Federal Procurement Fair on Monday

Dear Friend,

On Monday I will be hosting a Federal Procurement Fair at the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis. The fair is an exciting opportunity for small business owners and entrepreneurs to learn more about the federal procurement process and how to apply for federal contracts.

Federal Procurement Fair on Monday
American Queen/Jobs
Justice Department Report on Memphis Juvenile Court System
IRS Investigates Mo’ Money Taxes
Helping Students With Disabilities
Tavis Smiley ‘Too Important to Fail’ Education Summit
Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award
Telephone Town Hall for Seniors
Honoring Julian Bond
LeMoyne-Owen College
UTHSC
Earth Day
FEMA National Youth Preparedness Council
Free Photo Identification
Grant Announcements

Federal Procurement Fair on Monday
On Monday, April 30, I will be hosting a Federal Procurement Fair at the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis. The fair is an exciting opportunity for small business owners and entrepreneurs to learn more about the federal procurement process and how to apply for federal contracts.  With more than one out of six federal dollars going to private contractors, there are many opportunities for business owners to enter the highly competitive but lucrative market of federal contracting. Procurement officials will be on hand to talk about their specific needs, so the fair will be able to help vendors who are ready to apply for contracts as well as those who are new to the procurement process.

If you or someone you know is a constituent of the 9th District and wants to learn how to become your own best advocate for government contracting, please RSVP at cohen.procurement@mail.house.gov. The fair will begin at 9:00 a.m. at 365 Innovation Drive at the University of Memphis. I encourage you to attend and look forward to seeing you there.

American Queen/Jobs

Today a christening ceremony was held for the American Queen in Memphis.  When the American Queen deal was on the brink of collapse, I worked with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to bring the project to fruition, which Mayor A C Wharton estimates will create 550 jobs.  A member of my staff – Beanie Self – was in attendance to represent me.

Justice Department Report on Memphis Juvenile Court System
The U.S. Department of Justice recently conducted a comprehensive investigation on the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, and the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center.  In January 2007, just after I came to Washington and at the request of County Commissioner Henri Brooks, I reached out to the Department of Justice about her concerns.  Due process is a fundamental right.  Throughout my career, I’ve worked to ensure fairness in the criminal justice system by authoring legislation like the Justice Integrity Act and the Restorative Justice in Schools Act, bills that would help reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system and prevent kids from turning to a life of crime. 

As alarming as the Justice Department report is, I’m pleased to hear that the Juvenile Court and the Juvenile Detention Center are already working with the Justice Department to address these concerns.  I’m confident that Judge Curtis Person and the many other dedicated employees of the juvenile court system can implement the changes advocated by the Justice Department, and that their work will help provide our children in the juvenile justice system with the tools they need to abandon a life of crime for more promising, productive futures.  Click here to learn more about the Justice Department report.

IRS Investigates Mo’ Money Taxes
On Wednesday agents from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigative Division searched the headquarters of Mo’ Money Taxes. In February, I joined with Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) to write a letter to Attorney General Eric H. Holder requesting his office’s assistance in addressing the problems our constituents were having with Mo’ Money Taxes. The problems included excessive fees, bounced checks for tax refunds, and many people didn’t even receive their tax returns at all.

The Department of Justice has assured me that they take the complaints circulating throughout Memphis about possible scams and delayed tax refund returns seriously and have shared the information we provided with the relevant government agencies. If there was any wrongdoing, I have the utmost faith that the Department of Justice, the IRS and the other federal agencies that might be looking into this will discover it and address the issue.

Helping Students With Disabilities
On Monday I announced that the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education has reached an agreement with the Memphis City School District on aids and services for students with disabilities.  Our children deserve the best quality education possible, especially those who suffer from disabilities.  The agreement between the Department of Education and the Memphis City School District will help ensure our disabled children are treated fairly and given proper tools and opportunities to excel in their studies.

Tavis Smiley ‘Too Important to Fail’ Education Summit

Youth to Leaders, also known as the Tavis Smiley Foundation, hosted a summit on education in Memphis last Saturday called ‘Too Important to Fail.’ I was happy to see so many dedicated parents attend the workshops and learn new strategies to help their children succeed in school and prepare for their future. It takes a village to raise a child and we each have to do our part. I’m going to continue to do my part by continuing to fight for more education funding and making sure Memphis receives all the federal resources possible.

Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award

On Tuesday I was recognized by the Healthcare Leadership Council as a “Champion of Healthcare Innovation.” The Healthcare Leadership Council has emerged as a strong advocate for bipartisan health care reform focusing on access, quality, competition, and innovation for a 21st Century health care delivery system. I am honored to receive the Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award based on our shared vision for quality-driven health care for all Americans.

Telephone Town Hall for Seniors

Yesterday I hosted a Telephone Town Hall on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. More than 1,700 constituents from the 9th District participated. We discussed how best to strengthen and preserve Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for seniors today and for generations yet to come. Some of my best legislative ideas come from my constituents, and when they share their concerns and opinions it tells me how best to move forward in Congress. Many of my elderly constituents can’t make it to my town halls in Memphis, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to hear from them over the phone.

After the telephone town hall, I spoke on the House floor about what I’d heard from my constituents and urged my colleagues not to cut these vital programs that have served us so well for so long. You can watch my remarks by clicking here.

Honoring Julian Bond
I spoke on the House floor today to honor my good friend and Civil Rights pioneer Julian Bond.  Julian will be retiring from his post as professor at the University of Virginia on May 1 and a fundraiser for a Civil Rights History Chair in his honor will be held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on May 2.  Click here to see my remarks.

LeMoyne-Owen College
Today I announced that the LeMoyne-Owen College has received a federal grant worth $235,131 from the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program in the U.S. Department of Education.  Careers in the science and engineering industries are growing, exciting and rewarding.  LeMoyne-Owen College students pursuing jobs in those fields will benefit tremendously from the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program grant.

UTHSC
This week I announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the University of Tennessee Health Science Center a federal grant worth $302,203 for cancer treatment research. Cancer claims tens of thousands of lives each year in Tennessee alone and the research conducted at UTHSC can help bring us closer to understanding how we can help save those lives.

Earth Day
This past Sunday was Earth Day, a day of celebration and appreciation for the small, beautiful world we all call home. Over the course of my career in public service, I have proudly fought for stronger environmental protections, lower carbon emissions, reduced dependence on foreign oil, green jobs and clean energy. Certain corporate interests have spent millions of dollars spreading the idea that we can’t protect the environment without also harming the economy. I believe that’s a false choice. We only have one home planet, and our continued survival depends upon our ability to be good stewards of the environment.  This year I celebrated at Shelby Farms Park, where the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy kicked off their first Earth Day 5k Fun Run. I saw many runners dressed in Earth Day themed costumes, and I was glad to see Laura Adams, Director of the Shelby Farms Conservancy, and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell there as well.

FEMA National Youth Preparedness Council
FEMA is looking for young people aged 12-17 to join the National Youth Preparedness Council, where they will learn how to prepare themselves and their families for a natural or man-made disaster. Studies have shown that families with children who bring disaster preparedness materials home with them from school are the most likely to prepare for emergencies. This program gives young people a chance to take on leadership roles early in their lives, and it also gives them the confidence they need to handle a crisis. If you know someone who might be interested, you can learn about the requirements and the nominating process by clicking here.

Free Photo Identification
Shelby County driver service centers are no longer open on Saturdays, but if you or someone you know still needs a photo ID for voting purposes you don’t have to wait in line. If you only need to get an ID for voting purposes, you can still visit any driver’s license renewal station in Shelby County during regular business hours and there is a special line to serve your needs.  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