Voting to Extend the Debt Ceiling and Avoid Catastrophic Default
Dear Friend,
This week, I returned to Washington to debate the proposed debt ceiling compromise bill and to vote for it to avert an economic catastrophe. I also introduced a bill to assure the safe evacuation of airplanes in emergencies, applauded $2 million in Environmental Protection Agency grants to clean up contaminated commercial brownfields in Memphis, announced two prestigious National Science Foundation grants to the University of Memphis, and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Voting to Extend the Debt Ceiling and Avoid Catastrophic Default
Applauding $2 Million in Grants from the EPA to Cleanup Memphis Brownfields
Announcing Two National Science Foundation Grants to the University of Memphis
Voting to Extend the Debt Ceiling and Avoid Catastrophic Default
On Wednesday, I spoke from the House floor and then voted for the bipartisan compromise to extend the debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default. There is a lot not to like about the deal, including relaxed regulation of a natural gas pipeline and additional work requirements for some SNAP recipients, but it was essential to avert a calamity for the U.S. and world economy. Watch my floor speech here.
In 2018, my Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act became law and mandated that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) study aircraft seat sizes and aisles to determine whether passengers could evacuate within the required 90-second standard. The simulations the FAA has conducted since then have been inadequate, using unrepresentative passenger demographics. On Wednesday, I introduced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to assure the FAA evaluates aircraft evacuations involving children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and carry-on luggage. The goal is safety based on an accurate assessment.
Applauding $2 Million in EPA Grants to Cleanup Memphis Brownfields
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $2 million to the Ninth Congressional District to clean contaminated sites. The City of Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency will receive $1 million to conduct environmental site assessments and create cleanup plans in Memphis’ urban core, the Jackson Avenue Corridor, the Binghamton TIF District, and areas within and adjacent to the Soulsville TIF District. The Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) of Memphis will receive a $1 million Revolving Loan Fund grant to clean up contaminated commercial properties known as brownfields. I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is providing the funding to revitalize these areas of the Memphis inner city.
Announcing Two National Science Foundation Grants to the University of Memphis
On Tuesday, I announced two National Science Foundation grants totaling $741,268 to the University of Memphis. The grants are for research into personnel management and brain imaging. See my release on the grants here.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this week how people can get drugs that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease covered by Medicare. If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants traditional approval, then Medicare will cover the cost of the drugs in appropriate settings that also support the collection of real-world information to study the usefulness of these drugs. See more on this development here.
“While I don’t agree with everything in the bill, I understand that democracy demands compromise…However, once this bill is signed into law, the President must turn his focus toward eliminating the mechanism that enables the annual food fight over paying the nation’s bills. Whether it is through the Congress or the courts, we must get rid of the disastrous debt ceiling.” – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri on Wednesday
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress