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	The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recently honored Congressman Zach Wamp as a “Guardian of Small Business” for his voting record on behalf of America's small business owners during the 111th Congress. He has received the NFIB award every Congress that he has served, dating back to 1995, and maintained a rating above 90 percent.
	Congressman Wamp has been engaged with the Congressional Management Foundation during his service in Congress to help demonstrate best practices and meet the involving needs of our citizens. The CMF mission is to advocate good government through good management. Zach met with Brad Fitch, the new president and CEO for CMF, that has served Congress for more than 30 years.
	The Tennessee National Guard presented Congressman Wamp with its Charles Dick Medal of Merit for his unwavering support of the Tennessee and United States military. Zach said that his work with the National Guard has been a labor of love and thanked them for the tremendous honor that they bestowed on him. He said, “The last decade has been full of difficult times, but you have stepped into an incredible tradition in our state, and we are indebted to you, the best and brightest Tennessee volunteer patriots.”
	The American Legion's new National Commander Jimmie Foster met with Rep. Wamp about the veterans organization's priorities. As the nation's largest veterans service organization, the Legion currently has about 2.6 million members. Zach thanked the Commander for the American Legion’s work, particularly during this era of persistent conflict.
	“The United States deserves healthy kids and to do that, we need the next generation of Americans to be active,” Zach said at an event to get children excited about physical fitness and encourage them to exercise each day. The NFL 60 campaign hosted a football exercise event featuring professional football players as part of a national fitness campaign to battle childhood obesity. Rep. Wamp has been a longtime support of physical fitness a preventive wellness, and healthy living.
	A Tennessee rheumatologist and a patient advocate spoke to Rep. Wamp about the importance of medical research in creating treatments for conditions like arthritis and thanked him for his support of the Arthritis Care and Prevention Act. “The right kind of medical care at the right time can make a huge impact of families and improve their quality of life,” Zach said. Arthritis is a defect of the immune system that can affect people of all ages.
	Mayor Beehan and city officials thanked Congressman Wamp for his many years of support for the Oak Ridge community. “The focus on Oak Ridge is a great driving force for the future of Tennessee,” Rep. Wamp said. Zach sees good things for the future of Oak Ridge with industry expansions in national security, nuclear power, and green energy.
	Congressman Wamp presented Cleveland's very own Maria Hernandez with the Southeast Region Youth of the Year award from the Boys & Girls Club of America. Maria is one of only five students from across the nation chosen to receive an award and scholarships for her pursuit of a medical degree. After the ceremony, Maria was taken to the White House to meet the President and several celebrity supporters of the organization.
	Cleveland Boys & Girls Club staff visited Washington to share its mission of fostering a safe environment and relationships with mentors for disadvantaged youth. This year's Southeast Youth of the Year winner, Maria Hernandez, expressed her gratitude for all the Club had done to help her. "You should be commended for having such ambitious goals and for all you give back to the Cleveland community," Zach said.
	Tennessee members of the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) met in Washington for the group’s annual conference. “One of our blessings in America is that we have the ability to choose from a variety of education models and curriculum maps,” Zach said to the national conference. AACS was created in 1972 in Chattanooga to support religious liberty and pro-family education issues.
	The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosted a luncheon for faculty, students and legislators. Acting UT President, Jan Simek, updated attendees about the search for a new president, saying progress is being made and the hope is that the new President will be announced in October. Before the luncheon, Congressman Wamp talked with retired U.S. Army General B. B. Bell.
	“One of the best parts of public service is helping those that need help, and giving them as much a sense of normalcy in their lives as possible,” said Congressman Wamp. Zach met with Homer Fisher, Gene Caldwell and Dottie Thompson of the Emory Valley Center in Oak Ridge. The facility provides rehabilitation, training and support to 140 people with mental disabilities in Oak Ridge and the surrounding counties.
	“Building a new facility in Cleveland will continue to grow East Tennessee’s manufacturing capacity, while focusing on energy efficiency,” said Zach said at Whirlpool’s announcement of plans to build a new manufacturing plant and distribution center there. Zach praised the leadership of Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland and Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis for Whirlpool’s decision to make this important investment. The company expects to add approximately 130 new jobs to its 1,500 Cleveland employees.
	“The University of Tennessee is a great value for your education dollars. As a parent of both a recent UT graduate and a current student, I can say that the HOPE scholarship is a huge help for families to pay for college tuition,” said Congressman Wamp in a meeting with UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek. Nearly half of all undergraduate students across UT’s Knoxville, Martin and Chattanooga campuses receive a HOPE academic scholarship.
	More than 1,000 people attended the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting. During his remarks, U.S. Sen. Corker praised Rep. Wamp by saying, “The fact that Chattanooga has been recently recognized as the metro area within the United States with the greatest potential for growth is all thanks to the efforts of Zach.” Before the luncheon, Zach spoke with EMJ Corporation CEO Jim Sattler and Tennessee Rep. Richard Floyd.
	Tennessee PTA members stressed the importance of parental involvement in early childhood education. Congressman Wamp expressed a particular interest in the work that the PTA is doing on early childhood reading. Zach says that improving standards will help in the long run, but kindergarten through third grade needs special attention to get young readers the reading help they need to be academically successful.
	All 95 counties in Tennessee offer public transportation services to their residents. "Energy, transportation and public service come together when you're talking about providing basic public transportation services for people in both rural and urban areas," said Rep. Wamp at a Tennessee Public Transportation Association breakfast. Zach was honored there for his many years of service and support for public transportation in Tennessee.
	Zach receives thousands of emails, letters and phone calls each month from residents of Tennessee’s Third District. He works hard to provide the best services possible, whether accurate and prompt responses to questions or assisting on problems with federal agencies. Rep. Wamp makes sure that all of his letters effectively communicate his position on a variety of legislative issues.
	The Padgett family from Chattanooga stopped by to visit with Rep. Wamp during their trip to Washington. However, Col. Randy Padgett wasn’t able to join his family because he is currently serving our country in Afghanistan. Zach thanked the Padgetts for their sacrifice and offered them encouragement during this era of persistent conflict.
	“The greatest privilege of my professional life is to serve those who have served, and are serving in the uniform of our Armed Forces. Through the MilCon-VA Subcommittee, we can make sure that that the promises made to our veterans are being kept and that the quality of life for those serving is as good as possible,” said Zach. Through the Subcommittee, he has worked to make veterans health care services more accessible to rural veterans, provide resources directly to the Guard and Reserve as they are deployed more than ever before and allow commanders in the field to cut through red tape to better meet their facilities’ needs.
	As the top Republican on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, Zach expressed his gratitude to those in active service. The Subcommittee approved legislation to modernize National Guard facilities, improve the quality of life for our troops and their families and enhance health care for our veterans. Zach offered an amendment to provide oversight by strengthening the VA Office of the Inspector General, which has previously uncovered many of the agency’s problems.
	Three elementary school principals from Tennessee met with Rep. Wamp to talk about how Race to the Top can create new professional development opportunities for principals and teachers. Zach said, “The quality of our state’s public education system is important to growing Tennessee’s economy in the future.” Zach is a long-time advocate for early childhood literacy because reading skills are so closely tied to future academic success.
	More troops from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment have arrived home ahead of schedule. Along with their families and friends, Rep. Wamp celebrated their safe return at Smyrna. He said, “This is the finest military department of its kind in the United States. Our state is indebted to these Guard members, who are the best and brightest Tennessee volunteer patriots.”
	At the unveiling of Chattanooga’s new Bloom Energy Server, Zach spoke about the city’s long history with this fuel cell technology with Bloom Energy CEO KR Sridhar and The Enterprise Center Board Chairman Jim Hall. Rep. Wamp’s support led to a partnership of UTC SimCenter, The Enterprise Center, TVA and EPB with Bloom Energy to demonstrate the fuel cell technology. Zach said, “Bloom’s technology could have a tremendous impact for the world in creating new energy sources and is cleaner and more efficient than much of today’s power generation.”
	Rep. Wamp and Bloom Energy CEO K.R. Sridhar stand in front of Chattanooga’s new Bloom Energy Server on top of the EPB parking garage. Mr. Sridhar holds up a fuel cell, the technology that runs the Bloom Box. Zach said, “The ultimate goal would be to manufacture fuel cells in Tennessee and further advance the new manufacturing boon in the Tennessee Valley Corridor.”
	During a recent trip to Bean Station, Rep. Wamp talked with Edwin Jarnagin, director of Grainger County Schools about its “teach, learn, succeed” vision. Zach recognizes the important role that parents, teachers, the school system and the community play by working together to prepare Tennessee’s students for academic success. The Grainger County school district’s vision helps its students achieve a higher level of excellence.
	Rep. Wamp joined the families and friends of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment to celebrate their safe return to Tennessee six months sooner than originally planned. “Our troops answered the call of our country during this era of persistent conflict and difficult deployment rotation. We are grateful the first 250 soldiers have returned home safely and ahead of schedule,” said Zach.
	Congressman Wamp visited Bean Station to meet with residents of Grainger County and answered questions about fighting health care reform and unemployment. “East Tennessee is filled with people who have strong values, a solid work ethic and personal responsibility, and our innovation and free enterprise system can help create quality jobs for East Tennesseans,” said Zach. Helping communities prosper is the key to improving Tennessee’s economy.
	“The power to convene is greater than the power to legislate, which is why we’ve convened for 16 years and successfully worked together through difficult challenges to make this place more special, functional and usable, while preserving the extraordinary qualities of the region,” Zach said at the 16th Annual Ocoee Stakeholder’s meeting in Polk County. About 50 local business leaders, elected officials and residents of the area met with the Congressman on his final official stakeholder’s meeting.
	Learning doesn’t stop for students at Grace Baptist Academy from Chattanooga just because it’s summer. Sixty eighth graders took in art, history and science during a four-day visit to Washington, D.C. Their last day was spent at the Capitol, where Congressman Wamp presented some of the building’s symbolism and past, along with the vision of the new Capitol Visitor Center addition.
	Siskin Steel leaders briefed Congressman Wamp on its nuclear program, which makes it the only company in Tennessee ready to sell nuclear-grade commercially dedicated steel. The steel components are used by nuclear power plants across the country. Siskin first began as a scrap company in Chattanooga in 1900, but today operates eight metal service centers, including ones in Chattanooga and Nashville.
	In a meeting with the Tennessee Road Builders Association, Congressman Wamp emphasized the importance of investing in infrastructure. “Tennessee will move ahead if we have a production economy that allows us to make, build and grow products to bring more and better jobs to Tennessee,” Zach said. Tennessee’s road builders promote good roads and environmental practices that will help save lives, time and money.
	“All the people who have witnessed the transformation of our city over the last generation know that the human side and leadership often go unnoticed,” Rep. Wamp, a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, said to its 2010 class. “Leadership Chattanooga has contributed in a quiet way to the city’s renaissance, and helped to make Chattanooga the dynamic and beautiful place that it is today.” The program began in 1984 to identify community leaders and help develop their skills.
	Volkswagen of America President & CEO Stefan Jacoby and General Counsel David Geanacopoulos met with Congressman Wamp prior to a Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit session featuring VW. During the presentation, Mr. Jacoby focused on the investment the company made in Chattanooga, citing institutional collaboration and regional cooperation in the Valley as part of why VW chose to put down roots in Chattanooga.
	About 300 dental professionals from around the state gathered at the Chattanooga Convention Center where Congressman Wamp extended greetings at the opening session of the 143rd Tennessee Dental Association annual meeting. “Dental care needs to be more widely accessible to all Tennesseans because of the strong connection of oral health to a person’s overall health,” said Zach. The TDA is the professional association of dentists committed to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement.
	The American Conservative Union once again designated Rep. Wamp as an “ACU Conservative” in recognition of his voting record. Zach’s record reflects his commitment to America’s core principles and our nation’s Constitution by preserving fundamental conservative values. He had a 96 percent record last year and a nearly perfect conservative record over his 15 years of service.
	In Hamilton County, Read 20 promotes early childhood literacy skills and reading with children for at least 20 minutes a day to create a community of readers. Congressman Wamp strongly supports early childhood literacy because reading skills are important to future academic success and learning for a lifetime. Read 20 has distributed more than 65,000 books, interacted with more than 40,000 children and provided resources and training for area teachers.
	As a long-time supporter of cancer research, Congressman Wamp discussed new treatments with representatives from two Nashville cancer centers. The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is a leading oncology treatment facility that integrates clinical treatment and cutting-edge research. The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center is the country’s largest community-based, privately funded diagnosis and treatment center.
	U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Mike Vitale, who is responsible for all Navy installations, shared photographs with Congressman Wamp while briefing him about the recent floods at the naval air base in Millington. The water has since receded from the base, but it left many of the facilities damaged. About 300 families were evacuated from the base, which is slowly recovering from the floods.
	Home building plays a vital role in the state and national economy and the lack of accessibility to credit for home and housing development loans continues to hamper our nation’s recovery. The Home Builders Association of Tennessee and Congressman Wamp support efforts to address this impediment so that worthy projects get the financing they need to help build a stronger economy. For the past 50 years, the association has served Tennessee’s professional builders, developers and remodelers.
	Oral and maxillofacial surgeons often treat elderly patients with facial trauma who would benefit from physical therapy, but cannot establish a therapy plan without a referral from another physician. Rep. Wamp is sponsoring a bill to allow these surgeons to directly create a therapy plan for their patients, eliminating the need for an extra consultation. “The quality and timely access of seniors’ health care is important and there is no need for unnecessary treatment delays,” Zach said.
	Ooltewah High School’s James Jarvis was named the Assistant Principal of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals and honored in Washington, D.C. As assistant principal, he has successfully involved the local community in the life of the school. Zach praised his passion for improving the school's learning environment and for his role in continuing the great tradition at Ooltewah High School.
	Congressman Wamp and University of Memphis President Shirley Raines discussed her proposal to improve the Memphis Research Consortium and link researchers with a high-speed data network. Zach supports the Memphis research community and its commitment to build jobs and higher education in Shelby County. He said, “Just as UT and the Oak Ridge National Lab have partnered to better East Tennessee, the University of Memphis is working with St. Jude, La Bonheur and others to propel West Tennessee’s economy.”
	U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu appeared before Rep. Wamp at a hearing following a trip to Oak Ridge where they both attended the grand opening of the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF). During the Energy and Water Development hearing Zach and Secretary Chu discussed the amazing workforce at Oak Ridge and the new HEUMF that will consolidate our nation’s material in a much safer way while reducing the storage costs.
	The stability of the countries that border Afghanistan is crucial to any success in Afghanistan. “Whether you are on a farm in Tennessee or in Afghanistan you can never be more secure than your neighbor,” said Congressman Zach Wamp at a Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing with U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus. Gen. Petraeus testified about the work of the U.S. Central Command, which stretches through the Arabian Gulf region into Central Asia.
	“No amount of government programs can change the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition,” said Rep. Wamp while briefing the Nashville Health Care Council in the Capitol. Zach is a long-time advocate of the health providers who deliver medical care to our country. Over the years he has promoted efforts to fight obesity and prevent chronic diseases.
	“The synergy between Fort Campbell and the Clarksville business community is the magic that brought Hemlock Semiconductor to our state,” said Congressman Wamp to the Citizens for Fort Campbell at a breakfast meeting. Economic development happens when the overall well-being of the region is strong. Community leaders traveled to Washington to seek support for Fort Campbell and its military families.
	Tennessee optometrists shared their goal to promote high-quality eye health and vision care for all residents of Tennessee with Rep. Wamp. Cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rate would reduce individuals’ access to optometrists and all health care providers. Zach supports a permanent “doc fix” to prevent patients from being denied important care.
	More than a thousand people celebrated the opening of the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF) at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. “This is the flagship of modernization within the NNSA. The joint mission of the HEUMF and the Uranium Processing Facility will mean that all of our enriched uranium is stored and processed in one centralized area,” said Rep. Wamp. HEUMF is the largest construction project at Y-12 in more than 40 years.
	Congressman Wamp toured the new, state-of-the-art Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF) at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. He said, “Y-12, as the Uranium Center of Excellence, continues to lead NNSA to bring our nuclear weapons complex into a new century. With a smaller footprint of highly-enriched uranium, the HEUMF is a more secure and cost effective model for updating our Cold War era facilities.”
	“You are living proof that being a fit kid can lead to success in school, and an inspiration in this effort to get our children physically active,” said Rep. Wamp to Herschel Walker, famed football running back and Heisman trophy winner. Walker gained confidence and improved his grades after he became a physically active child. Zach has co-authored several pieces of legislation that seek to increase childhood physical fitness, fight obesity and prevent chronic diseases.
	Thousands of Tea Party activists held a Code Red Rally on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol to oppose the health-care legislation being considered by Congress. Congressman Wamp addressed the crowd: “At no time has the federal legislature mandated that the American people buy anything. The founders of this republic are rolling over in their graves. They gave us the 10th Amendment to keep the federal government from running all over the states. We must claim our sovereignty and fight this mandate.”
	Congressman Wamp raised the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at a Military Construction Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki: “As we add money and address the comprehensive issue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, we must involve real veterans that have been through it, especially those who have dealt with it and restored their lives to a very productive level. People that have not been there cannot even fathom what these veterans are going through.”
	More than 100 students from Cleveland Christian School and Chattanooga’s Boyd-Buchanan School listened intently on the Capitol steps as their Congressman shared some history of the U.S. Capitol. “Construction continued on the Capitol dome during the Civil War and helped give our nation hope. This building is the temple of freedom for the world and a symbol of national unity,” Zach said.
	Department of Veterans Affairs Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve Muro and Congressman Wamp discussed the need for future expansion of the Chattanooga National Cemetery. The VA, which oversees 131 national cemeteries, has proposed a plan to extend and expand the life of the cemetery past the current capacity date of around 2040. Zach has pushed for the cemetery’s expansion to guarantee that veterans who are serving our country today will have the option of burial in Southeast Tennessee many years from now.
	Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, chief of engineers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, testified before Congressman Wamp at an Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing about the Corps budget for fiscal year 2011. A recent white paper working group by the Corps and industry prioritized Chickamauga Lock at the top of the list of projects to complete. Chickamauga Lock is a main concern not only because of its economic benefits to the nation, but also because it is a key thoroughfare for two Department of Energy sites that are critical to our national security.
	At the Congressional Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, Congressman Wamp thanked Gerald Boyd, Oak Ridge office manager, for his extraordinary leadership and cooperation over the environmental management and clean up at the Oak Ridge reservation for the past 10 years. “At Oak Ridge, we have this unique combination of three major missions all running in tandem – science, weapons and clean up,” Zach said. The most recent clean up success story is the west wing demolition at K-25, which began in December 2008 and was completed in January 2010.
	Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association members expressed their opposition to federal cap-and-trade legislation and instead supported promoting nuclear energy. Congressman Wamp is a long-time supporter of increasing nuclear power to help address America’s future energy needs. TMEPA represents 60 municipally-owned electric systems and their customers throughout the state.
	Members from several Tennessee credit unions, including the Tennessee Valley and Y-12 Federal Credit Unions, spoke with Rep. Wamp about current proposals before Congress that impact how they serve their customers. When considering legislation, Zach says he looks at whether it will help or hurt Tennessee small business owners and their ability to get the resources they need. Data shows that credit unions make a larger percentage of loans to low- and moderate- income borrowers than banks and thrifts.
	Hundreds of family members, friends and well-wishers traveled to Camp Shelby in Mississippi for the departure ceremonies honoring the more than 3,000 members of the Tennessee National Guard deploying to Iraq. "Our Tennessee troops are trained and ready to make a contribution in Iraq once again," Zach said at the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment deployment sendoff at Camp Shelby. "While the deployment will be hard for their families in Tennessee, we will keep the 278th and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers while they answer the call of our country."
	The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) honored Congressman Wamp with an Outstanding Service Award for his commitment to veterans’ health care. The Tennessee DAV presented the award, and State Adjutant Don Samuels said that Zach’s efforts have created a legacy of commitment to veterans, especially disabled veterans, that will last well into the future.
	More than 50 Tennesseans attended a tour that Congressman Wamp led through the Capitol Visitors Center and the Capitol. “By any measure, the Capitol is the temple of freedom for the entire world,” Zach said. In the rotunda, the Congressman explained the history of the murals and the legacy of Tennessee’s own Andrew Jackson next to his statue displayed there.
	At the grand opening of the cutting-edge biorefinery in Vonore, Congressman Wamp toured Tennessee’s first cellulosic ethanol facility that is expected to produce 250,000 gallons of ethanol from switchgrass each year. “Our growers were our first manufacturers, and switchgrass represents a unique opportunity for agricultural, energy and transportation growth in our state’s economy,” Zach said. He also applauded the arrival of new jobs and Tennessee’s head start in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology.
	“We advance when others retreat, and Oak Ridge is better because of what we’ve all done together,” Congressman Wamp told community leaders at an East Tennessee Economic Council meeting. Zach addressed the standing-room only group about many of the challenges affecting our state and nation including budget, jobs, education, health care and transportation. “It can be hard to pull ahead when others are also moving forward, but it is easier to succeed when others are retreating if you have a vision and are bold enough to advance.”
	American business and government can usher in a powerful “Entech” economy by implementing energy policy that increases U.S. productivity while reducing energy demand through technology and efficiency. Zach is a long-time supporter of an “All of the Above” plan to provide energy independence, more jobs here at home and a cleaner environment. Emissions-free sources like solar, nuclear power and energy efficiencies, which are prominent in Tennessee, should all be part of any renewable energy policy.
	Congressman Wamp is a tireless advocate of energy efficiency initiatives and he recently shared some of the advances Tennessee has made at an Alliance to Save energy event. Tennessee has been a leader in advanced energy technology, and is now also at the forefront in making solar power a more efficient, effective and affordable mainstream power source. Nuclear, renewable energy and energy efficiency are emerging economic engines in the state.
	After President Obama delivered the State of the Union, Rep. Wamp said, “The public rightfully has major concerns with the rapid growth of government. Since controlling the White House and Congress for the past year, the liberal Democrats in Washington, D.C., have increased the deficit by more than 300 percent to $1.4 trillion. It is time to return to fiscal sanity.”
	Tennessee has a deep history in the fight for equal rights. While in Memphis, Zach was reminded of the many sites in Tennessee that symbolize the struggle to end racial injustice during the civil rights movement. The National Civil Rights Museum is located at the Lorraine Motel, the assassination site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
	Congressman Zach Wamp visited his high school alma mater and met with current McCallie students. Since 1905, McCallie has provided a college preparatory program dedicated to the academic, physical, spiritual and emotional growth of boys. What began as an enrollment of 48 boys now enrolls more than 900 students.
	"The Tennessee National Guard is the finest military department of its kind in the United States. General Hargett, and now General Haston, lead the best and brightest Tennessee volunteer patriots in our state, who have answered the call during this era of persistent conflict and difficult deployment rotation,” said Rep. Wamp at a special ceremony where General Hargett turned over command of the Tennessee National Guard to General Haston. “All Tennesseans are indebted to every member of the Air and Army National Guard, their families and their employers."
	The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided Zach with a construction update on the new Chickamauga Lock and they discussed future funding projections. Keeping the Chickamauga Lock open has been a top priority for Congressman Wamp since he took office. One of the oldest locks on the Tennessee River, the Chickamauga Lock is vital to the economy of our region and national security interests.