Securing $46.4 Million for Memphis in Yearlong Funding Package
Dear Friend,
This week, I secured $46.4 million for local Memphis projects in the final government funding package and voted to pass the underlying measure. I also attended President Zelensky’s historic wartime address, called out Russia for attempting to shut down one of Russia’s oldest human rights organizations, and celebrated the passage of my bill to enable recovered Russian oligarch assets to be sent directly to Ukraine. I also applauded the bipartisan January 6th Committee for releasing the results of its investigation; welcomed the hard-fought release of Trump’s tax returns; announced a major grant for full-service community schools in Northwest Memphis; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Securing $46.4 Million for Memphis in Yearlong Funding Package
Attending President Zelensky’s Historic Wartime Address
Announcing Passage of my Measure to Recover Russian Oligarch Assets for Ukraine
Calling Out Russia for Shutting Down Country’s Leading Human Rights Organization
Applauding the Bipartisan January 6th Committee Investigation
Welcoming Hard-Fought Release of Trump Tax Returns
Announcing $2.8 Million for Community Schools in Northwest Memphis
Securing $46.4 Million for Memphis in Full-Year Spending Package
Today, I voted to pass a full-year spending package to keep the government open and address some of our nation’s greatest challenges while making direct investments in Memphis that will boost the local economy, make Memphis safer, support our youth, improve health care and strengthen research at our flagship university. Altogether, the bill includes $46.4 million for local projects in Memphis that I was proud to support in addition to funding for critical national priorities.
This bill will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities by creating good-paying American jobs, lowering costs for working families, expand opportunities for small businesses, investing in public safety and national security, caring for our veterans, improving environmental protections and bolstering support for Ukraine as it fights Putin’s illegal invasion. To see all the projects in Memphis for which I secured funding as well as other highlights in this landmark legislation see my release here.
I snapped this photo while President Zelensky received an American flag flown over the Capitol in his honor and as he showed a gesture of strength to the American people.
Attending President Zelensky’s Historic Wartime Address
Like Winston Churchill during World War II, President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Washington in a time of war to deliver an historic address to Congress. In his speech, he made an impassioned plea for continued American support against Putin’s unrelenting invasion. I was proud to witness this historic speech by one of the great leaders of this century. I was also proud to vote for $44.9 billion in additional assistance to Ukraine as part of the year-end spending package. I will continue supporting the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom and democracy and pressing my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to call Putin’s invasion what it is: a genocide.
Announcing Passage of my Measure to Recover Russian Oligarch Assets for Ukraine
On Thursday, I announced that the Oligarch Assets for Ukrainian Victory Act I co-led was included in the year-end funding package and will now be signed into law. This new law will enable proceeds from recovered Russian oligarch assets to be sent directly to Ukraine for defense, reconstruction and reparation. It’s a matter of basic justice that Russian criminals linked to Putin should pay for this brutal, illegal and unprovoked war against Ukraine. See my joint statement here.
Calling Out Russia for Taking Action to Shut Down Country’s Leading Human Rights Organization
Following news that Russia’s Ministry of Justice is taking action to shut down the country’s leading human rights organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group, I condemned the latest assault on human rights in Russia and called on the international community to do the same. See my full statement here.
Applauding the Bipartisan January 6th Committee Investigation
On Monday, I applauded Chairman Thompson, Vice Chair Cheney, and the bipartisan members of the Select Committee for their thorough investigation of the January 6th attack and welcomed their compelling conclusions. The Committee’s findings are abundantly clear: the former president engaged with a lawless scheme to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, including inciting a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol while it attempted to certify the election of his successor. I reiterated my call for Congress to take the next step in restoring democracy and accountability by passing my bill to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and bar from office those who engaged in insurrection against the United States. See my full statement here.
Welcoming Hard-Fought Release of Trump Tax Returns
This week, I applauded the Ways & Means Committee for voting to release Trump’s tax returns and the results of their four-year investigation. It is already clear that Trump claimed questionable deductions, paid little to nothing in taxes in some years, and that his administration’s IRS failed to conduct all but one of the mandatory audits of his filings. On Thursday, I voted to ensure tax laws are applied evenly and justly to every American—especially the President—by requiring the IRS to conduct an annual, publicly-disclosed audit of the President’s finances. See my releases on this week’s Trump tax news here and here.
Announcing $2.8 Million for Community Schools in Northwest Memphis
On Thursday, I announced that Seeding Success’s Shelby County Community Schools Partnership (SCCSP) will receive a $2,796,802 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Full-Service Community Schools Program. I met with Department of Education officials to relay the importance of this funding and I am pleased that more children and families in Frayser, Northaven and Millington will now gain access to the services they need. Providing more children and families with wraparound services is a proven way to improve educational outcomes and change lives. It will benefit our entire community. See my release here.
The Biden Administration reopened COVIDTests.gov to make free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests available this winter. Starting this week, all U.S. households can order a total of four at-home COVID-19 tests that will be mailed directly to them for free. Place your orders here. People who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8:00 a.m. to midnight E.T., seven days a week.
“Your money is not charity. It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” – President Zelensky in his address to Congress
Happy holidays and please stay warm and safe in this extreme weather!
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress