Discussing the President’s Fitness for Office
Dear Friend,
This week, I was home in the district and spending time with old friends as I rang in the New Year. I also appeared on national television to give my assessment of the character of President Trump; spoke at Myron Lowery's annual prayer breakfast; expressed concern about a recent truck under-ride death; was interviewed about Paul Manafort, Korea and the budget showdown; condemned the Attorney General for a reversal of sensible Obama-era marijuana policy; called attention to Tennessee's role in advancing women's voting rights; reminded constituents of my District Issues Meeting on Friday, January 12, and warned older residents of the risk of hypothermia. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Discussing the President's Fitness for Office
Speaking at Myron Lowery's New Year's Day Breakfast
Expressing Concern About Another Truck Under-Ride Death
Appearing on Cheddar to Talk Manafort, Korea and the Budget Showdown
Condemning Sessions' Reversal on Sensible Marijuana Policy
Calling Attention to Women's Voting Rights
Reminding Constituents of Annual District Issues Meeting on January 12
2018 U.S. Capitol Calendars Are Available
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Discussing the President's Fitness for Office
On Sunday, I appeared on MSNBC with host Frances Rivera and made several observations about President Trump's obvious character flaws and stated that he is the most "despicable" resident ever in the White House. I continue to work toward a deliberative process leading to the president's impeachment and to protecting the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is looking into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2016.
Speaking at Myron Lowery's New Year's Day Breakfast
Mickell Lowery, Congressman Cohen, and former Memphis City Councilman Myron Lowery
On Monday, I rang in the New Year with my friends and colleagues at former City Councilman Myron Lowery's annual prayer breakfast. Mickell Lowery acted as this year's master of ceremonies. Speakers included Pastors Charlie Caswell of Union Grove Baptist Church, J. Lawrence Turner of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church and Earle Fisher of Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church. In my remarks, I wished everyone a happy 2018 and discussed the threats to minority and middle class communities posed by the Trump tax scam and other harmful policies.
Expressing Concern About Another Truck Under-Ride Death
On Tuesday, I was saddened to learn of the death of Davidson County Sheriff's Officer Joseph Gilmore, killed in an accident on New Year's day when his car went under a truck trailer on Interstate 24. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and I are the principal sponsors of legislation introduced in December that would require truck trailers to have under ride barriers to prevent such accidents. I'm hoping for swift action on legislation aimed these senseless, preventable deaths.
Appearing on Cheddar Live to Talk Manafort, Korea and the Budget Showdown
On Wednesday, I was interviewed by Cheddar Live, an internet-based program, to talk about the lawsuit that had been filed just minutes before by Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The clearly frivolous lawsuit is aimed at deauthorizing the appointment of Robert Mueller after Mueller's probe led to Manafort's indictment on money laundering and other charges. I was also asked about Trump escalating tensions with North Korea and about the budget showdown over Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). See my interview here.
Condemning Sessions Reversal on Sensible Marijuana Policy
On Thursday, I expressed my outrage at Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III's decision to overturn a 2013 Department of Justice policy memorandum that deprioritized marijuana prosecutions in states that have made recreational or medical use legal by voter referendum. The reversal is both draconian and heartless and undercuts a bipartisan consensus that state laws reflecting the will of the people should be respected. I recently reminded Sessions at a Judiciary Committee hearing that marijuana prosecutions waste the resources that could be used to deal with the real drug scourges of meth, crack, cocaine, opioids and heroin. I've repeatedly noted that marijuana prosecutions have also been aimed disproportionately against African Americans and have a long history of opposing a senseless war on marijuana. I will be working with my colleagues to undo this misguided Trump administration policy that takes us back to the days of "Reefer Madness."
Calling Attention to Women's Voting Rights
When I was a state senator, I noticed there was nothing in the State Capitol Building about Tennessee's pivotal role in the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Urged by my longtime friend Paula Casey, I authored a bill to create the Tennessee Commemorative Woman's Suffrage Commission that gathered documents and commissioned three plays, including "The Perfect 36," which were performed in Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville. Paula served on the commission, which also held a blind judging contest to select an artist for a memorial. Alan LeQuire of Nashville won that competition and his bas relief sculpture hangs between the state House and Senate chambers. He created the Knoxville suffrage statue in 2006, Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument in Centennial Park in 2016 and now he's working on the Memphis Suffrage Monument which will be unveiled during Memphis' bicentennial events in 2019. The determined women who fought for the right to vote were brilliant and haven't received the recognition they deserve. In 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, making it the law of the land. Let's remember our historic role in increasing democratic participation.
Reminding Constituents of Annual District Issues Meeting on January 12 
I'm looking forward to meeting constituents of the 9th Congressional District on Friday, January 12, at the Clifford Davis/Odell Horton Federal Building, 167 North Main Street, Suite 369, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. I'll take questions on a variety of subjects and talk about initiatives I have planned for 2018. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to my Memphis office at (901) 544-4131. I hope to see you there.
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
My office currently has a limited number of 2018 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 am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee's 9th 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 eNewsletter.
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.
It's January and it's cold. While that's obvious, some of my elderly constituents may be unaware that prolonged exposure to the cold can make them very sick – a condition known as hypothermia. The National Institutes of Health's Institute on Aging makes some useful tips for cold weather safety. You can find it here.
I have been observing the GOP attacks on the integrity and independence of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, a Republican appointed FBI director by both Republican and Democratic presidents, and appointed to his current post by a Republican.
It reminded me of what Irish satirist Jonathan Swift wrote in his 1706 Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting: "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
Happy New Year!
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress