Dear Friend, This week, I was delighted, but not surprised, to see that the United States experienced the fastest economic growth in nearly four decades during the first year of the Biden Administration and the Democratic majorities in Congress. Tennessee has also created 98,100 jobs since President Biden took office. We don't hear enough about this. I also announced grants from the American Rescue Plan to two important Memphis institutions of culture and music; congratulated the University of Memphis on its national recognition as a great research center; condemned a decision by the McMinn County School Board to remove a book on the Holocaust from the curriculum as ridiculous and small-minded and recalled the anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps; announced a supplement to an already significant U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant to prevent youth homelessness; noted the retirement of my friend, Jim Cooper, the longtime Congressman representing Tennessee's 5th Congressional district, after his Nashville-based district was dismantled by partisan gerrymandering; and offered a health tip on available local and national resources to address the ongoing pandemic. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to o see what I'm doing as it happens. Applauding Fastest Economic Growth in 38 Years Announcing American Rescue Plan Investments in Soulsville and the Blues City Cultural Center Congratulating the University of Memphis for its Research Standing Condemning McMinn County School Board for Removing Holocaust Novel from Curriculum Announcing Supplemental Homelessness Prevention Grant Thanking Congressman Jim Cooper for his Service to the Nation Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Applauding Fastest Economic Growth in 38 Years 
On Thursday, the White House announced that the rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth during President Biden's first year – at 5.7 percent -- shows that we are finally building an American economy for the 21st Century, with the fastest economic growth in nearly four decades, along with the greatest year of job growth in American history, which created 98,100 jobs in Tennessee. This is no accident. The President's economic strategy is creating good jobs for Americans, rebuilding our manufacturing, and strengthening our supply chains here at home to help make our companies more competitive. Companies are investing in new manufacturing operations like recent announcements from Intel in Ohio, General Motors in Michigan and Ford's Blue Oval right here in West Tennessee. We're making the future in America again. Of course, we have more to do: the Senate needs to pass a version of the Build Back Better Act to address modern infrastructure, improve the care economy and combat climate change. Because of the resistance of Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, it's clear Build Back Better will have to be split into smaller pieces. I have been talking with House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina and we both agree that our first priority must be expansion of Medicaid, so that people in states like Tennessee whose legislatures have refused to support expansion will have Affordable Care Act-like low-cost health care insurance. America is on the move again and, in these cynical hyper-partisan times, it's important that accurate information -- facts – reach all Americans. Announcing American Rescue Plan Investments in Soulsville and the Blues City Cultural Center
On Thursday, I announced that the Soulsville Foundation, the parent organization of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy, and the Soulsville Charter School at the original site of legendary Stax Records; and the Blues City Cultural Center, will each receive a $150,000 grant awards from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). See my release here. Congratulating the University of Memphis for its Research Standing
The University of Memphis is the highest-ranked institution in Tennessee for the third-straight year by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022 assessment of online programs. The U of M's rise in these rankings began five years ago, culminating in the top spot for three consecutive years. As a proud alumnus of the University of Memphis law school, I am delighted to see the University recognized as a top-tier research institution and for its commitment to high quality scholarship in a wide variety of fields. I congratulate Dr. M. David Rudd and all who have made this success a reality. Condemning McMinn County School Board for Removing Holocaust Novel from Curriculum Earlier this month, a unanimous but small-minded McMinn County School Board decided to ban Maus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel on the Nazi Holocaust. This was the latest example of censorship and is typical of a trend we're seeing around the country of right-wing politicians attempting to shield themselves from the painful truths of history. See my statement on the banning decision here. Thanking Congressman Jim Cooper for his Service to the Nation
I was saddened to learn this week of my friend Jim Cooper's decision to retire from Congress after 32 years of exemplary service to his district, our state and the country. Jim is a man of integrity, honesty and level-headedness whose 5th Congressional District was shredded into three Republican-dominated districts through the state legislature's partisan gerrymandering. This shouldn't be allowed to happen. I sponsored the John Tanner Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act which would prevent such partisan power grabs. I join the people of Davidson County, the state of Tennessee and the country in thanking Congressman Cooper for his service. See my statement on his retirement here. Announcing Supplemental Homelessness Prevention Grant This week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced it was supplementing by more than $86,000 a youth homelessness prevention grant awarded to the Community Alliance for the Homeless in September. See my announcement of the additional grant funding here. Weekly Health Tip
The White House has begun new programs to make free COVID-19 tests and high-quality masks available to every household in the country. To promote broad access, the initial program will allow four free tests to be requested per residential address. As of January 19th, Americans have been able to order their tests online at COVIDTests.gov. For more information on the free tests, see the White House announcement here. Starting this week, the Biden Administration is distributing 400 million N95 masks, which will be available for free at participating health clinics, pharmacies and retailers, including CVS, Kroger, Walgreens and Walmart which will distribute three masks per person at participating stores beginning today. Finally, on Saturday, February 5th, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Shelby County Health Department is hosting a Community Engagement Forum at the Cathedral of Praise, 561 South Prescott in Memphis (38111). There, the Memphis Health Center will offer Covid-19 testing. The center's mobile unit will do the Covid-19 testing and will be open to the public. See additional information and resources to address the pandemic on my website here. Quote of the Week "I do worry about him. He's incredibly frustrated…because it's a distraction. But there's no part of Tony Fauci that's ready to give up on a problem just because it's hard." – Dr. Francis Collins, who recently retired as director of the National Institutes of Health, speaking of unfair criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the 81-year-old director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and President Biden's chief medical advisor on the coronavirus pandemic. As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 
