Eliminating Bottlenecks in the Development of the Aviation Workforce
July 12, 2024 |
Dear Friend, This week, as the ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I presided at a hearing on eliminating bottlenecks in the development of our aviation workforce, from pilot shortages to vacancies in technical and training positions. I also attended a ridiculous hearing called by Judiciary Committee Republicans designed to spread the false claim that advertisers are colluding to prevent the public from hearing conservative messaging, re-introduced the Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act, cosponsored articles of impeachment against U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, spoke at a forum about the future of transportation and Memphis’ high pedestrian fatality rate, condemned the arrest warrant issued for the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny’s widow, expressed concern at the hospitalization of political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza in Russia, met with Czech President Petr Pavel, announced a research grant for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), commended retiring Memphis Public Works Director Robert Knecht, and offered a health tip about extreme heat exposure. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Eliminating Bottlenecks in the Development of the Aviation Workforce Cosponsoring Articles of Impeachment Against U.S. Supreme Court Justices Alito and Thomas Speaking about Memphis Pedestrian Fatalities at Future of Transportation Caucus Briefing Condemning Russian Arrest Warrant for Yulia Navalnaya Expressing Concern Over Hospitalization of Russian Dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza Discussing Europe’s Future with Czech President Pavel Announcing Infectious Disease Research Grant for UTHSC Wishing Memphis Public Works Director Robert Knecht All the Best Eliminating Bottlenecks in the Development of the Aviation Workforce On Wednesday, the Aviation Subcommittee, on which I serve as the senior Democrat, held a hearing on eliminating bottlenecks in developing the aviation workforce. That includes addressing vacancies in our domestic pilot corps, but also the need to hire skilled air traffic controllers, maintenance personnel, inspectors and others. I focused on the need to fill these positions with diversity in mind. I also asked expert witnesses how the University of Memphis and Southwest Tennessee Community College aviation programs could benefit from their experience. See my release and questions to the witnesses here. Questioning Rationale for a Baseless Judiciary Committee Inquiry into Antitrust Violations in Advertising Judiciary Committee Republicans sought to spread the baseless claim that advertisers are colluding to prevent conservative messaging by calling self-interested witnesses -- including a right-wing talk show host -- but not an expert in antitrust violations. I said that Republican members must be reading the Constitution in a funhouse mirror. This embarrassing exercise was yet another attempt by the Majority to confuse and obfuscate, and Americans see through the ruse. See my release here. On Thursday, I re-introduced the Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act which seeks to end the exploitation of our veterans and service members by for-profit colleges. See my release here. Cosponsoring Articles of Impeachment Against U.S. Supreme Court Justices Alito and Thomas On Thursday, I cosponsored articles of impeachment against U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas whose blatant conflicts of interest on cases regarding the January 6th insurrection violate judicial canons and the federal recusal statute. Justice Alito flew flags associated with the insurrection at his two homes while Thomas’ wife, Ginny, actively coordinated with the White House on 2020 election denialism before, during and after the insurrection. There must be consequences for this kind of injudicious conduct. Further, recent public reporting has revealed gifts to these Justices from individuals who have business before the Court. None of these gifts were included in the Justices’ required financial disclosures. I also wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking him to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate Justice Thomas’s apparent federal ethics and tax violations, endorsing the same request made by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ron Wyden of Oregon. Speaking about Memphis Pedestrian Fatalities at Future of Transportation Caucus Briefing I have long advocated for “Complete Streets,” which are designed for safety and mobility by all users and not just drivers, and welcomed an opportunity to speak at a Future of Transportation Caucus briefing on Tuesday. Unfortunately, Memphis has the dubious distinction of having the highest pedestrian fatality rate per capita in the country, and I pledged to continue working to address that situation. I also advocated for better planning and engineering on our roads, sidewalks, bike paths and other elements of Complete Streets and my Complete Streets Act as we make improvements made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Whenever I have issues involving traffic safety, I think of the late Tommy Pacello. Condemning Russian Arrest Warrant for Yulia Navalnaya This week, deceased Russian dissident Alexei Navalny’s widow, Yulia, was charged in absentia by the corrupt Putin regime. Yulia has been carrying out her husband’s noble cause since he died in custody in February under suspicious circumstances. I released a statement as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners condemning the arrest warrant. See that statement here. Expressing Concern Over Hospitalization of Russian Dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza As the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners, I am aware of reports that my friend, the dissident Russian journalist and politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, has been transferred to a prison hospital. Vladimir has been in frail health and his transfer to a prison hospital is disturbing. In a statement, I called on the Russian authorities to take every necessary measure to assure his swift recovery. I continue to call for his immediate release. Vladimir was imprisoned to silence his critique of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the atrocities that have ensued. He has also been among the most prolific and eloquent dissidents in assailing Russian oligarchs and calling for increased Magnitsky Act sanctions. His voice must be heard. Discussing Europe’s Future with Czech President Pavel Congressman Cohen (fourth on left) and President Pavel (third from right) On Tuesday, I joined Members of the Congressional Czech Caucus in a meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel for a candid discussion in the U.S. Capitol. President Pavel was forthcoming about the need for the United States and other NATO countries to remain steadfast in backing Ukraine and was critical of Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary and others for their wavering support. It was a useful airing of views. Announcing Infectious Disease Research Grant for UTHSC The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease will provide a grant of $822,646 to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) for research on fungal and bacterial infections. See my release announcing the grant here. Wishing Memphis Public Works Director Robert Knecht All the Best Robert Knecht has been a wonderful partner in many of the projects I have sought funding for over the years, including the Big River Crossing bike path and the walking trail over the Harahan Bridge and the Cobblestone Landing project. When he announced his retirement from the City of Memphis Public Works Division, I placed a statement in the Congressional Record commending his 23 years of service to our community. See that statement here. There’s hot, and then there’s extreme heat, and our region has had plenty of both recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Weather Service have good guidance for extreme heat, including what symptoms should prompt an emergency response. See all of their guidance here. “Well, no one has said exactly 10 years but it’s obvious that it is a very serious issue to bring in Ukraine (to NATO). Because Ukraine is now a country at war. Ukraine has been attacked by Russia. So the most important thing we should do is to step up our support to Ukraine to ensure that Ukraine prevails. That’s a precondition for any future membership for Ukraine.” -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday’s CBS “Face the Nation” As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |