Dear Friend, This week, and in the weeks to come, I will be condemning Friday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and ending women's constitutional right to autonomy over their own bodies. I was pleased to see four House Appropriations Subcommittees recommend funding for my important Community Projects, potentially bringing millions in federal investments to Memphis. I also voted for a compromise gun safety bill that I wish were stronger and more effective but which constitutes some progress against gun violence; urged the State Department to appoint an anti-corruption coordinator to address the kleptocracy which is helping Putin stave off defeat in Ukraine. In a related effort, I introduced legislation to authorize the transfer of ill-gotten assets of Russian oligarchs for use in assisting Ukraine; applauded my bill to prohibit walking horse "soring" advancing through the legislative process; congratulated Jayden Harris on winning the Congressional Art Competition; announced National Institutes for Health (NIH) grants to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and a National Science Foundation grant to Rhodes College; paid tribute to Mark Flanagan, "the Mayor of Midtown," and a lifelong cherished friend; 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 the Supreme Court Ruling Overturning Roe v. Wade Securing Funding Recommendations for Community Projects Voting for a Compromise Guns Bill Urging Appointment of a State Department Anti-Corruption Coordinator Introducing Bill Authorizing Transfer of Forfeited Russian Assets to Assist Ukraine Applauding Advancement of PAST Act Congratulating Jayden Harris, Congressional Art Competition Winner Announcing National Science Foundation to Rhodes College Announcing NIH Grants to UTHSC and St. Jude Remembering the "Mayor of Midtown" Mark Flanagan Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week
Condemning Supreme Court Ruling Overturning Roe v. Wade On Friday morning, the right-wing majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade taking away women's fundamental right, first recognized in the Constitution 50 years ago, to autonomy over their own bodies. I will do all I can to overturn the Dobbs decision by enshrining the right to abortion in law. See my initial reaction to the ruling in a release here. Securing Funding Recommendations for Community Projects This week, the House Appropriations Subcommittees began releasing draft spending bills for the upcoming fiscal year. I was pleased to see that all my requests for funding for Community Projects in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District were given the green light. my first requests involving an entrepreneurial support program and a re-entry program were given the green light at the spending levels I requested. On Friday, I announced another $23.5 million in Community projects that the subcommittees recommended, including funding for LeBonheur Pediatric Intensive Care Transport Vehicles and $3 million for the Memphis Zoo's parking solutions. See details of the programs in my releases here and here. Voting for Compromise Gun Bill Earlier today, I voted for, and the House passed, a gun violence bill that was able to overcome the filibuster in the Senate. It now goes to the president to be signed into law. This modest measure improves background checks and makes substantial contributions to increase school security. Though welcome, these policies are not nearly enough. A more comprehensive bill that would prevent those under 21 from buying assault weapons was passed by the House earlier this month. I hope this bill breaks a logjam and spurs progress to prevent gun violence in this country. Urging Appointment of a State Department Anti-Corruption Coordinator On Wednesday, I, along with Congressman Andy Levin of Michigan, led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken with 24 of our colleagues urging Secretary Blinken to appoint an anti-corruption coordinator to underline the Biden administration's stated commitment to prioritizing the fight against foreign corruption and its impact on the rule of law. See that release and the letter here. On Thursday, Defense appropriators included a bill I supported aimed at reining in the enablers of foreign oligarchs in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, again raising the issue as a priority and providing a legislative remedy. Introducing Bill Authorizing Transfer of Forfeited Russian Assets to Assist Ukraine 
On Tuesday, joined by several of my Congressional colleagues, I introduced the Oligarch Asset for Ukrainian Victory Act, which would authorize the transfer of seized Russian oligarch assets for use in Ukrainian defense and humanitarian efforts. See that release here. Applauding Advancement of PAST Act I have long advocated ending the practice of horse soring – the intentional infliction of injury to show horses to "improve" their high-stepping gaits for beauty contest judges. On Thursday, my Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act advanced through a subcommittee markup and will now be considered by the full Energy and Commerce Committee. We're making progress on ending this barbaric practice. See my release here. Congratulating Jayden Harris on Winning the Congressional Art Competition
I congratulate Jayden Harris, a rising 10th grader from Overton High school, on winning the Congressional Art Competition for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District. Her drawing, titled "Ja Morant, Star Player" (shown above) is now hanging in the U.S. Capitol and will remain on view for a year. Jayden is a promising artist and I am pleased my D.C. staff could give her and her mother a tour of the Capitol to see the picture earlier today. Announcing National Science Foundation to Rhodes College
The National Science Foundation on Wednesday informed my office that Rhodes College and Chemistry Professor Loretta Jackson-Hayes will receive a prestigious research grant. I congratulated them in this release. Announcing NIH Grants to UTHSC and St. Jude
On Tuesday, I announced that the director of the National Institutes of Health will provide funding to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) to modernize an animal facility and on Wednesday I announced the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will provide a research grant to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. See those releases here and here. Remembering "Mayor of Midtown" Mark Flanagan Congressman Cohen, Cybill Shepherd, Betsy Belz (then Betsy Flanagan) and Mark Flanagan On June 15, Memphis and the world lost my good friend and supporter, the Mayor of Midtown, Mark Flanagan. I issued a press statement about how important Mark was to our community, Overton Square and Cooper-Young, and to the vibrancy of our city. See that release here. I also remembered Mark with a statement in The Congressional Record. See that here. He will be missed by many friends as well as his family. Weekly Health Tip The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now authorized emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 including use in children as young as six months of age. I urge anyone considering this option to consult with their health care provider or pediatrician but to seriously consider it. This pandemic has not run its course and we need to stay vigilant. Quote of the Week "I'm still worried that not enough has changed to prevent this from happening again. The oath that we take has to mean something…It's now up to every American, now and in the future, to stand for truth, to reject the lies whenever we confront them…and within our minds and hearts." – Illinois Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a member of the January 6th Select Committee, in his closing statement Thursday evening. As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress | 
