Expressing Condolences on the Death of Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney
Dear Friend,
This week, I was saddened to learn of the death of Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney and the wounding of two of his colleagues. I also applauded a $16.1 million grant to restore the Mississippi River floodplain and protect vital roadways from flood damage, urged the State Department to do more to seek the release of Russian opposition leader and my friend Vladimir Kara-Murza, met with the four winners of the Congressional App Challenge as they visited the nation’s capital and demonstrated their technical prowess, met with the new leadership of the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), was pleased to see the Tennessee A & I champions recognized at the White House, affirmed my commitment to Alzheimer Disease research and caregiving, attended the inspiring address of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and offered a health tip on maternal health. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Expressing Condolences on the Death of Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney
Applauding Grant to Restore Mississippi River Floodplain
Seeking Release of Russian Opposition Leader Vladimir Kara-Murza
Meeting with Congressional App Challenge Winners
Discussing Memphis Transit Needs with New MATA Leadership
Welcoming White House Recognition of Tennessee A & I Champions
Supporting Efforts to Enhance Research on Alzheimer’s Disease
Attending Address of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida
Expressing Condolences on the Death of Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney
I was saddened to learn this morning of the death of Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney and the wounding of two of his colleagues. Police officers protect society and put their lives in jeopardy every day and they need our support. I want to express my condolences to Officer McKinney’s family and friends and my sorrow to the officers injured in this terrible incident.
Applauding Grant to Restore Mississippi River Floodplain
On Thursday morning, as a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I announced that the City of West Memphis will receive a $16,155,550 Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. I have been working to generate support for the funding, which will restore hundreds of acres of Mississippi River floodplain with wetlands and riparian forest. This will protect the surface transportation routes of Interstates 55 and 40, two major freight rail lines, and the Big River Crossing bicycle-pedestrian bridge that opened in 2016 for which I also secured funding. See my release here.
Seeking Release of Russian Opposition Leader Vladimir Kara-Murza
On Tuesday, as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for Political Prisoners, I spoke at an event focused on the two-year anniversary of the arrest of Russian opposition leader, and my friend, Vladimir Kara-Murza. Vladimir was sentenced to 25 years in prison for criticizing Putin’s illegal invasion and devastation of Ukraine and has been on the forefront of international efforts to impose Magnitsky Act sanctions against corrupt Russian oligarchs. At the event, which was attended by Vladimir’s wife, Evgenia, senior lawmakers, diplomats, and the international press, I reminded those present that Vladimir told me that the worst thing for a political prisoner is to be forgotten. We will never forget him, and we will highlight this injustice until he is released.
Meeting with Congressional App Challenge Winners
Ninth Congressional District Congressional App Challenge winners Kennedi Stewart, Naomi Leverette, Kennedy Jefferson, and Alan Ji demonstrated their EcoTrace app in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center this week amid like-minded students from around the country. I was pleased to visit with them as they showed the world how to properly assess recyclable waste, including varieties of plastic, using nothing but a smartphone. They also visited my office with their sponsor, Meka Egwuekwe, the executive director of CodeCrew. These gifted student-environmentalists are our future, and their work inspires hope.
Discussing Memphis Transit Needs with New MATA Leadership
On Tuesday, the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s new CEO Bacarra Mauldin, the new MATA board chairman Michael Fulton, and other MATA officials came to my office to discuss regional transit needs. The U.S. Department of Transportation is investing in transit at historic levels under President Biden’s leadership, and its effect is on display in projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit route linking downtown with the University of Memphis campus.
Welcoming White House Recognition of Tennessee A & I Champions
I was pleased to see Vice President Kamala Harris greeting the Tennessee A & I teammates who won the NAIA basketball national championships in 1957, 1958 and 1959 at the White House last week. I wrote the President earlier this year seeking the White House invitation and the recognition it signifies. The heroes of the historically Black university, now Tennessee State University in Nashville, certainly deserve the honor, and I congratulate them.
Supporting Efforts to Enhance Research on Alzheimer’s Disease
Jill Norcross, Congressman Cohen and Linda Busby
On Tuesday, I also met with Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) representatives Jill Norcross and Linda Busby, and I assured them of my commitment to research on the disease and to assistance for caregivers.
Attending Address by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida
On Thursday, I attended the joint meeting of Congress at which Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida celebrated the unbreakable alliance of our two countries. The enduring relationship forged since 1945 could not be stronger, and his remarks inspired confidence it will continue. The prime minister implored the United States to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia and stand up for its sovereignty, democracy and freedom as Japan has pledged to do. The essence of his speech was that the world has generally enjoyed peace since the end of the Second World War but is now breaking into two distinct camps with opposing ideologies. One is the Russia-China-Iran-North Korea camp and the other is the U.S.-Japan-Europe and South Korea camp. We need to be part of keeping Ukraine a free and independent country where democracy and liberty rule.
The Health Resources and Services Administration has declared the week of April 11 – 17 “Black Maternal Health Week,” raising awareness of the health needs of Black women of child-bearing age. See its guidance here.
“The absence of any prosecutions of former Presidents until this case does not reflect the understanding that Presidents are immune from criminal liability; it instead underscores the unprecedented nature of petitioner’s alleged conduct.” -- Special Prosecutor Jack L. Smith in a brief to the United States Supreme Court in Donald J. Trump, Petitioner v. United States of America, filed Monday
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress