Celebrating Overton Park-Memphis Zoo Parking Solution
Dear Friend, This week, I hosted a press conference with Memphis officials in Overton Park to celebrate the $3 million I secured through last year’s appropriations process to solve the longstanding parking problems at the Memphis Zoo. I also observed International Political Prisoners Day, voted to advance two of my bills through the Judiciary Committee, explained why I felt I had to vote against a misguided partisan measure regarding aid to Israel, noted that open enrollment for next year’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans is now under way, and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Celebrating Overton Park-Memphis Zoo Parking Solution Observing International Political Prisoners Day Voting to Advance Two of My Bills in the Judiciary Committee Explaining Voting Against Emergency Aid to Israel Flagging Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act Plans Celebrating Overton Park-Memphis Zoo Parking Solution On Tuesday, I was joined by Mayor Jim Strickland and officials with the Overton Park Conservancy and the Memphis Zoo to celebrate the $3 million in targeted spending I secured last year for a permanent parking solution. The press conference generated a lot of interest in part because the solution expands the urban green space and guarantees that the greensward will not be used for overflow parking in the future. I am proud to see this investment in our community’s economic and aesthetic future. Observing International Political Prisoners Day In 2022, I was appointed and was recently reappointed as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners and on Monday observed International Political Prisoners Day in solidary with the thousands around the world who are being imprisoned simply for speaking out against repression. I also released a statement in which I named some who are unjustly imprisoned by autocrats. See that here. Voting to Advance Two of My Bills in the Judiciary Committee Two bills I authored advanced through the Judiciary Committee on Thursday. My National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act and my Prohibiting Punishment for Acquitted Conduct Act will now go to the full House of Representatives for floor votes. See details on the measures from my releases here and here. Explaining Voting Against Emergency Aid to Israel Under normal circumstances, I would vote for aid to Israel but felt compelled on Thursday to vote against a partisan measure that provides aid to Israel by linking it to letting billionaire tax cheats off the hook. It is unprecedented to condition emergency aid to an ally, and a really bad idea. Republicans would offset the cost of aid to Israel by cutting funding for the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) efforts to audit wealthy tax cheats and big corporations. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that IRS cuts would actually cost more than the aid to Israel because it would result in less tax revenue appropriately collected from the wealthiest among us. I will support aid to Israel and Ukraine and Taiwan as well as humanitarian aid to Palestinians when President Biden’s thoughtful proposal is presented as an option. See my release explaining my vote here. Flagging Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act Plans Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans began Wednesday. Last year, more than 16 million people signed up for coverage at HealthCare.gov and four out of five people found plans for $10 a month or less because of subsidies that lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Most questions can be answered at the HealthCare.gov website but if you can’t find an answer, call the 24/7 help line at (800) 318-2596. If you sign up by December 16, coverage begins on January 1, 2024. The overall sign-up deadline is January 15. November is National Diabetes Month. Unfortunately, Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District has a disproportionate share of residents who have been diagnosed with the disease or have it without knowing it. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is focused on taking action to prevent diabetes-related health problems. See its recommendations here. “I think we need a pause…A pause means: give time to get the prisoners out.” – President Biden answering a shouted question at a campaign reception Wednesday night in Minneapolis. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |