Attending Martin Luther King National Holiday Events
Dear Friend,
This week, I attended Martin Luther King Holiday events, signed on to a resolution censuring the president for his use of foul and demeaning language regarding Haiti and Africa, followed House and Senate negotiations to avert a government shutdown while hoping to get to Memphis for Saturday's women's march, commended the Grizzlies and the Tigers on recent victories, attended the inauguration of Rhodes College President Marjorie Hass, participated in a floor debate over an anti-abortion measure, planned further interactions with my constituents, urged Alaska Airlines to fly routes from Memphis to Seattle and San Francisco, asked the Transportation Secretary to consider making Memphis a drone demonstration pilot program venue and warned of the incidence of flu-like illness in our region. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Attending Martin Luther King National Holiday Events
Signing on to Censure the President Over his Racist Profanity
Planning to Attend Memphis Women's March-Rally
Attending the Inauguration of Rhodes College President Marjorie Hass
Urging Colleagues to Refrain from Turning House into Reality T.V. Studio
Planning More Interaction with My Constituents
Commending the Grizzlies and the U of M Tigers Basketball Teams
Writing to Encourage Memphis International Airport Flights to West Coast
Endorsing Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority's Drone Initiative
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Attending Martin Luther King National Holiday Events
On Sunday, I attended the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church service and was allowed to speak about my concerns about the direction the Trump presidency is taking the country. I said the recently passed tax scam law will result in more poverty. But I also said that the election results from the Alabama Senate race, where African Americans turned out in high numbers, shows that voting makes a difference. See my remarks from the pulpit here.
On Monday, I attended and made welcoming remarks at the LeMoyne-Owen College alumni 27th annual MLK breakfast and later watched the Grizzlies beat the L.A. Lakers at the King Day Celebration at FedEx Forum.
Signing on to Censure the President Over his Racist Profanity
All week, I joined my colleagues in expressing my disgust with the president's characterization of Africa and Haiti with his use of language I can't in good conscience repeat. On Thursday, I stood with members of the Judiciary Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus as 130 colleagues introduced a resolution to censure – essentially, to condemn – the president, referring to his comments as "hateful, discriminatory and racist (and) should not be the basis of any American policy, including immigration policy." The resolution calls upon the President to retract his remarks and to apologize for the offense they have caused.
Planning to Attend Memphis Women's March-Rally
As I write this, the threat of a partial federal government shutdown is looming as Republicans who control both the House and Senate can't seem to master their most basic function and fund government operations. I may have to be in D.C. until it is resolved, but if it is in time to catch a flight home, I plan to speak at the Women's March-Rally at First Congregational Church, 100 South Cooper on Saturday morning. I look forward to seeing a sea of pink hats and the same enthusiastic dedication to women's rights as we all saw when millions took to the streets in 600 towns and cities around the world last year. I hope to see you there.
I also plan to attend the meetings of the Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta sororities this weekend – if I'm back in town.
Attending the Inauguration of Rhodes College President Marjorie Hass
Last weekend, I was inspired attending the inauguration of Dr. Marjorie Hass as the 20th president of Rhodes College. The former philosophy professor is Rhodes' first female and first Jewish president and brings a commitment to excellence, service learning and community service to Memphis as well as a reputation for working personally with students.
Rhodes is ranked 51st among the best 233 liberal arts colleges in the country, and ahead of Furman and Sarah Lawrence, in the U.S. News and World Report college rankings. The residential liberal arts college on a beautiful 100-acre campus off East Parkway was ranked No. 1 for "Most Beautiful Campus" and No. 2 in "Most Engaged in Community Service" in The Princeton Review's The Best 381 Colleges for 2017, and Dr. Hass appears to be a perfect fit.
I'd like to commend retired President William Troutt for his 18 years leading the academic powerhouse and the search committee, including Board of Trustees Chairman William Michaelcheck and Vice Chairman Cary Fowler, for bringing Dr. Hass to Memphis. The alumni and 2,000 students of Rhodes College -- one of Memphis' crown jewels -- are in good hands.
Urging Colleagues to Refrain from Turning House into Reality T.V. Studio
On Friday, I spoke on the House floor in opposition to H.R. 4712, the misleadingly named Born Alive Survivors Protection Act. I suggested the House Republican leadership had turned the floor debate into a forum for entertaining the anti-abortion marchers in town for their annual rallies against the 45-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling by the Supreme Court in the same way Donald Trump has turned a venue in which he appears at the White House into a reality television "studio." On the substantive issue addressed by the bill, I noted that killing a living child is already illegal under every states' homicide statutes and that the bill is a cynical attempt to insert politicians' views into decisions properly made by medical experts. See my remarks here.
Planning More Interaction with My Constituents
I was disappointed to have to cancel my annual District Issues Meeting on January 12 when the overnight sleet storm paralyzed the city and closed schools and businesses. I plan to hold a "telephone town hall" soon and will continue to hold monthly "Congress on Your Corner" events to help constituents in their interaction with federal programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Veterans Affairs.
Commending the Grizzlies and the U of M Tigers Basketball Teams
And speaking of that Grizzlies victory Monday, the team has been on a roll recently, winning against the Knicks for consecutive wins for the first time since late October. I was really hoping to see Z-Bo and the Kings tonight but had to give my tickets up awaiting shutdown developments in D.C. Meanwhile, the University of Memphis Tigers' blowout victory against UConn extended their winning streak. Congratulations to Coaches Tubby Smith and J.B. Bickerstaff and the teams – making Memphis proud.
Writing to Encourage Memphis International Airport Flights to West Coast
This week, I wrote to the president and CEO of Alaska Air Group to encourage the Alaska Airlines board of directors to consider scheduling flights from Memphis International Airport to Seattle and San Francisco to attract both business and tourists. I noted that Memphis was once a major hub for Northwest Airlines with flights throughout the United States and internationally and that the city has worked hard since Delta and Northwest merged to establish new services to connect the Tri-State Area to far flung markets.
Endorsing Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority's Drone Initiative
Also this week, as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I asked Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to consider a proposal by the Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority to make the Memphis International Airport part of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration Pilot Program (UASSIPP). If chosen, Memphis would demonstrate new and expanded commercial drone operations and help expedite the safe integration of unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace. I told Secretary Chao that the proposal was made in partnership with the airport authority as well as the University of Memphis, the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Division of Aeronautics, FedEx, GE subsidiaries AirXOS and Avitas, Intel, Flirtey, 901Drones, Express Drone Parts, ForeverReady Productions and others. I look forward to seeing Memphis and the Mid-South region in the vanguard of drone technologies.
Weekly Health Tip
Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9thCongressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 255 confirmed cases of influenza-like illness in Shelby County in the week ending January 6 and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning of an above-normal flu season. They also say it's not too late to get a flu shot. You can find the nearest flu shot provider with this handy tool.
Quote of the Week
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." – South African President Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1995
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress