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President nominates Memphian Ron Walter

August 29, 2014
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I appeared on CNN and MSNBC, attended the ribbon cutting for the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy, and am looking forward to attending WLOK’s Stone Soul Picnic on Saturday. Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week.

WREG President Ron Walter Nominated to Serve on TVA Board
Discussing Ferguson, Review of Police Tactics, Race in America and Attacks by the Islamic State on CNN, MSNBC
Maxine Smith STEAM Academy Opens
Memphis Minority Business Council Economic Development Forum
Stone Soul Picnic
Facebook Photo Contest
President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People
Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property


WREG President Ron Walter Nominated to Serve on TVA Board
Yesterday, President Obama nominated WREG President Ron Walter to serve on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). I was pleased to recommend Ron Walter to President Obama, as I have known Ron for nearly 40 years and know of no finer citizen of our community. He is diligent in all things and active and loved in the community for his genuine, caring attitude. I know Ron will do an outstanding job and serve the TVA constituency with good judgment and rectitude. If confirmed by the Senate, Walter will fill one of the nine positions on the TVA Board.

Ms. V. Lynn Evans, who I previously recommended to President Obama, is currently serving on the TVA Board. Once Walter is confirmed, I believe it will be the first time that the TVA Board includes two citizens from Shelby County, and it will be the first time that the Board includes two African-Americans.

Discussing Ferguson, Review of Police Tactics, Race in America and attacks by the Islamic State on CNN, MSNBC
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On Tuesday, I joined John Berman on CNN’s New Day to discuss several issues ranging from my call for a congressional hearing on excessive force by police to the attacks by the group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Police have a dangerous job, but there are too many deaths of unarmed civilians who have came into contact with police. Lethal force should only be as a last resort after using all other reasonable means of apprehension. That is why, as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, I initiated a letter, co-signed by Ranking Member of the full Judiciary Committee John Conyers of Michigan and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime Bobby Scott from Virginia, to Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte demanding that he convene a Congressional hearing on recent incidents of local law enforcement using excessive—sometimes deadly—force.

The CNN interview began with a discussion of the attacks by the group called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). ISIS is dangerous for the United States and for the world. I support President Obama’s decision to launch air strikes against these terrorists. You can watch the full CNN interview here.

On Sunday, I spoke with Milissa Rehberger on MSNBC about many of the same issues and the prevalence of guns in our culture. You can watch the interview here.

We talked about how poverty, disease, lack of health care in the inner city, unemployment, crime and warehousing people in prison are a miasma of conditions in America that stem from Jim Crow laws and need to be addressed by Congress.

Maxine Smith STEAM Academy Opens
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I was honored to speak at the dedication ceremony for the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy. The new middle school will focus on empowering the whole child to learn science, technology and mathematics through engineering and the creative arts.


Maxine was the conscience of the community and always spoke truth to power. She was one of my dearest friends and a personal mentor. We worked together on numerous issues including serving on the committee to determine qualifications for Tennessee Education Lottery scholarships and on the presidential search committee for the University of Memphis which chose the first female president, Dr. Shirley Raines.

Many of Maxine’s family and closest friends were present at the dedication including Judge Russell Sugarmon and his wife Gina.

The mission behind the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy properly reflects its namesake. Maxine was a complete citizen who understood the importance of education. When accepting her National Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum, Maxine said, “Education will determine the food you eat, the job you hold…the greatness you achieve.”

Memphis Minority Business Council Economic Development Forum
On Wednesday, I spoke at the Memphis Minority Business Council (MMBC) Economic Development Forum. The MMBC Economic Development Forum is the largest economic development conference in the Mid-South. Its primary focus is to foster and facilitate opportunities for minority and women-owned business enterprises regionally and nationally.

I was proud to bring Tennessee’s first-ever Minority Business Development Agency Business Center to Memphis, which is helping many minority entrepreneurs in Memphis reach the full potential. I am also pleased by the success of my annual federal procurement fair to Memphis businesses secure federal contracts. I am committed to playing my part to support and empower minority businesses in the Ninth District and to working with MMBC to expand opportunities for minority and women entrepreneurs in Memphis.

Stone Soul Picnic
I will be attending the WLOK’s 40th Annual Stone Soul picnic at Tom Lee Park on Saturday where I will introduce the Stax Music Academy set and enjoy listening to some of the great music produced in Memphis. I hope to see you there.

Facebook Photo Contest
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I’m updating my Facebook cover photo—and my next one could be a photo that you took! If you have a great photo that represents the Ninth District and you'd like to have it highlighted on my Facebook page, please email it to me here. I'll post the best photos sent in, and anyone who "likes" my page will be able to vote to choose which photo will be my next cover photo.

President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People
It is important that all children can count on caring adults who are engaged in their lives, but too many young people lack this important support. That’s why President Obama is calling on Americans to sign up as long-term mentors to young people through his new “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. The President is seeking people from all walks of life who want to develop sustained and direct mentoring relationships that will play vital roles in the lives of young people in Memphis and around the country. If you are interested in signing up to help young adults in our city stay on track, you can do so here.

Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property
The State of Tennessee maintains a searchable database of unclaimed property, which can include bank accounts, stocks and dividends, wages, refunds, insurance payments, gift certificates, credit balances and overpayments, and a number of other things. There is no cost for accessing the database, and you may find that you are owed money or property. If you have not searched the database yet or if you haven’t searched in a while, you can visit https://www.claimittn.gov and see for yourself whether the state is holding any property or assets for you. And you may pass this information along to your friends and family as well!

I hope you and your family have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend.

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

Issues:9th DistrictArtsChildren and FamiliesDefenseEconomy and JobsEducationForeign AffairsJudiciaryMemphisShelby CountyTennessee