Criticizing Trump's Government Shutdown
December 28, 2018 | |
Dear Friend,
This week, the federal government remained partially shutdown by an unnecessary demand by the President for funding for a border wall. In addition to pushing back against the Trump shutdown, I met with constituents and went on CNN to emphasize the need for overdue oversight of the Trump administration, announced a grant for Early Head Start programs at Porter-Leath, expressed concern at the death of a second child migrant in U.S. custody this month, and offered a holiday health tip about getting enough sleep. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebookto see more updates as they happen. Criticizing Trump's Government Shutdown
Criticizing Trump's Government Shutdown This week, for the third time in Trump's presidency, portions of the federal government shut down. This time it was because of Trump's 11th hour demand for a border wall that the President said Mexico would pay for, not taxpayers. As he boasted how "proud" he was to shut down the government, I spoke out against it. The public deserves and expects the programs and services it pays for to stay open and work. I will continue to work to reopen the government, and get federal employees back to work for the American people. Talking Future Oversight of Trump Administration on CNN On Wednesday, I went on CNN with Dana Bash who asked me about oversight of the Trump administration after Democrats take the Majority in the House on January 3. I told her oversight is a basic duty of Congress that has been neglected during the past two years and that that will change in the year ahead. See the interview here. Announcing $2.3 million Early Head Start Grant to Porter-Leath
On Thursday, I announced that Porter-Leath will be receiving a $2,330,982 Early Head Start grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Head Start Office. Early Head Start helps at-risk children under three years old develop the skills they need to give them and their families a shot at the American Dream. I was pleased to announce this important grant funding is heading to Memphis. I appreciate the outstanding work Mike Warr and his staff do at Porter-Leath. Expressing Concern at a Second in-Custody Death of a Child Migrant
On Christmas Eve, an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy, Felipe Gomez Alonzo, died while in U.S. custody. This follows the death of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, Jakelin Caal Maquin, earlier this month. While I understand the necessity of border patrol stations, I am concerned that these overcrowded stations are unhealthy to the point of death. After Jakelin's death, I wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen urging her to take immediate steps to end the policy of deterring migrants from applying for asylum at ports of entry which has led these desperate asylum seekers to attempt crossings at dangerous areas. Asylum is a human right and people seeking it must be protected. I will continue to support oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and seek answers about how these unfortunate deaths occurred.
On Sunday, I'll join MSNBC's Frances Rivera in the noon hour in Memphis to talk about the ongoing government shutdown, the border wall and the new Congress that convenes January 3. Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars  My office has a limited number of 2019 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I can mail calendars only to residents of Tennessee's 9th Congressional District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my e-Newsletter. 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 hereto 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 using this form. If you would like to receive this weekly e-Newsletter, or share it with others, you can do that with this form.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting enough sleep is not a luxury; it's a necessity for maintaining good health and avoiding mistakes and injuries. See the CDC's sleep guidelines and recommendations here.  "I've been in politics over 50 years in a number of positions and working under nine presidents. I've never seen a situation like this, in which almost every important area that is key to this country is confronting crisis." – Former Defense Secretary, CIA Director, Budget Director and Member of Congress Leon Panetta on "Fox News Sunday." As 2018 draws to an end, I wish all my constituents and friends a very happy 2019. The new year looks to be full of promise. As always, I remain
Steve Cohen
| |
