Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear Friend,
This week, I commemorated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., urged Congress to preserve programs vital to the Ninth District and America, announced my decision to not attend the inauguration of Donald Trump, and joined MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Hardball to discuss President-elect Trump's ties to Russia. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Protecting Programs Vital to the Ninth District and America
Announcing My Decision to Not Attend the Inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump
Investigating President-elect Trump's Ties to Russia
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
Helping Memphians Get Covered
Weekly Health Tip
Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Addressing the crowd at Mason Temple on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
On Monday, I commemorated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic Mason Temple, the site of Dr. King's final speech. Dr. King was our better angel. He preached to the nation of the ‘fierce urgency of now.' He reminded America of the pressing need to address injustice, inequality and unfairness without delay. Dr. King's words are equally as true now as they were more than 50 years ago. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day reminds us that we cannot cease or slow our work towards a more fair and just society.
Protecting Programs Vital to the Ninth District and America
On Thursday, I urged Congress to protect many programs that are essential to the health, safety and well-being of my constituents and people all across the country, such as the Minority Business Development Agency, the Legal Service Corporation, the COPS Program, the Office of Violence Against Women Grants and more. Read my statement here.
Announcing My Decision to Not Attend the Inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump
With Congressman John Lewis at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC
Also on Monday, I announced my decision to not attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Eight years ago, Barack Obama became the first African-American President of the United States. His campaign was based on hope and change. But at this time in our history, hope and change have unfortunately become fear and dread. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream is turning into a nightmare. The man who will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States repudiated Barack Obama from the beginning of his presidency, questioning his legitimacy, saying he wasn't born in this country, and therefore was not legally the President of the United States of America. That was racist, it was a lie, it was fake news, and it was wrong.
Donald Trump continued in that same vein, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a greater leader than Barack Obama and he has continued to express his admiration for Putin even as we are learning that Russian interfered in our elections. Your values speak to your leadership. What you do with your leadership speaks to your values.
This president-elect said Senator John McCain was not a hero. He attacked Congressman John Lewis. He said so much about Muslims, Mexicans, immigrants and people with disabilities that was despicable.
With Congressman John Lewis at the National Civil Rights Museum during the Congressional Pilgrimage to Mississippi
I had a decision to make on whether or not to attend the inauguration. I would love to attend the inauguration. I am a member of Congress through the votes of my constituents. I value our government. I appreciate it greatly. However, when President-elect Trump questioned the integrity of my friend, colleague and civil rights icon John Lewis, he crossed the Rubicon. I sat on the floor of the House of Representatives with John Lewis to protest the inability of the Republican Congress to give us a vote on gun violence. I sat with John Lewis then, and I will stand with John Lewis now.
You can watch my full speech at Mason Temple here. You can watch my appearances on MSNBC discussing my decision here and here. You can watch my appearance on Fox News here. You can listen to my appearance on NPR's Here and Now here.
Investigating President-elect Trump's Ties to Russia
On Friday, I joined MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Hardball to discuss President-elect Donald Trump's ties to Russia. Watch my interview here.
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
On Friday, February 24, from 11am to 1pm, my staff will hold our regular "Congress on your Corner" office hours at the Whitehaven Branch Library at 4120 Millbranch Road. If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.
The open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace for 2017 plan shopping and comparison is open. The last day to sign up for health insurance is January 31, 2017. Visit my website for more information.
Each week, I will be suggesting a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it's best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.
Health fraud scams can do more than waste your money. They can cause serious injury or even death, says Gary Coody, R.Ph., FDA's national health fraud coordinator. "Using unproven treatments can delay getting a potentially life-saving diagnosis and medication that actually works. Also, fraudulent products sometimes contain hidden drug ingredients that can be harmful when unknowingly taken by consumers."
Learn more about health fraud scams here.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress