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 49th anniversary of his death and the 50th anniversary of his "Beyond Vietnam" speech, introduced a bill to rebuild trust between the police and the African American community, introduced a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the United States' support for NATO and Eastern Europe, met with GRAMMY Award winning artist Bobby Rush and representatives from the Recording Academy, met with Debbie Smith to discuss funding for untested rape kits, and received an award from the Humane Society for my work on animal rights issues. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Monday, I commemorated the 49th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the House floor and in a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the freedom of speech. I also recognized the 50th anniversary of my favorite speech of Dr. King's, the "Beyond Vietnam" speech at the Riverside Church in New York City, where he spoke of militarism, materialism and racism. It was unfortunate that I could not take part in the events in Memphis this week because I had to be in Washington, D.C. for votes in the House of Representatives, but I was happy to have the opportunity to honor Dr. King's life and legacy on the House floor and in the Judiciary Committee. Working to Rebuild Trust Between Police and the African American Community On Tuesday, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO) and I introduced the Police Training and Independent Review Act. Our legislation would encourage states to use independent prosecutors to investigate and, if need be, prosecute instances of police use of deadly force to remove the conflict of interest of asking local prosecutors to investigate the same local police force with whom they work so closely. It would also encourage states to provide improved training for police officers on ethnic and racial diversity. Read more about our bill, which has been endorsed by the NAACP, here. Reaffirming U.S. Support for NATO and Eastern Europe On Thursday, Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) and I introduced a bipartisan resolution expressing the United States' strong support for NATO and the countries of Eastern Europe during these uncertain times. NATO is critical to the safety and security of the United States and our European allies and has been an indispensable force for promoting democracy and stability in Europe. Read more about our resolution here.
On Thursday, I met with Bobby Rush, 2017 GRAMMY Award Winner for Best Traditional Blues Album, Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, owner of Royal Studios in Memphis, and representatives from the Recording Academy for their "GRAMMYs On the Hill Day." We discussed music listening reform, music copyright laws and other legislation before Congress pertaining to the music industry.
On Wednesday, I was honored to meet with Debbie Smith (for whom the Debbie Smith Act was named) and representatives from the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN) during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I am proud to support victims of sexual assault and fight for funding for untested rape kits.
On Wednesday, I received the Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society for my work on animal rights issues and animal protection efforts. Stevie, our office dog (pictured above), was pretty grateful, too! She belongs to my Staff Assistant, Alex Schnelle, and is named for singer Stevie Nicks. Bringing Congress to Your Corner On Friday, April 21 from 11am-2pm at the Millington Public Library (4858 Navy Road), my staff will hold "Congress on Your Corner" office hours to assist Memphians with questions or problems with federal agencies such as Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA and more. Please mark the date on your calendar. For more information about Congress on Your Corner, visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants. In remembrance of the 49th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination and in honor of the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech, the quote for this week comes from the "Beyond Vietnam" speech Dr. King delivered at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967:
"We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it's best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. It can cause cancer, chronic lung disease such as emphysema and bronchitis, hearth disease, pregnancy-related issues and many other serious health problems. Learn more about how you can quit smoking here. As always, I remain. |
