Nashville Standard

NASHVILLE, TN—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) expressed his satisfaction with the achievements made in helping Tennesseans during the year 2023. Senator Hagerty acknowledged the hard work of his team in improving the lives of constituents and making Tennessee the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. He looks forward to another year of being the voice and advocate for the people of Tennessee in Washington.

Throughout the year, Hagerty's office in Washington, D.C. received a significant number of letters from Tennessee citizens sharing their views on current events, legislation, and actions taken by the Biden Administration. Additionally, his staff in the seven state offices worked diligently to assist Tennesseans with various casework issues. These issues ranged from helping veterans with claims to resolving IRS disputes and aiding with passport and visa requests.

Among the success stories from the year, the following examples showcase the positive impact Hagerty's team had on the lives of Tennesseans:

In Nashville, Rachel, a caseworker, received a request for assistance from a local medical school. The school needed help obtaining a Visa interview for a doctor from Nigeria who wanted to participate in a conference to improve healthcare delivery in his country. Rachel worked tirelessly to advocate for the medical school, successfully moving up the doctor's interview and ensuring he received his Visa in time for the conference.

In Chattanooga, Lauren, a caseworker, helped a family whose adoptive son was stuck in Haiti due to delays caused by new immigration policies. Lauren reached out to the adoption department of the Department of State and discovered that the boy's application had been misplaced. Through numerous calls and interactions, Lauren ensured that the application was found, issued, and the boy was able to return home to his adoptive parents in Tennessee.

In Cookeville, Bonny, a caseworker, assisted a constituent in getting Medicare to cover the medication for his breathing treatments. Bonny submitted an inquiry to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and worked with the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program to find a pharmacy that would bill the necessary Medicare coverage. As a result, the constituent was able to get his medications filled.

In Jackson, Amy, a caseworker, resolved an issue with a constituent's student loan. The constituent had received a letter mistakenly adding two years to her loan repayment timeline. Amy contacted the Department of Education on behalf of the constituent and successfully resolved the matter, ensuring that she could pay off her loan as originally planned.

In Memphis, Mary, a caseworker, addressed a problem with a constituent's special needs son's Social Security Disability benefits. The payments were being sent to a closed bank account despite the mother providing the updated information multiple times. Mary escalated the matter with Social Security, resulting in the correction of the problem and the deposit of a back payment of nearly $10,000 into the correct account.

In Knoxville, Keith, a caseworker, assisted a local company in processing their Employee Retention Credits that had not been completed since August 2021. Keith contacted the Taxpayer Advocate Service, and within three weeks, the credits were properly processed for both locations of the company.

In the Tri-Cities office, Tracie, a caseworker, resolved issues for a constituent regarding TNCare and OPM. The constituent's daughter had undergone a kidney transplant and was facing difficulties with the coordination of benefits and continuous coverage for eye and dental care. Tracie contacted the agencies and successfully had the case escalated for resolution, resulting in a favorable outcome for the constituent.

Senator Hagerty and his team have demonstrated their commitment to serving the people of Tennessee throughout the year 2023. Their efforts have made a positive difference in the lives of countless individuals and have contributed to the overall well-being of the Volunteer State. As we enter a new year, Senator Hagerty remains dedicated to being a strong voice and advocate for Tennesseans in Washington.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2023/12/23/year-in-review-hagerty-recaps-successes-helping-tennesseans/