Introducing the Flight Education Access Act
May 5, 2023 |
Dear Friend, This week, while Congress is in recess, I met with constituents in Memphis and expressed my grave concern over the continuing gun violence in our city – just this week on Beale Street, at Huey’s, and at Fox 13. I also want you to be aware of my recent actions in our nation’s capital, where I introduced a measure to make it more affordable to enter the aviation industry as a student, reintroduced a bill named for Memphian Latonya Reeves that would ensure compliance with Supreme Court rulings on access to proper accommodation for people with disabilities, met with the University of Memphis champion Rugby team, congratulated the Memphis Grizzlies on a great season, and offered a seasonal health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Introducing the Flight Education Access Act Introducing the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act Meeting with University of Memphis Rugby Team Congratulating the Grizzlies on an Exciting Season Introducing the Flight Education Access Act Last week, I introduced the Flight Education Access Act. The new bipartisan bill would increase the borrowing limit for individuals taking out student loans to pay for flight training and would help to increase diversity within pilot-training programs. See my release here. Introducing the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act Also last month, I reintroduced the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act, assuring that the Supreme Court’s Olmstead ruling, giving people with disabilities the qualified right to receive the services they need in a setting of their choice, is honored. The measure already has 79 bipartisan House cosponsors. Latonya Reeves had to leave Memphis in order to have access to in-home support services. No one should have to choose between being institutionalized or moving to another state to access the services and supports needed to lead an independent life in their own home. See my release here. Meeting with University of Memphis Rugby Team Last week, I was honored to welcome the University of Memphis Rugby team and its coaches, Dave Hill and Phil Beck, to Washington, and was pleased they could drop by my Congressional office for a visit. These student athletes were in town to compete in the Collegiate Rugby National Championship, and they had a really strong showing – making it all the way to the quarterfinals before losing a nailbiter against Georgetown. This is the second time in two years that our Tigers rugby team has made it to the national championship tournament. Congratulations, Tiger ruggers! Congratulating the Grizzlies on an Exciting Season I congratulate the Grizzlies for a fantastic, if sometimes unnecessarily dramatic (on- and off-court), season this year, and look forward to the team building we can follow in the off season. An exciting season for our Grizzlies squad came to a close in Los Angeles. While the season certainly didn’t meet anyone’s high aspirations, particularly for its team leaders, the Grizzlies did have one of the best records in the NBA, finishing second to the Denver Nuggets in the West. If we hadn’t had the injuries to Steven Adams and Brandon Clark, I’m sure we would have beat the Lakers. I stuck with them proudly to the end. It’s easy to forget that despite being the fifth youngest team in the NBA, they finished the regular season with the second seed in the West. There’s no doubt in my mind they will be back. I extend my congratulations to them on a hard-fought season. I wish the players speedy recoveries and a productive training camp, and I eagerly await tipoff in the fall. Go Grizzlies! The recent heavy rains and warmer temperatures mean one thing in Memphis: it’s mosquito season. The Shelby County Health Department is already at work trapping and testing the insects for West Nile Virus and, so far, none have been positive. Beginning earlier this week, the department began a spraying regimen in areas where the virus was detected last year. On Friday, it will be spraying in Zip Code 38109. For more information on the surveillance effort and precautions you can take, click here. “We know in our bones and you know it too, our democracy remains at risk. But I’ve also made it clear, as I’ve seen throughout my life, it is within our power, each and every one of us, to preserve our democracy. We can, we must, we will.” – President Biden at the White House Correspondents Dinner last Saturday night As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |