Press Releases
“I congratulate Dr. Boyett and the PBTC on this award,” said Congressman Cohen. “Dr. Boyett, St. Jude and the other member institutions are contributing rapidly and effectively to the understanding and cure of central nervous system tumors in children. I’m proud that the 9th District is paving the way for developing the treatments and support services for patients of these devastating ailments, and I thank HHS for recognizing these efforts.”
“St. Jude is home to some of the finest medical researchers in the world, and grants like these ensure that, even in this tough economic climate, they have the resources necessary to continue their important work,” said Congressman Cohen. “Being home to St. Jude and their premier staff of scientists is a big reason why the 9th District is one of the fastest growing biomedical centers in the country. I congratulate Dr. Baker on this recognition, and I applaud HHS for rewarding the excellent research being done at St. Jude.”
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“These funds ensure that Memphis, the world’s distribution center, will have the resources to continue to ensure the safety of the cargo that passes through our ports,” said Congressman Cohen. “This is a matter of national security that has been put on the backburner for too long, and I’m very pleased to work with the Administration to keep the people of the 9th District and the nation safe.”
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a division of HHS, granted the new award to Dr. Linda K. Myers, Professor of Pediatrics at the UT-HSC. Dr. Myers is conducting research related to the immune system and collagen arthritis.
Congressman Cohen stated, “I applaud HHS for awarding these monies to Dr. Williams and the UT Health Science Center for this important research. Arthritis affects millions of Americans and I am glad that our fine scientists and researchers in the 9th District are tackling problems such as this.”
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The “Candle on the Bluff Awards” honor of Dr. King and award recipients are chosen for their contributions to Memphis society in the areas of religion, business, and service. Other 2009 honorees include Art Gilliam, the first African-American to own a Memphis radio station (WLOK), and Rev. Keith Norman, Pastor of First Baptist Church-Broad and Chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party.
Nationwide, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $13 billion in Title I funds, which helps low-income students, and $13.5 billion in IDEA funds, which helps students with disabilities. This is the first of two installments of direct funding for Title I and IDEA programs that for school districts will receive under President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; the second installment of funds will be released to districts in the fall of this year.
“I am proud to bring my Chairman Conyers back to the 9th District,” said Congressman Cohen. “In addition to being one of the finest legislators in the history of the Congress, he has been my mentor in the House of Representatives and I owe a great deal of my early successes to his guidance. I always enjoy bringing him to Memphis because he loves our city and is so revered by so many people in the 9th District. He has been the face of the modern civil rights movement in Congress, and I can think of no one better to commemorate April 4th with us than Chairman Conyers.”
The bill, entitled "The Accountability In Deferred Prosecution Act of 2009," would regulate the process employed by the Justice Department that now allows U.S. Attorneys "unyielding and absolute" power in determining when to use deferred prosecutions, the terms and conditions of the agreements and the selection of outside monitors for lucrative contracts.