\u201d\n\nDemocrats Are Lying About the Affordable Care Act, Putting Politics Over the American People\n\n\u201cHe claims this action is needed to stop Republicans, in his words, and I'm going to quote him,\u2019 from taking health care away,\u2019 end quote, from Americans by allowing health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as it is known and more appropriately known because there's nothing affordable about this thing, and he's saying these subsidies would expire. The problem is that is a falsehood, and it shows you how our friends across the aisle are willing to put the American people and their lives and SNAP benefits and paychecks in jeopardy in order to achieve a goal.\n\n\u201cNow, one thing that needs to be understood is that the subsidies that are there for Obamacare, they're permanent. They're not going anywhere, and households that have incomes that fall between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level are going to continue to get a credit without any interruption. That is in law. That subsidy is there, and this year the upper limit for these Obamacare subsidies was an income limit of $128,600 for a family of four. For the lowest income individuals, insurance premiums can never exceed 2% of the total household income. Now, that is something that is federal law.\u201d\n\nBiden COVID Credits Enriched Insurance Companies and Making Them Permanent Would Cost Taxpayers $450 Billion\n\n\u201cNow, here is what is said to expire at the end of the year. It is President Biden's COVID-era bonus credits that were put in place. Now, this is something the Democrats did in 2021. The Biden COVID credits eliminated the 400% income cap, allowing households that are making over \u2013 get this \u2013 a half million dollars a year, $500,000 a year. They could benefit from this subsidy program.\n\n\u201cSo, let's say you were buying health insurance on the health insurance on the Obamacare exchange and you were making over half a million dollars a year, you too could get a taxpayer funded insurance subsidy for Obamacare. Now, bear why mind the subsidy does not go to the individual. The subsidy goes directly to the insurance company.\n\n\u201cNow, my friends across the aisle choose to rant and rail against insurance companies, but you know what? They're enriching them every day and, Mr. President, they want to enrich them even more because now that these emergency subsidies are set to expire more than five years after the start of the pandemic, the Democrats are fighting to make these enhanced Biden COVID credit bonuses, they want to make them permanent. This would cost U.S. Taxpayers\u2026 $450 billion .\u201d\n\nDemocrats Want to Bring America One Step Closer to Government-Run Health Care\n\n\u201cThe reason behind this madness is really quite simple. Our friends across the aisle want to bring America one step closer to government-run health care. You know, Mr. President, when we were having all the debates about Obamacare, they kept saying, all right, we'll settle for Obamacare because that's a step toward government-run health care. That's one step toward a single-payer system, that's one step toward socialized medicine. That's what they want.\n\n\u201cIt would be like Medicaid for all or the V.A. for all. They want control of your doctor, your health insurance, the kind of care you can get, where you're going to get it, when you're going to get it, think the V.A., think Medicaid because that is what they want.\u201d\n\nObamacare Is Rife with Waste, Fraud, and Abuse\n\n\u201cNow, our debt, as I said, is at $38 trillion, and so what they are trying to do is fund this program that is rife with waste and fraud is unbelievable. Now, the reality is the lowest-cost plan in 2026, the average marketplace premium after tax credits is projected to be $50 a month, $20 less than the average monthly premium in 2020. But we can't ignore the wasteful spending that exists within Obamacare.\n\n\u201cAccording to one estimate, there are 6.4 million people improperly reporting their income to benefit from fully funded plans under Obamacare thanks to the Biden COVID credits. Remember, I said there are some people, because of the Biden COVID credits, that have $0 premiums. So, the estimate is 6.4 million people improperly report their income in order to get that zero premium, and this abuse is costing the taxpayers $27 billion in 2025 alone. That is the cost of this. This is a cost of not verifying. This is a cost of a program that is run amok with waste and abuse.\n\n\u201cAnother peculiar example of wasteful enrollment, close to 12 million enrollees in the program filed no claims last year. In other words, they didn't use the insurance, and that number is triple what the number was from 2021 because Democrats expanded the option of zero premium plans. Well, among those 12 million, many people don't even know that they have been enrolled in a taxpayer-funded program and others may have separate health insurance coverage that they have chosen to use, and taxpayers sent money directly to the insurers on their behalf.\n\n\u201cThis is because an insurance agent, as long as he has name, address, and contact info he can enroll you in this and get that commission. Think about that. You don't even know you're in the program. You've got an insurance agent that has name, address, phone number, contact information, and all of a sudden they have enrolled you.\n\n\u201cWhile extending these Biden-era enhanced credits as the Democrats are demanding would be doing nothing to address the waste, the fraud, and the abuse that is running rampant in the program, and it wouldn't do anything to address the structural flaws that are there in Obamacare that have really sent premiums soaring over the last several years.\u201d\n\nThe Affordable Care Act Is Anything but Affordable\n\n\u201cYou know, it's so interesting to me that Obamacare promised that it was going to lower the costs of premiums, it was going to make health care affordable and in reach of everybody in the country, but it turns out it is too expensive. You can't afford it unless you get a subsidy. You can't afford it unless you are getting a $0 premium. That because the insurance tries to be one-size-fits-all and requires people to pay for things they're never going to use.\n\n\u201cSo, what we have seen is the price of the insurance and the utilization \u2013 the price has gone up \u2013 the utilization has gone down because you've got an insurance card, you've got access to the queue, but you couldn't get to see the doctor. You can't get in to see the doctor, and we know that the costs on these premiums really shot up after the Biden COVID credits went into law and as the premiums go up, taxpayers are on the hook to subsidize the insurance companies. Remember, the payment goes to them, not to the individual. It goes directly to the insurance company, the agent can enroll you even if you don't know you're enrolled because they've got your name, address, phone number, contact information.\u201d\n\nInstead of Fighting for Health Care Freedom for Americans, Democrats Are Shutting Down the Government to Appease Their Far-Left Base", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/10/technology/video-blackburn-eviscerates-meta-for-lobbying-against-kids-online-safety-act-grills-google-on-gemma-ai-technology-fabricating-news-stories", "VIDEO: Blackburn Eviscerates Meta for Lobbying Against Kids Online Safety Act, Grills Google on Gemma AI Technology Fabricating News Stories", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) pressed representatives from Meta and Google during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. She blasted Meta for spending millions of dollars to lobby Congress against legislation like her Kids Online Safety Act and grilled Google for its open-source large language model (LLM) \u201cGemma\u201d fabricating news articles linking conservative activist Robby Starbuck and Senator Blackburn to false child abuse allegations.\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s remarks at the Senate Commerce Committee hearing.\n\nBlackburn Presses Meta on Lobbying Against Legislation to Protect Kids\u2019 Online Safety\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cMr. [Neil] Potts [Vice President of Public Policy at Meta], I want to come to you since my colleague, Senator Klobuchar, was talking about kids and safety online\u2026 You all have spent $20 million lobbying against what we've tried to do to make the virtual space safe for kids. 20 million bucks in the first nine months of this year. You have 87 lobbyists fighting against any regulation because kids are the product for you all. 87 lobbyists, one for every six members of Congress.\n\n\u201cI hope you're getting your money's worth because you are killing kids, and we know it, and we know what you are doing. I am so sick of what you all are doing. You should be ashamed of how you are putting kids at risk, and you should be coming to the table to work with us because we're trying to protect people in the virtual space.\n\n\u201cThere are rules in the physical space, but not in the virtual space\u2026 money hungry, that is what you all are. Your valuation is built on eyeballs, and you come in here and want to soft talk this. It is infuriating. It is absolutely infuriating.\u201d\n\nBlackburn Presses Google on Its AI Chatbot Fabricating News Articles About Conservative Activist Robby Starbuck\n\nSenator Blackburn:\u201cMr. [Markham] Erickson [Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google], I want to come to you please, sir\u2026 Let\u2019s talk about Gemma, and I want to bring up the issue of Robby Starbuck, who lives near me in Tennessee. He's a conservative leader. I don't know if you're familiar with Mr. Starbuck\u2026 I'm going to put some things up that Gemma did. Gemma and the way you're training these LLM models is not something you should be proud of, and it doesn't embody trust.\n\n\u201cGemma created an entire falsehood around Mr. Starbuck, saying he had been accused of child rape. Totally false\u2026. So, then we asked Gemma if Senator Blackburn had publicly defended Robby Starbuck, and it goes on to say that I publicly and actively defended Robbie Starbuck.\n\n\u201cNow here are the prompts that are there, and here's the response. It made up articles. And I'll be able to hand you this poster so you can see this in detail. But this is insulting, that you are so biased against conservatives that you would create this entire this entire story around Robby Starbuck with links to stories and this entire story around me. Totally false. All of it is false. So why don't you tell me how you are scraping data and training these LLMs that they would come up with not a one-degree, but a two-degree complete falsehood?\u201d\n\nErickson: \u201cSenator, thank you for letting me clarify the way we train our LLMs is to train on publicly available information.\u201d\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cIt's not publicly available, sir, because it is fake news. Gemma made it up. So, what are you feeding in on the training that would allow such a\u2026 fiction?\u201d\n\nErickson: \u201cSo, Senator, it's well known that LLMs will hallucinate. It's a known issue.\u201d\n\nSenator Blackburn:\u201cShut it down. It\u2019s on a bad drug, and the bad drug is your input.\u201d\n\nErickson:\u201cThank you, Senator, we do work at Google very hard to mitigate those hallucinations.\u201d\n\nSenator Blackburn:\u201cObviously, not hard enough. So, how are you going to clean this up?\u201d\n\nErickson: \u201cSenator, again, we are working to mitigate those kinds of hallucinations on LLMs, Gemma is our open-source AI model. I'm not familiar with the examples. I will take your word for it.\u201d\n\nSenator Blackburn: \u201cYou\u2019re going to be able to take [our] word for it, because we're going to deliver these examples to you.\u201d\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/ogles-leads-charge-denaturalize-and-deport-zohran-mamdani", "Ogles Leads Charge to Denaturalize and Deport Zohran Mamdani", "2025-10-29", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-5) has sent a letter requesting that the Department of Justice provide an update on investigating New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani\u2019s naturalization documents over his publicized support for the five convicted jihadists running the \u201cHoly Land Foundation,\u201d an organization that funneled millions of dollars to Hamas, a designated terrorist group.\n\nCongressman Ogles initially sent a letter on June 26th, 2025, to the Department of Justice detailing Mamdani\u2019s previous ties and vocal support for terrorist organizations, and requested the Attorney General investigate.\n\n\u201cIf Mamdani lied on his naturalization documents, he doesn\u2019t get to be a citizen, and he certainly doesn\u2019t get to run for mayor of New York City,\u201d said Congressman Ogles. \"A great American city is on the precipice of being run by a communist who has publicly embraced a terroristic ideology. The American naturalization system REQUIRES any alignments with communism or terrorist activities to be disclosed. I\u2019m doubtful he disclosed them. If this is confirmed, put him on the first flight back to Uganda,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.\n\nRead The Letter Here", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-democrats-vote-13th-time-keep-government-shut-down-food-and", "Harshbarger: Democrats Vote for the 13th Time to Keep the Government Shut Down as Food and Paychecks Run Out", "2025-10-28", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 For the thirteenth time, Senate Democrats have voted to continue the government Shutdown \u2013 rejecting a clean, bipartisan funding bill they themselves have supported in the past.\n\nAs a direct result of their obstruction, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will expire on November 1, leaving nearly 700,000 Tennesseans uncertain about how they\u2019ll put food on the table. The WIC program is projected to run out of funding, jeopardizing nutrition support for women, infants, and children across the state. And troops, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers face missed paychecks even as they work to protect our freedom and keep our nation running.\n\n\u201cDemocrats had yet another opportunity to reopen the government today. Instead, they voted to punish American families\u2014starving children of food assistance, stiffing our troops, and calling it \u2018leverage.\u2019 It\u2019s despicable. Families who depend on food assistance, service members who protect our freedom, and the workers who keep our skies safe continue to pay the price for the Democrats\u2019 political games and negligence.\u201d \u2013 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe big picture:\n\nFor the 13th time, Democrats voted to keep the government closed, blocking a clean, bipartisan bill that would restore funding for food assistance, pay our troops, and keep essential operations running. It\u2019s important to note, Democrats promoted the exact same funding bill when they were in the Majority, but now they\u2019ve rejected this same funding bill 13 separate times.\n\nWhy it matters:\n\nSNAP benefits begin expiring November 1, affecting nearly 700,000 Tennesseans.\n\nThe WIC program\u2014which supports mothers and infants\u2014is within days of running out of money.\n\nMilitary families, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers face uncertainty about their next paycheck.\n\nWhat Democrats are saying on the shutdown:\n\n\u201cEvery day gets better for us.\u201d \u2014 Sen. Chuck Schumer\n\n\u201cThere are going to be families that are going to suffer... but this is one of the few leverage points we have.\u201d \u2014 Rep. Katherine Clark\n\n\u201cIf you reopen the government and we lose our leverage\u2026\u201d \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders\n\nA senior Democrat aide said the party would not reopen the government \u201cshort of planes falling out of the sky.\u201d\n\nBetween the lines:\n\nDemocrats are using the shutdown and the American people\u2019s lives as leverage to push unrelated policy goals like restoring taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants to the tune of $1.5 trillion.\n\nThe bottom line:\n\nEvery day the Democrat led Shutdown continues is another day American families suffer while Democrats celebrate their \u201cleverage.\u201d It\u2019s time to end the political games and reopen the government.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/10/general/blackburn-resolution-marking-day-of-remembrance-for-nuclear-workers-unanimously-passes-senate", "Blackburn Resolution Marking Day of Remembrance for Nuclear Workers Unanimously Passes Senate", "2025-10-28", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after her resolution designating October 30, 2025, as a \u201cNational Day of Remembrance for the Workers of the Nuclear Weapons Program of the United States\u201d passed the Senate unanimously:\n\n\u201cIt is my honor to lead the resolution designating October 30 as a National Day of Remembrance for nuclear workers, just as the Senate has done every year since 2009,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cIn Tennessee, we recognize and honor the many scientists, engineers, and other workers at Oak Ridge National Lab and the Y-12 National Security Complex. America is grateful for all of our nuclear workers and their service to our country.\u201d\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s video recognizing the National Day of Remembrance for Nuclear Weapons Program Workers.\n\nThis resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nSince 2009 the Senate has recognized the contributions, services, and sacrifices that the workers of the nuclear weapons program made for the defense of the United States on October 30 of each year.\n\nThe Nuclear Weapons Workers Day of Remembrance Resolution:\n\nHonors the hundreds of thousands of patriotic men and women that have served the United States by building nuclear weapons for the defense of the United States since World War II;\n\nRecognizes the contributions, services, and sacrifices that those patriotic men and women made for the defense of the United States;\n\nDesignates October 30, 2025, as a national day of remembrance for the workers of the nuclear weapons program of the United States, including uranium miners, millers, and haulers, plutonium processors, and onsite participants at atmospheric nuclear weapons tests; and\n\nEncourages the people of the United States to support and participate in appropriate ceremonies, programs, and other activities to commemorate October 30, 2025, as a national day of remembrance for past and present workers of the nuclear weapons program of the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 520, "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 \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "TN", "p2": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 520, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=TN&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 279, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN&year=2025&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}, {"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 241, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN&year=2025&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "TN", "label": "TN", "count": 520, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 520, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-10-28,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eblackburn~2Esenate~2Egov~2F2025~2F10~2Fgeneral~2Fblackburn-resolution-marking-day-of-remembrance-for-nuclear-workers-unanimously-passes-senate", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TN&year=2025&_next=2025-10-28%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eblackburn~2Esenate~2Egov~2F2025~2F10~2Fgeneral~2Fblackburn-resolution-marking-day-of-remembrance-for-nuclear-workers-unanimously-passes-senate&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 185.0827569141984, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}