Introducing the REAL AMERICA Act
Dear Friend,
This week, I returned to Washington for just three days because the Republican House leadership failed to pass a procedural rule for consideration of a bill permitting proxy voting in Congress for new parents and cancelled votes after Tuesday morning. Nonetheless, I introduced my REAL AMERICA Act to truly reform the tax code in ways that would benefit ordinary working people and prevent the tax cut for millionaires that Republicans are proposing, introduced the ‘‘Making Any Reimbursement Against the Law for Guarding Overnight Act’’ or the ‘‘MARALAGO Act’’ to prohibit a President or former President from personally profiting financially from Secret Service protection, wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency’s new administrator to find out which companies in the 9th Congressional District have sought Presidential Exemptions from the Clean Air Act, applauded New Jersey Senator Cory Booker for his historic floor speech, met with Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss the path forward on climate change policy, agreed with leading economists that the Trump tariffs will be harmful to the economy and to most American families, suggested Republican accusations that federal judges are “overreaching” in striking down Trump executive orders are misguided and dangerous, announced a substantial research grant to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, met with the Secretary of State for Scotland, discussed priorities with AIDS United members, memorialized my late black cat, invited talented high school students to submit works to the Congressional Art Competition, and offered a Friday Flashback, a Bill Day cartoon and a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Introducing the REAL AMERICA Act
Seeking Names of Companies Seeking Presidential Exemptions from the Clean Air Act
Applauding Senator Cory Booker’s Record-Breaking Oratory
Meeting with Leader Jeffries on Environment and Climate Change
Concurring with Leading Economists on Fallacy of Trump Tariff Claims
Questioning Premise of Republican Assertion of Judicial Overreach
Announcing Cancer Research Grant to St. Jude
Celebrating Tartan Week with Secretary of State for Scotland
Meeting with AIDS United Members from Tennessee
Remembering Little Black Kitty
Inviting Participation in the Congressional Art Competition
Introducing the REAL AMERICA Act
On Thursday, I introduced the Reward Each American’s Labor and Make Every Rich Individual Contribute Again (REAL AMERICA) Act, a bold tax reform bill that helps everyday working people while addressing Republican plans to sneak through a $2 trillion tax cut for millionaires and billionaires. We need to rethink who the tax code is designed to serve, not corporations, hedge funds or billionaires, but the actual people keeping the economy running. See details in my release here.
On Wednesday, I introduced the ‘‘Making Any Reimbursement Against the Law for Guarding Overnight Act’’ or the ‘‘MARALAGO Act’’ to prohibit the Secret Service from spending federal dollars to pay a President or former President (or an entity that he or she owns or controls) for lodging, meals, and other incidental expenses while the Secret Service is protecting the President or former President at his or her residence. President Trump has charged the government for meals and hotel rooms for Secret Service Agents at his Mar-a-Lago home and his other properties. In some instances, the Secret Service has paid Trump $1,000 a night per room for these accommodations – an exorbitant amount higher than the standard government rates. See the details in my release here.
Obtaining Names of Companies Seeking Presidential Exemptions from the Clean Air Act
On Monday, I wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin requesting a list of companies in the 9th Congressional District that have sought Presidential Exemptions from the Clean Air Act. Memphis has a long history of permitting polluting industries to locate near residential neighborhoods, especially in Southwest Memphis. The companies seeking permission from President Trump to send more pollutants into the air should be made public and held accountable. I’ll let you know when I have obtained that information. See the letter here.
Applauding Senator Cory Booker’s Record-Breaking Oratory
I went to the Senate chamber Tuesday to hear the last two and a half hours of Senator Cory Booker’s historic 25-hour floor speech condemning the multitude of harms being done by Trump-Musk corruption and illegal conduct. I was inspired, uplifted and wowed. He concluded with reference to John Lewis and his suggestion to engage in “good trouble.” It ended in a standing ovation, and I joined a few other members in congratulating him and telling him how important his message is. It is now the longest speech in Senate history.
Meeting with Leader Jeffries on Environment and Climate Change
On Wednesday morning, as a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), I met with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss the investments made as a result of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and other investments in sustainable energy and clear air. It’s clear that the Trump Administration is beholden to the fossil fuels industry and will attempt to reverse forward-thinking environmental priorities. We strategized over how we can protect against the kinds of disastrous storms we’ve seen across our region this week as climate change accelerates.
Concurring with Leading Economists on Fallacy of Trump Tariff Claims
I don’t believe tariffs will restore American heavy industry but am fairly certain they will raise consumer prices and probably tip the country into a regrettable recession. Tariffs add to the prices of imported goods, leading economists say, and they aren’t paid by foreign exporters to the U.S. or by foreign countries. Trump is living in President McKinley’s 19th century dreamscape, and I predict we all will regret it soon. See my statement on his tariffs here.
Questioning Premise of Republican Assertion of Judicial Overreach
Appropriately for April Fools’ Day, Republican members of the Judiciary Committee called for a hearing on “judicial overreach” on Tuesday, their response to a series of rulings against Trump-Musk by federal judges appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents who have applied the law to the facts of executive orders and mass layoffs. See my commentary during the hearing here.
Announcing Cancer Research Grant to St. Jude
On Monday, I announced a National Cancer Institute grant of $465,506 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. See my release here.
Celebrating Tartan Week with the Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray came to my Washington office to talk on Wednesday during Tartan Week, a time for recognizing the contributions of American Scots to the United States. As a co-Chair of the Congressional Friends of Scotland Caucus, I was pleased to discuss our countries’ warm relations. Earlier in the Day, Secretary Murray presided at a Tartan Tattoo on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Meeting with AIDS United Members from Tennessee
On Wednesday, I met with AIDS United members from Memphis and Nashville. We discussed concerns that Republican have plans to cut deeply into funding for HIV/AIDS prevention programs, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and SNAP benefits. Memphis has the second highest rate of people living with AIDS nationally. Cuts to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and other federal health programs will have a severe impact on our community. I assured them I will do all I can to protect our social safety net programs.
Remembering Little Black Kitty
My cat, Little Black Kitty, passed overnight last Friday. She was my companion and housemate for 10 years after I found her as a stray in my Overton Park neighborhood.
Inviting Participation in the Congressional Art Competition
Again this year, I am soliciting artwork from 9th Congressional District high school students for the Congressional Art Competition. It’s an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent across the country. The winner from TN-9 will have their work hung in the U.S. Capitol for a year. The deadline to submit artwork is Tuesday, April 22, at noon. See rules and details here. If you have further questions, contact my District office at (901) 544-4131.
Pam Horowitz, Julian Bond’s widow; Martin Luther King III; me, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee at the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination in Memphis. Tonight, I will receive the April 4th Foundation’s Open Door Award for my work advancing civil rights and opening doors for others. Former Congresswoman Lee will be recognized as a winner of the “I AM A MAN” Award.
A Bill Day Cartoon – “It’s not a tax, he says…”
The Shelby County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health last week confirmed the first travel-related human case of West Nile virus detected in a Shelby County resident. The resident reported traveling to a region where mosquitoes are endemic, and symptoms began before the individual returned to the United States. West Nile virus can cause serious illness and lead to hospitalization or death According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people over age 60 are the most likely to develop severe illness when infected with West Nile virus. As the weather warms up, the health department recommends that all residents protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing, staying indoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and using mosquito repellents that contain DEET.
“Something is happening in Memphis, something is happening in our world…
“All we say to America is, ‘Be true to what you said on paper.’ If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they hadn't committed themselves to that over there. But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of the press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right. And so just as I say, we aren't going to let any injunction turn us around. We are going on...
“We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop… And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his “Mountaintop” speech in Memphis on the evening of April 3, 1968. He was assassinated the next day, 57 years ago today.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress