Expressing Concern about Damage from the One Big Ugly Law
Dear Friend,
This week, which became a District Work Period when House Republicans passed the One Big Ugly Bill last week, I expressed concerns about the harm the law will do to my constituents and the country. I also condemned the offensive antisemitic rants coming from Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot; signed on to a brief standing up for Congress’ exclusive power to impose tariffs, remembered the remarkable life of journalist Karanja Ajanaku, weighed in on the catastrophic storms and flooding in Texas and elsewhere, and offered a Friday Flashback, a Bill Day cartoon and a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Expressing Concern about Damage from the One Big Ugly Law
Condemning Antisemitic Commentary from Musk’s Grok
Standing Up for Congress’ Power to Impose Tariffs
Witnessing Catastrophic Flooding
Expressing Concern about Damage from the One Big Ugly Law
The fallout from Trump’s One Big Ugly Law is increasingly apparent and the implications for residents of the 9th Congressional District are dire. We are already hearing about the likely closure of rural hospitals in the Mid-South due to substantial cuts in the Medicaid program which will put additional pressure on Regional One because it relies heavily on payments from Medicaid for support. Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will also disproportionately affect our region, all to provide tax breaks to the wealthiest who don’t need them. The law is cruel, indefensible, and likely the worst bill ever passed by Congress.
Condemning Antisemitic Commentary from Musk’s Grok
I was disturbed to see Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok go off on offensive, violent, and antisemitic rants on X this week. In response, I joined my Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to Elon Musk demanding an explanation for how exactly this happened and what is being done to prevent it from happening in the future. Whatever the source of the offending commentary, it needs to immediately be condemned and corrected by X.
Standing Up for Congress’ Power to Impose Tariffs
This week, I joined my Congressional colleagues on the Litigation/Response Task Force in signing a friend of the court brief (Amicus Brief) standing up for Congress’ exclusive legislative power to impose tariffs and regulate commerce in a case now pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The argument is similar to the successful effort we made in May before the Court of International Trade.
The talented and thoughtful newspaper journalist Karanja Ajanaku passed on Tuesday at 70 years old after a long illness. I first met Dr. Ajanaku in Nashville when he covered the Tennessee General Assembly for The Commercial Appeal, and we became good friends. He later rose to be the Executive Editor of The Tri-State Defender, giving voice to the African American community. I placed a statement in the Congressional Record remembering him. See that here. His was a life well lived, and he will be missed.
Witnessing Catastrophic Flooding
The catastrophic flooding in Texas and other parts of the country has taken lives, destroyed homes, and upended entire communities. These tragic events serve as a powerful reminder of the critical role that both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) play in protecting lives through emergency response and recovery and forecasting and early warnings that help communities prepare. My thoughts are with every individual and family affected by these storms. As climate-related disasters grow more frequent and severe, I remain firmly committed to ensuring both FEMA and NOAA have the resources, staffing, and support they need to respond effectively, help communities recover, and build long-term resilience.
I took this picture on September 24, 2015 when Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress.
A Bill Day Cartoon -- "Cutting Down the Maple Tree"
The Shelby County Health Department will host a Community Care Fair at the Orange Mound Community Center on Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A variety of health services will be available, including free testing for HIV and back-to-school immunizations. Free child safety seats will be handed out while supplies last. The community center is located at 2590 Park Avenue (38114). See details here.
Yul Brenner (The King) in "The King and I"
“Now that I’m gone, I tell you: Don’t smoke. Whatever you do, just don’t smoke. If I could take back that smoking, we wouldn’t be talking about any cancer. I’m convinced of that.” -- Actor Yul Brenner, after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Brenner was born this day in 1920 and died in 1985.
As always, I remain
Sincerely,
|
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress