United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) delivered remarks on the Senate floor commending Governor Bill Lee for his recent State of the State address and leadership in Tennessee.
Senator Hagerty stated, “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.”
He emphasized the importance of parental involvement in education in Tennessee. “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,” Hagerty said.
Hagerty highlighted the Education Freedom Scholarship program initiated by Governor Lee. “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.”
The senator noted improvements in educational outcomes under Governor Lee’s administration. “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.”
Drawing on his experience as a former Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Hagerty discussed economic growth in Tennessee. “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.”
He pointed out that investment in nuclear energy has been a priority for state Republican leadership. “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.”
Hagerty also spoke about collaborative efforts with Governor Lee to improve public safety in Memphis through initiatives like the Memphis Safe Task Force: “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,” he continued.
According to Hagerty’s remarks: “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.” He reported significant reductions in crime: “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,” Hagerty said.
Senator Hagerty represents Tennessee as a Republican member of Congress according to his official website. His office maintains several district locations across regions such as Chattanooga and Knoxville as well as Washington D.C., providing services including casework assistance statewide as detailed online. He serves on committees including Banking; Foreign Relations; Appropriations; and Rules during this session as listed by his office.
