Local, federal officials sign on to cemetery expansion goal
August 12 – There has been a lot of talk about expanding Chattanooga National Cemetery, but it appears Rep. Zach Wamp has finally gotten local and federal officials to commit to some action. “It may be early (to start planning), but I’d rather be early than be late. Our community doesn’t want their veterans to be interred in Atlanta, Ga,” Rep. Wamp said.
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Funding options explored to finish lock project
August 12 – Beneath the 129-foot-high Chickamauga Dam, construction cranes have replaced sandhill cranes as one of Chattanooga’s biggest and longest construction projects takes shape in the Tennessee River. Rep. Zach Wamp, who has worked most of his years in Congress to start and sustain funding for the replacement lock, said finishing the projected 11-year construction project “is an annual battle” in Congress. “My goal is to keep working on this with all I have. It’s an annual challenge to keep it funded through the appropriations process.”
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1-181st honored for service in Iraq
August 11 – The 1-181st Field Artillery Battalion oversaw operations at the Camp Bucca detention center near Basra. An important part of their role as military police was vocational training and literacy education for the detainees. “Iraq is a better place because of you all,” Rep. Zach Wamp, told the audience at the “Freedom Salute” ceremony for the 275 Tennessee National Guard troops.
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Summit focuses on physical emotional health
August 5 – Physical and emotional health are key to a student’s ability to learn effectively, speakers said at an educational conference for area schools’ counselors, social workers and physical education teachers. “A child who has Type 2 diabetes, or chronic obesity, or hypertension at 12 years old struggles with learning,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. “All the research is in. The most effective antidepressant in the history of the world is sweat.”
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Volkswagen plant not likely to affect Corridor K funding
July 30 – Area officials say the coming of Volkswagen could boost many highway projects, including rebuilding Exit 20 in Cleveland, but they don’t see it helping push improvements for U.S. Highway 64 through the Ocoee Gorge. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, a longtime supporter of the U.S. 64 project, said backers are “certainly going to make the economic case” for the project. He said the VW announcement is a sign of overall economic development. “Even with a Volkswagen, this is a big project in a rural area with a small population,” the Tennessee Republican said.
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VW backs increased mileage standards
July 28 – “The potential for biodiesels under this research could be 70 to 80 mpg,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. With the University of Tennessee and ORNL actively researching biofuels, Wamp said Volkswagen’s commitment to diesel vehicles dovetails perfectly with the state’s interest in cleaner-burning alternative fuels.
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Infrastructure for VW site gets federal push
July 25 – Since 2004, Enterprise South industrial park has received nearly $24 million in federal funding, and more could be on the way. “I do think this is a good example of how an active member of Congress can actually help bring good things using the congressional prerogative of directing funding,” Rep. Zach Wamp said.
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Physical education measure boosted by Wamp, Simmons
July 25 – Decked out in a red rhinestone-jeweled tank-top patterned with stars and stripes, fitness celebrity Richard Simmons held court on Capitol Hill as he urged support for a bill sponsored by Rep. Zach Wamp, to boost physical education classes in public schools. “By taking action to increase physical activity and reduce obesity amongst our youth, we can improve academic performance, decrease medical costs and save lives,” said Rep. Wamp, a co-founder of the Congressional Fitness Caucus.
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Congress at odds over oil
July 23 – High gas prices have dominated conversations on Capitol Hill, but the two parties remain at odds over how best to address them. “We’re for an all-of-the-above strategy,” Rep. Zach Wamp said. “Politically, I don’t want to gain an advantage on this issue. The Democrats are finally coming to the table, and instead of slapping them back, I want to say, ‘Come another step.’ We need this place to come together.”
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Tennessee drives for bigger automotive stake
July 20 – U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, founder of the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor, said he hopes the South’s growing number of automobile plants also will spur more research and engineering facilities in the region. “We can parlay this investment into a major next-generation advanced transportation research center on biodiesel in Chattanooga,” he said.
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Area’s business confidence swept upward
July 18 – Before the first Volkswagen employee is hired in Chattanooga and more than two years before vehicles roll off the line, VW already is giving a boost to the local economy. Despite the slowing economy nationally, local bankers and business leaders said economic confidence in the region took a big jump up on Tuesday when Volkswagen announced plans to build a $1 billion auto assembly plant at the Enterprise South Industrial Park. “This will literally transform the economy of this area,” Rep. Zach Wamp said.
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Volkswagen heading to Enterprise South
July 16 – Chattanooga was “the best fit” for Volkswagen. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp said Chattanooga is a place where a premier global manufacturer chose to make its vehicles of the future. “That’s our destiny,” he said. Mr. Wamp said that for every manufacturing job, seven other support slots are created in a community.
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Officials praise VW decision
July 15 – Sens. Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander and Reps. Zach Wamp and Lincoln Davis offered federal reaction to today’s announcement from Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. that it will build a U.S. automotive production facility in Chattanooga and invest $1 billion in the economy. “It was just a matter of time before a major auto manufacturer decided to locate at Enterprise South – and our time has arrived,” said Wamp.
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Whirlpool adding 500 jobs in Cleveland
July 11 – Most of the 500 jobs created in Cleveland will be filled by local people. The job boost in Cleveland is “tremendous news,” U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, said. “Whirlpool’s decision to grow its manufacturing operations in Cleveland recognizes the high-quality work force and the local leadership,” Rep. Wamp said.
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Lawmakers assess call to tap oil reserve
July 10 – Most Tennessee and Georgia lawmakers are supportive of selling a portion of the 706 million-gallon Strategic Petroleum Reserve to bring down gas prices. “Even though it’s a short-term infusion, it would be such a shot in the arm to supply that prices would come down,” Rep. Zach Wamp said.
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Wamp visits Pakistan
July 4 – The United States needs to support the Pakistani government and cooperate with it as allies in battling Afghan rebels and Taliban forces, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp said. “The next six to nine months are going to be critical for the future of Pakistan,” said Rep. Wamp, who was part of a congressional delegation that met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
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Enterprise South levels playing field
July 1 – Chattanooga has a rich manufacturing history. As the hub for the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor, “Chattanooga is the place where we can make and apply the innovations,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp who launched the Tech Corridor shortly after he was elected to Congress.
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Wamp urges firmer stance on China
June 28 – Rep. Zach Wamp, a frequent critic of China’s government, appeared on CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight” and said the United States should insist China be more responsible on human rights, the environment and intellectual property. “I don’t think we should have the trade agreements we have with them until they respect human rights and individual liberty because you can’t have free trade without free people.”
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To expand our National Cemetery
June 27 – This week, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved the MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill. It includes language on the Chattanooga National Cemetery expansion. Rep. Wamp deserves strong support and appreciation for his diligent efforts in behalf of our veterans and our Chattanooga National Cemetery.
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Fundraising difficulties won’t throw fuel project off track
June 24 – Despite a challenging environment for raising venture capital, University of Tennessee officials say their planned cellulosic ethanol refinery is still on track for a 2010 opening. Rep. Zach Wamp said he remains confident in the university’s ability to deliver on its facility: “Everybody has to adapt to the marketplace, whether it’s UT or Mascoma. I’m proud that our university’s been way out front on this, and if they can adapt, we’re still going to be ahead of the country.”
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Wamp gives hundreds of tours yearly
June 22 – For most visitors to Washington, a tour of the Capitol is high on the agenda. Visitors on tours led by members of Congress are afforded some special access to features that are otherwise off-limits to the public. “It’s one of those things that I enjoy most,” said Rep. Wamp, whose tours are renowned among his colleagues and Capitol Hill staffers for their historical breadth.
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Democrats wrong in oil crisis
June 21 – Of all the many serious issues that afflict the American people today, there probably is none so personal, so universal and so economically troubling as high gasoline and oil prices. Rep. Zach Wamp said: “We need representatives in Congress who will vote for more energy supply. Americans know we can solve the problem of high gas prices, but we have to decide that we’re serious about doing it and increase the supply of U.S. energy.”
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GOP drills Democrats over offshore oil wells
June 20 – All week long, Republicans in Congress have hammered their Democratic colleagues for their opposition on environmental grounds to drilling for oil off the nation’s coastlines. Rep. Zach Wamp wrote, “We need representatives in Congress who will vote for more energy supply. Americans know we can solve the problem of high gas prices, but we have to decide that we’re serious about doing it.”
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Wamp, Chambliss on energy policy
June 14 – Rep. Zach Wamp took to the House floor to criticize his Democratic colleagues for not voting with Republicans on measures that would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and coastal areas to oil drilling and increase nuclear energy: “I’ve been in Congress 14 years. I’ve cast 24 votes to increase capacity for oil and gas in this country. And almost every time the Republicans vote for new capacity, and almost every time the Democrats vote against it.”
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Air unit plans updated facility
June 9 – After years at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, the city’s Air National Guard unit plans to relocate to a site near the Enterprise South industrial park. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp said, “The Guard needs a new facility. It’s a perfect time to move off the airport.” The airport can use the land for general aviation or air cargo, said Rep. Wamp.
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Earmarks: Pork or priorities?
June 8 – Tennessee’s lawmakers have been ardent backers of earmark reform, claiming the system is rife with abuse. “The system needs transparency and accountability, or it’s not going to survive,” Rep. Zach Wamp said.  Wamp said he supports more disclosure, noting he co-wrote a bill that would have enforced a one-year moratorium on earmarks and created a task force to define earmarks and vet requests. His efforts failed, but as part of House Republicans’ new transparency rules, he has agreed to put his funding requests in the Congressional Record as each funding bill is submitted.
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Highway system benefits touted Corridors J and K
June 7 – A study released quantifies the economic impact of the 3,090-mile highway system, consisting of 31 corridors. The study says the network will provide 80,500 jobs and $3.2 billion in increased wages when it is complete. Congressional members of the states covered by the roads say they will use the report to urge greater federal funding. “The longer this project goes on, the harder it’s going to get because they’ve already finished all the easy (highways), and the ones left, you have to carve through these rock walls,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. “But the economic development that follows is undeniable, so it’s very important to fund this.”
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Wamp sees success through Iraq policy
June 7 – Pointing to some positive developments in Iraq, Rep. Zach Wamp, said that the U.S. strategy outlined by Gen. David Petraeus is working. In a column sent to media outlets, Rep. Wamp said attacks are down 70 percent since President Bush ordered the troop surge last year and noted that U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said al-Qaida in Iraq has “never been closer to defeat than they are now.”
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Veterans push for aid
June 3 – The most recent version of the GI Bill is made for peacetime service and does not compensate fully for war zone combat, nor has it kept up with the increase in tuition rates. As Rep. Zach Wamp anticipates the House’s vote on Sen. Webb’s bill, he hopes to see some provisions included to avoid turning the benefit into an incentive to retire early from the military — a serious problem in wartime.
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Greenspan speaks; world listens
June 1 – U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp was leaving a news conference at the National Press Building, when former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan stepped onto his elevator a few floors down. “How are you doing, Mr. Greenspan?” Rep. Wamp asked. “Not bad, but the day is young,” Mr. Greenspan quipped. “A lot of terrible things can still happen.” “Be careful what you say, now,” Rep. Wamp replied. “You might cause a ripple in the world economy. The whole world leans on what you say.” “OK, I’ll keep my mouth shut, then,” Mr. Greenspan deadpanned.
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Ethanol fuels food fight; Congress hears from varied critics
May 30 – Supporters of corn ethanol, once hailed as the country’s salvation from imported oil and its greenhouse gas-spewing ways, now find themselves fending off accusations of triggering a global food crisis. “I think we have to be careful because subsidies don’t work and price controls don’t work,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. “In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have them, but if you’re going to have them, let’s increase them on cellulosic and decrease them on corn.”
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Leaders back TVA in nuclear revival
May 30 – Rep. Zach Wamp, who helped create the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor, said the region already is benefiting. “Conservation is not for wimps, it’s for warriors, and we all need to do our part,” he said. “But to meet our growth needs and to deal with the challenges of climate changes, nuclear power must be in the center of our solutions.”
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Wamp helps launch drive to encourage fuel conservation
May 27 – With Memorial Day kicking off the summer driving season, a coalition of private- and public-sector groups with Rep. Zach Wamp launched a campaign to help consumers save at the gas pump. “The price points (on gas) are painful for people, and people are mad,” Rep. Wamp said.
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New board changed management, politics
May 19 – Three and a half years after Congress voted to revamp and expand the board of the TVA, TVA’s governing panel is yet to reach full strength. Even without all board seats filled, the new governing structure is credited with bringing a more streamlined and centralized approach to managing the nation’s largest government utility. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, said the new board “is effective,” and he called CEO Tom Kilgore “outstanding.” “TVA is under very good management,” he said.
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TV at 75
May 18 – Seventy-five years ago today, President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law one of the most sweeping and enduring creations of his New Deal, the TVA. “TVA is positioned to help our country restart the nuclear energy industry because it’s a quasi-governmental agency,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp.
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Alexander urges clean, independent energy
May 11 – Sen. Alexander drew a standing ovation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as he proposed a massive national commitment to clean energy and reducing dependence on foreign oil. “We need to move; we can’t wait,” echoed U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp. “$4-a-gallon gas is the incentive.”
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Corker says candidates ‘pandering’ on gas tax
May 6 – A gas-tax holiday drew fire from U.S. Sen. Bob Corker. Rep. Zach Wamp said last week the federal 18.4 cents per gallon gas tax is intended for highway maintenance. “While everybody wants relief from gas prices, it’s not good policy to waive that fee,” he said. “We’re way behind on highway safety.”
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Health plans costly regardless of author
May 4 – As debate simmers over rising gas prices, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, is poised to unveil a comprehensive energy plan that not only addresses high fuel costs. Rep. Zach Wamp said, “While everybody wants relief from gas prices, it’s not good policy to waive that fee.” Republican John McCain has proposed freemarket reforms to the country’s health care system, while Democrats have offered government-backed insurance plans. “I’m concerned if we go with a government national health insurance plan, we’ll be disappointed,” said Rep. Zach Wamp.
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Alexander uses gasoline to push energy initiative
May 1 – As debate simmers over rising gas prices, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, is poised to unveil a comprehensive energy plan that not only addresses high fuel costs. Rep. Zach Wamp said, “While everybody wants relief from gas prices, it’s not good policy to waive that fee.”
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Lawmakers view area projects
April 27 – U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp visited improvement projects in the region. They joined officials in Copperhill to announce an $800,000 USDA grant/loan that will be combined with a $200,000 state grant to upgrade the city’s sewer treatment plant.
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War-drawn footprint; 382 acres attached to site of ‘Battle Above the Clouds’
April 22 – “We learn the lessons of history, and it definitely determines which course we take in the future,” said Rep. Wamp. Zach, a history enthusiast, was one of several state and local officials at Point Park to celebrate a 382-acre expansion of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
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Lawmakers get look at regional projects
April 22 – Construction work began Monday on detention ponds to solve east Cleveland flooding problems and protect jobs at Whirlpool’s plant here. “We were all here when there was waist-high water,” Rep. Zach Wamp said. “You know you can’t run a business under water.”
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Lawmakers defend cost of border enforcement legislation
April 16 – Lawmakers supporting a bill aimed at tougher illegal immigration enforcement disputed a congressional agency’s estimate that it will increase federal. “Frankly, the people I represent want us to enforce the law, understanding there’s a cost with this,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. “The fact that we haven’t has caught up with us.”
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WAMP: Troops deserve more time at home
April 12 – As the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Rep. Zach Wamp, said he hears often about quality of life issues in the armed forces, and a major complaint is the amount of time troops get to spend at home between deployments. “I’m hopeful that when we get to July 31, the conditions will allow us to reduce our combat role sooner in a way that the American people will remain optimistic about our chances for success in Iraq,” Rep. Wamp said.
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Understanding Tourette challenges not insurmountable
April 12 – “The fact is the public needs to understand more and more these exceptional children and their special needs,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. For Hunter Lindberg — who takes some advanced classes at Ooltewah High School — Tourette does not pose any roadblocks to his goals.
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Bush reaffirms strategy on Iraq
April 11 – Tennessee and Georgia lawmakers cheered President Bush’s announcement that Army deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan will be reduced from 15 months to 12 months beginning in August. Rep. Zach Wamp said the president is taking “the responsible approach” given ever-shifting conditions in Iraq.
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Petraeus says progress in Iraq ‘fragile’
April 9 – Telling Congress that progress in Iraq was “fragile and reversible,” the top American commander recommended that consideration of any new drawdowns of American troops be delayed until the fall. “You can’t separate the troops from their mission. If you support the troops, you support the troops in the theater, in the war, and if you support them, you will support their mission until it is complete, and you will bring them home in victory and not defeat. We must not retreat from this obligation,” said Rep. Zach Wamp.
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Wamp, Davis push boycott at Olympics
April 3 – Reps. Zach Wamp and Lincoln Davis are urging President Bush to consider boycotting the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in Beijing this year, unless China’s human rights and environmental records improve. “We can’t let the Olympics be a validation that China is conducting themselves in an acceptable manner on the world stage of public opinion,” said Rep. Wamp.
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Bend park moving ahead on slow path
March 31 – “We are on schedule, but it’s a long schedule,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, who acknowledged the “frustrating process” in preparing the park for the public. Most of the $7.2 million in federal money Rep. Wamp has secured for the park has gone for land acquisition and a river bank stabilization project slated to begin this summer.
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WAMP: Increase efficiency and energy production
March 22 – Rep. Zach Wamp, is calling for a “broad strategy” on energy to help reduce costs. “In the short term, conservation is important. Any sound energy policy must both increase production and reduce consumption. Without increasing domestic capacity we will continue to slog through the adverse economic impacts of high energy costs.”
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Public, private support touted to develop UTC's SIMCENTER
March 23 – Less than six years after coming to town, a computational engineering program at UTC already is helping Chattanooga determine its place in a major Southern technology corridor. “It could put the school’s engineering program on the map, and it could lead to tremendous investments in new technologies in Chattanooga,” said Rep. Zach Wamp.
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Brackets have many fans boxed in
March 20 – Zach Wamp is a wreck. The 3rd District’s esteemed seven-term U.S. congressman can’t decide which of his two favorite college basketball teams to root for when the NCAA Tournament begins today.
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Job push outweighs homeless for funds
March 18 – Chattanooga has been aggressive in pursuing federal funding for economic development. Rep. Zach Wamp has called for a moratorium this year on earmarks. “We may not have any earmarks this year,” Rep. Wamp said. “I’m honest with them about that.”
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Housing vouchers face cuts in administration’s budget
March 18 – Nearly 1,500 federal Housing Choice vouchers in Tennessee would not be renewed if Congress approves President Bush’s budget. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp said Congress may ask for a continuing resolution to allow all programs to be funded in 2009 for six months at the same levels as in the 2008 fiscal year.
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Wamp urges fitness guidelines
March 15 – Rep. Zach Wamp announced his support of a bill that requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to prepare and promote physical activities guidelines at least every five years. “Obesity has led to significant increases in health care costs, especially in chronic diseases,” Rep. Wamp said.
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Waterways fund shortfall puts dam upgrade in slower mode
March 14 – The federally administered Inland Waterways Trust Fund could be depleted by the end of the year. “This is a Katrina-like issue on infrastructure that affects things like Chick Lock,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. “We need to put all the money in this project that we can, regardless of the president’s request.”
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GOP immigration push aims to split democrats
March 13 – House Republicans are attempting a procedural move to force a vote on an immigration bill that could divide Democrats in an election year. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp sign a discharge petition to bring the SAVE Act up for a vote. “When you’re in the minority and the majority won’t bring (the bill) up, you only have one route, and that’s the discharge,” he said.
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Wamp: Use rebates to cut energy use
March 8 – Rep. Zach Wamp, is urging recipients of tax rebate checks this year to spend them on energy conservation and renewable energy products. “Encouraging taxpayers to use their rebates to install or invest in energy efficiency technologies is one way to help reduce energy consumption,” Rep. Wamp said.
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Saving time, not energy
March 8 – “My votes for or against energy bills in the last few years have not been based on the changes to daylight saving time, but rather based on the question of energy supplies and new technologies to move our country toward energy independence,” Rep. Zach Wamp said.
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Wamp seeking federal funding to move range
March 6 – U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp said he is requesting $500,000 in federal funding to help move the law enforcement shooting range off Moccasin Bend in anticipation of the upcoming National Archeological District there. “(I) don’t know if I can get it, but I’m going to try because I do think the federal government should share in responsibility of relocating the firing range off the bend,” Rep. Wamp said last week.
