Dear Friend, This week, the second Trump administration began with a series of executive orders of questionable legality, and I look forward to seeing many of them successfully challenged in court. I also continued to seek an explanation for why Tennessee is not participating in a children’s summer nutrition program, wrote an op-ed hoping to persuade Senators not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, sought a reasonable approach to enforcing the immigration laws, wrote a letter to President Trump seeking release of the remaining records associated with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, discussed my rail priorities in a Transportation Subcommittee hearing, met with Czech diplomats, announced a $20 million grant to Young, Gifted and Green, and offered a Bill Day cartoon, a Friday Flashback, and a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X) to see what I am doing as it happens. Questioning Unreasonable and Dangerous Trump Executive Orders Condemning Tennessee’s Failure to Participate in Children’s Nutrition Program Urging Senate to Reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Nomination Calling for Thoughtful Approach to Enforcement of Immigration Laws Seeking Release of Remaining JFK Assassination Records Discussing Passenger Rail Priorities with Expert Witnesses Meeting with Czech Diplomats Announcing $20 Million EPA Grant to Young, Gifted and Green The Friday Flashback Bill Day Cartoon Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Questioning Unreasonable and Dangerous Trump Executive Orders 
President Donald Trump has issued a slew of executive orders, many of dubious legality, as he starts his second term as president. Seeking to create a government staffed by loyalists and sycophants, he has sidelined talented civil servants and encouraged remaining government employees to turn on each other, freed traitorous criminals, and has sought to reinterpret a constitutional amendment involving birthright citizenship in effect since 1868. His actions will be challenged and much of the harm many anticipate will in time be averted, but it is an inauspicious start to another four years of Trumpism. See my statement on three of his executive orders here. Condemning Tennessee’s Failure to Participate in Children’s Nutrition Program
I am again calling on Governor Lee to explain his decision not to renew the Summer EBT program, which provided critical food assistance to nearly 700,000 Tennessee children last year. Despite the January 17 deadline I set in my initial letter, I have yet to receive a response. Families in our state deserve transparency about why these federal funds to fight child hunger were turned down, and I will keep pressing for answers. See my release and the letter here. Urging Senate to Reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Nomination
The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will go before the Senate Finance Committee next Wednesday. Kennedy is a vaccine skeptic and is the wrong person for the job of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. As one of only two polio survivors in Congress, I have spoken out against his appointment. See an op-ed I wrote in USA Today on Tuesday making that case here. Calling for Thoughtful Approach to Immigration Enforcement
The Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration held a hearing on immigration law enforcement on Wednesday, and I questioned expert witnesses on what our priorities should be as a nation. President Trump’s actions will have profound impacts on immigrants with lawful status, undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and all Americans. See my release and that line of questions here. Seeking Release of Remaining JFK Assassination Records
On Thursday, I wrote a letter to President Trump urging the release of the remaining redacted and withheld government documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. President Kennedy’s assassination has always been the subject of conspiracy theories. The governmental secrecy and delay in the publication of the documents only perpetuates this type of thinking. After 61 years, it is time to end the speculation and live up to our commitment to government transparency. You can see my release and the letter here. Discussing Passenger Rail Priorities with Expert Witnesses
On Thursday, I questioned expert witnesses at a Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee hearing on the national rail network. I discussed a future rail corridor linking Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta, among other issues. See my line of questioning in this release. Meeting with Czech Diplomats On Thursday, I met with the Czech Republic’s national security advisor (and former ambassador to Israel) and discussed his country’s position on the war in Ukraine and other matters. It was a productive meeting. Announcing $20 Million EPA Grant to Young, Gifted and Green
On Thursday, I announced a $19.9 million grant to the Young, Gifted and Green community organization from the Environmental Protection Agency. This was one of the “environmental justice” initiatives that Trump has ordered stopped. See my release on the grant award here. Weekly Health Tip With a new Trump Administration trying to incarcerate doctors and state lawmakers trying to take away doctors’ medical licenses for doing their jobs, it is important to know what your rights are for reproductive care and places that can provide the support you need. Visit my website to learn more: https://cohen.house.gov/knowyourrights. The Friday Flashback
Congressman Cohen in 1954 in therapy for polio at the old Baptist Memorial Hospital on Madison. Congressman Cohen opposes the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a polio vaccine skeptic, for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (See USA Today op-ed above) Bill Day Cartoon
Quote of the Week
“House Republicans are celebrating pardons issued to a bloodthirsty mob that violently assaulted police officers on January 6, 2021. What happened to backing the Blue? Far right extremists have become the party of lawlessness and disorder. Don’t ever lecture America again. About anything.” – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday. As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 
