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Announcing New Infrastructure Funding for Our State

December 18, 2021
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I announced significant investments in our state's physical infrastructure, including in our local airports and drinking water and wastewater systems, delivered by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I voted for and that was signed into law last month. I also voted to hold Trump's former chief of staff in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to honor a subpoena from the committee investigating the January 6 attempted coup d'etat; voted to maintain our country's ability to pay its bills with an increase in the debt ceiling; wrote a column explaining the need to end airlines' practice of charging unreasonable fees; met with experts about the growing threat to Ukraine from Russia; announced a significant grant to the Memphis Fire Department's Healthcare Navigator Program; congratulated this year's winner of the Congressional App Challenge from Tennessee's 9th Congressional District; urged President Biden to release the remaining classified records concerning the assassination of President Kennedy; congratulated Arlisa Armstrong on being named USDA Rural Development State Director by President Biden; expressed concern at the loss of life from last weekend's tornadoes and severe storms in our region; celebrated the Tigers' victory over Alabama; offered U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2022 calendars; and provided a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens.

Announcing New Infrastructure Funding for Our State

Voting to Hold Former Trump Chief of Staff in Criminal Contempt of Congress

Voting to Maintain the Full Faith and Credit of the United States

Touting the FAIR Fees Act in The Hill Newspaper Column

Meeting with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe President on Ukraine Situation

Announcing $3.9 Million Grant to the Memphis Fire Department

Congratulating the Congressional App Challenge Winner from Memphis

Urging Release of Kennedy Assassination Records

Congratulating USDA Rural Development State Director Arlisa Armstrong

Celebrating Tigers Victory over Alabama

Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars

Weekly Health Tip

Quote of the Week


Announcing New Infrastructure Funding for Our State

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The new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I voted for and President Biden signed into law last month will send $1.1 billion in new funding to Tennessee in its first year to rebuild roads, bridges, pipelines and broadband – and create good-paying jobs. See my release on the new statewide funding here. It also delivers $17.8 million in funding for the Memphis International, General Dewitt Spain and Millington-Memphis airports, and $120.8 million to improve drinking water and wastewater systems throughout our state. See my release on the airport funding here and water systems here.

Voting to Hold Former Trump Chief of Staff in Criminal Contempt of Congress

On Tuesday night, I voted to hold former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt of Congress for failing to honor a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the coup attempt on January 6.

Voting to Maintain the Full Faith and Credit of the United States

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The U.S. Treasury Department

,Also Tuesday, I voted to increase the debt ceiling to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations for the first time in history. It was the right thing to do and should never have been a matter of partisan brinksmanship. This pays for past debts, including the trillion-dollar Trump tax scam and the bipartisan Covid-19 response during the Trump administration.

Touting the FAIR Fees Act in The Hill Newspaper Column

Just in time for holiday travel, the FAIR Fees bill I introduced with Senator Markey of Massachusetts last week will do away with unexpected, unreasonable and onerous airline fees. See our opinion column in The Hill newspaper about it here.

Meeting with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe President on Ukraine Situation

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On Tuesday, as Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I met with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt of Sweden to discuss Russia's massing of troops on the Ukrainian border. On Thursday, I questioned expert witnesses at a Helsinki Commission briefing on Ukraine and made it clear that Russian aggression will be met with sanctions. See my release on the briefing here.

Announcing $3.9 Million Grant to the Memphis Fire Department

On Thursday, I announced that the Memphis Fire Department's Healthcare Navigator Program will receive a $3.9 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. I congratulate Director Gina Sweat and her team for this innovative, lifesaving effort.

Congratulating the Congressional App Challenge Winner from Memphis

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This week, I was proud to award Shaniya Thomas of White Station High School first place in this year's 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge. The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition for high schoolers to code and showcase original apps. This year, Ms. Thomas used open-source coding and Google tools to design My College Financial, which is a financial literacy app for prospective college students to learn important skills like banking, budgeting, taxes, and student loan payments. I'm proud of Shaniya's and all the entrants' innovation and creativity. Memphis' future is in good hands with bright minds like theirs!

Urging Release of Kennedy Assassination Records

On Thursday, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California and I released a joint statement calling for the release of the remaining documents on the assassination of President Kennedy. This came after the White House released 1,500 related documents, leaving more than 10,000 documents either partially redacted or withheld entirely. See that statement here. I was also interviewed on the subject by Politico. See that story here.

Congratulating USDA Rural Development State Director Arlisa Armstrong

On Friday afternoon, President Biden announced the appointment of longtime U.S. Department of Agriculture West Tennessee area director Arlisa Armstrong as Rural Development State Director.See my statement congratulating her here.

Celebrating Tigers Victory over Alabama

They're already calling Tuesday night's upset victory over 6th ranked Alabama one of the best Tigers basketball games in history. Congratulations, Tigers!

Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars

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My office has a limited number of 2022 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee's Ninth District.

Weekly Health Tip

Experts are saying we may be in for another coronavirus surge this winter as the new and more contagious Omicron variant spreads. That's why it is especially important to get fully vaccinated and boosted, which appears to limit Omicron's severity.

The Shelby County Health Department continues to offer vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on a walk-in basis at its immunization clinic at 814 Jefferson Avenue between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The accompanying parent or legal guardian must provide documentation of the child's birth date with either a birth certificate or shot record.

In addition, adults already fully vaccinated are eligible for coronavirus booster shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends booster shots for adults who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago or people aged 16 or older who received their second dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine at least six months ago. More information about the booster shots is available here.

Vaccines are currently available for everyone 5 and older. If you need a ride to a vaccination site, you can call 901-RIDE901 (901-743-3901) to coordinate the best transportation option for you. The City of Memphis is also now coordinating with organizations, congregations, community groups, and businesses to host coronavirus vaccinations. The Shelby County Health Department at 814 Jefferson is also dispensing vaccines from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointments are needed. To find the latest information about vaccination sites visit https://covid19.memphistn.gov/

Quote of the Week

"I promise you: You're going to heal. We're going to recover. You're going to rebuild. You're going to be stronger than you were before. We're going to build back better than it was." – President Biden after surveying the tornado damage in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, on Wednesday.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season.

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