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Sitting In for Common Sense Weapons Laws

June 24, 2016
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I was proud to be one of the original 15 House Democrats to participate in a 25 hour sit-in on the House floor to demand a vote on common sense weapons laws, I asked former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about her stance on cannabis policy reform, I honored the 151st Anniversary of Juneteenth, I welcomed the 9th District winner of the Congressional Art Competition to my Washington, DC office, I attended the launch of the Humane Society’s new mobile spay/neuter clinic, and I attended the 1,000 Fathers March to help fight the violent crime epidemic in Memphis. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.

Sitting In for Common Sense Weapons Laws
Fighting for a More Sensible Drug Policy
Honoring the 151st Anniversary of Juneteenth
Welcoming the Congressional Art Competition Winner to Washington, DC
Humane Society Launches Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic
Attending the 1,000 Fathers March
Bringing Congress to your Corner

Sitting In for Common Sense Gun Laws

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I was proud to have been one of the original 15 House Democrats to join civil rights icon Representative John Lewis (D-GA) on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday morning for a sit-in to demand that Speaker Paul Ryan keep the House in session through its planned recess to debate and vote on legislation to expand background checks and legislation to prevent gun sales to suspected terrorists. For 25 hours, my colleagues and I sat on the floor and occupied the House chamber. Because the House Republicans refused to hold a vote on gun control and gaveled the House into recess, the C-SPAN cameras were turned off. Members of Congress were forced to broadcast the sit-in live on social media to let the public view the protest. At 3 a.m. Thursday morning, after taking several hyper-partisan votes, House Republicans adjourned until July 5 two days earlier than planned. The “Do-Nothing Congress” left town with no action on common sense weapons reform or on any other critical issue such as voting rights renewal, criminal justice reform, or a minimum wage increase.

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Civil Rights Icon Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) during the 25-hour sit-in on the House floor

Moments of silence have grown old and seem hollow. We will continue our fight for common sense weapons laws to prevent mass shootings like Orlando, Newtown, Aurora, and Charleston, and other instances of gun violence that have become all too common in cities like Memphis. Enough is enough! You can watch my speech on the House floor during the sit-in here.

Fighting for a More Sensible Drug Policy

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On Wednesday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at the weekly Democratic Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill. I asked her about her stance on cannabis policy reform and she said she is in favor of rescheduling cannabis to study it for medical purposes. She also said she is in favor of decriminalizing cannabis on a federal level. I am proud to continue to move this issue forward as I have done so consistently for years. You can learn more about my bill, the bipartisan CARERS Act, on medical cannabis reform here.

Honoring the 151st Anniversary of Juneteenth

Sunday was the 151st Anniversary of Juneteenth. Each year, Juneteenth is observed on June 19th and is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. I am proud to have authored and passed the first Congressional apology for slavery and Jim Crow when I arrived in Washington, DC. Read my full statement on the anniversary of Juneteenth here.

Welcoming the Congressional Art Competition Winner to Washington, DC

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On Thursday, I welcomed recent Overton High School graduate Cassie Rutherford to my Capitol Hill office to congratulate her on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition for the 9th District of Tennessee. Ms. Rutherford’s piece, a photograph entitled “Railroad” (pictured above), will hang in public view on Capitol Hill for the next year. Read more about Cassie Rutherford and her winning photograph here.

Humane Society Launches Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic

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Last week, I attended the launch of the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County’s new mobile spay/neuter clinic called Fido Fixers Memphis. Fido Fixers Memphis will make spaying and neutering your pets affordable and accessible to low-income pet owners. You can read more about this initiative here.

Attending the 1,000 Fathers March

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On Saturday, Father’s Day weekend, I attended the 1,000 Fathers March. The march was organized as a response to the growing number of violent crimes in Memphis this year, including the tragic death of Memphis Police Officer Verdell Smith. I will continue fighting in Congress for gun control reform, education reform and other policies to reduce violent crime in Memphis and across the country.

Bringing Congress to your Corner

Over the summer, my office will hold two more “Congress on your Corner” events. Please mark these dates on your calendar. If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance.

  • Friday, July 15 from 12pm-2pm at the Ed Rice Community Center (2907 N. Watkins St)
  • Friday, August 12 from 10:30am-12:30pm at the Whitehaven Branch Library (4120 Millbranch Rd)

Please visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov for more information on Congress on your Corner.

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

Issues:9th DistrictAnimal WelfareArtsCivil RightsJudiciaryMemphisMillingtonShelby CountyTennessee