Dear Friend,
This week, I held a telephone town hall with thousands of constituents to address their coronavirus concerns and invited two experts to help answer questions. I also co-sponsored a resolution on the disparate impact of the virus on the African American community; announced millions of dollars in federal grants to Memphis institutions in response to the crisis; called on the Secretary of Defense to reinstate U.S.S. Roosevelt Captain Brett Crozier; asked House and Senate leaders to invest more Paycheck Protection Program funding into minority-owned businesses; provided a video update on the federal response to a Bible class; urged people to fill out their Census forms; and offered a Coronavirus-related health tip. Keep reading to learn more about my week and sign up for my Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages to see updates as they happen.
Holding a Telephone Town Hall with Constituents to Address Covid-19 Concerns
Co-Sponsoring a Resolution on the Disparate Impact of the Virus on African Americans
Announcing $48 Million in Coronavirus Response Federal Grants
Calling for the Reinstatement of Aircraft Carrier Captain Crozier
Asking Leadership to Direct Future Paycheck Protection Funding to Minority-Owned Businesses
Providing Update by Video to First Baptist-Broad Bible Study Class
Filling Out 2020 U.S. Census Forms
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Holding a Telephone Town Hall with Constituents to Address Covid-19 Concerns
On Thursday, I held a telephone town hall to update thousands of my constituents on the Congressional response to the crisis and to take questions submitted from constituents on Facebook and Twitter. I was joined by LaTanya Channel, Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Tennessee office, and Suzanne Carr, Director of Legislation and Special Projects with Tennessee's Human Services Department. We answered constituent concerns for an hour and got the latest information out to those who need it. Despite the Passover and Easter traditions right now, I urged my constituents to stay away from services, reminding them of Jesus of Nazareth's guidance from Matthew 6:6, "Go to your room and pray in silence." I reminded everyone on the call to use my regularly updated Congressional webpage, cohen.house.gov, as a useful resource. Listen to the telephone town hall here. If you would like to participate in the next Telephone Town Hall, please complete this form.
Co-Sponsoring a Resolution on the Disparate Impact of the Virus on African Americans
On Tuesday, I agreed to co-sponsor a resolution recognizing the disparate impact of this virus on the African American community. We know that part of the explanation stems from poverty and systematic racism in society that contribute to chronic health conditions, like asthma and high blood pressure. A lack of reported demographic information makes it difficult to know whether resources are being equitably distributed, and this resolution encourages federal and state governments to collect and publish racial and ethnic data concerning COVID-19 tests, diagnoses, and treatments. The resolution was introduced today.
Announcing $48 Million in Coronavirus Response Federal Grants
Over the past eight days, I have announced nearly $48 million in federal grants to Memphis institutions directly related to the coronavirus response. That includes $3.6 million on Wednesday to three community health centers on the front line of this pandemic. Last week, I announced a $35.6 million grant to MATA which has seen its ridership drop significantly. I also announced a $5.2 million grant for Shelby County's emergency HIV program and $7.2 million in Covid-related housing grants to keep people in their homes. This funding will help these institutions, and the families they protect, weather this storm.
Calling for the Reinstatement of Aircraft Carrier Captain Crozier
On Tuesday, I led a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper calling for the reinstatement of U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt's Captain, Brett E. Crozier, who was looking out for his crew when he warned the chain of command of an outbreak of coronavirus on his vessel. I was pleased to see that, hours after we sent our letter, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who fired Crozier, resigned. See my release and the letter to Esper here.
Asking Leadership to Direct Future Paycheck Protection Funding to Minority-Owned Businesses
Major banks are lending billions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Small Business Administration (SBA) funds authorized by the CARES Act. While that lending will help maintain payrolls, it has become clear that language is needed to ensure lenders prioritize businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. I joined a letter to both the House and Senate leaders asking them to focus on this problem in our next legislative response to the pandemic.
Providing Update by Video to First Baptist-Broad Bible Study Class
On Tuesday night, I joined Pastor Keith Norman of the First Baptist Church-Broad and his weekly Bible Study class by video streaming to provide an update on the federal response to this crisis. It was a good session and I'm hoping to take similar opportunities to talk to our church, synagogue and mosque congregations while observing social distancing guidelines.
Filling Out U.S. Census Forms 
By now you will have received two or more reminders that this is a U.S. Census year and that you can fill out the forms online at 2020Census.gov. I did mine online in a matter of minutes. Help your community get its fair share of our national resources. Consider filling out the forms today.
Weekly Health Tip
I certainly hope this sort of guidance won't be necessary for you or your loved ones, but it's always good to follow the Boy Scout motto and "Be Prepared." See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice on treating those with Covid-19 at home here.
Quote of the Week
"When I get to heaven, I'm gonna shake God's hand, Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand." – Singer-songwriter John Prine, "When I Get to Heaven" (2018). Prine died of complications from the coronavirus in Nashville Tuesday. He was 73.
I wish everyone a good Passover and happy Easter.
As always, I remain
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress |