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Wamp urges Corridor K be made priority
March 5 – Rep. Zach Wamp said a new environmental study is needed on the part of U.S. Highway 64 that winds through the Ocoee Gorge, and he called on Gov. Phil Bredesen to make widening the road a priority. “The governors (in Tennessee and North Carolina) would have to put up the cost share,” Rep. Wamp said. “I believe they ought to do it.”
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Ceremony marks debut of Cherokee memorial
March 5 – A crowd of distinguished guests helped break ground for an interpretive center at the former Blythe Ferry crossing on the Tennessee River. Rep. Zach Wamp spoke at the groundbreaking. “There are two seminal mistakes made in the United States,” he said. “They are slavery and the Cherokee removal.” He said the Trail of Tears only became part of the national trail system in 1987, and he and others are working to bring more attention to the trail and landmarks along the way.
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Alexander backs SAVE Act
March 1 – Sen. Lamar Alexander is sponsoring legislation to curb illegal immigration. A House version of the bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Zach Wamp. The SAVE Act would add 8,000 border patrol agents over five years and make mandatory an Internet-based system that allows employers to verify their workers have legal status.
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Nuclear poised to take slice of the energy pie
February 25 – Spurred by a demand for cleaner energy, a nuclear power renaissance appears looming on the horizon. “Nuclear should be part of the solution,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. “We need a nuclear renaissance.”
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Wamp blast arms sale to Saudi Arabia
February 13 – Hoping to block a $120 million sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, Rep. Zach Wamp urged his colleagues to oppose President Bush’s plans. “There is a clear pattern of the royal family aiding and abetting the enemy.”
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Lawmakers set sights on entitlement reform
February 11 – “The Congress will try to hold the line on spending as much as it can, but we need to work on policies that will really stimulate the economy,” Rep. Zach Wamp said. The president’s proposal is just a starting point in the federal budget process.
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Wamp promote 'positive' sports models, more P.E. for youth
February 8 – “I hear in every school I speak at that we have to tie physical education to learning,” said Rep. Zach Wamp. “I want every fourth grader to understand that there’s a direct relationship to their quality of life, their future and their health,” Rep. Wamp said.
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Democrats, GOP in standoff on domestic wiretap bill
February 2 – Rep. Zach Wamp said giving telecommunication firms immunity is needed to ensure their cooperation in monitoring suspected terrorists’ communications. “We are in a world full of terrorist communication. Some people are in denial that the threat continues.”
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Corker, Wamp swap ideas at State of the Union
February 2 – Sen. Bob Corker and Rep. Zach Wamp sat together during President Bush’s State of the Union address, a rare chance for the two Chattanoogans to catch up and exchange ideas. “We both believe that our party should do better and be more consistent,” Rep. Wamp said.
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Lock improvements included in Bush's budget
February 5 – “The Chickamauga Lock is fully funded in the president’s budget,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, who made the lock replacement his top legislative priority three years ago. “In the next year, you are going to see more and more cranes in the river and more work going on.”
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Wamp gets ranking GOP post on appropriations subcommittee
January 31 – Rep. Zach Wamp was named the ranking Republican of the Appropriation Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. “Being on this panel gives me the opportunity to ensure that the promises we’ve made to take care of our veterans are being kept.”
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Economic stimulus package labeled short-term patch
January 26 – “We’ve got to be careful that we don't try to spend our way into prosperity,” Rep. Zach Wamp said. “The retail sector is not the only sector that needs attention. Rebates are very short lived. They will evaporate quickly, and we won’t have the sustained growth we need.”
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Tennessee Congressmen working together
January 19 – Members of Tennessee’s U.S. House delegation said they have a good rapport, even across the aisle, and enjoy working with each other. “There is a lot of cooperation,” Rep. Zach Wamp said. “It seems to be a tradition regardless of which party’s in power.”
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Tax increase plea gets cool reception
January 18 – Calls for an increase in the federal gas tax drew mixed reactions. Rep. Zach Wamp said he disagrees with any increase in the federal gas tax. “This is the worst time to be talking about new taxes, when we’re slipping and sliding toward a recession.”
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Moccasin Bend construction expected to begin in 2009
January 7 – The National Park Service this year will finish plans for an interpretive center that will be built on Moccasin Bend, with construction beginning in 2009. The Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park this spring plans to complete a feasibility study to gauge how much private money the group could raise for construction of an interpretive center.
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