Senator Tracy receives AAA Legislator of the Year Award

NASHVILLE, TN, (November 23, 2009) - State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) has been named one of three recipients of the AAA Legislator of the Year Award by the AAA Clubs of Tennessee.  The group, which promotes transportation safety, supported legislation sponsored by Tracy to ban texting while driving.
 
In accepting the award, Senator Tracy said, "I am honored to receive this recognition from AAA Clubs of Tennessee and appreciate their support for the many traffic safety issues I have sponsored over the years.  We share much common ground in working to improve the safety of Tennesseans traveling on our roadways."

In making the presentation to Senator Tracy, Tim Wright, representing the AAA Clubs of Tennessee said, "Senator Tracy is a champion of issues that improve the safety and mobility of Tennessee motorists. Through the years, he has sponsored legislation that tackles important traffic safety issues including the new law to ban texting while a vehicle is in motion. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Tracy on these important issues."

Tracy is serving his second term in the Tennessee Senate representing District 16 which includes residents of Moore, Bedford and Rutherford Counties. He is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Brad Lamplley, Senator Jim Tracy, Tim Wright, and John Hood

###

Sen. Black and Rep. Maggart honored by Child Protection Advocates
for their work on behalf of abused children

(NASHVILLE, TN), November 23, 2009 – State Senator Diane Black (R-Gallatin) and Representative Debra Young Maggart (R-Hendersonville) were honored today with the Child Protection Investigative Team Leadership Award by the Tennessee Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers. 

The award was given to the lawmakers, along with Representative Sherry Jones (D-Nashville), at their sixth annual Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton in Nashville.  The lawmakers were chosen in recognition of their commitment to improving Tennessee’s response to severe child abuse.

“I am extremely honored to receive this award,” said Rep. Maggart.  “I would rather receive an award recognizing my work on behalf of children who have been abused than any other single issue.”

Maggart and Black have sponsored several new laws to protect children from child abuse and child sexual abuse, including legislation approved this year to allow videotaped interviews of abused children conducted by a forensic interviewer to be admissible in court.  Any time a charge of child sexual abuse comes up the child is brought to a Child Advocacy Center to be interviewed on videotape by a forensic interviewer, a licensed professional who is trained to interview children regarding the alleged abuse.  This new law defines forensic interviewer and the circumstances upon which those tapes would be admissible in a court of law. 

“This award is very special to me,” added Senator Black.  “I am humbled to receive recognition from those who are on the front lines of protecting children in Tennessee.  We look forward to continuing to work with child advocates in our efforts to help these children who have suffered severe physical and emotional trauma.”

Rep. Debra Young Maggart, Sen. Diane Black and Bonnie S. Beneke, LCSW, Executive Director of the Tennessee Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers.

###

Crowe pleased benefits will be extended to assist unemployed workers in difficult economic times

 (NASHVILLE, TN), November 19, 2009 -- State Senator Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) said today he is pleased that unemployment benefits will be extended to many Tennesseans who have lost their jobs.  Crowe supported a new state law that works in tandem with recently-passed federal legislation allowing extension of benefits for 14 additional weeks in Tennessee due to the state exceeding an 8.5 percent unemployment rate. 

Tennessee’s current unemployment rate is 10.6 percent.  Labor Commissioner Jim Neeley told the Legislature’s Joint Business Tax Study Committee today that he expects the rate to remain in the mid 10 percent range when the new statistics are released later this week.

“There are a lot of Tennessee workers who are looking for jobs but cannot find them,” said Senator Crowe.  “Our state economists predict that unemployment will continue in this range for the next several months.  Therefore, extending these benefits is critical to many families who are unemployed during these tough economic times.”

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development says extension will directly impact approximately 35,000 Tennesseans who have lost their jobs.  The fund is an insurance program which pays out benefits to unemployed workers whose employers have contributed to the fund through quarterly premiums for each worker. 

“I am pleased that this extra help is available to unemployed workers in our state until our economy turns around,” Crowe concluded.

