Questioning the Caliber and Quality of Trump Appointments
November 15, 2024 |
Dear Friend, This week, I studied the nominees Donald Trump has chosen so far for his new administration and expressed serious concern about his judgment and the competence of some of those named. During this lame duck session before the new administration takes office, I will be monitoring grant requests. Also this week, I filed a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on an important disability rights bill named for the late Memphis native Latonya Reeves, spoke at a Capitol Visitor Center event advocating a Julius Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park, announced another Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to promote traffic safety, announced a major seismic upgrade for the Memphis firehouse maintenance building, heralded a clinical research grant for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and reminded constituents of the ongoing open enrollment periods for Medicare and for HealthCare.gov health insurance plans. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Questioning the Caliber and Quality of Trump Appointments Forcing a Vote for Latonya Reeves Freedom Act and Disability Rights Championing Plan for a Rosenwald Schools National Historic Park Announcing $2.4 Million Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Reporting $4.4 Million to Upgrade Memphis Firehouse Maintenance Building Announcing a Clinical Research Grant to St. Jude Reminding Constituents about Medicare Open Enrollment Questioning the Caliber and Quality of Trump Appointments
On Thursday, I spoke from the House floor about some of Donald Trump’s recently named nominees and his request that they be confirmed as recess appointments without the hearings and votes typical of the duty of the Senate to advise and consent. I also said the House Ethics Committee should release its report on Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz who resigned Wednesday night after being nominated for Attorney General to thwart the Ethics process. See that floor speech here. With the nomination of Gaetz, the subject of both an Ethics Committee and a criminal grand jury investigation involving sex trafficking, some are questioning Trump’s judgment as he builds an administration for a second term as president. Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel, Fox & Friends co-host Pete Hegspeth as Secretary of Defense, Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services also have many scratching their heads. It looks like Democrats will remain in the minority in the House when the new Congress convenes in January, but I assure you I will remain vigilant to protect your rights and America’s institutions as this troubling chapter in our history begins. During the lame duck session before the new administration takes over, I will be closely monitoring requests for federal grants and flagging discretionary grants that might be available. If you are not already a subscriber to my grants newsletters that go out each week, sign up here. Forcing a Vote for Latonya Reeves Freedom Act and Disability Rights
Congressman Cohen meets with disability rights advocates On Wednesday, I filed a discharge petition to force a vote on my Latonya Reeves Freedom Act. The discharge petition is a rarely used parliamentary maneuver to force a vote when half of House members sign on. In my floor speech, I remembered Memphis native Latonya Reeves, who fought for the right to be treated for her disability in the manner of her choosing. That right was eventually recognized in a 1999 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and the bill I introduced, which I hope to see passed before this Congress adjourns, would codify that ruling. I will keep you apprised of progress in this effort. See my release on the discharge petition here. Championing Plan for a Rosenwald Schools National Historic Park
On Wednesday evening, I spoke at the Capitol Visitor Center about ongoing efforts to establish a Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historic Park to memorialize the schools that philanthropist Julius Rosenwald built to teach African American students across the rural South. In 2019, I introduced the Julius Rosenwald Schools Special Resources Study Act, which was signed into law in 2021, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a review of sites associated with the life and legacy of the visionary businessman who transformed Sears, Roebuck and Company in the first half of the 20th century. Embodying the Jewish concept of tzedakah – the importance of treating every human being with righteousness and justice – Rosenwald schools taught tens of thousands – at one time, one-third of all African American students -- before the end of legal segregation with the Supreme Cout’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, a legal victory Rosenwald’s financial assistance to the NAACP helped produce. Of the more than 5,000 schools built, 60 were in Shelby County and 11 were in Tipton County, but only eight of those 71 remain standing. The campaign envisions a park trail linking 55 Rosenwald schools and drawing attention to Rosenwald’s awards of fellowships to promising African American artists, scholars, writers and scientists, many of whom played important roles in the Civil Rights movement. In my remarks, I mentioned as a child visiting the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago that was initially endowed by Rosenwald. My mother, a Chicago native, always referred to the museum as “The Rosenwald.” The good Rosenwald did lives on and deserves our continued admiration. Announcing $2.4 Million Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant
I am the only Member of the current Tennessee Congressional delegation who voted for the Infrastructure and Jobs Act. This week, the law provided a $2.4 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the MidSouth Development District to support a comprehensive safety action plan to reduce traffic injuries. The same SS4A program is underwriting the $13.1 million redesign of the dangerous Lamar-Kimball intersection. See my release here. Reporting $4.4 Million to Upgrade Memphis Firehouse Maintenance Building Last Friday, November 8, I announced that the Memphis firehouse maintenance building at 354 Adams Avenue will receive a $4.4 million grant to meet current seismic and other building code standards. See my release here. Announcing a Clinical Research Grant to St. Jude
On Thursday, I announced a $676,388 grant to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for clinical neurological research. See that release here. Reminding Constituents about Medicare Open Enrollment
Medicare Open Enrollment started last month. It’s your opportunity to review or change your prescription drug and health coverage for next year. Review your 2025 options to see if there is a better fit for your needs and budget. Open enrollment runs through December 7, 2024. You have two main ways to get your Medicare coverage — Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage (Medicare-approved plans from for-profit private companies). It’s important to understand the differences between these two options, so consider these things when choosing coverage. Start at Medicare.gov, your official source to find the type of coverage that fits you best. If you need more help comparing options:
Beginning in 2025, there will be a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs for the year, thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which I voted for. If you expect to reach this limit, you might consider signing up for Medicare’s new Prescription Payment Plan, which allows you to pay for your drug plan monthly instead of paying your pharmacy when you pick up your prescriptions.
Open enrollment for HealthCare.gov plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace opened on November 1 for opening, renewing or changing health plans under the Affordable Care Act, or what some refer to as Obamacare. The last day to enroll and have coverage on January 1, 2025, is December 15. Information on options and online applications can be found here.
“I was shocked by the announcement — that shows why the advice and consent process is so important. I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing.” – Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican, on the Matt Gaetz nomination for Attorney General
“The greatest leaders are not afraid to admit their mistakes and learn from them.” – Tennessee Senator and Reagan White House chief of staff Howard Baker (1925 – 2014), born on this day As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |
