Dear Friend,
This week I was pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated more than $7 million to Shelby County to aid recovery efforts from the storms of 2011.
HUD Funding for Storm Relief
NY Times Editorial
Henry Leggette
Grand Opening of the VA Free Legal Clinic
Memphis Makes Forbes List of 15 Emerging Downtowns
Wooddale High School and Barrington Irving
Melrose Place Apartments
Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador Program
Fred Smith Named Top 30 CEO
Lifeblood
Benefits Payments
Help Filing Taxes
EnergySmart Memphis
Grant Announcements
HUD Funding for Storm Relief
On Wednesday I announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $7,464,000 for Shelby County to recover from severe storms in 2011. An additional $13,810,000 has been allocated for the state of Tennessee. These grants, part of $514 million allocated among nine states nationwide, are provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to support long-term disaster recovery efforts in areas with the greatest extent of “unmet need.” Memphians and Tennesseans still need help recovering from the storm that took place a couple of years ago. These new federal funds will go a long way toward helping Memphis and Shelby County recover from the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes we experienced.
NY Times Editorial
I was pleased that the New York Timespublished an editorial this week that supports legislation I authored that calls for the end of credit checks as a measuring stick for employment. In recent years, the number of U.S. employers conducting pre-employment credit checks has risen, from 36% to 43%. However, unless the job position involves significant financial responsibility, a prospective employee’s credit score has not proven to be an accurate predictor of future job performance. In addition, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has repeatedly acknowledged that the use of credit checks to screen out job applicants may disproportionately impact women and minorities, and therefore could be evidence of workplace bias.
My bill, the Equal Employment for All Act, would fix this problem by amending the Fair Credit and Reporting Act to prohibit the use of consumer credit checks against prospective and current employees for the purposes of making adverse employment decisions. Click here to learn more.
Henry Leggette
 On Monday I presented Henry Leggette, the first African-American to be elected as first vice director and first director of the Delta Division of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), with a proclamation commending and honoring his accomplishment. The ARRL was founded in 1914 and is the national association for amateur radio in the USA. Today, with more than 158,000 members, ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the United States. Henry was the person who notified authorities that the Hickory Ridge Mall was damaged by the February 2008 tornado. He retired from the FAA as an electronic technical supervisor, electronics engineer and manager after many years of service.
Grand Opening of the VA Free Legal Clinic
On Tuesday I was happy to attend the grand opening of the Memphis VA Medical Center’s Free Legal Clinic. Thanks to the VA’s Veteran Justice Outreach Coordinator, Ms. Pat Hines, as well as to Memphis Area Legal Services and the Memphis Bar Association, the new VA Legal Clinic will be able to represent and take legal action for our veterans – free of charge.
As an attorney and as a Congressman, I understand the need for such services; our veterans deserve only the best legal advice and representation, and navigating the justice system can often be overwhelming. Thanks to a number of local attorneys who are volunteering their time and expertise, our Memphis veterans will receive excellent legal assistance and advice, and at a cost that I hope will reflect our collective gratitude for their service.
The VA Legal Clinic is located on the Memphis VA’s off-campus site, at 1407 Union Ave., Suite 815. The clinic will be available from noon to 2 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month, and staffed by local attorneys working on a pro bono basis. The attorneys will advise veterans on matters pertaining to landlord/tenant disputes, criminal issues including expungement, consumer law and fraud, outstanding tickets and fines, and family law including child support and mortage. Click here to learn more.
Memphis Makes Forbes List of 15 Emerging Downtowns
I am excited to announce that Memphis was recently included in Forbes’ list of “15 U.S. Cities’ Emerging Downtowns.” In its description, Forbes notes that Memphis has enjoyed a number of redevelopment projects over the past few years, and that thanks to a $15 million federal TIGER grant, which I helped to secure by working with the Secretary of Transportation and former colleague Ray LaHood, our downtown will soon be rewarded with even more development. I am proud to see Memphis listed alongside other notable U.S. cities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, among others. Click here to read the full article.
Wooddale High School and Barrington Irving
On Wednesday I was honored to meet with students from Wooddale High School, and to hear from pilot Barrington Irving. At age 23, Barrington Irving was the youngest person, and first African American, in history to fly solo around the entire world.
At the event, I discussed the major role STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) plays in helping young people to identify and realize their dreams. Today, the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, which I helped to establish through the Tennessee Lottery during my 24 years as a State Senator, is helping more Memphis high school students to access this vital education at our public universities than ever before. I try to encourage all Memphis high school students to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity by working to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average throughout their schooling, and to practice for the ACT with a goal of 21 or higher.
I was honored to hear Mr. Irving himself speak, and hope that he will continue to reach out to students in Memphis with his inspiring message.
Melrose Place Apartments
On Monday, I attended the Riverview Kansas Community Development Corporation (CDC) ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Melrose Place Apartments, formerly known as the Barron Brook Apartments. These exciting and necessary renovations were possible thanks to federal funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which was created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I am proud to say that I voted for this bill, and am happy to see Memphis benefitting from it. Many thanks to Joy Bobo, the Executive Director of Riverview Kansas CDC, and her staff for their excellent work here in Memphis.
Alzheimer's Association Ambassador Program
On Tuesday I was pleased to welcome Edward Golden, a volunteer in the Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador Program, to my Memphis office. We discussed the benefits of the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act, and the Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education for Alzheimer’s Act – two bills that I am very proud to have cosponsored.
We also discussed the Alzheimer Association’s ‘district-forum-district’ program, which is designed to increase public awareness of the disease through communication, education, and advocacy efforts throughout the year. I was happy to learn of the new efforts by the Alzheimer’s Association in their goal to make Alzheimer’s disease a national priority. I will continue to work for families affected by this degenerative disease, and will continue to support legislation that aids the research and care of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Click here to learn more about the Alzheimer's Association.
Fred Smith Named One of the World's 30 Best CEOs by Barron's Magazine
I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to FedEx’s Fred Smith, who was named one of the world’s top 30 CEOs in Barron's Magazine’s latest issue. Fred Smith and FedEx have helped to establish Memphis as a global hub in the digital age; they provide many Memphians with a fair and livable wage, and have always worked hard to give back to our Memphis community. To quote Barron's Magazine, “Smith delivers.” I am proud to call Memphis the home of FedEx, and am grateful for the excellent work that Fred Smith does as CEO of one of the world’s greatest companies. Click here to read the whole article from Barron's Magazine.
Opportunities for Community Activism:
Lifeblood
This week I met with officials from Lifeblood. Chartered February 19, 1963 as the Mid-South Community Blood Plan, Lifeblood has been the only local volunteer blood bank serving the Greater Memphis community for 50 years. Lifeblood’s community mission, to engage volunteer donors and provide a safe blood supply for patients, is supported by the more than 500 area businesses, schools and faith-based organizations that hold blood drives each year. In its five decades of operation, Lifeblood has collected more than 1 million units of blood from local donors for transfusion to local patients.
Lifeblood is always in need of eligible donors. If you would like to learn more about Lifeblood, including how to donate, click here.
Benefits Payments
If you currently receive benefit payments from Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board, the Department of Labor, or the Office of Personnel Management, you may recently have received correspondence about switching the method of delivery of your benefit from paper checks to electronic payments. Electronic payments are safer, easier, and more convenient than paper checks. In addition, the Treasury Department’s move to electronic payments is expected to save taxpayers more than $100 million each year. Currently, 93 percent of all federal benefit recipients receive their payments electronically. Beneficiaries can sign up for the electronic payment option by calling (800) 333-1795. You can also learn more at https://www.godirect.org/
Help Filing Taxes
Tax filing season began on January 30. Here is a link that you can use to find the nearest IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site. Constituents earning less than $57,000 per year can file for free. There are a lot of tax scams out there, even in Memphis. I encourage you to use this website to find an IRS-approved tax consultant who can help you for free. You can also file online directly through the IRS here: https://www.irs.gov/Filing
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; a series of Energy Education Workshops will be conducted city and county-wide at area libraries; and 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.
Again, thank you for your interest
Wishing you a happy and safe weekend,
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress |
On Monday I presented Henry Leggette, the first African-American to be elected as first vice director and first director of the Delta Division of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), with a proclamation commending and honoring his accomplishment. The ARRL was founded in 1914 and is the national association for amateur radio in the USA. Today, with more than 158,000 members, ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the United States. Henry was the person who notified authorities that the Hickory Ridge Mall was damaged by the February 2008 tornado. He retired from the FAA as an electronic technical supervisor, electronics engineer and manager after many years of service.