Introducing the Safer Streets Act
Dear Friend,
This week, I introduced the Safer Streets Act, reluctantly cancelled my annual District Issues Meeting due to inclement weather, condemned the president's profane description of Haiti and Africa, attended an event commemorating the "Legacy of Courage" of the men from Vanderbilt University who were the first to integrate basketball's Southeastern Conference, expressed concern over the closing of two Kroger stores while pointing to my possible remedy to prevent future closures, congratulated Tommy Parker on his confirmation as a federal judge for Western Tennessee, talked about DACA and Republican congressional retirements with my friend Larry King, and planned for the upcoming Martin Luther King national holiday. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Introducing the Safer Streets Act
Cancelling Annual District Issues Meeting
Condemning President Trump's Profane Description of Haiti and African Countries
Attending "Legacy of Courage" Event Honoring Vanderbilt Pioneers
Expressing Concern Over Kroger Closings
Congratulating Tommy Parker on His Confirmation as a Federal Judge
Talking with My Friend Larry King
Commemorating Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Introducing the Safer Streets Act
On Thursday, I introduced the Safer Streets Act which would create a new U.S. Department of Justice grant program focused on crime in local communities. The Safer Streets Act is intended to provide additional funding to address violent crime in places where the rate is significantly above the national average. Local governments with crime rates four times the national average, like Memphis, would be eligible for half of the funds; those with three times the national rate would be eligible for 20 percent of the funds and those with twice that national rate would be eligible for the remaining 10 percent of funds. The bill also creates an emergency fund for units of local government that have spikes of violent crime. It's my hope that this type of law would benefit places like Memphis which could use the money to hire additional law enforcement officers, invest in surveillance equipment or conduct crime prevention programs.
Cancelling My Annual District Issues Meeting Due to Sleet Storm
On Friday, the wintry mix that closed local schools and some businesses prompted me to reluctantly cancel a long-planned Annual District Issues Meeting at my office in the Clifford Davis/Odell Horton Federal Building downtown. My office notified all of the local news media of the cancellation, but we had quite a number of RSVPs for the event and I regret if some constituents didn't get the word and were inconvenienced. I had planned to talk about the recently announced closure of two Kroger grocery stores and my tax-credit bill aimed at keeping such stores in food deserts; the recent Republican tax scam bill that will hurt so many of my constituents; Attorney General Sessions' all-out war on marijuana in states that have made it legal; the administration's failure to make any significant progress on the opioid crisis; my recently introduced crime bill; my concerns about the VA Medical Center; and many other issues.
Condemning President Trump's Profane Description of Haiti and African Countries
Like so many offended by the undisciplined and erratic character of our president, I was shocked but not surprised at his latest racist utterance regarding immigrants from Haiti and Africa. It's disturbing that the mainstream media have to use obscene language traditionally long off limits just to accurately cover presidential statements made before members of the U.S. Senate. As Trump continues to lower our expectations of what to expect from the leader of the free world and to traduce his office, I remind my constituents that in November I offered Articles of Impeachment to remove him from office.
Attending "Legacy of Courage" Event Honoring Vanderbilt Integration Pioneers
On Wednesday night, I attended an event at the Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington honoring the legacy of Perry Wallace and Godfrey Dillard, two Vanderbilt University basketball players who integrated the Southeastern Conference for the first time 50 years ago. I'm an alumnus of Vanderbilt and was Mr. Commodore, leading the team onto the court for home games in Perry Wallace's senior year. The event at the museum was called "A Legacy of Courage," and included a panel discussion with Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Athletics David Williams; ESPN's Rosalyn Durant and William Rhoden; Damion Thomas, curator for sports at the museum; and Harry Edwards, author of The Revolt of the Black Athlete and a force behind the Olympic Project for Human Rights which inspired Tommie Smith and John Carlos to raise their gloved fists during the medals ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos took the occasion to announce the establishment of The Center for Sports and Society, an academic center exploring the collision of sports, racism, gender and culture. That's a big step forward for a school in the South. There was also a screening of the award-winning Rich Gentile documentary "Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace." It was quite an inspiring evening.
Expressing Concern Over Kroger Closings
I was disappointed to learn this week that Kroger had decided to close its stores at 1977 South Third and 2269 Lamar at Airways. Memphis already contains food deserts – places where fresh fruit and vegetables and nutritious foods are not made available and the only alternatives are convenience store processed foods and snacks – and this move will contribute to that problem. The decision reminded me of the need to pass a bill I introduced last year – H.R. 2289, the Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act – to provide tax incentives to keep grocery stores in potential food deserts. The bill would also increase the work employment tax credit for supermarkets that hire disadvantaged youths, veterans and ex-felons. We should do all we can to keep children and families healthy.
Congratulating Tommy Parker on His Confirmation as a Federal Judge
I was pleased to see the Senate confirm Tommy Parker as a federal judge for Western Tennessee on Wednesday on a 98-0 vote. I've known Tommy and known his reputation in the Memphis legal community as a bright, fair, and diligent assistant U.S. attorney and lawyer. I'm sure he will bring credit to the federal bench.
Talking with My Friend Larry King
Also this week, I went on my friend Larry King's show from Statuary Hall in the Capitol. He asked me about the status of negotiations over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that President Obama used to protect those brought to our country as children from deportation but which President Trump ordered terminated beginning March 5, 2018. I said there is an urgency to act because so many are in jeopardy. I also predicted that a government shutdown will be averted before the January 19 deadline but probably by yet another short-term measure. (This was before the president's calamitous and divisive racist rant.) And I said I regretted seeing my California Republican colleagues Ed Royce and Darrell Issa deciding to retire but noted they probably see a likely Democratic wave coming in the November mid-term elections. "When the tsunami comes you don't want to be out there on a surf board," I told him. See the whole interview here.
Commemorating Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On Sunday, I plan to attend the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church's Martin Luther King tribute service. On Monday's national holiday, I plan to remember the life of Reverend King at a series of events, including the LeMoyne-Owen College Alumni Association's 27th annual prayer breakfast and the Grizzlies v. L.A. Lakers King Day Celebration game at FedEx Forum. As we approach the 50thanniversary of his death in April, it's important to celebrate the life of the historic Civil Rights and anti-war hero.
Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9thCongressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us that, since it's still January, it's not too late to make being healthy your New Year's resolution. That means making healthy food choices, managing stress and seeing your doctors for check-ups and screenings. See the recommendations here.
One particularly good idea to promote health is to quit smoking, the CDC reminded us this week in a separate report indicating veterans are much more likely to use tobacco products than non-veterans.
Free help quitting, tailored for veterans, is available at:
1-855-QUIT-VET and 1-800-QUIT-NOW; through text messaging services at www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking/smokefreevet.asp; and online athttps://www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking/ and www.smokefree.gov/veterans.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Riverside Church, 1967
"When machines and computers, profit and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., April 4, 1967, Riverside Church, New York City.
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress