Fighting National Rifle Association Efforts to Override State Gun Laws
Dear Friend,
This week, I called out the National Rifle Association and defended Tennessee's and 33 other states' more restrictive laws on concealed carry handgun permits, spoke out against misleading descriptions of what the GOP tax overhaul involves, congratulated Willie Mitchell's Royal Studios on its 60th anniversary, voted to help clean up brownfield sites and reminded constituents that the deadline for signing up for Healthcare.gov is fast approaching. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Fighting National Rifle Association Efforts to Override State Gun Laws
Drawing Attention to Misleading Descriptions of the Proposed Tax Overhaul Law
Protecting Special Counsel Investigations
Congratulating Royal Studios on its 60th Anniversary
Voting to Help Clean Up Brownfields
Calling Attention to Time Left to Sign Up For Healthcare.com
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Fighting National Rifle Association Efforts to Override State Gun Laws
At a Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday, I voted against H.R. 38 the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act that would require states to recognize other states' concealed carry handgun permits even from states with more lenient permit standards.
The National Rifle Association has called the bill one of its highest priorities.
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia require residents to be at least 21 years old to receive a concealed carry handgun permit. When I was in the Tennessee Senate, I sponsored Tennessee's right-to-carry law restricting permits to those over 21 or 18 if in the military.
I made the case that respecting the will of state legislatures that have imposed stricter permitting requirements makes sense. If the proposed bill becomes law, someone from Mississippi or Alabama, which do not have a minimum age of 21 restriction, could come into Tennessee with a concealed handgun. I said the NRA interests appeared to trump state legislatures' considered views and that that seemed crazy. See my remarks here.
I offered an amendment to require permittees from less restrictive states to comply with state laws limiting concealed carry handguns to those at least 21 years old or 18 if in the armed services or honorably discharged from the armed services, but it was voted down.
Drawing Attention to Misleading Descriptions of the Proposed Tax Overhaul Law
I went to the House floor on Thursday to criticize efforts by Congressional Republicans and President Trump to mischaracterize a tax bill working its way through Congress. See my speech here.
Franklin Roosevelt once said that "the test of our progress is not whether we can add more to the abundance of those who have much but whether we provide enough for those who have too little." Bearing that in mind, I believe the tax bill under consideration is being mischaracterized as middle class tax relief when it is in fact a gift to the wealthy who don't need it.
Protecting Special Counsel Investigations
On Friday, shortly after former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in a case brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller as he investigates possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign last year, I took to the House floor Friday to call attention to a bill that would prevent the firing of special counsel without cause.
I also called attention to a constitutional amendment I've introduced that would prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves, their families and members of their administration and campaigns. I expressed my fear that Mueller will be fired and our nation will find itself with another Watergate-like Saturday Night Massacre. See my remarks here.
Congratulating Royal Studios on its 60th Anniversary
Also this week I took the opportunity to celebrate with my constituents and the entire music-loving world the 60th anniversary of Willie Mitchell's Royal Studios. Everyone knows a song mixed in the iconic South Memphis recording studio – whether it's last year's Grammy Award Record of the Year, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk," Al Green's classic "I'm Still in Love With You," Boz Skaggs' album full of tunes called "Memphis, " or Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Touch of the Blues." Royal Studios, started in 1957 by the late Willie Mitchell, was the home of Hi and the Hi Rhythm Section and produced chart-topping hits throughout the 1960s and '70s. One of the oldest continuously operating recording studios, it remains a place of pilgrimage under a second generation of Mitchell leadership, hosting such stars as the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, among many others. I wish Royal Studios continued success.
Voting to Help Clean Up Brownfields
On Thursday, I voted on the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment and Reauthorization bill that extends efforts to clean up the estimated 450,000 sites polluted or contaminated with hazardous substances. These sites, often abandoned by their owners, are a blight on their communities and depress real estate values. I was proud to cast a vote to make more progress in this area.
Calling Attention to Time Left to Sign Up For Healthcare.com
Open enrollment for Healthcare.gov ("The Affordable Care Act") will run through December 15. I have been utilizing every possible means to make my constituents aware that the time available to sign up has been sharply reduced this year and is six weeks shorter than last year's enrollment period. For more information, see Healthcare.gov.
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.
Today is World AIDS Day and the theme this year is "Increasing Impact through Transparency, Accountability and Partnerships." We've made great strides in detecting HIV infections and extending the lives of those diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in recent years. Those affected are now able to lead normal lives. But the disease remains a scourge and it's important for everyone to know their HIV status.
There are several places in the Greater Memphis area to get testing and those locations can be found using the HIV Testing Sites and Care Service Locator here.
Despite the tremendous gains we've made in prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, more than 36 million people worldwide are living with the illness. In the United States, more than a million people are living with HIV, and one out of every seven HIV-positive Americans don't know that they've been infected. While African-Americans and women continue to make up the majority of new HIV cases, HIV can affect anyone regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.
On World AIDS Day and every day, I am committed to saving lives and protecting critical public health.
"If anything, taxes for the lower and middle class and maybe even the upper middle class should even probably be cut further. But I think that people at the high end--people like myself--should be paying a lot more in taxes. We have it better than we've ever had it." – Warren Buffett, ABC News interview of November 21, 2010
Go Tigers! Beat UCF!
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress