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Defending Special Counsel Robert Mueller

March 23, 2018
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I worked to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller by demanding the House Republican leadership schedule a floor vote on my bipartisan Special Counsel Integrity Act with a discharge petition. I also stood on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court before an oral argument in solidarity with pro-choice supporters, heard from constituents via a Telephone Town Hall, introduced a bill renaming the Autumn Avenue post office for Judge Russell Sugarmon, voted against a trillion-dollar spending bill containing the wrong priorities, met with Memphis International Airport officials, welcomed Penny Hardaway back home to coach the Tigers, planned to participate in the Memphis "March for Our Lives" and offered a health tip about Easter eggs. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.

Defending Special Counsel Robert Mueller
Standing up for Women's Reproductive Rights
Hearing from Constituents via a Successful Telephone Town Hall
Introducing Bill Renaming Post Office for Judge Russell Sugarmon
Voting Against Massive Spending Bill Containing Wrong Priorities
Meeting with Memphis International Airport Officials
Welcoming Penny Hardaway Back to the U of M
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter
Marching for Our Lives in Memphis
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week


Defending Special Counsel Robert Mueller

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It has been a busy week as we approach the Spring holidays but one major issue occupied much of my time this week: an effort to prevent the firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is looking into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

On Monday and again on Wednesday, I took to the House floor to urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan Special Counsel Integrity Act (H.R. 4669) that I introduced with Congressman Walter Jones (R-N.C.) in December. I also introduced a discharge petition on Wednesday that would force the House leadership to bring the measure to the floor for a vote. By Friday, my petition had garnered 166 of the 218 signatures required.

On Thursday, I attended a press conference with my Democratic Judiciary Committee colleagues urging Republican members to join us in protecting Mueller's ongoing investigation amid statements from the President and his surrogates signaling Mueller's probe is in jeopardy. I remain concerned that this reckless President could take action against Mueller, spurring a Constitutional crisis during the Congressional recess. I am prepared to respond to such a crisis as necessary.

Standing up for Women's Reproductive Rights

On Tuesday morning, I stood in the rain outside the U.S. Supreme Court to show my support for women's reproductive rights and opposition to deceptive crisis pregnancy centers that pose as medical clinics but instead exist to persuade women to continue their pregnancies. My friend Liz Winstead emceed the event, which included singer-songwriter Jill Sobule, among others. The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, on Tuesday, and is expected to rule by summer.

Hearing from Constituents Via a Successful Telephone Town Hall

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On Tuesday, more than 4,400 of my 9th Congressional District constituents participated in my latest Telephone Town Hall. I fielded questions about Veterans benefits and the VA Medical Center; cost of living adjustment increases for Social Security recipients; my concern about grocery store closings and my bill to provide tax incentives to prevent food deserts in Memphis; the inadequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; prisoner re-entry programs and the Trump Justice Department's resumption of a war on marijuana users; and concerns that some of President Trump's worst erratic impulses are threatening our national security and democratic norms. I always appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with my constituents and always hear good ideas that help me serve you in Washington.

Introducing Bill Renaming Post Office for Judge Russell Sugarmon

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On Tuesday, I introduced a bill to rename the Crosstown Station U.S. Post Office at 1320 Autumn Avenue for Judge Russell B. Sugarmon. Judge Sugarmon has been an inspiring presence in Memphis since well before he ran to become Memphis' Public Works Commissioner almost 60 years ago. As a state legislator and as a judge, he has been a pioneer for racial justice and equal opportunity. It is fitting we name the Autumn Avenue Post Office in his honor.


Voting Against Massive Spending Bill Containing Wrong Priorities

On Thursday, I voted against a huge, deficit-expanding $1.3 trillion – that's trillion, with a t -- funding bill laden with the wrong priorities and that fails to address many issues of value to our district. The House leadership waited until the 11th hour to show members the language in the bill which did not include a provision I sought protecting the Mueller investigation from Trump's attack. It also provides a gargantuan and unwanted increase in Defense spending. It includes money for an unnecessary Trump border wall while failing yet again to deal with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigrants whose fate remains unresolved. It also fails to make needed fixes to provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Although the Omnibus spending bill passed, averting a government shutdown, our nation deserves a more thoughtful, deliberative process for spending this much money.


Meeting with Memphis International Airport Officials

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On Tuesday, representatives of the Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority – including Scott Brockman, the president and CEO, and Pace Cooper, its chairman -- met with me in my Washington office to discuss a variety of issues. Among the things we talked about is the major renovation FedEx is contemplating to modernize its operations at America's Distribution Center as well as the airport's priorities for negotiations pertaining to the pending reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.


Welcoming Penny Hardaway Back to the U of M

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I couldn't be happier to see Tiger great Penny Hardaway back home at the University of Memphis as head coach of the basketball program, and commend all who made this move possible. The former Treadwell High standout and NBA All-Star is sure to increase fan enthusiasm for a program I've been following all my life. I hope Penny will recruit the best from Memphis and put them on the floor as Tigers where Memphis can embrace its hometown heroes as they represent the city throughout the season and on to the NCAA stage. Go Tigers!


Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner," a Telephone Town Hall and this e-Newsletter


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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 using this form.

If you would like to receive this weekly eNewsletter, or share it with others, you can do that with this form.


Marching for Our Lives in Memphis
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As millions of high school students participate in "March for Our Lives" events in Washington and around the country, I plan to join Memphians starting off their march at Clayborn Temple on Saturday morning. This is a movement led by young people galvanized by repeated school shootings like the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida that is already tallying measurable progress. This generation has something to prove and young people are showing older generations that sensible gun control is possible.


Weekly Health Tip

Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9th Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.

A lot of people dye Easter Eggs this time of year and Easter baskets brimming with colorful eggs are a memorable part of the Spring season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some good advice on how to avoid food poisoning when dealing with chicken eggs. See its recommendations here.


Quote of the Week

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Riverside Church, April 4, 1967

"I am convinced that if we are to get on to the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Beyond Vietnam," The Riverside Church, New York City, April 4, 1967.


I want to wish everyone a solemn and memorable Holy Week and Passover next week.


As always, I remain,

Most sincerely,

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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

Issues:9th DistrictMemphisMillingtonShelby CountyTennessee