Helping Eliminate the Memphis Rape Kit Backlog
Dear Friend,
Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week, or if you’d like to receive the updates in this eNewsletter (and more) as they happen, simply “like” my Facebook page. Be sure to check it regularly, as it will be updated often with news, pictures, and videos.
Helping Eliminate the Memphis Rape Kit Backlog
Improving the Criminal Justice System
Helping End the Drug War and Reform Criminal Marijuana Policy
Keeping Tennesseans Alive by Expanding TennCare
Protecting Americans’ Privacy
Fighting to Help Low-Income Americans Protect Themselves in the Legal System
Welcoming Memphians to my Capitol Hill Office
Charting a New Path with Cuba
Helping Eliminate the Memphis Rape Kit Backlog
Late Wednesday evening, the House passed my amendment to boost funding for testing rape kits by $4 million. Something is wrong with our criminal justice system when rapists are allowed to roam free—and attack other victims—simply because the evidence needed to find and convict them sits on a shelf somewhere. Testing these kits can help catch criminals and prevent additional attacks, but across the country the resources to fully test each and every one have not always been available. I am proud to have championed a 25% increase in funding to provide victims of sexual assault a degree of justice and am very pleased that Democrats and Republicans came together to help make this critical funding available. You can watch my speech here and read the Commercial Appeal’s story on this funding here.
Improving the Criminal Justice System
Over the weekend, the Washington Post released an investigation into the number of police shootings that take place in America and found out that—since 2015 began—at least 385 Americans have been shot by police officers sworn to protect them.
I am disappointed with the number of Americans that have been shot by police, that those killed are three times more likely to be African American than white, and that we have to rely on the third party news outlets like the Post to learn these numbers.
The public has a right to know how often police use deadly force against the people they are sworn to protect, and the Post’s editorial board agrees. My National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act would require that police departments report their use of deadly force and ensure that data is made publicly available; it would help provide transparency so that we can more effectively address the problem of police shootings and improve our criminal justice system.
Helping End the Drug War and Reform Criminal Marijuana Policy
Do you have 30 seconds to spare? Don’t miss this video of me criticizing our current draconian, ineffective criminal marijuana policies and the “Reefer Madness 2015” mindset on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives late Tuesday night.
It’s time to move past the failed “War on Drugs” – and I am also pleased to report that the House voted on three different marijuana policy reform amendments this week, and the votes clearly showed that Republicans and Democrats agree federal law on medical marijuana is outdated, out of touch, and needs to change.
I hope the bipartisan support shown with these votes is the beginning of a watershed for our comprehensive, common-sense marijuana police reform bill. If my colleagues support these provisions to respect states’ rights and increase access to medical treatments for a year, I hope they are willing to join with me to make them permanent by passing the CARERS Act that I am leading with Senators Rand Paul, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Don Young, the most senior Republican in the House.
Keeping Tennesseans Alive by Expanding TennCare
A new report released by the President’s Council of Economic Advisers yesterday found that the expansion of TennCare would reduce the number of deaths in Tennessee by 220 every year, insure an additional 179,000 Tennesseans next year, provide an influx of $1.77 billion into the state’s economy, and save $190 million in uncompensated care costs.
With hundreds of thousands of uninsured citizens in our state, this report shows that the Tennessee General Assembly’s refusal to expand Medicaid is literally killing Tennesseans. Not only will Tennesseans die due to lack of health insurance, but those with health insurance will pay more to cover the tabs of those who are forced to use emergency rooms for care while our state’s economy loses out on $1.77 billion in federal dollars and hospitals continue to close. I hope the legislature expands our Medicaid system without delay.
This week, the Senate passed the USA FREEDOM Act to reform domestic spying programs authorized by the overly-broad PATRIOT Act. The USA FREEDOM Act wasn’t perfect, but after lengthy discussions in the Judiciary Committee, I knew it was the best reform package that could actually pass—and politics is the art of the possible. While I would have preferred stronger reforms, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made clear that the alternative was simply reauthorizing the old PATRIOT Act that has allowed for the NSA’s domestic spying programs, and I wasn’t willing to let that happen. I am proud to have voted for the USA FREEDOM Act to rein in the NSA, place more judicial safeguards on domestic spying programs, and protect the privacy rights of all Americans.
Fighting to Help Low-Income Americans Protect Themselves in the Legal System
I also fought this week to protect funding for Legal Services Corporation, which is a critical legal aid program that helps low-income Americans protect and defend themselves in our legal system. I am disappointed that my amendment to restore funding was not agreed to but pleased to have helped block an amendment to cut funding even further. I was also able to secure an agreement from the Ranking Member and Chairman of the subcommittee to work together to increase funding for Legal Services when the bill goes to conference committee with the Senate.
Welcoming Memphians to my Capitol Hill Office
I enjoyed meeting with three physical therapists from Memphis, Bertie Gatlin, Pamela White, and Carol Likens, this week while they visited in Washington the American Physical Therapy Association’s PT Day on Capitol Hill.
Two decades ago our government determined the Cuban military poses no threat to us, while the State Department has found no evidence the Cubans provide support or training to terrorists—and there are even signs that Cuba is, in fact, taking steps to fight terrorism. That is why I have worked to normalize relations with Cuba since I was elected to Congress, including voting to ease travel restrictions to the country, and why I support the President’s efforts to chart a new course in our relationship with Cuba.
Late last week, the State Department decided to remove Cuba’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation. It’s a positive step for both of our nations that will promote human rights and freedom. I hope this shift will help bring our two nations closer to full diplomatic relations and tear down the walls that have kept Memphis entrepreneurs and businesses out of such a close and important market.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress