Hosting an Anti-Hunger Roundtable
Dear Friend,
This week, working in the district, I hosted a roundtable discussion to end hunger and improve nutrition in our community with stakeholders and advocates, and was pleased the result was solid, practical and immediate solutions. I also plan to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., broke ground at Greenbelt Landing for which I secured funding, welcomed the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi, condemned yet another unconstitutional executive order, this one intended to disrupt the midterm elections for Republicans’ benefit, spoke at the “No Kings 3” rally, submitted public comments supporting my legislation to identify and recognize the historic sites of extrajudicial lynchings near Memphis, urged state transportation officials to prioritize repairs to Elvis Presley Boulevard, held a meeting with young professionals to hear about their careers and aspirations, addressed the Whitehaven Garden Club, held meetings with constituents in my District Office, planned to attend the exhibit of Congressional Art Competition submissions, announced National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and offered a Friday Flashback, a Bill Day cartoon and weekly health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Hosting an Anti-Hunger Roundtable
Commemorating 58th Anniversary of the King Assassination
Breaking Ground at Greenbelt Landing
Welcoming the Firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi
Condemning Trump’s Unconstitutional Effort to Shape State Voter Rolls
Celebrating Free Speech at Third “No Kings Day” Rally
Supporting Historic Case for Lynching Sites Legislation
Urging TDOT to Prioritize Repairs to Elvis Presley Boulevard
Facilitating Meeting of Young Professionals
Addressing Whitehaven Garden Club
Holding Meetings in My District Office
Displaying Annual Congressional Art Competition Submissions
Announcing $996,893 in NIH Grants to UTHSC
Hosting an Anti-Hunger Roundtable
On Tuesday, I convened a roundtable discussion with stakeholders and advocates exploring issues of hunger and nutrition. Governor Bill Lee turned down federal Summer EBT funding that would help feed kids in Memphis and across Tennessee this summer. It’s not a funding problem; it’s a policy choice. Organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger came together at my District Office for a discussion on what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change. We also talked about practical, local solutions that can make a real difference right now. For example, according to our partners at Clean Memphis, there’s enough perfectly good food being thrown away in our communities to cover up to 40 percent of the local hunger gap. I’m working to make these kinds of cooperative partnerships deliver for the people of the 9th District.
Commemorating 58th Anniversary of the King Assassination
On Saturday evening, I will attend the “MLK’s Legacy Reimagined” commemoration at the National Civil Rights Museum, the site of the Lorraine Motel where he was assassinated 58 years ago. Please see my statement on the anniversary here.
Breaking Ground at Greenbelt Landing
On Monday afternoon, I joined Mayor Paul Young and representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others at the groundbreaking for Greenbelt Landing at the north end of Mud Island. I secured $3 million in federal funding for the ambitious project that will create a tourist-friendly riverboat landing at a spot with a nice view of the Mississippi River.
Welcoming the Firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi
Pam Bondi tried to do Trump’s bidding in a transparent display of loyalty over truth and justice, and it could not go on forever. Her poor coverup of the Epstein files which continue to keep a focus on Trump’s yearslong bromance with the convicted pedophile sex trafficker, was just one of the many reasons Trump could not retain her. Trump gave her the impossible task of going after Leticia James, James Comey, John Brennan, Jack Smith, Adam Schiff, and others -- his perceived enemies -- who have done nothing to deserve prosecution but have worked to preserve our democracy. Her department’s inexcusable failure to investigate the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti after they were killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis was a betrayal of the Department of Justice’s mission. The effort to staff U.S. Attorneys’ offices with unqualified Trump loyalists proved embarrassing. She was always in way over her head and it’s good she is out. I hope her replacement will work on behalf of the American people rather than as President Trump’s taxpayer-funded attorney, but if not, I will continue to keep them accountable. See my release on the announcement here. I discussed her sacking with Jim Sciutto of CNN on Thursday evening.
Condemning Trump’s Unconstitutional Effort to Shape State Voter Rolls
On Tuesday, President Trump signed another of his executive orders of dubious legality, this time to create voter rolls to disenfranchise voters who are not pre-approved by his proposed (and unconstitutional) vetting process. Limiting voter numbers in an effort to win the mid-term elections in November is a transparently illegal attempt to tilt results his way, and the American people can see that – and reject it. See my statement here.
Celebrating Free Speech at Third “No Kings Day” Rally
After a late night voting on Friday, I woke at 4 a.m. Saturday to catch a flight to Chicago and on to Memphis to speak at the Indivisible-organized “No Kings 3” rally at Robert R. Church Park on Beale. I have a proud record of standing up to this tyrant and took the opportunity to remind the crowd of my efforts to impeach him during his first term and to limit his misuse of the pardon power, his destruction of the East Wing of the White House, and so much more. He is thoroughly corrupt, as are many senior advisors around him, and my message was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd estimated at more than 1,000.
Supporting Historic Case for Lynching Sites Legislation
President Biden signed my Evaluating Lynching Locations (ELL) for National Park Sites Act into law in 2022, a measure named in part for Ell Persons, lynched by a Memphis mob in 1917. Today was the deadline to submit public comment to the National Park Service making the case for a study of the proposed lynching sites. Please consider reviewing the historic record I established in my public comments here.
Urging TDOT to Prioritize Repairs to Elvis Presley Boulevard
Elvis Presley Boulevard is one of the major gateways to our city and its continued disrepair must be made a priority. That’s why I urged state Department of Transportation officials to make the boulevard a priority as it contemplates a 10-year road-reconstruction plan. See my release on the letter here.
Facilitating Meeting of Young Professionals
On Thursday, hosted a meeting of young professionals at my downtown District Office to hear straight from this important group how my office and federal programs can improve their work lives and careers.
Addressing Whitehaven Garden Club
On Monday evening, I spoke to members of the Whitehaven Garden Club and congratulated them on their initiatives encouraging the growth of more backyard, community and school gardens in Whitehaven and across Southwest Memphis. Their inspiring efforts continue as we enter a new Spring planting season. I was joined by City Council Member Pearl Walker and we talked about repairs to Elvis Presley Boulevard. I updated them on my vote against funding ICE and its militia-type behavior and its not wearing masks or using body cameras and not investigating instances of deadly force.
Holding Meetings in My District Office
On Tuesday, I met with 7-year-old Lorelai and her mother Caitlin Roberson at my District Office. We talked about establishing a two-day camp for children with physical ailments like hers and a zoo event for kids. She is a heroic young lady with a positive spirit and it was pleasure to meet with her. On Monday, I met members of the West Tennessee Alzheimer’s Association to discuss the Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act and the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act to provide critical resources to a patient population that is growing as the nation ages. Also Monday, I met in my District Office with members of Memphis’ Indian community to discuss incidents of anti-Indian and anti-South Asian discrimination sparked by anti-immigrant rhetoric at the highest levels of government. Awareness and tolerance are the first steps in maintaining a thriving multicultural society.
Displaying Congressional Art Competition Exhibits
Later today, I will join 25 or more high school student artists, their parents, teachers and art lovers for a display of art work submitted for this year’s Congressional Art Competition at an exhibition at the Collage Dance Center. The winner of the competition for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District will have his or her work exhibited at the U.S. Capitol for a year and the winner’s parents will be flown to Washington for the day. This evening’s exhibit will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 505 Tillman Street (38112). I hope to see you there.
Announcing $996,893 in NIH Grants to UTHSC
On Thursday, I announced two grants to professors at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) on their work on heart disease and hypertension and on alcoholism and post-traumatic stress. See my release on the grants here.
This is me with my former Congressional colleague John Yarmuth of Louisville and my pal Don Donati at a Washington Nationals baseball game in September 2015.
A Bill Day Cartoon – “Liberty Ball and Chain”
The Shelby County Health Department and All 4s Rescue League have teamed up to offer free, drive-thru rabies and parvovirus vaccinations and microchips for dogs and cats on Saturday, April 11, beginning at 7:00 a.m. and until supplies last. Rabies can be a serious threat to both pets and humans. Please consider availing yourself of this opportunity at 1826 Sycamore View Road, Memphis (38134). See details here.
“Could the Iran war do what even Vladimir Putin couldn’t and blow up the North Atlantic Treaty alliance? That’s no longer an idle question as most of Europe refuses to help the U.S., and President Trump responds by threatening to leave NATO. This would be the dumbest alliance breakup in modern history…
“The larger reality is that Russia and Iran are working together as an axis against the West. The two share weapons, especially drones and missiles, and Russia is providing intelligence to Iran about American targets. Mr. Trump is especially obtuse on this point, refusing even to acknowledge this Russian harm to U.S. troops, much less condemn it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ducks the question whenever he’s asked about it.” – The Wall Street Journal editorial “Bomb Iran but Blow Up NATO?” on Wednesday
I wish everyone a happy Easter on Sunday.
As always, I remain
Sincerely,
|
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress