Welcoming Department of Justice Review of Memphis Police and Its Special Unit’s Use of Force
Dear Friend, This week, I welcomed a Department of Justice review of the Memphis Police Department and its special unit’s patterns and practices regarding de-escalation and the use of force in the wake of the death of Tyre Nichols. On Thursday, I questioned expert witnesses at a House Aviation Subcommittee hearing on reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and securing the future of American aviation. I also notified constituents planning international travel in the coming months of the backlog in the State Department’s processing of passport applications, introduced a bill to make accounting for and addressing complaints about airline travel by disabled passengers more transparent; announced a $17.1 million reimbursement to the City of Memphis for storm damage debris removal from last year’s winter storm in February; welcomed President Biden’s declaration of a major disaster from the December 2022 winter storm; questioned expert witnesses about Russia’s use of mercenaries in Ukraine and elsewhere; addressed a Tourette Syndrome briefing; celebrated securing a $1 million grant for the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South to expand before and after school programs; and offered a stress-related health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Welcoming Department of Justice Review of Memphis Police and Its Special Unit’s Use of Force Addressing the Nation’s General Aviation Concerns Notifying Prospective International Travelers of a Passport Processing Backlog Introducing the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act Announcing $17.1 Million FEMA Grant for February 2022 Storm Cleanup Applauding President Biden’s Major Disaster Declaration for December 2022 Storm Countering Russia’s Terroristic Mercenaries Addressing the Tourette Syndrome Association’s Congressional Briefing Welcoming Department of Justice Review of Memphis Police and Its Special Unit’s Use of Force On Wednesday, the Department of Justice announced it will review the Memphis Police Department and its special unit’s patterns and practices regarding de-escalation and the use of force following the horrendous police beating death of Tyre Nichols. I welcome the review and hope that its findings will ultimately serve the interests of justice both locally and nationwide. See my release on the development here. Addressing the Nation’s General Aviation Concerns On Thursday, as Ranking Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I questioned expert witnesses about securing the future of general aviation at a hearing on the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. Additionally, I was pleased last week to announce a $1 million grant for the Charles W. Baker Airport in Millington to construct a new general aviation terminal building meeting modern Americans with Disabilities Act and seismic standards. See that release here. See my release, including my opening statement and questions for witnesses at Thursday’s hearing here. Notifying Prospective International Travelers of a Passport Processing Backlog On Tuesday, a significant uptick in requests to my District office and press accounts made clear there is a significant backlog in the State Department’s passport processing. If you are planning international travel and need a new passport or need to renew an existing one, please consider acting expeditiously. To find out what you need to apply for a passport or renew an existing passport, click here. To seek additional information please see my release here. If you are approaching a deadline and wonder if you can get a passport in time or need additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my district office at (901) 544-4131. Introducing the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act On Wednesday, I introduced the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act to ensure that passengers with disabilities have up-to-date data on the Department of Transportation’s effectiveness in resolving disability-related complaints ranging from untrained staff at the ticket counter, to lost or damaged mobility aids, to passenger injuries, and more. See my release here. Announcing $17.1 Million FEMA Grant for February 2022 Storm Cleanup On Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that Memphis would be reimbursed for expenses it incurred during the severe winter storm of February 2-4, 2022. See that release here. Applauding President Biden’s Major Disaster Declaration for December 2022 Storm On Wednesday, I applauded President Biden’s decision to declare a major disaster for Tennessee including Shelby County for the winter storm that ravaged our region in December. See my release here. Countering Russia’s Terroristic Mercenaries Also Thursday, as the Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, I questioned expert witnesses at a hearing on “Countering Russia’s Terroristic Mercenaries.” The hearing examined Russia’s use of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary network employed by the Kremlin, and the importance of designating them as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). In January and in the previous Congress, I introduced the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act, bipartisan legislation that would accomplish this goal by requiring the Secretary of State to designate the Wagner Group as an FTO. Russia’s genocide in Ukraine must have consequences and those responsible must be identified and condemned. See my release here. Addressing the Congressional Tourette’s Syndrome Caucus Briefing On Wednesday, as a co-founder of the Tourette Syndrome Caucus, I addressed interested stakeholders and Congressional staffers on this misunderstood neurological disorder and the needs of those who live with it. I am co-leading a letter with Congressman Garbarino (NY) supporting continued funding of Tourette Syndrome research through the Centers for Disease Control. Highlighting $1 million YMCA Grant to expand before and after school programs Last Friday, I visited the Snowden School to celebrate securing $1 million in federal funding for the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South to expand before and after school programs in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. See a news clip about it here. Changes in the weather, changes in the economy and changes in the assessment of where we stand in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic all have the potential to cause stress and the temptation to self-medicate through the use of drugs and alcohol. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has expert guidance and recommendations for dealing with these issues. See that guidance here. SAMHSA also has a hotline: (800) 662-HELP (4357). “The right to vote — the right to vote and to have your vote counted is the threshold of democracy and liberty. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |