Urging Parents and the Unvaccinated to Address Polio Threat
Dear Friend,
Last Saturday, The New York Times published my letter to the editor urging parents to get their children vaccinated, and for any unvaccinated adults to get vaccinated against polio. As a childhood victim of the disease, I am concerned about reported cases of an illness that most Americans thought was in our past. This week, I joined Senator Gillibrand of New York in leading a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seeking clarification of a rule regarding underrides crashes; congratulated The New Tri-State Defender on winning prestigious Tennessee Press Association awards; wished everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend; addressed the ethylene oxide emissions issue in South Memphis; announced a substantial grant to Porter-Leath’s Head Start programs; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see what I’m doing as it happens.
Urging Parents and the Unvaccinated to Address Polio Threat
Seeking Clarification on Rule to Prevent Underrides Crashes
Congratulating The New Tri-State Defender for Award-Winning Journalism
Addressing Ethylene Oxide Emissions Concerns
Announcing $1.3 Million Head Start Grant to Porter-Leath
Urging Parents and the Unvaccinated to Address Polio Threat
I contracted polio as a child in 1954 because I didn’t meet the age requirement for the Salk vaccine trial, and it changed my life forever. I still experience lingering effects from the illness. Now that we have seen a case of polio in New York state and the virus is in wastewater samples, it is well past time to take it seriously. That’s why I wrote a letter to the editor of The New York Times published last Saturday, urging vigilance with polio vaccinations. See that letter here.
Seeking Clarification on Rule to Prevent Underrides Crashes
On Tuesday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and I led a bicameral letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seeking clarification on a rule implementing parts of the Stop Underrides Act that was made part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last year. We expressed our disappointment that a more aggressive approach that would save lives is not being taken. See our letter here.
Congratulating The New Tri-State Defender for Award-Winning Journalism
Last Friday in Nashville, the Tennessee Press Association, partnering with the University of Tennessee System for the 82nd year, awarded The New Tri-State Defender six top journalism awards, including First Place in News Photography, First Place in Personal Columns, and First Place for Coronavirus feature coverage by Executive Editor Karanja Ajanaku, Dr. Sybil Mitchell, veteran journalist Jerome Wright and Candace A. Gray. I congratulate all the winners on their awards and on the fine service they provide the tri-state reading public. See the newspaper’s coverage of the awards here.
Labor Day provides an opportunity to appreciate all that the working people of this country have accomplished. The pandemic and other stresses, such as working from home and observing public health protocols, have made work-life balance more difficult in recent years, but it is important to maintain a healthy perspective. American workers deserve our recognition this Labor Day and every other day as our nation enjoys the fruits of their labor. I wish all my staff and constituents a safe and happy holiday.
Addressing Ethylene Oxide Emissions Concerns
In early August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the findings from studies conducted in the area surrounding a sterilization plant in South Memphis. The plant, located at 2396 Florida Street, is operated by Sterilization Services of Tennessee and uses a chemical gas called ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize medical equipment. The facility is in compliance with the EPA’s current rules and regulations. But the EPA has new information about EtO emissions at certain commercial sterilizer facilities in 23 locations around the country, including the one in Memphis. The Shelby County Health Department is working with the EPA, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Department of Health, the City of Memphis and my office to provide information to the community about this announcement and what it means to the health of the people who live and work near the facility.
The EPA will host a public meeting about the Memphis site on October 18, 2022. Residents are urged to participate. Click the following link to register: https://www.epa.gov/hazardous-air-pollutants-ethylene-oxide/forms/memphis-tennessee-sterilization-services-tennessee#form.
Click here for answers to some frequently asked questions about ethylene oxide and potential health impacts.
Announcing $1.3 Million Head Start Grant to Porter-Leath
Earlier today, I announced that Porter-Leath Inc. will receive a $1,340,187 grant to operate its Head Start Programs in Shelby County from the Administration for Children and Families Office of Head Start. I’m pleased that Porter-Leath will be receiving this Head Start funding to help ensure children in our community will be ready for the classroom and the future. See my release here.
If you are struggling to pay medical bills, it can be easy to ignore the notices of payment. Do not set them aside. Instead, contact the local hospital and ask to speak with the patient services department to ask about any assistance programs you may be eligible for. Read more about how the federal government can assist with medical bills, energy bills, rental assistance, and more at: https://www.usa.gov/help-with-bills.
“We’re all called, by duty and conscience, to confront extremists who will put their own pursuit of power above all else. Democrats, independents, mainstream Republicans: We must be stronger, more determined, and more committed to saving American democracy than MAGA Republicans are to destroying American democracy.” – President Biden, speaking from Independence Hall in Philadelphia Thursday night.
I want to wish everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress