{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=ED255C86-C1E2-484D-87B8-3B2B4B999E1B", "Alexander Honors Nations Veterans", "2016-11-10", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Lamar Alexander", "A000360", "www.alexander.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MARYVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 10, 2016 \u2013 U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day on November 11 and pointed to a number of important steps Congress has taken to support veterans this year. \r\n\u201cOn Veterans Day we honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of our Armed Services to ensure that the rest of us can exercise our freedoms. Generations of Tennesseans have served at home and abroad and bravely serve our nation today. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude, and they should receive the honor and respect they deserve,\u201d Alexander said. \r\nIn September, $4.2 million in federal funding was announced to expand the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery and $5.7 million to construct the new Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at Parkers Crossroads. Alexander supported funding for these two state veteran cemeteries when it was included in the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill that was signed into law on December 18, 2015.\r\nBelow are some of the steps Congress has taken to aid veterans and their families so far this year:\r\n \r\nPassed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which includes $103.9 billion in mandatory funding for veteran compensation programs and veterans pensions.\r\nPassed the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016 which authorizes VA services and programs, including homeless veterans assistance programs, transportation services for highly rural veterans, and in-home care for disabled veterans.\r\nPassed the Veterans\u2019 Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2016, which increases veterans\u2019 disability benefits to keep up with the rising costs of living.\r\nThe Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs is working to increase accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs, including legislation to make it easier for leadership at the Department to remove employees at all levels, hold accountable all VA leaders including political appointees, and prohibit bonuses for employees who have been found guilty of wrongdoing. \r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n###\r\n\r\nFor access to this release and the senator\u2019s other statements, click here.\r\nTo stay up-to-date on the senator\u2019s latest actions, follow him on Twitter and YouTube.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=ED255C86-C1E2-484D-87B8-3B2B4B999E1B"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6485541127622128, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}