Talking Civics and Civility at White Station High School
November 1, 2024 |
Dear Friend, This week, I returned to White Station High School to talk with students in Mr. Rakestraw’s U.S. Government class. I also visited with retirees at Town Village Audubon Park and held meetings on a variety of policy issues at my District Office in the Odell Horton Federal Building downtown. I also reminded constituents about Medicare open enrollment, announced substantial funding for our regional rail network infrastructure and for increasing the biodiversity of the rural parts of the Mid-South adjacent to productive farm fields, and offered some mental health guidance. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Talking Civics and Civility at White Station High School Fielding Questions from Retirees at Town Village Audubon Park Meeting Constituents at My District Office Promoting Medicare Open Enrollment Announcing Major Investments in the Rail Industry Improving Conservation of Mid-South Farmland Talking Civics and Civility at White Station High School
On Tuesday, I went to White Station High School to talk to Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government students in teacher Curt Rakestraw’s class, as I have been doing for – he reminded me – 13 years. So close to Tuesday’s election, the students were full of questions about the political future, the incivility of some candidates, and what I thought about prospects for the health, welfare and safety of our country. We also talked about the Republican legislative supermajority in Nashville failing to expand Medicaid and refusing to address gun violence. Melding my own American history to the present day, I told them about seeing John F. Kennedy campaigning in 1960 and taking a picture of him at Union Avenue and Cooper in Memphis – a photo that now hangs in my Washington, D.C. office. I am always inspired when I interact with these smart students and am confident their curiosity and ambitions will be a credit to our community and the country. While I was at White Station, I took the opportunity to see the white oak tree planted in my honor by the White Station Tree Team led by student leader Kate Metcalf. I am a member of the Congressional White Oak Caucus, which aims to educate the public about these increasingly rare trees native to our region that the Tree Team works to nurture. I was proud to see my tree at the campus arboretum and was encouraged by the dedication of these environmentally conscious students. Fielding Questions from Retirees at Town Village Audubon Park
Also Tuesday, I visited the Town Village Audubon Park retirement community and addressed residents’ questions about the future of Medicare and Social Security. We also talked about the importance of voting, the local crime problem, the federal deficit and other issues. I always learn something useful when I talk to older constituents who share their wisdom and experience. Meeting Constituents at My District Office
Reaching Back Director of Operations Lisa Williams, Congressman Cohen, and Reaching Back founder Leah Douglas Wooten On Wednesday, I had meetings in my downtown office with constituents to get their perspectives on health care, crime prevention and caring for seniors in their own homes. These were productive sessions and will inform the work I do in Washington. Promoting Medicare Open Enrollment
Medicare Open Enrollment started last month. It’s your opportunity to review or change your prescription drug and health coverage for next year. Review your 2025 options to see if there is a better fit for your needs and budget. Open enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2024. You have two main ways to get your Medicare coverage — Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage (Medicare-approved plans from private companies). It’s important to understand the differences between these two options, so consider these things when choosing coverage. Start at Medicare.gov, your official source to find the type of coverage that fits you best. If you need more help comparing options:
Beginning in 2025, there will be a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs for the year, thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which I voted for. If you expect to reach this limit, you might consider signing up for Medicare’s new Prescription Payment Plan, which allows you to pay your drug plan monthly instead of paying your pharmacy when you pick up your prescriptions. Announcing Major Investments in the Rail Industry
On Tuesday, I announced two Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program grants from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) totaling $26.2 million. The funding will help convert diesel locomotives to electric-battery powered engines and foster a rail industry workforce through education programs in Memphis and Montana. This funding came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that I alone among current members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation voted for. See my release on the funding here. Improving Conservation of Mid-South Farmland
The MidSouth Development District also received $21.2 million in IIJA-supported funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture this week to promote biodiversity and environmental sustainability on the edges of farm fields in Shelby, Tipton, Fayette, and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee; Crittenden County in Arkansas; and DeSoto County in Mississippi. See my release on the funding here.
About seven million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s Disease, a debilitating mental illness, and a leading cause of death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has useful guidance for families contemplating the issue. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/alzheimers-dementia/signs-symptoms/alzheimers.html to learn about signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and to know when to consult a doctor.
“Nearly 250 years ago, America was born when we wrested freedom from a petty tyrant. Across the generations, Americans have preserved that freedom, expanded it, and, in so doing, proved to the world that a government of, by, and for the people is strong and can endure. And those who came before us — the patriots at Normandy and Selma, Seneca Falls and Stonewall, on farmlands and factory floors — they did not struggle, sacrifice, and lay down their lives only to see us cede our fundamental freedoms. They didn’t do that only to see us submit to the will of another petty tyrant.” – Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at The Ellipse on Tuesday night As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |
