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Let's Go Grizz!

April 18, 2014
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, the Grizzlies showed grit and grind to clinch the 7th seed in the Western Conference for the NBA Playoffs (UConn was also 7th seed before winning the National Championship—foreshadowing?), I hosted another “Building a Healthier Memphis” wellness event focused on reducing the number of diabetes diagnoses in our city, introduced legislation to promote job creation and grow our economy, and announced more than $4 million in federal funds to help reduce homelessness in Memphis. Keep reading to learn more.

Building a Healthier Memphis by Preventing Diabetes
Supporting Minority-owned Businesses
Promoting Economic Revitalization in Memphis
Helping Tennesseans Take Full Advantage of the Affordable Care Act
Working to End Homelessness in the Ninth District
Helping Shelby County Recover from March’s Severe Winter Storms
Bringing Justice to the Unfairly Incarcerated
Promoting International Cooperation
Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property
VA Rolls Out Secure Veteran Health ID Cards

Building a Healthier Memphis by Preventing Diabetes

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More than 8 million Americans enrolled in high-quality, affordable coverage before the Affordable Care Act’s 2014 open enrollment period ended last month. With so many Americans now enrolled in coverage through marketplaces like HealthCare.gov, President Obama is right when he says “the Affordable Care Act is here to stay.

The Affordable Care Act is already helping millions of Americans get covered and get the care they need, but we can do more. In February, I launched my “Building a Healthier Memphis” series on wellness in the Ninth District with a panel discussion and education session focused on the racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes in Memphis.

Over the weekend, I hosted the second event in my series, this time focused on the rising number of diabetes diagnoses in Shelby County. My panel included a number of local experts on diabetes prevention as well as Dr. Ann Albright from the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It also highlighted new consumer protections in the President’s landmark health care reform law that prevent insurers from denying coverage to any American simply because of a pre-existing condition like diabetes.

We can and must do more to stem this rising tide of diabetes diagnoses, and I’m encouraged that so many Memphians attended Saturday’s panel and education session to learn how they can prevent diabetes, improve their own health, and help promote healthy habits among their families and communities. I look forward to announcing my next “Building a Healthier Memphis” event in the coming weeks.

Supporting Minority-owned Businesses

Memphis is home to many well-qualified, highly-skilled minority entrepreneurs who have lacked access to capital or who have had difficulty navigating the maze of the federal grant application process. That’s why I fought to secure funding to open a Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center in Memphis, which helps solve both problems. Yesterday, I was glad to announce $250,000 in federal funding to boost the MBDA Memphis Business Center’s efforts to promote job creation and growth at minority-owned businesses in the Ninth District. This funding will help minority-run businesses in our city create and retain jobs, which will breathe more life into our local economy. And that’s a step in the right direction.

Promoting Economic Revitalization in Memphis

Urban and rural areas across the county—including Memphis—are grappling with high unemployment rates and hardworking families throughout these communities are struggling just to make ends meet. For years, struggling communities like ours have relied on Renewal Community and Empowerment Zone tax incentives to create jobs and revitalize economies. But in recent years, those tax incentives have expired even though they are still needed. That’s why I introduced my Growth Zones Opportunity Act, which would renew the expired incentives that are so helpful to Memphis and other distressed areas around the country. With millions of jobs lost because of the Great Recession and too many Memphians still struggling, my bill will help cities like Memphis recover, and I hope it is passed as soon as possible.

Helping Tennesseans Take Full Advantage of the Affordable Care Act

Yesterday afternoon, President Obama announced that 8 million Americans have enrolled in private health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces. With millions of Americans now enrolled, it is clearer than ever that the President’s landmark health care reform law is achieving its goal of making high-quality, affordable health coverage a right, not just a privilege. Thanks to the law, insurance companies can no longer discriminate against women or those with pre-existing conditions, young adults can stay on their parent’s insurance until they are 26, and our seniors are saving money on their prescriptions.

While the law is working and Memphians are seeing many of the law’s benefits, thousands of Tennesseans are without coverage because of Govornor Haslam’s refusal to expand Medicaid. Other states whose Governors oppose expanding Medicaid like Arkansas, Iowa, and Michigan, have been able to reconcile their concerns with the best interests of those they represent—but Tennessee has not, and our citizens are losing out. This week, the Washington Post reported that while the Affordable Care Act is helping lower the uninsured rate across the country, it is falling more than 3 times faster in states that have fully implemented the law, which includes expanding their Medicaid programs. I am dedicated to helping as many Tennesseans as possible gain access to high-quality health coverage, and I have offered to help the Governor in expanding TennCare, our state’s Medicaid program.

Working to End Homelessness in the Ninth District

This week, I also announced more than $4.3 million in federal grant funds that was awarded to the City of Memphis and 13 local non-profits to help end homelessness in the Ninth District. This significant amount of funding will help our community work to reduce—and hopefully eliminate—homeless in Memphis. A list of the grant recipients and award amounts in available here.

Helping Shelby County Recover from March’s Severe Winter Storms

Late last week, after I joined Senators Alexander and Corker as well as other members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation in calling on President Obama to approve Governor Haslam’s request for a major disaster declaration, the President issued a disaster declaration for several counties—including Shelby County—affected by the severe winter storms in early March. His declaration triggered the release of federal funds that will help our community recover, and earlier this week the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that private non-profit organizations in Shelby County may be eligible to apply for low-interest rate disaster loans up to$2 million for the repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. Non-profits seeking these loans should call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 to help determine if they are eligible, and can apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Bringing Justice to the Unfairly Incarcerated

I was pleased to see that President Obama this week asked the U.S. Department of Justice to improve its clemency recommendation process and recruit more applicants for pardons and commutations of unfair sentences. For a year, I have been encouraging the administration to make broader use of the President’s pardon and commutation powers to bring justice to those serving unjust sentences that they would not be serving if sentenced today. I am glad to see this apparent shift in the President’s thinking on this issue, and I hope it leads to freedom for the thousands of Americans still serving time in prison even though Congress has voted to reduce sentences for those same crimes.

Promoting International Cooperation

Recently, I received an A+ for my voting record on international issues from the Global Solutions Action Network on their 2014 Congressional Report Card, which measures how legislators voted on issues that affect the United Nations, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the global environment, global health, and other international issues. I was also awarded extra credit for my proposal to promote renewable energy and reduce nuclear weapons in our country.

It is an honor to be recognized by Global Solutions Action Network for my work promoting international stability and peaceful relations between nations. As a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, I will continue to be a steadfast advocate for international cooperation, improving health around the world, and protecting our environment.

Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property

The State of Tennessee maintains a searchable database of unclaimed property, which can include bank accounts, stocks and dividends, wages, refunds, insurance payments, gift certificates, credit balances and overpayments, and a number of other things. There is no cost for accessing the database, and you may find that you are owed money or property. If you have not searched the database yet or if you haven’t searched in a while, you can visit https://www.claimittn.gov and see for yourself whether the state is holding any property or assets for you. And you may pass this information along to your friends and family as well!

VA Rolls Out Secure Veteran Health ID Cards

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced the phased roll out of newly designed, more secure Veteran Health Identification Cards. The new cards are distinguished by additional security features and will have a different look and feel.

Similar to a typical health insurance card, the VHIC displays the veteran’s Member ID, a new unique identifier, as well as a Plan ID, reflecting the veteran’s enrollment in VA health care. The card replaces the Veteran Identification Card (VIC), which was introduced in 2004. As part of a phased rollout, the card will only be offered to newly enrolled and other veterans who have not been issued a VIC. In early April, the VA will begin a three month effort to automatically issue the more secure VHIC to current VIC cardholders. The VA recommends veterans safeguard their VIC as they would a credit card, and cut up or shred the card once it is replaced. While not required to receive VA health care, all enrolled Veterans are encouraged to get a VHIC.

Enrolled veterans can get more information about the VHIC by visiting their VA medical facility enrollment coordinator or the website www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhic, calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or visiting their local VA health care facility. Veterans who are not enrolled in the VA health care system can apply for enrollment at any time by visiting www.va.gov/healthbenefits, calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or visiting their local VA health care facility.

Hope you have a pleasant and happy Easter, and go Grizz!

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,

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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

Issues:9th DistrictChildren and FamiliesForeign AffairsHealth CareMemphisShelby CountyTennesseeVeterans' Affairs