Championing the American Rescue Plan and What it Means for Memphis
Dear Friend, This week, I voted for the American Rescue Plan and President Biden signed it into law. This historic legislation addresses the pandemic health crisis and its economic consequences with transformative improvements to our modern social safety net. It also shows that the federal government can be counted on to meet real needs. I also hosted a panel of eminent local and national experts on the Covid-19 response in a virtual "town hall" meeting that answered critical questions posed by you, my constituents. (See below for details.) On Sunday, I look forward to joining former Vice President Al Gore at a rally in opposition to the Byhalia Connection Pipeline. Also this week, I voted for the Protecting the Right or Organize (PRO) Act, a significant effort to reorient our labor laws toward workers' rights; voted for two gun purchase background check laws that will save lives; introduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Highway Act, dedicating a stretch of an Alabama federal highway to my heroic colleague and friend; questioned witnesses at a hearing on the failures of the War on Drugs and reasonable remedies for repairing its injury; presided at a hearing on the standards for House Member conduct; introduced a bill to more sharply define the conduct judges can use in determining criminal sentences; announced a significant research grant to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens. Championing the American Rescue Plan and What it Means for Memphis Hosting a Virtual Town Hall Featuring Experts on Covid-19 Welcoming Former Vice President Gore's View of the Byhalia Connection Pipeline Voting to Strengthen Firearms Background Check Laws Introducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Highway Act Questioning Expert Witnesses on the Harmful Consequences of the War on Drugs Voting to Protect the Right to Organize Presiding at a Hearing on Standards of House Members' Conduct Introducing a Sentencing Reform Bill Announcing a Significant Research Grant to St. Jude Championing the American Rescue Plan and What it Means for Memphis On Wednesday, I voted for the most transformative bill in recent history, the American Rescue Plan Act, and President Biden signed it into law on Thursday. This $1.9 trillion bill is what some call a "game-changer," because it not only addresses the immediate needs created by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout but shores up our tattered social safety net in a way few dreamed possible. Among other things, it cuts child poverty in half and provides generous incentives for Tennessee to expand the TennCare program in a way that even our state legislators should not be able to ignore. It also provides direct payments of $1,400 per individual, refundable child tax credits and many other items targeted to the people of the Ninth District. See my release on the bill's passage here. This is a huge victory for Memphis. I was pleased to see President Biden champion what we have accomplished. See that statement here. Hosting a Roundtable Forum of Experts on Covid-19 On Monday night, I hosted a "Town Hall"-style panel discussion with experts on the Covid-19 pandemic and the local response, including pertinent and timely advice on the vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, and local outreach efforts. We had eminent experts answering questions from constituents. If you missed it, you can watch the townahall on my webpage: cohen.house.gov. Welcoming Former Vice President Al Gore's View of the Byhalia Connection Pipeline I plan to welcome former Tennessee Senator and Vice President Al Gore to a major public forum in Memphis on Sunday and hear him speak in opposition to the environmentally risky Byhalia Connection Pipeline planned for a route over our Memphis Sand Aquifer, the source of drinking water for the Memphis region. There can be no more compelling voice on the environmental threat this project poses. I look forward to the energy he brings to this cause and will continue working against building the pipeline. Voting to Protect the Right to Organize On Tuesday, I voted for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, progressive reforms that word reorient our labor law in favor of workers' rights. See my release on the measure here. Voting to Strengthen Firearms Background Check Laws On Thursday, I voted in favor of two bills reforming the way firearms background checks are conducted to more closely align with common sense and public expectations. See my release on the measures here. Introducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Highway Act Also Thursday, I led my colleagues Representatives Terri Sewell and Robert Aderholt, both of Alabama, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C., in introducing a measure to rename the portion of U.S. 80 between Selma and Montgomery the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Highway. See our release here. Questioning Expert Witnesses on the Harmful Consequences of the War on Drugs The Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee on which I serve explored the federal effort to enforce laws on controlled substances on Thursday. As a longtime member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, I questioned the wisdom of the War on Drugs and its impact on communities of color. See my release on the hearing, including my questioning of witnesses, here. Presiding at a Hearing on Standard of House Members' Conduct On Thursday, I presided at a hearing on the Constitutional Framework for Congress's Ability to Uphold Standards of Member Conduct This hearing was designed to inform the House of Representatives about its authority to create and enforce rules. Introducing a Sentencing Reform Bill On Monday, I introduced a bi-partisan bill clarifying how prior conduct can be used during the sentencing phase of criminal proceedings. Senators Durbin and Grassley filed the Senate companion. See my release here. Announcing a Significant Research Grant to St. Jude On Tuesday, I announced a significant National Institutes of Health grant to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for research on pediatric tumors. See my release here. President Biden's national address to the nation was a real shot in the arm, if you'll pardon the expression. Things are moving. Vaccine production and vaccinations are ramping up, and the Biden-Harris team has accelerated its already ambitious plans to get shots into millions of arms in the months to come. Please make every effort to get your vaccination when you become eligible. Because only about 15 percent of Shelby County residents have received one dose of a vaccine and there are concerns about variants, we must remain vigilant and follow public health protocols involving washing hands, wearing masks and keeping our distance until we get this behind us. I know we're all eager to get the vaccine, so click here to see when you will be eligible, and call (901) 222-7468 to be notified when appointments are available through the Shelby County Health Department. And again, consider watching the Town Hall forum I held this week to hear some very useful guidance. "We need to remember the government isn't some foreign force in a distant capital. No, it's us. All of us. ‘We the People.' For you and I, that America thrives when we give our hearts, when we turn our hands to common purpose. And right now, my friends, we are doing just that. And I have to say, as your president, I am grateful to you." -- President Joe Biden in in his address to the nation Thursday night. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |
