Dear Friend, This week, I voted for the Respect for Marriage Act to assure couples in same-sex and interracial marriages have their civil rights protected in federal law. I also applauded Senate passage of my bill to name the Memphis VA Medical Center for the late Tuskegee Airman Luke Weathers Jr.; spoke with Amtrak’s CEO about a passenger rail route between Memphis and Nashville; introduced the EVAC Act; voted against an excessive defense spending bill; commended the Memphis Light, Gas and Water board for a vote rejecting a long-term Tennessee Valley Authority contract; made a statement about the release of Brittney Griner; met with government leaders from Moldova, Poland and Lithuania; announced major grants to expand COVID-19 vaccination capacity at our community health centers; 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 House Passage of the Respect for Marriage Act Applauding Senate Passage of My Bill Naming Memphis VA Medical Center for Luke Weathers Jr. Seeking Amtrak Passenger Rail Route Between Memphis and Nashville Introducing the EVAC Act to Assure Safe Airplane Evacuations Voting Against an Excessive Defense Spending Bill Commending MLGW Board on Vote Rejecting Long-term TVA Contract Responding to the Release of Brittney Griner Meeting with the Polish Ambassador and Foreign Minister, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the Prime Minister of Lithuania Announcing Major Grants to Expand COVID-19 Vaccinations Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Celebrating House Passage of the Respect for Marriage Act
For decades, I have supported marriage equality and I was pleased to vote Thursday for the Respect for Marriage Act to protect couples in same-sex and interracial marriages. See my release here. Applauding Senate Passage of My Bill Naming Memphis VA Medical Center for Luke Weathers Jr.
On Tuesday evening, the U.S. Senate voted to pass my bill naming the Memphis VA Medical Center for the late World War II Tuskegee Airman Luke Weathers Jr, a decorated fighter pilot and Memphis’s first African American air traffic controller. The bill now goes to President Biden to be signed into law. See my release on the measure here. Seeking Amtrak Passenger Rail Route Between Memphis and Nashville
On Thursday, I met with Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and urged him to consider prioritizing a passenger rail route between Memphis and Nashville. Introducing the EVAC Act to Assure Safe Airplane Evacuations
Also Thursday, I introduced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act. I have long doubted whether the 90-second airplane-evacuation standard can be met in real-life instances, which is why I previously introduced and passed the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish minimum standards for seat sizes and distances between rows of seats in order to ensure passengers can evacuate safely. The EVAC Act will ensure the FAA’s emergency evacuation standards address the needs of all members of the flying public, including those with disabilities. See my release here. Voting Against an Excessive Defense Spending Bill On Thursday, I voted against the National Defense Authorization Act that contains $45 billion more than President Biden requested earlier this year. The $858 billion bill is just too big for an unaccountable Pentagon notorious for its wasteful spending on obsolete and unnecessary programs. We can’t keep writing blank checks. There are so many domestic needs going unmet in Tennessee’s 9th District and across the country, including health care, education, urban renewal and job training. Defense spending has ballooned over the years. We need to reset our priorities. Commending MLGW Board on Vote Rejecting Long-term TVA Contract
On Wednesday, I commended the board of the Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) for voting to reject a long-term contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The decision offers Memphis opportunities to provide lower energy costs to its citizens, contribute to a sustainable energy future, and play a role in combatting climate change. See my release here. Responding to the Release of Brittney Griner Following Thursday’s release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russian detention, I released a statement as the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Co-Chairman and as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for Political Prisoners. I said I was grateful Ms. Griner is coming home but dismayed that others held by the Putin regime – such as Paul Whelan, Marc Fogel and Vladimir Kara-Murza -- are still wrongly detained. See the entire statement here. Meeting with the Polish Ambassador, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the Prime Minister of Lithuania
Pictured, from left to right: Congressman Cohen, Congressman Don Bacon, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, and Congressmen Ruben Gallego, Rick Larsen and Bill Keating As Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, I often meet with foreign government leaders to hear their perspectives on issues of mutual interest. This week, I met with the Polish ambassador to the United States Marek Magierowski and spoke with his guest Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau over dinner; the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popsoi; and the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte. These meetings are useful in clarifying important international issues and inform my thinking on foreign affairs policy. Announcing Major Grants to Expand COVID-19 Vaccinations On Wednesday and again on Thursday, I announced major grants to our community health centers. Christ Community Health Services, Memphis Health Center and Tri-State Community Health Center will together receive $1,251,470 to expand their COVID-19 vaccination capacity from the Department of Health and Hunan Services. See my releases here and here. Weekly Health Tip This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week declared to encourage everyone to get vaccinated. The influenza vaccine will be offered on a walk-in basis at Shelby County Health Department offices. No appointment is needed. Clinic locations: - Shelby County Health Department Immunization Clinic
814 Jefferson Ave, 38105 - Cawthon Public Health Clinic
1000 Haynes, 38114 - Collierville Public Health Clinic
167 Washington St., 38017 - Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic
6590 Kirby Center Cove, 38118 - Millington Public Health Clinic
8225 Highway 51 North, 38053 - Shelby Crossing Public Health Clinic
1826 Sycamore View Road, 38134 - Southland Mall Public Health Clinic
1287 Southland Mall, 38116
Quote of the Week “Moments ago, standing together with her wife, Cherelle, in the Oval Office, I spoke with Brittney Griner. She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s on her way home. After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along.” – President Joe Biden on the release of WNBA player Brittney Griner from Russian detention on Thursday. As always, I remain.
Most sincerely, Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 