This week, while we work through many important bills, much of the focus was on the budget as Governor Lee submitted his supplemental budget amendment to the Senate Finance Committee.
On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, which I chair completed its regular business for the year. In our final committee meeting, we approved legislation which I’m sponsoring that calls for TennCare officials to request a block grant waiver from the Trump administration.
This waiver would give the state flexibility to better serve recipients of the program while ensuring Tennessee continues to receive its full share of federal Medicaid dollars allocated to the program.
The overall goal is to provide an effective and innovative plan specific to the healthcare needs of Tennesseans while lowering cost and increasing access to patient-centered care. In order to accomplish this, we flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all program from Washington D.C.
This legislation will now move to the Senate Health Committee for further consideration.
I recently traveled to Austin, Texas, to testify before the Texas State Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee. Upon entering the south entrance of the Texas Capitol, I was greeted by a life-sized painting of Davy Crockett and a statue of Sam Houston. On your screen is a photo from my visit with the Sam Houston statue (1:20) and the portrait of Davy Crockett (1:27).
Texas is very appreciative of the Tennessee Volunteers who were important leaders in the Texas Revolution and influential in the establishment of the state of Texas. Sam Houston was not only the first president of the Republic of Texas and one of the first people to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate, but he was also the sixth Governor of Tennessee.
Texas is a wonderful state, and I enjoyed my time there. However, I’m glad to be back in Tennessee, the best state in the Union.
Back in Nashville, we are approaching our final weeks of session for we continue the hard work of the people of the 15th district