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Paid for by Friends of John Ray Clemmons, Sydney U. Rogers, Treasurer

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#HD55 | #TeamJRC

The holiday season is officially here. I hope this newsletter finds you all healthy and safe following your Thanksgiving weekend. 

Congratulations to the neighbors of West Meade for “re-booting” the West Meade Neighborhood Association ([link removed])! It was great seeing over 80 neighbors in attendance for their first meeting. District 55 is comprised of some of the strongest neighborhood organizations in Nashville from one end to the other. Attending as many monthly neighborhood meetings as possible helps keep me informed about your needs.

The legislative session is just around the corner, so I am hard at work researching for my legislative package in 2020. 

Since the Metro elections, I have enjoyed the opportunity to touch base with many of the newest members of the Metro Council and learn how I can best assist them in their efforts to represent the people of Nashville, in District 55 and beyond. I have also reached out to Vice Mayor Shulman, Councilmember Burkley Allen, and a few other councilmembers in an attempt to improve communication and transparency and create a better working relationship between Metro and our Davidson County state delegation. Since I entered the state legislature in 2014, there has been very little coordination between Metro and our delegation on most issues and even less proactive communication. This must change, so I have requested an ad hoc committee of councilmembers to be appointed to meet with our delegation regularly.  I hope to see this materialize in the coming weeks.

 

Medicaid “Block Grant”

Pursuant to state legislation that passed earlier this year, Tennessee has formally requested ([link removed]) the federal government to convert some of our TennCare (our state’s Medicaid ([link removed]) program) funding into a “block grant” via a proposed amendment to the TennCare Demonstration. I voted against the bill that set this process in motion and maintain many serious concerns about block grants of this type. Thank you to the 1,800 individuals who submitted comments to TennCare during the state’s comment period. Now, the federal comment period is open until December 27, 2019. Please submit a comment here ([link removed]) or via the Tennessee Justice Center ([link removed]).

Real ID Hassles

Over the past few months, many of you have reached out with concerns and complaints about the difficulty of obtaining a Real ID ([link removed]).  My office immediately reached out to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and was advised of multiple steps that are being taken by the state to address the high volume of Tennesseans seeking to comply with the law ([link removed]).  We also reached out to the Davidson County Clerk’s office and were informed that it would not be one of the county clerks to issue Real ID ([link removed]).  

REMEMBER:  To apply for a Real ID, you will need to present the following documents: 1) Proof to establish citizenship or legal presence; 2) Proof of your full Social Security Number; and, 3) Two proofs of Tennessee residency. *You should also be prepared to provide documentation of any name changes that may have occurred. All documents must be originals or certified. No photocopies will be accepted. For a complete list of document options, check here ([link removed]).  (See also, FAQ’s ([link removed])).

Gun Violence

On September 24th, I hosted a roundtable discussion ([link removed]) on gun violence in the State Capitol with Safe Tennessee Project ([link removed]) which released its latest in-depth report, “Tennessee Gun Violence: An issue of public health and public safety ([link removed]).” The roundtable discussion on the topic included panelists Beth Joslin Roth (STP), Dr. Jonathan Metzl ([link removed]) (Vanderbilt University), Dr. Katrina Green ([link removed]) (Syline Medical Center), Megan Moore ([link removed]) (Metro Office of Family Safety ([link removed])), Jen Pauliukonis (Coalition to Stop Gun Violence), ([link removed]) Scott Ridgway (TN Suicide Prevention Network ([link removed])), and Kayla Hicks (Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence ([link removed])).  

I highly recommend the latest report. It contains data from the Centers for Disease Control, Tennessee Department of Health, FBI, the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.  The report reflects years of the state’s firearm injury and death data across a number of categories, including women murdered by men, youth gun violence, black homicide victimization, child access-related shootings, mass shootings, and firearm suicides. The report also includes detailed policy proposals, such as expanded background checks, extreme risk protection orders, strengthening firearm dispossession laws, MaKayala’s Law, and investing in intervention and prevention through funding for community groups and violence interrupters, and research into the many factors driving Tennessee gun violence.

We all understand the gravity of this public health and public safety crisis, but it’s worth being reminded that Tennessee is:  11th in the nation for firearm mortality; 7th for firearm homicide; 4th for firearm mortality for ages 0-19; 4th for firearm homicide for ages 0-19; 12th for juvenile firearm suicides; 5th for women murdered by men; and, 8th for black homicide victimization. Waiting to act is not an option.  We must do something.

   

I-440

The I-440 project ([link removed]) is progressing smoothly. The latest TDOT Progress Update can be found here ([link removed]).  Schedule information is tentative and schedule to change. To check current traffic conditions and/or to view traffic cameras, visit TNSmartway ([link removed]).

   

2020 Legislative Session

I am currently researching possible legislation concerning the following issues:

property tax relief equity for seniors and disabled individuals;

“Stop the Bleed”;

transportation infrastructure funding modernization;

network adequacy for mental health services;

gun violence;

criminal laws regarding infectious diseases;

education funding;

voting rights;

equal pay;

anti-lunch shaming/bullying;

teacher training / RTII staffing;

medical debt;

surprise medical billing;

private prisons;

sustainable agriculture; and,

net neutrality.

 

House members are only allowed to introduce 15 bills per session, so this list will likely be amended should other time-sensitive matters arise.  If you have an idea for legislation, please contact me at any time.

I am often asked what new harmful legislation my colleagues from across the state will have in store for us next session. The honest answer is that I have no idea. After several years of serving with some of them, I’ve given up on trying to predict what they’ll try next. Regardless of what comes at us, I will work as hard as I can to protect your rights, improve your quality of life, and fight for equity, opportunity and justice.

Your presence, calls, and emails make a real difference in the state legislature. Please get engaged, stay involved, and make your voice heard. If you do not know how to get engaged, call me ([link removed]) and I will be happy to assist you.

In the News

The Tennessean, Nov. 25, 2019 – Republican lawmaker wants to rename Cordell Hull building after former Gov. Winfield Dunn ([link removed])

The Tennessean, Oct. 18, 2019 – Progressive agenda won in Nashville, but will that movement really move people ahead? ([link removed]) | Opinion 

Pride Publishing Group, Sept. 28, 2019 – Rep. Clemmons and Safe Tennessee Project host gun violence roundtable ([link removed])

Daily Memphian, Sept. 28, 2019 – Hardaway to revive legislation requiring guns in cars to be secured ([link removed])

WSMV, Sept. 24, 2019 - Gun violence in Tennessee called 'public health crisis' ([link removed])

NewsChannel5, Sept. 24, 2019 - Tennessee ranks among worst states for child and teen gun deaths ([link removed])

WKRN, Sept. 24, 2019 – TN Capitol Hill roundtable Tuesday aims at gun violence ([link removed])

Fox17, Aug. 23, 2019 – The Latest: House blocks resolution condemning neo-Nazis ([link removed])

Recent Events

I appreciate all invitations to attend or participate in community events.  Please contact my legislative office ([link removed]) to let me know about any upcoming events.  

In addition to neighborhood meetings, a few of the events I was honored to attend over the past month or so include the following:  Neighborhood Builders Breakfast at Nashville State C.C.; Nashville Adult Literacy Council’s Learner & Tutor Banquet at Cohn School; Hillwood Cluster PAC’s education funding discussion at Bellevue Middle School; Civics education panel discussion at First Unitarian Universalist Church; Mental Health Law Academy at Belmont University; Principal for a Day at J.T. Moore Middle School; a tour of the YWCA Weaver Domestic Violence Center; Renewal House luncheon; I-440 project update tour; a tour of the Food Pharmacy at Nashville General Hospital; The Next Door breakfast; Opioid Summit at Vanderbilt University; and, the Climate Underground Conference at Caney Fork Farms. 





2501 Oakland Avenue | Nashville, TN 37212 US

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