Speaking to Memphis Students
Dear Friend,
This week, I spent the District Work Period in Memphis where I visited Memphis high schools to talk with students about recent gun violence and DACA. I also asked the House Judiciary Committee to take action on existing legislation addressing gun violence, recognized the three Memphis historic sites on the multi-state U.S. Civil Rights Trail, expressed concern about the White House's inaction on Russian electoral interference, met with constituents at "Congress on Your Corner" at Cherokee Library, attended a voter registration event at Central High School, invited constituents to sign up for my office's newsletters and telephone town halls, and encouraged young people to maintain good dental hygiene in my weekly health tip. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Speaking to Memphis Students
Visiting Mr. Rakestraw's Class at White Station High School
Talking with Kingsbury High School Students about DACA
Asking the Judiciary Committee to Take Up Gun Violence Legislation
Recognizing Memphis Sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
Expressing Concern at Direction of the White House
Meeting Constituents at Congress on Your Corner
Attending a Voter Registration Event at Central High School
Inviting Constituents to Sign Up for Telephone Town Halls and Attend "Congress on Your Corner"
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Still Available
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
This week, I visited two Memphis high schools to talk with students about the shooting last week at a high school in Parkland, Florida, and to hear what they had on their minds. I found it productive and I hope it was useful for the students. I made it clear that I have been against assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and bump stocks and for raising the age to 21 for buying an assault rifle, as it already is for buying a drink or a handgun.
Visiting Mr. Rakestraw's Class at White Station High School
It was a pleasure once again to visit Mr. Rakestraw's class at White Station High School. This is the 10th year I have met with his students, starting at East High School and moving on to White Station. Mr. Rakestraw's students are always informed, ask pertinent questions and give me hope for the future.
Whenever I visit White Station, I think of my cousin Sam Behr, Jr. who attended there before his death in an automobile accident at 16.
Talking with Kingsbury High School Students about DACA
Besides their obvious interest in the school shooting in Florida, Kingsbury's students, many foreign-born and first-generation Americans, wanted to talk about what is happening in Washington with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigrants, known as Dreamers, brought to this country by their parents. I shared with the students my frustration that the issue is currently at a stalemate after last week's failed Senate votes led to continued impasse but that I hope and believe it will be resolved before any deportations begin. The Commercial Appeal was there and noted the exchange of views.
Asking the Judiciary Committee to Take Up Gun Violence Legislation
On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in asking the chairman of the Judiciary Committee on which I serve to schedule hearings and passage of already-pending legislation to remedy the gun violence issues the public is demanding we address. Separately, I noted a number of bills I have co-sponsored that would ban assault rifles and bump stocks and tighten the background check system that has so clearly failed us. See my release on that subject here.
Recognizing Memphis Sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
On Wednesday, Governor Bill Haslam visited Memphis to recognize three of the ten historic sites in Tennessee that are part of the multi-state U.S. Civil Rights Trail.
Memphis has three of our state's and our nation's most historic civil rights sites: Clayborn Temple, where Memphis sanitation workers gathered during their historic strike 50 years ago; the Mason Temple, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final, powerful speech; and the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated a day later. Each sends its own message to our time.
Black History Month is a good time to memorialize our living history but it's important to follow paying respect with action. We need to make voting easier at the state level while Congress needs to revisit and strengthen the Voting Rights Act. It's not enough just to honor the past. Our actions today and in the future should build on that legacy with deeds that continue to advance our Civil Rights struggle.
See more about the Civil Rights trail here.
Expressing Concern at Direction of the White House
Last weekend, the President's failure -- again -- to acknowledge the role of Russia in the meddling in the 2016 election in favor of his candidacy drew my concern. Despite indictments against 13 Russian nationals by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the President blamed FBI pre-occupation with its investigation of possible collusion for its failure to follow up tips in the South Florida school shooting. That outrageous and false effort to distract from a serious and ongoing threat to our democracy prompted me to circulate on Twitter a column from the multiple-Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Thomas L. Friedman who wrote that the country now faces a "code red" with the President's inaction on Russia. Friedman added: "The biggest threat to the integrity of our democracy today is in the Oval Office."
Meeting Constituents at Congress on Your Corner
On Friday, I held a "Congress on Your Corner" event at the Cherokee Library on Sharpe Avenue and talked with more than 50 of my constituents about their dealings with the federal government and agency benefits. Many were also happy to give me their thoughts and ideas on public policy initiatives and I'll be bringing those back to Washington. It was good to hear a wide variety of views. I encourage anyone needing assistance with federal agencies to contact my district office.
Attending a Voter Registration Event at Central High School
Also Friday, I participated at a voter registration event at Central High School, my father's alma mater. I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the students to participate in the democratic process.
Inviting Constituents to Sign Up for Telephone Town Halls and Attend "Congress on Your Corner"
I enjoy meeting regularly with constituents in the district, and helping get answers for them to questions about dealing with federal agencies, like at my most recent "Congress on Your Corner" on Friday. 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.
To talk to constituents while I'm in Washington I've found telephone town halls timely and have appreciated the positive response from constituents. The telephone town halls provide a good forum to hear the concerns and ideas of the 9th District and give me an opportunity to provide legislative action. For those who haven't participated in a Telephone Town Hall, it's easy to sign up for future events by using this form.
If you would like to receive this weekly eNewsletter, you can sign up to subscribe here.
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Still Available
My office currently has a limited number of 2018 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 9th District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter.
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.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases of children. Protect your child's teeth, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, by having your child brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and drink fluoridated water. Children are particularly susceptible to cavities if they eat sugary foods and drinks, such as sodas, between meals. The CDC also recommends that your child visit a dentist by the time he or she is 1 year of age. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/index.html
Quote of the Week
"By our readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim, by allowing our movie and television screens to teach our children that the hero is one who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing, by allowing all these developments, we have created an atmosphere in which violence and hatred have become popular pastimes." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., November 1963
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress