Celebrating the $3 Million Renovation of Porter Junior High
Dear Friend,
This week, as my in-district work period continued, I had the opportunity to spend time with constituents and see the results of some of my work in Washington. I visited Porter Junior High School and Room at the Inn, which received funding through my community project funding requests. My work on transportation issues resulted in a visit to the future foundation of a new Interstate 55 bridge, a tour of the FedEx World Hub and a policy win for disabled air travelers. I also introduced legislation to help homeowners remove harmful lead from their homes economically and to ensure the safety of children on school buses, attended a Contemporary Arts Memphis ribbon-cutting, attended the 50th anniversary gala of the Memphis Area Minority Contractors Association, applauded a White House plan to use seized Russian assets in aid of Ukraine, and announced significant grants. I also offered 2025 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars and took the opportunity to remind constituents of the availability of flu, Covid and other vaccines. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Celebrating the $3 Million Renovation of Porter Junior High
Reviewing Plans for the New Interstate 55 Bridge
Welcoming U.S. Department of Transportation Fine for Airline Misuse of Wheelchairs
Introducing the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act
Introducing the School Bus Safety Act
Attending Contemporary Arts Memphis Ribbon-Cutting
Attending the 50th Annual Gala of the Memphis Area Minority Contractors Association
Applauding the White House Decision to Use Seized Russian Assets in Aid of Ukraine
Announcing $3 Million Renovation of Memphis International Airport Access Road
Announcing Grant to South Memphis Renewal Community Development Corporation
Offering 2025 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars
Celebrating the $3 Million Renovation of Porter Junior High
On Thursday, I hosted a press conference to discuss the $3 million I secured through the annual appropriations process for the historic Porter Junior High-MLK Transition Academy. The funding directed through the community project funding process will help redevelop the historic South Lauderdale school building into a mixed-use project that will provide critical services and resources, embrace the neighborhood’s history, and offer economic, cultural, and educational opportunities for local residents and the greater Memphis community. Memphis Mayor Paul Young and others were on hand to celebrate this important investment in our community.
Also on Tuesday, I visited Room at the Inn, a respite care facility that provides emergency shelter to those experiencing homelessness in the former Collins Chapel for which I secured over $2.5 million during the community project funding appropriations process. I discussed patient needs with the Reverend Lisa Anderson and her staff and discussed homelessness in our community with those who know it better than most.
Reviewing Plans for the New Interstate 55 Bridge
On Tuesday, I joined Governor Bill Lee, Mayor Paul Young and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner and Deputy Governor Butch Eley at the eastern terminus of what will be the new Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River for which I helped secure $393.7 million in federal funding, the largest infrastructure investment in the state’s history. We studied the alignment of the new bridge and discussed the complex issues ahead for a bridge to be known as “America’s River Crossing.”
On Tuesday night, my chief of staff, deputy chief and I toured the FedEx World Hub where millions of packages are sorted with precision every night for delivery to the far corners of the world. I went inside the fuselage of a Boeing 777 used for intercontinental shipments and sat at the controls of one of the giant planes. It is important to hear from the experts and to be familiar with the needs and expectations of my district’s largest private employer. The experience was invaluable.
Introducing the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act
Last week, I introduced the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act, legislation to help American families cover the cost of eliminating lead from their homes. The Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act would significantly broaden the national response to this public health challenge by providing refundable tax credits for homeowners, landlords and tenants to remove lead from homes. See my release here.
Reintroducing the School Bus Safety Act
This week, during National School Bus Safety Week, I reintroduced the School Bus Safety Act to codify recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), including three-point seatbelts for all school bus passengers. See my release here.
Attending Contemporary Art Memphis Ribbon-Cutting Event
On Thursday afternoon, I spoke at the Contemporary Arts Memphis ribbon-cutting event for its new building on Marhsall. The arts organization’s mission is to promote the visual arts for high school students and showcase their talents. We certainly have some talented young artists in Memphis. I was pleased to participate in the event and join CAM founder, world-renowned artist, and fellow Memphian, Derek Fordjour, and board member and art collector Elliot Perry.
Attending the 50th Annual Gala of the Memphis Area Minority Contractors Association
Congressmen Cohen and Jackson
On Thursday evening, I attended the 50th anniversary gala of the Memphis Area Minority Contractors Association. In my remarks introducing Congressman Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, I mentioned my work bringing the Memphis MBDA Business Center to town and my office’s ongoing efforts to connect minority businesses with opportunities for federal contracts. I congratulate the MAMCA and its leaders, Carlos Fifer and Michael Hooks Jr., for a half century of progress and for the gala’s success.
Applauding White House Decision to Use Seized Russian Assets in Aid of Ukraine
The White House on Wednesday announced that it will use seized Russian assets in repayment of loans to Ukraine in its ongoing effort to repel the Russian invasion. As the Ranking House Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, I released a joint statement with Chairman Joe Wilson applauding the move and noting that we have introduced legislation to accomplish this goal. See our statement here.
Welcoming U.S. Department of Transportation Fine for Airline Misuse of Wheelchairs
Also Wednesday, I applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) decision to fine American Airlines for its mishandling of passengers’ wheelchairs and other mobility devices which are their legs. As the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I have long advocated enhanced accommodations for disabled air passengers and appreciate Wednesday’s announcement. See my statement here.
Announcing $3 Million Renovation of Memphis International Airport Access Road
Passengers with disabilities will soon benefit from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) due to $3 million in funding that I announced Wednesday to renovate the Airport Access Road in front of Memphis International Airport to better accommodate them. See details in this release.
Announcing Grant to South Memphis Renewal Community Development Corporation
Last week, I announced that the South Memphis Renewal Community Development Corporation (SMRCDC) will receive an $800,000 grant from the Community Economic Development (CED) Program to complete the construction of the 38126 Innovation and Technology Center. See that release here.
Offering 2025 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars
My office currently has a limited number of 2025 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.
Public health experts advise getting a flu shot by the end of October and Halloween (“flu before boo”) to assure resistance well into the flu season, which can stretch through February. The Shelby County Health Department is hosting a health fair on Saturday where it will be offering immunizations (flu, COVID-19 and mpox). See details here. Tipton County Health Department provides immunizations during its normal hours of operations. See details here.
“There are no warlike people, just warlike leaders.” – Nobel Peace Prize laureate and American United Nations General Assembly delegate Ralph Bunch (1904-1971). Thursday was United Nations Day.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress