Cohen Applauds TN Lottery for Awarding More Than $2 Billion to Students Pursuing Higher Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today said he was pleased the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program <https://www.tn.gov/CollegePays/mon_college/lottery_scholars.htm> has reached its most recent milestone – providing more than $2 billion to students pursuing a higher education. As a State Senator, Congressman Cohen fought for nearly twenty years before the Tennessee Lottery was established. Countless students have benefited from Congressman Cohen’s efforts to provide Tennesseans with access to affordable, quality, post-secondary education.

“I worked tirelessly to initiate and pass the Tennessee Lottery to fund college scholarships, after-school programs, and pre-K education for Tennessee’s students,” said Congressman Cohen. “I am proud to continue working to improve education from the U.S. House of Representatives despite Republican efforts to cut college aid for millions of students across the country. An education is the most valuable resource we can give our children. It is crucial we give our kids the support they need to pursue their dreams.”

Since the inception of the Tennessee Lottery, 94,193 students have received nearly $105 Million for Wilder-Naifeh technical schools grants to pursue their degrees.

Congressman Cohen is committed to making higher education more affordable and accessible for America’s children. That is why he opposes recent GOP efforts to reduce funding for children who need help attending a college or university.

The GOP budget put forth by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) would cut college aid for nearly 10 million students -- slashing the maximum Pell Grant award by more than $2,500 (45 percent), from the current $5,550 to the lowest level in more than a decade. The Memphis Congressman also opposes GOP efforts to cut elementary and secondary education by 25 percent, cutting extra reading and math help to 1 million low income children, and cutting 10,000 teachers and aides from nationwide payrolls.