Tennessee

15 October 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today received a firm commitment from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that the long-awaited Little Rock-Memphis High Speed Rail Study will be started next year.    » read more »

October 13, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bart Gordon said he was pleased the U.S. Department of Energy revised its decision to send radioactive waste from New York to Tennessee for disposal in municipal landfills. The decision comes after DOE held a conference call and was met with strong opposition to the plan from interested stakeholders, including Congressman Bart Gordon, Tennessee environmentalists and government watchdog groups.

“This decision is a victory for Tennessee,” said Congressman Gordon. “This contaminated waste is radioactive and should be disposed of in a landfill that is officially certified to handle this kind of waste. There is no reason for New York’s radioactive waste to be dumped in any of Tennessee’s municipal landfills.”    » read more »

09/16/2009 -- U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today confirmed funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the Volunteer State Solar Initiative in Tennessee. Under DOE’s State Energy Program, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has proposed a statewide plan that prioritizes energy savings, creates or retains jobs, increases the use of renewable energy, and reduces carbon pollution.

“This funding will provide an important boost for the state’s economy, help to put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence,” said Secretary Chu. “It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly.”    » read more »

07/08/2009 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today ceremonially signed into law the Tennessee Clean Energy Future Act of 2009, legislation that has been dubbed “the cornerstone for all future energy policy” in the Volunteer State.

In signing the act, Bredesen was joined by key lawmakers who were instrumental in passing the bill, as well as members of the Governor’s Task Force on Energy Policy whose recommendations served as the basis for the new law. More than 50 lawmakers co-sponsored the legislation, with key sponsors including: Senators Jim Kyle, Andy Berke, Randy McNally and Ken Yager, and Representatives Les Winningham, Phillip Johnson, Kevin Brooks, Jim Hackworth, Joe McCord and Mike Turner.    » read more »

06/17/2009 -- BIRR, Switzerland - Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen toured Alstom’s Turbine and Generator rotor manufacturing operation Tuesday in Birr, Switzerland. The tour of the Swiss power company is one of Bredesen’s recruiting efforts to expand European investment in Tennessee’s clean energy sector. The Alstom manufacturing operation is known worldwide for producing equipment used in coal, gas and nuclear plants.

“I’ve long said that it makes sense for Tennessee to redouble its effort to recruit new business, even though the global economy is in recession,” Bredesen said. “The people of Tennessee need higher skilled, good paying jobs, and now is not the time to pull back or retrench.”    » read more »

June 1, 2009 --WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) made the following statement today:

“I’ve spent the past 24 hours on the phone with GM officials, the auto task force, Governor Bredesen, and the local mayors and economic development officials.

“I’m obviously very disappointed in the decision by GM officials and the administration to idle our Spring Hill plant but glad it’s idled for a period and not closed and certainly happy for the 600 Tennesseans that will remain employed. I’m saddened by the effect this will have on the many families who derive their incomes directly from the Spring Hill plant as well as the suppliers and vendors who depend on it.    » read more »

June 1st, 2009 - WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today made the following statement regarding General Motors’ decision to put its Spring Hill plant on standby:

“GM’s decision to put its Spring Hill plant on standby is a blow to many employees who work there and to their families, but hopefully it will only be a short-term problem. I have discussed with Governor Bredesen how I can be of as much help as possible to those affected.    » read more »

May 29th, 2009 - WASHINGTON - Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) issued the following statement today regarding General Motors and its factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee:

“General Motors’ Spring Hill plant has been an important magnet for the growth of auto jobs in Tennessee. I am doing everything I can to help it be a part of our future,” said Alexander. “Communities across our state are worried about how GM’s restructuring will impact them—from the Spring Hill plant to the thousands working for auto parts suppliers and car dealerships. In terms of keeping and creating new auto jobs, the sooner the federal government gets out of the business of trying to run auto companies the better.    » read more »

05/28/2009 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today vetoed House Bill 962, which would permit the possession of firearms in Tennessee restaurants and bars. Law enforcement officials and district attorneys from across the state flanked Bredesen as he spoke about his reasons for the veto.

"Let me be very clear: I am a strong supporter of the right to keep and bear arms. I am, and have always been, committed to preserving the rights of the Second Amendment: basic American rights. These rights are protected by the United States Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution as well," Bredesen said.    » read more »

05/26/2009 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $1 billion in compensation and medical benefits to 9,134 Tennessee residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. Since the implementation of the act, the Labor Department has paid 51,331 claimants more than $4.8 billion in compensation and medical benefits nationwide.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2009 – USDA has expanded the Livestock Gross Margin insurance program for dairy cattle to producers in Kentucky, New Mexico, Tennessee and Washington, bringing the total number of states where this program is available to 33.

"Livestock Gross Margin provides convenience to producers who can sign up for the insurance 12 times per year and insure all their milk production they expect to market over a rolling 11-month insurance period," said Acting Administrator William J. Murphy. "This is a customized product and can be tailored to any size farm and is considered a bundled option insurance, similar to buying both a call option to limit higher feed costs and a put option to set a floor on milk prices."    » read more »

"CoverTN" Likely to Leave Enrollees with High Bills, Lack of Coverage; Plan Administrator Even Declines to Describe CoverTN as Health Insurance

May 21, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- A first-of-its-kind report released today by the national consumer health organization Families USA analyzes the Tennessee health care plan CoverTN, spotlights numerous problems with the plan, and calls CoverTN a bad model for other states to follow as they seek to assist their own uninsured residents.

The report goes on to conclude that all such so-called “barebones,” “limited-benefit,” or “defined-benefit” plans, as exemplified by CoverTN, are far from the quality, affordable health coverage that people need. As outlined in the report, the problems with CoverTN include the following:    » read more »

05/20/2009 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced today the U.S. Department of Education has approved Tennessee’s application for the first $635 million available to the state through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program.

This represents 67 percent of the total stabilization funding available to Tennessee under this Recovery Act program. Tennessee will be eligible to apply for the remaining $313 million this fall.    » read more »

May 15, 2009 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on April 10, 2009.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Benton, McMinn, Rutherford, and Sequatchie Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Terry L. Quarles has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.    » read more »

05/15/2009 -- NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the federal government has approved his request for disaster assistance for Rutherford, McMinn, Sequatchie and Benton Counties following the severe weather, high winds and tornadoes that struck on April 10, 2009. Bredesen requested the federal disaster aid following damage assessments by federal, state and local emergency management officials.

Local governments and public utilities in the four approved counties are now eligible for Public Assistance Program funds from the federal government. The public assistance designation also covers emergency response and recovery costs incurred by state government.    » read more »