Senator London Lamar

by | Aug 22, 2022 | Sister's Corner

London lamar

Senator London Lamar (Tennessee)

  1. “TN AFL-CIO Announces Labor-Endorsed Candidates For General Election” :The Chattanoogan (August 2022)
    1. Senator Lamar and 39 other senators and representatives that have a strong history in showing support for middle and lower class working families have been endorsed by the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council.
    2. The Chattanoogan stated that TN AFL-CIO President Billy Dycus, “Tennesseans are tired of being represented by wealthy politicians who couldn’t care less about their needs and are hungry for new leadership. Working families now have many important decisions to make this fall. Whether it’s electing candidates who will best represent our interests at all levels of government or keeping Tennessee’s harmful “Right to Work” law out of the state constitution by voting against Amendment 1, our members are ready to send a clear message to corporate special interest groups and big business: keep your misguided agenda out of our state.” 
    3. Link: https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/8/22/454495/TN-AFL-CIO-Announces-Labor-Endorsed.aspx
  2. “Sen. London Lamar passes legislation directing health officials to study doula certification as her first bill”: *source* (March 2022)
    1. Senator Lamar addressed the high infant and maternal mortality rates in Tennessee and proposed SB 2150, which required state officials to study doula certification programs.
    2. “When we work together, we can be creative in finding resources to help mothers, and especially mothers in vulnerable communities, to protect themselves and their babies,” Sen. Lamar said. “I hope my story and the stories of others who have lost loved ones during a pregnancy will bring us all together to keep pushing for better pregnancy care.”
    3. “The recommendations that come from this study could allow us to improve access to doula services in the communities that most need it,” Sen. Lamar said.
    4. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee has some of the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality in the country. These deaths are preventable and are caused by pregnancy-related illnesses and discrepancies such as poverty and being located in a rural area. 
    5. Link: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB2150
    6. Link: https://www.actionnews5.com/2022/03/29/sen-london-lamar-passes-doula-certification-bill-through-senate/
  3. “House passes redistricting plans amid threat of legal action”: Tennessee Lookout (January 2022) 
    1. TN State and House Democrats confronted the Republican-controlled House with concerns about gerrymandering after redistricting plans were announced. With this plan, the highest populated counties, Davidson and Shelby, would be reconfigured. This plan also appears to dilute Black votes and keep Republican members in their seats.  
    2. Then Rep. Lamar was one of the Democrats that was extremely vocal about the redrawing of district lines and how her constituents would be affected. 
    3. Link: https://tennesseelookout.com/2022/01/24/house-passes-redistricting-plans-amid-threat-of-legal-action/
  4. “Harsh reality of gun violence epidemic should unite Tennessee to find solutions”: Commercial Appeal (March 2022)
    1. Sen. Lamar wrote an opinion column for the Commercial Appeal about the uptick of gun violence in the state of Tennessee. She gave recent examples of violence that propelled her to write the column and introduce SB 1773, the Gun Violence Prevention Act, with Sen. Brenda Gilmore of Nashville.
    2. “So far this year, officials in Shelby County say they have treated at least 30 children for gunshot wounds.”
    3. “Folks, 30 innocent children suffering needlessly from preventable gunfire should result in a statewide emergency where we all say together: Tennessee, we have a problem with gun violence.”
    4. “Unfortunately, too many of us have become numb to these senseless tragedies. We see an under-resourced police department investigating, in a community where trust is understandably low, and politicians offer cliche thoughts and prayers at a time when we, as a community, need action.”
    5. “And while people like to point fingers at Memphis for our struggle with gun violence, this issue is prevalent across the state. According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, Tennessee has the 14th highest rate of gun violence in the nation.”
    6. Link: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/2022/03/23/gun-violence-has-become-great-concern-tennessee-lets-fix-it/7144725001/
  5. Sen. London Lamar and Sen. Brenda Gilmore introduce the Gun Violence Prevention Act. (January 2022)
    1. This bill required each city and county to compile an annual report on the impact of gun violence. The bill will implement a firearm buyback program, gun safety programming for hospitals and primary care centers and nonviolent conflict resolution for children K-12.
    2. ​​”The report must include data on the deaths, disabilities, mental illnesses, and economic hardships stemming from gun violence. Additionally, the report must provide the public and policymakers with research-based information from which to make informed decisions on how best to protect Tennesseans from gun violence.”
    3. “This bill requires each law enforcement agency in the state to provide the department of health with biannual incident-level data on shootings that occur within the agency’s jurisdiction in order to identify and track hotspots and direct resources where needed.”
    4. Link: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1830&GA=112