Fighting Crime in Memphis
Dear Friend, This week, I reacted to Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions' anachronistic speech on fighting crime in Memphis, opposed President Trump's draconian budget cuts, spoke out against private prisons, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the lynching of Ell Persons, joined my "Congressional father" John Conyers in supporting Medicare for all, and met with students from the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Fighting Crime in Memphis
On Thursday, Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions was in Memphis to speak with local law enforcement officers about fighting crime. During his anachronistic speech, Attorney General Sessions did not mention anything about the cause of crime in Memphis or the smart approach for reducing crime. Rather than using resources to lock people up for the harshest sentences, we should be using resources to help lift people out of poverty. The President's budget will only exacerbate poverty and crime by cutting programs vital to many Memphians such as Medicaid, food stamps, low-income energy assistance, children's health insurance, and women and children nutrition programs. Watch my full reaction here. Opposing Draconian Cuts in President Trump's Budget On Tuesday, President Trump released his Fiscal Year 2018 budget. This so-called ‘taxpayer first' budget would be detrimental to taxpaying low- and middle-income Americans, while it would greatly benefit super rich Americans. It drastically cuts programs like Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Meals on Wheels, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and much more. This list is huge. Read more here. Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Lynching of Ell Persons
On Sunday, I delivered remarks at the ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the lynching of Ell Persons. Ell Persons was an African American woodcutter who was arrested and accused of murdering a white teenage girl despite there being no evidence to prove that he was guilty of the murder. Persons was brutally burned alive and lynched as thousands of people watched. I would like to thank the NAACP for sponsoring the above historical marker so that we may never forget this dark moment in our city's history. Speaking Out Against Private Prisons
On Wednesday, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, I spoke out against the private prison industry, praised New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu for his work removing Confederate monuments in his city and commemorated the 100th anniversary of the lynching of Ell Persons in Memphis. Watch my remarks here.
Meeting with Students from Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering
On Thursday, I met with students from the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering during their annual visit to Washington, DC. I enjoyed meeting the students and appreciated the thought-provoking conversation we had about what the Attorney General said in his speech in Memphis. Bringing Congress to Your Corner Today at the Gaston Community Center, my staff held "Congress on Your Corner" office hours to assist Memphians with questions or problems with federal agencies such as Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA and more. Stay tuned to my website for more information about future "Congress on Your Corner" dates and locations. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.
In honor of the anniversary of the Memphis Area Legal Services, I would like to share the above picture of great lawyers and warriors for civil rights and civil justice. Pictured from left to right: Judge George Brown, Jr., Judge Russell Sugarmon, Jr., Attorney Irvin Salky, former U.S. Attorney and City Councilman Mike Cody, Attorney Al Harvey and me. Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays that can damage your eyes. As you are out-and-about this summer, don't forget to grab a pair to help prevent diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Read more about how to protect your eyes from the sun here. As always, I remain. |
