Dear Friend, This week, along with the nation, I mourned another senseless act of gun violence, this time involving elementary school children in Texas. I also applauded President Biden's executive order on policing reforms which I was pleased to see contained elements of legislation I was successful getting passed in the House last year. For much of the week, I was attending the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue to discuss with my European counterparts the critical issues of security, cooperation, climate change and the ongoing war in Ukraine. I also provided written testimony in favor of my horse-protecting PAST Act; introduced a bill to designate a new National Scenic Trail through Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina; discussed Ukraine and other matters with the Ambassador of Ireland; announced a significant HIV/AIDS grant to Shelby County; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens. Condemning Another Act of Gun Violence Applauding the President's Executive Order on Policing Reform Strengthening Transatlantic Cooperation and Supporting Ukraine Speaking Out Against Horse Soring Introducing the Benton MacKaye Scenic Trail Act Discussing Ukraine with the Ambassador to Ireland Announcing $4.7 Million HIV/AIDS Grant to Shelby County Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Condemning Another Act of Gun Violence On Tuesday, the country witnessed another senseless act of gun violence, when a killer shot up a fourth-grade classroom in Texas, murdering 19 children and two teachers. This occurred less than two weeks after a gunman shot up a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 Black people. Clear-thinking people realize that taking measures such as universal background checks, red flag laws and ending the sale of assault rifles – all of which I support -- would save lives. Applauding the President's Executive Order on Policing Reform On the second anniversary of George Floyd's murder at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, President Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order to reform policing practices which included policies modeled on many of the elements of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. That bill, which passed the House in March 2021, included three measures I authored. The executive order contained the substance of my National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, which would require law enforcement agencies to collect, compile, and submit data on the use of deadly force by specific law enforcement officers to the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics. I believe the executive order will improve relations between police and the communities they serve. See my statement on the order here. Strengthening Transatlantic Cooperation and Supporting Ukraine 
I spent much of this week participating as a United States Delegate in the 84th Inter-Parliamentary meeting of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, meeting in Paris with European lawmakers focused on strengthening transatlantic cooperation, combatting climate change and supporting Ukraine in defending its sovereignty. The Europeans are very positive about our shared values and welcome a return to them under President Biden after the strained relationship under President Trump. As Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, I have been following all of these issues very closely and find it important to participate in these discussions. Speaking Out Against Horse Soring The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce held a legislative hearing considering my bill, H.R. 5441, the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act on Thursday. The bill would prohibit the soring, or intentional injury, of Tennessee Walking Horses to produce a desired high-stepping gait known as "The Big Lick." See my statement to the Subcommittee here. Introducing the Benton MacKaye Scenic Trail Act Earlier today, I introduced the Benton MacKaye Scenic Trail Act, designating a 287-mile hiking trail through the natural beauty of Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina as a new National Scenic Trail. See my release on the bill here. Discussing Ukraine with the Ambassador to Ireland
On Friday, I met in my District Office with Daniel Mulhall, Ireland's ambassador to the United States. Among the many subjects we discussed was the situation in Ukraine. We shared a conversation about our mutual friends and travel spots in Ireland. He knew the three Irish representatives with whom I met this week at the Transatlantic Dialogue, one of whom was directly related to Ethel Kennedy, the wife of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy, assassinated in 1968. I put him in touch by telephone with one of Memphis' most famous Sons of Ireland, Mark Flanagan, and they had much to share about friends and places. Announcing $4.7 Million HIV/AIDS Grant to Shelby County On Wednesday, I announced an emergency relief grant to Shelby County for its Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs. This funding will save lives. See my release here. Weekly Health Tip
Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are again going in the wrong direction, with 300 new cases reported daily in Shelby County. Beginning today, the Shelby County Health Department will begin administering the booster Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to children five to eleven years old who have already received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. Please continue to take this situation seriously and please wear a face mask when you are indoors among people whose Covid immunization status is unknown.
Quote of the Week
"As a nation, we have to ask: When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God's name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?" – President Biden Tuesday night responding to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
I wish everyone a pleasant Memorial Day. As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 
