Voting for Aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
Dear Friend, Last Saturday, I spoke from the House floor and then voted for military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and for humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. This week, I applauded the Biden Administration rule making it easier for passengers to get cash refunds for flights that are canceled or significantly delayed, planned to attend the grand opening of the Orange Mound Library in the historic Melrose High School building, urged the release of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) political prisoners being held in Ukraine, met with Delta Sigma Theta sorority members, invited high school students in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District to submit art projects to the annual Congressional Art Competition, and offered a bird flu-related health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Voting for Aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan Applauding Biden Administration Rule on Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Attending Grand Opening of Orange Mound Library Meeting with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Members Urging Immediate Release of OSCE Staffers Held in Ukraine Inviting High School Students to Enter Congressional Art Competition Voting for Aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan The House met in a rare Saturday session last weekend and finally voted for military aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region and for humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza and to address conflict or natural disasters in Haiti, Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo, Armenia and Myanmar. I took the opportunity to speak from the House floor in favor of the measures, quoting John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address that the United States “shall pay any price…to assure the survival and success of liberty.” I commended Speaker Mike Johnson for bringing the Ukraine aid bill to the floor at the risk of his speakership and was pleased to see that these votes give Ukraine and Israel the capabilities they need to protect their citizens and gives Ukraine a fighting chance in its defense against Russia. See my release and my speech on the votes here. Applauding Biden Administration Rule on Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the release of a rule making it easier to obtain cash refunds when airlines cancel flights. When airlines are responsible for flight delays or cancellations, or do not provide the services that their customers pay for, passengers should be made whole, not tied to airline vouchers or travel credits. I’m pleased that the Department of Transportation has implemented many of the protections in my Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act and Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act. See my release here. Attending Grand Opening of Orange Mound Library Later today, I will attend the grand opening of the Orange Mound Library in the renovated Melrose High School for which I secured $3 million in community project funding. The federal funding for Melrose is leading to a profound transformation of the neighborhood, and the library will be an Orange Mound jewel for years to come. Meeting with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Members On Wednesday, I met with members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and discussed their priorities in the areas of economic empowerment, social justice, education and health care. They are a dedicated and inspiring group and do a lot of good work in our community, and I was pleased to hear their perspectives. Urging Immediate Release of OSCE Staffers Held in Ukraine On the second anniversary of the arrest of three Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observers working in Ukraine, I released a statement as its Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for Political Prisoners calling for their immediate release. See my statement and the context for my making it here. Inviting High School Students to Enter Congressional Art Competition Last year's winner "The High" by Hays Wright of Central High School Each Spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent of the nation, as well as in our Congressional District. The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the 9th District. The winning artwork of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from across the country and be featured on the House's Congressional Art Competition page. How to apply: Send an image of your artwork (jpeg format) and a completed student release form (found on the House’s Congressional Art Competition page) to CohenArtCompetition@mail.house.gov by May 3, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating an outbreak of bird flu in dairy cattle. The USDA and FDA say the milk supply is safe because 99 percent of the commercial milk produced in the United States is pasteurized. Public health officials have long recommended against drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk, and that would appear to be good advice, especially now. “Wasn’t the whole point that the president wasn’t a monarch and the president wasn’t above the law?” – Justice Elena Kagen during Thursday’s Supreme Court oral argument in Trump v. United States, speaking of the founders’ intent As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |