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Urging the President to Talk with Special Counsel

May 25, 2018
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

This week, I joined colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to help bring the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign to a close by sitting down with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. I also spoke to advocates of the legal use of medical marijuana about my efforts to achieve reasonable treatment for cannabis in federal law; recognized the posthumous pardon of the first black heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson; applauded the advance of my bill to name the Autumn Avenue post office for Judge Russell Sugarmon; commended Governor Bill Haslam on ending the practice of housing juvenile pretrial detainees in adult prisons; offered a mental health tip; and celebrated my birthday. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.

Urging the President to Talk with Special Counsel
Speaking in Favor of Reasonable Laws on Marijuana Use
Recognizing the Posthumous Pardon of John Arthur "Jack" Johnson
Advancing Efforts to Name Post Office for Judge Russell Sugarmon
Advocating for Safer Roads
Commending Governor Haslam for Signing Safekeeping Reform Bill
Signing Up for "Congress On Your Corner" and this e-Newsletter
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week



Urging the President to Talk with Special Counsel

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On Thursday, I joined fellow members of the House Judiciary Committee minority in sending President Trump a letter urging him to sit down and answer questions pertaining to the Special Counsel's investigation of Russian interference in the 2106 presidential race. I also spoke at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol reminding the assembled reporters that Trump has called the possibility that the FBI used an informant in its investigation of his campaign "maybe the greatest scandal in modern political history." His bizarre antics and efforts to derail the investigation are indeed a major scandal but the FBI's use of investigative protocols to unearth wrongdoing is no scandal at all. Mueller has obtained 17 criminal indictments and five guilty pleas so the President's ongoing conspiracy theories about "witch hunt" don't stand. They are an effort to sow doubt about the press, the FBI, the special counsel and the Department of Justice but have no basis in fact and are harming our institutions and democracy itself. When the truth is suspect, democracy dies. I ended my remarks by quoting Bob Dylan, who shares my May 24 birthday, and his classic "The Times They Are A-Changin'."

Later on Thursday, I reprised the Dylan lyrics in a House floor speech. See it here.

Speaking in Favor of Reasonable Laws on Marijuana Use

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On Wednesday afternoon, I spoke on the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol to the Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, a gathering of groups advocating the legal medicinal use of marijuana. I have long been a champion of efforts to bring about more commonsense cannabis policy and reminded the crowd of my bill – the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act, H.R. 2920 – which would recognize state marijuana laws, provide access to medical marijuana and enable research on the medical properties of cannabis. This week I also cosponsored the Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act (H.R. 1823), that would allow for federal regulation and taxation of marijuana.

Recognizing the Posthumous Pardon of John Arthur "Jack" Johnson
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Shortly after cancelling the Summit Meeting with North Korea's dictator Thursday, President Trump – with "Rocky" actor Sylvester Stallone in tow -- extended a posthumous pardon to Jack Johnson, the first black boxing heavyweight champion. Johnson was the victim of a bigoted and racially motivated prosecution in 1913. I cosponsored a resolution last year (H. Con. Res. 31) that called for just this action. I'm pleased to see that some measure of the injustice has belatedly been addressed. For years I read about Jack Johnson and the way he was mistreated by the law. As a student of heavyweight boxing, I knew he was one of the greatest. And while it may not be a priority of this administration, his pardoning was appropriate. Jack Johnson titled his 1927 autobiography Jack Johnson Is A Dandy, and he certainly was – a great boxer and an amazing man.

Advancing Efforts to Name Post Office for Judge Russell Sugarmon

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Also Wednesday, the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee voted out favorably my bill (H.R. 5349) to name the post office on Autumn Avenue for pioneering Civil Rights advocate, lawyer, judge and my friend and mentor Russell Sugarmon. I look forward to the full House vote soon and a dedication ceremony in Memphis later this year.

Advocating for Safer Roads

On Tuesday, I joined my colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to ask trucking industry stakeholders, including the Truck Safety Coalition, about how we can reduce deaths caused by truck underrides. At the hearing, I raised the issue of a Memphis-area crash that, several years ago, killed the 33-year-old son of my constituents, Randy and Laurie Higginbotham. I urged my colleagues to support the bipartisan, bicameral bill I introduced, the Stop Underrides Act (H.R. 4622), that would mandate guardrails be placed on the sides and rear of all tractor trailers to prevent passenger vehicles from sliding under them.

Commending Governor Haslam for Signing Safekeeping Reform Bill

On Monday, I commended Governor Bill Haslam for signing a bill into law ending the practice of housing juvenile pretrial detainees in adult prison. The bill Governor Haslam signed will do away with the inhumane practice that came to public prominence in the 9th Congressional District earlier this month when the human rights group Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights paid the bail of a 16-year-old Memphis girl held in an adult prison 50 miles from her home and family for 40 days. I took the occasion once again to call on Congress to pass the No Money Bail Act (H.R. 1437) to help stop the practice of conditioning pretrial release on a defendant's ability to pay.

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 usingthis form.

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Weekly Health Tip

Each week, I share a health tip in the hope of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9thCongressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.

This week, The Washington Post highlighted a recent study by three scientists from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on rising rates of suicide, particularly in rural areas. I find such sobering reports troubling and encourage prompt attention to all warning signs of mental disease or distress.


Quote of the Week

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Bob Dylan at the Civil Rights March on Washington - August 28, 1963

"Come senators, congressmen,
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

– Bob Dylan, 1964.

As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,

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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress