Condemning Hamas War Crimes Against Israelis
Dear Friend, This week, I condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel and Israeli civilians in the strongest terms and attended classified briefings to better understand the situation and the best way the United States can help in response. In the midst of this international crisis, Democrats continue to wait for House Republicans to decide on naming a candidate for Speaker who they can bring to a floor vote and elect. I also congratulated Memphis Mayor-elect Paul Young, welcomed the new cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security for 2024, applauded more progress in forgiving student loans, remembered my friend and Memphis public servant Janet Hooks, invited high school student to apply for nominations to the military service academies, invited students to register for the Congressional App Challenge, and offered a health tip about open enrollment for Medicare. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Condemning Hamas War Crimes Against Israelis Waiting for House Republicans to Decide on a Speaker Candidate Congratulating Mayor-Elect Paul Young Welcoming Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment Increase Applauding Further Progress on Student Loan Forgiveness Applying for a Nomination to the Military Service Academies Registering for the Congressional App Challenge Condemning Hamas War Crimes Against Israelis Hamas’ surprise attack across the Israeli border last Saturday, and its horrendous massacre of more than 1,200 innocent civilians, including more than two dozen American citizens, has shocked and horrified the nation. I have been attending classified briefings on the situation and strongly support providing Israel with all the help it needs to defend itself and protect its citizens. I also feel compelled to criticize some of the painful comments that have been made suggesting a moral equivalence in the difficult lives led by residents of Gaza and the atrocities committed by the depraved Hamas terrorists who committed the brutal and bloody massacre of civilians. This was not “resistance.” There is a time and place for debating the status of Palestinians and this week is neither the time nor place to do so. See an Axios story on my comments here. Waiting for House Republicans to Decide on a Speaker Candidate The House of Representatives has been waiting since Kevin McCarthy was tossed out of the speakership for Republicans to schedule a vote on the House floor for a new Speaker. Aid to Israel, aid to Ukraine, pending appropriations bills and other important matters are on hold until we can return to voting on the House floor, which requires a Speaker. This Republican-caused chaos and dysfunction must end. Congratulating Mayor-Elect Paul Young I congratulate Paul Young on his election as the next mayor of Memphis. His background in city planning and engineering has prepared him to address certain key issues. I look forward to working with him to improve our City. Welcoming Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment Increase The Social Security Administration announced on Thursday that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 3.2 percent next year for the millions of Americans receiving the benefit. The increase is intended to meet rising costs of food, fuel and other goods and services. While it is a smaller increase than the last two years’ extraordinary increases aimed at addressing inflation, the increase for 2024 is otherwise the highest of any Social Security COLA since 2011. Consumer prices have been easing and the COLA is linked to the Consumer Price Index. COLA notices will be mailed throughout the month of December, but if you want to know your new benefit amount sooner, you can securely obtain your Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in your personal account at ssa.gov. You can access this information in early December, prior to receiving the mailed notice. The increase will take effect in January. Applauding Further Progress on Student Loan Forgiveness As the author of the Tennessee Hope Lottery Scholarship program and bills like the Private Student Loan Fairness Act, I’ve always worked to make college more affordable and to help those struggling with student loan debt. I am pleased that President Biden recently announced an additional $9 billion in student loan debt cancellations for public service workers, permanently disabled borrowers, and others. This major step will help 125,000 borrowers and their families who will see $9 billion in loan debt erased. Here's how it breaks down:
With student loan repayments having resumed earlier this month after a 3-year pause due to the pandemic, I was glad to see this particularly timely announcement. To read more from the White House, click here. The Biden Administration has approved $127 billion in student loan debt cancellation for over 3.5 million borrowers so far, but we still have work ahead of us. In August, the Biden Administration’s announced the new, income-driven Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. It’s the most affordable student loan repayment plan ever, and ready for borrowers to apply now. Memphis lost a dedicated public servant, and I lost my dear friend Janet Hooks this week. The former City Council member and advisor to mayors will be greatly missed. See my statement on her passing here. Applying for a Nomination to the Military Service Academies High school students who are interested in attending a military service academy can apply for a nomination through my office. The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Candidates must live in TN-9. The deadline is Tuesday, October 31, 2023. For more information, visit my website here: https://cohen.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations or contact my Constituent Services Representative Jeremy Jordan at (901) 544-4131. Registering for the Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging students to learn how to code by creating their own apps. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and encourage students to engage in these fields. The Congressional App Challenge is open to middle school and high school students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students participating in the competition may register and submit their app through November 1, 2023. For complete registration information and resources, please visit the Congressional App Challenge website. Medicare’s annual open enrollment period begins this Sunday. October 15 is when all people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the next year to better meet their needs. Enrollment will remain open through Thursday, December 7. See details on how to make those changes, or to enroll for the first time, here. “This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty — not just hate, but pure cruelty — against the Jewish people. And I would argue it’s the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust — the deadliest day since the Holocaust, one of the worst chapters in human history that reminded us all that — that expression I learned from my dad early on: ‘Silence is complicity.’” – President Biden at a Roundtable with Jewish Community Leaders on Wednesday As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |