Condemning Trump Administration Separation of Immigrant Children from Their Parents
Dear Friend,
This week, I condemned the Trump Administration policy of separating immigrant children from their parents as inhumane and heartless. I also asked the Department of Homeland Security to honor the requests of airlines that don't want to be parties to that policy by transporting separated children. I also introduced the NEWBORN Act to help reduce our country's and the 9thCongressional District's high infant mortality rate, spoke in favor of Medicare for All, applauded a review of factors affecting the safe evacuation of aircraft, questioned the President's characterization of the FBI as a "Den of Thieves," sought to amend a spending bill to prevent Trump enriching himself with federal Defense Department funds, voted against a flawed Farm Bill, commemorated Juneteenth, spent some quality time -- last Friday -- with former Vice President Joe Biden and offered a health tip on sickle cell disease. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Condemning Trump Administration Separation of Immigrant Children from Their Parents
Asking Homeland Security to Honor Requests of Airlines regarding Separated Immigrant Children
Introducing the NEWBORN Act
Speaking Out in Support of Medicare for All
Applauding DOT Inspector General's Review of Factors Affecting Safe Airplane Evacuation
Questioning Veracity of Trump Suggestion the FBI is a "Den of Thieves"
Preventing Trump from Profiting Personally from Funding for National Defense
Voting Against a Bad Farm Bill
Commemorating the 153rd Juneteenth and 25th Memphis Juneteenth Urban Music Festival
Helping Uncle Joe Keep His Promise
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Condemning Trump Administration Separation of Immigrant Children from Their Parents
This week marked a new low point in President Trump's tenure as we learned that, in the past six weeks, 2,342 children – some as young as 8 months old -- have been torn from the arms of their parents and sent to wail and cry in shelters in many cases thousands of miles from where their asylum-seeking parents are jailed. The heartless and immoral policy was finally reversed on Wednesday but accounting for the children's whereabouts and reuniting families is proving to be yet another chaotic Trump blunder. The harm the President has done in our name, with world leaders accusing the United States of human rights abuses, is shameful and unforgivable.
Asking Homeland Security to Honor Requests of Airlines Regarding Separated Immigrant Children
Also Wednesday, I called upon Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to honor the request of several airlines not to use their services to transport immigrant children separated from their parents as a result of the Trump Administration's "Zero Tolerance" border policy. The desire expressed by American Airlines and other airlines to avoid being parties to a Trump Administration policy decision separating children from their parents on the border is an example of good corporate citizenship.
Introducing the NEWBORN Act
On Thursday, I introduced legislation to address America's unacceptably high infant mortality rate with concrete measures in the Nationally Enhancing the Wellbeing of Babies through Outreach and Research Now (NEWBORN) Act. The legislation would create infant-mortality focused pilot programs in the highest-risk areas of the country and would address one or more of the top five reasons for infant mortality: birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, maternal pregnancy complications and/or injuries to the infant. The NEWBORN Act pilot programs would educate at-risk and potential mothers about pregnancy and prenatal care. Statistics would be gathered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help gain a better understanding of the causes of infant mortality and best practices for preventing it.
Memphis and Shelby County have some of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. In 2016, Shelby County had 123 children die in their first year, a rate of 9.3 per 1,000, which was a 13 percent increase over the previous year. More than 23,000 children died before their first birthdays in the U.S. in 2015. That's higher than the infant mortality rates of 19 other wealthy countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Infant mortality is a reflection of our nation's overall health and its commitment to children. We need to do more to assure women have the resources and information they need to deliver healthy babies and raise them to become healthy and productive adults. I look forward to swift passage of this critically important measure.
Speaking Out in Support of Medicare for All
On Wednesday, I spoke at an event hosted by the Medicare for All Caucus in support of efforts to bring a coherent, single-payer medical system to the United States and replacing the costly and inefficient system of private insurance, charity, Medicaid and Medicare that currently leaves 28 million people without access to affordable medical care. I told the crowd that I am a cosponsor of the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act (H.R. 676) and will continue to work for its passage.
Applauding DOT Inspector General's Review of Factors Affecting Safe Airplane Evacuation
I learned this week that a review of factors such as seat size and pitch, the space between rows of seats, would be undertaken by the Department of Transportation's watchdog agency, the Office of the Inspector General. This builds upon concerns expressed in the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act, a bill I introduced, and the House passed, that would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish minimum seat sizes and distances between rows of seats to ensure airline passengers are safe. Current Federal Aviation Administration regulations require all commercial aircraft in emergencies to be safely evacuated within 90 seconds. As a senior member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I am concerned about the safety implications of airlines packing passengers into such tight spaces. I applaud the DOT's Inspector General's review and look forward to the recommendations it will make. See a Yahoo Finance story about my effortshere.
Questioning Veracity of Trump Suggestion the FBI is a "Den of Thieves"
On Tuesday, the Inspector General of the Justice Department, Michael E. Horowitz, appeared before a joint hearing held by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Judiciary Committee on which I serve. I asked Horowitz if President Trump is harming the reputation of law enforcement and undermining the rule of law when he suggests the FBI is "a den of thieves." While Horowitz demurred on characterizing the President's remarks, he said his department's review of the FBI has never identified a den of thieves. See our exchange here.
Preventing Trump from Profiting Personally from Funding for National Defense
On Thursday, I introduced amendments to the 2019 spending bill for the Department of Defense that would prohibit federal spending at Trump's private businesses and resorts. The Majority shot down my efforts to amend a spending bill earlier this month, and last year, with similar language, but I've vowed to attach the prohibition to all the spending bills we consider this year. As the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, it is my contention such spending violates Constitutional anti-corruption provisions that prohibit any President from receiving funds from foreign governments without first obtaining the permission of Congress, as well as receiving funding from the federal government beyond a salary. Congress' first duty is to support and defend the Constitution and that's what I am doing.
Voting Against a Bad Farm Bill
House Republicans narrowly passed a very flawed Farm Bill on Thursday which I voted against. The bill adds barriers to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by adding work requirements for 50- to 59-year-olds that will add to more food insecurity for older Americans. The measure was opposed by a variety of groups and organizations, including school teachers, principals and the American Academy of Pediatrics who see the benefit of SNAP as a safety net for students and children whose parents may be enduring financial hardship. Why the Majority would want to make it harder for people to feed their families is troubling but it's a cause against which I'll always fight.
Commemorating the 153rd Juneteenth and 25th Memphis Juneteenth Urban Music Festival
On Tuesday, I commemorated 153rd anniversary of Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, when a Union Army general brought the news to the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, that they, and all slaves in the former Confederacy, were free. It was also the 25th anniversary of the three-day Memphis Juneteenth Music Festival that concluded Sunday. Juneteenth is a time to reflect upon the end of slavery in America and to recognize the many contributions African American citizens have made to our rich culture. I am proud to have authored and passed the first Congressional apology for slavery and Jim Crow in 2008. While we have made strides towards civil rights for all, there are still lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow in our society and we must take the actions necessary to rectify the remaining consequences of America's "original sin" of accepted and institutionalized inequality.
Helping Uncle Joe Keep His Promise
Last Friday night after my weekly newsletter's deadline, I attended former Vice President Joe Biden's book tour talk at The Orpheum. As many of you know, Joe lost his talented son Beau to brain cancer in 2015 and his book, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, tells Beau's story and describes his work as a dedicated public servant. Biden is a gifted speaker and told heartrending but uplifting tales. It was a pleasure to see Uncle Joe among his friends in Memphis.
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter
I enjoy meeting regularly with constituents in the district and helping get answers for them to questions about dealing with federal agencies. If you are interested in attending one of my "Congress on Your Corner" events, you can sign up here to receive notification as soon as the next event is scheduled.
For those who haven't participated in a telephone town hall, it's easy to sign up for them by usingthis form.
If you would like to receive this weekly e-Newsletter, or share it with others, you can do that withthis form.
Weekly Health Tip
Each week, I share a health tip in the hope of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9thCongressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.
Tuesday, June 19th – Juneteenth – was also World Sickle Cell Awareness Day. Sickle Cell Disease is a rare inherited blood disorder that mainly affects African Americans and Hispanic Americas. Learn more about it from this fact sheet from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Quote of the Week
"Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for." – Immanuel Kant, quoted before the title page in Joe Biden's Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose (2017)
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress