Important news from this week:
- I introduced legislation to simplify the FAFSA – a
complicated form 400,000 Tennesseans fill out each year to receive
federal and state aid to attend college. Former Governor Bill Haslam has
called this the single biggest impediment to students enrolling in
Tennessee Promise.
- This week was the
one year anniversary of President Trump signing the SUPPORT Act
– bipartisan legislation I sponsored to help states like Tennessee
combat the opioid crisis.
- Chattanooga this week celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee
Riverpark. Chattanooga does a good job of celebrating what it’s got. From
the aquarium, to the Hunter Museum of Art, to the Riverwalk, the city
has so much to offer.
Making it easier for Tennessee students to attend
college
This week, I
introduced legislation to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA), a form that nearly 20 million families, and 400,000
Tennesseans, fill out every year to apply for federal and state student aid.
The 108-question FAFSA is one of the biggest challenges low-income
students who want to go to college face. Former Tennessee Governor Bill
Haslam told me that Tennessee has the highest rate of filling out the
FAFSA, but it is still the single biggest impediment to more students
enrolling in Tennessee Promise, our state’s free, two-year
community college program.
My bill will
simplify the FAFSA and reduce the number of questions to 18-30 basic
questions about a student, their family, and their plans for college. It
will also greatly reduce the need for the burdensome verification
process that stops a student’s Pell grant payment while their family
scrambles to submit their federal tax information and will allow
students as young as middle school to easily learn about their likely Pell
grant award so they can begin to plan for college.
Here is
the FAFSA – to give you an idea of just how long and complex it
is. Reducing this form to 18-30 questions would be a big help to
Tennessee students.
On Friday, I received the Jackson Award from the
Andrew Jackson Foundation. I am grateful for the work the foundation
does to ensure future generations know the stories of President Andrew
Jackson. Learning this history is important so we can understand what is
happening today and how to navigate tomorrow.
Urging the U.S. Trade Representative to work towards
“zero tariffs, zero barriers”
This week, I urged U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
to update and improve the process for granting exclusions from tariffs
on certain imported goods from China. A tariff exclusion is a process
by which an American company can be protected from harmful tariffs
imposed on other countries.
I believe
that the Administration’s broad-based tariffs have had a negative
impact on American companies, farmers, and consumers. I strongly
support the President’s long-term goal of “zero tariffs, zero
barriers” and believe we should continue working towards that
end. The Administration is right to focus efforts on combating unfair
trade practices by China, but while tariffs remain in place, there is a
need to update and improve the current exclusion process and better
inform businesses on how to respond appropriately and make the necessary
adjustments.
Several Tennessee
companies have shared with me their frustrations about the lack of
transparency and understanding of the exclusion process. Many have altered
supply chains, shifted production, and taken steps to absorb the impact
of these tariffs as best they can. However, a clear explanation of the
exclusion process remains critical for businesses to receive
much-needed relief on the products they import that are subject to tariffs.
International trade is crucial to Tennessee’s industries, and we
should be careful not to discourage investment and economic growth as
it will negatively affect many American businesses. Specifically,
Tennessee’s reliance on imports from China is higher than any other
state, with 7.3% of the state’s gross domestic product consisting
of Chinese imports.
I enjoyed meeting with Dr. Susan Wente, Interim Chancellor
at Vanderbilt University, a great example of a university committed to
student success and academic achievement.
