Government by Hostage-Taking?
Dear Friend,
Unless Congress acts, funding for the federal government will expire at midnight on Monday night. If the Republican Conference continues to be held captive by Tea Party extremists and refuses to work with Democrats on a common-sense compromise, the government could shut down completely. The effects of a shutdown would be disastrous: Social Security checks could be delayed, veterans who risked their lives to keep us safe would have a harder time getting the care they need, and a number of other important services would shut down. And that doesn’t even begin to cover what a shutdown would mean for our economy or the jobs that would be lost.
Republicans should not hold the federal government, America’s credit rating, social security checks, or veterans’ benefits hostage to unrealistic demands like defunding the President’s health care reform law. The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, it has been upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court, and next week Americans will be able to enroll in the law’s signature benefit.
Those in Congress who would rather see the government shut down than let more than 800,000 uninsured Tennesseans enjoy better access to affordable care will fail—just as they have in their 42 previous attempts. These continued efforts by Republicans to make things harder for the middle class simply waste time and put our economy at risk. I hope that common-sense and sanity prevail, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to avert a shutdown.
Health Care For Uninsured Memphians
U of M Intermodal Conference
Honeywell Tour
Getting the Delta Queen Back in Operation
Helping Minority-Owned Small Businesses Thrive
Grants to Memphis
Healthy Memphis Common Table
Grant Announcements
Health Care for Uninsured Memphians
Try as Republicans might to prevent the signature benefit of Obamacare from reaching consumers, open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace begins on Tuesday. When that happens, thousands of Ninth District residents will have the opportunity to enroll in high-quality, affordable health plans for the first time in their lives.
On Wednesday, a new report showed that uninsured Memphians will pay even less than expected for plans in the insurance marketplace than previously expected. A 27-year-old living in Tennessee and making $25,000 per year will pay only $103 each month for the lowest cost insurance plan, and a Tennessee family of four with an income of $50,000 could pay as little as $128 per month for their insurance. This week’s report is yet more evidence that the landmark Affordable Care Act will help give those in our society who need it most—as well as the middle class—a better chance at the American Dream.
Memphians and Ninth District residents interested in finding more information about the health insurance plans made available through the marketplace and those with questions or seeking help choosing the right plan have a number of options available to them. I have posted a new page on my website with information about the enrollment process, the https://HealthCare.gov website provides information and offers online web chats with trained specialists, a 24-hour hotline with translation services for 150 languages is available at (800) 318-2596, and local non-profit Seedco will offer trained experts to walk Memphians through the process and help them enroll in insurance plans. Seedco's Mid-South office is located at 22 North Front Street (Suite 900), and they can be reached by phone at (901) 528-8341.
If you have any questions about the Marketplace or other aspects of implementation of the Affordable Care Act, I hope you will also feel free to call my District Office in Memphis at 901-544-4131.
On Tuesday, I attended and spoke at the University of Memphis’ seventh annual Intermodal Freight Conference, held at the FedEx Institute of Technology. I was able to share information on how federal dollars have a real impact on local Tennessee projects. As a member of the House Committee on Transportation, I recognize the importance of well-maintained, efficient, and safe roads, bridges, and highway systems—but, unfortunately, sequestration is threatening important safety projects. I will continue to fight to end the sequester and to ensure adequate funding for our transportation and infrastructure system.
Earlier this week, I also had the opportunity to visit Honeywell International’s Memphis site, where dozens of hardworking Memphians repair airplane tires and brakes. Honeywell International is in Memphis because of FedEx, it is a strong contributor to our local economy, and I thank them for providing me with the opportunity to see the good work that they do.
Getting the Delta Queen Back in Operation
On Wednesday night, I helped lead the effort to pass a bill that would allow the Delta Queen to resume operations on the Mississippi through the House of Representatives. After the bill passed, I spoke on the floor of the House to promote the local icon. In the Delta Queen’s 80 years of continuous operation, it was a vital part of the local tourist industry in Memphis as well as cities and towns along the Mississippi River. It attracted countless visitors to the Delta region for generations and still has the magnetism and fortitude to continue its voyages for generations to come. Earlier in my Congressional career I worked with the Great American Steamboat Company and was able to bring the American Queen back to Memphis and create good-paying jobs in our city. I hope the Senate passes our legislation and look forward to the day that the Delta Queen can once again sail the Mississippi.
Helping Minority-Owned Small Businesses Thrive
On Thursday, I introduced legislation in Congress to help woman- and minority-owned business get off the ground and thrive in our 21st century economy. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy—but those owned by women, minorities, and veterans often have more difficulty accessing the capital that they need to get off the ground and expand.
The Expanding Opportunities to Underserved Businesses Act would increase the resources available to underserved small businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s microloan program and help ensure they have the capital necessary for inventory, supplies, and other necessities. My common-sense legislation would help those businesses succeed and help create good-paying, private-sector jobs in Memphis and around the country.
When it comes to federal funding for local projects and organizations in the Ninth District, this has been a good week. Since Monday, I have announced more than $8.4 million dollars for Memphis organizations. The Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis & Shelby County—or EDGE—received more than $3.6 million to help spur job growth and small business development, and MATA received $2.2 million in federal funds to refurbish and enhance the Main Street Line. In addition to that funding, the University of Memphis was awarded more than $1.8 million in grant funding for several different research projects, and yesterday I announced nearly $750,000 in grants for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
This week, I’d like to highlight the work of Healthy Memphis Common Table, a local non-profit committed to improving Memphians’ health. Dedicated to fighting childhood obesity, improving the quality of primary care, reducing diabetes rates, and eliminating food deserts, Healthy Memphis Common Table is doing important work in our community. I encourage each of you to visit their website to learn more about their 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.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress