Celebrating the 4th of July
Dear Friend,
Tomorrow, we celebrate our nation's independence. When our forefathers declared independence from Great Britain 237 years ago, they set us on a course that led us to become the greatest nation the world has ever known. We are truly lucky to be here.
Voting Rights Act
JUGS 44th International Convention
Affordable Care Act Update
St. Jude Receives Federal Grant
Alpha Omega Veterans Services
Happy 4th of July Weekend
Voting Rights Act 
After the Supreme Court struck down an important section of the landmark Voting Rights Act, I spoke with Michael Shure on Current TV’s War Room about the need for additional bipartisan cooperation in Congress as we work to restore the protections that ensure minority citizens can exercise their most basic of civil rights and cast their votes. You can watch the video here. While the Republican majority continues to show reluctance to restore voter protections, I will work with Leader Pelosi, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman John Conyers and other colleagues on the Judiciary Committee to restore Section 4 of the Act and the rights of voters everywhere.
The JUGS 44th International Convention 
Over the weekend, I attended the JUGS (Justice, Unity, Generosity, Service International, Inc.) 44th International Convention Community Awards Luncheon and Champagne Brunch. Since its establishment in 1953, the Memphis Chapter of JUGS has donated $1 million to Girls, Inc. and has helped fund the Mid-South Food Bank’s Bridges-Chandler Kids Café – established in 2007 and named in honor of JUGS founders Josephine Bridges and Dr. Sarah Chandler.
My congratulations go to Ruby Bright of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis on receiving this year’s Orchid Award for her outstanding work with children.
Update on the Affordable Care Act
On Monday, President Obama’s Administration announced a move that will help small businesses adapt to the Affordable Care Act and provide better health care coverage to their employees. In order to give small businesses as much flexibility and transition time as possible to determine if the benefits they offer provide employees with affordable and appropriate insurance options, the Administration will grant businesses with more than 50 employees an additional year to prepare for new reporting and coverage requirements. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees, which have never been required to provide coverage under the law, will not be impacted by these requirements at all.
The President’s Health Care Reform law is already protecting children with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage, helping students and young adults maintain their coverage, saving seniors money on their prescription drugs, and providing preventive care services without any co-payment. This announcement is just the latest step by the Administration to ensure that small businesses and their employees can enjoy the additional choices and competition offered in the insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. Soon, no American will be denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition and nearly all Americans will have access to affordable, quality health care. I fully support the Administration’s most recent move.
$437,500 in Grant Funding for St. Jude in Memphis
Just this afternoon, I announced an almost $450,000 grant from the federal government to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continue an important vision research project. This grant is the second in two weeks that St. Jude has received from federal agencies. Last week, the hospital was awarded more than $370,000 to help doctors and scientists there better understand communicative disorders like deafness.
Alpha Omega Veterans Services
Our nation’s veterans are heroes who put their lives on the line for our safety and security. We each owe them a great debt, and all Americans should do whatever they can to make sure they are cared for. For more than 25 years, Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc., has been doing just that. The Memphis-based charitable non-profit provides food, clothing, transportation, career assistance, and transitional housing to help veterans reintegrate into society. Their staff also includes counselors, social workers, and nurses who are on hand to provide assistance to Memphis veterans. They are all doing great work, and I wanted to take a moment in this newsletter to thank them for the critical services that they provide.
Happy July 4th Weekend
Tomorrow we will celebrate our nation’s independence. When our forefathers declared independence from Great Britain 237 years ago, they set us on a course that led us to become the greatest nation the world has ever known. America is like no other place. Our Constitution, the opportunities found on our soil, and the freedoms enjoyed by our citizens have made us a role model for countries around the globe.
But while the Declaration of Independence is a masterful document, our road to where we are today was not without its bumps and potholes. We fought a bloody Civil War to ensure our laws and our justice system recognized the immortal truth that all men are created equal. Countless women died for the right to go to the polls and vote. We endured decades of unequal treatment under the law before the “separate but equal” doctrine was thrown out by the Supreme Court. And it took another decade before the Civil Rights Acts and Voting Rights Act became the law of the land. While we’ve made great progress, our work is not done. We must never stop working toward a more perfect union.
As Memphians and Americans enjoy their Fourth of July, I encourage reflection upon the bravery shown by our forefathers. They risked their possessions, the safety of their families, and even their lives to put those words on paper and create the nation we love today.
One of the biggest issues before Congress is that of immigration reform. People all over the world want to come the United States because it is the best country. We are lucky to be here. God Bless America.
Wishing you a happy and safe Fourth of July,
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress