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Holding a Procurement Fair with Federal Agencies October 14

October 8, 2021
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I planned for the October 14 virtual Federal Procurement Fair I am hosting to assist constituents with contracting with federal agencies. I also joined in a letter with Congressional colleagues asking President Biden to declassify and make public the remaining documents involving the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy; continued to monitor negotiations over the debt ceiling; introduced the ENABLERS Act days after the Pandora Papers shed more light on the corrupt and secretive world of hidden assets and offshore finance; joined Kellogg Company employees on the picket line; attended the ribbon cutting for the Memphis Health Center's new Mobile Heath Clinic; questioned expert witnesses about some dangerous chemical contaminants in our water and food supplies; met with the Consul General of India at my District Office; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens.

Holding a Procurement Fair with Federal Agencies October 14

Writing President Biden to Release Remaining John F. Kennedy Assassination Records

Monitoring Progress on Averting Debt Default

Introducing the ENABLERS Act and Reacting to Pandora Papers Revelations

Joining Kellogg Company Employees on the Picket Line

Cutting the Ribbon for the Memphis Health Center Mobile Health Clinic

Questioning Expert Witnesses at Water Contaminants Hearing

Meeting with Consul General of India

Offering 2022 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars

Weekly Health Tip

Quote of the Week


Holding a Procurement Fair with Federal Agencies October 14

On Thursday, October 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Central Time, I will hold a virtual Federal Procurement Fair with federal agency representatives. At the fair, you will become your own best advocate for government contracting by discovering resources available to help you gain an edge in this lucrative but competitive market. Memphis small business owners will have an opportunity to learn about the federal government contracting process. If you are new to the federal contracting process and want to know the basics on how to do business with the federal government, this fair will add clarity to the process.

To participate via Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanSteveCohen

For a Zoom Link, RSVP by email to Cohen.Procurement@mail.house.gov

Participating agencies will include the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), U.S. Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the General Services Administration (GSA).

Writing President Biden to Release Remaining John F. Kennedy Assassination Records

On Thursday, I joined Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo of California and other Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden asking him to declassify and make public all remaining classified documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, pursuant to the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. "Democracy requires that decisions made by the government be open to public scrutiny," the letter reads, in part. "Yet excessive secrecy surrounding President Kennedy's assassination continues to inspire doubt in the minds of the American public and has a profound impact on the people's trust in their government. Only by unsealing these records can our country live up to its ideals as an open society and resolve this painful moment in American history." See the entire letter here.

Monitoring Progress on Averting Debt Default

On Thursday night, the Senate finally voted to raise the debt ceiling after Minority Leader McConnell backed down from a recklessly obstructionist position, which threatened to devastate our economy and working families with the first-ever debt default. The House is scheduled to vote on the Senate's short-term deal next week and the President is expected to sign it into law in order to avert the looming crisis and protect the United States' full faith and credit in paying debts incurred in the past by Presidents and Congresses of both parties. I look forward to the vote and will continue to monitor discussions of a more long-term extension as well as ongoing discussions about the Build Back Better Agenda.

Introducing the ENABLERS Act and Reacting to Pandora Papers Revelations

The Washington Post and other newspapers around the world began publishing the Pandora Papers on Sunday, a cache of more than 11 million documents from 14 offshore firms exposing the flows of money, property and other assets that Some wealthy and powerful people conceal in the secretive offshore financial system. As a member of the Counter-Kleptocracy Caucus, I was proud to join my Congressional Colleagues this week in introducing the Establishing New Authorities for Business Laundering and Enabling Risks to Security (ENABLERS) Act which, along with the Counter-Kleptocracy Act some of us introduced in September, attempts to crack down on this kind of corruption. See stories in The Hill and The Washington Post about the ENABLERS Act.

Joining Kellogg Company Employees on the Picket Line

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Congressman Cohen joined striking Kellogg workers outside the plant on Frisco Avenue

This morning, I stood with striking members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union fighting for higher wages and pensions for new hires, and preventing jobs from being shipped to Mexico, among other things. They went out on strike around the country on Tuesday. Unions created the middle class and it is important to keep them strong.

Cutting the Ribbon for the Memphis Health Center Mobile Health Clinic


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Congressman Cohen attended the ribbon cutting for the mobile clinic Thursday

I was pleased to attend Thursday's ribbon cutting for the Memphis Health Center's Mobile Health Clinic, which will improve outreach for coronavirus vaccinations. I was happy to see City Council Member Patrice Robinson, Shelby County Commissioner Eddie Jones, Memphis Health Center Director Marilyn Burress and Shelby County Health Department Director Dr. Michelle Taylor at the event, among others. This mobile clinic, funded through the CARES Act to expand testing capacity, will be a great community resource.


Questioning Expert Witnesses at Water Contaminants Hearing

On Wednesday, the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment on which I serve held a hearing entitled "Emerging Contaminants, Forever Chemicals, and More: Challenges to Water Quality, Public Health, and Communities." I asked expert witnesses about what Congress can do to protect people from the threats to health from microplastics and exposure to plastic components in food packaging as the nature of these disturbing problems becomes more evident.

Meeting with Consul General of India

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On Thursday, I met with the Consul General of India, Swati V. Kulkami and constituents Dr. Manoj Jain and Dr. Indranil Basu Ray in my Memphis District Office. We discussed U.S. relations with India and bilateral trade prospects; India's trade with Tennessee, worth $2.3 billion in 2021; India's improving relations with Nepal; the decline in its coronavirus cases; and India's robust space program. It was a productive meeting.

Weekly Health Tip

Until more Americans are immunized, we cannot be out of the woods, but coronavirus case counts are declining, and that is a good thing. It is still as important as ever to get the vaccine, wear face masks indoors, and practice social distancing where possible.

Vaccines are currently available for everyone 12 and older. If you need a ride to a vaccination site, you can call 901-RIDE901 (901-743-3901) to coordinate the best transportation option for you. The City of Memphis is also now coordinating with organizations, congregations, community groups, and businesses to host coronavirus vaccinations. The Pipkin Building at the old Mid-South Fairgrounds is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., and will remain a vaccination site through December 31. The Health Department at 814 Jefferson is now open, too, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointments are needed. To find the latest information about vaccination sites, to request a vaccination appointment for a homebound individual, or to set up a community coronavirus vaccination event, visit https://covid19.memphistn.gov/

Quote of the Week

"And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal." -- President John F. Kennedy, "Commencement Address at American University in Washington, D.C.," June 10, 1963.

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