Holding Telephone Town Hall
Dear Friend,
This week, I held a telephone Town Hall with my constituents, voted for a budget compromise that increases domestic spending for important 9th District priorities, raised concerns about the vulnerability of our elections, gathered new co-sponsors for my Articles of Impeachment, co-sponsored an act to prohibit spending on President Trump's proposed military parade, recognized Black HIV/AIDS Day, talked about the Intelligence Committee memos on MSNBC, met with Tennessee Education Association leaders, and noted the passing of former Deputy U.S. Marshal Richard Bowden. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Holding Telephone Town Hall
Voting on Budget Compromise and Increased Domestic Spending
Urging Hearings on Election Security, Vulnerabilities
Gaining Momentum on Articles of Impeachment
Co-Sponsoring the PARADE Act
Recognizing Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Talking About Intelligence Committee Memos
Meeting with TEA Leaders in the D.C. Office
Noting the Passing of Richard K. "Kirk" Bowden
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Still Available
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
On Tuesday evening, I held a Telephone Town Hall with my constituents who raised questions and sought answers about the issues I deal with on their behalf in Washington. It was nice to hear from so many thoughtful 9th District residents.
I enjoy meeting regularly with constituents in the district, including at events like the "Congress on Your Corner" scheduled for February 23 at the Cherokee Library on Sharpe Avenue. For those who haven't participated in a Telephone Town Hall, I invite you to sign up for future events by using this form.
On Tuesday's call, I answered questions about the recent Republican tax scam that one caller said resulted in his skimpy $149 refund; the direction of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the new administration; programs for seniors and those with disabilities; pension reform; and legislation I have introduced to address law enforcement spending needs based on crime rates. Other topics addressed included global warming, Veterans Affairs, a fresh start for non-violent ex-offenders, the opioid crisis, the unnecessary extension of a border wall and the President's dubious moral character. I look forward to talking directly with you soon at my next town hall.
Voting on Budget Compromise and Increased Domestic Spending
Just after 5 o'clock this morning, I voted on a budget compromise with important increases in domestic spending and the reauthorization of programs important to Memphis. I was glad to see that Democratic negotiators insisted on reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for a full ten years, four years more than was offered by Republican leaders two weeks ago.
In addition, the bill provides for $7 billion to fund community health centers for two years; a five year reauthorization of the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; $363 million over two years for teaching health centers providing graduate medical education for residents working in underserved areas; $6 billion for opioid and mental health treatment; and an extra $2 billion for research at the National Institutes of Health. See my press release here.
The budget compromise did not deal with the issue of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Dreamers, but I hope Speaker Paul Ryan will permit an open vote to resolve their status soon. At 4:30 this morning, just before a vote on the budget compromise, I took a procedural vote that would have allowed my colleague, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, to bring up a vote on The Dream Act, but Republicans rejected it on a party-line vote.
Urging Hearings on Election Security, Vulnerabilities
Despite all the concern over what happened with Russian interference in the 2016 election, very little has been done to assure the same or worse is not in store for this November's mid-terms or the vote in 2020. That's why I joined my colleagues this week in asking Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte for hearings on the vulnerabilities of our elections systems, threats posed by foreign actors and steps the Trump administration should be taking to ensure the integrity of our state and federal elections.
The Department of Homeland Security has already notified 21 states whose election systems were targeted and, in some cases, hacked by the Russian government. Studies have also shown that consolidation of the voting machine and software industries has been met with an ineffective government response. All of this, combined with obvious state legislative efforts to suppress the minority vote and the U.S. Justice Department's recent tepid response to defending voting rights, requires a proper airing and a set of serious solutions.
Gaining Momentum on Articles of Impeachment
This week, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia signed on as a 12th co-sponsor of H. Res 621, the Articles of Impeachment resolution I introduced in November. We're seeing increased interest in having hearings to explore our concerns that the President has obstructed justice, violated the Constitution's emoluments clauses and damaged the independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press.
Co-Sponsoring the PARADE Act
On Thursday, I co-sponsored the PARADE Act, whose acronym spells out "Prohibit Allocation of Resources for Absurd Defense Expenditures," an example of which would be President Trump's wasteful proposal to conduct a military parade.
America's greatness is not shown by displays of its military power for the President's entertainment; it is shown through respect for the rule of law, for scientific contributions benefiting all mankind, and in our heritage of welcoming "teeming masses yearning to breathe free." See my press release on the PARADE ACT.
Recognizing Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
On Thursday, I joined my colleagues in co-sponsoring a resolution recognizing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The resolution calls on individuals and organizations across the country to mobilize and advocate for HIV testing and treatment, with a focus on African American communities. The resolution has several objectives, not least addressing and attempting to undo the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
Talking About Intelligence Committee Memos
Last Saturday, I was again on MSNBC with host Alex Witt, talking about the Intelligence Committee memoranda. I expressed the hope that, now that the Republicans' deliberately misleading Nunes memo has been made public, the Democratic rebuttal memo will also see the light of day. Like many in the intelligence community, I continue to express my concern that our national security is being jeopardized by a handful of irresponsible House Republicans on the committee hoping to bamboozle the public and help the President sow chaos as Special Counsel Robert Mueller continues to explore possible obstruction of justice involving the Trump campaign and Russia. See the interview here.
Welcoming Representatives of the Tennessee Education Association to Washington
TEA President Barbara Gray Discusses Education Policy with Congressman Cohen
On Wednesday I welcomed representatives of the Tennessee Education Association (TEA), including TEA President Barbara Gray of Memphis, to my office in Washington while they were in town for the 2018 National Education Association Leadership Summit. Together we discussed a number of important issues facing the education community, including the need to continue to push for more measurables to close achievement gaps and the need for Tennessee's governor to adopt a more equitable finance mechanism for Tennessee's school districts, where Shelby County Schools have for too long lacked adequate funding for the continued training of educators, school infrastructure investments, and more.
We also discussed the importance of protecting and expanding access to higher education, including making college more affordable by expanding Pell Grants, and Governor Haslam's well-intentioned but ultimately flawed Tennessee Promise Program, which stunts the growth of the Hope Lottery Scholarship Program by redistributing its proceeds to students who come from wealthier households but who have achieved less – the opposite of what a scholarship should be. With the introduction of the Tennessee Promise Program, Tennesseans who rely on the Hope Lottery Scholarship are receiving $1000 less in financial aid each school year. As I have stated before, the Promise Program is a hindrance to genuine affordability of higher education.
It is always a pleasure to welcome my constituents to Washington, D.C. I thank President Gray and the TEA for meeting with me while in Washington, and for their dedication to the students of Tennessee.
Noting the Passing of Richard K. "Kirk" Bowden
I was saddened to learn of the passing of former Deputy U.S. Marshal Richard ‘Kirk' Bowden who, as a deputy U.S. marshal, was one of a small group who protected James Meredith when he travelled off campus after integrating the University of Mississippi in 1962. Bowden later guarded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington. Mr. Bowden was a graduate of Douglass High School in Memphis and attended what is now LeMoyne-Owen College before joining the U.S. Air Force criminal investigations division. See a press release here.
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Still 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.
Weekly Health Tip
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.
In recognition of Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds Americans to find out about their status. One resource for finding out is the Shelby County Health Department, which provides access to resources here.
Quote of the Week
"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." – International Brotherhood of Teamsters union leader Jesse Carr, 1976.
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress