releases: https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-applauds-state-decision-spend-down-732-million-tanf
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
This data as json
| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-applauds-state-decision-spend-down-732-million-tanf | Congressman Cohen Applauds State Decision to Spend Down $732 Million TANF Surplus | 2019-11-19 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Democrat | House | TN | Steve Cohen | C001068 | cohen.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded the Tennessee Department ofHuman Services announcement that it would begindistributingsome of the $732 million in unspent block grant funding for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Family programsthat support Tennesseefamilies.But he expressed disappointment that $342 million will still be retained as a reserve surplus. Congressman Cohen wrote Governor Bill Lee on November 6 demanding answers about why funding for low-income workers was being held in reserve. In a state ranked 10thin the nation for its high poverty rate, Congressman Cohen said the decision was either mismanagement of federal dollars or a deliberate choice not to help needy families. See that letter here. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: I was extremely disappointed when I learned that money intended for families in need was instead being kept as a rainy day fund. I met with Governor Lee in Washington last week and he told me some action would be taken by DHS, and I commend him for taking a step in the right direction. Today's announcement isa welcome, although a belated and only partial correction of a very big mistake and should be a lesson: every day is a rainy day for Tennessee families who struggle to makes ends meet. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |