Dear Friend, This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded two grants I championed to the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) and Shelby County totaling $38.2 million. I also questioned Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) CEO Jeff Lyash about the federal agency’s commitment to meeting carbon-neutral energy-production goals and urged him to be transparent about TVA salaries. I also spoke at a Judiciary Committee hearing on limiting the presidential pardon power, expressed my disdain for Special Counsel John Durham’s effort to discredit the findings of the Mueller Report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, commended Congressman Adam Schiff on his spirited defense of his effort to hold a corrupt President Trump accountable, re-introduced the Horse Transportation Safety Act, attended the screening of a film featuring my work protecting wild horses, attended the unveiling of a U.S. postage stamp honoring my late friend and civil rights hero Congressman John Lewis, and offered a pre-Independence Day health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Announcing $38.2 Million RAISE Grants to MATA and Shelby County Questioning TVA CEO on Transparency and Renewable-Energy Plans Advocating Serious Presidential Clemency Power Reform Expressing Contempt for Special Counsel Durham’s Efforts to Undermine Mueller Report Findings Praising Congressman Adam Schiff for his Principled Defense Introducing the Horse Transportation Safety Act Attending D.C. Premier of “Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West” Attending Reception Celebrating Release of John Lewis Postage Stamp Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Announcing $38.2 Million RAISE Grants to MATA and Shelby County
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) will receive $25 million for its Crosstown Corridor Safety and Multi-Modal Enhancement Program and Shelby County will receive $13.2 million for its Eliminating Barriers on North Watkins (Project ELBOW). The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. It is rare for one congressional district to receive two RAISE grant awards at the same time and I am proud ours has. See my release and details on these major investments in our community here. Questioning TVA CEO on Transparency and Renewable-Energy Plans
On Thursday, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) CEO Jeff Lyash testified before the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, where I asked him about TVA’s efforts to reach a zero-carbon goal set by the Biden Administration. I also asked him why TVA refuses my repeated requests for transparency on the salaries of its federal employees. See my release, including my line of questioning, here. Advocating Serious Presidential Clemency Power Reform
On Thursday, I also spoke at a Judiciary Committee hearing on Presidential clemency reform and advocated my long-term efforts, under both Republican and Democratic presidents, to prevent corrupt pardons. See my statement here. Expressing Contempt for Special Counsel Durham’s Efforts to Undermine Mueller Report Findings
The Republican-led Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Special Counsel John Durham’s report on the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential campaign in favor of Donald Trump. The partisan document was an obvious effort to distort and discredit Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on the ties between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives, and I said so. See my release and my cross-examination of Durham here. Praising Congressman Adam Schiff for his Principled Defense The increasingly irresponsible House Republican leadership teed up a censure resolution against California Congressman Adam Schiff on Wednesday evening. Of course, I voted against it, but it passed the House. This ignominious attack on a man’s duty to expose a corrupt president is a new low for the House. Schiff’s speech before the vote was a rhetorical mastery. See it here. Read it here. Introducing the Horse Transportation Safety Act On Wednesday, I was joined by my Congressional colleagues Dina Titus of Nevada and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania – and 65 bipartisan cosponsors – in re-introducing the Horse Transportation Safety Act to prohibit the use of double-decker horse trailers, legislation that I have worked on for many years. A terrible horse-trailer accident Monday that killed four thoroughbreds illustrates the need for this legislation. See my release here. Attending D.C. Premier of “Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West” On Thursday evening, I attended the D.C. premier screening of “Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West,” in which my work protecting wild horses and burros is featured. Last year, the Humane Society of the United States named me its “Humane Horseman of the Year” for my efforts. These majestic animals must be protected. Attending Reception Celebrating Release of John Lewis Postage Stamp
I was pleased to attend the debut of the postage stamp honoring my dear friend and hero, the Civil Rights champion and Georgia Congressman John Lewis on Wednesday afternoon. There’s no one more deserving of this recognition. Weekly Health Tip
With the Fourth of July approaching, I want to provide some useful guidance from the Department of Homeland Security and the Consumer Product Safety Commission on fireworks safety. Two tips are especially critical: only use fireworks outdoors and have water easily accessible nearby. See other safety tips here and here. Quote of the Week
“To my Republican colleagues who introduced this resolution, I thank you. You honor me with your enmity. You flatter me with this falsehood. You, who are the authors of a big lie about the last election, must condemn the truth tellers, and I stand proudly before you. Your words tell me that I have been effective in the defense of our democracy, and I am grateful.” – Congressman Adam Schiff of California before Wednesday’s House vote censuring him for “misleading the American public.” As always, I remain.
Most sincerely, Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 