Announcing Historic Level of Transit Funding for MATA
Dear Friend, This week, I was pleased to announce historic levels of transit funding for our region as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I alone among Tennessee’s Congressional delegation supported. I also attended a Congressional field hearing in Miami on port safety, security and infrastructure needs, applauded the ambitious construction agenda of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Memphis District, joined President Biden in condemning the unacceptable humanitarian crisis in Gaza, remembered the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniversary of his assassination in Memphis, monitored the appellate case of Russian political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza, expressed hope that Congress will be given the opportunity to vote on aid to Ukraine when we return to Washington, appreciated the outpouring of support for my Federal Procurement Fair, and offered a pet-related health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Announcing Historic Level of Transit Funding for MATA Working to Strengthen Port Safety, Security and Infrastructure Applauding 150 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects in the Memphis District Condemning Indiscriminate Bombing of Civilians in Gaza Remembering 56th Anniversary of Dr. King’s Assassination Expecting Disappointment as Vladimir Kara-Murza Appeals Sham Conviction Hoping to Vote on Aid to Ukraine Seeing Results after Recent Federal Procurement Fair Announcing Historic Level of Transit Funding for MATA On Thursday, I announced that the Memphis tri-state region will receive $18,446,336 from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to further strengthen the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s major improvements after passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I alone among Tennessee’s Congressional delegation supported. See my release here. Working to Strengthen Port Safety, Security and Infrastructure Today, as a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I participated in a field hearing on port safety, security and infrastructure needs in Miami. As the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse near Baltimore demonstrates, the U.S. needs to make our port infrastructure more resilient, including at the Port of Memphis, the nation’s fifth largest inland port. During today’s hearing, I questioned expert witnesses from the U.S. Coast Guard about the costs of keeping vulnerable ports secure and about the shipping industry’s liability when accidents like the bridge collapse in Baltimore occur. Applauding 150 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects in the Memphis District
At the Federal Procurement Fair I hosted recently, we heard from Zachary Cook, the Senior Project Manager of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Memphis District, who outlined some of USACE’s plans for the district during Fiscal Year 2024. The topline news is that the Memphis District is expected to begin work on more than 150 separate projects this year. That’s much more work than USACE is typically able to perform, and a significant portion of the increase comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and other bills I’ve voted to pass, like the FY 2024 budget. These 150 projects represent a major uptick in federal infrastructure investments, and they will focus primarily on maintaining navigation channels and mitigating flood risk along the Mississippi River, as well as maintaining its levee systems and tributaries. This work is vital for our community’s safety and economic vitality. Condemning Indiscriminate Bombing of Civilians in Gaza President Biden is right in seeking to lessen the devastation in Gaza and in calling the humanitarian crisis there “unacceptable.” This week’s tragic civilian deaths included seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated charity. Israel has a right to defend itself after the atrocities of October 7 and the continued fighting by Hamas terrorists and their ruthless treatment of hostages, but it must do everything possible to ensure that innocent civilians are not killed in this conflict. On Thursday night, I was interviewed by CNN host Abby Phillip on this week’s developments in Gaza. See that interview here. Remembering 56th Anniversary of Dr. King’s Assassination On Thursday, the world remembered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated in Memphis 56 years ago while aiding striking sanitation workers. I urged those who admire him and champion his cause to visit the Lorraine Motel site of his death, now the National Civil Rights Museum. See my statement on the anniversary here. Expecting Disappointment as Vladimir Kara-Murza Goes Appeals Sham Conviction On Wednesday, the courageous Russian journalist and Putin opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza was denied access to the hearing at which he has appealed his sham conviction for speaking out against the Ukraine war and Putin’s oligarch-supporters sanctioned in the West, and the hearing was postponed. See his Washington Post op-ed about the Orwellian system of injustice he is caught up in here. As the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for Political Prisoners, I continue to demand his release and return to his Virginia-based family. Hoping to Vote on Aid to Ukraine Speaker Mike Johnson continues to dither on bringing a Ukraine aid bill to the House floor when we return from the Easter recess, despite knowing it would pass but might also endanger his political future. Every day wasted in the back-and-forth chatter means further damage to Ukraine and its people. Time is of the essence to save lives. The time is now. Get it done. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a guarantor of peace and security in much of Europe for generations, support for Ukraine is both vigilant and prudent. I look forward to getting this issue resolved as expeditiously as possible when Congress reconvenes and hope supporters of Ukraine will make their feelings known. Seeing Results after Recent Federal Procurement Fair I was pleased to see that the Mid-South Minority Business Continuum (MMBC) and the Black Business Association of Memphis gave a shout-out to the Federal Procurement Fair I recently hosted at the University of Memphis. Our joint efforts to unite ambitious business owners with opportunities with federal government agencies is constantly leading to more and better job opportunities in our community. The Shelby County Health Department’s Rabies Control Program will provide up to 250 rabies vaccinations and pet license tags at no cost on Saturday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to noon. The vaccinations will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Pet owners must restrain all pets with leashes or pet carriers and be respectful of other customers while waiting in their vehicles. In addition to rabies vaccines, the Health Department, Memphis Animal Services and All 4s Rescue League will offer vaccinations against the parvovirus. Microchipping for pet identification will also be available. The event will be held at the Health Department’s Environmental Services Department at 1826 Sycamore View, Memphis 38134. For more information, click here. “I’m a capitalist. Capitalism, though, without competition, isn’t capitalism; it’s exploitation. That’s what’s going on: exploitation. When Big Pharma doesn’t play by the rules, competitors can’t offer lower prices for generic drugs and devices that carry that medication, so prices are raised artificially.” – President Biden at an event on lowering prescription drug prices Wednesday As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |