Seeking Resolution for House Speaker Vacancy
October 20, 2023 |
Dear Friend, This week, I returned to Washington to vote for a Speaker of the House of Representatives after the October 3 ouster of Kevin McCarthy, but the dysfunctional Republican majority evidently can’t find a consensus candidate and House business is in limbo. All week, I have been carefully following events in Israel, Gaza and the Lebanese border as fallout from Hamas’ terrorist attack of October 7 unfolds. The Helsinki Commission on which I serve as the House Ranking Member held a hearing on the terrorist attack in Israel and ongoing conflict in Ukraine and I questioned expert witnesses. I also reminded constituents that open enrollment for Medicare has begun, invited high school students to apply for nominations to the military service academies and invited middle and high school students who code to register with the Congressional App Challenge. I also offered some health tips about the new flu season and available vaccinations. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Seeking Resolution for House Speaker Vacancy Closely Following Events Unfolding in Israel and Gaza Questioning Experts on Attacks on Civilians in Ukraine and Israel Reminding Constituents that Open Enrollment for Medicare has Begun Applying for a Nomination to the Military Service Academies Registering for the Congressional App Challenge Seeking Resolution for House Speaker Vacancy
The vacant House Speakership continued into a third week as a dysfunctional Republican leadership failed to resolve the chaos of its own making. I continued to vote for the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries who consistently receives more overall votes than any single Republican. I was pleased Jim Jordan’s bid for the job didn’t get sufficient votes from his Republican colleagues. Jordan – an election denier and Trump acolyte who ignored a Congressional subpoena from the January 6 Committee, and whose tenure as a wrestling coach at Ohio State raises serious questions about his knowledge of sexual abuse – is a flame-thrower, not a conciliator interested in legislating. It’s hard to believe 200 House Republicans voted for him. The ongoing inertia continues to prevent any floor votes on increasingly critical aid to Israel, aid to Ukraine, spending bills prior to a looming government shutdown, and so much more. I am hopeful the logjam will break and will keep you posted. Closely Following Events Unfolding in Israel and Gaza Noa Ben Artzi, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer spoke at the Sixth and I Street Synagogue I applauded President Biden’s courageous travel to Israel this week to stand in solidarity with our democratic ally as it responds to a terrorist attack. I also appreciated his report to the nation from the Oval Office Thursday evening. On Tuesday, I attended a National Jewish Leadership Solidarity Gathering at the historic Sixth and I Street Synagogue and heard from 25-year-old Noa Ben Artzi, who survived the attack on the music concert on October 7. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Israel’s deputy ambassador to the United States Eliav Benjamin all spoke of American dedication to Israel. I continue to monitor events in the region and am increasingly concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the perilous situation on Israel’s Lebanese border. Israel will always have my steadfast support. Questioning Experts on Attacks on Civilians in Ukraine and Israel
On Thursday, I chaired a hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, on terrorism aimed at both Israel and Ukraine. In my opening statement, I said Russia is no different from Hamas in their attacks on sovereign nations and their desires to commit genocode. I look forward to voting on President Biden’s proposal to aid both Ukraine and Israel. See my release on the hearing here. Reminding Constituents that Open Enrollment for Medicare has Begun Medicare’s annual open enrollment period began Sunday. The enrollment period allows all people with Medicare to change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the next year to better meet their needs. Enrollment will remain open through Thursday, December 7. See details on how to make those changes, or to enroll for the first time, here. Applying for a Nomination to the Military Service Academies High school students who are interested in attending a military service academy can apply for a nomination through my office. The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Candidates must live in TN-9. The deadline for high school seniors and people under age 23 who have already graduated is Tuesday, October 31, 2023. I encourage high school sophomores and juniors who may be interested to begin looking into the application process now. For more information, visit my website here: https://cohen.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations or contact my Constituent Services Representative Jeremy Jordan at (901) 544-4131. Registering for the Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging students to learn how to code by creating their own apps. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and encourage students to engage in these fields. The Congressional App Challenge is open to middle school and high school students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students participating in the competition may register and submit their app through November 1, 2023. For complete registration information and resources, please visit the Congressional App Challenge website. Cases of influenza in Shelby County been on the rise recently and it is forecast that COVID will surge this winter. Be prepared. Ideally, vaccination against influenza should occur in September or October, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. See recommendations regarding this year’s flu season here. During the 2022-2023 flu season, about 49 percent of the overall U.S. population received the flu vaccine, preventing an estimated 66,500 hospitalizations, the CDC reports. To find a location for receiving a flu vaccine shot or nasal spray by ZIP code, click here. While we know that there are vaccine deniers, their efficacy is obvious as was underscored when this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to scientists critical to the development of effective vaccines against COVID. “The State of Israel was born to be a safe place for the Jewish people of the world. That’s why it was born. I have long said: If Israel didn’t exist, we would have to invent it. And while it may not feel that way today, Israel must again be a safe place for the Jewish people. And I promise you: We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that it will be.” – President Biden speaking in Tel Aviv on Wednesday As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |