Heralding $3 Million in Targeted Funding for Regional One Health
Dear Friend, This week, I held a press conference with Regional One Health officials to showcase the $3 million in Community Project Funding I secured for the hospital through the annual appropriations process. I also reintroduced the Complete Streets Act to prioritize pedestrians, bicyclists and transit in the design of our roadways, met with constituents in my Memphis District Office, announced three National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants to local arts organizations, remembered journalist Jerome Wright, received another “100 +” on the Humane Society’s Legislative Scorecard, announced a U.S. Department of Education grant to the University of Memphis and a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and offered a health tip about influenza. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Heralding $3 Million in Targeted Funding for Regional One Health Reintroducing Complete Streets Act Meeting with Constituents in My District Office Announcing Three National Endowment for the Arts Grants to Local Arts Organizations Remembering Journalist Jerome Wright Again Receiving “100 +” on Humane Society Legislative Scorecard Announcing $1.1 Million Grant to University of Memphis Announcing $415,675 Grant to UTHSC Heralding $3 Million in Targeted Funding for Regional One Health On Tuesday, I held a press conference with Regional One Health officials to call attention to the $3 million in Community Project Funding I secured for the hospital over the past two years. I was pleased to hear Regional One Health President and CEO Reginald Coopwood recall my longtime commitment to the hospital, for whose creation I cast a deciding vote while serving on the Shelby County Commission when it was the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, or “The MED.” See Regional One’s release on the visit here. See a story The Daily Memphian wrote on my visit here. Reintroducing Complete Streets Act On Thursday, I reintroduced the Complete Streets Act to ensure that all modes of transportation – walking, bicycling, bus-riding – are taken into consideration in the future design of our roadways. See my release on the measure and its purpose here. Meeting with Constituents in My District Office This week, while the House was not in session in Washington, I met with constituents in my Memphis District Office. I discussed safety issues with the Personal Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO; discussed credit union issues with a board member from the Hope Credit Union Enterprise; and discussed Christian Brothers University with its President David Archer, among others. I learn a lot from these interactions with constituents and take their suggestions into account as I consider policy options in Washington. Announcing Three National Endowment for the Arts Grants to Local Arts Organizations On Tuesday, I announced that three Memphis arts organizations – Carpenter Art Garden, The Center for Transforming Communities, and Creative Aging Memphis – will be receiving grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). See details in my release here. Remembering Journalist Jerome Wright Courtesy of The Commercial Appeal Longtime journalist and editor Jerome Wright passed on Monday evening. An old school reporter who knew the city as well as anyone, and knew its players at every level, Jerome was what his longtime colleague Susie Thorp called “a journalist’s journalist…, passionate about accuracy and the peoples’ right to know.” Geoff Calkins at The Daily Memphian, another colleague, recalled that he “always took the time to find out.” And John Beifuss at The Commercial Appeal, where Jerome spent more than 45 years, said Jerome “had a passion for his hometown and a devotion to the watchdog mission of journalism that never wavered.” See my statement on his passing here. He will be missed. Again Receiving “100 +” on Humane Society Legislative Scorecard As a longtime member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I was pleased to learn on Monday that I have once again received a “100 +” on the Humane Society of the United States 2023 legislative scorecard. The recognition accounts for my actions, including critical votes, advancing the humane treatment of animals. See my release here. Announcing $1.1 Million Grant to University of Memphis On Monday, I announced that the University of Memphis will receive a grant of $1,171,185 from the U.S. Department of Education for implementing an alternative method of measuring student achievement. See that release here. Announcing $415,675 Grant to UTHSC On Wednesday, I announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a $415,675 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. See my release here. We are in the peak season for the flu and it’s important to be vigilant. Since the onset of COVID, influenza has been less predictable. It’s best to get the flu vaccine and to avoid crowds and consider wearing a mask when out in public. See the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidance here. “And I’ll say I was so damn proud to stand on that picket line with you. It’s not the first — it’s not the first UAW picket line I stood in. In my home state of Delaware, I’ve done it many times. But it’s the first time a president did it, I found out later.” – President Biden Wednesday speaking to members of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union after receiving their endorsement. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |