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Defending Women's Reproductive Rights

May 20, 2022
Enewsletters

May 20, 2022

Dear Friend,

This week, at a Judiciary Committee hearing, I spoke out in defense of reproductive rights as we await a perhaps-devastating ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the nearly 50-year precedent of Roe v. Wade. I also voted to prevent price gouging on fuel; addressed the ongoing infant formula with outreach and legislation; advanced a major water resources bill through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee containing significant projects for Memphis; voted for a bill to train workers for available jobs; chaired my Judiciary Subcommittee as it reviewed presidential emergency powers; met with Ukrainian officials about the war in their country; recommended sanctioning a Russian state deposit insurance agency that is shielding Vladimir Putin's oligarch friends; met with the First Minister of Scotland; announced a significant grant to Shelby County Head Start programs; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens.

Defending Women's Reproductive Rights

Voting to Prevent Fuel Price Gouging

Addressing the Infant Formula Shortage

Advancing Memphis Projects in Water Resources Development Bill

Voting for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Presiding at a Hearing on Presidential Emergency Powers

Meeting with Ukrainian Officials

Recommending Sanctioning Deposit Insurance Agency of Russia

Speaking with the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon

Announcing $12.9 Million Head Start Grant

Weekly Health Tip

Quote of the Week


Defending Women's Reproductive Rights

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On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled "Revoking Your Rights: The Ongoing Crisis in Abortion Care Access." As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, I took the opportunity to advocate for women's right to make decisions about their own bodies and condemned Republican plans to criminalize abortion in every community in the United States. See my release and that speech here.

Voting to Prevent Fuel Price Gouging

Late Wednesday night, I voted on a measure to prevent price gouging by oil companies exploiting uncertainties in the supply chain caused by the war in Ukraine. See my release on the vote here.

Addressing the Infant Formula Shortage

I am acutely concerned about the serious infant formula shortage and voted Wednesday night to address it in a supplemental spending bill. The Biden administration is also working diligently to resolve this crisis. If you are having trouble finding formula for your child, the U.S. Health and Human Services has posted a guide to infant formula resources which may be informative: https://www.hhs.gov/formula/index.html.

Advancing Memphis Projects in Water Resources Development Bill

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On Wednesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on which I serve as a senior member, voted to advance the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to the House floor. The measure includes two proposals sought by the City of Memphis: construction of a dam on the Wolf River to create a lake adjacent to the downtown Snuff District and a floating dock entertainment center off the Cobblestone Landing in Memphis Harbor. See my release on the bill here.

Voting for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

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On Tuesday, I spoke from the House floor in favor of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and my amendment to the measure which allows local experts and local leaders to be involved in workforce development boards. See my release and speech here.

Presiding at a Hearing on Presidential Emergency Powers

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As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, I presided at a hearing on the National Emergencies Act and presidential emergency powers. I noted that the Subcommittee examined emergency powers at a hearing in 2019 when then-President Trump attempted to use emergency powers to divert billions of dollars in military construction funding to build a border wall. The American people deserve our continued vigilance on this matter. They deserve to know that a President cannot re-write the law or exploit obscure loopholes in an abuse of executive power. See my release, including my opening statement, here.

Meeting with Ukrainian Officials

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Twice this week, I met with delegations of Ukrainian officials and citizens and reiterated my full support in their ongoing efforts defending their country from Russian aggression and ongoing atrocities. These informative meetings provide a clearer picture of the situation on the ground in Ukraine and how the United States can best support Ukrainian efforts.

Recommending Sanctioning Deposit Insurance Agency of Russia

On Monday, I joined Congressman John R. Curtis, Republican of Utah, in writing President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken recommending sanctions against the Deposit Insurance Agency of Russia for its actions protecting sanctioned oligarchs and targeting Kremlin opponents with legal attacks. As Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, I have been paying close attention to the fraudulent financial interests of Vladimir Putin's enablers.

Speaking with the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon

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On Tuesday, I met with First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon at an event organized by the Friends of Scotland Caucus. As Co-Chair of the caucus, I welcomed the First Minister and congratulated Scotland on hosting the climate summit in Glasgow last November and on being at the forefront of green technologies. I also thanked the First Minister for her country's willingness to accept Ukrainian refugees. It was a good exchange.

Announcing $12.9 Million Head Start Grant

The Shelby County Board of Education will receive a grant of $12,984,549 for Head Start programs from the Department of Health and Human Services. See my release from Tuesday here.

Weekly Health Tip

The White House announced the third round of free at-home Covid-19 tests this week. These are the rapid antigen at-home kits that can be administered for results within 30 minutes, not PCR tests. The tests will be delivered to your mailbox. Each household is eligible to receive a total of 24 kits for free through the program (eight per round). For more information and to order, click here.

Quote of the Week

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"I think one of the reasons Greeks were accepted in America so readily is the fact that the values of America are Greek values. One of the qualities that Greeks value the most is called ‘Sophrosene,' a word best translated as self-control, temperance, and harmony. The ancient Greeks thought arrogance, extremism, and excess the worst threats to democracy. ‘For man,' Aristotle wrote, ‘life according to reason is best and most pleasant, since reason more than anything else is man.'" – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressing a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday.

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress