Representing the United States and Speaking Out on Political Prisoners
Dear Friend, This week, I represented the United States as a senior member of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and spoke in Vienna to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly as its Special Representative for Political Prisoners. I also observed the one-year anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and reintroduced a resolution calling its actions a genocide; joined those awaiting word on President Jimmy Carter as he enters hospice care; commemorated the service of Memphis Police Officer Geoffrey Redd and offered my condolences on his death in the line of duty; reintroduced a measure to remove the name of J. Edgar Hoover from the FBI headquarters building in Washington; sought a General Accountability Office (GAO) review of federal spending to treat victims of asbestos-contaminated baby powder; held a reception to honor and thank my longtime District Director Marzie Thomas for her service; pledged my support to aid the people of Türkiye and Syria affected by the recent earthquakes and continuing aftershocks; and offered a Black History Month-related health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Representing the United States and Speaking Out on Political Prisoners Calling Russian Actions in Ukraine Genocide Expressing the Thanks of Grateful Nation as President Carter Enters Hospice Care Appreciating the Service of MPD Officer Geoffrey Redd Reintroducing Measure to Remove J. Edgar Hoover from FBI Headquarters Seeking GAO Review of Costs for Treating Victims of Contaminated Baby Powder Holding Reception for Longtime District Director Marzie Thomas Pledging Support for People Affected by Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria Representing the United States and Speaking Out on Political Prisoners All week, I have been in Europe representing the United States as a senior member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission. In Vienna, I addressed the Plenary Session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly as its Special Representative on Political Prisoners. In the session’s audience were representatives of the Russian Federation and Belarus, so I made a point of stating we should never forget political prisoners and called the assembly’s attention to the cases of dissident leaders such as Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murza and Sergei Tikhanovsky, among others. I also noted that thousands Russian troops are being killed because of Vladimir Putin’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched one year ago today. I also noted the importance of accountability through the application of the rule of law for what I and others are calling genocide and crimes against humanity. In my remarks, I said: “People who are afraid of the truth arrest people who speak the truth. If the truth is not spoken, all the people of your country are censored -- censored from speaking out, censored from raising consciousness. Citizens and political prisoners are seeking the truth about the lives of soldiers who were sent off to war by their leaders. These are ‘leaders’ who hide on trains, they hide in mansions, everywhere but on the front. They call the soldiers who die ‘heroes.’ But there is another word for what they are: dead -- and I grieve for their mothers, wives and children. The reason Russian soldiers are dead, and their wives are widowed, is Vladimir Putin. He is sending his people to death for his ego and his desire to be seen as the next Peter the Great.” See the entire speech here. Calling Russian Actions in Ukraine Genocide Earlier today, a year into Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, I reintroduced my resolution calling Russia’s actions genocide. As a senior member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, I have been following the evidence and accounts of human rights abuses in Ukraine. There must be consequences for these crimes against humanity. See my release and the text of the resolution here. Expressing the Thanks of Grateful Nation as President Carter Enters Hospice All week, Americans and people around the world have turned their attention to Plains, Georgia, a tiny town where a great man has entered hospice care. President Carter will always be remembered as a humanitarian and peacemaker, and I join a grateful nation as we prepare to say goodbye. Appreciating the Service of MPD Officer Geoffrey Redd Like many in our community, I harbored a hope that Officer Geoffrey Redd would recover from the horrifying shooting at the Poplar-White Station Library. I grieve for his family and express my condolences to those who lost a dear friend, colleague and member of the community. He was a dedicated public servant killed in the line of duty and will be remembered. See my statement on his passing here. Reintroducing Measure to Remove J. Edgar Hoover from FBI Headquarters FBI headquarters on Pennsylvania Avenue Also earlier today, I reintroduced a measure to remove FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover from the downtown Washington headquarters that currently bears his name. His infamous legacy of tyrannical misuses of power is well known. See my release on the bill here. Seeking GAO Review of Costs for Treating Victims of Contaminated Baby Powder On Tuesday, I wrote to the Comptroller of the General Accountability Office (GAO) seeking a review of the untold costs borne by federal government agencies and programs that have treated people harmed by asbestos-containing talcum baby powder. See my release and the letter here. Holding Reception for Longtime District Director Marzie Thomas 9th District Staff, left to right: Jeremy Jordan, Rick Maynard, District Director Marzie Thomas, Congressman Cohen, Willie “Hank” Henry, Patti Marsh, Victori Douglas and Wiley Henry Last Wednesday, my District Office staff celebrated the long tenure of my 9th Congressional District Director Marzie Thomas. Marzie already had a respected career in journalism before she became one of the earliest members of my Congressional staff team. Marzie is known and admired across the District. She has led the Memphis office with exceptional skill, common sense and charm. I look forward to continuing to work with her and commend her for her dedication to the people of our District. Pledging Support for People Affected by Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria On Friday, I joined many of my colleagues in a resolution supporting the peoples of Türkiye and Syria, and pledging to see that their needs are met. Natural disasters such as this one remind me of the potential dangers of the New Madrid Fault Zone and the need for Memphis and the nation to be prepared. Although the death rate for Black Americans declined 25 percent between 1999 and 2015, Black Americans between ages 18 to 49 are still twice as likely to die of heart disease as White Americans. African Americans aged 35 to 64 are 50 percent more likely to have high blood pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidance to citizens and public health professionals to help reduce these gaping health disparities. See that guidance here. “President Putin’s craven lust for land and power will fail. And the Ukrainian people’s love for their country will prevail. Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow, and forever. For that’s what’s at stake here: freedom.” -- President Biden speaking from Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |