Reducing Infant Mortality in Memphis

Dear Friend,

This week, I spoke at the Shelby County Health Department’s Infant Mortality Summit about what we can do to reduce our city’s infant mortality rate, I welcomed the Polish Ambassador to our city for Memphis in May, and I announced almost $2 million for research at UT Health Science Center. 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.

Reducing Infant Mortality in Memphis
Growing Memphis Jobs and Honoring Poland during Memphis in May
Supporting Memphis Minority Small Businesses
Mourning the Loss of a Companion
Pushing for Smarter Enforcement of Drug Laws
Grants for Memphis
Don’t Miss the World War II Victory Capitol Flyover

Reducing Infant Mortality in Memphis

Yesterday morning, I spoke at the Shelby County Health Department’s 2015 Infant Mortality Summit. The infant mortality rate in Memphis is woefully high, and some ZIP codes have rates as high as those in third world countries. We not only have food deserts in our Memphis communities, but we have health care deserts as well.

I am disappointed that the Tennessee General Assembly has neglected to expand TennCare coverage to 280,000 Tennesseans, as that would go a long way towards improving the situation here, but I am glad that the Affordable Care Act is helping fund new clinics, like one in Raleigh, that are providing care to those who otherwise would not have access to it and are helping us fight infant mortality in Memphis. Read more about the summit here.

While there, I also praised Shelby County Health Department Director Yvonne Madlock for her work and leadership on infant mortality. She has done yeoman’s work on this issue and I rue her upcoming retirement. Director Madlock and I talked about having more access to healthcare, which would happen if the Legislature expanded Medicaid, would bring down infant mortality.

Growing Memphis Jobs and Honoring Poland during Memphis in May

At the Memphis World Trade Club & Greater Memphis Chamber’s Memphis in May Luncheon yesterday, along with former Ambassador to Poland, former Knoxville Mayor and former State Senate colleague of mine Victor Ashe (left) I welcomed Polish Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf (center) to our city. Poland is one of our most important trade partners in Europe and as the 8th largest exporting state in the nation, our relationship with them is critical to boosting our economy and creating jobs here in Memphis. I look forward to working with the Ambassador to encourage trade and tourism between Memphis and Poland, as well as to helping facilitate the visa process for Polish visitors to the US.

Supporting Memphis Minority Small Businesses

It’s National Small Business Week. Do you have big dreams for your small or minority-owned business? The Minority Business Development Center in Memphis that I led efforts to launch in 2012 can provide assistance with setting up contracts, developing your workforce, and counseling. Small Business Administration partners like SCORE, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), and Women’s Business Centers (WBC) can provide assistance to help entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership as well. Find one in Memphis here.

Mourning the Loss of a Companion

This week, I lost my pet/companion Callie after a fight with kidney failure and a tumor. Her loss has been very, very difficult for me but I was so fortunate to have had a great and compassionate veteranarian, Dr. Chuck Halford, help us through the process. He and Dr. Kathy Mitchener, Cal’s cancer specialist and acupuncturist, made her life better and longer as did Laurie Stark, Susan Sowell, Beverly Marerro, Stephanie Dunavant and Rick Maynard who looked in on her while I was away. When you are a legislator in Nashville or DC, it takes a village to take care of your beloved cat. Henry Turley, who has always been there for me, came by and helped as Callie departed and we buried her near Hugh, my other cat pal.

Pushing for Smarter Enforcement of Drug Laws

I joined Congressmen Jared Polis of Colorado and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and several other colleagues late last week in sending a letter urging President Obama to nominate a new Drug Enforcement Administration chief who would bring a smarter, more progressive approach to the agency and to enforcement of minor drug crimes while focusing on the drug crimes that actually cause societal harm. You can read more about the letter here.

Grants for Memphis

On Monday, I announced almost $1.9 million in federal funding for six research projects at UT Health Science Center in Memphis. These significant federal investments, which you can read more about here, will help keep Memphis and the UT Health Science Center at the forefront of the medical research community.

Don’t Miss the World War II Victory Capitol Flyover

Today marks the 70th Anniversary of VE Day, the day the United States and its allies celebrated victory over the Nazis in Europe. To commemorate this anniversary and honor the sacrifice made by our veterans there will be an aircraft parade in Washington this morning, just like the parades that occurred around the world following our victory in 1945. The Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Capitol Flyover will consist of more than 50 World War II-era planes flying over several monuments along the National Mall, including the World War II Memorial, and the U.S. Capitol building. The parade will begin at roughly 11 AM Central Time and it can be viewed via live, narrated webcast by clicking here. I hope you will consider watching.

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress