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Speaking Out to Protect Police and the Public from Gun Violence

May 19, 2023
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, which is National Police Week, I spoke from the House floor about the need to support police by enacting real gun violence reform to protect both officers and the public. I also defended a woman’s  reproductive rights at a Judiciary subcommittee hearing, attended a Jewish American Heritage Month reception at the White House, introduced a bill to ease re-entry for drug offenders who have completed their sentences, introduced a measure to extend a bankruptcy provision for National Guard and Reservists, selected a Central High School student as this year’s Congressional Art Competition winner, congratulated two members of my District Office staff on their new masters degrees, and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on TwitterFacebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.

Speaking Out to Protect Police and the Public from Gun Violence

Defending Women’s Reproductive Rights

Attending Jewish American Heritage Month Reception at the White House

Introducing the RESTORE Act

Introducing National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act

Selecting Congressional Art Competition Winner

Congratulating My District Office Staffers on their Masters Degrees

Weekly Health Tip

Quote of the Week


Speaking Out to Protect Police and the Public from Gun Violence

 

On Thursday, I went to the House floor to speak during National Police Week about real protection for our police officers – reforms advocated by the major policing organizations – like red flag laws, banning assault rifles and prohibiting the sale of armor-piercing “cop-killer” bullets. While my Republican colleagues toe the NRA line, real police support requires meaningful and sensible firearms regulations, which are supported by social justice advocates and law enforcement groups alike, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police. See my speech here. Last week, I commended the heroism of Memphis Police Officer Geoffrey Redd, shot and killed in the line of duty in February. See those remarks here.

Defending Women’s Reproductive Rights

 

The Republican-dominated Judiciary Committee this week held a hearing on the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act which became law in 1994 with bipartisan support. The real purpose of the hearing was to minimize the long history of violence against reproductive health care patients, providers and clinics, and to simultaneously placate and inflame their “pro-life” supporters. I discussed the hypocrisy and corrupt procedural maneuvers that allowed Donald Trump to nominate three right-wing ideologues as Supreme Court Justices and led to the overturning of a nearly 50-year precedent with Roe v. Wade. See that speech here.

Attending Jewish American Heritage Month Reception at the White House

 

On Wednesday night, I attended a reception at the White House for Jewish American Heritage Month. President Biden spoke of the lessons he learned from his father about the Holocaust and heard his disappointment that the allies didn’t bomb the rail line going to concentration camps. I had good conversations with First Gentleman Doug Emhoff and with Attorney General Merrick Garland and many of my fellow Jewish Members of Congress. Last week, I was asked by the Jewish Democratic Council of America to explain why I am a proud Jewish Democrat. See my response here.

Introducing the RESTORE Act

 

On Thursday, I introduced the Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials (RESTORE) to repeal the ban on SNAP benefits for drug offenders and allow them to apply to the program before their release dates. See my release here.

Introducing National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act

On Monday, I introduced the National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act to continue the exemption from the means test under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code set to expire later this year. See that release here.

Selecting Congressional Art Competition Winner

 

Hays Wright, a tenth grader at Central High School, is this year’s Congressional Art Competition winner for the 9th Congressional District. His drawing of his football jersey, “The High,” he said, combines his “two favorite things into one: football and art.” It will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year, where it will be seen by thousands of visitors each day. Congratulations, Hays.

Congratulating My District Office Staffers on their Masters Degrees

 

Earlier this month, two of my District Office staffers received masters degrees from the University of Memphis. Jeremy Jordan, one of my Constituent Service Representatives and a 2008 U of M graduate with a political science degree, now has a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in public management and policy. My Staff Assistant Victori Douglas graduated from the U of M with a degree in Sociology in 2016 and now has a Masters of Public Administration. Congratulations Jeremy and Victori!

Weekly Health Tip

 

The National Institute on Aging has useful guidance for meal planning to maintain good health for older Americans. See that advice here.

Quote of the Week

“We have made great social progress in America but we still have a lot of work to do. We're not there yet. It’s not a perfect world.” -- Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color line in Major League Baseball, a professor of nursing and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress