Discussing I-55 Bridge with Transportation Secretary Buttigieg
June 28, 2024 |
Dear Friend, This week, I discussed Memphis priorities, including the need for a new Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. I also announced a $21.8 million grant to complete the final mile of the Wolf River Greenway, held an event in Memphis focusing on the use of bankruptcy to avoid civil liability, met with the new Ambassador to the United States from Türkiye, condemned the sham contempt of Congress citation for President Biden’s ghostwriter, congratulated the College Baseball World Series champion Tennessee Volunteers, and offered a mental health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Discussing I-55 Bridge with Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Announcing $21.8 Million Grant to Complete the Wolf River Greenway Holding an Event to Discuss Using Bankruptcy to Avoid Civil Liability Meeting with the Turkish Ambassador to the United States Voting Against Sham Contempt Citation for Biden Ghostwriter Congratulating University of Tennessee Baseball Champions Discussing I-55 Bridge with Transportation Secretary Buttigieg
On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for an oversight hearing and a review of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request. I took the opportunity to again stress how much our region and the whole country needs a new Interstate 55 Mississippi River bridge at Memphis. The Secretary visited Memphis in June of 2021 to inspect the Interstate 40 Hernando De Soto bridge that had been damaged and was closed weeks before. He is well aware of how vital Memphis is to interstate commerce. At the hearing, we also discussed Memphis’ nation-leading pedestrian fatality rate, the RAISE grant announced this week (discussed below) and the need for passenger rail service between Memphis and Nashville. See my release with my questions to the Secretary here. Announcing $21.8 Million Grant to Complete the Wolf River Greenway On Monday, I announced that Memphis is receiving more than $21.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program to finish the final mile of the 26-mile Wolf River Greenway. This lovely biking and walking trail adds to the quality of life in our region. I sought the RAISE funding and look forward to seeing the greenway completed. See my release here. Discussing the Use of Bankruptcy to Avoid Civil Liability Congressman Cohen with Retha Winfield, June Leatherwood and Joyce Leatherwood On Monday, I invited the press to attend a discussion I hosted with three women affected by ovarian cancer, where we discussed Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to avoid civil liability through bankruptcy and what Congress can do to reform the bankruptcy law to prevent the legal tactic. These women’s stories are heartrending, and I pledged to see what I can do to prevent more stories like theirs. Meeting with the Turkish Ambassador to the United States Congressman Cohen and Ambassador Sedat Önal On Wednesday, I welcomed Ambassador Sedat Önal, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United States, for an introductory meeting. We discussed the values and priorities of our respective countries, touching on joint-security issues, economic ties, and future diplomatic relations. Ambassador Önal shared with me the Turkish Government’s commitment to “increasing convergence and decreasing divergence” between the United States and Türkiye. I also discussed with him my role as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on U.S. – Turkiye Relations and Turkish Americans. It was a fruitful first meeting. Speaking Against Sham Contempt Citation for Biden Ghostwriter Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are seeking another contempt of Congress citation, again seeking to embarrass or aggravate President Biden with baseless claims. This time, they are going after the ghostwriter who helped him with two memoirs written before he was President. I offered an amendment during the markup that would have noted how Republicans’ are deceptively manipulating media, also called “cheap fakes,” and suggested the real reason the they want these recordings is to deliberately misrepresent the content in political advertising. See my release on the irritating waste of time here. Congratulating University of Tennessee Baseball Champions Congratulations to the University of Tennessee men’s baseball team and coach of the year Tony Vitello for winning the College World Series in a historic 6-5 victory over Texas A&M on Monday. During Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in June, I am recommending guidance from the National Institute on Aging exploring the causes and tips for reducing the disease and resources for caregivers. See that guidance here. “Free people, remember this maxim: we may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost.” – Political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, born on this day in 1712. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |