House Approves My Amendment to Reduce Funding in Afghanistan

Dear friend,

This week I ushered through the passage of a historic amendment to cut funding for infrastructure in Afghanistan.  I also spoke to the Tennessee National Guard’s 130th Military Police Company before their deployment to Afghanistan.
 
Reducing Infrastructure Funding in Afghanistan
Tennessee National Guard
Early Voting and Free Photo Identification
Restoring Fairness in Student Lending
CFPB and Credit Checks
Bank of America Mobile Tour
Ending Homelessness Among Veterans
Grant Announcements
 
Reducing Infrastructure Funding in Afghanistan

On Wednesday night I ushered through the passage of a historic amendment to cut funding for Afghanistan infrastructure.  My amendment would reduce funding for the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund by $175 million in the FY2013 Defense Department Appropriations bill.  It was the only amendment to pass during roll call votes and passed by a vote of 228-191.
 
This was a momentous vote for reducing the U.S. role in Afghanistan as it was the first successful vote ever to reduce funding for infrastructure in Afghanistan.  Members of both parties recognize that it is time for us to bring our troops home and for Afghanistan to invest in their own infrastructure.
 
The Afghan Infrastructure Fund, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Defense, is plagued with problems and unsustainable development projects.  It has been the epitome of wasted taxpayer dollars in Afghanistan – some of which have been stolen or misplaced.  The U.S. should not be funneling American dollars to maintain the infrastructure in Afghanistan, especially when U.S. authorities cannot guarantee how the funds are being used.  Click here to see me speak on the House floor about this important measure.
 
I also offered an amendment to the FY 2013 Defense Department Appropriations bill to increase funding for Defense Health Programs by $235 million and decrease the Department of Defense budget by more than $260 million.  Under my proposal, funds would have been diverted from the Cruiser Ship program to health care programs like cancer research.  Click here to see me speak on the House floor about this measure.
 
Tennessee National Guard

On Tuesday morning I spoke at the departure ceremony for the Tennessee National Guard’s 130th Military Police Company at the Memphis Armory.  The unit, which consists of approximately 124 soldiers -- two-thirds of whom reside in Shelby County -- is deploying to Afghanistan.  Although I praised our soldiers for their service and dedication, it is time to end the war in Afghanistan and that is why on Wednesday night I ushered through the passage of a historic amendment to cut funding for Afghanistan infrastructure.  Click here to see my remarks on this measure.    
 
Early Voting and Free Photo Identification

Early Voting in Memphis has already begun for the August 2 elections.  I encourage you to take advantage of early voting and cast your ballots sooner rather than later so as to avoid long lines and any election day problems that may arise.  Visit the Shelby County Election Commission by clicking here to learn more about early voting in Memphis.  Also, 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.  And if you are a Veteran who needs ID you can get free government-issued photo IDs at the Veterans Administration.  To learn more about the new voter ID laws, visit my website here.
 
Restoring Fairness in Student Lending

Today I called for passage of legislation I authored that will restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt.  Yesterday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the U.S. Department of Education released a report that describes the risky practices and debt that stemmed from the boom and bust of the private student loan market in the past ten years.  According to the CFPB’s estimates, outstanding student loan debt in the United States topped $1 trillion in 2011 -- $864 billion of federal student debt and approximately $150 billion of private student loan debt.  One of the recommendations contained within the report concerns whether changes are needed to the treatment of private student loans in bankruptcy proceedings.  Click here to learn more.

CFPB and Credit Checks
This week I sent a letter to Richard Cordray – Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – urging him and the agency to observe how employers apply credit checks to hire or fire employees.  I applaud the CFPB’s recent rule supervising the leading credit bureaus with more than $7 million in annual revenue but more must be done.
 
Credit reports have increasing importance in consumers’ lives because they are used in many kinds of lending, by landlords in renting a property and even as a way to screen job applicants. That’s why I introduced the Equal Employment for All Act to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the use of consumer credit checks in relation to current and prospective employees for the purposes of making employment decisions.
 
Bank of America Mobile Tour
Bank of America is hosting a Mobile Tour in Tennessee and will be at the Hilton in Memphis -- located at 939 Ridge Lake Boulevard – on July 23 and July 24 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and I plan to attend  The purpose of the Mobile Tour is to provide Bank of America mortgage customers with the opportunity to meet with specialists who can provide counsel, review your files, and review options for loan modifications and other alternatives to foreclosures.  If you are a Bank of America mortgage customer you can schedule an appointment at bankofamerica.com/homeownerevent or by calling 855.201.7426.

House Judiciary Committee
This week I participated in a House Judiciary Committee markup on the “District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.”   This bill -- which I oppose -- would ban all abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks, with very limited exceptions. This bill is part of a litany of anti-women’s health legislation and activities that are part of a misguided attempt to politicize women’s access to health care.  This legislation would take away a woman’s ability to make an extremely personal, medical decision, and hands it over to politicians.  The measure also broadens the usual Republican attack on women who live in the District and on home rule by prohibiting all such abortions after 20 weeks, regardless of how they are paid for, in only one local jurisdiction, the District of Columbia. This Republican measure is an attack on basic freedom and liberty.  A woman facing difficult decisions needs the best medical care available, not judgment from politicians.

Ending Homelessness Among Veterans
On Tuesday I announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded nearly $100 million in grants to help approximately 42,000 homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families.  The grants are going to 151 community agencies in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  Homelessness among veterans is a major concern in Memphis and throughout America.  These grants will help veterans keep their homes and provide them with the help they need to secure benefits and public assistance to help them and their families.  More information about VA’s homeless programs is available on the Internet at www.va.gov/homeless.  Details about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program are online at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp.
 
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