Children and Families
Overview
From educating our children to promoting fair environments for working mothers, policies that strengthen our families are the most important investments we can make for the future of our country.
Education is the basis of a child’s future. We need to look at ways to improve outcomes of students and support teachers and staff who are committed to providing the best education possible. It was an honor to support Tennessee’s Race to the Top Grant in 2010. Through that federal investment, the state has made impressive gains in student achievement. In 2013, Tennessee was the fastest improving state in the nation on the National Assessment for Educational Progress, and the state continues to maintain that progress. But we still have more work to do to make sure every child has a chance at a good education. I signed a letter of support for Tennessee’s winning Preschool Development Grant which would expand the number of pre-K seats in Nashville. Higher education is also important in our global society, and I support policies to help keep college affordable. If you know someone considering college, encourage them to visit my Student Financial Aid Center.
Women are vital to today’s workforce, and we need to do a better job promoting equality in the workplace. Gender should never affect compensation; most Americans believe in equal pay for equal work and an honest day's pay for an honest day's work. Unfortunately, women today make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, and in some states the discrepancy is worse. Women and men need to be compensated fairly and equally. That's why I co-sponsored and voted for the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which became law in 2009. I am also a cosponsor of both the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Equal Rights Amendment to help end discrimination in this country on the basis of gender, race and sexual orientation. I’m also a co-sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to ensure pregnant women are treated fairly on the job. This bill would allow common-sense accommodations so that pregnant workers can protect their families and not risk losing their jobs.
Another major challenge we face for the future is reforming our foster care system—a system that I believe is the most broken area of federal law. I’ve supported many bills and laws to improve outcomes in foster care. I’m also a long-time and current Advisory Board member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Though Congress has made some progress on these issues, it has been largely incremental. America’s abused and neglected children are our greatest national tragedy, and we need the ideas of a new generation of reformers to solve these serious problems. Middle Tennessee has some of the finest foster care and adoption advocates, and it’s an honor to recognize our local “Angels in Adoption” every year in Washington. I remain committed to work with our local “Angels” and my colleagues on foster care and adoption issues.
Links & Additional Information
Savings and Ownership Caucus (New America Institute)
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
Head Start
TN Score
More on Children and Families
WASHINGTON – Last night the U.S. House of Representatives passed an updated version of the HEROES Act to support Americans and the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic The $2.2 trillion legislation passed the House by 214-207. Not a single Republican voted for the relief package.
WASHINGTON – Of the three bills that Rep. Jim Cooper has been pushing to help the Nashville tourist economy recover, two are included in the $2.2 trillion relief package that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is offering the White House and the U.S. Senate.
Wednesday, October 14 – Pride at the Polls Day
BPROUD – A Bridgestone Americas Employee Resource Group, HRC Nashville, Mac Huffington Productions, Nashville CARES, Nashville In Harmony, Nashville LGBT Chamber, Nashville Pride, Remarkable Studios, Tennessee AIDS Advocacy Network, WXNA
WASHINGTON – Today the House passed an amendment introduced by Rep. Jim Cooper to the Strength in Diversity Act, which reinstates an Obama-era grant program that was cut by the Trump administration, to reduce racial and socioeconomic isolation in public schools. The amendment would give the nearly 30 school districts, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, that previously applied priority consideration under the newly created program.
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today introduced an amendment to permit the Old Hickory Dam and Cordell Hull Dam, both upstream of Nashville, to include flood risk management as one of their authorized purposes.
“Nashville was hit hard by a devastating flood a decade ago,” Rep. Jim Cooper said. “By allowing the Old Hickory and Cordell Hull dams to be used for flood risk management we mitigate the chance of future flooding.”
NASHVILLE – At a press conference this morning, Rep. Jim Cooper announced how CARES Act funds were allocated in Davidson, Dickson, and Cheatham Counties. The $2.5 trillion CARES Act is the largest relief bill in U.S. history. It was signed into law in March but there has been little transparency on how funds were distributed within congressional districts despite congressional efforts to monitor the funds.
NASHVILLE – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) released the following statement about the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, H.R. 6800, which is expected to pass the House tonight:
NASHVILLE – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) released the following statement after he voted for the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, H.R. 266, which passed the House today:
NASHVILLE – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today announced new resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic are now available on his website here.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) made the following statement after H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed the House by voice vote:
“Coronavirus is an unprecedented pandemic, and this is an unprecedented bill. It is the largest economic relief bill passed in America’s history, Rep. Cooper said. “It is important that Congress acted quickly so we can help people and businesses who are struggling. Now the administration needs to get the money out the door fast to help everyone through this crisis.”