Applauding Advance of Plans for Passenger Rail Linking Memphis to Nashville and Atlanta
December 8, 2023 |
Dear Friend, This week, I announced that the Federal Railroad Administration is investing $500,000 in a study of a passenger rail corridor linking Memphis to Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta, a major economic development win for our region that I have advocated since my days in the state Senate. I also discussed crime fighting, voting and disability rights with the chief of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, held a press conference to celebrate entrepreneurs supported by funding I secured, called for the release of journalists being held as political prisoners by Russia, questioned expert witnesses at a hearing on using confiscated Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, attended the White House Christmas reception for members of Congress, announced a major grant to improve Shelby County’s public health infrastructure, welcomed new American citizens following their naturalization, offered 2024 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars, and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Applauding Advance of Plans for Passenger Rail Linking Memphis to Nashville and Atlanta Discussing Crime Fighting and Voting and Disability Rights with Chief of DOJ Civil Rights Division Celebrating Entrepreneurship with Epicenter Fellows Calling for Release of Political Prisoner Journalists held by Russia Calling for Confiscated Russian Assets to Rebuild Ukraine Attending the White House Congressional Christmas Party Remembering First Lady Rosalynn Carter Announcing $1 Million Grant to Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure in Shelby County Welcoming New American Citizens Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2024 Calendars Applauding Advance of Plans for Passenger Rail Linking Memphis to Nashville and Atlanta On Wednesday, I announced that the Federal Railroad Administration was awarding $500,000 to study a passenger rail corridor linking Memphis to Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta. I have long advocated a passenger rail link between Memphis and Nashville and discussed it at a Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in September. Once the line is in operation, much of the country will be accessible by railroad from Memphis. See my release on the development here. Discussing Crime Fighting and Voting and Disability Rights with Chief of DOJ Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke appeared before the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, and I asked her about the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat violent crime in Memphis. I also asked her about efforts to promote voting rights and the rights of people with disabilities. See my release on the oversight hearing here. Celebrating Entrepreneurship with Epicenter Fellows Left to right: Stuart P. Lott, Kiamesha Wilson, Congressman Cohen and Dr. Erika Dillard Calling for Release of Political Prisoner Journalists held by Russia As the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners, I made a public call on Tuesday for the release of Radio Free Europe editor Alsu Kurmasheva and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, pawns in Vladimir Putin’s war with the West. See my statement here. Calling for Confiscated Russian Assets to Rebuild Ukraine The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, held a hearing Wednesday on using confiscated Russian assets to help and rebuild Ukraine. I took the occasion to again speak out on Putin’s political prisoners. See my release on the hearing here. Attending the White House Congressional Christmas Party On Monday night, I attended the annual Congressional Christmas Party at the White House, decorated to show the wonder of the holidays through the eyes of a child. It was a fine setting for bipartisan discussions and an opportunity to speak with retiring members. I was pleased to talk with the President and Dr. Biden on this festive occasion and congratulate them on all they have achieved. See Dr. Biden’s Christmas decorations here: https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1731050182228283718 Remembering First Lady Rosalynn Carter On Tuesday, I spoke on the House floor to pay tribute to First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed on November 19th in Plains, Georgia. I recalled her work in the mental health field and said she’d led a nearly perfect life of service to our country. See my release and my speech here. Announcing $1 Million Grant to Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure in Shelby County Shelby County is receiving a grant of $1,043,560 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen its public health infrastructure. See my release on the funding here. Welcoming New American Citizens On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Mark Norris swore in 25 new American citizens at a naturalization ceremony at the Odell Horton Federal Building. The new citizens hail from Columbia, India, Cameroon, Russia, Vietnam, Brazil, Australia, China, the Philippines, and Taiwan. I welcome them all and congratulate them. Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2024 Calendars My office currently has a limited number of 2024 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s 9th District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter. Please click here to access the form. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children aged 11 or 12 get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine twice, six to 12 months apart. Everyone through age 26 should get the vaccine, if they have not already, as it is helpful in preventing cancer-causing infections. See the CDC’s guidance and additional information on the effectiveness of the vaccine here. “If Putin takes Ukraine, he won’t stop there. It’s important to see the long run here. He’s going to keep going. He’s made that pretty clear. If Putin attacks a NATO ally — if he keeps going and then he attacks a NATO ally — well, we’ve committed as a NATO member that we’d defend every inch of NATO territory. Then we’ll have something that we don’t seek and that we don’t have today: American troops fighting Russian troops — American troops fighting Russian troops if he moves into other parts of NATO.” -- President Biden on Wednesday "On a scale of one to ten, I would rate Elvis eleven." -- Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., born on this day in 1925 As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |