USDA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF $21.9 MILLION IN HIGH ENERGY COST GRANTS
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2007 – Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the availability of $21.9 million to help rural communities cope with extremely high energy costs. Communities have until October 1 to apply for grants under this program.
“These grants will help rural residents and businesses upgrade energy infrastructure and make other energy efficiency improvements,” Johanns said. “The rising cost of energy can challenge economic growth and opportunity. These grants are another example of how USDA works to help rural communities overcome economic obstacles and create opportunity.”
Funds may be used to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade or otherwise improve energy generation, transmission or distribution facilities serving communities in which the average residential cost for home energy exceeds 275 percent of the national average.
Grants are available to individuals, businesses, non-profit entities, states, local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes. Grants may not be used to pay utility bills or to purchase fuel. Also, grant funds may not be used for the sole benefit of the applicant.
Applications for grants must be postmarked by October 1. The grant announcement and application guide for this grant program can be found at http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric and at http://Grants.gov under Code of Domestic Federal Assistance (CDFA) Number 10.859.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. USDA Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 billion nationwide since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Senator Bob Corker - Press Release Detail
Senator Bob Corker - Press Release Detail: "companies to our state."
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Weekly Column of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
July 22, 2007
“Time for Serious Leadership, Not Partisan Games, on Iraq”
This week, the Senate Democratic leadership decided to keep the Senate in session all night to debate Iraq – a political stunt that heaped oil on the fire instead of provided a way for Senators on both sides of the aisle to come to a consensus about the foremost issue facing our nation.
My experience with Members of the Senate began when I came to work in D.C. for the first time 40 years ago as a very junior aide to Senator Howard Baker. I’ve only been a Senator for a few years, but my experience then and now is that most of us prefer to conduct ourselves like grownups, to not engage in petty kindergarten games, not have partisan efforts where we taunt one another and try to put one another at a disadvantage. We want to actually recognize as Senators that we are here to look at big, difficult issues and to see if we can come up with solutions.
No issue cries out for serious leadership and a willingness to work together than the question of America's role in Iraq. How can the Senate find a consensus when we obviously have strongly held different views?
One way to do it might be to pick 10 people from outside the Senate, 10 of the most distinguished Americans, and say to them: We are stuck here. We have a problem. The country has a problem. We need a shift of direction. We have a Senate that is divided, a President who is insisting on his constitutional prerogatives, and we have men and women fighting and dying in Iraq -- what do we do?
That is precisely what the Iraq Study Group Report did. It consisted of 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats led by former Secretary of State Jim Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. They had meetings all over America and meetings in Iraq with a distinguished staff that consisted of an honor roll list of generals and experts. They unanimously agreed in 9 months about what to do in Iraq.
So what did they recommend? One – move out of the combat mission to the support, equipping, and training mission over about a year, without a firm deadline. Two – maintain a long-term but limited interest in Iraq, with some specifics. Three – step up political and diplomatic efforts.
I was very disappointed by the reaction to the report, especially when I saw that the recommendations were unanimous. I had hoped then that the president would use this report as something other than a bookend – I still hope for that.
It’s not my proposal, it is their proposal. But because it is important to our troops and to our country and to the world that we move forward in a unified way, I have accepted their recommendations. I have developed a plan based upon their report. I have joined Democrats and Republicans and continue to ask the president and the Congress and our citizens to accept it.
There are 14 of us in the Senate on both sides of the aisle who are cosponsors of my legislation with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) to implement the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report.
If this Congress and this President adopted together the recommendations in our legislation there would be a new consensus for our country. If we did we could say to our troops: We not only will fund you, but we can now also say to you and to the Middle East that we agree on your mission, on why you are fighting, and why you are being wounded, and why you are dying.
If Harry Reid would spend half as much time working toward bipartisan consensus on Iraq as he does planning slumber parties, we might be able to come together on a new way forward.
July 22, 2007
“Time for Serious Leadership, Not Partisan Games, on Iraq”
This week, the Senate Democratic leadership decided to keep the Senate in session all night to debate Iraq – a political stunt that heaped oil on the fire instead of provided a way for Senators on both sides of the aisle to come to a consensus about the foremost issue facing our nation.
My experience with Members of the Senate began when I came to work in D.C. for the first time 40 years ago as a very junior aide to Senator Howard Baker. I’ve only been a Senator for a few years, but my experience then and now is that most of us prefer to conduct ourselves like grownups, to not engage in petty kindergarten games, not have partisan efforts where we taunt one another and try to put one another at a disadvantage. We want to actually recognize as Senators that we are here to look at big, difficult issues and to see if we can come up with solutions.
No issue cries out for serious leadership and a willingness to work together than the question of America's role in Iraq. How can the Senate find a consensus when we obviously have strongly held different views?
One way to do it might be to pick 10 people from outside the Senate, 10 of the most distinguished Americans, and say to them: We are stuck here. We have a problem. The country has a problem. We need a shift of direction. We have a Senate that is divided, a President who is insisting on his constitutional prerogatives, and we have men and women fighting and dying in Iraq -- what do we do?
That is precisely what the Iraq Study Group Report did. It consisted of 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats led by former Secretary of State Jim Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. They had meetings all over America and meetings in Iraq with a distinguished staff that consisted of an honor roll list of generals and experts. They unanimously agreed in 9 months about what to do in Iraq.
So what did they recommend? One – move out of the combat mission to the support, equipping, and training mission over about a year, without a firm deadline. Two – maintain a long-term but limited interest in Iraq, with some specifics. Three – step up political and diplomatic efforts.
I was very disappointed by the reaction to the report, especially when I saw that the recommendations were unanimous. I had hoped then that the president would use this report as something other than a bookend – I still hope for that.
It’s not my proposal, it is their proposal. But because it is important to our troops and to our country and to the world that we move forward in a unified way, I have accepted their recommendations. I have developed a plan based upon their report. I have joined Democrats and Republicans and continue to ask the president and the Congress and our citizens to accept it.
There are 14 of us in the Senate on both sides of the aisle who are cosponsors of my legislation with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) to implement the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report.
If this Congress and this President adopted together the recommendations in our legislation there would be a new consensus for our country. If we did we could say to our troops: We not only will fund you, but we can now also say to you and to the Middle East that we agree on your mission, on why you are fighting, and why you are being wounded, and why you are dying.
If Harry Reid would spend half as much time working toward bipartisan consensus on Iraq as he does planning slumber parties, we might be able to come together on a new way forward.
Friday, July 13, 2007
“A New Consensus”
Weekly Column of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
July 15, 2007
Congress and our President and our country need to find a consensus about where we go from here in Iraq. It is our most urgent and difficult issue. I know it is on the minds of every single Senator every day. It’s the first thing on my mind. It deserves to be. Adding up the lives, the dollars – $10 billion a month, 3,600 lives, and many wounded – shows a truly difficult situation.
We owe it to our troops fighting there – when they look at Washington – not to see us shouting at one another but saying, “yes, we can agree on why you are there, where we are going, what our goals are” and saying to the rest of the Middle East that we know what we are doing in Iraq. We must give the Iraqis a chance to flourish. Our troops deserve to see the free debate in the U.S., but more importantly that we are capable of coming to a conclusion, especially on our most urgent issue.
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) and I have written legislation being debated this week to enact the recommendations of the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report, and we have been supported by 11 other senators from both parties already. We hope more will join us. Our legislation will declare the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group to be official U.S. policy, ask the President to prepare a new plan based on those recommendations, and require a report on the implementation of those recommendations every 90 days.
President Bush is right that we can’t afford to fail in Iraq. That is why I support the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group that would provide for a long-term but more limited American military presence in Iraq and a transition over the next year from combat to training and support.
It is important for the president, the Congress, our country and our troops that we speak with one voice on Iraq. The Iraq Study Group report is a way to build that bi-partisan consensus. Our job in Washington – from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue – is to look for some way to come together on Iraq so the troops will know that we support them in the foremost issue of our time.
Weekly Column of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
July 15, 2007
Congress and our President and our country need to find a consensus about where we go from here in Iraq. It is our most urgent and difficult issue. I know it is on the minds of every single Senator every day. It’s the first thing on my mind. It deserves to be. Adding up the lives, the dollars – $10 billion a month, 3,600 lives, and many wounded – shows a truly difficult situation.
We owe it to our troops fighting there – when they look at Washington – not to see us shouting at one another but saying, “yes, we can agree on why you are there, where we are going, what our goals are” and saying to the rest of the Middle East that we know what we are doing in Iraq. We must give the Iraqis a chance to flourish. Our troops deserve to see the free debate in the U.S., but more importantly that we are capable of coming to a conclusion, especially on our most urgent issue.
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) and I have written legislation being debated this week to enact the recommendations of the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report, and we have been supported by 11 other senators from both parties already. We hope more will join us. Our legislation will declare the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group to be official U.S. policy, ask the President to prepare a new plan based on those recommendations, and require a report on the implementation of those recommendations every 90 days.
President Bush is right that we can’t afford to fail in Iraq. That is why I support the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group that would provide for a long-term but more limited American military presence in Iraq and a transition over the next year from combat to training and support.
It is important for the president, the Congress, our country and our troops that we speak with one voice on Iraq. The Iraq Study Group report is a way to build that bi-partisan consensus. Our job in Washington – from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue – is to look for some way to come together on Iraq so the troops will know that we support them in the foremost issue of our time.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Weekly Column of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
July 8, 2007
“BETTER GAS MILEAGE, BIOFUELS GOOD FOR TENNESSEE AIR, JOBS”
Last week the Senate passed major legislation that would help reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, decrease air pollution, and create new jobs in Tennessee.
The CLEAN Energy Act, approved by a vote of 65 to 27, is the first time since 1975 that vehicle fuel economy standards have been increased. When the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard was created in 1975 for cars and light trucks in the aftermath of the Arab oil embargo, it resulted in a savings of 3 million barrels of oil per day.
The new Senate bill would raise fuel efficiency standards beginning in 2011. In 2020, the nationwide average fleet fuel economy standard for cars and light trucks would be 35 mpg, which by 2020 would remove 206 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year and save consumers nearly $25 billion at the pump (based on a cost per gallon of $2.55).
That represents real savings for America’s families, a better quality of life, and a much lower vulnerability to turbulence in the Middle East.
But the bill goes beyond simply requiring that manufacturers build more efficient vehicles. It also would increase the production of renewable fuels to at least 36 billion gallons by 2022 – that would result in a major boost to Tennessee agriculture and could reduce world oil prices by as much as $2.50 per barrel.
We have the resources one day to become the leader in the southeast to produce biofuel alternatives to foreign oil – from switchgrass, poplar trees, and other sources. This could create new sources of income for thousands of Tennessee farmers. Just this week, Oak Ridge was also selected as one of three sites to receive $125 million over five years to establish and operate one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Bioenergy Research Centers. In addition, Governor Bredesen’s Biofuels Initiative, a joint venture of the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is expected to create 4,000 new jobs our rural counties, provide $400 million in new state and local taxes annually, and generate about $100 million each year in new farm revenue.
The old CAFE system made little sense, given changes in the motor vehicle market over the past three decades. Its complex and outdated rules actually put American jobs at risk. The new regulatory structure will streamline the program, allowing manufacturers greater freedom to design and build vehicles that meet the needs of our drivers, without having to move overseas to do so.
Based on input from the automakers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will evaluate how to achieve the nationwide fleet average, and allocate each automaker its fair share of the burden. Consequently, automakers with large fleets of light trucks and SUVs will not be penalized or be forced to reconfigure their product lines.
The legislation mandates that the NHTSA use an “attribute” system in determining fuel economy standards. Using this authority, the NHTSA can tailor attainable increases based on the specific design characteristics of particular models of vehicles.
This should put to rest concerns about underpowered cars and trucks that can’t do what we need them to do. More importantly, it will help keep auto manufacturing jobs in the United State in general, and Tennessee in particular. That’s a win for everyone, except perhaps the oil magnates of the Middle East.
Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the Tennessean.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
USDA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF $8.9 MILLION IN BROADBAND GRANTS
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 — Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Connor today announced the availability of $8.9 million in grants for communities without broadband service to provide residential service and connect facilities such as police and fire stations, health care, libraries and schools.
“The Community Connect Grant Program has proved to be effective in reaching those rural communities where broadband service is least likely to be deployed,” Conner said. “Connecting residents and essential community facilities improves local services and the protection of the citizens of these communities.”
Grants are available to communities in the most rural, economically challenged areas where loans will not be sustainable. In Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, for example, no company had invested in providing broadband delivery to the community of 770 people. However, local businesses, schools and residents worked with the BitSmart Corp. to file a USDA Community Connect Grant, which was approved. Now, BitSmart has established wireless internet availability and an integrated system connecting law enforcement, health care providers, and school and government offices. Additionally, students in a business class at the high school are serving as BitSmart’s local operations staff.
“Providing community residents with access to the internet and training on how to use it helps rural citizens understand the benefits of broadband service and is one more economic development tool available through USDA Rural Development,” said Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr.
Applications for grants are due by close of business August 13, 2007. There is a minimum grant level of $50,000 and a maximum grant level of $1,000,000 for projects. The application guide for this grant program can be found at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/ .
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 — Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Connor today announced the availability of $8.9 million in grants for communities without broadband service to provide residential service and connect facilities such as police and fire stations, health care, libraries and schools.
“The Community Connect Grant Program has proved to be effective in reaching those rural communities where broadband service is least likely to be deployed,” Conner said. “Connecting residents and essential community facilities improves local services and the protection of the citizens of these communities.”
Grants are available to communities in the most rural, economically challenged areas where loans will not be sustainable. In Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, for example, no company had invested in providing broadband delivery to the community of 770 people. However, local businesses, schools and residents worked with the BitSmart Corp. to file a USDA Community Connect Grant, which was approved. Now, BitSmart has established wireless internet availability and an integrated system connecting law enforcement, health care providers, and school and government offices. Additionally, students in a business class at the high school are serving as BitSmart’s local operations staff.
“Providing community residents with access to the internet and training on how to use it helps rural citizens understand the benefits of broadband service and is one more economic development tool available through USDA Rural Development,” said Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr.
Applications for grants are due by close of business August 13, 2007. There is a minimum grant level of $50,000 and a maximum grant level of $1,000,000 for projects. The application guide for this grant program can be found at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/ .
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
ALEXANDER SECURES DOLLARS FOR TENNESSEE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS
Announces Inclusion of Tennessee Projects in Commerce, Justice, and Science Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this week, includes significant funding for a number of justice programs across Tennessee.
“Tennessee law enforcement officials are working hard to keep the Volunteer state safe, and this legislation should help provide the resources they will need to continue to fight violent crime, gangs and drugs,” said Alexander, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Additional dollars we secured also should enhance law enforcement’s efforts to be better coordinated in growing communities.”
The FY2008 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects:
- $2 million for the Memphis Regional Law Enforcement Project to combat an increase in violet crime and gang activity in the Memphis region, using resources from the City of Memphis, Shelby County and the University of Memphis.
- $350,000 for the Tennessee Statewide Methamphetamine Task Force to continue providing comprehensive training and integrated equipment, which will allow officers to more effectively report lab seizures, quarantine contaminated sites, and track and target serious and repeat offenders.
- $ 250,000 for Davidson County Mental Health Court initiative to help develop a much needed link between Nashville’s criminal justice system and the mental health community to better meet the needs of recovering individuals.
- $ 200,000 for Oak Ridge Law Enforcement Communications Project to specifically support a new umbrella communications system in the western portions of the City, where new population growth is the strongest.
The Senate version of the FY08 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill must now be considered by the full United States Senate.
Announces Inclusion of Tennessee Projects in Commerce, Justice, and Science Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this week, includes significant funding for a number of justice programs across Tennessee.
“Tennessee law enforcement officials are working hard to keep the Volunteer state safe, and this legislation should help provide the resources they will need to continue to fight violent crime, gangs and drugs,” said Alexander, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Additional dollars we secured also should enhance law enforcement’s efforts to be better coordinated in growing communities.”
The FY2008 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects:
- $2 million for the Memphis Regional Law Enforcement Project to combat an increase in violet crime and gang activity in the Memphis region, using resources from the City of Memphis, Shelby County and the University of Memphis.
- $350,000 for the Tennessee Statewide Methamphetamine Task Force to continue providing comprehensive training and integrated equipment, which will allow officers to more effectively report lab seizures, quarantine contaminated sites, and track and target serious and repeat offenders.
- $ 250,000 for Davidson County Mental Health Court initiative to help develop a much needed link between Nashville’s criminal justice system and the mental health community to better meet the needs of recovering individuals.
- $ 200,000 for Oak Ridge Law Enforcement Communications Project to specifically support a new umbrella communications system in the western portions of the City, where new population growth is the strongest.
The Senate version of the FY08 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill must now be considered by the full United States Senate.
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