Join My Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, March 15
Dear Friend,
On Tuesday, March 15 at 11AM CDT, I will be hosting a telephone town hall to give a report on what’s happening in Congress and answer your questions on issues important to you. You can sign up for the telephone town hall below. This week, I sent a letter to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) highlighting the inequalities in their proposed pension cuts for its workers, updated the Memphis Chamber Government Affairs Council on my work in Congress, and visited with Ms. Fletcher’s first grade students at KIPP Collegiate Elementary School for their Male Role Model Week. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Join My Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, March 15
Fighting for Fairness within the TVA
Speaking to the Memphis Chamber Government Affairs Council
Visiting KIPP Collegiate Elementary School
Guilty Plea in Mo’ Money Taxes Case
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
The IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls
Ensuring Memphians Get the Tax Refunds They Deserve
Join My Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, March 15
On Tuesday morning, March 15th, at 11AM CT, I will host a telephone town hall meeting to answer your questions and discuss a variety of topics important to Tennessee’s 9th District. If you would like to participate in this telephone town hall on Tuesday, March 15th, please fill out the form here.
Fighting for Fairness within the TVA
On Wednesday,I sent a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) President and CEO Bill Johnson highlighting the unfairness in the TVA’s proposed pension cuts for its workers as compared to how it would treat its executives. You can read more about my letter here.
Speaking to the Memphis Chamber Government Affairs Council
On Tuesday, I delivered the keynote address at the Greater Memphis Chamber Government Affairs Council’s Federal Legislative Update Breakfast. I discussed a wide range of my recent legislative work including helping secure a $30 million Choice Neighborhood grant, a $15 million TIGER grant, federal funding for a Minority Business Development Center in Memphis, as well as my efforts on the new federal highway funding bill, all of which will help make Memphis a more competitive and attractive place to do business.
Visiting KIPP Collegiate Elementary School
Also on Tuesday, I visited with Ms. Fletcher’s first-grade students at KIPP Collegiate Elementary School for their Male Role Model Week. During my visit, I read them Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham and shared my personal story about becoming interested and then involved in public service and what it is like to be a Member of Congress.
Guilty Plea in Mo’ Money Taxes Case
Yesterday, two former tax return preparers for Mo’ Money Taxes plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. In 2012, I brought the issue of federal tax fraud and scams being committed by Mo’ Money Taxes to the attention of Justice Department. After an investigation and Congressional hearing, the Justice Department ordered Mo’ Money Taxes to shut down. There is no room in Memphis or anywhere else in the country for tax preparation scams that prey on the poor and middle class.
Bringing Congress to Your Corner
On Thursday, March 24 from 12:30pm-2:30pm my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Hickory Hill Community Center at 3910 Ridgeway Road. My staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies.
U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in high school. Summer Seminar teaches students about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's leaders. Students who are interested in pursuing an appointment to one of our nation's service academies and serving as an officer, are encouraged to apply for the Naval Academy's Summer Seminar at https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/index.php. The Naval Academy Summer Seminar online application closes 11:59 p.m. (EST) on March 31. The Summer Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) online application closes 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 15.
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 believe you 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 month away. As you prepare 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