###

Senators Yager and McNally win approval of motion to continue UT-sponsored biofuels project

 (NASHVILLE, TN), November 18, 2009 -- State Senator Ken Yager (R-Harriman) successfully won approval of his motion in the General Assembly’s Fiscal Review Committee today to continue the University of Tennessee (UT)-sponsored research and development program for biofuels.  The vote came after UT officials pointed out that the project has already returned more than $161 million in new federal research dollars and industrial capital.

Senator Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) seconded the motion to move the project forward. 

“There was some miscommunication regarding this project that has been cleared up over the past two weeks,” said Senator Yager.  “I am very pleased that the committee voted overwhelmingly with us to keep this project on track.  It compliments $135 million in a Department of Energy investment in the Federal Bioenergy Science Center in Oak Ridge and is a tremendous economic boost to our region.”

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee Institute for Agriculture have developed ethanol from switchgrass, a crop that can be grown virtually anywhere in Tennessee.  The state invested $70 million in the project in 2007 with the hopes that it will represent significant new rural markets for biomass crops and ethanol facilities in Tennessee.  UT officials told the Fiscal Review Committee that they plan to begin operations using switchgrass in December.  Until this time, the facility has been using corn cobs as biomass as they developed the research needed to transition to switchgrass. 

The biofuels program came under fire in the committee two weeks ago due to a change in the scope of the project.  Yager moved to delay a vote until additional information could be obtained after dissent was expressed regarding the status of the project and the use of corn cobbs as biomass during the start-up of the program.

“We have the distinct advantage of having scientific and research communities in our universities and laboratories in this region that are required to help us maximize its potential,” added Yager, whose district includes the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  “This is a large investment and we certainly need to be accountable and our action today does put in place the appropriate benchmarks to make sure this happens.  At the same time, we have every reason to believe that this research will help position our state to be a national leader in the production of biomass ethanol and related research to help lessen our dependence on foreign oil.”

“UT has assured us that they will meet this goal and will not need any additional state appropriations,” Yager added.  “This project helps us meet a national demand for enhanced energy security.  I am pleased the committee has voted to support this effort.”

###

Sen. Yager, Rep. Ferguson and County Commissioners to meet with
TDOT official regarding intersection of Highways 72 and 58

(NASHVILLE, TN), November 18, 2009 -- State Senator Ken Yager (R-Harriman) and State Representative Dennis Ferguson (D-Harriman) will meet with Tennessee Department of Transportation Regional Director Steve Borden regarding the 3-way intersection of US Highways 72 and 58 in Kingston.  The intersection has been the location of several serious car crashes, including a recent fatality.  Also attending the meeting are County Commissioners Howard Rose and Nadine Jackson.

All media who wish to attend can meet at the intersection at 9:30 EST on Thursday, November 19.

The group will also discuss dangerous curves on US Highway 72.

###

State Senator and Cancer Survivor Mae Beavers Pushes Back Against Federal Government’s Newly Suggested Guidelines Regarding Breast Cancer Screening

 (NASHVILLE, TN) – State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), who was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, is outraged at the federal government’s newly suggested guidelines regarding breast cancer screening and testing.  The new study from the United States Preventive Services Task Force released this week recommended against women receiving breast cancer screenings every year starting at the age of forty, and instead advises women to only receive them every two years starting after the age of fifty.  In addition, the federal government is now advising that self-examination should not be used due to the number of false positives it produces.

“After all of the progress breast cancer awareness advocates have made over the years – when we have finally gotten many women in this country comfortable with preventative care and catching this disease early – the feds are going to try to reel back that progress and ignore the thousands of lives such testing saves every year,” said Beavers.  “This sounds to me like the federal government is looking for ways to start rationing and yielding its heavy hand in the aftermath of the potential passage of a massive government-run healthcare bill, especially if such a bill looks to this task force for recommendations for insurance reform mandates.”

Beavers, who herself discovered her breast cancer through self examination, echoed the American Cancer Society’s reservations over the newly proposed guidelines, and is considering filing an urging resolution for next year’s legislative session that would stress the importance of all women consulting with their doctor and reviewing the many facts that are available concerning the benefits of self screening and annual testing after the age of forty.  The resolution would suggest that the federal government consult with the American Cancer Society and various other organizations and physicians before issuing statements that might only confuse women and possibly reverse the positive gains that have been made in regards to cancer prevention.

### 

Veterans Day /
A day to remember the sacrifices our brave veterans made for our freedom
From Senator Diane Black

(NASHVILLE, TN), November 9, 2009 -- This week we take a day to honor the 24.9 million veterans who have served bravely in our nation’s Armed Forces.  November 11, Veterans Day, is a day to recognize them for all they have done to ensure our country remains the beacon of freedom to the rest of the world and to thank them for their service.

For more than 233 years, our military has protected the ideals of freedom and democracy.  No matter how many technological advancements have occurred over these two centuries, it does not change the fact that war is still about the courageous men and women in our Armed Forces facing and defeating the enemy.  Our uniforms, equipment, and our faces have changed over this time period, but I am as moved today by the bravery of our soldiers as I have always been by studying about the distinguished men and women who served in the early days of our nation’s birth. 

General David Petraeus, whom I had the honor to meet recently, is one such example of a modern hero.  He embodies all the core values instilled in so many of our veterans throughout our nation’s history:   loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.  Acknowledged as one of the greatest military tacticians in US history, he continues to inspire a new generation of American patriots.

I have three generations of veterans in my home of which I am very proud.  My father is a veteran of World War II, my husband served in Vietnam and my son in Desert Storm.  I understand and appreciate the sacrifices that are made by those who serve this nation in our Armed Forces. 

It is also important to note that most of our veterans serve our country twice, once in uniform, and again when they return home with so many becoming model citizens in their communities.  Our veterans continue their service long after they served in uniform.  Their actions, their dedication, and their valor shine as an example for the next generation of veterans to carry on.

The torch of freedom, service to country, and core values in our Armed Forces continue to be passed from generation to generation.   From General Washington to General Petreaus, and all of those brave men and women in between, it is passed to those who now valiantly stand the line and engage the enemy that threatens our freedom.  These men and women -- then and now -- ensure our country remains a beacon of freedom.  On November 11, and everyday, may we give them our nation’s gratitude.

Senator Black, General Peraeus and Dr. David Black

###

Selection of firms major step in implementation of TNInvestco program says Senator Ketron

###

(NASHVILLE, TN), November 5, 2009 – Six venture capital firms were named today to participate in TNInvestco, an innovative new program designed to provide investment capital to small, medium and start up businesses in Tennessee.  TNInvestco is the result of enabling legislation sponsored by Senator Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) that was approved by the General Assembly this year.

“Selection of the firms is a major step in getting this program up and running,” said Senator Overbey.  “I am very optimistic that this legislation will result in the creation of many jobs in Tennessee.”

Each of the six TNInvestco funds will receive an allocation of $20 million dollars in gross premiums tax credits which will be marketed to insurance companies to create a pool of venture capital funds for investment in early- and mid-stage companies in Tennessee.  The goals of TNInvestco as outlined by the Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber are to develop Tennessee’s entrepreneurial infrastructure, to bring additional capital into the state, to diversify the state’s economy and to create “anchors” or “clusters” of business innovation which can result in new companies being created or spun off and new talent being attracted to Tennessee.

The six firms chosen to participate in the program are:
• Tennessee Community Ventures Fund, LLC, Nashville, Tennessee.
• XMi High Growth Development Fund, LLC, Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• Limestone Fund, LLC, Nashville, Tennessee.
• Tri-Star Technology Fund, LLC, Nashville, Tennessee.
• Innova Fund II, LP, Memphis, Tennessee.
• Council & Enhanced Tennessee Fund, LLC, Nashville, Tennessee.

Legislation is expected to be introduced next year to expand the program to include additional participants.  Farr and Kisber announced the selection of two alternates to the program, Solidus-TNInvestco LLC and the Tennessee Angel Fund, if additional funds become available.

Overbey added, “We are a state of entrepreneurs, but there is a lack of adequate capital to take those ideas and grow a business.  TNInvestco will give them that opportunity.”

###