Fighting for Seniors
Dear Friend,
This week, I sent a letter to Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin in support of a cost-of-living adjustment for seniors in 2016, mourned the passing of my friend and Greater Memphis Chamber leader Clifford Stockton, visited the future site of the West Memphis Eco-Park, and met with members of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy. Keep reading to learn more or follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Fighting for Seniors
Remembering Clifford Stockton
Revitalizing Downtown Memphis
Meeting with Memphis Recording Artists
Helping Protect our Servicemen and Women
President Obama Honors Christian Brothers University
Bringing Congress to your Corner
Fighting Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes
2016 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
Fighting for Seniors
On Tuesday, I joined 55 of my colleagues in sending a letter to Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin asking her to support policies that would include an annual cost-of-living adjustment for seniors in 2016. This came as a result of the Bureau of Labor and Statistics announcing this week that there will not be an annual cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients next year. The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital tool to help seniors, disabled veterans and Supplemental Security Income recipients keep up with the rising prices of medical care, prescription drugs, food and housing. A full copy of the letter can be found here.
Remembering Clifford Stockton
On Monday, Memphis lost beloved business leader and senior advisor to the Greater Memphis Chamber Clifford Stockton. Cliff was the first African American to hold senior management position with the Greater Memphis Chamber. Cliff was a friend who offered me years of encouragement and it was impossible to be in his presence without feeling his warmth, friendship, and love. To commemorate his life and work as a catalyst for uniting a divided community, a Congressional Resolution was presented to his wife Lois in his honor.
Revitalizing Downtown Memphis
On Tuesday, I traveled to West Memphis, Arkansas to view and learn about the proposed West Memphis Eco-Park. The University of Memphis and the City of West Memphis, Arkansas collaborated to develop a plan for the large park and recreation area on the Mississippi River. The Eco-Park will be connected to downtown Memphis via the new pedestrian and bike path across the Harahan Bridge schedule to be completed by early summer/late fall of 2016. The pedestrian and bike path are a major facet of the $15 million federal TIGER IV Grant I helped secure in 2012 for the Main Street to Main Street Multi-Modal Connector Project. These federal funds will help improve livability in downtown Memphis, increase tourism, drive economic development, create jobs, make our city more attractive to young people, and enable people to bike and walk over the historic, scenic Mississippi River.
Meeting with Memphis Recording Artists
On Tuesday, I met with members of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy to discuss issues in Congress important to the music industry. After our meeting, I had the opportunity to sit in on a Producers and Engineers Wing Listening Session of some of their most recent Memphis recordings.
Helping Protect our Servicemen and Women
Last week, the Senate passed a measure predominately based upon a bill I introduced with Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) to allow members of the Armed Forces to protect themselves while on military bases and at recruitment facilities. The Enhancing Safety at Military Installations Act was cosponsored by the entire Tennessee delegation to the United States House of Representatives. In the wake of July’s deadly shooting at a Chattanooga, TN military recruitment facility, it was heartening to see our state’s House delegation come together and speak with one voice.
President Obama Honors Christian Brothers University
Last night at the White House, President Obama honored Christian Brothers University’s (CBU) Latino Student Success Program as part of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics’ 25th anniversary call to action. CBU President John Smarrelli (pictured), student Franky Paz (pictured), and Mauricio Calvo from Latino Memphis were invited to attend the ceremony on behalf of the university. I would like to congratulate CBU on this much deserved recognition.
Bringing Congress to your Corner
On Friday, October 23rd, from 10am to 1pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Whitehaven Branch Library at 4120 Millbranch Road. 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.
Fighting Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With black women twice as likely to die from breast cancer as their white counterparts, I’m spending the month fighting to expand Medicaid in Tennessee so that we can help reduce the gap in breast cancer outcomes and provide Tennessee women the health care coverage they need to stay alive.
2016 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
My office currently has a limited number of 2016 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s Ninth District. Please feel free to share this email with other citizens of the Ninth District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress