When I was appointed to serve as the state representative for House District 75, I understood that I was stepping into this role with an important responsibility: to represent the hardworking Tennesseans who want the opportunity to build a good life, provide for their families and keep more of what they earn.
That responsibility is one I take seriously.
Before taking my first steps as a legislator onto the House floor, Tennessee Republicans had built a strong foundation by keeping taxes low, expanding educational opportunities and investing in our workforce. During my first legislative session, I was proud to join my colleagues in building on that progress and making Tennessee one of
the most affordable places to live, work and raise a family.
For most families, affordability is not an abstract policy discussion. It’s the real-life decisions they make every day, like paying for child care so they can go to work, helping their kids earn a degree without being buried in debt or buying a home they can actually afford in their communities. It’s about making sure a teacher, a first responder or any hardworking Tennessean can afford to live in the same community they work so hard to serve.
Those are the kitchen table issues that matter.
Expanding educational opportunities for Tennessee families
The Volunteer State has long recognized that education can open the door to greater opportunity. Through Tennessee Promise, eligible high school graduates can attend a community or technical college tuition-free, allowing students to earn a degree or credential without tuition becoming a barrier to their future. For students, it means the chance to gain the skills needed for an in-demand, good-paying career without starting adulthood weighed down by unnecessary student debt.
We’ve also worked to give Tennessee parents more options for their children’s education. Through Education Freedom Scholarships, Tennessee families have greater ability to choose the educational environment that best meets the individual needs of their child. For a working mom or dad who wants a different opportunity for their child but never thought they could afford it, this can be life-changing. It means more choices, more opportunities and a better chance for every child to find the path where they can succeed.
Addressing the cost of child care and housing
This year, we took additional steps to address another major expense for working parents: child care. The Promising Future Act strengthens Tennessee’s investment in child care and workforce support, building on programs such as Smart Steps that help working families afford care while parents work or pursue their education.
Tennessee Republicans continued working on the growing challenge of housing affordability by creating the Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program. The program invests $20 million to partner with local governments, nonprofits and private developers to help build new homes and rehabilitate existing properties for working Tennesseans who are increasingly being priced out of the very communities they serve. That means more attainable housing options for teachers, first responders and other essential workers. The goal is simple: The people who keep our communities running should have a fair opportunity to afford to live in them.
Supporting caregivers and strengthening communities
Supporting families also means recognizing the Tennesseans who quietly take on the responsibility of caring for loved ones. Through the Caring for Caregivers Act, Tennessee created a grant program to help eligible family caregivers offset certain expenses associated with caring for relatives who need assistance. These caregivers often sacrifice time and financial resources to keep loved ones at home, and they deserve our support.
I was also honored this year to carry legislation named for my predecessor, the late Rep. Jeff Burkhart. The Jeff Burkhart Act gives counties another tool to strengthen local business districts without asking every taxpayer to pick up the tab. This new law permits property owners within a designated business district to help fund improvements that directly benefit that area through an additional assessment on properties within the district. For the average taxpayer, this means pursuing economic growth without shifting the cost of those improvements onto families who may never directly benefit.
Building on progress for working families
As I look to the next legislative session, I am committed to building on our success by removing barriers, expanding opportunity and protecting Tennessee’s quality of life. Working families are the backbone of our communities, and they deserve a government that creates opportunities to succeed and remembers who it works for. We must keep the Volunteer State affordable for the next generation of Tennesseans.
Rep. Michael Lankford represents Tennessee House District 75, which includes part of Montgomery County.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee must stay affordable for the next generation | Opinion
