Lamenting the Loss of Another Memphis Child to Gun Violence
Dear Friend,
This week, I was saddened by yet another shooting incident taking the life of a child in Memphis. I also responded to the release of an important Inspector General's report on the FBI's and Justice Department's decision not to prosecute Hillary Clinton, announced grants supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Head Start programs, condemned the War On Drugs as a failed policy, expressed concern about a meeting of white nationalists in West Tennessee and offered a weekly health tip. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Lamenting the Loss of Another Memphis Child to Gun Violence
Responding to the Department of Justice Inspector General's Findings
Announcing Federal Support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Applauding the Work of Head Start
Cosponsoring Resolution Acknowledging Failures of the War on Drugs
Expressing Concern About White Nationalists Meeting in Dickson County
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Lamenting the Loss of Another Memphis Child to Gun Violence
On Tuesday, yet another child – this time a 12-year-old girl – was killed in an act of gun violence, tearing apart another family. This comes just weeks after a two-year-old was accidentally shot. A recent press investigation indicates that Memphis is ranked first in the unintentional shootings of minors among the country's largest cities, which is a miserable measure of careless disregard for young lives and a distinction we must work to shed. I'd like to remind my constituents that the Memphis Police Department has free gun locks at each of its precincts and to urge gun owners to avail themselves of these critical, life-saving devices.
Responding to the Department of Justice Inspector General's Findings
On Thursday, the long-awaited report by the Justice Department's Inspector General concluded that the decision to not prosecute former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was not affected by political bias or "other improper consideration" and was right on both the facts and the law. As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, I noted that nothing in the report contravenes Trump's own words that he fired former FBI Director James Comey over "this Russia thing" in statements made to both to Lester Holt of NBC and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office. My fear is that the President and his associates will attempt to misrepresent these findings in the press. On Friday, I spoke with CNN's Jim Sciutto about the report. See that interview here.
Appreciating $2.3 Million in Federal Support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
On Monday, I learned that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be receiving two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants totaling $1.2 million. Both are for complex medical research involving inflammation and immune response. On Friday, St. Jude was awarded two more federal grants totaling $1.1 million. St. Jude is one of the top research hospitals in the world and this funding will help doctors and scientists continue saving lives and providing our children with the best medical care possible.
Applauding the Work of Head Start with $12.7 Million in grants
On Thursday, I received notice that Children's Bureau, Inc., of Memphis has been awarded a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support Early Head Start (EHS) projects. On Friday, the Shelby County Board of Education was awarded $11.6 million for its Head Start programs. This should be seen as an investment in the future of Memphis and Shelby County children. This federal funding will help children from low-income families be better prepared to learn and excel when they enter school. Head Start is a federal program that provides comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families, which include health, nutrition and other services determined to be necessary by a family-needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services. Just think of it: This program was started as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty in 1965 as an eight-week demonstration project. Since its founding, Head Start has served over 30 million children and their families in urban and rural areas, giving them a head start.
Cosponsoring Resolution Acknowledging Failures of the War on Drugs
This week, I joined my colleagues in a Congressional resolution acknowledging that the War on Drugs has been a failed policy in achieving the goal of reducing drug use, and having the House of Representatives apologize to the individuals and communities that were victimized by it. The resolution (H. Res. 933) recites a litany of policy misdirection and failure back into the 1930s and concludes by finding the policy in part responsible for today's opioid crisis and seeking restorative justice those harmed by it.
Expressing Concern About White Nationalists Meeting in Dickson County
Early this week, after learning that a group of white nationalists would be gathering this weekend at Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson County to hear former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke make offensive comments, I said it would send the wrong, hateful message from our state to the nation. President Trump might find white nationalists to be "very fine people," but most people I know and respect do not. It sickens me that Tennessee will again be the venue for a despicable gathering of racists "celebrating" a heritage of hate and discrimination. It is my hope that law enforcement is prepared and will contain the violence that often accompanies such events.
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this 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.
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Weekly Health Tip
Each week, I share a health tip in the hope 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.
This is Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week, drawing attention to the condition which can include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has produced some useful information on the syndrome.
Quote of the Week
"I never knew that my country was isolated. People in North Korea, they don't know that they are slaves. And if you don't know that you are slaves, how do you demand to be free?" – Yeonmi Park, Columbia University graduate who defected from North Korea in 2007
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress