Free Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman
Dear Friend,
This week at a House Judiciary Committee hearing I asked Attorney General Eric Holder to free former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman from prison because he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution. And House Republicans voted for the 37th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act, legislation I was proud to support that is helping millions across our country.
Attorney General Eric Holder
Affordable Care Act Repeal
Keystone XL Pipeline
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memphis Grizzlies
Congressional Caucus on Tourette Syndrome
Inappropriate Activity at the IRS
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Turkish Prime Minister
Health Care Innovation Awards
Youth Villages
EnergySmart Memphis
Grant Announcements
Attorney General Eric Holder
At a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday I asked Attorney General Eric Holder to free former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman from prison because he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution. The former Governor has 112 former state Attorney Generals petitioning for his release from federal prison and Vice President Joe Biden has also said he supports freeing the Governor. Governor Siegelman entered a federal prison almost 400 miles away from his home last September to serve his sentence but the Democrat – who was considered an inspiring candidate like Bill Clinton before this incident -- has maintained his innocence and argued that the conviction was the result of Republican operatives trying to block him from a second term. I’ve spoken to the Attorney General about this case several times. I also thanked the Attorney General for helping Memphis over the years and we also discussed drug policy in America, particularly as it relates to marijuana considering the growing number of states where marijuana is already legal for medicinal or personal use. Click here to learn more about the Siegelman case and click here to see my remarks.
Affordable Care Act Repeal
This week House Republicans voted for the 37th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act – legislation I was proud to support. In voting for repeal, House Republicans are voting to take away key patients’ rights and benefits that millions of Americans are already enjoying. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act more than 100 million Americans no longer have a lifetime limit on their coverage; Up to 17 million children with pre-existing health conditions can no longer be denied coverage by insurers; 105 million Americans have already received free preventive services; and 6.6 million young adults up to age 26 have taken advantage of the law to obtain health insurance through their parents’ plan, of whom 3.1 million would be uninsured without this coverage.
Also, under the Affordable Care Act 6.3 million seniors in the ‘donut hole’ have already saved over $6.1 billion on their prescription drugs; 3.2 million seniors have had a free Annual Wellness Visit under Medicare; $1.1 billion in rebates from health insurance companies last summer helped benefit nearly 13 million Americans; The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit has already been used by 360,000 small businesses to help insure 2 million workers; and starting in January 2014, up to 129 million Americans with pre-existing health conditions can no longer be denied coverage by insurers, when the Health Insurance Marketplaces begin. House Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for trying to repeal such an effective law that is helping so many across the country.
Keystone XL Pipeline
Yesterday I participated in a House Transportation Committee markup of legislation to approve building the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. I strongly opposed this bill and offered two amendments. My first amendment would enable citizens who have cases against TransCanada -- which would own the pipeline -- to pursue legal action in their local Federal District Court instead of being required to file in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. And my second amendment would require TransCanada to submit its oil spill response plan and any updates to the plan to the Governors of each state in which the proposed pipeline operates. TransCanada is required to develop such a plan under current law and regulations and only certain federal agencies can receive and review the plan. There are no existing federal requirements for the plans to be submitted to states that the pipeline runs through. Today I spoke on the House floor and encouraged my colleagues to vote against the Keystone XL Pipeline.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
On Tuesday I spoke on the House floor about a survey in which students ranked St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the place they would most like to work. The survey, conducted by the National Society of High School Scholars, explored the opinions of 9,000 high school students, college students and young professionals. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was ranked number one from among over 200 employers listed in the survey. Click here to see the results of the survey.
Memphis Grizzlies
Our Memphis Grizzlies have made it to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history and will face the San Antonio Spurs in a seven game series beginning on Sunday, May 19 at 2:30 p.m. CT. The Grizzlies are "Grit and Grind" and that can take them to the NBA Finals. I am proud to have a "Believe Memphis" towel hanging on the front door of my office in Washington, D.C. Go Grizzlies!
Congressional Caucus on Tourette Syndrome
On Wednesday I joined with Congressman Peter King to establish the Congressional Caucus on Tourette Syndrome, a bipartisan panel that will help spread awareness about the neurological disorder and promote legislation to support people and families coping with Tourette Syndrome. Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month began on May 15 and ends on June 15.
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects hundreds of thousands of Americans. Congress needs to do more to help people suffering from Tourette Syndrome. The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Tourette Syndrome is long overdue and will increase awareness on this often misunderstood neurological disorder and promote legislation to help those who are suffering from it. Earlier this year I received the 2013 Public Policy Award from the Tourette Syndrome Association.
Inappropriate Activity at the IRS
This week we learned that the Internal Revenue Service inappropriately targeted conservative 501(c)(4) organizations. While I look forward to reviewing the Inspector General’s report, it is clear that the actions taken by some at the IRS must be condemned and that is why the Acting Internal Revenue Service Commissioner has resigned. Those who engaged in this behavior were wrong and must be held accountable for their actions. Regardless of political affiliation or bias, there is no place for this type of activity by the IRS or its employees.
There needs to be more clarity in the law regarding the activities of tax exempt organizations along with greater disclosure and transparency. We must overturn Citizens United, which has exacerbated the challenges posed by some of these so-called ‘social welfare’ organizations. And we must take appropriate action, without any delay or hesitation, to ensure that the IRS remains an impartial agency for America’s taxpayers and our nation’s families and businesses.
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Yesterday I attended a Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) event and met Clifford the Big Red Dog. RIF is the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States. The group prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose from and make their own. Click here to learn more about RIF.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Last Sunday I attended the graduation of the 2013 University of Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law – my alma mater. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was the keynote speaker and urged the new lawyers to use their degrees to fight corporate corruption and protect one of the world’s most valuable entities: the environment.
Turkish Prime Minister
Yesterday I attended a lunch honoring Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife at the State Department. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry also participated. In March I issued a statement on how America’s two best friends in the Middle East, Israel and Turkey, have normalized diplomatic relations and are sending Ambassadors back to each other’s respective capitals. On March 19, I met with Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan in Washington, D.C. and broached with him the need to repair the diplomatic relationship between Israel and Turkey – the oldest, most prominent democracies in the Middle East. The flotilla raid in 2010 fractured what was once a strong alliance between Israel and Turkey.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent apology will go a long way toward promoting peace in the Middle East and strengthening the bond between the United States, Israel and Turkey. I recently wrote to Prime Minister Netanyahu as the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey to congratulate him for making the apology and I received a kind note in response. I also wrote to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanking him for accepting the apology and committing to the normalization of diplomatic relations. It is vital for the stability of the region that Israel and Turkey return to their once-friendly relationship and I applaud President Obama for his diplomatic statesmanship that has brought about this very important rapprochement.
Health Care Innovation Awards
This week the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement for round two of the Health Care Innovation Awards. Under this announcement, up to $1 billion dollars will be awarded to applicants from across the country who propose new payment and service delivery models that will deliver better care and lower costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees.
Funded by the Affordable Care Act and administered by the CMS Innovation Center, the second round of the Health Care Innovation Awards will support public and private organizations in four defined areas that have a high likelihood of driving health care system transformation and delivering better outcomes for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries. All applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the review criteria information provided in the “Application Review Information” section in the Funding Opportunity Announcement to help ensure that the proposal adequately addresses all the criteria that will be used in evaluating the proposals.
Youth Villages
Youth Villages was formed in 1986 with the merger of two residential campuses in Memphis. The group has since grown to a national organization serving more than 15,000 children every year. In West Tennessee, Youth Villages offers a full continuum of programs serving emotionally and behaviorally troubled young people – Intensive In-Home Services, Residential Treatment, Foster Care and Adoption, Mentoring, Transitional Living and Specialized Crisis Services. Click here to learn more about this important organization.
EnergySmart Memphis
EnergySmart Memphis is a year-long energy education and home improvement initiative designed to help Memphians save money on their energy costs. EnergySmart Memphis is a partnership between MLGW, City and County government agencies, Community Development Corporations and non-profit organizations, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Through EnergySmart Memphis, an estimated 3,000 MLGW customers will receive in-depth energy conservation training; eligible customers will have weatherization improvements made to their home through this initiative; and a series of Energy Education Workshops will be conducted city and county-wide at area libraries. The initiative includes weatherization kits for qualified homeowners to receive minor and major home repairs. Click here to learn more.
Grant Announcements
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.
Wishing you a happy and safe weekend, and Go Grizzlies!
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress