Acknowledging Tennessee Election Results After Gerrymander
Dear Friend,
This week included the first Tennessee Election Day in decades when I was not on the ballot, but I watched the results following the racist gerrymander that dismantled the 9th District I have represented for almost 20 years. I also took note that Thursday was the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, announced a major grant to the Soulsville Foundation that will put a curators-in-residence program at the Stax Museum, welcomed more than $4.5 million in Department of Justice grants addressing violence against women, encouraged high school students to apply to our service academies by seeking a congressional nomination, notified constituents of a September 1 deadline for taking up new casework, and offered a Friday Flashback, a Bill Day cartoon and a weekly health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Acknowledging Tennessee Election Results After Gerrymander
Lamenting the Loss of the Voting Rights Act on its 61st Anniversary
Applauding Major Grant Funding to the Stax Museum
Welcoming $4.5 Million in DOJ Grants to Oppose Violence Against Women
Encouraging Applications to the Service Academies
Notifying Constituents of a September 1 Deadline for Casework Requests
Acknowledging Tennessee Election Results After Gerrymander
Thursday’s elections marked the beginning of a new chapter for Tennessee Democrats, and for me personally, the first election in decades in which I was not a candidate for public office. It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of Memphis and Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.
As I transition from elected office, I look forward to continuing to speak out on the issues that matter to our community and our country, drawing on 47 years in elective office. Thank you for the trust, encouragement, and support you have shown me throughout my years of public service. I remain deeply grateful and look forward to staying engaged in the conversations that will shape our future.
Lamenting the Loss of the Voting Rights Act on its 61st Anniversary
President Lyndon Johnson offers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the pen with which he signed the Voting Rights Act into law.
On Thursday, as many Memphians cast ballots in gerrymandered districts that diluted the voting strength of Black communities, we also marked the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Few laws in our nation's history have done more to protect the fundamental right to vote and strengthen our democracy. Yet, after years of court decisions weakening its core protections, this landmark legislation has been diminished to the point that many of its original safeguards no longer exist.
The anniversary served as a stark reminder of both how far our country has come and how much progress has been undone. When Democrats regain the House majority, restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act through passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act must be among Congress's highest priorities. For those who believe every eligible American deserves an equal voice at the ballot box, Thursday was a sobering day.
Applauding Major Grant Funding to the Stax Museum
On Wednesday, I announced that the Soulsville Foundation will be receiving a grant of $100,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to create a curator-in-residence program at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. See details in my release here.
Welcoming $4.5 Million in DOJ Grants to Oppose Violence Against Women
On Thursday, I announced two grants totaling $4,592,039 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women to the state of Tennessee. This critical funding addresses both the effective investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and assists victims of this trauma. I’m pleased to see the Department of Justice investing in these essential programs and hope the department will implement these programs in the proper manner since this Justice Department has too often taken funds intended for one purpose and applied them to another. See my release on the funding here.
Encouraging Applications to the Service Academies
Students interested in attending the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis), the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, or the U.S. Coast Guard Academy are encouraged to apply for a congressional nomination through my office. Applicants must reside in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District under the existing (pre-redistricting) district boundaries. The deadline is Wednesday, September 30. Click here to get started. If you have questions or need more information, contact my District Director Willie “Hank” Henry Jr. at (901) 544-4131.
Notifying Constituents of a September 1 Deadline for Casework Requests
As I prepare to leave Congress, I am particularly proud of the work my staff and I have done to improve lives by helping constituents with interactions with federal agencies like Medicare, Veterans Affairs, HUD, SNAP, the IRS and others. Realistically, resolving these issues takes more time than I have left in office, so I have set a September 1 deadline for taking on new casework to ensure all constituents who reach out receive the attention and support they deserve.
This is me with NBA All Star Marc Gasol on April 6, 2024, when his No. 33 jersey was retired at an event at the FedEx Forum.
A Bill Day Cartoon - “Iran War”
There are 103,223 people on the national organ transplant waiting list. Seventeen people die each day waiting for an organ transplant. Every organ donor can save eight lives. More than 48,000 transplants were performed in 2024. To learn more about organ donation, click here.
You can sign up to be an organ donor when applying for or renewing your Tennessee driver license.
“Peace, to have meaning for many who have only known suffering in both peace and war, must be translated into bread or rice, shelter, health and education, as well as freedom and human dignity.” – American diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche (1904 – 1971), born on this day
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
“You can observe a lot by watching.”
“The future ain’t what it used to be.”
“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”
– Thirteen-time World Series champion Yogi Berra (1925 – 2015), inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on this day in 1972
As always, I remain
Sincerely,
 |
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress