{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"TN\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/28/icymi-hagerty-joinssunday-morning-futures-on-fox-news-channel-to-discuss-trump-gop-accomplishments/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty JoinsSunday Morning Futures\u00a0on Fox News Channel to Discuss Trump, GOP Accomplishments", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014On Sunday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking committees, joined Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News Channel to discuss the radical policies of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), President Donald Trump\u2019s agenda, and the accomplishments of the GOP.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on the DSA\u2019s radical agenda: I think we need to listen to what the Democrats are saying. You think about [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14)], [Abdul El-Sayed], [Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT)], even what Mamdani is doing with socialist, government-run grocery stores. We need to make it very clear that their answer [is] basically more government control. You think about the welfare state that they want to see\u2026 collapse the borders, more fentanyl into the country, more terrorism, more crime, defund the Pentagon. Every direction they want to turn weakens America. We need to be emphasizing exactly what [President Donald Trump] has done these past two years and where we\u2019re headed\u2026 We are seeing economic strength coming through. We are seeing policies that are making a real difference because we have actually cut taxes. We are deregulating. The Biden administration would\u2019ve added $4 trillion more worth of compliance costs. We are taking them away. My Freedom to Build Act could take up to $100,000 off the cost of a new home, again, cutting regulatory and permitting costs. So, we need to convey those messages; we need to convey a positive economic message. And the fact is that the world stands stronger with a strong America. The Republicans have the answers for this. We are putting forward policies to do it. The Democrats\u2019 view is \u201clet\u2019s shut down the government.\u201d That\u2019s all they\u2019ve delivered the past two years\u2014 the two longest government shutdowns in history. We even had a permitting reform package that we were trying to pass last week. They walked away from it. They do not want to see the economy do well; they want to control it.\n\nHagerty on the GOP\u2019s path to maintain the majority: [President Trump] is our best communicator. But you\u2019re going to see the world respecting us again too. And I think the visit by [Chinese President Xi Jinping] underscores this. That would not have happened under [former President Joe Biden]\u2026 We are back in a position of strength. [Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent] did a great job of articulating how we\u2019re dealing with Iran. We will deal with that. And again, the world needs a strong America. You and I both know this. We saw President Trump deliver this in his first term and we served in his administration. We just need to come back and make these points more and more clearly.\n\nHagerty on diesel prices and affordability: I think [Republicans] can definitely strengthen [their messaging]. I think there has been a lot of focus on the cost of gas and diesel fuel. It\u2019s understandable. As Secretary Bessent said, I think that gets resolved. But if you think about the Democrat\u2019s solution to this, an absolute war on domestic energy\u2014they want to outlaw diesel fuel, they don\u2019t want to lower the cost of it. You think about the measures that [Republicans] can take, particularly on the deregulatory front. There is so much more we can do and that we will do. We need to convey this message clearly and again, contrast what the Democrats are standing for right now, which I think is a very sad story for America. And you don\u2019t have to look very far back to what happened under Joe Biden to realize how chaotic it could possibly be again.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoff-co-leads-bipartisan-motion-picture-television-and", "Congressman David Kustoff Co-Leads Bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "September 25, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) helped lead the introduction of H.R.10582, the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. The bill would establish a federal tax credit for qualified film and television productions, with additional incentives for productions in qualifying rural communities and disaster areas.\n\n\u201cFilm and television production supports workers and small businesses across the country, including in Tennessee,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cWhen productions are made in the United States, that work reaches far beyond the set. It supports the crews, local contractors, restaurants, hotels, and small businesses that bring a project to life. This bipartisan bill will help Americans compete for those jobs and keep more of that economic activity here at home.\u201d\n\nThe Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would:\n\nEstablish a 20 percent federal tax credit for qualified compensation paid or incurred for qualifying services performed in the United States in connection with film and television productions. The credit rate could increase by five percentage points under specified circumstances, subject to a 30 percent cap.\n\nFor a film, television pilot, or television season to qualify for the credit they must generally have total costs exceeding $1 million and at least 75 percent of its principal-photography days in the United States.\n\nEncourage more production activity throughout the United States:\n\nProducers that increase their domestic production activity relative to their prior foreign production activity could receive an additional five-percentage-point credit.\n\nProducers that meet substantial production and payroll thresholds in at least 10 states could receive an additional five-percentage-point credit.\n\nIncrease the credit by five percentage points for productions that conduct at least 30 percent of their principal photography days in a rural qualified opportunity zone or eligible disaster area.\n\nIncrease the credit by five percentage points for productions completed by independent producers.\n\nExtend the credit to qualifying traditional post-production and visual effects projects when at least 75 percent of the associated costs are incurred in the United States.\n\nThese projects could receive an additional five-percentage-point credit if completed by an independent producer or performed in a qualifying rural opportunity zone or disaster area.\n\nEligible labor costs would include work performed in the United States during pre-production, production, and post-production. Profit-sharing and residual payments would not qualify. Traditional post-production work would include editing, sound editing, scoring, music editing, and dubbing.\n\nThe federal credit would supplement, rather than replace, existing state production incentives.\n\nCongressman Kustoff introduced the legislation alongside Reps. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Brian Jack (R-GA-03), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA-38), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03). Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate.\n\nBackground\n\nAccording to the Motion Picture Association, the American film and television industry supported 2.74 million jobs and paid $242 billion in wages in 2022. By 2024, those figures had declined to 2.01 million jobs and $202 billion in wages.\n\nTennessee established its Film/TV Incentive Fund in 2006 and adopted its current grant formula of up to 25 percent in 2012. In 2021, the state authorized a tax credit for qualified production payroll expenses. H.R.10582 would build on these programs with a federal incentive, helping Tennessee compete with countries that offer national production incentives.\n\nThe bill would apply to qualifying feature films, television pilots, and television seasons. News programs, live sporting events, talk shows, daytime dramas, social media content, advertising campaigns, and corporate productions would not qualify.\n\nThe credit would be available for eligible productions beginning in taxable years after December 31, 2026.\n\nClick here to read the bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-16-million-fema-grants-shelby-county", "Congressman Cohen Announces $1.6 Million in FEMA Grants to Shelby County, the University of Memphis and Covington", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced four grants totaling $1,642,481, for Shelby County, the University of Memphis and Covington from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).\n\nShelby Couty will receive two grants. One for $760,859, is for Warning and Alert Systems. A second, for $119,267, will fund rip rap, and other repair or replacement projects at bridges.\n\nThe University of Memphis will receive a grant of $390,355 for Liquefaction Advance Assistance.\n\nThe City of Covington will receive a grant of $372,000 to fund box culvert and other related components repair or replacement.\n\nAll four grants are precautionary responses to previously declared FEMA disasters.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see FEMA reaching out to anticipate future damage from inevitable disasters caused by climate change. This funding will permit these local entities to prepare for what is coming and mitigate the impact of these storms.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/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", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "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 its birthplace in Bristol to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThis National Country Music Month, we honor the legendary Dolly Parton, whose iconic voice, songwriting, and showmanship inspired generations of performers and fans. Country music has always captured the spirit of our nation\u2014our faith, our families, and our freedoms\u2014and it is my honor to lead this resolution recognizing this incredible legacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cMusic has always been a big part of my life, from listening to and playing songs with my family to jamming with friends,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cBristol is the birthplace of country music, so I\u2019m glad to join Senator Blackburn in introducing this resolution to recognize October as National Country Music Month and celebrate this incredible genre and its contributions to our nation\u2019s history and culture.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-introduces-comprehensive-articles-impeachment-against", "Congressman Cohen Introduces Comprehensive Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald Trump", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and an authority on the U.S. Constitution\u2019s impeachment provisions, today introduced 26 Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump. The articles cite multiple abuses of power, violations of his oath of office, the corrupt use of the pardon power, and emoluments clause violations, among other misconduct and unlawful acts. (See listing below.)\n\nCongressman Cohen, while serving as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, introduced five articles of impeachment against Trump in November of 2017.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cTrump is clearly the most impeachable President our country has ever endured. His continued presence in office is a danger to our democracy. That the sycophantic Republican majority in Congress is derelict in its duty does not mean that I must abandon my responsibilities. I took an independent oath to support and defend the Constitution. That commitment compels me to introduce this resolution today. When historians write about this period, and our constituents ask who stood up to President Trump\u2019s lawlessness, this resolution is the answer.\n\n\u201cI sincerely believe that the 120th Congress will better live up to its duties as co-equal branch of government and a check on the executive. I hope this resolution paves the way to accountability. We cannot tolerate this kind lawlessness and corruption.\u201d\n\nThe 26 Articles:\n\nARTICLE I: UNDERMINING DEMOCRACY\u2014SOWING DOUBT IN ELECTIONS\n\nARTICLE II: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014WAGING WAR ON IRAN WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL\n\nARTICLE III: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS OF VENEZUELA\n\nARTICLE IV: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014DEPLOYING MILITARY FORCES AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIES\n\nARTICLE V: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP EXECUTIVE ORDER\n\nARTICLE VI: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014CANCELING FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUNISH STATES FOR THEIR VOTES\n\nARTICLE VII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014IMPOSING LOYALTY TESTS ON THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE\n\nARTICLE VIII: DISREGARD OF COURTS\u2014THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT AND THE CASE OF KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA\n\nARTICLE IX: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT AT CECOT\n\nARTICLE X: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014UNLAWFUL WITHHOLDING OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS AND DISMANTLING OF CONGRESSIONALLY ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS\n\nARTICLE XI: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014OBSTRUCTING THE LAWFUL APPOINTMENT OF UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS\n\nARTICLE XII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014DEFYING COURT ORDERS IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT\n\nARTICLE XIII: ABOLISHING A CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED AGENCY\u2014THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION\n\nARTICLE XIV: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014UNLAWFUL MASS TERMINATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL WITHOUT STATUTORY NOTICE TO CONGRESS\n\nARTICLE XV: UNLAWFULLY AND UNILATERALLY TAXING UNITED STATES CITIZENS THROUGH EMERGENCY POWERS TARIFFS\n\nARTICLE XVI: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS OF COMEY, JAMES, AND SCHIFF\n\nARTICLE XVII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014THE IRS SETTLEMENT AND THE CORRUPTION OF THE JUDGMENT FUND\n\nARTICLE XVIII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014THE CORRUPT USE OF THE PARDON POWER\n\nARTICLE XIX: ATTACKS ON A FREE PRESS\u2014BANISHING REPORTERS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE FOR DISFAVORED COVERAGE\n\nARTICLE XX: ATTACKS ON A FREE PRESS\u2014COERCING CBS AND ABC TO CHANGE EDITORIAL CONTENT\n\nARTICLE XXI: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014FREE SPEECH AND RETALIATORY EXECUTIVE ORDERS AGAINST LAW FIRMS\n\nARTICLE XXII: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014FREE SPEECH AND COERCING UNIVERSITIES THROUGH WITHHELD FEDERAL FUNDS\n\nARTICLE XXIII: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014DEMOLISHING THE WHITE HOUSE EAST WING WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL\n\nARTICLE XXIV: VIOLATION OF OATH\u2014THE ILLEGAL IMPOUNDMENT OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS\n\nARTICLE XXV: ABUSE OF POWER\u2014SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT THROUGH THE RENAMING OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, SEIZURE OF CULTURAL AND CIVIC PROPERTY, AND PERSONAL APPROPRIATION OF NATIONAL CURRENCY\n\nARTICLE XXVI: EMOLUMENTS VIOLATIONS\u2014PROFITING PERSONALLY AND DIRECTLY FROM THE PRESIDENCY\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-criminal-court-judge-arthur-t-bennett", "Congressman Cohen Remembers Criminal Court Judge Arthur T. Bennett", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today noted the passing of Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Arthur T. Bennett and made the following statement:\n\n\u201cWe all mourn Judge Bennett\u2019s passing. He was an outstanding judge. His court was always courteous to both sides and ruled quickly and properly on motions. He was a gentleman at all times and there\u2019s not a finer criminal court judge I ever knew.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoffs-social-security-identity-theft-bill-advances-senate", "Congressman David Kustoff\u2019s Social Security Identity Theft Bill Advances in Senate, Now Heads to President Trump's Desk", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) announced the United States Senate unanimously passed H.R. 5345, the Improving Social Security\u2019s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act, on September 17, 2026. The bill would provide victims of identity theft involving their Social Security numbers with a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration throughout the resolution of their case. It now heads to President Donald Trump\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\n\u201cVictims of identity theft deserve clear, consistent support rather than getting lost in a maze of federal bureaucracy,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cThe Senate\u2019s passage of my bill brings us one step closer to cutting red tape and ensuring victims receive timely support from the Social Security Administration. I appreciate the bipartisan support this legislation received in both chambers and look forward to President Trump signing it into law.\u201d\n\nAccording to the Identity Theft Resource Center\u2019s 2025 Annual Data Breach Report, the United States experienced a record 3,322 data compromises in 2025. Of those, 2,236 involved Social Security numbers. Federal Trade Commission identity-theft reports rose to 1.36 million in 2025, a 19.6 percent increase from 2024.\n\nUnder H.R. 5345, trained employees serving as the point of contact would coordinate with other SSA offices, maintain continuity of case records, and remain accountable until each case is resolved. The legislation would also apply when a Social Security card is lost in the mail.\n\nBackground:\n\nCongressman Kustoff introduced H.R. 5345 on Sept. 15, 2025. It passed the House Committee on Ways and Means 39\u20131 and passed out of the House of Representatives by unanimous consent on Dec. 1, 2025.\n\nThe bill builds on Kustoff\u2019s legislative record of combating fraud and streamlining federal bureaucracy:\n\n- Introduced the bipartisan Recovery of Stolen Checks Act (H.R. 1155) and DO NOT Call Act (H.R. 6449) to support fraud victims.\n\n- Introduced the Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act (H.R. 10512) to create an IRS liaison assisting employers with child care tax benefits.\n\nClick here to read the bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/senate-unanimously-passes-blackburn-s-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-romance-scams", "Senate Unanimously Passes Blackburn\u2019s Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Romance Scams", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "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 The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Senator Marsha Blackburn\u2019s (R-Tenn.) Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps and services to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app, sending it to President Trump\u2019s desk.\n\nIn recent years, digital romance scams have become more common as scammers target recently widowed or divorced senior citizens. In 2023, Tennesseans over the age of 60 lost $43 million due to scams targeting the elderly, marking an 18% increase from the losses reported in 2022. Across the country, the Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing $1.3 billion in 2022 alone.\n\nSenator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) co-sponsored this legislation. Representative David Valadao (R-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nAs Americans continue to go online to find meaningful relationships, scammers are following suit. These scams accelerated during the COVID pandemic when more senior citizens turned to dating sites for companionship while they were isolated from their loved ones.\n\nWhen an online dating service provider becomes aware of a user committing fraudulent activity, such as illegally obtaining money, the online dating service provider immediately deactivates the fraudulent user's account.\n\nHowever, individuals who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, so even when a fraudulent account is removed, an individual might not know they are still communicating with someone who has been removed from the dating platform.\n\nThe Romance Scam Prevention Act would fill this communication gap by requiring dating app platforms to send a fraud ban notification to anyone who has communicated with someone with a fraudulent account.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nClick here to read more about the red flag indicators of romance scams and how to avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam.\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-chuck-fleischmann-applauds-25-million-for-tennessee-wesleyan-university-s-health-science-stem-education", "Congressman Chuck Fleischmann Applauds $2.5 Million for Tennessee Wesleyan University\u2019s Health Science, STEM Education", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) is proud to announce that he has secured $2,500,000 in federal funding for Tennessee Wesleyan University to enhance its Health Science and STEM education programs. The funding will support major renovations, and equipment upgrades at the university\u2019s Fisher Hall of Science in Athens, Tennessee.\n\n\u201cThis $2.5 million investment is about building a brighter future for East Tennessee,\u201d said Congressman Fleischmann. \u201cModernizing Fisher Hall of Science empowers our students, including many from first-generation and underserved backgrounds, to excel and launch successful careers right here at home. These graduates are essential to meeting the workforce needs in advanced manufacturing, nuclear technologies, and artificial intelligence, vital to our region\u2019s economic growth. This is a win for our students and for our region\u2019s future.\u201d\n\nThe project will modernize the 30,000-square-foot Fisher Hall of Science, which has not been significantly updated since its completion in 1968. Planned improvements include new flooring, laboratory countertops, HVAC system upgrades, network cabling, and advanced scientific equipment. The initiative will also provide faculty training and implement systems to track student progress from enrollment through job placement.\n\nWith these enhancements, Tennessee Wesleyan University aims to increase student enrollment and research participation in biology, chemistry, and environmental science, while also improving student outcomes such as graduation rates and job placements. The upgrades will particularly benefit first-generation and low-income students who rely on the university\u2019s science programs, as well as regional employers seeking a pipeline of highly skilled graduates.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/23/hagerty-calls-for-heightened-safety-standards-on-public-transit/", "Hagerty Calls for Heightened Safety Standards on Public Transit", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Crime on public transit wastes taxpayer dollars and puts passengers in danger\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Today, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced the Safe Transit Act, a bill aimed at penalizing the oversight of crime and misconduct on public transit.\n\nLax public transit safety measures waste hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars each year and pose a serious threat to transit users. Yet some of the nation\u2019s most robust and frequently used transit systems \u2014 especially those in blue states \u2014 do not have adequate security protocols in place to keep their passengers safe.\n\nEvery city that receives federal funding for transit should have to prove that it is protecting its passengers and combatting crime. The Safe Transit Act incentivizes public transit systems to adopt more robust crime prevention measures and creates a safety performance benchmark, ensuring each system is held to the same standard. Most importantly, the bill withholds federal funds from transit systems that fail to meet the proposed benchmarks and safety protocols.\n\n\u201cToo many Democrat-led cities and states take taxpayer dollars while letting crime run rampant on public transit. This must end,\u201d said Hagerty. \u201cMy legislation would direct federal funding to communities that actually protect passengers and promote public safety. It\u2019s time to put Americans\u2019 safety first.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder President Trump\u2019s leadership, we\u2019ve used every tool in our toolbox to make transit systems safer, cleaner, and more family-friendly. Our work has slashed fare evasion, increased law enforcement patrols, and reduced crime \u2014 including right here in our nation\u2019s capital. But for the stubborn states, cities, and systems that refuse to meet basic safety standards, we need more flexibility to hold them accountable,\u201d said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. \u201cI want to thank Senator Hagerty for leading this critical legislation and ensuring hardworking-taxpayer dollars deliver transit systems that Americans can be proud of.\u201d\n\nThe Safe Transit Act would:\n\nAllow the Department to withhold 100 percent of federal funds to cities and local governments that fail to criminalize fare evasion, ban violent offenders from transit systems, or allow personal recognizance and cash-free release for transit crimes.\n\nRequire transit agencies in urban areas to invest at least 3 percent of federal formula funding into safety and crime prevention initiatives, including lighting improvements, security cameras, emergency call boxes, and protective barriers for bus drivers.\n\nAuthorize the Department to withhold up to 50 percent of federal transit funding from cities with crime rates significantly higher than the national transit average.\n\nEstablish binding nationwide performance standards for physical turnstiles, gates, and fare collection infrastructure to stop fare jumpers.\n\nRequire all new federally funded buses and rail vehicles to be equipped with inward- and outward-facing security cameras and event recorders.\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-condemns-plan-further-politicize-nih-grant-decisions", "Congressman Cohen Condemns Plan to Further Politicize NIH Grant Decisions", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), co-chair of the Biomedical Research Caucus, and whose district includes St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and other internationally recognized scientific research institutions, made the following statement after learning of White House plans to further politicize National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding decisions. The plan calls for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya to co-chair a committee to review and potentially veto projects deemed too \u201cwoke\u201d by the White House.\n\nCongressman Cohen\u2019s statement:\n\n\u201cThe NIH is highly respected and highly effective at finding cures and treatments that are needed for the well-being of families, the American public and the world. In other words, the NIH is the \u2018National Institutes of Hope.\u2019 Early in Trump\u2019s second term, the scientific and medical research communities were thrown into chaos when National Institutes of Health funding already approved was withheld over concerns that projects could advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts by the grantee institutions. This new plan would make official the explicit politization of grant making. The OMB has no expertise to review scientific grants; that is what the NIH internal review panels are for. This is bad for science, bad for public health, and bad for America\u2019s role as the undisputed leader in scientific research. A depoliticized NIH is why the USA has led the world in discovering medicines to cure and treat diseases, and in being awarded Nobel Prizes. I will work with scientific and medical research institutions to make sure this plan is scuttled and that science alone guides decisions on federal funding for scientific research for the betterment of mankind.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-hosts-sixth-annual-military-academy-day", "Harshbarger Hosts Sixth Annual Military Academy Day", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Kingsport, TN \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) welcomed more than 100 students, parents, and educators to the Kingsport Center for Higher Education on Saturday for her sixth annual Military Academy Day. The event offered prospective cadets across Tennessee's First District a chance to hear directly from our nation's premier service academies and explore a path to a military education.\n\n\u201cThis annual event is about the next generation of Americans who are willing to raise their hand and serve,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cEvery student who walked through that door is thinking seriously about a life spent serving this country, and it's my job to make sure they don't have to figure out how to get there on their own. East Tennessee produces exactly the kind of grit and character our service academies are looking for, and my office will keep doing everything we can to help these young men and women get there.\u201d\n\nThe program opened with remarks from Harshbarger, followed by a presentation on the application process from Col. Scott Gerblick. Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and East Tennessee State University's Army ROTC program then held academy-specific sessions, giving students the chance to put their questions directly to cadets, officers, and admissions staff.\n\nPresenters included West Point cadet Skyler Floodquist, a junior from Sevier County; Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer Kristen Daniel; Air Force Academy admissions advisor 2nd Lt. Isabelle Flasch; Coast Guard Academy admissions partner Richard Hawkins; and East Tennessee State University JROTC representatives Scott Curtis and Sgt. 1st Class Josh Crabtree.\n\nThroughout the morning, presenters encouraged students to research each academy carefully, tailor every application individually, and build a backup plan through options such as JROTC or a year of college before seeking an appointment.\n\nStudents seeking a congressional nomination to a service academy must apply through Harshbarger's office by October 31, 2026, with in-person interviews scheduled for November 19, 2026. An independent panel reviews each application before making its recommendations to the office.\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the application process.\n\nCLICK HERE to access the application.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoff-introduces-legislation-strengthen-employer-supported", "Congressman David Kustoff Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Employer-Supported Child Care for Working Families", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) introduced H.R. 10512, the Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act, the House companion to bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The bill would help employers navigate and access federal tax benefits that support child care for working families. Congressman Kustoff has led congressional efforts to strengthen the Section 45F employer-provided child care tax credit, including provisions enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill.\n\n\u201cReliable child care supports working families and helps West Tennessee businesses recruit and retain employees,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cI worked to deliver the first major expansion of the employer-provided child care tax credit in more than two decades through the One Big Beautiful Bill. This bipartisan, budget-neutral legislation builds upon that work by giving businesses a dedicated resource to take advantage of these benefits and connect their employees with available options.\u201d\n\nA 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that relatively few businesses claimed the Section 45F employer-provided child care tax credit. The GAO cited limited awareness of the credit and the complexity of establishing and administering child care benefits as barriers to wider use.\n\nThe Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act would establish a Business Child Care Liaison within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help address these barriers. The liaison would educate businesses about the Section 45F credit and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow employees to set aside pretax income for eligible care expenses. The liaison would also help employers utilize these benefits and strengthen coordination among the IRS, businesses, and the child care sector.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn May 2025, Congressman Kustoff introduced H.R. 3155, the Child Care for American Families Act, to strengthen the Section 45F employer-provided child care tax credit and make it more useful for employers, particularly small businesses.\n\nKey provisions from Congressman Kustoff\u2019s legislation were included in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.\n\nThrough the One Big Beautiful Bill, Congressman Kustoff secured the following improvements to the Section 45F credit:\n\nFor most employers, the credit increased from 25 percent to 40 percent of qualified child care expenditures, and the annual cap increased from $150,000 to $500,000;\n\nEligible small businesses can receive a 50 percent credit with an annual cap of $600,000; and\n\nEmployers may partner with outside organizations or other businesses to provide child care.\n\nClick here to read the bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/immediate-release-doge-hearing-achieves-results", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DOGE Hearing Achieves Results", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. (09/18/2026): As a result of the DOGE hearing, \u201cFixing Fraud and Failure in Federally Funded Homelessness Services,\u201d Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has resigned from the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) Commission, and the Department of Justice has charged multiple individuals associated with organizations that contracted with LAHSA.\n\nThis hearing highlighted serious concerns about fraud, mismanagement, and accountability within Los Angeles\u2019 homelessness system. More than $1 billion in federal taxpayer dollars have been distributed to LAHSA, yet it is largely unaccounted for. What was found was free drug paraphernalia being widely distributed.\n\nLAHSA has now ceased serving as the distributor of homelessness funding in Los Angeles, but the investigation is not over. Mayor Bass\u2019s cowardly resignation will not stop the committee from issuing subpoenas and demanding answers. The American people deserve to know how their tax dollars were spent, who benefited, and who will be held accountable.\n\n\u201cThe DOGE Subcommittee is tasked with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, and that is exactly what we have done,\u201d said Rep. Tim Burchett. \u201cThis is just one of many examples of how Republicans and the Trump Administration are committing to bringing transparency to government.\u201d\n\nTo view the entire DOGE hearing, click HERE :\n\n###\n\nFor questions and media inquiries, please contact Will Garrett, Communications Director for Congressman Burchett", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-and-17-congressional-colleagues-seek-gao-review-blm", "Congressman Cohen and 17 Congressional Colleagues Seek GAO Review of BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and 16 of their colleagues sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Thursday requesting a review of the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program following reports that wild horses have been slaughtered. Supporters of the letter include Congressional Wild Horse Caucus Co-Chairs Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Congressman Cohen, and Mark Pocan (WI-02) as well as Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. The letter is endorsed by American Wild Horse Conservation.\n\n\u201cThe Administration knows what it is doing. It is circumventing the law to benefit landowners who want to get rid of all the wild horses, which are an American heritage that we should value. More oversight is needed,\u201d said Congressman Cohen.\n\n\u201cWe now know what we have long suspected \u2014 that the BLM has been selling off wild horses that end up in slaughterhouses,\u201d said Congresswoman Dina Titus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus. \u201cThis practice must end now. I am leading my Congressional colleagues in demanding an investigation of the Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program to ensure wild horses and burros received the protections they are guaranteed by federal law.\"\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time to fix the ongoing failures in how America\u2019s wild horses are managed. For years, across both Republican and Democrat administrations, we\u2019ve seen alarming reports of hostility toward these animals and serious questions about how the Bureau of Land Management is carrying out its responsibilities. This cannot be a partisan issue. It\u2019s a stewardship issue. I\u2019m proud to join this bipartisan effort to demand accountability, protect our wild horses, and push for real solutions that address the problem head-on.\u201d said Congressman Juan Ciscomani\n\n\u201cOur laws demand that we protect wild horses, not send them to slaughter. Congress has always worked in a bipartisan manner to protect these animals, and we need accountability and oversight at the Bureau of Land Management immediately. We hope this request will force the Administration to do the right thing,\u201d said Congressman Mark Pocan.\n\n\u201cWild horses are a national treasure. Year after year, Congress has barred the Bureau of Land Management from slaughtering them. Yet now there is a concerning report that Trump\u2019s agency is recklessly selling wild horses to buyers who slaughter them. I am calling on GAO to investigate,\u201d said Senator Cory Booker.\n\n\u201cThe GAO investigation is a critical step toward uncovering and eliminating abuses within the Sale Authority Program, abuses documented through AWHC\u2019s longstanding investigation and recently brought to national attention by The New York Times. No federal program should allow America\u2019s treasured and legally protected wild horses and burros to be funneled into the slaughter pipeline\u201d, said Patricia Miller, Chair, Board of Directors & Executive Director, American Wild Horse Conservation. \u201cWe are deeply grateful to Representative Dina Titus and her fellow Congressional Wild Horse Caucus co-chairs, Representatives Ciscomani, Cohen, and Pocan, for leading this essential oversight effort and advancing the agency accountability and lasting reform necessary to ensure these animals receive the protections promised to them under federal law.\u201d\n\nThe letter states: \u201cThis request is particularly urgent in light of recent reporting by The New York Times detailing how changes in the BLM\u2019s management of wild horses and burros could exploit a legal loophole to facilitate their movement into the slaughter pipeline. The reporting raises renewed concerns about whether BLM's Sale Program is being used to circumvent longstanding congressional protections intended to prevent federally protected wild horses and burros from being sold or otherwise funneled into slaughter.\n\n\u201cA comprehensive GAO review would provide Congress with an independent assessment of whether BLM's current practices adequately protect federally managed wild horses and burros, comply with congressional directives, and appropriately safeguard taxpayer resources. It would also build upon GAO's prior examination of BLM's wild horse management and sales practices, allowing Congress to determine whether safeguards remain effective nearly two decades later.\n\n\u201cMost importantly, this review would help Congress determine whether the Sale Program is functioning as a legitimate placement mechanism or has become a pathway through which federally protected wild horses and burros can predictably enter the slaughter pipeline after title transfers. The recent reporting in The New York Times, together with BLM's expanded reliance on removals and sales, makes an independent examination especially timely.\n\n\u201cGAO's findings would provide Congress with the factual basis necessary to strengthen safeguards, improve reporting requirements, ensure compliance with appropriations restrictions and the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, and consider additional statutory changes where necessary.\u201d\n\nThe letter asks the GAO to address the following issues:\n\nImplementation of Sale Authority\n\nHow has BLM implemented its Sale Authority, including \"sales without limitation,\" since enactment of the 2004 amendments to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act?\n\nHow many horses and burros have been sold annually under Sale Authority since 2004, and what trends have emerged over time?\n\nHow has BLM's reliance on sales changed following implementation of \"The Path Forward\" and the substantial increase in congressional funding for removals?\n\nTo what extent do current group and individual sales operate differently from the historical \"sales without limitation\" that Congress sought to restrict through appropriations language?\n\nPurchaser Screening and Internal Controls\n\nWhat policies, procedures, and internal controls govern purchaser screening, approval, monitoring, and post-sale oversight?\n\nHow does BLM identify and manage high-risk or repeat purchasers?\n\nDoes BLM maintain records of individuals or entities that have purchased large numbers of horses or burros over time, including purchases made through related individuals or entities?\n\nWhat mechanisms exist to identify purchasers with connections to livestock auctions, kill buyers, brokers, slaughter facilities, or other high-risk entities?\n\nHow frequently has BLM investigated allegations that sold animals entered slaughter channels, and what enforcement actions, including repossessions, purchaser suspensions, or debarments, have resulted?\n\nPost-Sale Outcomes and Enforcement\n\nWhat information does BLM collect regarding the disposition of horses and burros after title transfers?\n\nTo what extent can BLM determine whether sold animals ultimately enter commercial slaughter channels?\n\nUnder what circumstances does BLM have authority to repossess or otherwise recover an animal after a sale?\n\nWhat criteria does BLM use to determine whether to intervene when a sold horse or burro is subsequently identified at an auction, kill pen, or other slaughter-related facility?\n\nHow many horses and burros has BLM repossessed following a sale during the past ten years, and what circumstances led to those actions?\n\nHow many purchasers have been suspended, debarred, or otherwise restricted during the same period?\n\nDoes BLM distinguish between adoption and sale outcomes when reporting placement success to Congress and the public?\n\nCompliance with Congressional Direction\n\nIs BLM administering the Sale Program in a manner consistent with annual appropriations language prohibiting the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros or their sale for processing into commercial products?\n\nAre BLM's current sales practices consistent with the purpose and intent of congressional restrictions on \"sales without limitation\"?\n\nDoes BLM have adequate safeguards to prevent sales that it knows, or reasonably should know, are likely to result in animals entering the slaughter pipeline?\n\nTo what extent could current Sale Authority practices undermine congressional prohibitions by transferring animals to purchasers who subsequently resell them for slaughter?\n\nAre current policies and oversight mechanisms sufficient to ensure that federally protected animals are not predictably diverted into slaughter?\n\nProgram Management and Congressional Oversight\n\nWhat relationship exists between BLM's removal targets, off-range holding population, adoption rates, and reliance on sales?\n\nHas BLM evaluated whether its current removal and sale strategies create incentives to prioritize rapid disposal over durable placement outcomes?\n\nWhat statutory, regulatory, administrative, or reporting changes would strengthen congressional oversight and accountability?\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-805047-nih-grants-st-jude-and-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces $805,047 in NIH Grants to St. Jude and UTHSC", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive two grants and the University of Memphis will receive one grant from the National Institutes of Health. The first of the St. Jude grants for $416,250, from the National Cancer Institute, is for pancreatic cancer research under the direction of Dr. Christopher Vakoc. The goal of the project is to identify new cellular signaling pathways to help develop novel therapeutics. The second St. Jude grant, for $79,780 from the National Institute on Aging, is for Alzheimer\u2019s disease research under the direction of Dr. Jay Michael Yarbro.\n\nThe University of Memphis grant, for $309,017 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, is for work on wearable sensing devices for precision COPD risk prediction under the direction of Dr. Maryam Karimi of the School of Public Health.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cUnderstanding and treating pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s and COPD will improve the quality of patients\u2019 lives. I commend Drs. Vakoc, Yarbro and Karimi for the life-saving work they are doing.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/two-harshbarger-bills-advance-through-energy-and-commerce-committee-0", "Two Harshbarger Bills Advance Through Energy and Commerce Committee", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statements after the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced two of her bills at this week\u2019s full committee markup. Members passed the Automotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026 and the Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for (MAIN) Event Ticketing Act, sending both bills to the full House for consideration.\n\nAutomotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026:\n\n\"China has a playbook: control manufacturing and hold the world hostage. This week's vote brings us one step closer to giving Washington the facts we need to counter their strategy,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \"We\u2019ve watched Beijing run this same play on critical minerals and shipbuilding, and now they're setting their sights on the U.S. automotive industry. As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, that's not just an economic threat, it's a national security threat and a risk to the data of every American behind the wheel. I want to thank Chairman Guthrie and my colleague Congresswoman Dingell for their partnership on this bipartisan bill, and I'll keep pushing to get it signed into law.\"\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the Automotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026.\n\nMAIN Event Ticketing Act:\n\n\"This vote brings us one step closer to shutting down the ticket bots that have turned buying a ticket to your favorite show into an uphill battle,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \"Americans deserve a fair shot at the tickets they've saved up for, not a marketplace rigged by scalper bots and shady resellers. This bill strengthens the Better Online Ticket Sales Act with real cybersecurity safeguards and enforcement tools so the FTC can hold bad actors accountable. I'm grateful for my colleague Congressman Carter's partnership on this bill, and I look forward to seeing it head to the House Floor.\"\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the MAIN Event Ticketing Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/18/hagerty-colleagues-lead-passage-of-resolution-honoring-the-life-and-legacy-of-dolly-parton/", "Hagerty, Colleagues Lead Passage of Resolution Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dolly Parton", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Parton was a lifelong Tennessean and an internationally beloved entertainer and philanthropist\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014United States Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) led passage of a resolution honoring the life and legacy of country music star Dolly Parton.\n\nRepresentative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) introduced a companion resolution in the United States House of Representatives.\n\nBorn in Locust Ridge, Tenn., Parton began her nearly 70-year musical career at age 10 and made her Grand Ole Opry debut at age 13. Over the next six decades, she wrote nearly 3,000 songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide, including timeless classics such as \u201cJolene,\u201d \u201cI Will Always Love You,\u201d and \u201c9 to 5.\u201d\n\nParton cemented her status as one of the most successful female artists of all time. She received 32 prestigious entertainment awards and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.\n\nBeyond music, Parton dedicated much of her life to bettering her community, particularly in East Tennessee. In 1988, she founded the Dollywood Foundation, an organization committed to providing East Tennessee students with resources to further their education.\n\nParton went on to establish the Imagination Library, a charitable program that has provided over 332 million free books to children across the globe. She also raised more than $12 million for those affected by deadly wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains in 2016.\n\nIn addition to her philanthropic work, Parton was a successful businesswoman. In 1986, she opened Dollywood, a popular theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which has since become a major East Tennessee economic driver and international tourist destination.\n\nFor her final business endeavor, Parton took inspiration from her years traveling on tour buses to establish Dolly\u2019s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tenn., in June 2026.\n\nParton passed away on Aug. 25 at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn., surrounded by family and loved ones following a brief battle with cancer.\n\n\u201cDolly is truly a Tennessee legend,\u201d said Hagerty. \u201cFrom her humble beginnings in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to worldwide fame, Dolly exemplified the American Dream. Whether she was performing on stages across the globe, creating opportunities for families to make memories in Dollywood, or fostering a love of reading through her Imagination Library, Dolly lived a life dedicated to encouraging others to dream just as boldly as she did. She never forgot where she came from and left an indelible cultural and economic impact on our state. She will be very dearly missed, and I\u2019m happy to help lead this effort in the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was a Tennessee treasure who lived out the Volunteer Spirit, loved our nation, and opened doors of opportunity for countless people,\u201d said Blackburn. \u201cWhile there are no words to fully express the sorrow all Tennesseans feel in her loss, I hope this resolution plays at least a small part in ensuring that her legacy is never forgotten, and I am honored to lead it in the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was a legend, an icon, and an inspiration. Las Vegans and visitors enjoyed her shows for close to half a century, and books from her Imagination Library line the bookshelves of countless Nevada children,\u201d said Cortez Masto. \u201cToday, we stand together to honor her contributions to American music, her lifetime of generosity and service, and her embrace of all people.\u201d\n\nA copy of the resolution can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/blackburn-colleagues-lead-passage-of-resolution-honoring-the-life-and-legacy-of-dolly-parton", "Blackburn, Colleagues Lead Passage of Resolution Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dolly Parton", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "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.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led passage of a resolution to honor the life and legacy of country music legend Dolly Parton, whose extraordinary contributions to music, philanthropy, literacy, education, health, conservation, and culture enriched the lives of countless Americans.\n\nRepresentative Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was a Tennessee treasure who lived out the Volunteer Spirit, loved our nation, and opened doors of opportunity for countless people,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cWhile there are no words to fully express the sorrow all Tennesseans feel in her loss, I hope this resolution plays at least a small part in ensuring that her legacy is never forgotten, and I am honored to lead it in the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly is truly a Tennessee legend,\u201d said Senator Hagerty. \u201cFrom her humble beginnings in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to worldwide fame, Dolly exemplified the American Dream. Whether she was performing on stages across the globe, creating opportunities for families to make memories in Dollywood, or fostering a love of reading through her Imagination Library, Dolly lived a life dedicated to encouraging others to dream just as boldly as she did. She never forgot where she came from and left an indelible cultural and economic impact on our state. She will be very dearly missed.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was a legend, an icon, and an inspiration. Las Vegans and visitors enjoyed her shows for close to half a century, and books from her Imagination Library line the bookshelves of countless Nevada children,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cToday, we stand together to honor her contributions to American music, her lifetime of generosity and service, and her embrace of all people.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm grateful to Senator Blackburn for leading this resolution in the Senate so that Dolly's story, a woman whose humble beginnings in a two-room cabin in Sevier County taught her to hold onto her faith, her family, and her home, gets the full recognition of Congress,\u201d said Representative Harshbarger. \u201cShe spent her whole life giving back to the place that raised her, and now it's our turn to make sure she's remembered the way she deserves.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nDolly Parton built an extraordinary career in Nashville as a gifted performer and songwriter, yet she never forgot her East Tennessee roots or her commitment to giving back.\n\nIn 1986 she opened Dollywood in the Great Smoky Mountains, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. Soon after, she launched the Dollywood Foundation to combat high school dropout rates in Sevier County; it later grew into Dolly Parton\u2019s Imagination Library, delivering free books to millions of children across Tennessee, the United States, and the world.\n\nA true trailblazer, Dolly Parton transformed country music while her lifelong spirit of service and love for Tennessee have uplifted generations and left a lasting mark far beyond the stage.", 1, "2026-09-21T10:25:24Z", "2026-09-21T10:26:54Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tim-burchett-drops-two-bills-address-affordability", "Rep. Tim Burchett Drops Two Bills to Address Affordability", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett filed two bills to address the rising price of diesel fuel in the United States, which would make the lives of ALL Americans more affordable.\n\nDiesel fuel powers the trucks, farm equipment, and machinery that keep our economy moving, meaning higher fuel costs are ultimately passed on to consumers through higher prices for groceries, goods, and services. By addressing diesel prices, these bills will provide relief to American families and businesses.\n\n\u201cDiesel export controls drive down prices while also helping Americans keep more money in their pockets,\u201d said Rep. Burchett. \u201cRefiners typically make a profit of around $15 per barrel, or roughly 35 cents per gallon. Instead, refiners are choosing to sell their diesel for higher prices in Europe. Shipping American diesel overseas reduces domestic supply drives up prices at home. Today, refiners are profiting $117 per barrel, or $2.78 per gallon. That is a nearly 800% increase. American companies should prioritize American consumers and keep American diesel in America.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/president-trump-signs-blackburn-s-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-prison-staff-from-sexual-abuse-by-inmates", "President Trump Signs Blackburn\u2019s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Prison Staff from Sexual Abuse by Inmates", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "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 President Donald Trump signed her bipartisan legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, into law. This legislation will help address the increasingly pervasive sexual assault and harassment of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees by inmates.\n\n\u201cNo law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cI am pleased the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act\u2014which will help us end the appalling sexual abuse of prison staff by inmates\u2014has been signed into law by President Trump.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is also co-sponsored by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). Representative Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nAccording to a February 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), a staggering 40% of 7,000 surveyed BOP staff stated they had been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by an inmate.\n\nAt United States Penitentiary Thomson in Illinois, there were over 300 incidents of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment in a single year. USP Thomson houses only 875 inmates.\n\nThe DOJ OIG report, combined with BOP staff testimonials on this troubling problem, strongly suggests that BOP\u2019s reporting and corrective procedures for inmate-on-staff sexual assault and harassment are inadequate, creating an institutional culture that lacks accountability and endangers BOP employees.\n\nTHE PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT\n\nThe Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act will require:\n\nThe BOP to fully implement the recommendations in the Inspector General\u2019s 2023 report regarding mitigating inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault and to fully ascertain the scope of the problem;\n\nThe DOJ OIG to conduct an analysis of punishments for sexual harassment and sexual assault in BOP facilities; and\n\nThe U.S. Attorney General to promulgate a rule adopting national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual assault and harassment of BOP staff by inmates.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the American Correctional Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Council of Prison Locals 33.\n\n\u201cThe American Correctional Association (ACA) applauds the President for signing the bipartisan Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act into law. This important legislation will help protect Bureau of Prisons employees from sexual assault and harassment on the job and reflects the bipartisan cooperation our correctional officers deserve. We commend Senators Blackburn and Ossoff for championing this legislation and thank the lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who worked together to get it across the finish line. ACA looks forward to building on this momentum as we continue working with Congress to ensure safe working conditions for correctional officers nationwide,\u201d said Robert Green, American Correctional Association Executive Director.\n\n\u201cThe National Fraternal Order of Police applauds the passage of S. 307, the \"Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act,\u201d which was signed into law by President Trump. The new statute ensures that any act of sexual harassment or assault against Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff will be swiftly punished. The FOP is grateful for the leadership of Senators Blackburn and Ossoff in their efforts to help improve the safety of Federal correctional officers,\u201d said Patrick Yoes, President of the Fraternal Order of Police.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Heads to President Trump\u2019s Desk\n\nBlackburn, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff", 1, "2026-09-21T10:25:24Z", "2026-09-21T10:26:54Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-bill-empowers-domestic-violence-victims-to-seek-help", "Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Bill Empowers Domestic Violence Victims to Seek Help", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C.\u2014Today, Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) introduced the Screening Harm, Identifying Escalating Lethality Danger (SHIELD) For Victims Act. This legislation would implement an evidence-based intervention program used by first responders to identify victims of intimate partner violence called a Lethality Assessment.\n\nUnder the Lethality Assessment protocol, victims identified as being at high risk are immediately connected with a domestic violence crisis hotline. This on-the-spot intervention gives victims an opportunity to speak with an advocate, develop a safety plan, and access resources while law enforcement officers are still present.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cNearly one in four women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Even more disturbing is how often domestic violence turns deadly. In 2021, intimate partners were responsible for 34% of all murders and nonnegligent manslaughters of women in the United States. It is clear that more must be done to combat domestic violence. That is why I introduced the SHIELD For Victims Act. This legislation trains federal law enforcement officers to conduct a Lethality Assessment when encountering a domestic violence situation. Lethality assessments and similar interventions have proven to reduce the homicides of women by an intimate partner by 40 percent,\u201d he continued.\n\nThe Congressman concluded, \u201cI am confident that connecting domestic violence victims with resources while in the presence of law enforcement will empower them to protect themselves and their children from an abuser. Taking away an abuser\u2019s ability to intimidate or manipulate is crucial. Domestic violence resource centers can help victims find safe housing and transportation, develop safety plans, and navigate the court system. This bill won\u2019t just help shield victims from domestic violence; it could help them build a new life.\u201d\n\nSharon K. Roberson, Esq., President and CEO, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, said, \u201cFor more than a decade, YWCA Nashville has partnered with the Metro Nashville Police Department through the Lethality Assessment Program, and we know firsthand that this saves lives. When law enforcement is trained to recognize the warning signs of escalating danger, they can quickly connect victims at the highest risk of being killed with advocates and service providers like the YWCA and our Weaver Domestic Violence Center. The SHIELD for Victims Act would bring this proven, life-saving approach to individuals and communities that interface with federal law enforcement.\u201d\n\nChief John Drake, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, said, \u201cConducting proven lethality assessments in response to intimate-partner violence saves lives and breaks cycles of abuse. That\u2019s why the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, in coordination with counselors and victim advocates, has been conducting lethality screenings for years. All Nashville police officers have been trained in the process. Expanding lethality assessment protocols nationally through the SHIELD for Victims Act will help make families and communities safer.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/blackburn-bill-to-support-music-tourism-heads-to-president-trump-s-desk", "Blackburn Bill to Support Music Tourism Heads to President Trump\u2019s Desk", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "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 John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) released the following statements after the U.S. House of Representatives passed their bipartisan legislation, American Music Tourism Act, to support music tourism in Tennessee and across the country:\n\n\u201cThe Volunteer State is home to so many iconic landmarks for tourists to experience \u2013 from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cMusic tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee\u2019s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world continue to celebrate our state\u2019s rich history of music for generations to come. The American Music Tourism Act will promote and support the fast-growing tourism industry, and I am pleased it is heading to President Trump\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom Red Rocks to The Mish, Colorado is fortunate to have so many outstanding music venues that bring culture, tourism, and economic opportunity to our communities,\u201d said Senator Hickenlooper. \u201cThe American Music Tourism Act will help bring even more visitors to venues in Colorado and across the country. We\u2019re glad to see it pass the House and urge the President to sign it into law.\u201d\n\nThe American Music Tourism Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.).\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nMusic tourism \u2013 both the act of visiting sites important to the history of American music culture and the act of traveling for concerts and music festivals \u2013 is a vital industry for American culture and an economic driver for our communities.\n\nMusic tourism has emerged as a top travel trend, with the market forecasted to reach $11.3 billion in revenue by 2032.\n\nThe United States, which boasts one of world\u2019s largest music industries that generates over $43 billion in revenue each year, is one of the main beneficiaries of this international interest in music tourism.\n\nThe Commerce Department\u2019s Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism is uniquely positioned to identify and promote sites of musical significance.\n\nTHE AMERICAN MUSIC TOURISM ACT\n\nThe American Music Tourism Act would leverage the existing tourism framework within the Department of Commerce to highlight and promote music tourism in the United States.\n\nSpecifically, this bill would require:\n\nThe Assistant Secretary to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors; and\n\nA report to Congress on the successes and vulnerabilities of the Assistant Secretary\u2019s goals to increase travel and tourism.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn, Hickenlooper Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase Music Tourism In U.S.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-hernia-research-grant-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces Hernia Research Grant to UTHSC", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has received a $783,237 grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to conduct research on inhaled nitric oxide for congenital diaphragmatic hernia. These hernias affect 2 to 4 per 10,000 births in the U.S., amounting to roughly 1,500 children per year, with an annual societal cost of nearly $400 million. Nitric Oxide is a different chemical than Nitrous Oxide, often utilized in dentist offices. This study aims to better understand the effects that Nitric Oxide has on the level of oxygen in the blood, to refine treatment options for patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernias. The research is under the direction of Dr. Timothy Jancelewicz.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see this substantial investment in lung disease research at our medical school. I commend Dr. Jancelewicz for conducting this important treatment trial.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-applauds-final-passage-american-music-tourism-act", "Harshbarger Applauds Final Passage of American Music Tourism Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 195, the American Music Tourism Act of 2025, sending the bipartisan bill to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) led the House companion, H.R. 617, which passed the House in April 2025, while Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led the Senate companion, S.195, which passed the Senate in May 2025.\n\n\u201cAfter more than two years of work, our bipartisan American Music Tourism Act is officially headed to President Trump's desk. As home to iconic destinations like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and the Birthplace of Country Music in Bristol, Tennessee's First District plays a vital role in the music tourism industry, and this bill will have a direct impact on a district that lives and breathes it. I'm grateful to Senator Blackburn for getting this bill through the Senate, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.\n\n\u201cThe Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to experience \u2013 from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,\u201d said Senator Marsha Blackburn. \u201cMusic tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee\u2019s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world continue to celebrate our state\u2019s rich history of music for generations to come. The American Music Tourism Act will promote and support the fast-growing music tourism industry, and I am pleased it is heading to President Trump\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the American Music Tourism Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbargers-affordable-innovation-grid-act-passes-us-house", "Harshbarger's Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act Passes U.S. House", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 9339, the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act, legislation to direct the U.S. Secretary of Energy to assess how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) technologies can strengthen the capacity, reliability, and efficiency of America's bulk-power system.\n\n\u201cToday's vote gets us one step closer to a grid that can actually keep pace with America's energy needs,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cInterconnection backlogs are a drag on grid performance and American competitiveness at a moment when energy demand is skyrocketing like never before. Understanding how AI and HPCs can help our bulk-power system run on full power will be critical to ensuring affordable rates for the long term. I'm grateful to Congressman Mullin for partnering with me on this bipartisan solution, and I'll keep pushing to get it to the President's desk.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to learn more about the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/van-epps-and-mccollum-introduce-bipartisan-critical-materials-future-act", "Van Epps and McCollum Introduce Bipartisan Critical Materials Future Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Matt Van Epps (R-TN) and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced the Critical Materials Future Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would establish a pilot program at the Department of Energy to financially support domestic critical material processing projects.\n\n\u201cRelying on foreign sources for our critical mineral supply is gambling with both our economic and national security. Today, China leads global processing of key critical minerals, refining more than 90% of graphite and nearly all gallium, which are essential to semiconductors and batteries. China also refines more than 90% of rare earth elements used in magnets for advanced defense technologies,\u201d said Rep. Van Epps. \u201cIt is far past time for the United States to end this dangerous dependence. We can do this by paving the way for more critical mineral processing right here at home. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Critical Materials Future Act alongside Congresswoman McCollum. This bipartisan legislation establishes a pilot program to support companies committed to building critical mineral processing operations here in the United States. By strengthening our domestic supply chains, this legislation will reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries and move us one step closer to revitalizing the American defense industrial base.\"\n\n\u201cSecuring a domestic critical mineral supply chain is essential for manufacturing clean energy technologies,\u201d said Rep. McCollum. \u201cFor far too long, critical minerals extracted from our public lands have been shipped overseas for processing to be sold on the global market or bought back by American companies. That is not good stewardship of our natural resources, nor is it a good national security strategy. The Critical Materials Future Act will ensure that when we extract these resources, we also have the capacity to process them here at home.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. critical minerals list contains 50 minerals\u2014including graphite, nickel, and cobalt\u2014that are essential to our economy, infrastructure, and military capability. Critical minerals are used in smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and more.\n\nIn December 2024, China announced that it would immediately block the export of three critical minerals\u2014gallium, germanium, and antimony\u2014to the U.S. China currently controls 90% of the global processing capacity for rare earth elements and over 80% of the processing for other critical minerals like cobalt, gallium, and graphite. Experts have become increasingly concerned with U.S. dependence on China for critical materials, arguing it poses a significant risk to national security.\n\nThe Critical Materials Future Act supports critical material processing projects in the United States by granting the Secretary of Energy the authority and funding to deploy innovative financial mechanisms, such as contracts for differences and advanced market commitments, within this sector.\n\nThe bill also requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of these financial tools on market dynamics and processing projects within the critical materials sector, and to provide recommendations for expanding their use to strengthen America's processing capabilities.\n\nThe Senate companion, S. 596, was introduced by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Todd Young (R-IN), and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\nIn the 118th Congress, Congresswoman McCollum introduced H.R. 5021, the Securing American Critical Minerals Act, a bill to prohibit the sale or transfer of critical minerals to our adversaries.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-s-remarks-on-innovation-and-disaster-prevention-at-sst-committee-hearing", "Rep. Van Epps\u2019s Remarks on Innovation and Disaster Prevention at SST Committee Hearing", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Rep. Van Epps (TN-07) participated in a Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Committee hearing titled \u201cInnovation in Disaster Prevention: Advancing Technology for Prediction and Response.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Van Epps\u2019 statement and questions here.\n\n\u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today.\n\nI\u2019m grateful for the work the Chairman and this committee have done to prioritize natural disaster preparedness and response.\n\nIn 2023, Middle Tennessee was hit by an EF-3 tornado, resulting in 4 fatalities and significant damage. In 2021, deadly flash floods struck Humphreys County, tragically killing 20.\n\nWhen a catastrophic weather event strikes, the lives of Americans can change dramatically \u2013 I've seen it firsthand in Tennessee working in the State Government. That\u2019s why we must use the best technology at our disposal to equip first responders to appropriately prepare and respond to these natural disasters.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-commends-lonnie-g-bunch-lifetime-service-american-history-and", "Cohen Commends Lonnie G. Bunch for a Lifetime of Service to American History and the Smithsonian", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement that Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III will retire from his position after nearly four decades of service to the Smithsonian Institution:\n\n\u201cLonnie G. Bunch has had an extraordinary career from start to finish, and our country is better because of his commitment to telling the full and honest story of America.\n\nDr. Bunch\u2019s work as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture was a splendid contribution to American history and to our National Mall. He took what was once an idea and built it into one of our nation\u2019s most important cultural institutions. Today, millions of Americans have walked through its doors and encountered the history, contributions, and experiences of African Americans as an essential part of the American story.\n\nAs Secretary of the Smithsonian, Dr. Bunch continued that work by protecting the integrity of our museums and their commitment to truth. In the face of relentless attacks from President Trump, he stood firmly for the importance of preserving and presenting history honestly. He understands that the strength of America comes from confronting our history honestly, learning from it, and passing that knowledge on to the next generation.\n\nI have been highly honored to know Dr. Bunch over the years. He is thoughtful, gracious, and incredibly easy to work with, and his integrity has always been evident.\n\nDr. Lonnie G. Bunch will be remembered as one of the great voices speaking truth to future generations about the importance of museums, the preservation of history, and the First Amendment. I thank him for his extraordinary service to our country, the Smithsonian, and the American people.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-884991-nih-grants-st-jude", "Congressman Cohen Announces $884,991 in NIH Grants to St. Jude", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Coen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive four grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling $884,991. One grant of $263,328 is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for training staff in infectious disease therapeutics. A second, for $289,458, is for research on pediatric leukemia from the National Cancer Institute. A third, for $49,114, is for a predoctoral program at the hospital\u2019s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. And a fourth, for $283,091, is for mapping Real-World CAR T-cell implementation from the National Cancer Institute.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis investment in staff training and cancer and biomedical research will result in better outcomes for patients and potentially save lives.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/14/hagerty-tn-delegation-urge-swift-approval-of-major-disaster-declaration-requests-after-severe-weather-impacts-west-tennessee/", "Hagerty, TN Delegation Urge Swift Approval of Major Disaster Declaration Requests After Severe Weather Impacts West Tennessee", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014On Friday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) joined the Tennessee delegation in sending a letter to President Donald Trump urging his swift approval of Governor Bill Lee\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following severe storms that affected areas of West Tennessee.\n\nCo-signers of the letter include Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04), Matt Van Epps (R-TN-07), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), and Steve Cohen (D-TN-09).\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nWe write to urge swift approval of Governor Bill Lee\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act due to severe weather occurring on August 22, 2026.\n\nOn August 22, a severe thunderstorm moved through the Mid-South and into West Tennessee, producing widespread damaging straight-line winds. Severe weather, including prolific straight-line winds and hail, caused significant damage to the power grid, particularly in Shelby County. The National Weather Service reported that more than 130,000 customers were without power, in addition to extensive tree damage, downed power lines, and road closures. Peak wind speeds were estimated between 60 and 80 miles per hour, with the storm lasting approximately 45 minutes in Shelby County and 90 minutes across the entire affected area. Ongoing extreme heat following the storm also posed serious risks to vulnerable residents, including seniors, young children, people with disabilities, low-income households, and those without access to cooling.\n\nTo respond to this disaster, Governor Lee is specifically requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Shelby County and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The State is also requesting direct Federal assistance for debris management support, including technical monitoring and mentoring to affected areas. On behalf of the State of Tennessee, we urge you to approve this request as soon as possible.\n\nOur offices can provide you with any additional information you need.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-commemorates-the-25th-anniversary-of-september-11th", "Rep. Van Epps Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of September 11th", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Matt Van Epps released a video reflecting on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, remembering the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives that day and honoring the first responders, servicemembers, and their families who sacrificed in the years that followed.\n\nClick below to watch Rep. Van Epps\u2019 video.\n\nImage\n\nTwenty-five years ago, our country changed forever.\n\nI was a freshman at West Point on September 11, 2001. I remember watching the towers fall in the classroom.\n\nIn that moment, we knew America was under attack.\n\nAnd for those of us at West Point, that day changed the course of our lives. We knew we would graduate into a nation at war, and we began preparing for the fight ahead.\n\nMy class became known as the \u201cClass of 9/11.\u201d We graduated in 2005, and many of us went on to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.\n\nI eventually joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, flying missions to hunt down high-value targets and terrorist leaders in search of justice for that September day.\n\nFor many of us, serving was the honor of a lifetime. But the privilege of serving our country came with a heavy price, paid by servicemembers and their families.\n\nSadly, some of my classmates and thousands of servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror.\n\nToday, as we mark the 25th Anniversary of September 11th, we remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who were killed that day.\n\nWe remember the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and every American who ran toward danger and gave their lives trying to save their brothers and sisters.\n\nWe remember the servicemembers who answered the call in the years that followed and didn\u2019t come home.\n\nFor my generation, September 11th was a defining moment.\n\nFor new generations, it is becoming a date in history.\n\nThat is why we have to keep telling the stories.\n\nWe must never forget what happened, who we lost, and the sacrifices that were made in defense of our freedom.\n\nTwenty-five years later, America\u2019s resolve must remain steadfast.\n\nNow, more than ever, we must unite.\n\nMay we never forget September 11th.\n\nMay we never forget those we lost.\n\nAnd may we always remember what it means to keep freedom alive.\n\nBackground", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/video-blackburn-honors-victims-of-9-11-on-25th-anniversary", "VIDEO: Blackburn Honors Victims of 9/11 on 25th Anniversary", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "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 video marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks and honoring the victims, their families, the first responders, and the service members who answered the call.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s make certain we never forget and that we remember those families, those victims, the loss of life, and the attack on our country,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cAnd let\u2019s be grateful for the men and women who stood up against that attack. Never forget.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/11/icymi-hagerty-joinsthe-scott-jennings-show-on-salem-news-channel-to-discuss-midterms-iran-memphis-blade-act/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty JoinsThe Scott Jennings Show\u00a0on Salem News Channel to Discuss Midterms, Iran, Memphis, BLADE Act", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "DALLAS\u2014On Thursday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined The Scott Jennings Show on Salem News Channel to discuss the upcoming midterm election, the latest in Iran, the Memphis Safe Task Force, and the BLADE Act.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on the RNC Convention: We have had a great delegation from Tennessee and frankly, great delegations from all over the country. There\u2019s a lot of excitement, a lot of enthusiasm. People loved [President Donald Trump\u2019s] speech last night\u2014a lot of energy there. And frankly, a lot of people that weren\u2019t here, but I\u2019ve heard from across the country that are very pleased to see the energy turnaround. And frankly, to be drawing a contrast finally against Democratic candidates. I think people are tired of reading New York Times headlines running these generic polls, Republicans versus Democrats. And now that we actually see what a Democratic socialist stands for, there\u2019s a huge contrast to be made. I think if you just step back and look at what the Democrats have accomplished this past 18, 20 months, they\u2019ve delivered the two longest government shutdowns in history. What they seem to want to deliver is nothing but chaos, shutdowns, and acrimony. The American public hasn\u2019t seen anything positive coming from the Democrats.\n\nHagerty on Iran: The Iranian regime is holding on to see what happens on November the third. It certainly worked out well for them back in 2020. Back at that point in time, I was the U.S. ambassador to Japan. I got the Japanese and my colleagues around the world\u2026 to stop buying Iranian crude oil\u2026 We brought the Iranian economy to a difficult place. It\u2019s even worse right now, but the Iranians held out to see what would happen in the election. Having [former President Joe Biden] in the Oval Office was a gift extraordinaire to the Iranian regime, because immediately the Biden [administration] stopped enforcing all sanctions. Money began to flow by May 2021. We had the 11-day war break out in Israel\u2014you know what happened on October 7th of 2023. Terror breaks out through the entire region because Iran [was] in a position to fund it. We have shut that down now\u2026 they\u2019re hanging on by a thread.\n\nHagerty on the Memphis Safe Task Force: I don\u2019t think you could see a finer contrast in America than the difference between Memphis, Tennessee, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. And the one difference there, the one singular difference is that in Memphis, we worked together. We cooperated; we coordinated.\n\nHagerty on the creation of the Memphis Safe Task Force: When [FBI Director Kash Patel] called me in December 2024, he said, \u2018Sir, the President is about to make his decision on the FBI director, and I would really appreciate your support.\u2019 I said, \u2018Kash, I\u2019m happy to support you, but I\u2019m going to need your support in Memphis, too.\u2019 And Kash kept his word to me. We began working on this right after Kash came into office and put together, very quietly, a task force. [The task force] first entered the city working with local police and very quietly came in and took out 154 of the worst of the worst criminals. These are gang members. Through the summer, we took that number up to well over 500, and President Trump is watching our progress all along the way, and said, \u2018Okay, we\u2019re going to put the full menu in place.\u2019 Meaning 16, 17 different crime enforcement agencies, including the [U.S. National Guard]\u2026 People in Memphis today would tell you, \u2018Thank you, thank you, and thank you again, President Trump,\u2019 for doing it. Crime has gone through the floor. Memphis is a great city\u2014now it\u2019s one of the safest cities in America. We\u2019re going to continue working on this. My hat is off to [Memphis Mayor Paul Young], who has cooperated with us, to [Tennessee Governor Bill Lee], who has now taken what were eight state troopers up to 100 in the area. And President Trump has done a magnificent job.\n\nHagerty on the cooperation of state and federal agencies: It shows what happens when you have cooperation between federal government, state government, local government\u2014cooperation between Republicans and Democrats. It shows that it works in these other cities. We know Chicago has been resistant to this idea\u2026 where the Democrats will not cooperate. Violent crime continues to proliferate over Labor Day weekend in Chicago\u2014scores of people were shot and murdered. They just won\u2019t put their people first. They cannot get over the politics. It\u2019s so sad that they\u2019re willing to sacrifice their own citizens to stand on some ideological point that obviously doesn\u2019t work. But again, Memphis stands as a shining example, and my hat is off to [Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller] at the White House, to the president, of course, to Kash Patel, to the [U.S. Department of Justice], and all of the agencies that are there on the ground.\n\nHagerty on the BLADE Act: My experience in Asia goes back to 1988, when I worked for Boston Consulting Group. They sent me to the region for three years. What I have seen evolve is an industrial policy that the Chinese deploy where they steal our intellectual property. They don\u2019t play by the same set of rules. They use our IP, come in, cut costs, and try to push American companies out of business. They\u2019re doing the same thing in AI. Their distillation models are stealing from us, basically. They\u2019re stealing intellectual property from us. They\u2019re using those to come in and offer a cheap alternative to take over the AI marketplace. We cannot let that happen. We\u2019ve got to lead in this arena. We need to do it responsibly. But the BLADE Act gives us the tools to put in place sanctions to come in and deal directly with those companies that are involved in this illegal distillation, and sanction them in a way that will stop it.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/from-the-battlefield-to-congress-911-shaped-the-men-and-women-who-answered-the-call-to-serve", "From the Battlefield to Congress, 9/11 Shaped the Men and Women Who Answered the Call to Serve", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Twenty-five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks devastated our nation, a generation of patriots stepped up to answer the call to service. In a brand-new episode of the Republican Study Committee\u2019s (RSC) Right to the Point podcast, Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) sits down with Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08) to discuss the events leading up to 9/11, reflect on the twenty-five years since 9/11, and share their unique perspectives as members of the generation whose lives and careers were shaped by the impacts of the worst terrorist attack in history.\n\nBoth Congressmen recall where they were on America\u2019s darkest day. Rep. Van Epps was a freshman at West Point when the whole trajectory of his young career was changed, and Rep. Evans was a young high schooler with his whole life ahead of him. They recount how the event influenced their decision to serve, led them to the Middle East, and continues to inform their service in the halls of Congress today.\n\nThe Congressmen also highlight the progress the U.S. military has made to rebuild its strength and deterrence under President Trump and Republicans. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act delivered a $150 billion investment into America\u2019s national security, helping equip servicemembers with the resources to meet the threats of tomorrow. House Republicans also passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, taking a major step toward ensuring the United States remains the world\u2019s preeminent fighting force.\n\nYou can listen to the full episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-legislation-fix-outdated-fda-drug-preclusion-rules", "Harshbarger Introduces Legislation to Fix Outdated FDA Drug Preclusion Rules, Protect Access to Dietary Supplements", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cAmbiguous FDA standards can leave manufacturers without guidance and consumers guessing about which products are available,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cFor decades, this broken drug preclusion process has allowed Washington bureaucrats to threaten lawful dietary supplements that have safely been purchased over the counter for years, stifling innovation and denying Americans access to products they already trust. My bill delivers the regulatory certainty manufacturers need to innovate and invest with confidence, while establishing transparency and predictability within the drug preclusion framework and preserving consumer access to dietary supplements.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepresentative Harshbarger has introduced exactly the kind of thoughtful, balanced legislation this issue has needed for years,\u201d said Steve Mister, President & CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition. \u201cThis bill doesn't weaken FDA or undermine pharmaceutical innovation. Instead, it restores the balance Congress intended when it enacted DSHEA by creating evenhanded, transparent, or predictable rules that allow both industries to innovate while protecting consumer access to safe dietary supplements. We commend Representative Harshbarger for her leadership and strongly urge Congress to advance this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Representative Harshbarger for introducing this important legislation, which modernizes an outdated provision of law, provides much-needed regulatory certainty, and helps ensure consumer access keeps pace with innovation,\u201d said Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) President and CEO Scott Melville.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/blackburn-duckworth-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-improve-life-saving-emergency-communication-technology", "Blackburn, Duckworth Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Life-Saving Emergency Communication Technology", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "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 Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, reintroduced legislation to improve emergency communication technology and help save lives. The ITS Codification Act would codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which currently serves as the research and engineering laboratory at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and require ITS to develop emergency communication and tracking technologies to help locate trapped individuals in confined spaces where conventional radio communication is limited.\n\n\u201cFirst responders in Tennessee need access to reliable technology that will help them locate trapped individuals in confined spaces where radio signals fail,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOur bipartisan ITS Codification Act would drive the development of advanced communication technologies to help first responders save more lives when every second counts.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-david-kustoff-meets-west-tennesseans-during-august-district-work", "Congressman David Kustoff Meets with West Tennesseans During August District Work Period", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "September 10, 2026\n\nMEMPHIS, TN \u2014 During the month of August, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) spent the district work period back home in Tennessee\u2019s 8th Congressional District, meeting directly with West Tennesseans and discussing the issues important to communities across the region.\n\n\u201cThe heartbeat of America is found in places like West Tennessee,\u201d said Congressman Kustoff. \u201cLast month, I met with farmers, health care providers, manufacturers, law enforcement officers, small business owners, and civic leaders across Tennessee\u2019s 8th Congressional District. Those conversations shape my work in Washington, and I will continue fighting for the West Tennesseans who make our community strong.\u201d\n\nCongressman Kustoff\u2019s August stops and events included:\n\nShelby County\n\nFedEx: Met with FedEx President & CEO Raj Subramaniam in Memphis to discuss the logistics company\u2019s vital role in our state and national economy.\n\nOrgill: Toured Orgill\u2019s state-of-the-art Innovation Center with President & CEO Boyden Moore and learned more about the company\u2019s work supporting independent retailers.\n\nEpicenter Memphis: Led a roundtable discussion at Epicenter Memphis with Launch Tennessee CEO Lindsey Cox, local entrepreneurs, and startup founders.\n\nFrederick W. Smith International Airport: Attended the renaming and dedication ceremony for Frederick W. Smith International Airport, honoring FedEx founder Fred Smith.\n\nInternational Port of Memphis: Toured the International Port of Memphis with local transportation and economic development leaders, including EDGE Memphis President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey, Executive Director of the Port of Memphis and Vice President of Port and Industrial Properties Randy Richardson, and Port Operations Manager Larry Baker.\n\nFedEx Freight: Met with FedEx Freight CEO John Smith to discuss the company\u2019s freight transportation operations.\n\nMedtronic: Toured Medtronic\u2019s Shelby County facility with Site Director Brandon Gentry and discussed the company\u2019s work in spinal, cranial, and surgical technologies.\n\nSmith+Nephew: Visited Smith+Nephew\u2019s Shelby County manufacturing facility with Oxinium Manufacturing Operations Lead Jasmin Nuhic and met with employees supporting the company\u2019s orthopedic technology portfolio.\n\nMiCare Path: Met with MiCare Path CEO Scott Laster and John Bobango to discuss the Memphis-based health care technology company\u2019s work in remote patient monitoring.\n\nStryker: Met with Stryker Division Counsel Tom McAllister to discuss the company\u2019s Shelby County operations supporting orthopedic trauma and extremities care.\n\nSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium: Toured the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, home of the Memphis Tigers, with University of Memphis Senior Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ed Scott and Senior Deputy Athletics Director Tim Duncan.\n\nMemphis Zoo: Visited the Memphis Zoo and met with President & CEO Matt Thompson and Chief Development Officer Michele Correia about its role as a major Mid-South attraction.\n\nLe Bonheur Children\u2019s Hospital: Toured Le Bonheur Children\u2019s Hospital and met with President Dr. Trey Eubanks, Trauma Program Director Dr. Regan Williams, and members of its leadership team.\n\nAlliance Healthcare Services: Met with Alliance Healthcare Services CEO Laurie Powell, Board President Quintin Robinson, Shelby County Commissioner Mark Billingsley, who represents District 4, and members of the Alliance Healthcare Services team, a Memphis behavioral health care provider.\n\nTennessee Breast Cancer Coalition: Met with members of the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, including Board Member Julie Evert, to discuss efforts to support Tennesseans affected by breast cancer.\n\nInsurance and Financial Advisors: Met with members of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, including Tim Moran, Rebecca Schulter, and Mark Miller of UCL Financial Group, to discuss his work supporting financial professionals and the families they serve.\n\nCollierville National Night Out: Joined Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane, Town of Collierville Mayor Maureen Fraser, and local residents for National Night Out, an annual event bringing together members of the community and law enforcement.\n\nGermantown Police Department: Spoke at the swearing-in ceremony for new Germantown police officers Brian Quinn and Cameron Reverts alongside Germantown Municipal Court Judge Robert Brannon, City of Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, and Germantown Police Chief Mike Fisher.\n\nSheriff Floyd Bonner Retirement Ceremony: Attended Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner\u2019s retirement ceremony and presented him with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of his 46 years in law enforcement.\n\nTennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Delivered welcome remarks at the TVA Board of Directors meeting in Memphis and thanked TVA Board Chairman Mitch Graves for his leadership.\n\nEast Memphis Rotary Club: Spoke with East Memphis Rotary Club President Mark Beutelschies, Mike Edwards, and Rotary members about his work supporting Tennessee\u2019s economy and local employers.\n\nArlington Chamber of Commerce: Spoke with Arlington Chamber President Tonia Howell, Chamber Board President Chris Willoughby, Town of Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman, and Chamber members about his work supporting local businesses.\n\nBartlett Chamber of Commerce: Met with Bartlett Area Chamber President & CEO John Threadgill, City of Bartlett Mayor David Parsons, Chamber leadership, and local officials.\n\nTennessee Bankers Association: Spoke to Shelby County bankers about his work on the House Ways and Means Committee.\n\nTipton County\n\nMueller Fittings Company: Toured Mueller Fittings Company with General Manager Kevin Gay and City of Covington Mayor Jan Wade Hensley, visiting the Covington manufacturer of copper fittings for plumbing, HVAC, and industrial use.\n\nMagnum Ice Cream: Toured the Magnum Ice Cream factory in Tipton County with Head of Factory Andres Borrero.\n\nBaptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton: Toured Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton and met with CFO Carlos Mendoza, Administrator for Quality and Compliance Madalyn Mason, Director of HR Myra Cousar, and hospital leadership.\n\nMadison County\n\nTennessee Bankers Association: Spoke with Madison County bankers at an event hosted by Tennessee Bankers Association President Colin Barrett about the One Big Beautiful Bill and his work to support West Tennessee\u2019s financial institutions.\n\nStanley Black & Decker: Toured Stanley Black & Decker\u2019s Madison County facility and met with Plant Manager Nichole Hally, Distribution Site Leader David Eastman, and the manufacturing team.\n\nMars Snacking: Visited Mars Snacking\u2019s Jackson site and met with Plant Director Bryan Sparks, HR Director Laura Borchardt, Public Affairs Director Carlos Monje, and the team at the food manufacturing facility.\n\nVolunteer Ag Services: Joined farmer John Verell and Tennessee State Representative Chris Todd, who represents House District 73, at the Brandon Karcher Memorial Field Day hosted by Volunteer Ag Services, an agricultural services company supporting farmers across the region.\n\nToyota Motor Manufacturing Tennessee: Toured Toyota\u2019s Jackson facility and met with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tennessee President Todd Williams, Regional Director William Downey, Plant Manager Scott Hastings, Senior Manager of HR Jason Bates, and the automotive manufacturer\u2019s West Tennessee team.\n\nDynamix Physical Therapy: Toured Dynamix Physical Therapy with Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer Heath Ladd, Chief Clinical Officer Nick Nordtvedt, and members of the team at the local physical therapy provider in Madison County.\n\nDream Center: Toured the Dream Center with Tennessee State Senator Ed Jackson, who represents Senate District 25, Executive Director Gail Gustafson, and Assistant Director Robin Apelgren. The Dream Center is a nonprofit helping women and mothers with children overcome homelessness in Madison County.\n\nAARP: Met with AARP Associate State Director of Advocacy Makayla McCree and AARP team leaders Gwen Ragland and Gary Ragland to discuss advocacy for seniors across West Tennessee.\n\nGenPac: Visited GenPac, a family-owned packaging business based in Madison County, and met with GenPac President Charles Woodside.\n\nJudge Steven W. Maroney Investiture: Spoke at the investiture ceremony for Judge Steven W. Maroney\u2019s appointment to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section, alongside Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and congratulated Judge Maroney, Holly, and their family.\n\nLane College: Attended the investiture of Dr. Donald W. Comer as the 11th President of Lane College alongside Madison County Mayor AJ Massey and City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger.\n\nGibson County\n\nGibson County Farm Bureau: Joined Gibson County Farm Bureau County President Justin Pope, Tennessee Farm Bureau Director-at-Large Todd Littleton, UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Dr. Keith Carver, and local agriculture leaders for a discussion on issues affecting West Tennessee farmers.\n\nWHMc Gun Shop: Visited Lance Sherer, owner of WHMc Gun Shop, a local firearms business in Gibson County, to discuss federal firearms regulations and his work to eliminate the federal suppressor tax.\n\nCrockett County\n\nDirect Customer Solutions: Toured Direct Customer Solutions, a pharmaceutical logistics company in Crockett County, and met with Direct Customer Solutions President Steve Shirley, Executive Vice President Jesse Walters, and company leadership.\n\nMayor Gary Reasons Retirement Celebration: Attended Crockett County Mayor Gary Reasons\u2019 retirement celebration and presented him with a certificate recognizing his 42 years of service.\n\nChester County\n\nExchange Club Carl Perkins Center: Visited the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and met with Director Kirby Fahs, Vice President Delanie Bottoms, and its leadership.\n\nJones Contractors: Met with Jones Contractors Vice President of Finance Patricia Jones and the team at the West Tennessee contractor specializing in pipeline and energy infrastructure.\n\nHenderson-Chester County Chamber of Commerce: Spoke with Chamber President Craig Casey, Vice President Heather Griffin, Executive Director Blake Hopper, Chamber members, and local business leaders about his work on the House Ways and Means Committee to support small businesses.\n\nLocal Health Care and Business Meetings: Met with health care providers Dr. Carey Frix and Dr. Nicole Jennings at Frix-Jennings Clinic, Chad Cherry and Eddie Cherry of Cherry & Son Sales, and Chester County cattle producers Todd Terry and Don Terry.\n\nHenderson County\n\nScotts Hill High School: Spoke with Tennessee Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Bryan Wright, Libby Wilson, and West Tennessee farmers about the Farm Bill and his work in Washington to support the agriculture industry.\n\nHenderson County Sheriff\u2019s Office: Met with retiring Henderson County Sheriff Brian Duke and presented him with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to thank him for his 20 years of service to Henderson County.\n\nAfter a month of meetings across TN-08, Congressman Kustoff remains committed to listening to West Tennesseans and advocating for their priorities in Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/09/icymi-hagerty-joins-varney-co-on-fox-business-to-discuss-tariffs-on-israel-affordability/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty Joins\u00a0Varney & Co.\u00a0on Fox Business to Discuss Tariffs on Israel, Affordability", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty, (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business to discuss the foreign trade restrictions on Israel and affordability ahead of the midterm election.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on foreign trade restrictions on Israel: I\u2019m disappointed, but I\u2019m not surprised. If you look at [the United Kingdom, Canada, France and others], they\u2019re much more concerned about their own domestic politics\u2014appeasing the left in their own countries\u2014than they are about supporting Israel, who is locked arm in arm with the United States and its Arab neighbors trying to defeat a 47-year-old terrorist regime in Iran. Rather than do that, rather than step up to the larger macro issues, they are pandering and dealing with the [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS)] crowd in their own countries. They should actually be focusing on more important issues in their own countries\u2026 Their military capability that they\u2019ve let wane; they should be beefing that up. Their energy independence\u2014that they\u2019ve lost\u2014instead of depending on Russia, they should be building and working with us. Here they are wasting their time, again, pandering to domestic politics.\n\nHagerty on affordability: I\u2019m in Dallas right now. I was with [Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA)] last night. He makes a very important case: One thing that doesn\u2019t seem to be getting covered very much at all is the fact that job growth is on the rebound. We have exceptional job growth in the private sector. Wages are growing again. That was not the case under Joe Biden, where wages were growing at half the rate of inflation. Under Biden, we had inflation over 9%. We brought that down\u2026 I\u2019ve got the Freedom to Build Act that targets the incredibly high cost of housing right now. The bureaucrat tax, as it\u2019s called, the cost of permitting before you even build the house can be as high as $100,000 in some areas. Dealing with this bureaucratic overhead\u2014the speaker mentioned no tax on tips, no tax on overtime\u2014all of these policies are aimed at bringing affordability to the surface, and we\u2019re going to be focused on it very much.\n\nHagerty on former President Joe Biden\u2019s failed economic policies: We were dealt a very bad hand coming out of [the Biden administration]. But I think what you\u2019ll hear the next couple of days are the programs and the policies that are aimed at dealing with this. If you look to the other side, what have the Democrats\u2019 options been? The only thing that they\u2019ve delivered since [President Donald Trump] took office is two historically long government shutdowns. That has certainly not been good for the economy. In fact, it\u2019s taken GDP growth off. That\u2019s their solution. [The GOP\u2019s] solution is actually to target the problems, deal with deregulation, increase energy independence. We\u2019re producing at a higher level than we ever had before. And by the way, President Trump will resolve the situation in the Middle East and that will bring medium-to-long-term stability to the oil and energy markets, and we will see much greater prosperity from there.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-host-sixth-annual-military-academy-day", "Harshbarger to Host Sixth Annual Military Academy Day", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Kingsport, TN \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) announced today that she will host her sixth annual Military Service Academy Day, connecting students and families across Tennessee's First Congressional District with representatives from our nation's elite service academies and giving students a firsthand look at the path to a military education.\n\n\"Six years in, and it's still one of my greatest privileges to help students across Northeast Tennessee pursue their dream of serving our country,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \"Attending one of our nation's elite service academies is a tremendous honor, and I am proud to assist students in East Tennessee who seek to serve our country in the future. Each year, this event opens the door for young folks to engage directly with representatives from our military academies, ask questions, and begin charting their course toward a future of service to America.\"\n\nStudents will get the chance to speak with representatives about course selection, extracurricular activities, and more.\n\nThe event will be held on Saturday, September 19th at the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, located at 300 W. Market Street in Kingsport, TN 37660. Registration begins at 9:00 AM.\n\nRSVPs are required for attendance: TN01.Academy@mail.house.gov\n\nRepresentatives from the following Military Academies will be in attendance:\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy\n\nU.S. Coast Guard Academy\n\nU.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n\nU.S. Naval Academy\n\nU.S. Military Academy - West Point\n\nFor frequently asked questions regarding military service academy nominations, please clickHERE.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/04/hagerty-applauds-appointment-of-former-chief-of-staff-as-acting-army-secretary/", "Hagerty Applauds Appointment of Former Chief of Staff as Acting Army Secretary", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014On Thursday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) commended President Donald Trump\u2019s appointment of Hagerty\u2019s former chief of staff, Adam Telle, as acting secretary of the Army.\n\nThe president announced Telle\u2019s appointment via a post on Truth Social. In the post, Trump noted that Telle was \u201ca Great Patriot, who is respected by all.\u201d\n\nTelle has a more than 20-year career in public service. He began his tenure in Washington in 2005, serving as a staff member to Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) upon his graduation from Mississippi State University, and later as legislative director and deputy chief of staff to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS).\n\nTelle served as the chief staff member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security before moving to the White House Office of Legislative Affairs to serve as Trump\u2019s chief liaison to the Senate during the president\u2019s first term. Among his many accomplishments as liaison, Telle played a pivotal role in implementing the Abraham Accords, as well as in establishing the U.S. Space Force, the newest armed service branch in nearly 70 years.\n\nIn August 2021, Telle returned to Capitol Hill to serve on Hagerty\u2019s staff, where he rose to chief of staff. After President Trump won the 2024 election, Telle was appointed to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works during the president\u2019s second term in August 2025.\n\nDuring his time as Assistant Secretary, Telle transformed the Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 Civil Works Program, focusing on major national infrastructure projects involving commercial navigation, flood and storm-damage reduction, water resources, environmental restoration and permitting. During his confirmation process, Telle earned the support of the Senate as he advanced through both the Senate Armed Services and the Environment and Public Works Committees and was confirmed by the entire body in a bipartisan 72-22 vote.\n\n\u201cAdam has repeatedly proven himself as a tried and tested leader,\u201d said Hagerty. \u201cThrough his service across multiple areas of government, he\u2019s demonstrated that he can meet any moment and lead diligently, efficiently and\u2014above all\u2014effectively. This is a critical position for our nation\u2019s defense, and I can\u2019t imagine a better leader for the world\u2019s greatest warriors. I have every confidence that Adam will be a catalyst for positive change as acting secretary of the Army and support the outstanding work Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has done thus far in reestablishing American military excellence.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/blackburn-warner-reintroduce-bill-to-increase-transparency-of-medicare-advantage-benefits-for-seniors", "Blackburn, Warner Reintroduce Bill to Increase Transparency of Medicare Advantage Benefits for Seniors", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "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 Mark Warner (D-Va.), members of the Senate Finance Committee, reintroduced the Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act, legislation that would require Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to publicly report the supplemental benefits they offer and the extent to which beneficiaries use them.\n\n\u201cTransparency in Medicare Advantage plans is long overdue,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act would ensure beneficiaries receive the full value they\u2019ve been promised by requiring plans to publicly report the supplemental benefits they offer and how often seniors actually use them.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need clear and accessible data in order to properly evaluate the effectiveness of the Medicare Advantage program,\u201d said Senator Warner.\u201cThis legislation will make sure we can ensure the sustainability of Medicare and better evaluate plans, so seniors have the best coverage for their needs.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn recent years, the use of Medicare Advantage has skyrocketed, with more than half of eligible beneficiaries nationwide choosing to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. However, there is currently no statutory requirement to specifically report on supplemental benefits, making data on available benefits and their utilization unreliable. Senator Blackburn\u2019s legislation would ensure this information is available to understand beneficiary use of supplemental benefits and their impact on the sustainability of the Medicare program.\n\nMEDICARE ADVANTAGE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS TRANSPARENCY ACT\n\nSpecifically, the legislation would require Medicare Advantage plans to report enrollee-level data on supplemental benefits to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as well as report eligibility for benefits, the types of benefit categories offered, and data on utilization of and payments for such benefits. There is currently no statutory requirement to specifically report on supplemental benefits, making data on available benefits and their utilization unreliable.\n\nClick here for bill text.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-questions-intelligence-experts-export-controls", "Congressman Cohen Questions Intelligence Experts on Export Controls on Sensitive Computer Chips", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today questioned expert witnesses on intelligence and national security issues about why the Trump administration lifted export controls to allow the Chinese Communist Party to purchase high-performance but sensitive H200 GPU computer chips that can be used to strengthen the Chinese military to the detriment of the United States.\n\nThe Congressman noted that everyone who has testified before the committee has recognized the decision was a dangerous mistake, including the witnesses today.\n\nIn his remarks, the Congressman said in part:\n\n\u201cIt all comes down to that decision. I think it\u2019s pretty obvious who made the decision to give them chips: President Trump. Is that not correct?...All the experts we\u2019ve had, and everybody, says \u2018don\u2019t do it. Big mistake. We\u2019re giving away our country\u2019s future.\u2019 He\u2019s more worried about the Kennedy Center\u2019s naming and the ballroom and the golf course.\u201d\n\nSee his line of questioning here.\n\nThe witnesses at today\u2019s hearing were:\n\nMr. Frank Cilluffo \u2013 Director of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University;\n\nMr. David Feith \u2013 Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute; and\n\nDr. Seth Jones \u2013 President of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-resolution-honoring-life-and-legacy-dolly-parton-0", "Harshbarger Introduces Resolution Honoring Life and Legacy of Dolly Parton, Leads Moment of Silence on House Floor", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, the Sevier County native whose music, generosity, and devotion to her East Tennessee roots continue to touch the lives of millions following her passing on Aug. 25, 2026, in Nashville, at age 80. The resolution was co-led by Congressman John Rose (R-TN) and cosponsored by the entire Tennessee House delegation. Harshbarger also led a moment of silence on the House Floor this evening in Parton's honor.\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was one of our own, and she never forgot where she came from,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cHer music told the truth about hard work, faith, and family, and that truth is why the whole world fell in love with her. But it was her heart that made her a legend at home. Whether she was rebuilding after the wildfires that tore through her own community, opening doors for children to learn to read, supporting healthcare and research for Tennessee families, or protecting the mountains she loved, Dolly gave back every chance she got. Guided by her faith and shaped by her East Tennessee upbringing, she used her success to lift up the people around her at every turn. My prayers are with her family and everyone who loved her, and I am honored to lead this effort in the House to make sure her legacy is remembered for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe couldn\u2019t have asked for a better ambassador for Tennessee than Dolly Parton,\u201d said Congressman John Rose. \u201cShe will continue to touch countless lives through her music and philanthropy, including the Imagination Library, and her impact on tourism in East Tennessee will be felt for decades to come. I was honored to sign onto this resolution which recognizes her extraordinary life.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly Parton embodied everything it meant to be an East Tennessean. Her voice, her style, and her outlook on life were all born from her upbringing in Sevierville. She rose from a poor, rural farmhouse to the peaks of stardom, never forgetting the people and the place that helped her get there. The American Dream resonates with every person in this country, and as much as we love to claim her in Tennessee, she represented all of America. Rest in peace, Dolly,\u201d said Congressman Tim Burchett.\n\n\u201cDolly was a living embodiment of grace, unwavering love and support, and generosity. She was the greatest representative of Tennessee ever. Not just from her musical talents and her philanthropy, but from her big heart and outstanding generosity. She made us all proud. The world would be a better place if more people were like Dolly,\u201d said Congressman Steve Cohen.\n\n\u201cNot one Tennessean has ever done more for our great state than Dolly Parton. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution to honor her life and legacy of always putting others first,\u201d said Congressman Scott DesJarlais.\n\n\u201cAs we mourn the passing of Dolly Parton, we remember not only a legendary voice but a true Tennessee treasure. Dolly\u2019s kindness, generosity, and unwavering spirit brought pride to our state and joy to millions around the world. Her remarkable legacy in music, philanthropy, and the hearts of so many will never be forgotten. From the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to stages worldwide, Dolly embodied the best of our community's values and touched lives everywhere she went. We honor her memory and give thanks for the extraordinary life she shared with all of us,\" said Congressman Chuck Fleischmann.\n\n\u201cI am honored to cosponsor this resolution recognizing the life and legacy of Dolly Parton,\u201d said Congressman David Kustoff. \u201cDolly brought pride to our state and joy to millions. Dolly\u2019s legacy will remain a part of Tennessee and our nation for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cTennessee has lost one of its brightest stars,\u201d said Congressman Andy Ogles. \u201cDolly Parton was a model Tennessean. A woman of faith, humility, generosity, and extraordinary talent who never forgot where she came from. Our prayers are with Dolly\u2019s family and all those mourning this tremendous loss. Tennessee will never be the same without her.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly Parton represented the very best of Tennessee, and her loss is being felt around the world. She grew up one of twelve children in a two-room cabin in the mountains of East Tennessee, and no matter how far her career took her, she never forgot where she came from. While widely known for her music and acting, her philanthropic work left its own legacy as well. When wildfires devastated Sevier County in 2016, Dolly stepped in and provided more than 900 families who had lost their homes with $10,000 each. In addition to her many other charitable gifts, her commitment to giving back also led her to establish the Imagination Library in 1995, which began in her home county and grew into a worldwide program that has provided more than 330 million free books to children. While Dolly was always proud to call Tennessee home, Tennessee could not have been prouder to call her one of our own. We will miss her dearly,\" said Congressman Matt Van Epps.\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was a Tennessee treasure who lived out the Volunteer Spirit, loved our nation, and opened doors of opportunity for countless people,\u201d said Senator Marsha Blackburn. \u201cWhile there are no words to fully express the sorrow all Tennesseans feel in her loss, I hope this resolution plays at least a small part in ensuring that her legacy is never forgotten, and I am honored to lead it in the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cDolly is truly a Tennessee legend,\u201d said Senator Bill Hagerty. \u201cFrom her humble beginnings in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to worldwide fame, Dolly exemplified the American Dream. Whether she was performing on stages across the globe, creating opportunities for families to make memories in Dollywood, or fostering a love of reading through her Imagination Library, Dolly lived a life dedicated to encouraging others to dream just as boldly as she did. She never forgot where she came from and left an indelible cultural and economic impact on our state. She will be very dearly missed.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to read the resolution.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbargers-nuclear-advisory-committee-reform-act-advances-through-energy-and", "Harshbarger's Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act Advances Through Energy and Commerce Committee", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced her Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act at today's full committee markup, sending the bill to the full House for consideration:\n\n\u201cChina is racing to build reactors while we bury our own designs in paperwork, and that ends with this bill. Today's vote takes us one step closer to making sure our nuclear safety experts are spending their time on the issues that actually matter instead of duplicating work the NRC has already done. I'm grateful to Chairman Guthrie for helping get this through committee, and I'll keep pushing until it's signed into law,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-14-million-national-cancer-institute-grants", "Congressman Cohen Announces $1.4 Million in National Cancer Institute Grants to UTHSC", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced two grants totaling $1,441,914 to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) from the National Cancer Institute. One, for $1,052,689, will support research into the contribution of microbial-derived metabolites to protective immunity in obesity-driven cancer risk under the direction of Dr. Liza Makowski-Hayes. Her group will work to address the questions: how and to what extent are the underlying mechanisms of obesity-mediated increases in chronic inflammation related to an increase in cancer risk? A second grant, for $389,215 will support research into drug discovery for triple-negative breast cancer (absence or substantial lack of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2), which accounts for 15-20 percent of breast cancers, under the direction of Dr. Michio Kurosu.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am always pleased to see these kinds of investment in the work of our University of Tennessee medical school. Cancer research saves lives. I commend both Drs. Makowski-Hayes and Kurosu for undertaking this work.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-celebrates-901-day-9-01", "Congressman Cohen Celebrates \u201c901 Day\u201d on 9-01", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today went to the House floor to speak on \u201c901 Day.\u201d\n\nIn his remarks, he said:\n\n\u201cToday we celebrate 901 Day \u2014 a day to celebrate Memphis, Tennessee, and the people who make our city what it is. 901 is more than an area code. It represents people who have never been afraid to stand up and demand better. In 1968, sanitation workers, AFSCME workers, in Memphis marched for dignity, fair wages, and the basic right to be treated with respect. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis to stand with those workers and tragically lost his life there. This history reminds us that progress has never simply been given to Memphis. We have fought for it.\n\n\u201cNow, with the gerrymandered redistricting effort that took away the vote of black voters and the large-scale ICE raid that was carried out this past weekend, we must fight harder.\n\n\u201cSo yes, today we celebrate the history, the music, the culture, and the BBQ, but most importantly we celebrate the people \u2014 the generations of Memphians who refused to accept that things had to stay the way they were. And we carry that spirit forward.\n\n\u201cHappy 901 Day Memphis.\u201d\n\nSee the speech here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-questions-witnesses-hearing-sanctuary-jurisdictions", "Congressman Cohen Questions Witnesses at Hearing on Sanctuary Jurisdictions", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The Republican-led Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement today held yet another hearing on sanctuary jurisdictions in advance of the November midterm elections. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents\u2019 accountability after killings in Minnesota and the competence of immigration policy leadership, and then focused on an incident over the weekend in Memphis.\n\nIn his remarks, he said in part:\n\n\u201cIf we had better people running ICE what happened (in Minnesota) may not have occurred. We need experts - law enforcement experts \u2013 top notch people who know what they\u2019re doing and can zero in on \u2018the worst of the worst\u2019 and get them off the streets and out of the country.\u201d\n\nCongressman Cohen said neither of Trump\u2019s picks to run the Department of Homeland Security \u2013 Kristi Noem and Markwayne Mullin \u2013 were qualified.\n\nHe continued:\n\n\u201cSanctuary cities are not the problem. Memphis is not a sanctuary city, but just this weekend we had the largest ICE raid in Memphis history. They picked up a hundred people out of a bar and took them and put them in buses at 2 o\u2019clock in the morning. They claim they went to the bar, which is in a Hispanic neighborhood, because they had gambling going on\u2026They took people out of the community. The Memphis mayor objected. I object. We don\u2019t need the National Guard in Memphis. We don\u2019t need ICE in Memphis. We need rational law enforcement and rational immigration (policy). We don\u2019t have it.\u201d\n\nSee his remarks here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-urges-governor-lee-request-fema-assistance", "Congressman Cohen Urges Governor Lee to Request FEMA Assistance", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to Governor Bill Lee urging him again to seek assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to the damage done by storms on Saturday, August 22. The Congressman wrote to Lee on August 24 making the same request.\n\nIn his letter today, Congressman wrote in part:\n\n\u201cI am writing to follow up on my earlier letter urging you to request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Shelby County in response to the severe storms that struck Memphis and Shelby County on Saturday, August 22. Since my previous correspondence, conditions on the ground have continued to demonstrate the urgent need for additional support.\n\n\u201cThe storm caused extensive damage to homes, public infrastructure, and utility systems, leading to prolonged power outages and significant disruptions to essential services. Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW) reported power outages to 148,000 customers. As many as 11,000 customers were without power through Wednesday, August 26. Restoration crews, including both local personnel and external support teams, are working tirelessly, but the scale of tree damage, downed lines, and infrastructural impact has made recovery efforts especially challenging.\n\n\u201cAs of August 31, the Shelby County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has reported over $19 million in recorded damages. Given the severity of the damage and the continued burden on critical services, prompt action is necessary to ensure access to all available federal resources that can support recovery and stabilization.\n\n\u201cI respectfully reiterate my request that you seek the appropriate federal disaster assistance as soon as possible. I stand ready to support this effort in any way needed.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohens-statement-sundays-ice-raid-macon-road", "Congressman Cohen\u2019s Statement on Sunday\u2019s ICE Raid on Macon Road", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), who has raised his strong opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) being in Memphis on the House floor, in House Judiciary committee proceedings and in letters urging the immediate removal of ICE, made the following statement after hearing about an ICE raid at a bar on Macon Road in Memphis:\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again: we don\u2019t have an immigration problem in Memphis and ICE\u2019s presence in our streets is doing more harm than good. The people detained \u2013 for whatever reason \u2013 are our neighbors. The harshly negative reaction to Sunday\u2019s ICE raid reflects our community\u2019s assessment that ICE needs to leave Memphis. Governor Lee needs a job when his term ends so he is acting with immigration like he did with redistricting, helping Trump.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-chuck-fleischmann-secures-3-million-for-utc-s-translational-research-program", "Congressman Chuck Fleischmann Secures $3 Million for UTC\u2019s Translational Research Program", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Congressman Chuck Fleischmann has successfully secured $3 million in federal funding to advance the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Translational Research Program. This significant investment underscores UTC\u2019s commitment to pioneering research and innovation that directly benefits the community and the region.\n\nThe funding, awarded as part of a federal appropriations package, will support UTC\u2019s efforts to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application. The Translational Research Program at UTC focuses on translating groundbreaking research into practical solutions.\n\n\u201cI am proud to champion investments that strengthen our region\u2019s future. This $3 million in federal funding for UTC\u2019s Translational Research Program will empower our university to turn cutting-edge research into real solutions that benefit Chattanooga, the entire state of Tennessee, and our great nation. Supporting innovation and higher education is critical to creating jobs, advancing technology, and improving lives right here at home,\u201d said Congressman Fleischmann.\n\n\u201cThis investment represents an important next step in expanding UTC\u2019s research enterprise and strengthening our ability to turn discovery into solutions that make a real difference in people\u2019s lives,\u201d Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce said. \u201cAs these funds become available, we can begin putting the people, tools and infrastructure in place to move promising ideas from the laboratory into practical application. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Fleischmann for once again investing in UTC and recognizing the important role our University can play in driving innovation, economic growth and opportunity for Chattanooga, Tennessee and beyond.\u201d\n\nCongressman Fleischmann\u2019s support reflects his ongoing commitment to advancing science, technology, and education in Tennessee. With this funding, UTC will expand research opportunities and foster collaborations with industry and community partners.", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-sexual-abuse-of-prison-staff-heads-to-president-trump-s-desk", "Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Heads to President Trump\u2019s Desk", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "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 U.S. House of Representatives passed her bipartisan legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, to help address the increasingly pervasive sexual assault and harassment of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees by inmates:\n\n\u201cNo law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cI am pleased the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act\u2014which will help us end the appalling sexual abuse of prison staff by inmates\u2014has passed the House and is heading to President Trump\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is also co-sponsored by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). Representative Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nAccording to a February 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), a staggering 40% of 7,000 surveyed BOP staff stated they had been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by an inmate.\n\nAt United States Penitentiary Thomson in Illinois, there were over 300 incidents of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment in a single year. USP Thomson houses only 875 inmates.\n\nThe DOJ OIG report, combined with BOP staff testimonials on this troubling problem, strongly suggests that BOP\u2019s reporting and corrective procedures for inmate-on-staff sexual assault and harassment are inadequate, creating an institutional culture that lacks accountability and endangers BOP employees.\n\nTHE PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT\n\nThe Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act will require:\n\nThe BOP to fully implement the recommendations in the Inspector General\u2019s 2023 report regarding mitigating inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault and to fully ascertain the scope of the problem;\n\nThe DOJ OIG to conduct an analysis of punishments for sexual harassment and sexual assault in BOP facilities; and\n\nThe U.S. Attorney General to promulgate a rule adopting national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual assault and harassment of BOP staff by inmates.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the American Correctional Association,the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Council of Prison Locals 33.\n\nRELATABLE\n\nBlackburn, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-23-million-health-and-human-services-0", "Congressman Cohen Announces $2.3 Million in Health and Human Services Grants to UTHSC, St. Jude and Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a $1 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand the maternity care workforce under the direction of Dr. Mary Fouquier of the College of Nursing. Congressman Cohen also announced Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach will receive a grant of $450,000 for its Delta Region Maternal Care Coordination Program from HRSA.\n\nSt. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $921,871 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study the structural basis of signal instigation under the direction of Dr. Georgios Skiniotis, director of its Center of Excellence for Structural Cell Biology. Proteins are 3-dimensional and drug-binding, and can subtly alter that shape to induce, enhance, reduce, or prevent something else downstream in the biological system from occurring. Dr. Skiniotis\u2019 team will use advanced cryogenic electron microscopy techniques to directly observe several proteins, the metabotropic glutamate 2 and 5 (mGluR2 and mGluR5), and \u03b3-aminobutyric acid B receptors (GABABR) which bind the neurotransmitters glutamate and glycine receptor, in combination with another critical protein class, called the G-proteins. The mGluR2, mGluR5, and GABABR are part of a substantial class of receptors, called the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). Approximately 35 percent of all FDA-approved drugs target these GPCRs. Thus, the detailed structural information that Dr. Skiniotis\u2019 team seeks to uncover will assist in the development of new drugs for these critical targets.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cIn a region with high levels of infant and maternal mortality, these investments in training nurses and outreach to the community will save lives. St. Jude continues to do critical research at the cellular level that will result in discoveries and improve outcomes. I congratulate all three recipients of this funding for the life-saving work they are doing.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-916030-grants-federal-emergency-management", "Congressman Cohen Announces $916,030 in Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) announced today that Memphis Shelby County Schools, Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) and the Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, with offices in Covington, will receive a total of $916,030 to address storm disaster-related expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).\n\nMemphis Shelby County Schools will receive $250,850 for repairs and Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation will receive $541,134 for replacement utility poles and transformers as a result of the storm that was declared a disaster in February. Both figures represent the 75 percent federal share for reimbursements.\n\nMLGW will receive $124,046 for costs associated with managing public assistance grants as a result of storms last summer. That figure represents 100 percent of the cost incurred.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cOur region has taken quite a bruising in recent years from straight-line winds and tornadoes. This FEMA funding will help reimburse the costs incurred locally and the investment will improve the local economy.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-42-million-fema-grants-tipton-county", "Congressman Cohen Announces $4.2 Million in FEMA Grants for Tipton County, Covington and Munford", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Tipton County, Covington and Munford will share $4,222,558 in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The City of Covington will receive $3,743,581 to build a multi-purpose facility that can double as a Community Safe Room adjacent to the Covington Police Station. Its maximum occupancy would be 736.\n\nTipton County will receive $299,171 and Munford will receive $179,606 for weather warning and alert systems.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cTipton County has taken it on the chin recently with severe weather. These precautionary efforts to address the increasing frequency and severity of these events are practical and potentially life-saving.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-snap-timely-reporting-waiver-and-mass", "Congressman Cohen Announces SNAP Timely Reporting Waiver and Mass Replacement of SNAP Benefits for Shelby County", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Administration has approved two requests from the Tennessee Department of Human Services to loosen restrictions on the timely request for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) replacement benefits due to the major storm damage last Saturday, August 22. The second waiver authorizes replacement of those benefits.\n\nHouseholds already enrolled in the SNAP program in eight ZIP codes are eligible: 38004, 38108, 38111, 38115, 38116, 38119, 38126 and 38141. The number of SNAP beneficiaries in the affected area is estimated at 65,222. The total monthly issuance of benefits to the affected areas is $29,682,489.\n\nNormally, recipients would be required to request replacement benefits within 10 days of an emergency or disaster, but the waiver gives recipients until September 11.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe severity of the damage and length of time electric power was out after Saturday\u2019s storm makes these sensible waivers necessary. I am hopeful affected recipients will take advantage of this prolonged application period.\u201d\n\nSNAP enrollees can apply for replacement benefits through the Tennessee Department of Human Services through the state\u2019s One DHS portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov/csp.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-dingell-introduce-legislation-study-chinese-threats-us-auto", "Harshbarger, Dingell Introduce Legislation to Study Chinese Threats to the U.S. Auto Industry", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cChina has a playbook, and we've watched them run it on critical minerals, shipbuilding, and batteries,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cNow they're setting their sights on the global automotive market, building out their industrial base with state subsidies and flooding markets with artificially cheap products to undercut American manufacturers. As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, that strategy isn't just an economic threat, it's a national security threat and a risk to the data of every American behind the wheel. This bill gives policymakers the facts we need to understand how deep this penetration goes and to protect our automotive industry before it's too late.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm a car girl\u2014I will always fight for our auto workers and this critical industry that is the backbone of America's economy. I am proud to help lead this bipartisan piece of legislation that will create good-paying jobs and protect our national security. And we must continue our efforts to decrease our reliance on China and create a level playing field,\u201d said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-duckworth-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-counter-communist-china-s-gray-zone-aggression-against-indo-pacific-partners", "Blackburn, Duckworth Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Counter Communist China\u2019s \u2018Gray-Zone\u2019 Aggression Against Indo-Pacific Partners", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "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 Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve our nation\u2019s capabilities to counter the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s (PRC) intimidation and coercion tactics in the Indo-Pacific, which actively threaten the safety of our partners in the region as well as our national security. Known as \u2018gray-zone tactics,\u2019 these actions are aimed at disrupting regional stability while stopping just short of armed conflict\u2014a dangerous strategy that sets the stage for even harsher intervention by the PRC in the future. The Senators\u2019 bipartisan Countering Gray Zone Aggression by the People\u2019s Republic of China Act would direct the State Department to enhance cooperation with our Indo-Pacific partners and better address the growing threat of PRC aggression in the region.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-announces-nearly-2-million-federal-trio-funding-east-tennessee", "Harshbarger Announces\u00a0Nearly $2 Million\u00a0in Federal TRIO Funding for East Tennessee", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThese awards mean Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center staff at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Tusculum, and Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority can keep doing this work for another year,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cMy office heard directly from constituents in Johnson City, Greeneville, and across our district who were worried about what changes to this program would mean for their students, and we made sure the U.S. Department of Education understood how much this funding matters here. I'm proud of the work these grantees do every day helping first-generation and low-income students get ready for college, and I'll keep fighting for East Tennessee's fair share of these federal dollars.\u201d\n\n\u201cETSU has a longstanding tradition of serving first-generation and low-income students, helping them access the opportunities they need to thrive in college and beyond,\u201d said Dr. Brian Noland, East Tennessee State University President. \u201cFor more than 20 years, Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers at ETSU have annually served 1,600 students to pursue education and training beyond high school, whether at a TCAT, community college, four-year university, or through military service. Through personalized guidance, mentorship, and college and career readiness services, these programs have helped students build pathways to success. We are especially grateful to Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger for her leadership and tireless advocacy in securing funding for these programs, and we thank Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for their partnership and commitment to expanding educational opportunity. This investment will have a lasting impact on the lives of students and families throughout our region.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-legislation-end-federal-ban-home-distillation", "Harshbarger Introduces\u00a0Legislation to\u00a0End Federal Ban on Home Distillation", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today introduced the Freedom to Home Distill Act, legislation that would end the federal prohibition on home distillation and extend to distillers the same tax-free, personal-use exemption that home brewers of beer and wine have enjoyed since Congress updated the tax code in 1978.\n\n\u201cIt makes no sense that Americans can legally make beer and wine at home for personal consumption, but not a small batch of spirits,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cDistilling has deep roots in Tennessee and across Appalachia, tied to self-reliance and craftsmanship that go back generations. It's long past time we modernize this outdated federal law. My bill restores an important piece of that tradition and puts personal responsibility back where it belongs: with the American people.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nEric \u201cDigger\u201d Manes, star of the reality television series Moonshiners on the Discovery Channel and native of Tennessee\u2019s First Congressional District:\n\n\u201cIt would be an understatement to say that it was an honor to be involved in authoring the Freedom to Home Distill Act. When I initially approached Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger to explore the possibility of introducing a bill that would allow hobby distillers to engage in their craft without the fear of law enforcement intervention, it was a monumental step. The apprehension of prosecution has been a persistent concern for illegal distillers since George Washington participated in the same process that is now being carried out in these Appalachian hills. My hope is that everyone who reads this will contact their federal representatives, regardless of whether they intend to pursue the hobby themselves, and request their support for this bill. Given that multiple states have legalized marijuana, it appears logical that we should be permitted to engage in our hobby without facing repercussions. Congresswoman Harshbarger has dedicated three years of research and effort to the development of this bill solely because one of her constituents inquired about her interest in becoming a hero to four million citizens. The moonshine community cannot express its gratitude enough to Representative Diana Harshbarger!\u201d\n\nReps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Riley Moore (R-WV) joined as original cosponsors.\n\n\u201cNationwide prohibition ended nearly a century ago, yet the federal government continues to regulate domestic distilling operations. There is no reason to keep antiquated and inefficient laws on the books, nor is there any reason that this should not be state-level issue. I support the \u201cFreedom to Home Distill Act\u201d and any legislation that reduces red-tape and strengthens individual liberties,\u201d said Congressman Tim Burchett.\n\n\u201cWest Virginia has a proud tradition of craftsmanship, independence, and yes, moonshining. The federal government shouldn\u2019t stand in the way of responsible adults distilling spirits for personal use in their own homes. The Freedom to Home Distill Act is a commonsense bill that protects Americans\u2019 individual liberties,\u201d said Congressman Riley Moore.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nUnder current law, home brewers can produce up to 200 gallons of beer or wine per household each year tax-free for personal use. Home distillation of spirits, however, remains fully banned under federal law. The restriction predates Prohibition by more than 50 years and has not been substantively updated since, even as commercial distilling has grown into a legitimate and expanding industry.\n\nThe Freedom to Home Distill Act:\n\nCreates a tax exemption for spirits produced at a qualifying home distillery, defined as a private residence, or a connected shed, yard or enclosure, used solely for personal or family consumption.\n\nSets production limits mirroring current homebrewing limits: up to 10 proof gallons per year for single-adult households and up to 20 proof gallons per year for households with two or more adults age 21 or older.\n\nProhibits any sale or transfer for sale of home-distilled spirits.\n\nExempts qualifying home stills from federal registration and notice requirements, provided the equipment has a pressure release and vacuum relief valve and a capacity no greater than 50 gallons.\n\nRemoves criminal penalties under the tax code for distilling within a qualifying home distillery establishment.\n\nPreserves state authority. The bill applies only to federal law, and states retain full power to regulate or prohibit home distillation as they choose.\n\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\n\nBill text\n\nOne-pager\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-restore-state-authority-over-insurance", "Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Restore State Authority Over Insurance", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "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.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) recently reintroduced the Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act. The legislation would abolish the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, returning sole regulatory authority over the insurance industry to the states.\n\n\u201cInsurance regulation has long been, and should remain, a responsibility of the states,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act would eliminate unnecessary federal overreach, cut red tape, and return power to the states.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Federal Insurance Office is a redundant, ever-expanding, unaccountable entity that infringes upon states\u2019 authority to regulate the insurance industry,\u201d said Senator Cruz. \u201cThis legislation will rein in bureaucratic overreach by the federal government and empower state regulators to focus on what is best for consumers in their states.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Federal Insurance Office does not need to exist. It\u2019s an Obama-era expansion of the federal bureaucracy created to intrude on states\u2019 rights,\u201d said Senator Lee. \u201cOur bill will formally abolish this needless expense and return insurance regulation to the states, where it has always belonged.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn 1945, Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act, solidifying states\u2019 regulatory authority over the insurance industry. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) was created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which granted the FIO specific financial stability, monitoring, and international responsibilities. However, these responsibilities duplicate functions within an industry that has long been regulated at the state level and traditionally overseen by state insurance regulators.\n\nThe Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act would eliminate the FIO and restore primary regulatory authority over the insurance industry to the states.\n\nClick here for bill text", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-resolution-on-fifth-anniversary-of-afghanistan-withdrawal", "Rep. Van Epps\u2019 Resolution on Fifth Anniversary of Afghanistan Withdrawal", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Read the exclusive from Fox News\u2019 Liz Elkind here\n\nIn light of the fifth anniversary of the Biden administration\u2019s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) will introduce a resolution condemning the series of decisions that led to the death of 13 servicemembers at Abbey Gate.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cThe United States spent upwards of two trillion dollars fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. During these two decades, 2,400 servicemembers were killed while many more were injured. It\u2019s impossible to measure the price of the months and years men and women had to spend away from their families, or the other sacrifices servicemembers make daily when deployed to a war zone. I deployed to Afghanistan eight times after the September 11 terrorist attacks, flying many dangerous missions as part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). While in Afghanistan, I saw unspeakable horrors, including the Taliban\u2019s oppression of the Afghan people, and then I witnessed too many of my friends return home in flag-draped coffins. After all of this, watching twenty years of our nation\u2019s collective work collapse in a matter of days was traumatic for many veterans. Despite this, I take solace in the fact that we did our job. We took out high-value terrorist targets and made the world safer as a result. This, however, does not change the fact that this withdrawal was poorly planned.\u201d\n\n\u201cMost agree that the United States couldn\u2019t stay in Afghanistan indefinitely, but many also believe that there was a way to leave that didn\u2019t result in an immediate Taliban takeover. While that may be debatable, few disagree that it was President Biden\u2019s flawed decisions and strategic errors that resulted in the bombing at Abbey Gate, stranding 1,000 Americans, leaving billions of dollars' worth of military equipment behind, and deserting our Afghan and NATO allies,\u201d Rep. Van Epps continued.\n\n\u201cTo make matters worse, President Biden has only ever defended his decision over the years to withdraw from Afghanistan by an arbitrary date regardless of the consequences for U.S. personnel, servicemembers, or the Afghan people. Years later, there has still been no meaningful accountability for one of the most damaging foreign policy failures in recent history. That\u2019s why I am introducing this resolution to the House of Representatives. This resolution will remind the world what weakness on the world stage looks like. And this resolution will remind our country about the cost of capitulating to its enemies instead of leading with resolve,\u201d Rep. Van Epps concluded.", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-blumenthal-statement-on-meta-s-landmark-17-billion-settlement-in-case-about-social-media-harms-to-kids", "Blackburn & Blumenthal Statement on Meta\u2019s Landmark $17 Billion Settlement in Case About Social Media Harms to Kids", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "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 Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statement after Meta reached a landmark settlement with 47 states and agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion in penalties over claims it harmed children with social media addiction:\n\n\u201cThis massive settlement shows how terrified Meta and Mark Zuckerberg are of accountability in open court. We applaud the bipartisan coalition of state Attorneys General for forcing Meta to start paying a real price for the harm its products have caused an entire generation of young people. The product design changes imposed under this settlement are a first step toward giving kids and parents the tools they need to take back control of their online lives, but they can be strengthened. Meta notes that these terms are only required to stay in place for 10 years\u2014we must ensure permanent change. We also need safeguards that apply across the board\u2014to all social media companies\u2014not just Instagram and Facebook. This settlement once again demands that Congress pass the Kids Online Safety Act into law before the end of the year.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/five-years-after-abbey-gate-republicans-say-biden-s-failures-still-haven-t-been-answered-for", "Five Years After Abbey Gate, Republicans Say Biden's Failures Still Haven't Been Answered For", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Five years ago, an ISIS-K terrorist detonated a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 13 American servicemembers in the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in over a decade. On this solemn anniversary, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Members honor the memory of these American heroes and the sacrifice they made in service to our country.\n\nThe botched withdrawal from Afghanistan was the direct result of the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s failure to adequately prepare for the operation and account for the consequences of their decisions. RSC Members remain resolute that a catastrophe of this magnitude must never happen again.\n\nPresident Trump and Congressional Republicans have moved decisively to rebuild the strength our fallen heroes deserved. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act delivered a $150 billion investment into America\u2019s national security, equipping our servicemembers to meet an increasingly evolving threat landscape. House Republicans also passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, taking a major step toward restoring American deterrence and rebuilding the United States as the world\u2019s preeminent fighting force.\n\nRSC Members released the following statements:\n\n\u201cFive years ago at Abbey Gate, 13 courageous American servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out a dangerous mission to bring others to safety. We will never forget their bravery, and we continue to mourn with and pray for the families. This solemn anniversary is also a reminder of the catastrophic failures that led to the attack during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Honoring the fallen requires accountability and resolve. We must continue to take the necessary steps to ensure our warfighters have the leadership and resources they need to prevent a tragedy of this magnitude from ever happening again,\u201d said Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services.\n\n\u201cThe 13 heroes of Abbey Gate represented the very best of our nation\u2014standing in the breach to save others with extraordinary courage and selflessness. Having made the ultimate sacrifice, their unwavering devotion to duty will forever be etched in our hearts and honored by a grateful nation,\u201d said Rep. Rick Crawford (AK-01), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.\n\n\u201cAbbey Gate showed the world what American weakness looks like. Thirteen heroes lost their lives because the Biden-Harris administration projected chaos instead of strength, and our adversaries took notice. Five years later, Republicans have worked tirelessly to restore what was lost that day. From rebuilding our military to reasserting American resolve on the world stage, we are proving that the era of American weakness is over. We owe it to the fallen at Abbey Gate to make sure this country is never caught in that position again,\u201d said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cWe must never forget the August 26th, 2021, Surrender in Afghanistan, one of the most disastrous military and foreign policy mistakes in American history. Sadly, 13 brave U.S. servicemembers were killed after successfully preventing resurgence of terrorism for 20 years. Biden capitulation to the Taliban has made Afghanistan a safe haven for terrorists, putting all Americans at risk. Today, we remember the lives lost, and the sacrifices made for our freedom and safety in America,\u201d said Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02).\n\n\u201cFive years ago, 13 brave American servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate during President Biden\u2019s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, we honor their heroism and stand with their Gold Star Families and the other wounded survivors. Their courage and sacrifice will forever be part of the story of our Nation, and we will remain committed to ensuring that American lives and American strength is never taken for granted again,\u201d said Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13).", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-passing-dolly-parton", "Statement on the Passing of Dolly Parton", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Tim Burchett", "B001309", "burchett.house.gov", "burchett", "https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Following the death of Dolly Parton, Rep. Burchett (TN-02) released the following statement: \"Today, Tennessee lost one of our greatest ambassadors in Dolly Parton. Her music inspired generations of Americans, and her philanthropic work helped provide greater access to education for countless young Tennesseans. She represented the very best of the American Dream, and her legacy will live on for generations to come. Rest in peace, Dolly.\"-- U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (TN-02)\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-statement-passing-dolly-parton", "Harshbarger Statement on the Passing of Dolly Parton", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Pigeon Forge, TN \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement today after the death of country music legend and Sevier County native Dolly Parton, who died at age 80:\n\n\u201cDolly Parton was one of ours,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cShe grew up in the hills of Sevier County, right here in Tennessee's First District, and no matter how big her star got, she never stopped being one of us. She built Dollywood into a place that put East Tennessee on the map for the whole world to see, and through her Imagination Library, she put books in the hands of children who needed them most, including so many right here at home. Her music, her generosity, and her love for these mountains will outlast every one of us. Today, East Tennessee is praying for her family and grieving one of our own.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-urges-governor-lee-seek-federal-disaster-assistance", "Congressman Cohen Urges Governor Lee to Seek Federal Disaster Assistance", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to Governor Bill Lee urging him to seek assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after Saturday\u2019s devastating storm.\n\nThe letter reads in part:\n\n\u201cI strongly urge you to request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the provisions of Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR 206.35, for Shelby County in response to the severe storms that struck Memphis and Shelby County on Saturday, August 22.\n\n\u201cThe powerful storm brought winds exceeding 80 miles per hour and caused extensive damage to trees, utility poles, power lines, homes, and other infrastructure throughout our community. At the height of the storm, more than 140,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) customers were without power. MLGW has since determined that this was the seventh most damaging storm in its history based on outage impact and the number of circuits affected.\n\n\u201cWhile MLGW crews have made significant progress, the scope of the damage remains substantial. As of Monday morning, over 45,000 customers and constituents of mine remain without power. MLGW has deployed hundreds of its own employees and brought in dozens of additional outside crews, with approximately 700 to 800 personnel working across the service area to restore power. More than 200 tree-trimming personnel are also assisting with the recovery.\n\n\u201cMLGW has advised customers to prepare to be without power for multiple days because of the extensive number of downed and damaged trees, poles, and wires. The storm also affected water treatment facilities, schools, roadways, and other critical infrastructure. Memphis-Shelby County Schools were forced to close on Monday because of widespread outages affecting dozens of schools and administrative buildings.\n\n\u201cThe severity and widespread impact of this storm have placed a significant burden on Memphis and Shelby County residents, local governments, utilities, and emergency response agencies. Given the scale of the damage and the resources required for recovery, I believe a swift request for federal disaster assistance is prudent to ensure Shelby County has access to all available resources to address the damage and support affected residents.\n\n\u201cI respectfully urge you to act expeditiously to seek the appropriate federal assistance for Shelby County and stand ready to assist in any way necessary to support such a request.\u201d\n\nSee the letter here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/fleischmann-applauds-nist-award-for-quantum-workforce-development-fellowship", "Fleischmann Applauds NIST Award for Quantum Workforce Development Fellowship", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Charles J. \"Chuck\" Fleischmann", "F000459", "fleischmann.house.gov", "fleischmann", "https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded $4,200,000.00 in federal funding as directed by Congressman Fleischmann to strengthen our quantum workforce, marking a significant investment in the future of quantum technology in the United States.\n\nThe program will recruit outstanding talent and provide rigorous, specialized training to the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers. The funding will support fellows, providing them with hands-on experience and advanced training in quantum computing and related fields. In addition to financial support for the fellows, a portion of the grant will be allocated to provide computing time, ensuring fellows have access to state-of-the-art quantum resources essential for their research and professional development.\n\n\"This investment by NIST is a clear signal that America is committed to leading the world in quantum science and technology. By supporting Empowering the Future Grid: Quantum Training for Software Innovation & Utility Applications, we are ensuring that our best and brightest have the resources and training needed to drive innovation and create good-paying jobs right here at home. I\u2019m proud to see investing in the next generation of quantum experts, strengthening our nation\u2019s competitiveness and securing our future,\u201d said Rep. Fleischmann.\n\nThe fellowship is expected to make a significant impact in addressing the growing demand for quantum talent across academia, government, and industry, reinforcing the United States\u2019 position at the forefront of quantum research and development.", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-end-federal-funding-for-harmful-gender-transition-research-on-minors", "Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to End Federal Funding for Harmful Gender Transition Research on Minors", "2026-08-21", "2026", "2026-08", "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.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and several of their Senate colleagues recently introduced theProtecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act to prohibit the use of federal funds for any research or publication promoting gender transitions for minors. The legislation would shield American children from permanent medical and psychological damage, in line with President Trump\u2019s agenda to keep tax dollars from funding child mutilation.\n\n\u201cTaxpayers should not be spending a penny on research done by those who want to push harmful gender transition surgeries and radical gender ideology on our kids,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act would prohibit the use of federal funds for any research or study on gender transition surgeries for minors.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy is the federal bureaucracy in the child mutilation business?\u201d said Senator Lee. \u201cAmericans don\u2019t want to pay millions for these disturbing studies where hundreds of kids are experimented on with puberty-blocking drugs. President Trump rightly halted this attack on America\u2019s kids. Our bill will codify his agenda to keep federal dollars out of gender transition research involving minors.\u201d\n\n\u201cGod creates every child male or female in His perfect image,\u201d said Senator Lankford. \u201cFor too long, taxpayers have been forced to fund sex-rejecting studies on kids. The result has been irreversible physical harm, mental health crises, and families torn apart. President Trump has led the effort to shut down these grants across the federal government, and Congress needs to make it permanent. This bill ensures that not one more taxpayer dollar funds research designed to harm children.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). It is endorsed by Students for Life Action and the American Principles Project.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nBetween 2019 and 2023, nearly 14,000 children were prescribed puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, and more than 5,700 were subjected to surgical procedures like mastectomies or genital reassignment.\n\nIn January 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14187, directing our government to stand up for these victims and restrict funding, programs, and health coverage for these procedures.\n\nPROTECTING OUR KIDS FROM HARMFUL RESEARCH ACT\n\nSpecifically, the Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act would prohibit the use of federal funds for any research, observational study, or publication relating to gender transitions in individuals under the age of 18, which is conducted for the purpose of affirming a minor\u2019s asserted identity or perception of his or her sex, if such is incongruent with the minor\u2019s biological sex.\n\nClick here for bill text.", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-cohen-and-roy-reintroduce-bipartisan-article-one-act", "Congressmen Cohen and Roy Reintroduce Bipartisan ARTICLE ONE Act Requiring Congressional Approval on National Emergencies After 30 Days", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Chip Roy (TX-21) today reintroduced the Assuring Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act, legislation that would require Congress to approve national emergency declarations and the powers used under them within 30 days for them to remain in effect. When first introduced in the last Congress, the bill passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in September 2024.\n\n\u201cAn emergency declared during the Carter Administration should not still be in effect. When I was Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, I held hearings on the National Emergencies Act and built bipartisan support for its reform. Our government is defined by checks and balances. But right now, Presidents can tap into emergency powers without any meaningful political check, time limit, or public rationale. We need to restore the balance of power and make sure that emergency powers are used only in true emergencies and that Congress is involved in their assessment and duration. I\u2019m pleased to join with my colleague Congressman Chip Roy in this continuing bipartisan effort at meaningful reform,\u201d said Congressman Cohen.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-blumenthal-press-tiktok-for-intentionally-withholding-safety-features-from-children", "Blackburn, Blumenthal Press TikTok for Intentionally Withholding Safety Features From Children", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "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 Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to TikTok regarding a recent report that the social media company endangered children by knowingly withholding an algorithmic safety measure from millions of American users to determine whether the safeguard would reduce engagement on its platform.\n\nIn the letter, Senator Blackburn and Senator Blumenthal requested a prompt response to a detailed list of questions, including whether TikTok conducted a risk assessment before the experiment, what the results of the experiment were, and how many U.S. users TikTok has placed in experiments that withheld safety features. Senator Blackburn and Senator Blumenthal\u2019s Kids Online Safety Act would require social media platforms like TikTok to design their products with child safety in mind.\n\nNew Report Reveals TikTok Conducted Harmful Experiment on 15 Million U.S. Users\n\n\u201cAccording to reports, TikTok developed changes to its recommendation algorithm intended to prevent users from being repeatedly and intentionally exposed to potentially harmful content, including videos concerning sadness, loneliness, extreme dieting, and other sensitive subjects. In December 2021, TikTok publicly announced that it was testing ways to avoid recommending clusters of similar content that could be harmful when viewed repeatedly. TikTok did not disclose, however, its depraved decision to intentionally withhold these protections from approximately 10 percent of its U.S. users\u2014a control group that reportedly represented approximately 15 million Americans at the time\u2026 TikTok appeared fixated on whether the safety measure would affect user engagement or the \u2018stickiness\u2019 of the platform \u2014trying to put the price tag on safety. Even more troubling, this control group, presumably intentionally, included minors.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-18-million-nih-grants-st-jude-0", "Congressman Cohen Announces $1.8 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants totaling $1,882,804. Two of the grants, from the National Cancer Institute, will fund projects supported by the 21st Century Cures Act, authorizing what\u2019s referred to as the Beau Biden Moonshot. Congressman Cohen voted for the legislation in 2016.\n\nA third NIH grant, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will support research on enhanced T-cell function.\n\nCongressman Cohen announced five NIH grants totaling $2,657,819 on Monday.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI was pleased to support the 21st Century Cures Act and the research it authorizes and am glad to see some of that work is being done at St. Jude, our premiere children\u2019s cancer hospital. I commend all involved in these life-saving efforts.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-26-million-nih-grants-st-jude", "Congressman Cohen Announces $2.6 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced five National Institutes of Health grants totaling $2,657,819 to St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital. One, for $697,992, from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is for research on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-causing proteins. The second, for $455,000, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is for research on inflammatory caspases in innate immunity and inflammation.\n\nThree grants from the National Cancer Institute, for $688,385, $767,328, and $49,114, will support research on cardiovascular health outcomes, neuroblastomas, and acute myeloid leukemia respectively.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cSt. Jude scientists are working on critical projects that will improve outcomes and save lives. I commend the scientists involved in this research.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-219-million-grant-frederick-w-smith", "Congressman Cohen Announces $21.9 Million Grant to Frederick W. Smith International Airport", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the newly re-named Frederick W. Smith International Airport will receive a grant of $21,982,285 from the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding will pay for the reconstruction and reconfiguration of a terminal access outer road, construction of a snow-removal equipment building, the realignment of Taxiway B, and improvements to the ticketing and security screening areas.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cOur newly re-named Frederick W. Smith International Airport is an economic engine in our region. The substantial investment in improvements supported by this grant will increase its efficiency and aesthetic value for air travelers and improve the local economy by creating jobs.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-applauds-recent-hhs-crackdown-sex-rejecting-procedures-children", "Harshbarger Applauds Recent HHS Crackdown on Sex-Rejecting Procedures for Children", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Diana Harshbarger", "H001086", "harshbarger.house.gov", "harshbarger", "https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) released the following statement praising a series of recent actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to protect children from sex-rejecting procedures, including a report exposing fraudulent billing practices that led to referrals of hospitals and clinics to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule ending federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for these procedures.\n\n\u201cFamilies trust physicians with their children's care, and this week's revelations show that trust was betrayed in the worst possible way. HHS's report exposes an industry that turned vulnerable, healthy children into a cash cow business, using fraudulent diagnosis codes to bill nearly $120 million while inflicting permanent damage on children who deserved protection, not to be used for profit,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cEvery child is a precious gift from God, made exactly as He intended, and no doctor, no hospital, and no insurance company has the right to convince a child otherwise in order to add to their bottom line. I am grateful CMS is finally cutting off every taxpayer dollar that funded this abuse, and I will not rest until Congress passes my STOP Act and TRUTH in Coverage Act so this industry can never prey on another child again.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nHHS Report on Fraudulent Billing Practices\n\nA new HHS report titled \"Wolves in White Coats: How Doctors and Hospitals Pushed and Profited from the Fraud of 'Gender Medicine'\" found that financial incentives drove hospitals nationwide to treat physiologically healthy children as \"captive patients,\" billing nearly $120 million for sex-rejecting procedures on minors since 2019 and covering more than 5,500 surgeries and 8,500 courses of hormones or puberty blockers.\n\nThe report identified nearly $50 million in insurance claims for puberty blockers billed using vague or inaccurate endocrine disorder diagnosis codes instead of an accurate diagnosis, and nearly $11 million in claims for patients ages 13-17 billed under a precocious puberty diagnosis that does not typically apply at that age. In a separate case cited in the report, Texas Children's Hospital previously paid a $10 million settlement with the Texas Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve fraud allegations involving false diagnosis codes used to bill Medicaid for these procedures, agreeing as part of that settlement to establish the nation's first Detransition Clinic to provide free care for patients recovering from these interventions.\n\nThe report also found that the Biden administration actively promoted and expanded access to these procedures through executive orders, HHS civil rights guidance, CMS insurance mandates, and federal employee health benefits, pressuring hospitals and insurers to cover them for minors.\n\nFollowing the report's release, Vice President JD Vance, as chairman of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. referred hospitals and clinics identified in the report to the DOJ and the HHS-OIG, respectively, for possible violations of federal law.\n\nCMS Rule Ending Medicaid and CHIP Funding\n\nSeparately, CMS finalized a rule this week ending federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for sex-rejecting procedures on children and youth. The rule takes effect Oct. 13, 2026, allows a tapering-off period of up to six months for children currently on hormone therapy, and does not affect coverage of mental health services.\n\nHarshbarger\u2019s Efforts to Protect Children from Sex-Rejecting Procedures\n\nIn April, Harshbarger introduced theSafeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors (STOP) Actalongside Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). The bill bans gender transition procedures on minors, imposes civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation collectible by the Attorney General, and creates a private right of action allowing victims or their families to sue for damages in federal court. It also establishes the Victims of Gender Transition Procedures Compensation Fund in the U.S. Treasury to support those recovering from these procedures, funded by civil penalties collected from offenders.\n\nIn July, Harshbarger introduced the Treatment and Restoration Uniformity and Transparency in Health Coverage (TRUTH in Coverage) Act. The bill requires health insurance plans that cover sex-rejecting procedures to also cover restorative care for patients who suffer complications, adverse outcomes, or seek to restore healthy bodily function, applying the same coverage terms, deductibles, and cost-sharing rules to both.\n\nIn December 2025, Harshbarger joined HHS Secretary Kennedy, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz, and other senior HHS officials for a press conference announcing federal actions to protect children from sex-rejecting procedures, including a declaration that these interventions do not meet professionally recognized standards of care and proposed CMS rules restricting Medicare and Medicaid coverage of them.", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-742269-nih-grants-st-jude-and-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces $742,269 in NIH Grants to St. Jude and UTHSC", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive three grants totaling $515,239, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive one grant of $227,030, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)\n\nSt. Jude will receive two grants from the National Cancer Institute \u2013 one for research on acute lymphoblastic leukemia and one for research on SWISNF proteins. A third grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences will support research on RNA-guided DNA transposition systems.\n\nUTHSC will receive the grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism evaluating the synergistic effects of developmental and adult alcohol exposure on Alzheimers-related phenotypes,\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThese investments from our National Institutes of Health will advance of knowledge and potentially save lives. I commend both St. Jude and our medical school for undertaking this important work.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/08/13/icymi-hagerty-joins-fox-news-sunday-on-fox-news-channel-to-discuss-iran-senate-recess/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty Joins Fox News Sunday\u00a0on Fox News Channel to Discuss Iran, Senate Recess", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington\u2014On Sunday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Fox News Sunday on Fox News Channel to discuss the latest in Iran and the Senate\u2019s agenda following the August Recess.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on Iran: Diplomacy is being tested at every turn of the Iranian regime. They don\u2019t seem to favor diplomacy unless they can use it to tap us along. [President Donald Trump] has seen right through this. We have maintained maximum military capabilities. In fact, he has enhanced our military capability. And what you see now is an act of desperation because President Trump had prepared to unleash unmitigated fury on Iran, just the past weekend, when they came to the table again and said, \u201cNo, we want to make a deal.\u201d And let\u2019s not forget that [Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent] and the team at Treasury have put incredible financial pressure on Iran. Their economy is in tatters right now. They are doing the same thing over and over again. I know people call that the definition of insanity; I think that\u2019s diplomacy Iranian-style, coming back with more of the same demands, et cetera, et cetera. But what has happened is that they continue to degrade in their position; we continue to advance in terms of economic pressure, military pressure.\n\nHagerty on a pending peace deal in Iran: There is going to have to be a deal. I think the American public is indicating it\u2019s ready for a deal to be done, and that deal could be at the end of a military operation as opposed to diplomacy. It\u2019s up to the Iranians, but I think we\u2019re very close, particularly as I listen to Secretary Bessent\u2026 I think the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)], the Iran deal that we saw in [former President Barack Obama\u2019s administration], demonstrated that you can\u2019t trust the Iranians. Everything that we agree to is going to have to be verifiable and enforceable. President Trump has already seen this movie before. Obama just handed over pallets of cash\u2014billions of dollars\u2014and instead of abiding by the agreement, [Iran] continued their nuclear program, surreptitiously, and they then began to foment terror. That will not happen again. I think President Trump has been incredibly clear about this, and what we\u2019re trying to do is maintain a posture that we can allow the Iranian economy to rebuild, the 90 million Iranian people to prosper.\n\nHagerty on other Middle Eastern countries joining the Abraham Accords: I think the entire region has responded to this\u2026 Iran has, on a 360-degree basis, made enemies of everybody in its neighborhood. Now, we\u2019re all coming together. I expect to see more\u2014Saudi Arabia, for example\u2014and more nations in the region step up and enter the Abraham Accords. We are going to see economic prosperity break out like we\u2019ve never seen before in that region, further isolating the Iranian regime. I think it\u2019s just all part and parcel of a major transformation that needed to happen 47 years ago. And finally, President Trump has been able to step up and address it right now.\n\nHagerty on Iran\u2019s alliance with Russia and China: I think a lot of people are looking toward the [U.S.\u2013China bilateral meeting in Washington, D.C.] in September, and I think there is much that will come from it. But I think President Trump has been increasingly clear with [Chinese President Xi Jinping] that [China] should not cooperate nor support in any way the Iranian regime\u2026 What we are going to continue to do is mount increasing pressure on the Iranian regime directly. And we are going to increase sanctions; that\u2019s exactly what Secretary Bessent has done. And if you look at what we did in the Senate, [the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 placed] more pressure on this \u201cAxis of Evil\u201d that was just described. We are going to continue with sanctions; we are going to continue with military pressure. I think that everybody in the world needs to wake up and see this. That\u2019s all the more reason why this escalation with Iran must be successful. I think it\u2019s going to be incredibly important, not only for the Iranian situation, but also for others in the neighborhood, if you will\u2014Russia, Iran, North Korea, China\u2014they all need to see this.\n\nHagerty on Senate Democrats\u2019 opposition to President Trump\u2019s agenda: The only two things the [Senate Democrats] have accomplished since [President Trump] came into office, in the past year and a half, almost two years\u2026 are two historically long government shutdowns. In fact, that was on tap this week. That\u2019s why we worked so hard to make certain that we got a continuing resolution [to] keep the government open beyond the election and into December. That was [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)]\u2019s primary goal, to shut the government down to create more chaos. That seems to be the Democrat playbook\u2026 create chaos and mayhem, and in so doing, somehow get their friends in the media to blame that on the Republicans.\n\nHagerty on the Senate\u2019s schedule: I think the task is on us now. We got a lot accomplished in terms of legislation that put [U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche] in place, the Russia Sanctions Act that I mentioned just a moment ago, and again, extending the government\u2014keeping it open. When we get back, though, we are going to have to do something on election integrity. We tried again this week to get that done. Democrats again, every single one of them, even on something as simple as driver\u2019s license IDs, showing your ID to vote\u2026 they were against it full force. I think they\u2019ve made it clear. They want the ability to have insecure elections because that somehow advantages them. The American public hates this; we have got to do something about it. I think we\u2019re going to have to move into a different type of vehicle or reconciliation vehicle to make that happen. And that\u2019s what we are going to have on top of the agenda when we get back.", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-45-million-department-justice-grants", "Congressman Cohen Announces $4.5 Million in Department of Justice Grants to Tennessee", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TH-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today announced two grants totaling $4,592,039 from the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Violence Against Women to the state of Tennessee.\n\nOne grant, for $3,623,147, will support the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Program authorized by the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. A second grant, for $968,892, will support the Sexual Assault Services Formula Program supporting rape crisis centers that provide services to victims of sexual assault.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis critical funding addresses both the effective investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and assists victims of this trauma. I\u2019m pleased to see the Department of Justice investing in these essential programs.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/08/06/hagerty-introduces-bill-to-end-housing-welfare-for-illegal-aliens/", "Hagerty Introduces Bill to End Housing Welfare for Illegal Aliens", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Democrats have aided and abetted illegal aliens\u2019 exploitation of federal housing benefits\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014On Wednesday, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced the End Housing Welfare for Illegal Aliens Act, a bill aimed at barring ineligible non-citizens from abusing federal housing programs at the expense of American taxpayers.\n\nIllegal aliens have long exploited federal housing programs by taking advantage of gaps in existing law, such as the \u201cmixed-status\u201d loophole that allows for non-citizens to improperly receive benefits if they are roommates in the same household as citizens.\n\nDemocrats have facilitated such abuse for political gain, because overrunning sanctuary cities with illegal aliens artificially boosts their party\u2019s power and representation when congressional districts are reapportioned.\n\nThese abuses crowd out vulnerable Americans\u2014including the elderly and the disabled\u2014waste taxpayer dollars, and endanger the integrity of the electoral process.\n\nThe End Housing Welfare for Illegal Aliens Act would:\n\nDeny Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) grants to sanctuary cities\n\nEnd illegal alien eligibility for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs designated for American seniors and persons with disabilities\n\nRequire public housing authorities to affirmatively verify citizenship before providing services\n\nCodify HUD rulemaking to permanently close the \u201cmixed-status\u201d loophole, which allows illegals who are roommates with eligible individuals to reap the benefits of taxpayer-funded housing. Under the Trump Administration, HUD has estimated that approximately 24,000 illegal aliens, ineligibles, and fraudsters in 20,000 of these \u201cmixed-status households\u201d benefit from HUD assistance\n\n\u201cFor too long, Democrats have encouraged illegal aliens to raid taxpayer-funded housing programs while American families, seniors, and people with disabilities are left waiting in line,\u201d said Hagerty. \u201cMy legislation, the End Housing Welfare for Illegal Aliens Act, advances the Trump Administration\u2019s reform agenda by ending this disgraceful abuse, shutting down sanctuary city handouts, closing the outrageous \u2018mixed-status\u2019 loophole, and putting American citizens first.\u201d\n\nFind the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-100000-grant-soulsville-foundation", "Congressman Cohen Announces $100,000 Grant to the Soulsville Foundation", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Soulsville Foundation will receive a grant of $100,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to implement a curator-in-residence program.\n\nThe Stax Museum of American Soul Music program, according to IMLS, will be designed to strengthen the museum's interpretive capacity, expand access to its collections, and deepen scholarship related to African American music history and the global legacy of Stax Records. Each resident curator will conduct research using the museum\u2019s archives and artifact collections; collaborate with staff to develop interpretive materials, exhibitions, and digital storytelling content; and lead public programs such as lectures, listening sessions, and youth workshops.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe Stax Museum is one of our city\u2019s most prized cultural institutions. This grant funding, and the prestige it adds to the museum\u2019s outreach efforts, will enhance its international reputation. I commend Soulsville Foundation President and CEO Pat Mitchell Worley and the entire staff of the museum for this significant and well-deserved recognition.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-blumenthal-celebrate-commerce-committee-passage-of-bipartisan-kids-online-safety-act", "Blackburn & Blumenthal Celebrate Commerce Committee Passage of Bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "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 Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statement on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation\u2019s passage of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) by voice vote:\n\n\u201cFor years, heartbroken parents have demanded Congress take action to protect America\u2019s children from Big Tech\u2019s exploitation, and today is a major victory for the courageous families who refused to give up,\u201d said Senators Blackburn and Blumenthal. \u201cThe Senate has repeatedly shown that there is broad, bipartisan support for a version of KOSA that creates a duty of care to protect kids from online predators, addictive algorithms, and harmful product design. We want to thank our large, diverse, and determined coalition for standing with us today, and we look forward to getting this bill to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nSenators Blackburn and Blumenthal first introduced KOSA in February 2022, following reporting by the Wall Street Journal and after spearheading a series of five subcommittee hearings with social media companies and advocates on the repeated failures by tech giants to protect kids on their platforms.\n\nThe Senate version of KOSA would require platforms to enable the strongest privacy settings by default, force platforms to prevent and mitigate specific dangers to minors, provide parents and educators new controls to help protect children, and require independent audits and research into social media companies.", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/08/05/hagerty-colleagues-introduce-the-blocking-large-scale-adversarial-distillation-efforts-blade-act/", "Hagerty, Colleagues Introduce the Blocking Large-Scale Adversarial Distillation Efforts (BLADE) Act", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "The unauthorized use of American AI models by foreign adversaries is a threat to both economic and national security\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Today, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), along with Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), introduced the Blocking Large-Scale Adversarial Distillation Efforts (BLADE) Act of 2026, a bipartisan bill to deter malign foreign actors from stealing the proprietary capabilities of America\u2019s frontier AI companies.\n\nRecent news reports have detailed the large-scale use of \u201cmodel extraction attacks\u201d by Chinese entities to distill the unique competitive advantages of America\u2019s top AI models. Such foreign model extraction attacks\u2014which typically circumvent technical controls, use fraudulent or unauthorized credentials, and violate terms of use in order to harvest proprietary capabilities from U.S. models without the owner\u2019s permission\u2014evade U.S. export controls and threaten U.S. economic security and national security.\n\nTo deter unauthorized and illicit foreign model extraction attacks, the BLADE Act would direct the Executive Branch to identify and publicly expose foreign entities behind these malign activities, coordinate with industry to improve detection, and authorize the imposition of Commerce Department export controls and Treasury Department financial sanctions against these foreign entities.\n\n\u201cAs the United States must remain at the forefront of competitiveness in artificial intelligence, we cannot allow our adversaries to steal the intellectual property of America\u2019s top AI companies and thereby threaten U.S. national security and economic security,\u201d said Hagerty. \u201cThe BLADE Act will expose and punish foreign entities that conduct hostile distillation campaigns against our frontier AI companies. Our nation must counter malign actors who seek to subvert our nation\u2019s leadership and innovation in artificial intelligence.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe BLADE Act safeguards both our competitive edge against China and our national security at the same time. As we continue to set the global standard for innovation and unlock new opportunity through AI, it\u2019s critical we have these tools to deter direct attacks on U.S. AI models and maintain as large a lead as possible over our competitors and adversaries,\u201d said Kim.\n\n\u201cFrom startups in South Carolina to companies across the country, American innovators are building the technologies that will shape the future, and the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries should not be allowed to steal that work. Industrial-scale distillation attacks are unacceptable, and the BLADE Act gives the Commerce Department the tools to expose and punish bad actors targeting American AI models, protect our national security, and keep America ahead in the global AI race. I\u2019m proud to join Senators Hagerty and Kim in defending American ingenuity and holding our adversaries accountable,\u201d said Scott.\n\n\u201cAs America\u2019s AI technologies become more advanced, we face new threats from China and other foreign adversaries trying to reproduce them,\u201d said Cortez Masto. \u201cWe cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to steal our companies\u2019 hard work and innovation. America can and will remain dominant in the race to develop cutting-edge AI technologies.\u201d\n\nFind the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-leads-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-permanently-restore-biological-sex-standard-in-title-ix", "Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Permanently Restore Biological Sex Standard in Title IX", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "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.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Jim Justice(R-W.Va.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Title IX Clarification Act, which would ensure Title IX anti-discrimination requirements tied to federal education funding are based on biological sex and not \u201csexual orientation or gender identity:\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration weaponized Title IX to force women to compete with men in sports and allow men to invade women\u2019s spaces,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThankfully, President Trump restored common sense in Title IX, and now Congress must codify these protections for women into law to prevent future abuse. The Title IX Clarification Act would ensure that common sense, not leftist ideology, governs federal education funding tied to Title IX requirements to protect young women.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has taken decisive action through executive orders to protect young women on campuses across the country. Now, we must ensure these protections are codified into federal law,\u201d said Senator Britt. \u201cWe saw the Biden-Harris Administration cave to the woke mob and allow Title IX to be abused in ways that permitted biological men to infringe on girls\u2019 sports and spaces. We cannot let that happen again, and this legislation will restore regulatory clarity to ensure it does not.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to spend many years coaching young ladies in West Virginia, and I can tell you this: they work their tails off and earn every opportunity they get. At the end of the day, they deserve a fair shot. That\u2019s exactly what the Title IX Clarification Act is about. It puts common sense back into the law, protects the opportunities Title IX was meant to guarantee, and stands up for our girls and young women. Fighting for our female athletes is a fight I\u2019ll take every single day,\u201d said Senator Justice.\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow the radical left\u2019s campaign to succeed in undermining Title IX protections. While far too many activists refuse to acknowledge the differences between biological men and women, I am proud to join Senator Blackburn and my colleagues in this common-sense effort to ensure women and girls continue to receive equal access to educational opportunities,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cEven after Idaho\u2019s historic win to keep men out of women\u2019s sports at the U.S. Supreme Court, the rights promised in Title IX remain under threat,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cThe Title IX Clarification Act further guards these protections, clearly defining the biological differences between men and women, so that generations of young girls can continue participating in sports and other educational opportunities on a level playing field.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe original intent of Title IX was to protect women\u2019s educational and athletic opportunities,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cIn a recent decision on Idaho\u2019s first-in-the-nation law to ensure these opportunities do not go to biological males, the Supreme Court of the United States correctly ruled Title IX allows states to apply a biology-based understanding of maintaining separate sports categories. The Title IX Clarification Act preserves the existing framework of the law while making clear its protections are based on the biological definition of sex.\u201d\n\n\u201cTitle IX exists for a simple, obvious reason: women deserve their own spaces and proper protection under the law. That has been clear for all of human history, and we only need to clarify it now because of Democrats\u2019 radical gender ideology,\u201d said Senator Scott. \u201cI\u2019m grateful my daughters had Title IX protection; we shouldn\u2019t make it meaningless to appease the radical left. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Blackburn on this commonsense bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to protect fairness and opportunity for women. For 50 years, Title IX has leveled the playing field. Democrats continuously undermine these protections in their attempts to redefine biology. The Title IX Clarification Act would clearly define an individual\u2019s sex is based solely on biology. President Trump reaffirmed this commonsense reality by executive order and now Congress must codify these protections. Passing this bill would keep men out of women\u2019s sports, restrooms, and locker rooms,\u201dsaid Senator Ricketts.\n\n\u201cThe left is weaponizing their radical gender ideology to undermine Title IX, which goes against its entire purpose: to protect women and girls. It\u2019s critical we codify President Trump\u2019s Title IX protections and match biological reality rather than the left\u2019s dangerous gender identity beliefs. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Senator Blackburn to protect women\u2019s sports and set the record straight,\u201d said Senator Daines.\n\n\u201cBoys are boys, and girls are girls - it\u2019s common sense. Title IX was created to protect women and girls, and that\u2019s exactly what this bill does by making clear that federal law is rooted in biological reality - not political ideology. We owe it to current and future generations to ensure opportunities under Title IX are protected,\u201d said Senator Sheehy.\n\nHouse Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) led introduction of companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) also co-sponsored this legislation.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nFor more than 50 years, Title IX has protected equal educational opportunities by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex. In recent years, however, woke ideology has sought to redefine the law beyond Congress\u2019 original intent, creating uncertainty for schools and undermining protections for women and girls.\n\nAt the beginning of his second term, President Trump revoked a Biden-era Executive Order that directed the U.S. Secretary of Education to interpret Title IX anti-discrimination language \u201con the basis of sex\u201d to cover \u201cdiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.\u201d\n\nTITLE IX CLARIFICATION ACT\n\nThe Title IX Clarification Act would clarify that the term \u201csex\u201d refers only to an individual's biologically determined status as male or female where Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would:\n\nRestore Title IX's original meaning by affirming Congress\u2019 original intent to protect women's educational opportunities;\n\nAddress concerns raised by the Supreme Court during the January 2026 oral arguments regarding transgender participation in women's sports. During those arguments, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Congress has not clearly defined Title IX's requirements for states accepting federal funds and suggested that any departure from the historical understanding of \"sex\" as biological sex raises Spending Clause concerns unless Congress acts explicitly; and\n\nEstablish clear statutory definitions of \"male\" and \"female\" within Title IX, eliminating ambiguity and preventing taxpayer dollars from being used to support ideological redefinitions of sex.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nENDORSEMENTS\n\nThis legislation is supported by the Family Research Council (FRC); Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF); American Principles Project (APP); Family Policy Alliance (FPA); Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC); and Heritage Action.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/8/blackburn-statement-on-senate-judiciary-committee-advancing-todd-blanche-nomination-for-u-s-attorney-general", "Blackburn Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Advancing Todd Blanche Nomination for U.S. Attorney General", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "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 in the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance President Trump\u2019s nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as U.S. Attorney General:\n\n\u201cAs Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche has already proven he will hold fraudsters accountable for stealing billions of taxpayer dollars, crack down on violent crime in cities like Memphis, and restore a one-tiered system of justice after four years of the Biden DOJ\u2019s corruption under Merrick Garland,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe American people sent President Trump back to the White House to return the DOJ to its core mission of enforcing the rule of law, and I am confident Todd Blanche will continue to deliver on that mandate once he is confirmed as Attorney General.\u201d\n\nRELATED", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/08/04/icymi-hagerty-joinsmornings-with-maria-on-fox-business-to-discuss-save-america-act-clarity-act-and-arctic-frost-investigation/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty JoinsMornings With Maria\u00a0on Fox Business to Discuss SAVE America Act, Clarity Act and Arctic Frost Investigation", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington\u2014Today, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to discuss the week ahead in the Senate, including the SAVE America Act, the Clarity Act and the Arctic Frost Investigation.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on the SAVE America Act: I just got back from Tennessee over the past weekend, and Americans want to see us pass this act. They want election integrity, and this is not a partisan issue. Every American\u2014this is an 80% plus issue\u2014they want to see it get done. I think we\u2019re going to have to find a way to do it. I understand the reluctance of some of my colleagues because this budget reconciliation process opens up an unlimited amendment process where the [Senate Democrats] will have us voting against Santa Claus, against Christmas, against apple pie\u2014you name it. [Senate Republicans] are going to have to lock our arms and stand strong, take the tough votes, and get our way through this. But I think it would be very, very challenging for us to go back to our constituents and tell them that we didn\u2019t give it our very best to get this done.\n\nHagerty on the Arctic Frost Investigation: I want to find out what happened. It\u2019s unbelievable. I\u2019ve been a Verizon customer for decades. What happened was Verizon decided to violate the Constitution. I\u2019m a sitting United States Senator, but because I\u2019m a Republican\u2014I presume\u2014they were more than willing to cooperate with [Former President Joe Biden] and [Special Counsel Jack Smith] in the midst of an unconstitutional search of our records. AT&T blocked it; they wouldn\u2019t do it because they knew it was against the Constitution. Verizon decided to move right ahead with it. Their chief executive officer and their chief legal officer have dodged every question. Even the chief legal officer decided to skip her hearing on this topic. We need to put both of them under oath and ask them some tough questions\u2026 Verizon was looking at a $20 billion acquisition of [Frontier Communications]. That was in the pipeline. Did they feel like they had to engender some sort of favor with the [Biden administration Department of Justice (DOJ)] so they\u2019d get that approved? \u2026 Corporate America has got to realize that they\u2019re going to be held to account when they engage in this sort of partisan political activity at the expense of their customers.\n\nHagerty on Verizon and the weaponization of the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ): It\u2019s hard to say what [Special Counsel Jack Smith] was looking for, but he wanted a massive witch hunt. And it seemed that it only turned on whether you\u2019re Republican or not. And it may only turn on whether you\u2019re an ally or a friend of this current sitting president. Again, his enemy clearly was [President Donald Trump]. Those of us that were his allies were the ones that he felt like he had an open hunting license to go out and pursue anything and everything that he might to try to turn on us, to try to make our lives uncomfortable. And the fact that you had a company like Verizon colluding with Jack Smith, colluding with the Biden DOJ, and handing over Republicans\u2019 records. Again, let\u2019s find out why. Was it to curry favor? Was it to get a $20 billion acquisition through? Was it to get an appointment for the chief legal officer in the Biden administration?\n\nHagerty on holding Verizon accountable: We don\u2019t know the answers to these questions. That\u2019s why we need to put them under oath. That\u2019s why they need to stop obfuscating. I made a formal complaint to them. They have until Aug. 11 to answer these questions, let\u2019s see if they do\u2026 They\u2019ve done everything they can to dodge and obfuscate. So we\u2019re going to keep pressing. And now that I\u2019ve got [Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-IA,] and [Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WI,] on my side to press this, we have the full weight of the [Senate Judiciary Committee]. I think we have oversight powers now. We\u2019ll bring them in; we\u2019ll haul them in.\n\nHagerty on the CLARITY Act: We\u2019re going to have to pass the CLARITY Act. There\u2019s no way that we can allow the United States to fall behind in the digital assets arena. Everything is moving digital around the world. The GENIUS Act was a major step forward to make certain that the digital dollar remains dominant in the world. But we need to follow it up with the remainder of the market. I think the problem is, will we be able to pass this with Democrats right now? Or are they going to let midterm politics get in the way? I think we should just put it to a vote on the floor of the United States Senate and find out where the Democrats stand.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/08/03/icymi-hagerty-joins-kudlow-on-fox-business-to-discuss-spain-iran-and-community-reinvestment-act-reforms/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty Joins Kudlow\u00a0on Fox Business to Discuss Spain, Iran and Community Reinvestment Act Reforms", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington\u2014On Friday, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss Spain\u2019s immigration crisis, the latest in Iran and the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed reform of the Community Reinvestment Act.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on Spain\u2019s immigration crisis: I think it is precisely what the president is warning against, and it\u2019s a preview of what could happen if the Democratic Socialists of America are able to get in charge. If you think about it, the Socialist Workers Party in Spain, a leftist, socialist organization, is taking control of that country. This is what you get\u2026 It\u2019s an invitation to these people to overrun their country. I think all of Europe should be on alarm. Again, this is a preview of what could happen right here in America. We already saw [President Joe Biden] try it before. Thank God [President Donald Trump] came into office and has put a complete stop to this. It\u2019s out of the news right now, but this could happen again. It\u2019s a preview and it\u2019s a wakeup call to all of us, and I think as we head into the midterm elections, to remember what the Democrat socialists can do\u2014it\u2019s happening right now in Europe.\n\nHagerty on Iran: Much to Washington\u2019s shock, President Trump has been very good about not telegraphing his every move. But I\u2019ll say this, [Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper] had completed roughly 75 to 80% of the target package that initially was set to deal with Iran. He stepped back from that when we went into negotiations, into the ceasefire to deal with the straight before moves. I think the time has come. Go back, finish the package, finish the job. I think this is what the American public needs to see. As soon as this happens, I\u2019ll tell you this. The polling data that [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.] and the Democrats are thrilled about right now, because Americans don\u2019t like to see this sort of unclear situation. Once we have clearly defined this and ended this, this whole bit in Iran, we\u2019ve taken the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)] and put them where they belong\u2026 I think you\u2019re going to see the president\u2019s poll numbers; you\u2019re going to see joy back in America again. Americans love a winner; Americans love to win. We can do that, and I think the time has come to deliver on it [\u2026] our Israeli partners, they have exquisite intelligence and capabilities on the ground there. You saw what they did with the supply chains when every one of Hezbollah\u2019s leaders had their fingers and thumbs blown off. I think the Israeli Military possesses incredible covert capabilities\u2026 I think we should put every option on the table\u2026 Let\u2019s execute the alternatives.\n\nHagerty on the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed reform of the Community Reinvestment Act: I\u2019m glad to see the Trump Administration doing as they have been and going in and taking a very hard look at this regulatory regime. This is a tool that has been misused. I\u2019m certain this was not the original intent, but this has basically been a tool used to shake down any bank or financial institution that wants to merge or expand into a given market, and they get shaken down by liberal regulators and those that want to control them to write checks to support efforts, particularly liberal efforts. That just shouldn\u2019t be the case. That\u2019s coming to an end, again, thanks to the Trump Administration, and thanks to strong leadership on the economic front led by [U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett], and the new comptroller. I\u2019m very pleased with where we are headed.", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/08/03/icymi-hagerty-joinsthe-sunday-briefing-on-fox-news-to-discuss-iran-blanche-confirmation-and-the-save-america-act/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty JoinsThe Sunday Briefing\u00a0on Fox News to Discuss Iran, Blanche Confirmation and the SAVE America Act", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington\u2014On Sunday, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined The Sunday Briefing on Fox News to discuss the latest in Iran, Todd Blanche\u2019s pending confirmation and the SAVE America Act.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on Iran: We continue to maintain the strategic advantage and Iran\u2019s strategic capabilities continue to be degraded. If you think about it from a military standpoint, now we have other neighbors in the region joining us, dealing militarily with Iran. That [should be] quite concerning to the Iranian regime. The other aspect of this is the fact that the economic sanctions that [U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent] and his team at Treasury have been imposing are having a dramatic effect on the Iranian economy. The question is, how much more can they take? Their economy is shut off; their economy is shut down. The military componentry has been devastated, and now we have other players in the region joining the United States to deal with Iran in a way that they\u2019ve never seen before. I\u2019m certainly optimistic that President Trump is going to make certain that at the end the goal is accomplished, that is no nuclear capability for Iran. I\u2019d like to see this done sooner than later, I think the rest of America would, too.\n\nHagerty on the Middle East\u2019s Maritime Defense Coalition against Iran: Iran would like to destabilize the entire region because they\u2019d like to control the entire region. And the fact is that neighbors [in the Middle East] are stepping up and realizing that they have a role to play here. They\u2019re going to be the most immediately impacted, and frankly, given Iran\u2019s military attacks on everybody in the neighborhood, that\u2019s become painfully clear. I welcome the fact that these nations are stepping up, that they\u2019re joining us, and I think this is going to be a regional solution to a problem that has been very specific for 47 years. It\u2019s time to bring it to an end, and I think we get there much more rapidly with allies like Saudi Arabia and others stepping into the fray and working arm-in-arm and side-by-side with us. And again, I think the sooner we can put this to conclusion the better everybody will be in the world.\n\nHagerty on conflicting viewpoints regarding the conflict in Iran: The president takes advice from multiple sources. I\u2019m honored by the fact that he reaches out to me from time to time, but he is constantly absorbing information. He is constantly trying to deal with the situation on the ground. And I think what you have [Vice President J.D. Vance] doing is indicating there are considerations here that are very real. The president needs to hear all of those considerations. The one person that the president cannot fire is the other person that stood elected alongside [him], and that\u2019s Vice President Vance. I think Vice President Vance takes it seriously upon himself. He has told this to me, that he needs to sound out every concern that could possibly exist, and I think you see another example of it right here. At the end of the day though, I\u2019ll come back to this: We hold the strategic advantage. President Trump has been incredibly clear. He will not allow the Iranian regime to have nuclear capacity. And I think President Trump\u2019s patience is worn quite thin. So, with this current ceasefire, we\u2019re at the verge of being ready to unveil and unleash a tremendous amount of power on Iran. They need to pay attention to this, and they need to pay attention to the fact that other neighbors in the region are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with [the United States] right now. I think this [conflict] is going to come to an end very soon.\n\nHagerty on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche\u2019s confirmation and the Anti-Weaponization Fund: I know [Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R- has been working hard to get both [Senator Tom Tillis, R-N.C.,] and [Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas,] to a place of comfort. But I also say this: I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that this is something that\u2019s undeserved. The [Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Biden Administration] did attack many people. Several people on my staff were targeted and weaponized by the DOJ\u2026 The hurt and harm were very real\u2026 I\u2019m not looking for any compensation, but I do think that justice needs to be served here. And to say that there is nothing here to look at the weaponization fund is just evidence that something very, very bad did happen under the Biden DOJ. There should be accountability, however that takes form. I don\u2019t think that we need to just sweep this under the rug. I think there needs to be an acknowledgement. I\u2019m willing to accept Todd Blanche\u2019s word that this fund will not be put into motion. I think Todd Blanche is a very qualified nominee, I\u2019m looking forward to getting him confirmed.\n\nHagerty on the SAVE America Act: There are 50 [Senate Republicans] or more that are willing to push this through, but we need more Democrats to get to 60 votes if we\u2019re going to pass [the SAVE America Act] as it stands. What we\u2019re focused on right now is a reconciliation product. [Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.,] was working on this before his untimely departure, bless his heart. But we are, again, working on a product that I think we can use the reconciliation process, which only requires a [simple] majority vote, which we can deliver. We are navigating that process right now. This is not an easy situation when you have every Democrat in the Senate opposed to any type of election integrity. I think it\u2019s quite embarrassing for the Democratic Party, and people should be asking why they\u2019re doing this\u2014What\u2019s their underlying motive? But at the same time, I\u2019m ready to stay here to get this done in whatever form it requires. We do have a vehicle that is under consideration right now that I think we can get significant elements of the SAVE America Act passed.", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/07/31/icymi-hagerty-joins-varney-co-on-fox-business-to-discuss-iran-midterm-elections/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty Joins\u00a0Varney & Co.\u00a0on Fox Business to Discuss Iran, Midterm Elections", "2026-07-31", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington\u2014On Thursday, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business to discuss the latest in Iran and the upcoming midterm elections.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on Iran: I think [Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper] has done an excellent job of conveying to [President Donald Trump] his options. And if you think about it, we stopped the execution of the target package that Admiral Cooper was executing when we stepped back to negotiate a ceasefire and deal with the Strait of Hormuz. At that point in time, Brad Cooper was probably 75 to 80% of the way through the initial target package. The timeline that he\u2019s talking about, two-and-a-half, three weeks, is consistent with what it would take to complete that package. That\u2019s a package that includes human targets. It\u2019s going to be devastating to the Iranian regime. I think it\u2019s time to step up and do it. I\u2019m entirely in favor of it\u2026 [The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)] are the ones that are driving this. They live a different lifestyle than the rest of the military. They actually profit in times of war, and I think there\u2019s going to be a reckoning with the Iranian people over the terrible leadership that has been provided by the IRGC, the terrible decisions that they\u2019ve made. And they continue to make the wrong decision over and over again. It\u2019s the definition of insanity.\n\nHagerty on Senate Democrats\u2019 legislative blockade ahead of midterms: [Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.,] put us through the longest government shutdown in history, shutting down the Department of Homeland Security at a time when we were in major conflict with the major state sponsor of terror in the world. Knowing that the Iranian regime has put people into this country, he was willing to shut down Homeland Security. He just instructed his party to vote against the National Defense Authorization Bill. It seems that if you step back and listen to what Chuck Schumer says on the floor, that his irresponsibility actually bleeds into almost cheerleading for the Iranian regime. It\u2019s hard to believe\u2014I can\u2019t believe in my heart of hearts he believes that. But if you listen to what he says, it\u2019s hard to argue.\n\nHagerty on the rise of the radical left: As soon as people start listening to the platform of the Democratic Socialist Party\u2026Zohran Mamdani in New York City, [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.-14,], [Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-VT] . This Marxism, this socialism, this communism is not consistent with the American way. Certainly, that\u2019s clear in Tennessee, and I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll get any traction at all.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-01T07:27:26Z", "2026-08-01T07:28:22Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-24-million-nih-grants-uthsc", "Congressman Cohen Announces $2.4 Million in NIH Grants to UTHSC", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive four grants totaling $2,447,031 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).\n\nOne grant, for $678,934, is for research on novel host-adaptation mechanisms regulating Aspergillus pathogenic fitness under the direction of Dr. Jerrod R. Fortwendel from the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Aspergillus fumigatus are a species of fungi which are the most prevalent invasive mold infections in immunocompromised individuals. The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control list it as a pathogen of grave concern. Therefore, new treatments are urgently needed. This project focuses on the mechanisms of how these fungi cause damage, with the goal of identifying new targets for antifungal drugs. A second grant, for $645,060, is for breast cancer research to develop new classes of drugs which evade drug resistance under the direction of Dr. Wei Li from the National Cancer Institute. A third grant, for $624,442, is for research on epigenetic regulation of heart function in health and aging under the direction of Dr. Zhongjie Sun from the National Institute on Aging. Epigenetic changes to the DNA are those generated by environmental factors (such as proximity to chemical processing plants or exposure to toxins from environmental pollutants) or behavioral factors, such as from smoking. This work may offer new preventative and therapeutic approaches for aging-associated kidney dysfunction and hypertension. And a fourth grant, for $498,595, is for studying neonatal cerebral vascular injury by prolonged asphyxia under the direction of Dr. Helena Parfenova of the Department of Physiology from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The neonatal brain is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in its blood supply. Cerebral dysfunction caused by excessive production of certain inflammatory markers during asphyxia (the severe lack of oxygen reaching the body\u2019s tissues and organs) frequently produces lifelong complications. This project aims to identify new approaches to enhance vascular protection to reduce complications from asphyxia.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am always pleased to see this kind of major investment in medical research at our medical school. I congratulate Drs. Fortwendel, Li, Sun and Parfenova for obtaining this research funding and wish them all the best as they pursue their goals.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-528000-national-science-foundation-grant", "Congressman Cohen Announces $528,000 National Science Foundation Grant to the University of Memphis", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Dr. Xiaolei Huang, a professor of computer science at the University of Memphis, will receive a grant of $528,137 from the National Science Foundation. His project, creating a smart sensing network for precision soybean breeding, is in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI congratulate Professor Huang for being awarded this prestigious National Science Foundation funding. His research efforts will improve soybean yields and productivity, which will help feed the ever-growing population of our planet. It is especially encouraging that this work is being done in collaboration with the government of India which pioneered \u2018the green revolution\u2019 in the 1960s and averted future famines.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/today-rep-van-epps-celebrates-the-anniversary-of-nasa-s-founding", "Today, Rep. Van Epps Celebrates the Anniversary of NASA\u2019s Founding", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Van Epps released the following message in celebration of NASA\u2019s founding. As a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Rep. Van Epps is focused on ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of innovation, particularly in space technology. With an abundance of commercial investments in NASA and the space industry, Tennessee is helping lead the space race. Currently, Tennessee has $224.2 million in economic output due to NASA contracts alone. There are 26 Tennessee suppliers that contribute to NASA\u2019s Artemis program, and more Tennessee companies support the Kennedy Space Center.\n\nImage\n\nWatch Rep. Van Epps\u2019 message by clicking above or here.\n\nOn July 29th, we celebrate the birthday of NASA, an agency that has embodied one of the most powerful qualities of the American spirit: the belief that there is always something greater ahead.\n\nFor generations, NASA has reminded us of what is possible when Americans come together with a common purpose. It represents the dreamers who looked up at the night sky and wondered what lay beyond, the engineers who turned impossible ideas into reality, and the astronauts who climbed into rockets knowing they were carrying the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation.\n\nWhen Americans first reached the Moon, we did more than plant a flag. We showed what a free people can accomplish when we refuse to accept the impossible.\n\nThat moment reflected something deeply woven into the American character. We are a nation of explorers. A nation of builders. A nation that has always looked beyond the horizon and asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s next?\u201d\n\nThe story of NASA is the story of American perseverance. It is found in every scientist working late to solve a problem, every student inspired to pursue a career in science and engineering, and every astronaut who looks back at our beautiful planet and sees the incredible nation we are blessed to call home.\n\nFrom the Moon landings to the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, and from exploring Mars to the Artemis program preparing for humanity\u2019s return to the lunar surface, NASA has expanded our understanding of the universe and strengthened our belief in what America can achieve.\n\nAs we celebrate NASA\u2019s birthday, we remember the generations of Americans who made these achievements possible. We honor their courage, their creativity, and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.\n\nBut we also look forward. The next great discoveries are waiting. The next generation of explorers is ready. And the next chapter of America\u2019s story in space is still being written.\n\nBecause the spirit that carried us to the Moon is the same spirit that has carried our nation forward for nearly 250 years: a belief that tomorrow can be better than today, that challenges can be overcome, and that when Americans set our sights on a goal, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.\n\nHappy birthday to NASA. May we continue reaching higher, dreaming bigger, and taking one small step for mankind.", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/7/blackburn-to-newsmax-senate-should-remain-until-save-america-act-passes", "Blackburn to Newsmax: Senate Should Remain Until SAVE America Act Passes", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "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.) called on the Senate to remain in session until it passes the SAVE America Act during an appearance on Newsmax\u2019s Wake Up America. Last week, Senator Blackburn led her colleagues in taking to the Senate floor to urge the Senate to pass the bill following President Trump\u2019s address to the nation on election integrity. Watch the video Senator Blackburn released on her X account here.\n\nClick here to download Senator Blackburn\u2019s interview on Newsmax.\n\nClick here to watch the video Senator Blackburn posted on X.\n\nSen. Blackburn to Newsmax: Senate Should Remain Until SAVE America Act Passes\n\nBrian Freeman\n\nNewsmax\n\nSenate Republicans are prepared to remain in Washington as long as necessary to pass the SAVE America Act, backing President Donald Trump's call to delay the chamber's planned summer recess until election integrity legislation reaches his desk, Sen. Marsha Blackburn told Newsmax on Tuesday.\n\nThe Tennessee Republican said on ?Newsmax's \"Wake Up America\" that the GOP is willing to work weekends, split the legislation into smaller pieces, or pursue any other legislative strategy necessary to enact the bill, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.\n\n\"Whatever it takes, if it is staying here, if it's breaking the bill in pieces, doing pieces one at a time, whatever we need to do to make certain that we pass the SAVE Act is what we need to do,\" Blackburn said. \"We're all in on getting the SAVE Act passed.\"\n\nHer comments came after Trump urged Senate Republicans to remain in session until the legislation is approved, writing on Truth Social that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., \"should not allow the United States Senate to leave town until it passes the SAVE America Act,\" while also renewing his call to eliminate the legislative filibuster if necessary.\n\nAlthough Thune has indicated there are not enough votes to abolish the filibuster, Blackburn dismissed suggestions that Republicans are wavering on the underlying legislation, arguing the conference remains united behind strengthening election security.\n\n\"No one has worked harder than President Trump to make certain that we exercise election integrity,\" she said. \"Those of us that comprise the steering committee, which is the conservatives in the Senate, have been saying for months, we will stay here weekends and until we can get this passed, because we know this is important.\"\n\nBlackburn said she has already begun advancing portions of the legislation individually after leading Senate Republicans last week in an effort to move forward with a voter identification provision.\n\nShe also highlighted legislation she has introduced that would encourage states to verify voter registration rolls against the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, which contains information on individuals who are not U.S. citizens and are therefore ineligible to vote in federal elections.\n\nAccording to Blackburn, 26 states already compare their voter rolls against the federal database, while 24 do not. She said expanding that practice would strengthen election integrity nationwide.\n\nRELATED\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Urging Senate to Pass SAVE America Act Following President Trump\u2019s Address to the Nation\n\nVIDEO: Blackburn Asks Democrat Lawmakers Why They Fear SAVE America Act", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/7/blackburn-leads-colleagues-in-introducing-legislation-to-keep-biological-men-out-of-the-daughters-of-the-american-revolution", "Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Keep Biological Men Out of the Daughters of the American Revolution", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "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.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.),Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced the Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act, which would amend the Daughters of the American Revolution\u2019s (DAR) federal charter by adding a membership eligibility requirement to bar biological men from becoming members. The DAR has made headlines for adding a \u201cnon-discrimination\u201d clause that allows biological males to become members.\n\n\u201cThe Daughters of the American Revolution was founded by women for women, and its founders would be appalled that the organization is now allowing biological males to become members and undermine the legacy of real women who helped build our nation,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act would amend the DAR\u2019s federal charter to stop the organization from erasing biological reality and ensure it is reserved for the real daughters of the American Revolution.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-national-science-foundation-grant-study", "Congressman Cohen Announces National Science Foundation Grant to Study Earthquake Foreshocks to the University of Memphis", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Dr. Thomas Goebel of the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information will receive a grant of $272,211 from the National Science Foundation. His research project will attempt to answer the question: Why are earthquake foreshocks rare in nature?\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cMemphis is the largest big city near the New Madrid Fault which, when it slipped in 1811, rang church bells as far away as Boston. That\u2019s why we have such an outstanding earthquake center. Understanding earthquakes, and predicting them, could save thousands of lives. I congratulate Dr. Goebel on this prestigious grant award and wish him well in his ongoing work.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-nih-grants-st-jude-and-university-memphis", "Congressman Cohen Announces NIH Grants to St. Jude and the University of Memphis", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital will receive two grants from the National Cancer Institute and that the University of Memphis will receive one grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.\n\nOne of the St. Jude grants, for $622,500, is for research on transcriptional regulation in ZFTA-RELA ependymoma under the direction of Dr. Mark C. Mack in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology. The second St. Jude grant, for $289,893, is for research on a treatment for pediatric patients with relapsed refractory sarcomas under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Epperly, a faculty member in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.\n\nThe University of Memphis grant, for $53,114, is for research into alcohol use by non-four-year college emerging adults, under the direction of clinical psychology doctoral student Jacob Tempchin.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cSt. Jude researchers are improving patient outcomes with the kinds of work these grants will underwrite. Understanding alcoholic behavior in young people is also likely to improve outcomes. I congratulate Drs. Mack and Epperly and Mr. Tempchin for the valuable work they\u2019re doing.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-announces-mobile-office-hours-for-july-and-august", "Rep. Van Epps Announces Mobile Office Hours for July and August", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Franklin, TN \u2013 Rep. Van Epps\u2019 district team will hold mobile office hours in communities across Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District throughout July and August. If you need assistance with a federal agency, our team will be available to help start a casework request and connect you with the appropriate federal resources.\n\nWhile Congressman Van Epps maintains district offices in Clarksville and Franklin, our team is committed to making constituent services accessible across the entire district. Through mobile office hours, staff members are able to meet Tennesseans closer to where they live and work, ensuring residents across TN-07 have direct access to assistance from their congressional office.\n\nIf you need help with a federal agency but are unable to attend one of the mobile office hour events listed below, please contact our office at (629) 223-6050 or visit our website here.\n\nRep. Van Epps said, \u201cFrom Montgomery County to Wayne County and from Benton County to Davidson County, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to meet incredible Tennesseans across our district. One of my top priorities in Congress has been building a team that is responsive, accessible, and committed to serving the people of TN-07. Whether you need help with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, passport services, or another federal agency, our office is here to help. It would be our honor to serve you.\u201d\n\nPlease come prepared to fill out a privacy release form, also found on the website here!\n\nThough Rep. Van Epps will not be at these mobile office hours, a member of his team will be!\n\nYou can listen to a message from Rep. Van Epps here.\n\nJuly\n\nWayne County\n\nDate: July 27, 2026\n\nTime: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Wayne County Courthouse, 100 Court Circle, Waynesboro, TN 38485 (3rd Floor Conference Room)\n\nDecatur County\n\nDate: July 29, 2026\n\nTime: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, Ayers Entrepreneur Center, Conference Room, 443 Virginia Ave. South, Parsons, TN 38363\n\nAugust\n\nWilliamson County\n\nDate: August 5, 2026\n\nTime: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Fairview City Hall Conference Room, 7100 Center City Way, Fairview, TN, 37062\n\nCheatham County\n\nDate: August 17, 2026\n\nTime: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Audrey Beck Meeting Hall, 420 North Main Street, Kingston Springs, 37082 TN\n\nRobertson County\n\nDate: August 17, 2026\n\nTime: 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM\n\nLocation: Greenbriar City Hall, 2414 US-41, Greenbrier, TN 37073\n\nDickson County\n\nDate: August 17, 2026\n\nTime: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM\n\nLocation: Dickson City Hall, 600 East Walnut Street, Dickson, TN 37055 (Mayor's Conference Room)\n\nHickman County", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/07/24/icymi-hagerty-joins-fox-friends-on-fox-news-to-discuss-iran-and-the-save-america-act/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty Joins\u00a0Fox & Friends\u00a0on Fox News to Discuss Iran and the SAVE America Act", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "New York\u2014Today, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Fox & Friends on Fox News to discuss the latest developments in Iran and the SAVE America Act.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on Iran and the Abraham Accords: I applaud [President Donald Trump] for bringing major allies in the region together. Iran is getting further and further isolated by a deal like this. And joining the Abraham Accords has been a long-term goal for President Trump. The fact that he has gotten Jared Kushner involved, his wonderful team, John Raider\u2014that team put together the Abraham Accords at a time when it was desperately needed. I think they should have gotten a Nobel Peace Prize for this. And by bringing more into the fold, particularly [Saudi Arabia], the largest economy [in the Middle East], I think this is a major step forward. We are talking about economy, we are talking about prosperity, and I think this sends a message for the entire region that we are ready to move forward [\u2026] We are not talking about enrichment programs at all. The [United Arab Emirates (UAE)], other partners of ours, are able to have a civil nuclear program. They report, they do not hide, they do not obfuscate. But I think this is something that we are going to work through the details on with Saudi Arabia. My sense is that President Trump\u2019s overarching goal is to bring them into an economic relationship that begets prosperity. I think the sooner we get this wrapped up, the sooner it is taken care of, the more the American public will come on board. I think the issue we have right now is the fact that [the conflict is] dragging out. And I don\u2019t fault those that are trying to negotiate trying to bring this together with terms that work because we are going to have to rebuild Iran. But at this point, I think the American public\u2019s sentiment, at least as I read the data, [is that] they just want this over with. And if you think about the activity there in the Middle East, [Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper], was about 75 to 80% of the way through the target package they initially set. [CENTCOM] stopped when they went to a ceasefire. They stopped that when they went to negotiate. I think [Admiral Cooper] is back on track to complete that target package, and that will put the Iranian situation in a much better negotiating position.\n\nHagerty on funding the Department of War (DOW): I think you have a lot of support for this. We have a reconciliation package working its way through. This is just an immediate fix [for funding the Department of War]. There is about $73 billion in that package to address the [Department of War], but we are talking about a $1.5 trillion package at a time when the military needs a significant rebuild. For four years, [the department was] distracted under [former President Joe Biden\u2019s administration], focusing on social engineering, not on lethality. And what the team has found as they have come in is a lot of opportunity to make us stronger. We\u2019ve demonstrated exquisite results\u2026 but we need to continue this momentum and make certain that we are ready to deal with all of the adversarial situations.\n\nHagerty on Budget Reconciliation and the SAVE America Act: I think what we need to do is actually put something in front of everybody, because if it\u2019s voter ID, this is an issue that over 95% of Republicans, and even on the Democrat side, over 70% of Democrats approve of. I don\u2019t know why every American does not want to support this. The mail-in balloting issue gets more complicated for some states that are more remote. I understand that issue, but I think that we take it in pieces.", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-introduces-bill-protect-surrogate-mothers-forced-abortions", "REP. OGLES INTRODUCES BILL TO PROTECT SURROGATE MOTHERS FROM FORCED ABORTIONS", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Andrew Ogles", "O000175", "ogles.house.gov", "ogles", "https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) introduced the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2026, legislation prohibiting federal courts from enforcing provisions in surrogacy contracts that require a surrogate mother to obtain an abortion. The bill would also prevent intended parents from withholding agreed-upon compensation when a surrogate mother refuses a request to abort the child she is carrying.\n\n\u201cNo woman should ever be forced to murder a child because of a provision buried in a contract,\u201d said Congressman Ogles. \u201cThe Preventing Forced Abortions Act ensures that federal courts cannot enforce these coercive clauses or allow intended parents to withhold promised compensation when a surrogate mother chooses life,\u201d Congressman Ogles said.\n\nHon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said: \u201cWomen should never be forced or coerced into having an abortion. Yet, recent headlines reveal that this is still a tragic reality women face today. We applaud Rep. Ogles for reintroducing the Preventing Forced Abortions Act to protect women and babies in surrogacy arrangements. Studies have shown that pressure to undergo an abortion is associated with poorer mental health and emotional outcomes for women. Abortion coercion is wrong and this ought to be an area of bipartisan agreement.\n\nCarol Tobias, President of National Right to Life, said: \u201cNational Right to Life strongly supports Congressman Ogles\u2019 Preventing Forced Abortions Act. No contract should be used as a weapon to coerce a woman into an abortion or treat an unborn child as disposable.\u201d\n\nKelsey Reinhardt, President and CEO of CatholicVote, said:\n\n\u201cI want to thank Rep. Ogles for standing up for both women and the unborn. Every abortion treats the woman and child as a means to an end, violating her inherent dignity and exploits the woman for an agenda of death. Too often the abortion compounds injustice: many coerced cases involve domestic abuse, trafficking, economic threats, or authoritarian policies. The Catholic Church's social teaching prioritizes protecting the vulnerable from such manipulation. CatholicVote supports the Preventing Forced Abortions Act and encourages all Members of Congress to do the same.\u201d\n\nPenny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, said:\n\n\u201cAbortion always ends the life of an innocent unborn child, and forced abortions in the context of surrogacy arrangements are no different. Surrogacy all too often places unborn children at risk of abortion when the baby is diagnosed with certain complications. Congress must pass Rep. Andy Ogles' Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2026 to ensure that no child is subject to forced abortion when they aren\u2019t exactly what someone wanted. Children are not commodities to be controlled or products to be perfected; they are gifts from God intended to be treasured by one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage.\u201d\n\nCosponsors (5): Rep. Lauren Boebert [CO-04], Rep. Sheri Biggs [SC-03], Rep. Josh Brecheen [OK-02], Rep. Keith Self [TX-03], and Rep. Mary Miller [IL-15]\n\nSupporting Groups (5): Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, CatholicVote, National Right to Life Committee, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Students For Life Action.\n\nRead More On Breitbart\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-speaks-at-sst-budget-hearing-on-revitalizing-american-scientific-research", "Rep. Van Epps Speaks at SST Budget Hearing on Revitalizing American Scientific Research", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.-Rep. Van Epps (TN-07) participated in a Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Committee hearing titled, \u201cUnleashing the Golden Age of Science: Examining the Priorities of the FY2027 Research and Technology Enterprise.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Van Epps' statement here.\n\nRead Rep. Van Epps\u2019 opening remarks here:\n\n\u201cThank you, Director Kratsios, for being here today. In March 2025, President Trump charted out a clear vision for scientific progress and technological innovation: to position America to maintain leadership in emerging technologies like AI, quantum, and nuclear; to revitalize American scientific research; and to ensure that the growth of science and technology stimulates \u2026economic growth.\n\nDirector Kratsios and OSTP have delivered by supporting these goals: the National AI Legislative Framework provided clear direction on how Congress should act to spur\u2026on AI innovation that serves Americans, and an executive order signed by the President last month to accelerate U.S. innovation in quantum technologies to strengthen our national security.\n\nOne year after executive orders on nuclear energy, we are seeing real-world results. The President\u2019s bold goal of three advanced test reactors achieving criticality before the Fourth of July was not only met but exceeded with four reactors achieving criticality. Just yesterday, Director Kratsios published a report establishing a blueprint for renewing American scientific leadership for the 21st century.\n\nAfter the Biden administration floundered to position America for technology leadership and energy dominance, we are seeing tangible results from the Trump administration, with OSTP providing critical support.\u201d\n\nRead Rep. Van Epps\u2019 questions here:\n\nRep. Van Epps asked, \u201c We must maintain the lead across the board when it comes to AI. Microsoft\u2019s AI for Good Lab found that DeepSeek\u2019s free, open-source models have driven AI adoption across the developing world. Recently, the Chinese company, Moonshot, released\u2026a new open-weight model that performs competitively with American frontier models. US companies are turning toward open-source and open-weight models as they are cheaper, customizable, and\u2026 have less guardrails.\n\nJust earlier this morning, the director of your team posted that Moonshot AI conducted large-scale covert distillation to develop their newest K3 model, and so a few questions here: How do we balance an open innovation ecosystem while protecting American technology from IP threat, and how is OSTP responding to the threat to American AI leadership posed by Chinese open source and open weight models?\u201d\n\nDirector of White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Michael Kratsios replied, \u201cI think there's, for starters, an important distinction to be made between open source models and large scale industrial covert distillation of American models, and I think what was made public today was exactly that: the convert industrial distillation of\u2026American technology. The administration deeply believes that the future of American leadership in AI is contingent upon having a\u2026vibrant open and closed source set of models for Americans and the world to use. I think on the first or second page of the AI action plan the president released last year, we emphasized very strongly that the U.S. must lead in\u2026open source. So for us, we're doing everything we can to\u2026kind of push the open source community ahead in the U.S...and provide lots of alternatives for all of our entrepreneurs.\n\nRep. Van Epps asked, \u201cGreat, thanks, director. Modern research and AI model training runs on data, such as biological databases and materials data. American leadership in these fields depends on the quality and accessibility of that underlying data infrastructure. That's why I introduced the Web of Biological Data Act of 2026, which would establish a single point of entry for researchers to access high-quality biological data for use in research and development. Director, what\u2026role does access to high-quality data play in America's science and AI ecosystem, and how would a single point of entry for standardized data sets impact the pace of innovation?", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/7/blackburn-sounds-the-alarm-on-communist-china-s-infiltration-of-american-judiciary", "Blackburn Sounds the Alarm on Communist China\u2019s Infiltration of American Judiciary", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "\u201cAccording to the national security organization State Armor, over the course of three decades, \u2018ELI\u2019s work has uniformly advanced Chinese strategic and national security interests while undermining American national security . . . and simultaneously pushing America toward dependence upon energy sources dominated by the PRC.\u2019 In 2018, that very same group launched its Climate Judiciary Project \u2018in coordination with the [Federal Judicial Center] . . . in response to demand from the judiciary for education about climate science.\u2019 While the stated goal was to provide \u2018neutral, objective information to the judiciary,\u2019 it\u2019s clear that ELI\u2019s goal was to \u2018make judges more receptive to climate litigation\u2019 and, even more troubling, \u2018target\u2019 judges in states \u2018where [climate] cases were being brought.\u2019 The substance of CJP\u2019s programming is equally as concerning. According to State Armor\u2019s report, CJP\u2019s materials instruct judges on how to \u2018frame\u2019 climate change matters and \u2018influence colleagues who may be \u201copposed to action on climate change.\u201d\u2019 The CJP programming also includes material that has little to do with standard continuing legal education content, including lesson plans on \u2018implicit bias\u2019 and \u2018Resistance to Change.\u2019 Critically, according to the report, the majority of CJP\u2019s materials were \u2018created by scholars who have called for liability for oil and gas companies,\u2019 including a scholar who has labeled the oil and gas industry as \u2018diabolical.\u2019\u201d\n\nELI Lesson Plans Steer Judges to Rule in Favor of Far-Left Climate Lobby, Threatening Judicial Independence", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 12386, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", 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