Focusing on Our Community's Violent Crime Problem
Dear Friend, This week, I welcomed the new Department of Justice's COPS Office report on specialized police units, like the former SCORPION in Memphis that killed Tyre Nichols. I requested COPS assistance for Memphis in the wake of Eliza Fletcher’s abduction and murder and the Ezkiel Kelly shooting rampage. I also visited the CAAP Inc. facility in Memphis to see the success of its cocaine and alcohol program in helping reduce recidivism by ex-offenders, offered my new year’s resolutions for Smart City Memphis, called out Republican House Judiciary members’ “chutzpah” for pursuing a contempt of Congress citation against Hunter Biden, asked President Biden to end Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, announced a $500,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant to the Brooks Museum of Art, congratulated DHL Supply Chain warehouse in Memphis for its international recognition, honored all surviving 1968 Sanitation Worker strikers, met with the outgoing Turkish ambassador to the United States, Murat Mercan, and offered a health tip related to the forecasted sub-freezing temperatures. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Focusing on Our Community’s Violent Crime Problem Calling Attention to CAAP Inc. Cocaine and Alcohol Awareness Program and Its Success Offering New Year’s Resolutions to Smart City Memphis Calling Out House Judiciary Committee Republicans for “Chutzpah” Seeking to End “Terrorism” Designation for Cuba Announcing $500,000 National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to the Brooks Museum Congratulating DHL Supply Chain Warehouse in Memphis for World Economic Forum Recognition Honoring All Surviving 1968 Striking Sanitation Workers Meeting with Outgoing Turkish Ambassador to the United States Focusing on Our Community’s Violent Crime Problem On Thursday, I welcomed the new DOJ COPS Office report and guidance on specialized police units, like the former SCORPION unit that killed Tyre Nichols last January. In early September 2022, I convened the Department of Justice, its COPS program, and local leaders in Memphis to find ways to address public safety and policing after the abduction and murder of St. Mary’s kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher and, days later, the shooting rampage by Ezekiel Kelly, some of which was livestreamed. See the statement here. Calling Attention to CAAP Inc. Cocaine and Alcohol Awareness Program and Its Success On Monday, I held a press conference to call attention to the $671,000 I secured in the annual appropriations process for CAAP Inc. and its cocaine and alcohol programs aimed at alternatives to incarceration of ex-offenders. I was joined by CAAP Executive Director Albert Richardson, Criminal Court Judge Jennifer J. Mitchell, and former program participants. This kind of investment in our communities is paying real dividends in reducing recidivism. Offering New Year’s Resolutions to Smart City Memphis I was asked by Tom Jones, the principal contributor to the Smart City Memphis website, to offer a resolution for the new year. This is what I wrote: My New Year’s wishes are that Memphis becomes a city that grows peacefully and helps all achieve their potential. That means getting a grip on crime and making us a city that people want to move to, and not move away. I will continue to help secure federal grants which improve crime prevention and encourage federal oversight and best practices for law enforcement. From my committee perch on transportation, I’ll continue to encourage airport improvements and highway/bridge funding and a train to Nashville. There’s much more, including keeping our democracy and helping our global friends maintain their sovereignty. Go Tigers and Grizz forever. Calling Out House Judiciary Committee Republicans for “Chutzpah” On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee on which I serve as a senior member held a markup of a measure to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena for a deposition behind closed doors while agreeing to answer questions at a public hearing. Many of my colleagues pointed out that Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan himself defied a Congressional subpoena to testify before the January 6 Select Committee. See my release, including my remarks on Republican members’ “chutzpah” here. Seeking to End “Terrorism” Designation for Cuba On Thursday, I wrote President Biden asking him to reverse a misguided Trump policy designating Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism.” I worked hard for and applauded the Obama Administration’s opening to Cuba in 2015 and condemn Trump’s mean-spirted and political reversal of that progress. See my release and the letter here. Announcing $500,000 National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to the Brooks Museum On Monday, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced a $500,000 challenge grant to the Brooks Museum of Art. See my release on the grant here. Congratulating DHL Supply Chain Warehouse in Memphis for World Economic Forum Recognition On Tuesday, I entered a statement in the Congressional Record congratulating the DHL Supply Chain warehouse in Memphis for its internationally recognized excellence by the World Economic Forum. See that statement here. Honoring All Surviving 1968 Striking Sanitation Workers Last week, I paid tribute to Memphis Sanitation Workers striker Elmore Nickleberry, who passed on December 30. Relying on errant press accounts, I referred to him as one of the last two surviving strikers. We now know that at least two survivors, Ozell Ueal and the Reverend Cleophus Smith, are still with us and AFSCME Local 1733 says there may be as many of ten overall survivors in nursing homes around the nation. They all deserve our everlasting respect and gratitude. Meeting with Outgoing Turkish Ambassador to the United States Congressman Cohen, Ambassador Mercam, and Congressman Joe Wilson On Wednesday, as co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans, I hosted Turkey’s Ambassador to the U.S., Murat Mercan, as he approaches his retirement. We had a fruitful discussion about his country’s crucial role as a NATO partner and on its eventual help advancing the case for Sweden’s admission. We acknowledged some rough patches over Russia, Israel, Hamas, Sweden’s NATO membership and treatment of Syrian Kurds, but we’ve always had cordial exchanges. I wished him well in retirement. It is going to be cold – possibly in the single digits – this weekend. Health officials say a healthy indoor temperature is no lower than 64 degrees, and above 68 degrees to protect the very young, the elderly or people with health problems. If you’re having trouble keeping your heat on, contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistant Program (LIHEAP) at (866) 674-6327. See other tips, including warning signs of hypothermia, here. “When the attack on January sixth happened, there was no doubt about the truth. At the time, even Republican members of Congress and Fox News commentators publicly and privately condemned the attack. As one Republican senator said, Trump’s behavior was embarrassing and humiliating for the country. But now that same senator and those same people have changed their tune.” – President Biden speaking at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, last Friday. Wishing everyone a healthy and inspired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |