Improving Relations with Russia

Dear Friend,

This week, I have been in Russia on a Congressional Delegation trip with a number of my House colleagues. Our work has focuses on numerous issues, including human rights concerns, energy, Syria, and preventing terrorism, as well as working to resolve the disputes between Russian and the U.S. over international adoptions.

Improving Relations with Russia
Assistance for Homeless Veterans
St. Jude to Receive Research Grant of over $400k
$69k Grant to Memphis Housing Authority
Affordable Care Act Highlights
Freedom from Unnecessary Negatives (F.F.U.N.)
Project H.O.M.E.
Grant Announcements

Improving Relations with Russia
This week, I have been in Russia on a Congressional Delegation trip (CODEL), serving as a Member of the Helsinki Commission. The trip is headed by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats and includes several of my House colleagues. This is the first CODEL to visit Russia since the passage of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act which became law in December 2012.

We have met with Deputy Federal Security Service (FSB) Chief Sergei Beseda, the Head of Counterintelligence, and members of the Russian Duma including the Chairman of the International Affairs Committee Alexei Pushkov. The meetings have focused on numerous issues including human rights issues, energy, Syria and how the U.S. and Russia governments can work together and share information to prevent terrorist attacks.

The highlight of the trip so far has been my efforts to resolve the dispute between Russia and the United States over international adoptions. After the U.S. adopted the Magnitsky Act, which placed restrictions on certain Russians responsible for human rights violations, Russia retaliated by passing a law prohibiting adoption by Americans of Russian children. The Russian government has expressed concern that the U.S. has not lived up to its obligations under an agreement between the two countries that calls for monitoring of adoptive families. I am working on bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to address this issue, which could be a show of good faith to President Putin that President Obama can tout when he meets with him during the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg in September. It is my hope that President Putin will reverse the ban and, at the very least, allow those adoptions that were in the pipeline at the time the ban was enacted to go through.

We also discussed the imprisonment of punk music group Pussy Riot. Three members of the band were charged with committing an act of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility” and sentenced to two years in prison for a performance at Christ the Savior Cathedral. The trial was generally seen as unfair, and their prosecution has been viewed as part of a troubling crackdown on dissent in Russia. I am particularly concerned that one of the defendants is a wife and mother and her imprisonment tears her apart from her family. Throughout most of the world, including Russia, mothers are typically given consideration in sentencing, but it was not done in this case.

This case has been a cause of international concern for the lack of due process and is considered a violation of human rights. I have written to President Putin on two occasions with the hope that he would take action to reverse this blight on Russia's judicial system. I have previously met with a family member of one of the imprisoned musicians and am scheduled to meet with another next week in Washington. U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul thanked me for raising this issue with the Russian Duma.

On Wednesday, we visited Pushkin Square, the site of a subway bombing in 2000 in downtown Moscow. Eight people lost their lives and eleven were injured when a terrorist’s bomb exploded during rush hour. I was pleased to join my colleagues in laying a wreath on behalf of the U.S. government to honor the victims of terrorism. The visit serves as a reminder that the U.S. and Russia must work together to combat terrorism.

We also visited Star City—the Russian training facility for its space program. There, we met with astronauts, cosmonauts, scientists and NASA officials to discuss current space policy. One of the cosmonauts we met is was Sergei Krikalev, who has been on six missions to space and spent over 800 days in space, including stints on Mir, Endeavor and the International Space Station.

Venturing into space is an important mission which has yielded numerous scientific discoveries that benefit life on Earth and has inspired countless mathematicians, engineers and scientists. With the retirement of NASA’s space shuttle program, the U.S. now relies on Russian vessels to reach the International Space Station. I am honored to have been on the first CODEL to visit Star City.

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission), of which I am a member, is an independent U.S. Government agency comprised of bi-partisan, bi-cameral legislators and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. The Commission, which currently includes Senators Roger Wicker from Mississippi and John Boozman from Arkansas, contributes to the formulation of U.S. policy, focusing primarily on democratic, economic, security and human rights issues. Learn more about the Helsinki Commission by clicking here.

Assistance for Homeless Veterans
Earlier today, I announced that HUD will provide over $358,000 in grants to the Memphis VA Medical Center to offer permanent supportive housing to 65 Memphis-area homeless veterans. The grants are provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA. Since 2008, a total of 48,385 vouchers have been awarded and 42,557 formerly homeless veterans are currently in homes because of HUD-VASH.

St. Jude to receive $437k Research Grant
Today, I announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive $437,500 to develop a greater understanding of cellular mechanisms of positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The grant, provided through NIMH’s Mental Health Research Grants program. will help doctors and scientists at St. Jude understand schizophrenia and advance the medical awareness of this chronic brain disorder which affects millions of people.

$69k Grant to Memphis Housing Authority
Today, I also announced that the Memphis Housing Authority will receive $69,000 from HUD’s Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Program (ROSS) to hire a program coordinator to link residents with training opportunities, job placement organizations, and local employers. This grant will provide additional resources for the Memphis Housing Authority to better serve residents.

Affordable Care Act Highlights
Over the coming weeks I will highlight the benefits of the Affordable Care Act – landmark legislation I was proud to support that is helping millions across the country. The Affordable Care Act puts in place strong consumer protections, provides new coverage options and gives you the tools you need to make informed choices about your health. Click here to learn about how the law affects you.

Freedom From Unnecessary Negatives (F.F.U.N.)
Freedom From Unnecessary Negatives (F.F.U.N.) was founded in 2003 with the goal of rejuvenating urban communities throughout Shelby County. The This non-profit organization motivates young adults to become the productive future leaders of our city by focusing on all aspects of community – civic, economic, and social. F.F.U.N. inspires positive, constructive attitudes in Memphis youths through rallies, workshops, seminars, partnerships with schools, and by providing mentoring and counseling services. On Memorial Day, May 27th, F.F.U.N. hosted the Celebration of Life at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park, an event attended by community leaders such as Mayors AC Wharton and Mark Luttrell. Learn more about the organization by clicking here.

Project H.O.M.E.
Shelby County Trustee David Lenoir has announced the 2013 schedule for the Project H.O.M.E. Financial Literacy workshop series. In addition to the monthly workshops held on Tuesdays, two Saturday workshops will be held this year. At the weekend workshop property owners can pay taxes on-site following the workshop session. Project H.O.M.E. (Home Ownership Made Easier) workshops are conducted monthly by the Trustee’s Community Outreach and Financial Empowerment staff along with its banking partner Regions Bank to help delinquent taxpayers prevent their properties from being sold at the county’s tax sale. Visit www.shelbycountytrustee.com or the Shelby County Trustee’s Facebook page for dates and times.

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,

As always, I remain,

Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress