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Roundtable Discussion on the Zika Virus and Infant Mortality

February 26, 2016
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I hosted a Healthy Babies Event in Memphis, met with young pediatric surgery patient Manuel “Monolito” Alejandro at Le Bonheur, hosted a roundtable discussion on the Zika virus, saw growing bipartisan support for my SEAT bill to establish minimum seat size standards for the safety and health of airline passengers, spoke at the Free File Event, welcomed Amtrak’s decision to make permanent the Pets on Trains Act pilot program, which allows domesticated dogs and cats in proper carrying crates to accompany their owners on certain Amtrak trains, hosted young professional constituents in my Memphis office, and received a 100% score from the League of Conservation Voters for my commitment to environmental issues. Keep reading to learn more about my week or follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.

Hosting a Discussion on the Zika Virus and Infant Mortality
Bringing a Cuban Child to Memphis for surgery
Gaining support on the SEAT
Hosting Young Professional Roundtable
Speaking at the Free File Event
Pets on Trains Act
Perfect Score From League of Conservation Voters
U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve


Health Care Professional Discuss the Zika Virus and Infant Mortality
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On Monday, I hosted a roundtable discussion about infant health as part of my “Building a Healthier Memphis” series at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. The discussion focused on ways to protect pregnant women and babies from the Zika virus and other threats to their health. While the Zika virus is an emerging danger in the US, there are other, more prevalent dangers to the health of babies. Representatives from the March of Dimes discussed ways to reduce premature birth. Representatives from Le Bonheur, Regional One Health, the Shelby County Health Department, and the Tennessee Department of Health discussed strategies to reduce infant mortality and protect expectant mothers from Zika. The Deputy Associate Administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) discussed the agency’s goals and its roadmap for improving the health of children in Tennessee by 2020. I was pleased with the vast amount of knowledge that participants brought to the discussion.


Bringing a Cuban Child to Memphis for surgery

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Also on Monday, I had the privilege of meeting three-year-old Manuel “Manolito” Alejandro and his family at the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Faculty Office Building. Manolito is the first child from Cuba to be brought to the U.S. to receive pediatric heart surgery since the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s. I had written a letter this past December to Le Bonheur supporting the initiative to bring Manolito to the U.S for heart surgery. Throughout this process, ICHF’s Executive Director Bret Rodriguez, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, the Rotary Gift of Life Mid-South and Cuban Ambassador José Ramon Cabañas Rodríguez put in a tremendous amount of work in order to ensure that Manolito could receive this critical treatment and I am truly grateful for all their efforts. Manolito is part of a Rotary Club Gift of Life program, a program that brings international children to Le Bonheur for heart surgery. It was wonderful to see how much support Manolito and family have been receiving during their time at the hospital from the caring and professional staff of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Cooperation on medical procedures such as Manolito’s surgery will help advance medical diplomacy between Memphis and Cuba. Because Cuba has some of the world’s best medical minds and practices and has made significant advancements in diabetes, cancer, and HIV research, I see this as a great success for the people in our city as well as all across America.

Gaining support on the SEAT Act
This past week, the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act (H.R. 4490) gained bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) signed onto this important piece of legislation as a cosponsor. I am looking forward to this bill continuing to gain bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. The SEAT Act would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a minimum seat size and minimum distance between rows of seats for the safety and health of airline passengers. I was pleased to see the extensive news coverage about the SEAT Act over the past week and I hope that this bill continues to gain the national attention and support it deserves. To view CBS Evening News coverage, click here. To view CBS Morning News coverage, click here.


Young Professional Roundtable Event
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On Thursday, I hosted a Young Professionals Roundtable at my Memphis Office where I discussed what the job of a Congressman entails, funding I’ve secured for the Ninth District, and gave advice for young people interested in public service. It was a pleasure hearing from the participants about their hopes and ideas for our District. This funding includes a $30 million Choice Neighborhood grant for the South City neighborhood, federal funding to reduce the rape kit backlog, a $15 million TIGER grant for a pedestrian and bike path across the Harahan Bridge, and $2.6 million grant for new trollies for Downtown Memphis. We also discussed issues regarding transportation and what opportunities were available for youth engagement.


Speaking at the Free File Event
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On Tuesday, I spoke at the Tennessee Free File Public Briefing and Demo held at the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA). Free File is a partnership between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax preparation software companies that provides millions of people access to brand name software so they can prepare and securely file their taxes at no cost. The Program helps Tennessee residents by ensuring they receive every credit and deduction they deserve when tax season rolls around and it is a perfect example of how the government and the private sector can work together to provide much-needed resources to the community. Additionally, the Free File program does not cost a dime of taxpayer money. In fact, it actually saves taxpayers money. In general, taxpayers with incomes of $62,000 or less, 70 percent of all tax filers, are eligible to use Free File. Since its debut in 2003, the Free File program has helped save taxpayers more than $1.3 billion in tax preparation costs, thanks to the more than 40 million returns that have been filed through the program.


Pets on Trains
Since 2015 I have proudly sponsored the Pets on Trains Act. This act was incorporated into the 5-year federal highway funding bill signed into law by President Obama in December 2015. It benefits both pets and their owners by requiring Amtrak to propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats and dogs on certain Amtrak trains. This law also gives Amtrak the flexibility to develop the details of their pet policy to best fit the service and their customers. Amtrak announced earlier this month that it is making the Pets on Trains Program permanent.


Received a Perfect Score From League of Conservation Voters
This week I received a perfect 100% score by the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) for their 2015 National Environmental Scorecard. Each year the League’s scorecard represents the consensus of experts from about 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who select the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored. It is an honor to be recognized again by the League of Conservation Voters because their scorecard holds such high regard. To improve the air we breathe, the water we drink and preserve our environment for future generations, we must treat our planet with the care it deserves.


U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in high school. Summer Seminar teaches students about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's leaders. Students who are interested in pursuing an appointment to one of our nation's service academies and serving as an officer, are encouraged to apply for the Naval Academy's Summer Seminar at https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/index.php. The Naval Academy Summer Seminar online application closes 11:59 p.m. (EST) on March 31. The Summer STEM online application closes 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 15.


The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
The IRS continues to warn consumers to guard against scam phone calls from thieves intent on stealing their money or their identity. Criminals pose as the IRS to trick victims out of their money or personal information Click here for several tips to help you avoid being a victim of these scams and what to do if believe you have been contacted by a scammer.


Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve
In December, I voted to permanently extend the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is indexed for future increases, for low and middle income individuals and families. This provision ultimately became law.

April 15th – the deadline to file your 2015 federal tax return – is only a few months away. As you prepare your return, I hope you won’t overlook the EITC if you are eligible for it. It is an important credit that can give families a financial boost. Sadly, eligible taxpayers in Memphis and Shelby County have not taken full advantage of the program. I want to encourage everyone who is eligible to consider claiming it when filing their taxes.

Memphians shouldn’t pay more than they owe, and they should receive every penny they deserve in refunds. In 2014, I helped open one of 15 new Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites that operate throughout Shelby County. The VITA sites are available to provide tax return guidance and advice free of charge to ensure that Memphians take full advantage of programs like the EITC and get the tax refund to which they are entitled. More information including a list of all VITA locations and their hours is available at the Shelby County Trustee’s website, and I encourage you to find one near you to help ensure you get every penny you are owed.

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

Issues:9th DistrictChildren and FamiliesEnergyEnvironmentForeign AffairsHealth CareMemphisMillingtonShelby CountyTennesseeTransportation