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Supporting Innovators in the Ninth District

August 8, 2014
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week in Memphis, I met with 10 Memphis-based innovative startups that are helping create jobs and grow our economy, participated in several National Night Out events throughout Shelby County and in a conference aimed at eradicating blight and building sustainable communities, pushed for federal oversight of this week’s elections, and attended the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law’s 2014 Pillars of Excellence Awards. Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week.

Supporting Innovators in the Ninth District
Protecting Voters and the Sanctity of the Elections
Fighting for Voting Rights
Fighting for Our Veterans
Working to Eliminate Blight and Building Safe Communities
Strengthening Ties with African Nations
Facebook Photo Contest
President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People
Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property

Supporting Innovators in the Ninth District

Startups and minority-owned small businesses are the heart of our economy and can be a catalyst for the creation of good-paying jobs in Memphis. That’s why on the second annual “Start-up Day Across America” this Tuesday, I visited StartCo right here in our city and met with representatives from 10 startups that work out of the StartCo facility.

Since 2008, American startups have helped create an average of 2 million jobs each year. At a time when many large corporations are still hedging their hiring decisions, startups are hiring at an unprecedented rate. According to a 2013 Kauffman Foundation report, startups — particularly companies younger than 3 years old — are responsible for the majority of the net new jobs in the United States. The new Memphis-based small businesses being built at StartCo can play an important role in our city’s economic recovery, and I was glad to join them to raise awareness of the work they are doing and the innovations happening right here in our city.

Protecting Voters and the Sanctity of the Elections

The right to vote is sacred, but unfortunately the citizens of Shelby County face an ongoing threat to this fundamental right because of the ineptitude of the Shelby County Election Commission. In just the last few years, there have been several troubling examples of the Commission’s incompetence that I have brought to the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice and asked them to provide federal oversight of our elections and ensure that they are effectively run and the votes are accurately counted.

On Monday, I renewed my request for federal observers in a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Sadly, since early voting began in July, several Memphians have shared stories calling into question how effectively the Commission was executing its duties in this week’s election. I was pleased that on Tuesday after I sent my letter, U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton announced that the DOJ had agreed to send monitors to protect voters in the Ninth District and ensure that our elections were carried out fairly.

Fighting for Voting Rights

This week also marked the 49th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the landmark Voting Rights Act (VRA) into law. On Wednesday, the National Commission on Voting Rights released a new report that found rampant voting rights discrimination in America. The new report underscores the need for House Republicans to join President Obama and Congressional Democrats in working to quickly restore the full protections of the landmark civil rights law that were struck down by the Supreme Court last year.

The new report found that there were at least 332 successful voting rights lawsuits since 1995, calling into question the rationale used by the Supreme Court in striking down the VRA’s protections that discrimination is not a significant problem today. The report further found that voting discrimination takes a variety of forms in addition to redistricting and that the U.S. Department of Justice’s federal observer program can provide an important deterrence against voter discrimination.

This week’s report reaffirms my belief that Chief Justice Roberts was wrong to decide that the Voting Rights Act is no longer needed. In the past, people have been beaten or even killed in the struggle to ensure the right to vote was available to all Americans. But, as this week’s report shows, voting rights discrimination is still rampant throughout the country and it is clear that the Voting Rights Act’s full protections are still critical in the fight to prevent disenfranchisement.

With more than 300 successful voting rights lawsuits over the last 2 decades, it is hard to deny that voting discrimination is still a problem today. The Supreme Court told us Congress needs to modernize the Voting Rights Act, and we should not wait another day to do that. It’s time to pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act that I have cosponsored along with Congressmen John Lewis, John Conyers, and others to ensure that the sacred right to vote is not denied to any American.

Fighting for Our Veterans

Any delay in providing care to the brave men and women who risked their lives for our country is unacceptable, and they deserve to receive the highest quality of care available. Since reports called into question the quality and timeliness of care at the VA Medical Center in Memphis and at Centers around the nation, I have worked to ensure that our veterans’ concerns are taken seriously and the problems are addressed. In June, I arranged a visit from senior VA leadership to the Memphis VAMC, and last week Congress passed a bill to address some of the major problems.

I am pleased to report that yesterday, President Barack Obama signed into law the bipartisan bill to build new VA facilities, hire more doctors, and reduce wait times. The new law will also allow veterans who can’t get timely appointments or who live far away from VA Medical Centers to seek care from private doctors outside of the VA system. This is a step in the right direction and I was pleased to support it. I will continue working to ensure that our veterans receive the care they deserve and were promised.

Working to Eliminate Blight and Building Safe Communities

On Wednesday, I participated in the “This is Where We Live” conference focused on eliminating blight and promoting safe and sustainable communities here in Memphis. The backbone of Memphis is its many great neighborhoods, but much work remains to ensure they are sustainable.

Sustainable communities are not only walkable and liveable but they are safe. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home and to live free from fear and violence. Violent crime, and gang violence in particular, is a major concern in Memphis. I have been a leading advocate of the COPS program, which provides critical funds for hiring police officers and performing research into innovative crime fighting strategies. I’m also working with my House colleague Bobby Scott to support legislation that would help address the epidemic of gang violence.

Additionally, abandoned or substandard housing can quickly engulf an entire neighborhood and it is important for us to continue efforts to eliminate blight. It begins with acquiring and removing abandoned properties and constructing affordable, sustainable homes sold to families who are committed to the neighborhood and community. Replacing the blight and abandoned structures with affordable homes creates public safety by putting legitimate eyes on the streets and in the neighborhoods and it makes it easier for Memphians to find work and improve their lives.

I remain committed to doing everything in my power to keep Memphians safe and eradicating blight in our communities, and I will continue supporting federal programs that help achieve these goals. I’m also dedicated to helping our most at-risk individuals access the safe, decent, and affordable housing of their choice. Ensuring that Memphis residents have access to quality, affordable homes will continue to be an important part of my legislative agenda.

Strengthening Ties with African Nations

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This week, President Obama welcomed several leaders of African Nations to Washington for the first-ever U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit. During the three-day summit, the President highlighted the importance of our country’s partnership with African nations. I agree with the President that we should do what we can to expand mutually-beneficial trade with these nations to create good paying jobs, help developing nations strengthen their governance to establish a bedrock upon which strong economies and free societies can grow, and deepen our security cooperation against common threats. I look forward to working with President Obama and our African partners to achieve these goals.

Facebook Photo Contest

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I’m updating my Facebook cover photo—and my next one could be a photo that you took! If you have a great photo that represents the Ninth District and you'd like to have it highlighted on my Facebook page, please click the link below to send it to me. I'll post the best photos sent in an album next week, and anyone who "likes" my page will be able to vote to choose which photo will be my next cover photo.

President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People

It is important that all children can count on caring adults who are engaged in their lives, but too many young people lack this important support. That’s why President Obama is calling on Americans to sign up as long-term mentors to young people through his new “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. The President is seeking people from all walks of life who want to develop sustained and direct mentoring relationships that will play vital roles in the lives of young people in Memphis and around the country. If you are interested in signing up to help young adults in our city stay on track, you can do so here.

Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property

The State of Tennessee maintains a searchable database of unclaimed property, which can include bank accounts, stocks and dividends, wages, refunds, insurance payments, gift certificates, credit balances and overpayments, and a number of other things. There is no cost for accessing the database, and you may find that you are owed money or property. If you have not searched the database yet or if you haven’t searched in a while, you can visit https://www.claimittn.gov and see for yourself whether the state is holding any property or assets for you. And you may pass this information along to your friends and family as well!

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,

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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

Issues:9th DistrictBudgetEconomy and JobsForeign AffairsJudiciaryMemphisScience and TechnologyShelby CountyTennesseeVeterans' Affairs