Building a Healthier America
Dear Friend,
This week, the House of Representatives passed a bill I sponsored, the EUREKA Act, as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, I introduced an amendment to the Constitution to abolish the Electoral College, urged the President to issue more commutations for marijuana-related convictions, represented Tennessee at the Steve Cropper donation ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, joined Judiciary Committee Democrats in pressing for hearings on conflicts-of-interest and ethics provisions that might apply to the President, and spoke in support of a bill to name a Nashville federal courthouse after my friend Fred Thompson. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Building a Healthier America
Abolishing the Electoral College
Urging the President to Issue More Commutations
Representing Tennessee at the Steve Cropper Ceremony at the Smithsonian
Pressing for Hearings on Presidential Conflicts-of-Interest
Thinking of Those in Gatlinburg
Remembering Senator Fred Thompson
Bringing Jobs to Memphis
Honoring World AIDS Day
Helping Memphians Get Covered
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
Weekly Health Tip
2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the 21st Century Cures Act to modernize our healthcare system. Included in the bill was a bill I sponsored in the House, the EUREKA Act, which would create prize competitions to accelerate the discovery and development of treatments for certain diseases, like Alzheimer’s, for which there is relatively little private investment as compared to that which is invested publicly. Also included in the 21st Century Cures Act was Vice President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, as well as increased benefits for mental health patients, grants to help combat the opioid epidemic and increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read more about the bill here. You can watch my remarks on the House floor about the bill here.
Abolishing the Electoral College
On Thursday, I introduced an amendment to the Constitution to eliminate the Electoral College and provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President. Read more about my amendment here.
Urging the President to Issue More Commutations
On Tuesday, I urged President Obama to expedite the clemency review process so he can commute as many unjust sentences as possible before President-elect Trump, who is unlikely to utilize this power, takes office. I asked the President to focus on commuting the prison sentences of those serving time for non-violent marijuana-related convictions. Read more about my efforts here.
Representing Tennessee at the Steve Cropper Ceremony at the Smithsonian
Steve Cropper speaks to the audience at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
On Thursday, I represented Tennessee at the donation ceremony for the upcoming Steve Cropper exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Steve Cropper, who performed during the ceremony, is a guitarist, songwriter and record producer with many ties to Stax Records and Memphis. He was the guitarist and a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, the Stax Records house band. You can watch a piece of his performance yesterday here. Steve Cropper’s daughter is a HOPE Scholarship recipient and plays golf at the University of Memphis. I also had the honor of meeting Vaneese Thomas, the daughter of Memphis music legend Rufus Thomas, who sang during the ceremony.
Steve Cropper’s donated Smithsonian exhibit includes a 1961 Fender Esquire "Doc" that was played in the Otis Redding's recording Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay (1967); a 1975 Fender Telecaster electric guitar that was played in the The Blues Brothers movie; and a Fender Telecaster electric guitar made in 1951–1952 that was gifted to Cropper by Jim Dickerson, a producer and recording artist from Memphis.
Pressing for Hearings on Presidential Conflicts-of-Interest
After President-elect Trump's vague tweets this week that he intends to leave his business, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee wrote to Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte to request that the committee hold hearings to examine the federal conflicts-of-interest and ethics provisions that may apply to the President of the United States. Read our letter here.
Thinking of Those in Gatlinburg
My thoughts go out to those affected by the deadly wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I would like to also extend my sympathies to the Summer family of Memphis. Jon and Janet were killed in the fire and their sons Branson, Jared and Wesley were hospitalized. I have been friends with Jon’s brother Jim since we were in law school together at Memphis State. I have been watching the situation closely, and I’m so sorry Jim lost his brother and the sons lost their parents. I feel for the other victims and their families who also lost loved ones in the fire. I hope the firefighters, first responders and workers stay safe as they continue to battle the flames and begin to rebuild after this horrible tragedy.
Remembering Senator Fred Thompson
On Tuesday, I spoke on the House floor in support of a bill I cosponsored to name a federal courthouse in Nashville after my friend and former U.S. Senator from Tennessee Fred Thompson. I am pleased the House passed the bill to honor this great American. You can watch my remarks here.
On Tuesday, I was pleased to learn that Cargill, Inc. and Calysta, Inc. selected a site in Memphis to house their new fermentation facility. I was happy to have helped bring this facility to Memphis, which will bring 160 jobs to the city. Read more here.
Thursday was World AIDS Day. Over the past 30 years, we have made enormous progress in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS. The end of AIDS is now in sight, but we must redouble our efforts to prevent and treat this disease. As a member of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, I am committed to ending AIDS by 2030.
The open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace for 2017 plan shopping and comparison is open. The deadline to sign up is January 31, 2017. Visit my website for more information on getting covered for 2017.
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
The United States Department of Agriculture is seeking applications for grants to increase purchases of healthy fruits and vegetables by low-income families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The federal funding will be awarded to eligible nonprofits and governmental organizations that demonstrate a successful track record of nutrition programs and develop innovative systems that can be replicated by other underserved communities. The deadline to apply is December 12. For more information on this grant program, click here.
Each week, I will be suggesting a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9th Congressional District. As always, it’s best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.
As cold and flu season arrives, the Centers for Disease Control recommends keeping your hands clean as one of the most important steps one can take to avoid getting sick or spreading germs to others. Read more on the science behind washing your hands here.
2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
My office currently has a limited number of 2017 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. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the Ninth District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress