Latest from Lamar, Notes from the Senate Desk
*Important news from
this week: *
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The U.S. Senate approved funding to help
Tennesseans combat the opioid crisis, improve national parks, including the
Smokies, support Tennessee farmers, and help stop the spread of Asian
Carp.
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U.S. Figure Skating announced that Nashville will host the
2022 U.S. Championships for the first time since 1997. We're excited
to welcome everyone back to Music City!
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Oak Ridge National
Laboratory won five Research and Development 100 Awards, bringing the lab's
total to 221, more than any other company, university or research
organization since the award was created.
*Senate Democrats block
largest pay raise for military service members, including those at
Fort Campbell, since 2010*
This week, Senate Democrats, for their own
political reasons, blocked funding for the largest pay increase for
our military in 10 years. The legislation would have also set record
funding for our 17 national laboratories, which include Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, and the fifth consecutive year of increased funding for
the National Institutes of Health, which researches and develops
lifesaving treatments for Tennessee families. Democrats are plunging these
departments into uncertainty that almost everyone agrees wastes
taxpayer money.
*Howard Baker made us Tennesseans look even
better*
How fortunate we were to know, to be inspired by, and to learn
from Tennessee's favorite son and one of our country's finest leaders,
Howard Baker. The nation got to know him during the Watergate hearings.
He then became the majority leader of the United States Senate, chief
of staff for President Reagan, and President George W. Bush's
Ambassador to Japan. He began an era of two-party competition that has changed
Tennessee politics permanently. By his eloquence and personality,
Howard inspired a number of young men and women, including me, to join
him in that endeavor. Howard made us Tennesseans look even better, and I
cannot think of a more deserving person to receive the Museum of
Appalachia's first-ever Heroes of Southern Appalachia Award.
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I had a good meeting this week with special agents from FBI Knoxville
and Memphis. I thanked them for their dedicated service to the people
of Tennessee.
*Approving important federal funding for
Tennessee *
The Senate passed a spending bill this week that includes
funding for important priorities for Tennesseans, such as supporting
Tennessee's farmers, helping our state tackle the opioid crisis, reducing
the maintenance backlog at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
and helping stop the spread of Asian Carp. The next step is to
conference our bills with the House of Representatives and send the bills to
the president to become law. Passing this funding package is a positive
step in the right direction toward restoring a regular appropriations
process. Boy Scouts shouldn't get a merit badge for telling the truth,
and United States senators shouldn't get an award for passing
appropriations bills. That is what we are supposed to do.
*Cliff
Corker will serve our state with distinction as a District Court Judge for
the Eastern District of Tennessee*
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I spoke at the
investiture of Cliff Corker as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern
District of Tennessee. Four years ago, Cliff was selected to serve as a
magistrate judge by the District Court Judges of the Eastern District of
Tennessee - a testament to his qualifications to be a district court
judge and to his support from the community. When Judge Corker was
appointed to be a Magistrate Judge, he said: "It's a tougher job to be the
decision maker than the advocate. There's so much more responsibility
in making the decision than advocating for the client because you
really want to see justice done." Cliff demonstrates the qualities I look
for in a judge - good character, good temperament, high intelligence
and respect for the law. He will be an asset to the federal bench and
serve our state with distinction
*Working to improve health
care for Tennesseans *
I often suggest Tennesseans look at Washington
D.C. like a split screen television. On one side, you have the
controversies of the day - Democrat impeachment and the president's daily
tweets. But on the other side, you'll often see senators working
together to achieve results for the American people. That has been the case
for the Senate health committee I chair.
This week, my committee
worked to continue to achieve results for Tennesseans by moving forward
eight bipartisan public health bills that will bring new
over-the-counter drugs to patients more quickly, ensure we have the nurses we need,
and help Americans lead healthier lives. Here are the proposals we
voted on this week:
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*TICK Act* *- *This bill will authorize
centers of excellence and grants to states to improve the prevention of and
response to diseases transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes, ticks,
and fleas. The legislation will also require a national strategy to
ensure federal agencies coordinate to combat these diseases.
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*Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2019: *This bill will help reduce
infant mortality rates and improve access to care to give babies the best
opportunity at living long, healthy lives.
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*Title VIII Nursing
Workforce Reauthorization Act:* This bill will update and reauthorize
programs that help ensure we have the trained nurses we need.
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*Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019:* This bill will
continue support for state programs that give a break to the 45 million
Americans who provide care for a family member with special
needs.
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*Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act:* This bill
will provide grants to help states better understand the causes of
sudden unexpected infant and child deaths in order to identify ways to
prevent them in the future.
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*Promoting Physical Activity for
Americans Act: *This bill will require the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services to routinely update its recommendations on exercise.
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*United States Public Health Service Modernization Act of 2019:*
This bill will allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
create a ready reserve of public health professionals to ensure we are
prepared to respond to a national or public health emergency.
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*Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act of 2019:*
This bill will modernize the way over-the-counter medications are
regulated and brought to market. The reforms aim to protect public health
and encourage the development of new products to better meet the needs
of patients.
*To celebrate Halloween, Senate Democrats have
come up with a scary fairytale without an ounce of truth*
Democrats
are trying to trick Americans into thinking that giving states the
ability to lower health insurance premiums could somehow undermine
protections for pre-existing conditions, something federal law does not
permit. The Trump administration has issued guidance that would allow
states to use innovation to lower the cost of health insurance premiums.
Democrats this week attempted to block state's ability to innovate.
Democrats should allow states to use the flexibility created by Obamacare
to lower premiums and help millions of Americans have access to more
affordable health insurance.
*Honoring our nation's nuclear
weapons workers*
The Senate passed a resolution I introduced with Tom
Udall of New Mexico to designate October 30, 2019, as National Day of
Remembrance for workers who helped develop and support the nation's
nuclear weapons program. Tennesseans played a major role in winning the
Cold War, working countless hours with hazardous materials to build
our nation's nuclear defense. Thousands of nuclear workers didn't serve
in the heat of battle, but in the laboratory, working with highly
radioactive and toxic substances, and paid a high price for their service
to our country. This resolution recognizes the patriotism of these men
and women in Tennessee and across the nation who have quietly
sacrificed for our safety and freedom.
*Below are some articles
from this week I thought you would enjoy:*
*Clarksville Leaf
Chronicle: Column by Lamar Alexander: FAFSA so complex that it stops
students who most need aid from getting it [link 1]*
*Washington Examiner:
Here is one bipartisan way to make college more affordable [link
2]*
If you want to get something done, give someone else
credit.
*#40 in Lamar Alexander's Little Plaid Book*
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