Joining Students in Demanding a Response to Gun Violence
Dear Friend,
This week, I joined students from across the country demanding a response to gun violence. I also asked White House Chief of Staff John Kelly to fire President Trump's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner, talked with MSNBC about the President's possibly illegal payments to an adult film star, met with Tennessee educators in my D.C. office, introduced a bill to prevent the inhumane treatment of animals on airplanes, received an award from the Memphis Health Center, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the death of Robert Kennedy, reminded constituents of an upcoming March 20 telephone town hall, noted the passing of my friend the New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, and expressed my concern about a measles case at the Memphis airport. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Joining Students in Demanding a Response to Gun Violence
Asking White House Chief of Staff to Fire Jared Kushner
Talking Stormy Daniels with MSNBC's David Gura
Meeting with Tennessee Parent Teacher Association
Introducing Bipartisan Bill Outlawing Pets from Overhead Compartments on Airplanes
Receiving Award from the Memphis Health Center
Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Death of Robert F. Kennedy
Reminding Constituents of My Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday Evening
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter
Noting the Passing of New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Joining Students in Demanding a Response to Gun Violence
On Wednesday, in solidarity with students at the University of Memphis and Rhodes College and students across the country, I remembered the 17 victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in calling for a meaningful, legislative response to the nation's epidemic of gun violence. On Capitol Hill, local students and field-trippers from around the country gathered in a symbolic show of support for gun violence victims and to call attention to the upcoming "March for Our Lives" events taking place around the country on March 24th.
I commend the organizers of the Memphis march to begin at Clayborn Temple, 294 Hernando Street, at 10 a.m. on March 24th.
In a related effort, I voted Wednesday for the Students, Teachers and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act (H.R. 4909), which passed 407 to 10.
Asking White House Chief of Staff to Fire Jared Kushner
As evidence piles up establishing Trump son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner's serious conflicts of interest involving his family's real estate business, I joined 25 House colleagues in a letter to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly demanding Kushner's firing. The letter makes the case that Kushner, who could not obtain a permanent security clearance and recently had his security status downgraded, is a threat to national security, especially in light of published accounts that he is considered a lightweight by the United Arab Emirates, China, Mexico and Israel, and could potentially be manipulated based on his tangled business interests and lack of policy experience.
Talking Stormy Daniels with MSNBC's David Gura
On Saturday, I went on national television to talk about the ongoing legal scandal involving the President and Stephanie Clifford (adult film star Stormy Daniels) with MSNBC's David Gura. I'm embarrassed for the country that this President has besmirched his high office with this and other lurid evidence of low moral character.
Meeting with Tennessee Parent Teacher Association
Also Wednesday, I met with Tennessee Parent Teacher Association President Cheryl Floyd and Anita Allen to talk about the organization's top priorities this year. It's always good to get a briefing from those on the front lines in education.
Introducing Bipartisan Bill Outlawing Pets from Overhead Compartments
Many of my constituents know of my longstanding association with the humane treatment of animals (I recently received another "100+" score from the Humane Society). Because of that and also being a senior member of the Transportation Committee, I felt it necessary to address an item right out of the news this week with the introduction Thursday of the Planes Ensuring Total Safety (PETS) Act. Our bill responds to the outrageous situation the owner of 10-month-old French bulldog Kokito endured when her dog was stuffed, barking in distress, into an unventilated overhead United Airlines luggage bin on a flight from Houston to New York and died as a result. The bill would outlaw the practice and impose fines on airlines that don't comply. I was pleased to join New York Republican Congressman Dan Donovan on the bill. A Senate companion measure, the WOOFF Act, has been introduced by Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana and Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.
Receiving Award from the Memphis Health Center
On Thursday, representatives of the Memphis Health Center presented me with the 2018 Distinguished Community Health Defender Award. Community Health Centers, like the Memphis Health Center, are crucial in the fight against illnesses and disabilities. I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which provided two years of funding for our Community Health Centers. Investing in our Community Health Centers is not only prudent, but necessary. I will continue to advocate for Community Health Centers, and I was honored to receive this recognition.
Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Death of Robert F. Kennedy
On Wednesday, I joined Massachusetts' Senator Edward Markey and Congressman Joseph Kennedy III, and others, in recalling the remarkable life of my hero, former U.S. Attorney General, New York Senator and 1968 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Robert Kennedy was a remarkable leader and would have made an excellent president if he hadn't been assassinated in Los Angeles two months after the killing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis. Today, March 16th, is the 50th anniversary of RFK's announcement of his candidacy for the 1968 nomination for President. It is sad but deeply edifying to review the events of that revolutionary year. Toward the end of my remarks, I paraphrased Robert Kennedy, who said: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope…" See my remarks at the commemoration here.
Reminding Constituents of My Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday Evening
To talk to constituents while I'm in Washington, I've found telephone town halls timely and have appreciated the positive response from constituents. My next telephone town hall is Tuesday, March 20, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. The telephone town hall provides a good forum to hear the concerns and ideas of the 9thDistrict and gives me an opportunity to provide legislative action. For those who haven't participated in a telephone town hall, it's easy to sign up for them by using this form.
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and My Weekly e-Newsletter
I enjoy meeting regularly with constituents in the district and helping get answers for them to questions about dealing with federal agencies. If you are interested in attending one of my "Congress on Your Corner" events, you can sign up here to receive notification as soon as the next event is scheduled.
If you would like to receive this weekly eNewsletter, or share it with others, you can do that with this form.
Noting the Passing of New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
On Friday, I learned of the death of my friend and colleague, New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. In her lifetime of service, she was always at the top of her game and I was always astonished to watch her, even at age 88, never miss a beat. She knew the issues backwards and forwards, including the arcane details of House rules. A native of Kentucky, she was a knowledgeable and gracious Southern Belle but a strong and passionate advocate of her Empire State. She will be missed.
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.
I was concerned to read that a child with measles landed at Memphis International Airport on Monday night after a flight from Brussels, Belgium. The scourge of this infectious disease is largely wiped out around the world thanks to nearly universal preventive immunization but its disfiguring symptoms and sometimes-life-threatening fevers are something all parents naturally fear. I want to assure you that my office is keeping close track of any and all developments related to this incident. To read more about measles from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) see this notice
Quote of the Week
"My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote, ‘And even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.' What we need in the United States is not division. What we need in the United States is not hatred. What we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but love and wisdom and compassion toward one another, a feeling of justice to those who still suffer in our country, whether they be white or whether they be black."
– Senator Robert F. Kennedy, April 4, 1968, in Indianapolis, after hearing of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis.
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress