Celebrating Black History Month

Dear friend,

This week marked the beginning of Black History Month.  African American history is filled with extraordinary people who have left an indelible mark on our nation and the world.  This month we pay special attention to the cultural, political, social and scientific contributions made by African Americans that have enriched our nation.

Black History Month
Civil Rights Pioneers
National Prayer Breakfast
Memphians at the White House
Obama’s Mortgage-Refinancing Program
Up With Chris Hayes on MSNBC
Surface Transportation Markup
Rental Cars
Cardozo Law School
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Summer Jobs Initiative
SBA Emerging Leaders Program
STOCK Act
Lilly Ledbetter
Our Military Kids
TREEDC
St. Jude
Free Photo Identification
Grant Announcements

Black History Month

Since its official establishment by Congress in 1986, some have questioned the value or wisdom of dedicating the month of February to the study of African American history. Some have asked if this means that we will ignore the contributions of African Americans for the other eleven months of the year. In that vein, the actor Morgan Freeman recently posed the question, ‘Why relegate my history to a single month?’  It is an unfortunate fact that too few Americans fully understand and appreciate the impact African Americans have had on our country and its history. A 2010 report by the Southern Poverty Law Center showed that only two percent of high school seniors could identify the Supreme Court decision that desegregated public schools. Yesterday, I introduced a bill to honor the pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement with a Congressional Gold Medal, not only to recognize their accomplishments, but to remind Americans everywhere that we still have heroes living among us.

I recently spoke at the interment of Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers Jr., who was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. He was one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, a group of men who wanted to fight for their country in World War II and were at first denied the chance to do so because of the color of their skin. Two weeks ago, Red Tails, a film about their heroics, was released to a nationwide audience and grossed nearly $20 million in ticket sales.  In an interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Red Tails director George Lucas said that he had been trying to make Red Tails for over twenty years. Speaking about his efforts to produce the film, he said ‘I showed it to them and they said, ‘No. We don't know how to market a movie like this. It’s an all black movie. There are no major white roles in it at all.’’ The movie studios didn’t believe America wanted to see a story with an all-black cast. During its opening weekend, moviegoers across the country proved them wrong.

Over 80 years after the Tuskegee Airmen risked their lives to serve and defend a nation that discriminated against them, one of the most successful directors of our time couldn’t secure outside funding for an action movie based on the real stories of their heroic and historic deeds. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is not only part of black history, it’s part of American history. Unfortunately, there are still people who don’t understand that. We must continue to observe Black History Month each February to ensure that all Americans come to see black history as inseparable from their own.  I spoke on the House floor today about Black History Month.  Click here to see my remarks.

Civil Rights Pioneers

On Wednesday I introduced legislation to honor the pioneers and participants of the Civil Rights Movement with a Congressional Gold Medal.  The measure is also sponsored by my friend and Civil Rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and more than 35 others.  It’s important that we honor the champions of the Civil Rights Movement.  From marches and sit-ins to bus rides and the integration of schools, thousands of ordinary people had the courage to do extraordinary things.  Just as we honor our soldiers and veterans who defend our freedoms abroad, we should recognize and honor those who stood up to injustice here at home.

National Prayer Breakfast
Yesterday I attended the 60th National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton with my guest Mount Vernon Baptist Church Senior Pastor Dr. James L. Netters, Sr.  President Obama, Members of Congress and other dignitaries gathered with leaders from across the country and around the world to listen to the President and award-winning Christian author Eric Metaxas speak.  Mr. Metaxas delivered an inspiring speech about the need for genuine faith that translates into action that I encourage you to see by clicking here.  In his speech, President Obama emphasized the importance of his Christian beliefs in his politics and personal life, arguing that his efforts to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, promote health insurance reform, help families with college tuition and send troops to prevent human rights abuses in Uganda were grounded in his faith.  Click here to see the President’s speech.

Memphians at the White House
Earlier today the White House Business Council and Business Forward invited a diverse group of civic and business leaders from Memphis to a Conversation on Jobs and the Economy and ways the Administration and the Memphis Business Community can work together.  I was happy to help put this meeting together at the request of the White House.

Obama’s Mortgage-Refinancing Program
This week President Obama unveiled a plan to help struggling homeowners and boost the housing market by creating a mortgage-refinancing program to allow homeowners to save roughly $3,000 per year.  I look forward to working with the President on this initiative as well as legislation I authored to clarify the authority of bankruptcy courts to operate mortgage modification programs (my Limiting Investor and Homeowner Loss on Foreclosure Act) and legislation to create a grant program to help local communities establish foreclosure mediation programs (my Preventing Homeowners from Foreclosure Act).  Click here to see a fact sheet on the President’s plan.

Up With Chris Hayes on MSNBC
Last Sunday I was on MSNBC’s “Up With Chris Hayes” to discuss President Obama, the Florida GOP primary, job creation and economic growth, the foreclosure crisis, Apple products being made in China, Al Green, and Eli and Peyton Manning – particularly my Eli button and my support for him.  Click here to see me on MSNBC.

Surface Transportation Markup
Yesterday I participated in the longest markup in the history of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  During this 18-hour marathon markup we considered more than 100 amendments to the Surface Transportation Reauthorization. While this package includes much needed funding for our nation’s crumbling infrastructure I’m very concerned about some provisions in the bill that would negatively impact hardworking Memphians by cutting transit service, eliminating public participation from transportation decisions, endangering drivers and pedestrians, and gutting bicycle and pedestrian programs.

During the markup I authored two aerotropolis amendments, both of which passed.  These historic amendments represent the first aerotropolis language ever incorporated into the House Surface Transportation bill.  The Memphis Aerotropilis is the city’s economic engine, and this language will ensure that the federal government plays a leading role in advancing this effort.  I also offered an amendment that was supported and developed in cooperation with an organization named Securing America’s Energy Future (SAFE) which is led by FedEx founder and Chairman Fred Smith.  The amendment I offered would direct states and local governments to actively work to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.  Unfortunately, this amendment did not pass, but I’m committed to working with Fred Smith and his organization to enhance America’s economic and national security by reducing the transportation sector’s oil usage.

I also spoke on behalf of an amendment that would save the lives of thousands of teenagers.  Every year, 5,000 teens die on our nation’s roads.  As has been demonstrated by Tennessee’s Graduated Drivers License – a program I sponsored and passed in the Tennessee Senate – these deaths are preventable.  The amendment that I spoke on behalf of last night would have put commonsense restrictions in place and would literally save the lives of our nation’s teens.

One issue that is a primary concern in Memphis and across the nation is transit authority’s inability to provide an adequate level of service.  With record demand and gas prices, transit agencies are struggling to pay for their operating costs.  A proposal that MATA has endorsed would allow transit authorities to use their acquisition funds to cover their operating costs.  What good is a new bus if you can’t afford the gas for it and can’t pay someone to drive it.  The amendment I supported would solve this problem and ensure that MATA could transport hardworking Memphians to their jobs and around the city.

Rental Cars
On Wednesday the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law held a hearing on bipartisan legislation I authored with Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) to prohibit discriminatory taxes on the rental of motor vehicles.  The public hearing provided us with valuable insight into what could be discriminatory taxes on rental cars and the companies that own them.  During these tough economic times, state and local governments are looking to raise revenue.  But there is no place for discriminatory taxes in business.  This is an unfair practice that must stop and as Ranking Member of the subcommittee I vow to continue to fight for this measure. I’m also concerned about the disproportionate impact on minorities when it comes to the car rental tax burden. Recent studies show that minority groups as a whole bore 52 percent of the car rental tax burden despite their making up a smaller portion of the population that rents cars.

Cardozo Law School
Earlier this week I was invited to speak at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City to discuss Personhood, the Citizens United case and the influence of money in politics, Super PACs, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act, drug laws and internet poker.  There were two law students from Memphis in the audience – Agatha Cole and Daniel Novick.  I took many interesting questions from the audience on subjects including decriminalizing marijuana, SOPA, the Keystone XL Pipeline, the STOCK Act, term limits, and the production of Apple products in China.  I enjoyed discussing these topics with law students and look forward to continuing the debate on these important issues in Congress with my colleagues. 

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

This week I also met with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in Manhattan.  We discussed many issues including comprehensive immigration reform, free trade, gun laws that protect society, crime, civil liberties and opportunities for Memphis to receive additional funding from the Bloomberg Foundation.

Summer Jobs Initiative
President Obama and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis recently announced the Summer Jobs+ Initiative, a call-to-action for American business, nonprofits, and government to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012.  Employers can accept the President's call-to-action and make a "Pathways Pledge" by choosing at least one of the following three pathways to employment for low-income youth: 1) Life Skills: Provide youth work-related soft skills, such as communication, time management and teamwork, through coursework and/or experience. This includes resume writing or interview workshops and mentorship programs; 2) Work Skills: Provide youth insight into the world of work to prepare for employment. This includes job shadow days and internships; 3) Learn and Earn: Provide youth on-the-job skills in a learning environment while earning wages for their work.

Employers can commit to offering employment opportunities for youth this summer by signing up HERE. In addition, the White House Council for Community Solutions has developed a toolkit for employers interested in participating in the initiative.   The Obama Administration will also be launching a job bank, a one-stop search tool for youth to access postings for any participating employers seeking to reach them where they are online. Youth and communities can sign-up HERE to be alerted when the jobs bank goes live.

SBA Emerging Leaders Program
This week the U.S. Small Business Administration announced its continued support for the e200/Emerging Leaders program, which debuted in 2008 with 11 cities and has expanded each year.  Memphis, one of the original program sites, will participate for the fifth consecutive year in the program that has helped more than 1,000 small-business owners in underserved communities across the nation.  Click here to read a Commercial Appeal article to learn more about this program.

STOCK Act
The Senate this week passed the bipartisan Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which would prohibit commodities and securities trading based on nonpublic information relating to Congress and require additional reporting by members and employees of Congress of securities transactions.  I was one of the original nine sponsors of this measure and signed a discharge petition to force House Speaker John Boehner to schedule a future vote on this legislation on the House floor. 

Lilly Ledbetter
This week marked the third anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act becoming law and an important step to achieving equal pay for women.  That moment was proof positive of what can be accomplished with a Democratic President and a Democratic Majority and I was proud to support the legislation.  It’s hard to believe how far the Tea Party has taken us away from making the kind of progress our country so greatly deserves. Republicans have launched an all-out assault on women, the middle class and our seniors in the name of protecting billionaires and Big Oil.  It’s time for the GOP to work with Democrats to help move the country forward.  The GOP political gamesmanship must end for the benefit of our country.

Our Military Kids
Our Military Kids awarded 9,150 grants, totaling $3.7 million, in 2011.  The funding for these grants was made possible through a public/private partnership.  Partial funding was received from the Army National Guard Bureau with the balance provided by the private sector-contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals.  A number of states are making preparations for large National Guard and Reserve deployments in 2012.  I wanted to share information on this grant program with families facing overseas deployments as they will find it a valuable resource in helping their children cope with the stresses experienced during the separation from the military parent.  Families can learn more about the grant program and download an application by visiting www.ourmilitarykids.org.

TREEDC
On Thursday I met with TREEDC members to discuss the importance of clean and renewable energy.  The mission of the Tennessee Renewable Energy & Economic Development Council (TREEDC) is to provide leadership in renewable energy and economic development by connecting technology and energy with sustainable rural economic development through a regional network of local communities that actively provide assistance, share ideas, resources and information to promote the development of renewable energy and economic development programs.  Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford Jr. – who is a TREEDC member – was part of the meeting.

St. Jude
On Tuesday I announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital $218,750 for Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation Research – particularly, metabolic control of regulatory T cell differentiation.  The funds will be administered by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Free Photo Identification
You can get free photo identification for voting the first Saturday of every month at two driver service centers in Shelby County at no charge.  The service centers are located at 3200 East Shelby Drive and 6340 Sumer Avenue – both in Memphis.  They are open on the first Saturday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  And to learn more about the new voter ID laws, visit my website here.  Also, Veterans who need ID can get free government-issued photo IDs at the Veterans Administration.

Grant Announcements
Each week I release a list of grant announcements from federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, and others.  These federal funding opportunities are available to faith-based and neighborhood associations, nonprofits and other community organizations in the 9th district. The announcements are updated weekly on my website.
 
Wishing you a happy and safe weekend,

As always, I remain,

Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress