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Praising Recent Acts of Heroism

April 27, 2018
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I paid a special tribute to recent acts of true heroism by two people thrust into immediate danger by circumstance. I also voted for passage of the Music Modernization Act containing provisions for legacy musicians, voted for legislation to make flying safer, listened to some sobering guidance from the President of France, heard from a whistleblower about the use of Facebook profiles in the 2016 Presidential campaign, cosponsored legislation in support of additional marijuana research, hosted a procurement fair for federal government contractors, and offered some advice on keeping up with required immunizations. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Praising Recent Acts of Heroism
Protecting the Flying Public
Passing the Music Modernization Act
Attending Address by French President Emanuel Macron
Listening to Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower on Facebook Privacy
Standing Up for Marijuana Research
Attending Screening of "RBG" with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Hosting a Procurement Fair for Federal Government Contractors
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week



Praising Recent Acts of Heroism

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On Sunday, as the nation learned of yet another senseless shooting with an assault-style rifle, this time at a Nashville Waffle House, it also heard the name of James Shaw Jr., a native Nashvillian whose courageous act disarming the gunman surely saved lives. Less than a week earlier, Tammie Jo Shults, a Southwest Airlines pilot who was one of the country's first women trained to fly Navy fighter jets, demonstrated what one passenger called "nerves of steel" as she landed her crippled plane after a fatal engine explosion. These heroes remind us that some are called to selfless acts of bravery without warning, and rise to the occasion. I went to the House floor Tuesday to commend them in remarks you can see here. On Thursday evening, the Tennessee delegation gathered in the well of the House, along with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, to lead the House in a moment of silence for the Waffle House victims.

Protecting the Flying Public

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The House worked this week to craft a massive bill reauthorizing the programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As a member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I am pleased that the bill includes the bipartisan Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act I introduced last year, requiring the FAA to establish minimum seat sizes and distances between passenger rows to assure safe airliner evacuations in emergencies. I am also pleased that an amendment I introduced on the House floor to improve airplane safety by streamlining the process for ensuring that prospective pilots have clean driving records was approved and incorporated into the bill. You can see my floor remarks here. I was disappointed that another amendment I introduced – the Forbid Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees -- that would require the FAA to determine whether fees for cancellations, schedule changes or baggage are reasonable and proportional to the cost to airlines for providing the services was blocked by Republicans from getting a vote of the full House. It remains in the Senate version of the bill and I hope to see it become law. On Friday, the House passed the full FAA bill, on a vote of 393 to 13.


Passing the Music Modernization Act

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On Wednesday, the House passed the Music Modernization Act (H.R. 5447) by an overwhelming 415-to-zero vote. I was proud to co-sponsor the bill as well as the Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service and Important Contributions to Society (CLASSICS) Act, which was incorporated into the measure. The bill extends federal copyright protections to pre-1972 sound recordings and modernizes the system for payment of royalties in light of the growth of digital recordings and streaming services. See my floor speech on the measure here.


Attending Address by French President Emanuel Macron

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On Wednesday, I listened to the President of France, our oldest ally, address a Joint Session of Congress and urge America to reconsider abandoning the Paris Climate Agreement and to stay in the multi-nation negotiated nuclear deal with Iran. Macron is an impressive world leader and his stirring words warning of a new and dangerous form of nationalism inspire confidence in our nations' shared commitment to democratic pluralism and the rule of law. I was particularly struck by his sobering words on climate change. "Let us face it: There is no Planet B," he said. "I am sure one day the United States will come back and join the Paris Agreement." Vive la France.

Listening to Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower on Facebook Privacy

On Tuesday, I attended a briefing with Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie. Wylie has accused his former employer of accessing data on millions of Facebook users. I will continue to stay vigilant in attempting to ensure the investigation proceeds wherever the evidence takes it. I will also continue to press for passage of the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act to provide protections for Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Standing Up for Marijuana Research

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On Thursday, I attended a press conference to highlight the introduction of the bipartisan Medical Cannabis Research Act. The bill, which I cosponsored, would increase the number of federally registered marijuana-manufacturing operations providing samples for legitimate research purposes and create "safe harbors" for institutions whose federal funding might otherwise be jeopardized by conducting legally approved cannabis research.

Attending Screening of "RBG" with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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On Thursday night, I attended a screening of the documentary "RBG" on the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was in attendance. The film by Betsy West and Julie Cohen traces the life of an amazingly courageous jurist who, at 84, continues to pen incisive dissents as the third most-senior member of the U.S. Supreme Court. It was an inspiring evening of tribute to the Justice known to her many admirers as "the Notorious RBG." I was pleased to see Justice Stephen Breyer, among others, showing their support for this longstanding champion of women's rights.

Hosting a Procurement Fair for Federal Government Contractors

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Before leaving Memphis for Washington on Monday, I hosted a "Doing Business with the Federal Government" procurement fair at the University of Memphis. The event proved to be a big success and attracted Memphians who want to learn more about doing business with federal agencies.

Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter

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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.

For those who haven't participated in a telephone town hall, it's easy to sign up for them by using this form.

If you would like to receive this weekly eNewsletter, or share it with others, you can do that with this form.

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.

Most of the infectious disease scourges of yesteryear are now fully preventable with timely vaccinations, but vigilance is necessary. As part of World Immunization Week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created an easy-to-use guide and vaccination schedule to keep small children and their parents up-to-date on their immunizations. Check it out here.

Quote of the Week

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"By polluting the oceans, not mitigating CO2 emissions and destroying our biodiversity, we are killing our planet. Let us face it: there is no Planet B." -- French President Emanuel Macron, Address to a Joint Session of Congress, April 25, 2018

As always, I remain,

Most sincerely,

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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

Issues:9th DistrictMemphisShelby CountyTennessee