Remembering the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dear Friend,

This week, we commemorate the 47th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the President commuted the sentences of 22 offenders serving unjustly long sentences as I have long encouraged him to do, a framework for an agreement to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was reached, and bipartisan ground-breaking medical marijuana legislation I introduced with the longest-serving Republican in the House, Rep. Don Young, and Senators Cory Booker, Rand Paul, and Kirsten Gillibrand, gained even more bipartisan support. Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week, or if you’d like to receive the updates in this eNewsletter (and more) as they happen, simply “like” my Facebook page. Be sure to check it regularly, as it will be updated often with news, pictures, and videos.

April 4th: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bringing Jobs to Memphis
Building a Healthier Memphis
Getting Memphians Bigger Tax Returns
Helping Uninsured Memphians Gain Health Care Coverage
Securing Half a Billion Dollars for Tennessee Hospitals
Finding Better Approaches to Unjustly Long Sentences
Stopping Iran from Acquiring a Nuclear Weapon
Restoring Sanity to our Nation’s Criminal Drug Policies
Helping Protect Pregnant Women in the Workforce
Finding Cures for Heart Disease in Memphis

April 4th: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

47 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis. While our community treats this day as a day of remembrance, the rest of the nation does not. It should. Dr. King was an American hero whose dream was not just for civil rights and social justice, but for economic justice as well. He inspired a movement that changed our country for the better. Sadly when it comes to issues like eliminating poverty and protecting the rights of Americans to vote or for workers to organize, Dr. King's dream is still just that: a dream. But many of us share that dream, and each day that passes is another day closer to its fulfillment. I hope that day comes soon, and I will continue fighting for what is right in Congress.

Bringing Jobs to Memphis

Yesterday, I joined Mayor A C Wharton & U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Assistant Secretary Jemine Bryon to help launch a new pilot program aimed at helping Memphians learn the skills they need to find good-paying jobs in Memphis. The infusion of $3 million for Foote Homes will have a real impact in our community, helping nearly 300 residents learn the skills they need to find good-paying jobs—a key component of reducing persistent poverty. I was proud to support the legislation that funded this pilot program and will continue my efforts to bring jobs to Memphis. Read more about the pilot program here.

Building a Healthier Memphis

Next Friday, April 10th, I will host the next event in my Building a Healthier Memphis series focused on health and wellness in the 9th District. I hope that you can join me for a discussion with local health leaders about the important role that vaccinations play in making Memphis a healthy, strong community. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to 901.544.4131. You can find out more information about the discussion here.

Getting Memphians Bigger Tax Returns

The Earned Income Tax Credit adds an average of $2,400 to qualifying tax refunds and is too important for people to overlook. I hope all citizens of the Ninth District take advantage of credit if they are eligible for it. More information can be found here.

Helping Uninsured Memphians Gain Health Care Coverage

As you prepare to file your taxes this year, you may notice that your refund is smaller than you had expected if you did not have health insurance coverage last year. You can avoid a similar reduction in next year's tax refund by ensuring that you are enrolled in a qualified health insurance plan this year. HealthCare.gov has opened a special enrollment period for families and individuals who did not have coverage and are seeing reduced refunds or increased taxes owed. Clickhere to find out more about how to take advantage of this special enrollment period and lower your tax burden.

Securing Half a Billion Dollars for Tennessee Hospitals

Don't miss Jackson Baker’s new column in The Memphis Flyer about my efforts leading the Tennessee Congressional Delegation to secure half a billion federal dollars to help support Tennessee hospitals’ treatment of their disproportionately poor populations. Read it here.

Finding Better Approaches to Unjustly Long Sentences

On Tuesday, President Obama commuted the sentences of 22 drug offenders, including one Memphian. While an encouraging step, these few commutations do not solve our nation's justice problem. There still remain thousands of Americans languishing in prisons serving sentences that have been repudiated by both Congress and the President. Click here to keep reading.

Stopping Iran from Acquiring a Nuclear Weapon

No one wants a nuclear Iran, and the agreement framework announced yesterday reflects that reality. As I mentioned to CNN’s Erin Burnett (watch my interview here) this week, those who sought to undermine these negotiations would be well served to remember that the alternative to an agreement is an Iran with no limits on or international monitoring of its efforts to enrich uranium—and likely war. We should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, especially when the “perfect” that many seek is unrealistic. I, along with many of my colleagues in Congress, look forward to learning the details of the final June 30th agreement and hope it is a step in the right direction towards a non-nuclear Iran. You can read statements from several of my colleagues here.

Restoring Sanity to our Nation’s Criminal Drug Policies

Republicans and Democrats agree: federal law on medical marijuana is outdated, out of touch, and needs to change. This week, I was pleased to announce that 6 Republicans and 6 Democrats are now cosponsoring a bill I am leading with Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Rep. Don Young of Alaska—the senior-most Republican in the House—to recognize medical marijuana at the federal level. Learn more about our common-sense bipartisan legislation here.

Helping Protect Pregnant Women in the Workforce

I had a good discussion yesterday at the Urban Child Institute hosted by SisterReach and A Better Balance about the legal reforms needed to help pregnant women in the workplace. Women shouldn't have to sacrifice their careers or economic security just to care for their children.

Finding Cures for Heart Disease in Memphis

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, including in the Ninth District. I was pleased to be able to announce a $1 million federal grant to help Memphis researchers find new treatments to help save lives. Read more about this funding here.

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress