Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear Friend,
This week, I honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 48th anniversary of his assassination, hosted, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a human trafficking awareness training for state and local organizations and officials, honored five 9th District students who have been accepted to attend a U.S. Military Academy in the fall, and attended the Corporation for the National and Community Service Mayor and County Recognition Day. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hosting a Human Trafficking Awareness Training
Congratulating Newly-Accepted Students to U.S. Military Service Academies
Attending the Corporation for the National and Community Service Program
The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pictured left to right at the “Heartache to Harmony” luncheon: Congressman Steve Cohen, Gayle Rose, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., and Church of God in Christ Presiding Bishop Charles Blake
Congressman Cohen speaking at the April 4th Commemoration Ceremony at the National Civil Rights Museum
On Monday, I honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated in Memphis 48 years ago, by attending the “Heartache to Harmony” luncheon at the Cook Convention Center hosted by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and orchestrated by Gayle Rose and Joe Mulherin. Musical performances included the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Al Kapone, the Memphis Central High School concert singers, Stax instructor Justin Merrick, and Deborah Manning Thomas. I also attended the April 4th Commemoration Ceremony at the National Civil Rights Museum which included a changing of the wreath on the balcony of room 306 where Dr. King was assassinated and a moment of silence at 6:01 PM, the time the fatal shot was fired. Dr. King was an American hero whose dream was not just for civil rights and social justice, but for economic justice as well. He preached to the nation the "fierce urgency of now" to address injustice, inequality, and unfairness. While great strides have been made over the last several decades, there is still much work to be done. I will continue fighting for justice and equality in Congress.
Hosting a Human Trafficking Awareness Training
On Wednesday, I, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, hosted a Human Trafficking Awareness Training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. State and local law enforcement, state and local government representatives, first responders, educators, health care organizations, faith-based organizations and other local organizations gathered together to discuss the importance of and strategies to combat human trafficking.
Congratulating Newly-Accepted Students to U.S. Military Service Academies
Pictured from left to right: George “David” Boyd, Jared Devone Mitchell, Kiley Denese Kuykendall, Congressman Steve Cohen, Morgan Amber Morris, Brody Ryan McDonald
On Wednesday, I hosted a reception at my Memphis office to congratulate five 9th Congressional District students who have been accepted to attend United States Military Service Academies this fall. The students were:
George “David” Boyd, Evangelical Christian School
*** will attend the U.S. Naval Academy
Jared Devone Mitchell, White Station High School
***will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy
Kiley Denese Kuykendall, Germantown High School
*** will attend the U.S. Military Academy, West Point
Morgan Amber Morris, Craigmont High School
*** will attend the U.S. Military Academy, West Point
Brody Ryan McDonald, White Station High School
***will attend the U.S. Naval Academy
Attending the Corporation for the National and Community Service Program
On Wednesday, I attended the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Mayor and County Recognition Day at First Baptist Church with CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer, a presidential appointee, who I introduced for remarks. We discussed CNCS’s $1.1 billion request in the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget to help bolster AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Social Innovation Fund to improve millions of lives through service. I thanked the group and many personally for their volunteerism in the Memphis community.
The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
The IRS continues to warn consumers to guard against scam phone calls from thieves intent on stealing their money or their identity. Criminals pose as the IRS to trick victims out of their money or personal information. Click here for several tips to help you avoid being a victim of these scams and what to do if you believe have been contacted by a scammer.
Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve
In December, I voted to permanently extend the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is indexed for future increases, for low and middle income individuals and families. This provision ultimately became law.
April 15th – the deadline to file your 2015 federal tax return – is only a few days away. As you finish your return, I hope you won’t overlook the EITC if you are eligible for it. It is an important credit that can give families a financial boost. Sadly, eligible taxpayers in Memphis and Shelby County have not taken full advantage of the program. I want to encourage everyone who is eligible to consider claiming it when filing their taxes.
Memphians shouldn’t pay more than they owe, and they should receive every penny they deserve in refunds. In 2014, I helped open one of 15 new Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites that operate throughout Shelby County. The VITA sites are available to provide tax return guidance and advice free of charge to ensure that Memphians take full advantage of programs like the EITC and get the tax refund to which they are entitled. More information including a list of all VITA locations and their hours is available at the Shelby County Trustee’s website, and I encourage you to find one near you to help ensure you get every penny you are owed.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress