Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear Friend,
I hope you remain safe and warm during the winter weather. Please note the announcement below about the cancellation of the Congress On Your Corner event scheduled for today, Friday, January 22, due to inclement weather. Keep reading to learn more about my week or follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Protecting Women’s Rights
Preserving the Political Process for All Americans
Hosting a Young Professionals Roundtable
Fighting Climate Change
Securing Funding For Flood Disaster Recovery and Prevention
The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
Helping Memphians Get Health Insurance
Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. To mark the day, I attended the LeMoyne-Owen prayer breakfast and a commemorative celebration at the Mason Temple. When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood at Riverside Church 5 decades ago, he preached to the nation of the ‘fierce urgency of now’ and of three –isms: racism, militarism, and materialism when referring to the Vietnam War and economic disparities. He reminded America of the pressing need to address injustice, inequality, and unfairness without delay and this issue ultimately brought him to Memphis. While great strides have been made over the last 50 years, there is still much work to be done. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day reminds us that we cannot cease or slow our work towards a more fair and just society.
Protecting Women’s Rights
Forty-three years ago today, the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade established fundamental principles in American life and society: that reproductive freedom must be protected; that the right to privacy must be preserved; and that a woman’s health decisions must be her own, in consultation with her family, her physician, and her faith. I am committed to these values and will continue to fight to preserve the right to choose. I strongly oppose efforts to chip away at the hard-won freedoms of America’s women and will continue to work to protect women’s health by preserving programs such as Planned Parenthood.
I believe one of the most private decisions for a woman is when and whether to have a child, and I stand ready to keep that decision out of the hands of politicians. Republicans in Congress have repeatedly tried to undermine the Supreme Court’s decision, but I will continue to strongly support the effort to defend reproductive choice and protect the rights of women in Memphis and across our country.
Preserving the Political Process for All Americans
Thursday was the 6th Anniversary of the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision. With Citizens United, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates and made it easier for billionaires and corporations to completely drown middle-class Americans out of the political process. The far-reaching, democracy-damaging consequences of this misguided decision have made it clear that something needs to change. I am proud to be a cosponsor of a constitutional amendment to overturn this court decision and ensure that every citizen’s right to equally participate in our democracy.
Hosting a Young Professionals Roundtable
On Thursday, I hosted a Young Professionals Roundtable at my Memphis Office where I discussed the job of a Congressman and gave advice for young people interested in public service. I also discussed some of the funding I’ve helped secure for the Ninth District including a $30 million Choice Neighborhood grant for the South City neighborhood, federal funding to reduce the rape kit backlog, a $15 million TIGER grant for a pedestrian and bike path across the Harahan Bridge, and a $2.6 million grant for new trollies for Downtown Memphis. We also discussed transportation issues in Memphis and opportunities for youth engagement. It was encouraging to see so many young people invested in making Memphis a better community and I look forward to continuing the conversation.
Fighting Climate Change
On Tuesday, I wrote an op-ed for The Hill about the recent floods in Tennessee and the growing dangers of climate change in our communities. With 2015 being the hottest year on record for the planet, we must address climate change now. You can read my op-ed here.
Securing Funding For Flood Disaster Recovery and Prevention
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Shelby County a $60 million federal grant for the Mid-South Regional Greenprint and Sustainability Plan to help address unmet recovery needs in Memphis and Shelby County from the 2011 floods and protect Memphians from future flooding disasters. In October, I wrote a letter to HUD expressing my strong support for Shelby County’s application and I’m pleased to see these funds awarded to Memphis and Shelby County to clean up from the devastating floods we experienced in 2011 and also make neighborhoods like Walker Homes and the Mitchell High School area more resilient during future flooding events.
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.
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
Due to inclement weather, today’s Congress On Your Corner at the Ed Rice Community Center has been cancelled. Please stay tuned to my weekly e-newsletters and website for more information on our next Congress On Your Corner office hours.
Helping Memphians Get Health Insurance
The HealthCare.gov insurance marketplace is still open for 2016 plan shopping and comparisons until January 31, 2016. You can visit https://bit.ly/hcSavings to see if you qualify for tax credits that will be applied as discounts on your monthly insurance premium. If you already have insurance coverage through the HealthCare.gov marketplace, your plan has automatically been renewed for 2016 but you should still visit HealthCare.gov to update your information, ensure you receive the full tax credit to which you are entitled, and review new options as cheaper insurance plans that better fit your needs may now be available.
Healthcare navigator SEEDCO will have enrollment assistance at the Benjamin Hooks Library at 3030 Poplar Ave. 38111 on January 22, 2016 from 10:30am-3:30 pm. Consumers can call (901) 405-7890 if they need any additional information. SEEDCO will also be at the Benjamin Hooks Library on January 31, 2016 from 1pm-5pm.
If you are on Medicare or your employer offers qualified health insurance in which you are enrolled, you're already covered and won't need to enter the Marketplace for your health coverage. If you aren't sure whether or not you should use the Marketplace to get insurance, you can call the Marketplace Hotline at (800) 318-2596 or visit HealthCare.gov. You can also call my office at (901) 544-4131 or the Marketplace Hotline to find out if TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program) is a coverage option for you.
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 and is too important for people to overlook. 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 they are entitled to. 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