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Correcting Trump's Assertion of Total Authority in this Emergency

April 17, 2020
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,
This week, as Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, I joined Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler in sending a letter to my Congressional colleagues explaining that President Trump's claims of "total authority" over the economy are in direct contradiction to the powers of the federal government laid out by the U.S. Constitution. I also provided updates on developments for small businesses and those awaiting their stimulus checks on my Congressional web page, /coronavirus-resources: announced $24.8 million in CARES Act funding for Shelby County airports; wrote to House leaders about reversing provisions of the CARES Act that benefit high earners at the taxpayers' expense; wrote to House and Senate leaders about repealing a real estate tax provision in the CARES Act that would directly financially benefit the President and his son-in-law; announced aging and alcoholism grants to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center; announced a Head Start grant to Porter-Leath and an EPA grant to Shelby County; announced coronavirus-related HIV funding for four outreach programs; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what my week is like as it happens.

Correcting Trump's Assertion of "Total" Authority in This Emergency
Updating Constituents on Developments and Resources Related to the Pandemic
Announcing $24.8 Million in Shelby County Airport Grants
Urging House Leaders to Reverse CARES Act Provisions Benefiting High Earners at the Taxpayers' Expense
Asking House and Senate Leaders to Repeal Real Estate Tax Provision in CARES Act
Announcing Aging and Alcohol Research Grants to UTHSC
Announcing Head Start Grant to Porter-Leath
Addressing Shelby County Air Pollution
Announcing Coronavirus-Related HIV Grants
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week


Correcting Trump's Assertion of "Total Authority" in This Emergency

As the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, I was deeply concerned by the President's assertion that he has "total authority" to reopen the nation's economy and relax social distancing measures during ongoing coronavirus pandemic. I take assertions that the President makes that are contrary to the Constitution seriously. We are in a difficult time, and the current occupant of the White House either doesn't understand or can't accept that he does not have the powers of a dictator. That's why Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler and I wrote to our colleagues on Wednesday spelling out where the President had misrepresented the powers granted to him by the Constitution. See my release and the letter here. We must remember that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

Updating Constituents on Developments and Resources Related to the Pandemic

My staff and I are closely monitoring developments as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act's provisions are implemented. This week, the Federal Reserve launched its Main Street Lending Program, which will provide loans of $1 million to $25 million for businesses with up to 10,000 workers or with revenues of less than $2.5 billion; Memphis and Shelby County announced new grant and micro-loan programs for our community's businesses; the IRS continued sending out $1,200 economic impact payments to Americans making under $99,000; and Tennessee began disbursing the $600 weekly supplement to state unemployment benefits. I had a good roundtable discussion this week with the Memphis Chamber – by phone. For the latest in practical information, please go to my Congressional webpage, /coronavirus-resources, regularly and make use of its lists of resources.

Announcing $24.8 Million in Shelby County Airport Grants
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On Wednesday, I announced CARES Act funding grants to Shelby County's four airports. The funding is prompted by a dramatic reduction in air travel. See my release on the Federal Aviation Administration grants here.

Urging House Leaders to Reverse CARES Act Provisions Benefiting High Earners at the Taxpayers' Expense

On Thursday night, I wrote to House leaders asking them to reverse some provisions in the CARES Act relating to businesses' net operating losses that unfairly benefit high earners in future legislation. See my release and the letter here.

Asking House and Senate Leaders to Repeal Real Estate Tax Provision in CARES Act

On Friday, I joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut in a letter we will send to House and Senate leaders next week asking them to consider repealing provisions in the CARES Act that benefit big commercial real estate operators like the President and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. See a release about the letter here.

Announcing Aging and Alcohol Research Grants to UTHSC

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I announced significant research grants to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, which continues its ongoing work in the medical sciences despite the pandemic. See releases here and here.

Announcing Head Start Grant to Porter-Leath

On Monday, I announced a $1.18 million Head Start grant to Porter-Leath's programs. See that release here.

Addressing Shelby County Air Pollution

I was pleased on Thursday to announce a substantial grant in support of detecting air pollution in Shelby County, where some of the population, particularly asthmatics, can be adversely affected. See that release here.

Announcing Coronavirus-Related HIV Grants

Also Thursday, I announced $1.5 million in U.S. Health and Human Services grants to the Tri-State Community Health Center and three Ryan White HIV outreach programs. The funding is related to coronavirus concerns. See that release here.

Weekly Health Tip

During this time, the best health tip I can offer is to follow coronavirus social distancing protocols, keeping at least six feet from others, wash your hands, stay inside, wear a mask in public and stay safe. See more detailed guidance at Coronavirus.gov

Quote of the Week

"Michelle and I have been amazed at the incredible bravery of our medical professionals who are putting their lives on the line to save others; the public servants and health officials battling this disease; the workers taking risks every day to keep our economy running; and everyone who is making their own sacrifice at home with their families, all for the greater good. But if there is one thing we have learned as a country from moments of great crisis, it is that the spirit of looking out for one another can't be restricted to our homes or our workplaces or our neighborhoods or our houses of worship. It also has to be reflected in our national government, the kind of leadership that is guided by knowledge and experience, honesty and humility, empathy and grace." – Former President Obama on Tuesday.

As always, I remain
Most sincerely,

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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

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