Questioning Attorney General Garland at Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing
Dear Friend, This week, I questioned Attorney General Merrick Garland at a Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Justice and asked him about restoring legitimacy to the Department by holding Donald Trump accountable for his misconduct. I also spoke from the House floor about the need to pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA); spoke from the House floor and voted to refer former Trump advisor Steve Bannon to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution for contempt of Congress; commended the Ford Motor Company for its plan to build electric vehicles at the Memphis Regional Megasite; presided at a Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act; congratulated the Memphis Public Library for national recognition in Smithsonian Magazine; announced a significant juvenile justice grant to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center; remembered Bishop W.A. Sesley of Morning Star Holiness Church; offered 2022 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars to constituents; and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens. Questioning Attorney General Garland at Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing Encouraging Support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Speaking in Favor of and Voting to Refer Steve Bannon for Prosecution for Contempt of Congress Commending Ford Motor Company for Its Investment in West Tennessee Presiding at a Hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act Congratulating Memphis Public Library Announcing Significant Department of Justice Grant Remembering Bishop W.A. Sesley Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Questioning Attorney General Garland at Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing
On Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland appeared before the Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing. I asked him questions about the Department of Justice's plans for addressing former President Trump's campaign finance violations, the Department's decision to seek to defend the former president in a defamation case, and whether former promoters of the false "Stop the Steal" campaign were still employed by the Department. See my release, including video of the exchange with the Attorney General, here. Encouraging Support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act On Wednesday evening, I spoke on the House floor to urge my Republican colleagues to support the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the bipartisan infrastructure framework already passed by the Senate with 17 Republican Senate votes. The measure will vastly improve our physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, pipelines and the electric grid while creating thousands of good-paying jobs in Memphis and nationwide. See my floor speech here. Speaking in Favor of and Voting to Refer Steve Bannon for Prosecution for Contempt of Congress
On Thursday afternoon, I spoke in favor of referring former Trump advisor Steve Bannon to the Department of Justice for prosecution for contempt of Congress for ignoring a subpoena from the Select Committee on the January 6th U.S. Capitol insurrection. Bannon knew of the plot to overthrow our government and his testimony should be compelled. See my release and the floor speech here. Commending Ford Motor Company for Its Investment in West Tennessee Also Thursday, I spoke on the House floor to commend Ford Motor Company for its decision to invest $5.6 billion in the Memphis Regional Megasite, which will create batteries, electric trucks and thousands of new jobs in West Tennessee. Watch that speech here. Presiding at a Hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act On Wednesday, as Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, I presided at a hearing on "Oversight of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: The Current State of Integration of People with Disabilities." See my release and my opening statement here. Congratulating Memphis Public Library The Memphis Public Library has been recognized by Smithsonian Magazine for its innovative approach to serving our community. Patronage has increased steadily at its 18 branches and the workshops and sound labs at the Benjamin Hooks headquarters are seen as a national model of excellence. I congratulate Director Kennon McCloy and her staff for this recognition. See the Smithsonian article here. Announcing Significant Department of Justice Grant On Monday, I announced a $475,000 Department of Justice grant to address juvenile justice and delinquency. Remembering Bishop W.A. Sesley On Wednesday evening, I learned that Bishop W.A. Sesley had passed. I remembered him as a golden-throated warrior of the gospel and a pastor whose grace extended beyond his church family. He will be missed. See my remembrance here. Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 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. This week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized booster shots for tens of millions who have already received the two-shot Moderna coronavirus vaccine and Johnson & Johnson's single-dose shot. This means eligible individuals can receive their booster shot regardless of whether they originally received a Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Biden Administration also outlined plans to swiftly distribute vaccines to children 5-to-11-years old once testing and authorization is completed in the weeks ahead. We are making progress on vaccinations and, as a result, seeing case counts declining. But with cold weather coming and more time spent indoors, it is important to maintain public health protocols, including mask-wearing in public and around unvaccinated people. More information about the booster shots is available here. Vaccines are currently available for everyone 12 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., and will remain a vaccination site through December 31. 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/ "Based on the committee's investigation, it appears that Mr. Bannon had substantial advance knowledge of the plans for January 6 and likely had an important role in formulating those plans. Mr. Bannon was in the war room at the Willard on January 6. He also appears to have detailed knowledge regarding the president's efforts to sell millions of Americans the fraud that the election was stolen...Mr. Bannon's and Mr. Trump's privilege arguments do however appear to reveal one thing: They suggest that President Trump was personally involved in the planning and execution of January 6. And this committee will get to the bottom of that." -- Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming), a member of the Select Committee on the January 6 insurrection, on Tuesday. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |
