Unveiling the New Name for the I-55 Bridge: Kings' Crossing
Dear Friend,
This week, I celebrated the new name for the Kings’ Crossing Bridge, the new Interstate 55 being built over the Mississippi River at Memphis. I also denounced the demolition of the iconic East Wing of the White House so our showman-in-chief can throw big parties in a monstrous and gaudy ballroom, expressed concern at the length and indefinite end of the federal government shutdown, joined the throngs of protesters at Saturday’s “No Kings” rally, condemned the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) advertising campaign aimed at recruiting local law enforcement officers, attended Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education Community Listening Session, reminded everyone that Medicare open enrollment is underway, invited talented students to register for the Congressional App Challenge, offered U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars, and offered a Friday Flashback, a Bill Day cartoon and a weekly health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Unveiling the New Name for the I-55 Bridge: Kings’ Crossing
Denouncing Trump’s Demolition of White House East Wing
Growing Increasingly Concerned as Government Shutdown Continues
Joining Memphis “No Kings” Protest with My Constituents
Condemning ICE Recruitment Advertising Aimed at Local Law Enforcement
Attending the Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education Community Listening Session
Announcing Medicare Open Enrollment Has Begun
Inviting Students to Register for the Congressional App Challenge
Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2026 Calendars
Unveiling the New Name for the I-55 Bridge: Kings’ Crossing
Congressman Cohen with Vassal Benford this morning
This morning, I attended the ceremony unveiling the name for the new Interstate 55 bridge across the Mississippi River at Memphis: Kings’ Crossing. Originally named America’s River Crossing, the new name, adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly and the Arkansas Highway Commission, honors three transformative figures known as “Kings” in Memphis and around the world: B.B. King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Elvis Presley. I secured the $393.7 million in federal dollars that were essential to move plans forward. Both Mayor Paul Young and Memphis Chamber CEO Ted Townsend spoke of my role in the process in their remarks this morning. The bridge is the largest infrastructure investment in Tennessee history. The Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) for Memphis and Shelby County awarded me its Economic Impact Project of the Year last year for what it called my “transformative impact” on the bridge project. I appreciated the support we received working with then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the U.S. Department of Transportation. B.B. King Estate Chairman Vassal Benford and Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden were among the speakers at the event at Beale Street Landing. It was an auspicious start to an ambitious and nationally significant economic development project that I have been proud to bring to fruition.
Denouncing Trump’s Demolition of White House East Wing
What President Trump is doing to the East Wing of the White House is appalling, and what he plans to put in its place is hideous, gaudy and tasteless. Tearing into an iconic American treasure so he can entertain in an unneeded $300 million ballroom would be offensive anytime, but it is particularly now as much of the country struggles to put food on the table and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed or laid off without pay. I am hopeful that historic preservationists can stop this latest eruption of self-aggrandizement but fear the worst has already been done.
Growing Increasingly Concerned as Government Shutdown Continues
As the federal government shutdown enters a fourth week, concerns are growing that it may stretch further given President Trump’s refusal to negotiate. The Republican leadership must address the end of tax credits for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans that threaten to raise premiums beyond the reach of more than 20 million Americans. Ending the Republican-caused heath care crisis will end the impasse and get the government re-opened. In the meanwhile, I remain deeply concerned about the impact on essential federal government services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This week, I joined my colleagues in signing a letter urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use SNAP’s contingency reserve funds and any other legal authority available to fully fund benefits during the shutdown. This is especially important given Governor Lee’s announcement that the state will not use its own funds to temporarily cover benefits for the 690,000 Tennesseans who rely on SNAP. I wrote Governor Lee a letter this morning urging him to meet those needs and will continue fighting for measures that protect these vital benefits during this Republican shutdown.
Joining Memphis “No Kings” Protest with My Constituents
I attended the “No Kings” protest at Highland and Poplar on Saturday and was pleased to see the enthusiastic turnout. Across the country, 7 million people passionately turned out to say they won’t accept the authoritarianism Trump is imposing, the firing of inspectors general and other government watchdogs, the pardons of corrupt people like disgraced former New York Congressman George Santos, the extra-judicial killing of 43 people on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific who may or may not have been running drugs, and the obvious financial corruption Trump is demonstrating in plain sight. It was inspiring to see democracy flourishing while the commander in chief showed his contempt for peaceful protesters with an obscene video meme. We will have no king.
Condemning ICE Recruitment Advertising Aimed at Local Law Enforcement
As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, I wrote a letter Monday to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem urging them to discontinue targeting local law enforcement officers nationally, including those in Memphis, for recruitment as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The recruitment advertisements currently airing on television across the country, including in Memphis, demean the work of local law enforcement officers and actively encourage them to leave their departments for ICE -- undermining morale, straining local agencies, and ultimately degrading public safety. See my release and the letter here.
Attending the Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education Community Listening Session
On Wednesday evening, I attended the Memphis-Shelby Board of Education’s Community Listening session at the North Frayser Community Center. Parents and community members were provided important updates and brainstormed ideas about proposed school closures, possible state takeover, and community resources with SNAP benefits set to expire November 1. I also had the opportunity to meet and chat with Monique Watson and listen to her feedback as well.
Announcing Medicare Open Enrollment Has Begun
Open enrollment for Medicare is underway and ends December 7. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, it is important to check your plan for next year even if you are satisfied with it, as some of the details may have changed. Log in to an existing account or register for one at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. See eligibility information and plan details here.
Inviting Students to Register for the Congressional App Challenge
Registration for the prestigious Congressional App Challenge is now under way with a Thursday, October 30 at 11 a.m. Central Time, deadline. The computer science coding competition for middle and high school students has grown exponentially since its inception in 2013. Students living in or going to school in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District are eligible and can use any platform or programming language. Winners will be invited to the U.S. Capitol to demonstrate their projects in Spring 2026. See details and register here.
Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2026 Calendars
My office currently has a limited number of 2026 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s 9th District.
This is former Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth, former Colorado Congressman Ed Perlmutter, former Minnesota Congressman and current state attorney general Keith Ellison and me at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in January 2013.
A Bill Day Cartoon – “No Kings”
Children’s exposure to lead remains a serious but preventable public health issue. This week, the Shelby County Health Department observed National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week with a series of events. In Shelby County, the primary sources of lead are homes built before 1978 in which lead-based paint and contaminated dust can still be found. Lead can also be present in soil and plumbing pipes. Even small amounts of lead can harm a child’s health – affecting growth, behavior, and learning. There is no known safe level of lead in the blood. The health department conducts housing assessments for lead exposure. Its main number is (901) 222-9000.
Also, see some tips for Halloween safety from the Tennessee Department of Health here.
“Americans are ringing the alarm bells about the authoritarian takeover of our country. There is nothing normal. There is nothing legal. There is nothing constitutional about this authoritarian takeover. Quite the opposite. It is shredding our Constitution. Demolishing our separation of powers. Destroying the checks and balances. This is an extraordinarily dangerous moment. An authoritarian president proceeding to attack free speech. Attack free press. Weaponize the Department of Justice. And use it against those who disagree with him.” -- Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon during his marathon 23-hour speech Tuesday and Wednesday in the U.S. Senate
As always, I remain
Sincerely,
|
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress