Addressing the Over-Incarceration of Minorities
Dear Friend,
This week, I introduced a bill to establish minimum seat size standards for the safety and health of airline passengers, worked with my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee to address the over-incarceration of minorities, wrote an op-ed in the Tennessean about how Tennessee Promise is damaging the HOPE Lottery Scholarship, received 100% score from American Association of University Women (AAUW) Action Fund for my commitment to women and families in Memphis and across the country, and cosponsored a bill to “ban the box,” and give individuals with criminal backgrounds a fair chance at securing federal employment. Also, don’t forget my rescheduled “Congress On Your Corner” event is Friday, February 19. Keep reading to learn more about my week or follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Addressing the Over-Incarceration of Minorities
Fighting for the Safety and Health of Airline Passengers
Keeping College Affordable
Working for Women and Families
Cosponsoring the Fair Chance Act
White House Easter Egg Role
Congratulating Memphis Spelling Bee Champion Samuel Paul
Hosting a Roundtable Discussion on Infant Mortality
U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve
Addressing the Over-Incarceration of Minorities
On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee passed the bipartisan Recidivism Reduction Act to allow federal prisoners to earn reductions of their time in prison by participating in programs or activities that will likely reduce recidivism. This bill is an important step toward reforming our criminal justice system, and I hope the House Judiciary Committee will continue to work on these issues so we can achieve even more progress towards a more fair and just society. While this bill is a step in the right direction, there are other issues I would have liked to have seen included. You can watch my remarks at the House Judiciary Committee meeting where I discuss these issues here.
Fighting for the Safety and Health of Airline Passengers
On Monday, I introduced the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act to direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish minimum seat size standards for the safety and health of airline passengers. Consumers are tired of being squeezed both physically and fiscally by airlines. I also introduced the SEAT Act as an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting on Thursday. I was disappointed the committee voted down my amendment, but I will continue to work with my colleagues to address this issue. You can watch the debate on my amendment here.
On a brighter note, I was pleased to be able to get an amendment included in the FAA Reauthorization bill to require the FAA to make a rule on building height restrictions around airports. I am also continuing to work with my colleagues on bipartisan language on rental car taxes that I have been working on for 5 years to help airports be able to self-fund future improvements. This provision would also save consumers money when renting cars at airports.
In case you missed it, I wrote an Op-Ed in the Tennessean on Tuesday about how the Governor's Tennessee Promise "free" community college initiative is coming at the expense of students who have achieved academic success to attain the HOPE Lottery Scholarship. Tennessee voters in 2002 voted for hope, not promises. You can read my Op-Ed here.
Working for Women and Families
On Wednesday, I received a perfect 100% score from American Association of University Women (AAUW) Action Fund for my commitment to women and families in Memphis and across the country. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to protecting women’s rights and rest assured that I will continue my work in Congress fighting for women and families.
Cosponsoring the Fair Chance Act
This week, I cosponsored the bipartisan Fair Chance Act. This “ban the box” bill would give certain individuals with criminal records a fair chance at securing employment by prohibiting federal contractors and federal agencies from asking about the criminal history of a job applicant until an applicant receives a conditional offer of employment. This bill, already implemented by several states, would help reduce recidivism rates, break the cycle of crime, and make our communities safer.
The White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on Monday, March 28, 2016. The event will open the White House South Lawn to children ages 13 years and younger and their families.
White House Easter Egg Roll tickets can be requested through an online public lottery which will be open from today at 12:00 PM EST until Wednesday, February 17, at 12:00 PM EST. Winners will be notified by February 25; tickets are free of charge and cannot be sold. To enter the lottery, please visit www.recreation.gov.
To honor the final Easter Egg Roll of the Obama Administration, this year’s theme will be “Let’s Celebrate,” and will feature aspects of First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiatives, as well as the contributions the Obama Administration has made to the Easter Egg Roll.
The White House invites all elementary and middle school students to submit original artwork related to this year’s theme for the 2016 Easter Egg Roll Design Contest. The First Lady will select two winning designs, which will be used as a part of the White House 2016 Easter Egg Roll program and souvenir poster.
Submissions for the contest are now openand will close on Monday, February 22nd, at 12:00 PM EST. Designs should be uploaded to www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll. Artwork should reflect this year’s theme. Please note submissions may be made public during the selection process.
Congratulating Memphis Spelling Bee Champion Samuel Paul
This week, I called Memphian Samuel Paul, 13, to congratulate him on his victory in the 2016 Memphis-Shelby County Spelling Bee. Samuel is a seventh-grader at First Assembly Christian School. He outlasted 133 other spellers to win the championship. I wish Samuel the best of luck as he is now on his way to the National Spelling Bee in Potomac, Maryland in May.
Hosting a Roundtable Discussion on Infant Mortality
On Monday February, 22 from 9:00am-10:30am, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) will host a roundtable discussion as part of his “Building a Healthier Memphis” series at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital with local, state and federal officials on how to protect babies and expectant mothers from the Zika virus and other threats to their health. Representatives from Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Regional One Health, the Shelby County Health Department, and the Tennessee Department of Health will discuss strategies to protect expectant mothers from Zika. Representatives from the March of Dimes will discuss ways to reduce premature birth and infant mortality. The Deputy Associate Administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will also be present to discuss the agency’s goals and its roadmap for improving the health of children in Tennessee by 2020. The event is open to the press and the public.
The round-table discussion will take place in the auditorium of the Faculty Office Building at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, 51 N. Dunlap St. The event is open to the public.
U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in high school. Summer Seminar teaches students about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's leaders. Students who are interested in pursuing an appointment to one of our nation's service academies and serving as an officer, are encouraged to apply for the Naval Academy's Summer Seminar at https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/index.php. The Naval Academy Summer Seminar online application closes 11:59 p.m. (EST) on March 31. The Summer STEM online application closes 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 15.
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
On Friday, February 19 from 12pm to 2pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Ed Rice Community Center at 2907 N. Watkins Street. If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.
The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
The IRS continues to warn consumers to guard against scam phone calls from thieves intent on stealing their money or their identity. Criminals pose as the IRS to trick victims out of their money or personal information. Click here for several tips to help you avoid being a victim of these scams and what to do if believe you have been contacted by a scammer.
Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve
In December, I voted to permanently extend the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is indexed for future increases, for low and middle income individuals and families. This provision ultimately became law.
April 15th – the deadline to file your 2015 federal tax return – is only a few months away. As you prepare your return, I hope you won’t overlook the EITC if you are eligible for it. It is an important credit that can give families a financial boost. Sadly, eligible taxpayers in Memphis and Shelby County have not taken full advantage of the program. I want to encourage everyone who is eligible to consider claiming it when filing their taxes.
Memphians shouldn’t pay more than they owe, and they should receive every penny they deserve in refunds. In 2014, I helped open one of 15 new Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites that operate throughout Shelby County. The VITA sites are available to provide tax return guidance and advice free of charge to ensure that Memphians take full advantage of programs like the EITC and get the tax refund to which they are entitled. More information including a list of all VITA locations and their hours is available at the Shelby County Trustee’s website, and I encourage you to find one near you to help ensure you get every penny you are owed.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress