Weighing Action in Syria
Dear friend,
As you likely know, much attention this week has been focused on the growing turmoil in Syria—and whether or not the United States should use its military power in an effort to lessen the Syrian regime’s ability to use chemical weapons against its own people. I will continue listening to the people of the Ninth District and make sure that we know all the facts before deciding on this important issue. Keep reading for more information on Syria and to learn about what else has been happening this week.
More About Syria
Holding Delta Accountable
Celebrating Labor Day
Keeping Health Care Affordable
Celebrating Bishop Brandon B. Porter
Improving the Memphis Airport
More Grants for Memphis
Grant Announcements
Last week, I joined with Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California and 52 of my Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the President urging that the U.N. be allowed time to finish its job and that Congress be allowed to weigh in before any further action on Syria is taken. You can read the full letter here.
I was glad that the President decided to seek Congressional approval before involving our military in Syria. Over the weekend, I attended a classified briefing with top officials from the Obama Administration and asked that the resolution authorizing the use of military force be curtailed to ensure that the President cannot put boots on the ground. Throughout this week, I have also paid close attention as House and Senate Committees have questioned both Secretary of State John Kerry as well as Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. I also appeared on Fox 13 earlier this week to talk about our options at this point. And just minutes ago, I spoke again with the White House to receive more information and an update on the situation. Next Tuesday evening, President Obama will address the American people from the White House—I look forward to hearing what he has to say.
I am very concerned about going into Syria, but I am also very concerned about the message it sends if we do nothing. We are just getting out of two wars—one we should not have started and one where we lost our focus and have stayed too long—but the international community must make its voice heard in light of these horrific acts. I have spent the last week weighing all the information I’ve received at classified briefings as well as your thoughts, and I will continue to do so.
When Congress returns to Washington next week, it will begin debating a resolution authorizing the President to use military force in Syria. We don’t know just yet when the House will be called to vote, but I will continue pressing the Administration for answers and information—as well as continue listening to you—before I cast a vote on this matter.
On Monday, Delta Airlines did what they had previously promised not to do and downgraded Memphis International Airport’s hub status while cutting 29 more flights. Delta now only runs 64 flights each day, down from 240 at the time of the merger between Delta and Northwest. When I questioned Delta CEO Richard Anderson during a House Judiciary Committee Hearing about the merger, he told me that Memphis would benefit from his company’s merger. He said we might even get a flight to Paris and that we’d be able to keep the flight to Amsterdam.
Delta lied to us. I have asked the Justice Department to examine Delta’s anticompetitive practices and I’ve expressed my concern about how future mergers will negatively impact consumers. I hope the Justice Department looks at what has happened with the Delta merger and sees it for what it is: monopolistic conduct that doesn’t benefit consumers or travelers.
Earlier this week, I talked with Fox 13’s Darrell Greene about Delta’s disappointing and disingenuous move. I will keep working to do whatever I can to hold Delta accountable for their broken promises to Memphis. I also look forward to working with Southwest, JetBlue, other airlines and our business community to bring more carriers, routes, and flights to the Memphis airport.
After a classified Syria briefing on Monday, I took a plane from Washington and went straight to a Labor Day Picnic at the Trinity Methodist Church on the corner of Galloway and Evergreen. Understandably, many people there were interested with the situation in Syria and I was happy to discuss how I felt about it as well as listen to their concerns.
Labor Day celebrates America’s hard-working, middle-class men and women, and I have been a longtime supporter of policies that will help them, like Social Security, child labor restrictions, and a fair minimum wage. I will continue to fight in Washington to ensure that all working men and women have a living wage and a fair working environment. I am a proud cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 within three years, and would ensure that it rises with the cost of living in the years after that. With unemployment still too high, I hope that the House Republican Leadership will put partisan politics aside and bring legislation to the floor that will create jobs and move this country forward.
Keeping Health Care Affordable
The Kaiser Family Foundation, a well-respected source of unbiased information about health care and health insurance, released a new report this week that revealed what I’ve known for several years: health insurance plans available through the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces will be affordable for individuals and families across the country. According to the report, a 25-year old making $25,000 a year in New York City would pay as little as $62/month and a 60-year old couple making $30,000 could pay nothing out of pocket depending on where they live.
While the Kaiser report did not include our state, it covered 17 others—including both those that will operate their own marketplaces and those, like Tennessee, that will let the federal government run their marketplace. According to Bloomberg News, the report is “the broadest look yet at what consumers will pay for health insurance when the Affordable Care Act takes effect next year.” I am glad that this information is now available, and I hope it will encourage more people to sign up for health insurance when the marketplace opens on October 1st.
Celebrating Bishop Brandon B. Porter
Tuesday evening, I spoke at the inaugural service celebrating the historical ascension of the distinguished Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Brandon B. Porter, to the General Board of the Church of God in Christ. The ceremony was impressive and I am glad I was able to be there in person. Mrs. Ida M. Porter, the Supervisor of Women, Tennessee Central Jurisdiction (as well as Bishop Porter’s mother), also sung at the ceremony and was clearly—and justifiably—proud of her son.
This morning, I announced that Memphis International Airport will receive $10 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for improvements and upgrades. The Memphis airport is a critically important transportation link in the Mid-South region and this funding will help ensure it can continue serving travelers safely and efficiently for many years to come. Delta may have lied to us about their plans for the airport, but it’s critical to maintain its world-class standards as we work to attract additional airlines and routes.
Yesterday, I also announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis was awarded more than $1.4 million for three different projects. You can read more about the projects at the link above, but the funding will help the UT Health Science Center, and its skilled researchers, continue their important work.
I regularly 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 regularly on my website.
Go Tigers! Beat Duke!
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress