Celebrating 20th Anniversary of the Tennessee Lottery
Dear Friend, This week, I celebrated the 20th anniversary of the passage of a Constitutional amendment ending the prohibition on lotteries in Tennessee by penning an article in the Commercial Appeal about my efforts to help pass the amendment and establish the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program.. I also held a press conference to announce a major National Institutes of Health grant to Serenity Recovery Center and its work with pregnant and postpartum women; announced a major increase in funding for heating assistance for low-income Tennesseans; applauded rebates for the purchase of electric school buses; noted that open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans is now under way; congratulated Lawrence Higginbottom for being named National Animal Control Officer of the Year; offered 2023 U.S. Historical Society calendars; and offered a health tip about the availability of free influenza shots as cases surge earlier than in previous years. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Celebrating 20th Anniversary of the Tennessee Lottery Announcing Major Grant to Serenity Recovery Services Providing Heating Assistance to Low-Income Families Electrifying Shelby County School Bus Fleet Flagging Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act Plans Congratulating Lawrence Higginbottom for Being Named Animal Control Officer of the Year Offering 2023 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Celebrating 20th Anniversary of the Tennessee Lottery Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the historic vote to end the Tennessee Constitution’s archaic prohibition on lotteries. The passage of the amendment, along with subsequent bills establishing the Tennessee Education Lottery and defining how lottery funds would be distributed for education, was one of the most significant legislative achievements in Tennessee history. I worked for almost 20 years to pass the Constitutional amendment as a state Senator. More than $6.6 billion has been raised by the Tennessee Education Lottery for education to date. A generation of Tennessee students has been awarded lottery scholarships that have helped them receive a quality education without incurring as much expense and debt. I reflected on the success of the Tennessee Education Lottery this week by penning an op-ed in The Commercial Appeal. See that article here. Announcing Major Grant to Serenity Recovery Services On Wednesday, I held a press conference at Serenity Recovery Center to celebrate a $524,000 grant to help pregnant and postpartum women overcome substance abuse and other traumas. Serenity’s partners attended the event and helped call attention to the critical funding from the National Institutes of Health that they rely on. I congratulate Serenity on the lifesaving work it does and am proud to have been part of this public recognition. Providing Heating Assistance to Low-Income Families Also Wednesday, I announced that Tennessee will receive $82.2 million from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help keep Tennessee families warm this winter as the cost of heating their homes rises. The funding increase is largely thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that only Congressman Jim Cooper and I in the Tennessee Congressional delegation supported. See my release here and apply for the program here. Electrifying Shelby County School Bus Fleet On Monday, I announced that the Shelby County Board of Education will receive up to $6,715,000 in rebates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to replace 17 older diesel-powered school buses with zero-emission electric ones. See that release here. Flagging Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act Plans Open enrollment for 2023 Affordable Care Act plans began Tuesday. This year, because of the Inflation Reduction Act, Americans can continue to receive help with their premiums and save an average of $800 per year and $2,400 per family. Please note that December 15, 2022 is the national deadline to sign up for coverage that starts on January 1, 2023. Visit Healthcare.gov to enroll in health coverage for 2023. This year, 3.2 million Americans found plans for less than $10 a month and, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, you won’t spend more than 8.5 percent of your income towards coverage. Friends don’t let friends go without health insurance. Help your loved ones get covered by going to https://www.healthcare.gov/ Congratulating Lawrence Higginbottom for Being Named Animal Control Officer of the Year This week, I placed a statement in the Congressional Record congratulating Lawrence Higginbottom of Memphis Animal Services, who has been named Animal Control Officer of the Year by the National Animal Care and Control Association. Part of his job – a part he has a reputation for handling well – is reuniting animals with their owners, a priority with progressive animal shelters like Memphis Animal Services that operate on a “community-centered” model. As a proud, longtime member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I am inspired that we have such a thoughtful and caring animal control officer in Memphis deserving of this national recognition. Offering 2023 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars My office will have a limited number of 2023 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 Ninth District. The Shelby County Health Department is offering free flu vaccinations at no charge during a special statewide “FightFluTN 2022” vaccination event on Wednesday, November 9. The Health Department monitors flu activity in Shelby County by tracking hospital emergency department visits reporting influenza-like illness. Last week 5.9 percent of all emergency department visits were for influenza-like illness. That is more than three times higher than the rate reported this time last year. Flu incidence is rising nationwide. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly flu report shows that the flu season hit six weeks earlier than usual this year, and flu activity is currently highest in the South and Southeast. The influenza vaccine will be offered on a walk-in basis between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at all Shelby County Health Departments. No appointment is needed. Clinic locations are:
The Health Department recommends that you bring your CDC COVID-19 vaccination card if you would like to also receive the COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose. “This is no ordinary year. So I ask you to think long and hard about the moment we’re in. In a typical year, we’re often not faced with questions of whether the vote we cast will preserve democracy or put us at risk. But this year, we are. This year, I hope you will make the future of our democracy an important part of your decision to vote and how you vote.” -- President Biden speaking Wednesday night on “Standing Up for Democracy” As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |