Congressman Cohen Responds to Lee's Vocational Education Plan

Statement

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) reviewed Governor Bill Lee's first major legislative initiative, a plan announced today to expand vocational and technical education using money generated by the Tennessee Lottery, and made the following statement:

"Vocational and technical education are areas in which Tennessee lags and they can help open job opportunities. But the people of Tennessee voted in 2002 for a Georgia-like HOPE Scholarship program that rewarded the more meritorious and the more needy. That is what scholarships should do: aim at merit and need. I "hope' someone will recall that and increase HOPE and Aspire Award scholarships."

Congressman Cohen worked in the state Senate to amend the state Constitution and create a Tennessee State Lottery with proceeds to fund scholarships, as well as enabling legislation. The voters approved the amendment in November 2002 and the first lottery tickets were sold in 2004.

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