Skip to main content

Congressman Cohen Responds to Lee’s Vocational Education Plan

February 5, 2019

Says Tennessee Lottery Scholarships should be aimed at merit and need

WASHINGTON – 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.