Dear Friend, This week, I offered public comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in advance of a rule it is promulgating on airline seat sizes and the safe evacuation of planes. I also spoke with the Memphis Rotary Club about my work in Washington and my concern about crime; urged those eligible to apply for student loan debt relief; continued to seek release of the remaining records on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; celebrated Diwali with Hindu constituents; applauded Judge Bernice Donald for receiving the Sandra Day O’Connor Award; congratulated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren; introduced a resolution to recognize October 30 as International Day of Political Prisoners; offered 2023 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Seeking Commitment to Airline Passenger Safety Speaking to Rotary Club about Policy Priorities Urging Those Eligible to Apply for Student Loan Debt Relief Seeking Release of Remaining JFK Assassination Records Celebrating Diwali with Constituents Applauding Judge Bernice Donald for Receiving Sandra Day O’Connor Award Congratulating First Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren Recognizing International Day of Political Prisoners Offering 2023 Capitol Historical Society Calendars Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Seeking Commitment to Airline Passenger Safety
As the November 1 deadline for public comment approaches, I led a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) asking it to fully implement provisions of the Seat Egress in Air Travel Act that I authored and that was signed into law as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act in 2018. As a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Subcommittee on Aviation, I am concerned about the FAA’s commitment to passenger safety and health. The measure I authored required the agency to study whether airline seat sizes and the distances between rows allowed passengers to evacuate within the mandated 90-second safety standard. The FAA conducted a study on this question using what it acknowledged was an unrepresentative sample population. See my release and the letter here. Speaking to Rotary Club about Policy Priorities
On Wednesday, I spoke with the Rotary Club of Memphis about various legislative accomplishments, the $11.7 million I secured this year for ten community projects in the 9th Congressional District, the work of the January 6th Committee, and my ongoing efforts to combat crime with federal resources, guidance and coordination. Applying for Student Loan Debt Relief
President Biden recently announced his Administration’s plan to relieve up to $20,000 in student loan debt if you received a Pell Grant and up to $10,000 if you didn’t. Today, I am sharing how working and middle-income folks can apply for that relief. Go to http://studentaid.gov/debtrelief/apply It takes less than five minutes. You don’t need to log in with an ID or to upload any documents. It is available on mobile devices and desktop computers, in English and Spanish. The effort is tied up in court at the moment but, if you’re eligible, consider signing up by the October 31, 2022 (Monday) deadline. Seeking Release of Remaining JFK Assassination Records
Congressman Cohen took this picture of John F. Kennedy in Memphis in 1960 Last week, I led a letter to the Public Interest Declassification Board seeking its help in persuading the Biden Administration to release the remaining 14,000 documents related to the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. The deadline for compliance with the 1992 JFK Assassination Records Act has long passed. Especially for those of us for whom this tragedy is a living and searing memory, it is unacceptable that these records have not been released. See my release and the letter here. Celebrating Diwali with Constituents
Left to right: Ankit Bavariya, Ghanshyam Joshi, Ridhish Patel, Congressman Cohen, scheduler Patti Marsh, Heer Patel, and Sakshi Sata. On Thursday, I hosted some of my Hindu constituents at my District office in a celebration of Diwali, the five-day festival of lights. We had a good discussion of issues important to the Hindu community. Applauding Judge Bernice Donald for Receiving Sandra Day O’Connor Award
Next month, the National Judicial College will honor Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice Donald of Memphis with its Sandra Day O’Connor Award, recognizing her commitment to justice. Judge Donald, the first African American woman on the Sixth Circuit, has taken senior status, and will receive the award at a ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona on November 10. See details on the event here. Congratulating First Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren
On Monday, our new U.S. Attorney, Kevin Ritz, named longtime prosecutor Reagan Taylor Fondren as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. A Memphis native and Central High School graduate, Ms. Fondren has been in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Western Tennessee since 2014, serving as senior and lead AUSA in the Civil Rights Unit of the Criminal Division. Before that, she served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. I wish her well with her new responsibilities. Recognizing International Day of Political Prisoners
On Friday, I introduced a resolution with Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina to recognize October 30 as International Day of Political Prisoners. I was recently named the Special Representative on Political Prisoners by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly and have been calling attention to this important and increasing problem. See my release on the measure here. Offering 2023 Capitol Historical Society Calendars
My office will have a limited number of 2023 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee's Ninth District. Weekly Health Tip
Long-term use of electronic cigarettes, or vaping products, can significantly impair the function of the body’s blood vessels, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said in a statement this week. The use of both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes may cause an even greater risk than use of either of them alone. These findings come from two new studies supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The findings add to growing evidence that long-term use of e-cigarettes can be harmful. While it has long been known that smoking can cause damage to blood vessels, the effect of e-cigarettes has not been as well understood. Quote of the Week “Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors.” – Medical researcher Jonas Salk who created the polio vaccine, born on this date in 1914. As always, I remain.
Most sincerely, Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 