Dear Friend, This week, in the wake of the terrible crash of a passenger airliner and a helicopter over the Potomac River, and as the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I consulted with experts at the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and others as we press for answers to determine how this happened. Also, as the country reeled from President Trump’s uproarious assault on the normal functions of government in his headlong effort to eviscerate expertise among civil servants in the federal workforce and instead instill loyalty to him and by preventing necessary Congressionally approved federal assistance to reach its intended targets, I mobilized critical efforts to meet my constituents’ needs. I also spoke out against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in a series of national television interviews, wrote an op-ed published in all of Tennessee’s major newspapers urging the state General Assembly to abandon plans to misdirect state gambling revenue for private K-12 use, expressed opposition of the nomination of Kash Patel for Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), sought guidance from newly confirmed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on whether significant infrastructure funding appropriated for projects in my district are compromised by confused and unreasonable executive actions, led a letter urging Trump to reconsider withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, and offered a weekly health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X) to see what I am doing as it happens. Conferring with Aviation Experts after Fatal Airline Crash Offering Constituents Guidance in the Wake of Trump Outrages Urging Senators to Reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of HHS Recommending Tennessee General Assembly Abandon Plans to Misdirect Gambling Revenue Strongly Opposing Kash Patel for FBI Director Seeking Guidance on Funding for Major Local Infrastructure Projects Leading a Letter Asking Trump to Reconsider U.S. Withdrawal from the WHO Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Conferring with Aviation Experts after Fatal Airline Crash 
On Wednesday night, an American Airlines passenger jet approaching Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport collided with an Army Blackhawk helicopter killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. As the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I have been conferring with experts as we prepare to exercise Congressional oversight and find out how this happened. My staff and I have held meetings with the relevant investigating agencies and we will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that our flying public continues to count on a commitment to its safety. In the meanwhile, I express my condolences to all involved and commend our first responders for their dedicated work performing a dangerous and difficult duty. Offering Constituents Guidance in the Wake of Trump Outrages
With the return of President Trump to the White House, I have instructed my staff to help in any way possible as ill-advised and mistaken executive orders are asserted, then revised, then terminated, all within days of their obviously premature and careless announcement. While their actions may not hold, their decisions will unfortunately have real-life impacts on people like you. It is reminiscent of Trump’s first chaotic and irresponsibly unpredictable administration that benefited primarily only the wealthiest Americans and made life harder for those who were already struggling. Read my letter that I sent to constituents who contacted me with their concerns about the freeze on federal grant and loan payments here. Urging Senator to Reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of HHS
I went on national television three times this week (so far) to point out that, as a polio survivor, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, is the wrong choice to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services. As one of just two members of Congress to have had polio (the other is Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky), I wrote an op-ed for USA Today urging the Senate to reject the nomination. See those television interviews here, here and here. Recommending Tennessee General Assembly Abandon Plans to Misdirect Gambling Revenue As the recognized “Father of the Tennessee Lottery” and sponsor of the scholarships its supports, and as a watchdog on how state gambling revenue is directed to education programs, I have consistently opposed, both in letters to the governor and in statewide editorial opinion columns, the misguided efforts of short-sighted Republican state legislators to divert this productive revenue stream away from its intended purpose. See one of those op-eds here. Strongly Opposing Kash Patel for FBI Director
Kash Patel is an ideological cultural warrior focused on retribution against perceived Trump antagonists. His nomination was a dangerous and self-serving choice of an incompetent nominee, and I was glad to see it largely seen that way during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. I hope that his nomination is rejected and that someone with independence, integrity, and deep law enforcement investigative experience is proposed instead. Seeking Guidance on Funding for Major Local Infrastructure Projects
On Wednesday, I joined my Transportation and Infrastructure colleagues in a letter to newly confirmed Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on how to interpret confused and misguided orders from the White House on funding for projects authorized by major infrastructure bills which are critical to the district and, more broadly, the Mid-South region. Leading a Letter Asking Trump to Reconsider U.S. Withdrawal from the WHO
Earlier today, I led a letter to with 42 Congressional colleagues to President Trump asking him to reconsider his decision to withdraw the United Staes form the World Health Organization. See my release and the quite detailed letter rationalizing it here. Weekly Health Tip
The Trump administration has instructed federal health agencies to pause all external communications, such as health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updates to websites and social media posts. Typically, you would see useful guidance from one of the federal health agencies – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- in this space. Today, it is missing. Quotes of the Week
“Republicans are ripping off hardworking Americans by stealing taxpayer dollars, grants and financial assistance as part of their corrupt scheme to pay off billionaire donors and wealthy corporations. The Republican Rip Off will raise the cost of living for the working class, while hurting children, seniors, veterans, first responders, houses of worship and everyday Americans in need ... The Republican Rip Off is an unprecedented assault on the Country, the Constitution and the Congress. Millions of Americans will be hurt. By necessity, we will combat the extreme funding freeze with a forceful response on all fronts.” -- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 
