Passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Dear Friend,
This week, it is my pleasure to inform my constituents about how significant and transformational the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be for Memphis and the nation. I also followed the talks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow; commemorated Veterans Day on Thursday; reminded everyone that the open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act has begun; congratulated winner Sydney Charles for having her artwork representing Tennessee's 9th Congressional District displayed in the U.S. Capitol; offered U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2022 calendars; and provided a heath tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens.
Passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Following United Nations Climate Change Conference Talks in Glasgow
Flagging Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act
Recognizing Congressional Art Competition Winner
Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2022 Calendars
Passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Late last Friday night, I voted for and the House passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The infographic below illustrates how important this bill will be for our country and community. The measure contains all or parts of four bills I authored, including ones to prevent truck-underride accidents, reduce pedestrian fatalities, address impaired drivers and modernize passenger rail networks. The $1.2 trillion bill, which President Biden is expected to sign into law in the next few days, will also improve our long-neglected roads, bridges, railroads, pipelines, and electric grid and put millions to work at good-paying jobs.
Following United Nations Climate Change Conference Talks in Glasgow
All week, I have been following the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. I agree with former President Obama, former Secretary of State John Kerry, former Vice President Al Gore, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the young climate activist Greta Thunberg, and many others, that we need to do far more to address this crisis. I am confident that the provisions in the Build Back Better Act will advance our progress in this area.
On Thursday, I commemorated Veterans Day and called on everyone to recall the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, particularly those who served in our longest war in Afghanistan. I regret the continuing pandemic has again prevented me from hosting my annual Veterans Day event where I'm able to hear from veterans and their families in person and share what I have been doing on their behalf in Washington. As always, I continue to keep in touch with veterans and update them on pertinent legislation. See my Veterans Day statement here.
Flagging Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act
Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is now under way and is open until Saturday, January 15, 2022. Go to Healthcare.gov to enroll, change or renew your health insurance plan for coverage. Sign up by December 15, 2021 for coverage to start on January 1, 2022. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, your premiums next year could be lower than ever and Congress plans to pass the Build Back Better Act soon to lower costs even further.
Recognizing Congressional Art Competition Winner
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This week, the winning submissions to the annual Congressional Art Competition were hung in the U.S. Capitol, including the portrait drawn by Tennessee's 9th Congressional District winner Sydney Charles, a 10th grader at East T-STEM Academy High School. Her "Ground Control to Major Tom," (see above, and hanging in the Capitol), a portrait of a boy in an astronaut suit, will hang for the next year with winning artwork from all the other Congressional districts.
Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2022 Calendars
My office will have a limited number of 2022 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee's Ninth District.
As I mentioned above, open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act has begun and may be more affordable than ever next year. You can find more information at Healthcare.gov. Also, the coronavirus vaccines for children between 5 and 11 are now widely available, as are shots for those over 12, and boosters for those already immunized.
More information about the booster shots is available here.
Vaccines are currently available for everyone 5 and older. If you need a ride to a vaccination site, you can call 901-RIDE901 (901-743-3901) to coordinate the best transportation option for you. The City of Memphis is also now coordinating with organizations, congregations, community groups, and businesses to host coronavirus vaccinations. The Pipkin Building at the old Mid-South Fairgrounds is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Health Department at 814 Jefferson is now open, too, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointments are needed. To find the latest information about vaccination sites, to request a vaccination appointment for a homebound individual, or to set up a community coronavirus vaccination event, visit https://covid19.memphistn.gov/
"So to all the young people out there, as well as those of you who consider yourselves young at heart, I want you to stay angry. I want you to stay frustrated, but channel that anger, harness that frustration, keep pushing harder and harder, for more and more because that's what's required to meet this challenge. Gird yourself for a marathon, not a sprint, for solving a problem this big, this complex and this important has never happened all at once." – Former President Barack Obama, speaking Monday at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress