Dear Friend, This week, I hosted an event at the historic Melrose High School in Orange Mound for which I secured $3 million for an ambitious renovation and transformation of the distinctive community centerpiece. I also questioned expert witnesses at an Aviation Subcommittee hearing, which examined the need to pass a long-term Federal Aviation Administration bill, praised St. Jude and Saturday's St. Jude Memphis Marathon runners, introduced the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax Act, announced more than $1 million to Tipton County for debris removal after the spring storms, joined colleagues in introducing legislation to seize Russian oligarchs’ assets to pay for recovery in Ukraine, voted to expel Congressman George Santos from Congress, urged the Agriculture Secretary to finalize a federal rule prohibiting horse soring, and offered some seasonal holiday health tips. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Celebrating Melrose High Renovations with School Alumni Questioning Experts on the Need to Pass a Long-Term FAA Reauthorization Bill Praising St. Jude and Saturday's Marathon Runners Introducing the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax Act Announcing $1 Million for Tipton County Storm Debris Removal Calling for the Seizure of Russian Oligarchs’ Assets to Pay for Recovery in Ukraine Voting to Expel Congressman George Santos Urging USDA to Publish Final Rule Forbidding Horse Soring Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Celebrating Melrose High Renovations with School Alumni
On Monday, I hosted an event at historic Melrose High School to celebrate the $3 million in community funding I secured for the ambitious overhaul of the iconic Orange Mound institution. Mayor Jim Strickland and the city’s housing and development director Ashley Cash also spoke, but the event was made more delightful by the appearance of several Melrose alumni who sang the school song as they surveyed the improvements. See The Daily Memphian’s story on the event here, and remember to click on the alumni chorus video. Questioning Experts on the Need to Pass a Long-Term FAA Reauthorization Bill
On Thursday, the Aviation Subcommittee, on which I serve as the Ranking Member, held a hearing on the need for the Senate to pass and send to the president our comprehensive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act that the House passed in July. See my release with my opening statement and questions to expert witnesses here. On Wednesday, I met with airline pilots and flight attendants to get their sense of the pending legislation and hear their issues and concerns. Praising St. Jude and Saturday's Marathon Runners This morning, I went to the House floor to speak in praise of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the thousands of runners who will be in the streets Saturday for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. St. Jude cures childhood cancer and treats patients free of charge. I commend everyone involved. See my statement on the marathon and my floor speech here. Introducing the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax Act On Wednesday, I introduced the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax with Virginia Congressman Don Beyer and 60 other original cosponsors. The measure would prevent multi-millionaires from avoiding taxes or paying at a lower rate than ordinary Americans. It’s important to mention that it would not affect 99.99 percent of U.S. households and that it is immensely popular. See our release, and statements of the bill’s supporters, here. Announcing $1 Million for Tipton County Storm Debris Removal
The straight-line winds that tore through West Tennessee in late March and early April did tremendous damage and left behind tons of debris. I announced Monday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be sending more than $1 million to Tipton County to defray the costs of debris removal. See that release here. Calling for the Seizure of Russian Oligarchs’ Assets to Pay for Recovery in Ukraine On Tuesday, I joined Congressional colleagues in introducing a bicameral, bipartisan measure to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs for use in rebuilding Ukraine. See a story on the legislation from a Ukrainian newspaper here. Voting to Expel Congressman George Santos
This morning, I joined 310 colleagues in expelling New York Republican Congressman George Santos from office after his torrent of lies, misleading statements and alleged criminal behavior finally caught up with him. The Republican majority in Congress has been reduced to the point it can’t pass needed legislation, and this situation is becoming untenable. Urging USDA to Publish Final Rule Forbidding Horse Soring
A few days before Thanksgiving, I led a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging his department to finalize a federal rule that would end the practice of horse soring, the intentional infliction of injury and pain to horse legs and hoofs to achieve the gait known as “the Big Lick” to win blue ribbons at horse shows. See our release here. Weekly Health Tip As December begins, many will be decorating Christmas trees and using more electricity for decorations like lights. The National Fire Research Laboratory advises making sure Christmas trees are adequately watered in their stands, recommends keeping them away from heat sources like space heaters, and urges merrymakers to turn off Christmas tree lights when leaving home or going to bed. Every year, there are more than 200 home fires involving Christmas trees. The National Fire Protection Association has a variety of seasonal safety tips, including making sure Christmas lights come from a reputable source. See that here. Quote of the Week
“Let me finish by saying that my mother, Rosalynn Carter, was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. And pretty to look at, too.” – Chip Carter at Tuesday’s memorial service in Atlanta for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. As always, I remain.
Most sincerely, Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 