Celebrating $14.8 Million Grant for Memphis International Airport Terminal Modernization
Dear Friend, This week, I was pleased to see my efforts as the Ranking Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee help bring in a $14.8 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for modernizing the Memphis International Airport. I also introduced a bill to require airlines to issue cash refunds after cancelling flights. Later in the week, I introduced a measure calling for a study of the Fort Pillow Massacre site as a possible national park; introduced the Housing Accountability Act; introduced a bill calling for dedicated funding for cerebral palsy research; introduced a bill to prohibit presidents and other politicians from signing government checks; announced research grants to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; announced grants to our local Head Start programs; received an award for championing global childhood immunization; introduced a bill to encourage diversity in the selection of students for gifted programs; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Celebrating $14.8 Million Grant for Memphis International Airport Terminal Modernization Introducing Cash Refunds Bill for Cancelled Airline Flights Calling for Study of Historic Fort Pillow Massacre Site Introducing Housing Accountability Act Encouraging Dedicated Funding for Cerebral Palsy Research Introducing CLEAN Checks Act to End Politicization of Federal Assistance Announcing Grants Totaling $3.2 Million to St. Jude Announcing $16.4 Million in Head Start Grants Introducing Education Equity Bill Celebrating $14.8 Million Grant for Memphis International Airport Terminal Modernization On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that Memphis International Airport will receive $14.8 million to modernize its terminals and improve the travel experience. As the Ranking Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, my office is in regular contact with the FAA. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, at an event unveiling a $174 million deicing facility at MEM in November, called me “relentless” in my efforts. I am proud of my role in bringing this funding to our district and commend local officials for their efforts. See my release on the funding here. Introducing Cash Refunds Bill for Cancelled Airline Flights On Tuesday, I reintroduced the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act to ensure that passengers whose flights are cancelled, or who cancel their flights with enough notice, get cash refunds instead of credits from the airlines. See my release on the measure here. Calling for Study of Historic Fort Pillow Massacre Site Also Tuesday, I introduced the Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act to direct the Department of the Interior to consider the Lauderdale County site of an infamous massacre of Black Union troops as the site of an historic national park. See my release on the bill here. Introducing Housing Accountability Act On Wednesday, I introduced the bipartisan Housing Accountability Act with Senator Marco Rubio of Florida to ensure that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regularly assesses the experience of tenants in subsidized housing. My interest in authoring this bill was informed by my office’s involvement with tenants of the Peppertree Apartments. I was encouraged this week to see that HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is now investigating how the Peppertree situation has unfolded. See my release on the bill here and my statement on the OIG intervention here. Encouraging Dedicated Funding for Cerebral Palsy Research Also Wednesday, I introduced the Cerebral Palsy Research Program Authorization Act to provide dedicated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research funding for this life-long disability. See my release on the bipartisan initiative here. Introducing CLEAN Checks Act to End Politicization of Federal Assistance Among the numerous offensive acts President Donald Trump undertook while in the Oval Office was to insist on having his name placed on all COVID-19 relief checks. In the run up to the presidential election, this was a blatant effort to take misplaced credit and influence the electorate. The Curb Leaders from Electioneering with Autographs on National (CLEAN) Check Act would prohibit this self-interested abuse of power from happening again. See my release here. Announcing three Grants Totaling $3.2 Million to St. Jude This week, I announced three National Institutes of Health grants to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. See releases on them here, here, and here. Announcing $16.4 Million in Head Start Grants On Tuesday, I announced that Porter-Leath’s Early Head Start program and Shelby County’s Head Start program would receive major investments in the future education and development of our community’s children. See that release here. On Tuesday morning, I received the “Shot@Life” award from the Global Health Advocacy – Immunization & Global Health Security Program of the United Nations Foundation for my role in advocating global childhood immunizations against preventable diseases. As a polio survivor, I know how important – and life altering – receiving a “shot at life” can be. Introducing Education Equity Bill Also Tuesday, I introduced the Diversity Advancements in Accelerated Academic Programs (DAAP) Act, which would authorize Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funding to be used to create equity offices in state education departments or local education agencies to help improve diversity in Advanced Placement (AP) and Gifted and Talented academic programs. See my release here. More than 7,000 people in Shelby and Tipton Counties are living with HIV, with 232 people newly diagnosed in 2020. These new cases accounted for more than one-third of all new cases in Tennessee. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Early diagnosis of HIV can save your life and others, as it typically results in two to five fewer new infections. Funding for HIV testing has become something of a political football recently in Nashville, and I have encouraged Governor Lee to show leadership in this area. To find a testing site, visit: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/std/std/hiv-prevention/testing.html. For tips on HIV prevention, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prevention.html. Don’t it always seem to go – Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi” (1970). Mitchell received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on Wednesday night. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |