Seeking the Release of Brittney Griner and Others Detained in Russia
Dear Friend, This week, I wrote to President Biden asking him to do everything in his power to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, former Marine Paul Whelan and Putin critic and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza from Russian detention. I also applauded the Biden Administration for asking Tennessee to revise its plan to turn Medicaid into a block grant; deplored, once again, a senseless act of gun violence, this time at a July 4th parade in Illinois; condemned the firing of Colorado newspaper editor, Andrew Travers, who is the victim of a Russian kleptocrat's strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) defamation case; and offered a nutrition-related health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens. Seeking the Release of Brittney Griner and Others Detained in Russia Applauding Biden Administration for Asking Tennessee to Revise Medicaid Block Grant Plan Deploring July 4th Mass Shooting Endorsing President Biden's Executive Order Protecting Reproductive Rights Condemning the Firing of Aspen Times Editor Andrew Travers Weekly Health Tip Quote of the Week Seeking the Release of Brittney Griner and Others Detained in Russia On Wednesday, I wrote to President Biden, asking him to do everything in his power to secure the release of WNBA Phoenix Mercury star and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, former Marine Paul Whelan, and Putin opposition leader and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza. All three are being used as political pawns by Putin and face charges in Russia where there is no legitimate legal system. I hope to see them freed and returned home as soon as possible. See my release and the letter here. Applauding Biden Administration for Asking Tennessee to Revise Medicaid Block Grant Plan
Last Friday, July 1, after my weekly newsletter went out, I learned that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had provided guidance to Tennessee's Medicaid program, known as TennCare, suggesting the Republican-led, Trump-approved plan to turn TennCare into a block grant was not in eligible beneficiaries' best interest. CMS asked Tennessee to propose changes to its plan. Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-05) and I released statements applauding CMS's efforts to ensure a fully funded TennCare is there for eligible lower-income, elderly and disabled Tennesseans. See those statements here. Deploring July 4th Mass Shooting On Monday, a 21-year-old opened fire on a July 4th parade route through Highland Park, Illinois, the latest outrage in the scourge of gun violence since Buffalo and Uvalde. Among the victims were a mother and father of a 2-year-old boy who is now left parentless. It remains clear to me that we must improve the enforcement of existing gun safety laws and restore the assault weapons ban that was allowed to lapse in 2004. As so many others are saying, enough is enough. Endorsing President Biden's Executive Order Protecting Reproductive Rights President Biden today issued an executive order doing what he can to protect reproductive rights. It was the right thing to do. I agree with him that the rights established by the now-overturned Roe v. Wade need to be codified in law. See my release here. Condemning the Firing of Aspen Times Editor Andrew Travers As a longtime critic of strategic lawsuits against public participation (known as SLAPP suits), I condemned the firing of Aspen Times editor Andrew Travers. He was fired for publishing an opinion piece about his paper censoring reporters because of a defamation lawsuit by a Russian kleptocrat. These lawsuits are designed to silence critics and muzzle the press using defamation law. See my statement here. On Thursday, I received a note of thanks from Mr. Travers, and I wish him well.
During July and August, low-income senior citizens over 60 who participate in the year-round Commodities Supplemental Food Program can receive up to eight, $5 vouchers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from approved vendors at farmers markets. The goal of the Farmer's Market Nutrition Program, administered by the Shelby County Health Department, is to increase consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables. Read more about the program here.
"The whole nation should understand and have a level of empathy to understand that this can happen anywhere, in any peace-loving community. And we should stand together and speak out about why it's got to stop." – Vice President Kamala Harris speaking Tuesday from Highland Park, Illinois, after the July 4 mass shooting there. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |
