WASHINGTON— Yesterday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) spoke on the Senate floor praising Governor Bill Lee’s State of the State Address and his leadership as Governor of Tennessee.
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge my home state governor, Bill Lee, on his exceptionally well-received State of the State address this week, which I attended.
In Tennessee, we believe parents know what’s best for their children, and we’re committed to expanding school choice and education options for students to succeed—an effort Gov. Bill Lee has championed from the start of his tenure.
Governor Lee started the Education Freedom Scholarship program, and it is already in high demand among parents and students. This year, the program received 54,000 applications so far for 20,000 spots. It is truly remarkable.
Under Governor Lee’s leadership, Tennessee has gone from the bottom half of states in educational scores to a top 5 state for gains in reading and math. Students are thriving, and their future is only getting brighter.
As a former Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, I know firsthand what it means to bring in new jobs and better opportunities for Tennesseans.
Just last year, private companies invested more than $11 billion dollars in Tennessee. Business leaders are flocking to the Volunteer state because of the strategic advantages we provide – in nuclear energy, in low taxes, in skilled labor, and in our entrepreneurial spirit. Tennesseans are seeing the benefits of having a strong partner – not an adversary – in the Tennessee government.
Governor Lee and Republican leadership in the state government have prioritized investment in nuclear energy. And because of that, Tennessee is the number one state for nuclear energy development. Indeed, the Volunteer state is the global leader in nuclear energy, recruiting $8 billion dollars in investment from nuclear companies around the world. And I am certain we are only getting started.
I’ve had the honor of working with Governor Lee on an issue that is very near and dear to my heart – my goal of making Memphis the safest city in America.
I’ve worked with President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, FBI Director Patel, Senator Blackburn, Representative Kustoff, Governor Lee, Commissioner Long, Sheriff Bonner, and Mayor Young for more than a year to get the Memphis Safe Task Force in motion.
Because of Governor Lee’s commitment to provide not only funds, but law enforcement personnel, we are seeing real results in Memphis that will provide a generational change for Memphians.
Crime in the Shelby County area is down 55 percent. As of yesterday morning, law enforcement has arrested 5,681 criminals and gotten them off the streets. They’ve seized 926 firearms and located 148 missing children.
Think about how many families have had their lives changed for the better with 148 missing children returned to them. That, along with everything else I have laid out before you today, has benefited from Governor Lee’s leadership.
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