Tennessee Rep. Joe Carr

In addition, Carr was appointed to the Government Operations Committee and Local Government Committee, which oversees the subcommittee he now chairs, for the 108th legislative session.

State lawmakers returned to the capitol Tuesday to prepare for the upcoming session, which officially begins Monday, Jan. 28, under the Republican leadership of Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, of Blountville, in the Senate and Harwell.

Carr was sworn in Tuesday to his third term as representative of the 48th District, much of which comprises the southern portion of Rutherford County.

“When
 you
 run
 for
 public
 office
 it
 is
 by
 definition
 an
 obligation
 to
 serve
 the
 public,” said Carr, who ran unopposed in the 2012 general election after defeating Ryan Herring in the Republican Party primary.

“I’m
 proud
 to
 fulfill
 this
 obligation
 and
 look
 forward
 to
 addressing
 the
 many
 challenges
 Tennessee
 is
 faced
 with
 over
 the
 next
 two
 years,”
 he added.

Known for his strong stance on the issue, Carr has authored nearly all of the state laws designed to prevent illegal immigration. Due
 to
 his
 efforts, Tennessee
now has some
 of
 the
 strongest
 enforceable immigration laws in the United States.

Prior to his most recent appointments, Carr served on the Finance and Education committees.

Recently, Carr announced that he has formed an exploratory committee to examine a possible bid for the 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The position is currently held by U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who is also a Republican.