Welcoming Federal Civil Rights Charges in the Tyre Nichols Police-Beating Case
Dear Friend, This week, I returned to Washington and welcomed the U.S. Justice Department announcement that five former Memphis police officers have been indicted on federal civil rights charges in connection with the beating death of Tyre Nichols. On Monday, while I was still in Memphis, I conducted a webinar on opportunities provided by the CHIPS and Science Act that I supported. I also questioned expert witnesses at a hearing on the exploitation of children, introduced a bill to assure justice in the sentencing of federal criminal defendants, announced President Biden’s nomination of Memphian Patrice Robinson for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Board of Directors, announced grants to the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), announced a grant to the Wolf River Conservancy, invited students to register for the Congressional App Challenge, and welcomed the availability of updated COVID-19 vaccines as a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens. Welcoming Federal Civil Rights Charges in the Tyre Nichols Police-Beating Case Holding a Webinar on Opportunities Under the CHIPS and Science Act Questioning Experts at a Hearing on Exploitation of Children Introducing the Prohibiting Punishment for Acquitted Conduct Act Announcing President Biden’s Appointment of Memphian Patrice Robinson to the TVA Board of Directors Applauding Grant Expanding Wolf River Wetlands Registering for the Congressional App Challenge Welcoming Federal Civil Rights Charges in the Tyre Nichols Police-Beating Case Attorney General Merrick Garland announcing the indictments On Tuesday, the Justice Department announced that five former Memphis police officers have been indicted on federal civil rights charges connected to the beating death of Tyre Nichols. The egregious January killing required a review by federal authorities. Separately, the Department is also conducting a broader investigation of the Memphis Police Department and a “pattern or practice” of civil rights violations. See my statement on the federal indictments here. Holding a Webinar on Opportunities Under the CHIPS and Science Act On Monday, I conducted a webinar with the CHIPS Program Office in Washington to introduce constituents to the opportunities presented by passage of the CHIPS and Science Act that I supported. The law includes $280 billion in targeted investments and, since Memphis is already an international transportation and logistics powerhouse, we are well-positioned to take advantage of these new opportunities. Questioning Experts at a Hearing on Exploitation of Children The Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, on which I serve, held a hearing Wednesday afternoon on the exploitation of children. In my questions to witnesses, I stressed the need to dismantle the organizations responsible for this travesty. Introducing the Prohibiting Punishment for Acquitted Conduct Act Also Wednesday, I joined my House colleague Kelly Armstrong, a Republican from North Dakota, and Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois and Charles Grassley of Iowa in introducing a measure to prevent federal judges from enhancing the sentences of criminal defendants by considering conduct on which they have been acquitted. We agree that this practice is unconstitutional and should be ended. See our release here. Announcing President Biden’s Appointment of Memphian Patrice Robinson to the TVA Board of Directors On Monday, the White House announced the nomination of Memphis native Patrice Robinson for a seat on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Board of Directors. See the White House announcement here. Announcing Nurses Training Grant to UTHSC and National Science Foundation Grant to the University of Memphis On Wednesday, I announced a nursing training grant to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and an alcohol-use study grant to the University of Memphis. On Thursday, I announced a prestigious National Science Foundation grant of more the $1.1 million to the University of Memphis Department of Computer Science. See my releases here and here. Applauding Grant Expanding Wolf River Wetlands On Thursday, I announced that the Wolf River Conservancy will receive $1.3 million grant to protect more than 1,500 acres along the Wolf River and its tributaries. See that release here. Registering for the Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging students to learn how to code by creating their own apps. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and encourage students to engage in these fields. The Congressional App Challenge is open to middle school and high school students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students participating in the competition may register and submit their app here through November 1, 2023. For complete registration information and resources, please visit the Congressional App Challenge website here. On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized for emergency use an updated COVID-19 vaccine addressing recent variants of the ever-changing virus. I urge everyone to consider getting the updated vaccine if it has been more than two months since your last vaccination shot. See the FDA’s guidance on the new vaccine here. “This is a transparent effort to boost Donald Trump’s campaign by establishing a false moral equivalency between Trump—the four time-indicted former president now facing 91 federal and state criminal charges, based on a mountain of damning evidence for a shocking range of felonies, including lying to the FBI, endangering national security by illegally keeping classified documents, and conspiring to subvert the U.S. Constitution—and President Biden, against whom there is precisely zero evidence of any wrongdoing whatsoever. To the contrary, Chairman Comer’s investigation has conclusively disproven the Republican allegations against President Biden.” -- Statement of Congressman Jamie Raskin of Mayland, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, on Monday. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |