Condemning Republican Efforts to Discredit the FBI and FTC
Dear Friend,
This week, I witnessed sheer hypocrisy as Republican members of the Judiciary Committee, on which I serve, sought to discredit the FBI, our nation’s premier law enforcement and anti-terrorism agency, and later accused the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission of imagined but groundless ethical lapses. I also announced that all of my Community Project Funding requests, valued at $16 million, have been approved in the initial phase of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget negotiations, wrote to Sterilization Services of Tennessee about why it hasn’t reduced emissions of ethylene oxide in Memphis, remembered the life of my former state Senate colleague and friend Roy Herron, experienced the next-generation F-35 jet fighter from a cockpit simulator, announced a grant for medical equipment for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and offered a health tip about the relentless July heat. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (and soon on Threads) to see what I am doing as it happens.
Condemning Republican Efforts to Discredit the FBI and FTC
Applauding the Advance of $16 Million for 14 Community Projects
Seeking Answers about Reducing EtO Emissions from Sterilization Services of Tennessee
Checking Out F-35 Fighter Cockpit Simulator
Announcing Grant for Medical Equipment for UTHSC
Condemning Republican Efforts to Discredit the FBI and FTC
On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the Judiciary Committee and was subjected to meritless criticism and baseless accusations by its Republican members as they try to convince the public that our premier federal law enforcement agency is being used against conservatives. I asked Wray about the attacks on FBI field offices after the execution of a lawful subpoena at Mar-a-Lago and about the FBI’s need to create a unit to protect special agents investigating former President Trump in the classified documents and January 6 riot cases. See my release and that line of questioning here.
The following day, Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan came before the Judiciary Committee and was accused of groundless ethical lapses and conflicts. I said she and Wray had been treated disrespectfully by members trying to score political points at their expense. See my release and my speech here.
Securing $16 Million for 14 Community Projects
On Thursday evening, I announced that 10 of my Community Projects have been approved for funding in the initial phase of the appropriations process for the Fiscal Year that begins October 1. This morning, I announced that another four projects have been approved. This includes funding for the Memphis Police, Covington Police, homeless veterans, the Memphis International Airport, Northside High School and the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA). See details in my release here.
Seeking Answers about Reducing EtO Emissions from Sterilization Services of Tennessee
On Tuesday, I wrote to Sterilization Services of Tennessee requesting answers about why the company’s operations in Virginia and Georgia have reduced ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions but its Memphis plant has not. See my release here.
Sadly, my former state Senate colleague and friend Roy Herron died last Saturday after sustaining catastrophic injuries in a jet ski accident. I expressed my condolences and made a statement remembering him in the Congressional Record. See that statement here.
Checking Out F-35 Fighter Cockpit Simulator
On Tuesday, I tried out the cockpit simulator of the F-35 fighter jet when it was brought to Capitol Hill. This is the next generation fighter our military will be using in the decades to come.
Announcing Grant for Medical Equipment for UTHSC
Also Tuesday, I announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a $616,949 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to purchase diagnostic medical equipment. See that release here.
More than 700 people in the United States die each year when they are overcome by extreme heat. With parts of the country, including the Mid-South, sweltering in 100-degree heat, it’s important to take precautions and not get over exerted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health says staying hydrated and retreating to cooler places is critical, as is assessing your own risk from conditions like heart disease and obesity. See all of its guidance here.
“I will say this notion that somehow the violence at the Capitol on January 6 was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and agents is ludicrous and a disservice to our brave, hard-working, dedicated men and women.” – FBI Director Christopher Wray answering a question I posed at Wednesday’s oversight hearing.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress