U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, announced he will seek reelection despite his “strong desire” to leave Congress this year, reports the Tennessean. Green’s announcement is a reversal from his retirement plans which he announced two weeks ago. Green's retirement would have left the Republican primary in the 7th Congressional District wide open. Green had never faced primary challenger for the seat, which now includes parts of Nashville and Davidson County after a controversial redistricting. Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a Democrat, announced in December she would seek the Democratic nomination in the 7th Congressional District and challenge Green for the seat.

U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, has announced he will not run for reelection when his term ends later this year, reports the Tennessean. Green, who is currently chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, said it is "time for me to return home." He continued, "Our country — and our Congress — is broken beyond most means of repair," but said he would continue serving the country in a "new capacity." Green was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 to serve Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a Democrat, announced in December she would seek her party's nomination to challenge Green for the seat.

A nonpartisan watchdog group has asked the U.S. House of Representatives' Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) to investigate Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles, alleging more than $1 million of discrepancies in financial disclosures he filed with the House, reports News Channel 5. The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed the complaint this week noting that Ogles claimed to have personally loaned $320,0000 to his 2022 campaign for Congress, but that his financial reports “do not disclose assets that would allow him to make this loan." The Hill says it reached out for Ogles for a comment.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced Thursday he is leading a bipartisan coalition of 18 attorneys general urging Congress to pass the NCAA Accountability Act of 2023. The legislation would ensure that NCAA provides transparent due process in its investigations and create fairness for student-athletes, coaches and institutions. It would also authorize the Department of Justice to take legal action, including fines or removal, against the NCAA or individuals who violate the law. Read the full press release.

The U.S. House of Representatives today in a 310-118 vote passed the annual defense spending bill and reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for an additional four months, Courthouse News Service reports. That program allows intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance on foreign nationals who use U.S. communications systems. Opponents of the program argue that it allows intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance activities without a search warrant and that it has been used to target American citizens and residents.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) in October fined Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles a $5,750 civil penalty for multiple campaign finance violations incurred during the 2021-2022 election cycle, including missing and late-filed reports, illegal contributions and insufficient reporting documents. According to the Nashville Post, the FEC says that fine has now been paid, and Ogles’ campaign has until Jan. 2 to set up a specific tracking and reporting process, and must undergo additional training with the FEC by October.

Megan Barry, the former mayor of Nashville, officially launched a campaign today to unseat U.S. Rep. Mark Green, a Republican from Clarksville who represents the 7th Congressional District. WKRN reports that Barry cited dysfunction in Congress, worsening opioid crisis, rise in gun violence and closure of rural hospitals as reasons for her run. Barry served as the first female mayor of Nashville from 2015-2018, when she resigned from office following news of an affair with a member of her security detail. She pleaded guilty to felony theft of property over $10,000 for using taxpayer funds to conduct the affair and received three years of unsupervised probation and had to pay $11,000 in restitution.

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Tuesday ended his blockade of hundreds of military promotions following heavy criticism from senate colleagues, the Associated Press reports. Tuberville’s blockade of military promotions was in protest over the Pentagon’s abortion policy. Almost 400 military nominations have been in limbo due to Tuberville’s blanket hold on confirmations and promotions for senior military officers. The stance has left key national security positions unfilled.

The U.S. Senate has voted 80-12 to elevate U.S. Magistrate Irma Carrillo Ramirez to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, reports Reuters. Ramirez will be that court’s first Latina judge and the fifth active Democratic appointee on a court dominated by 12 judges nominated by Republican presidents. The bipartisan vote reflected the support of Texas' two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Overall, the Senate has now confirmed 160 of Biden's judicial nominees.

In a historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives today voted to expel New York Republican Rep. George Santos, making him only the sixth person ever to be expelled from that body. The final vote was 311 voting for expulsion, 114 against and two Republicans voting “present.” The Hill reports that Santos is facing federal indictment on 23 counts of wire fraud, identity theft and other campaign finance charges.