Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Wednesday announced the addition of Senator Ferrell Haile and Rep. Patsy Hazlewood to the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group. The bipartisan group will continue its work to support Tennessee's economy and ensure proper fiscal management of federal relief funds, meeting publicly and reporting regularly to bring transparency to the process.
“As Tennessee’s strong economic recovery continues, we must ensure federal dollars coming to our state are used wisely and effectively,” said Governor Lee. “I thank Senator Haile, Rep. Hazlewood and all members of this group for their valuable input as we steward these resources and serve Tennesseans.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve on this panel which is charged with ensuring this money is used properly to best benefit our citizens,” said Senator Haile. “We have a huge responsibility to see that these funds are managed in the most effective manner and Governor Lee is taking every step possible to ensure the most efficient use. I look forward to working with him and the other members of the group to make good decisions about how these funds are spent.”
“One of the biggest challenges facing our state currently is using federal stimulus dollars in a fiscally responsible manner to ensure all Tennessean’s benefit,” said Rep. Hazlewood. “I appreciate Governor Lee appointing me to Financial Stimulus Accountability Group, and together our work will make sure we can continue to effectively address the immediate and emerging needs of our state.”
Since its founding in April 2020, the FSAG has overseen nearly 90 percent of all federal dollars distributed to Tennessee through the Coronavirus Relief Fund, authorized in the CARES Act. In 2020, the group proactively invested these dollars into the state’s unemployment trust fund, which successfully protected jobs and prevented tax hikes. The FSAG also supported the allocation of over $300 million in grants to small businesses across Tennessee.
The FSAG is currently preparing for implementation of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, an additional tranche of relief authorized by Congress in March 2021.
Effective April 2021, members of the group include:
Governor Bill Lee
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally
House Speaker Cameron Sexton
Senator Bo Watson
Senator Raumesh Akbari
Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile
Rep. Patsy Hazlewood
Rep. Pat Marsh
Rep. Harold Love Jr.
Jason Mumpower, Comptroller of the Treasury
Commissioner Butch Eley, Finance & Administration