Urging Weekend Elections To Improve Voter Participation, and Make Democracy Work
Dear Friend,
This week, I joined colleagues in urging passage of a bill calling for legislation to move federal elections to weekends to increase voter participation, reminded constituents that open enrollment for Healthcare.gov is under way, asked tax-writing committee leaders to reconsider eliminating Historic Preservation tax credits, asked the FCC to abandon proposed changes harmful to the Lifeline program, demanded to know why the Air Force failed to send the criminal record of the Texas mass shooter to the authorities that could have prevented his assault gun purchase, and hosted my 9th annual Veterans Day event to honor veterans. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me onTwitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Urging Weekend Elections To Improve Voter Participation, and Make Democracy Work Better
Getting Word Out On Open Enrollment for Healthcare.gov
Explaining What the Proposed GOP Tax Plan Really Does
Demanding To Know Why Air Force Didn't Comply With Background Check Requirement for Texas Shooter
Urging Tax-Writing Committee to Retain Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Objecting To Proposed Changes In the Lifeline Program
9th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach
Quote of the Week
Weekly Health Tip
Urging Weekend Elections To Improve Voter Participation, and Make Democracy Work Better
On Tuesday, I joined Martin Luther King III and Congressional colleagues representing districts from around the country, as well as Martin Luther King III, to promote the Weekend Voting Act.
Making voting days convenient for more citizens is the right thing to do. We need to do everything we can to increase voter participation, truly make democracy work and to make it a beacon for the rest of the world.
Those who don't vote, especially hard-working hourly workers, often cite their inability to get away on a Tuesday, or having to wait hours during the work week, as reasons for not exercising their precious right to make their policy and candidate preferences known.
The Weekend Voting Act would move Election Day to the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November in every even year for elections of Representatives to Congress, and in every fourth year for the election of President and Vice President. It would make it easier and more convenient for all Americans to exercise their right to vote, helping to reduce long lines at the polls and increasing voter participation.
The tradition of holding federal elections on the first Tuesday of November is an outdated requirement that began with an act of Congress in 1845. Tuesday was selected for its comparative convenience because it was a designated "court day" and the day in which land-owning voters would typically be in town to conduct business. The tradition was based on the then-agrarian American society.
Getting Word Out On Open Enrollment for Healthcare.gov
Open Enrollment for health care began on November 1st and will run through December 15th. I have been trying to find every way possible, including public service announcements on radio, to make my constituents aware that the reduced time period for enrolling for 2018 health care through Healthcare.gov ("The Affordable Care Act") is under way. This year's open enrollment is six weeks shorter than last year's. December 15 is the last day to sign up.
The Affordable Care Act has led to demonstrable improvements in health outcomes and news reports indicate enrollment is soaring. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has tried to undermine the program by slashing funding for marketing and public awareness as well as funding for "navigators" to help people with the process. For more information see Healthcare.gov.
Explaining What the Proposed GOP Tax Plan Really Does
At a hearing of the Ways and Means Committee on Monday, my colleague, Congresswoman Susan DelBene of Washington state, asked Thomas Barthold, chief of staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, some basic questions about how differently her constituents would be treated compared to corporations if the GOP tax plan were to become law. See the exchange here.
The shorthand answers:
Under the Republican plan, corporations are still allowed to deduct state and local taxes. Workers are not.
Corporations are still allowed to deduct business expenses. Teachers are not.
Corporations are still allowed to deduct more than $10,000 in property taxes. Homeowners are not.
Corporations are still allowed to deduct moving expenses. Families are not.
Demanding To Know Why Air Force Didn't Comply With Background Check Requirement for Texas Shooter
With another horrific example of gun violence in the news -- this time Sunday's church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas -- I joined colleagues in demanding to know why the Air Force failed to submit the shooter's criminal conviction record to the National Crime Information Center database.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis, I joined my colleagues in asking for him to lay out plans to ensure that all relevant records of people forbidden to purchase firearms are flagged in a timely matter. See the letter here.
Urging Tax-Writing Committee to Retain Historic Preservation Tax Credits
On Wednesday, I wrote a letter to leaders of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee asking them to reconsider ending the Historic Preservation Tax Credit as part of the GOP tax cut plan.
Citing a recent article in The Memphis Commercial Appeal, I noted the many historic buildings in Memphis, across Tennessee, and around the country continue to exist today because of the credit. See the text of my letter here.
Objecting To Proposed Changes In the Lifeline Program
Also Wednesday, I joined colleagues in writing to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai objecting to proposals to place caps on the $9.25 monthly Lifeline subsidy that allows 12 million low-income Americans to have phone and internet services.
I was concerned to learn of proposals that would cap benefits, eviscerating the Lifeline program and leave many of the most vulnerable people in the country without access to affordable communications.
I will closely monitor this situation until a reasonable resolution is found.
9th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon
On Friday, I hosted my 9th annual Veterans Day event to honor our veterans in Memphis. I discussed my work as your Representative in Washington, D.C., to help improve the lives of veterans, including my support of programs that assist our veterans who are homeless or who are on the verge of homelessness.
Thanks to all who joined us, and to all those who have served our country in the armed forces.
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are 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.
Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach
On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should be aware of precautionary measures that can help ensure their financial security.
If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) has published a helpful guide, which you can findhere, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach.
If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at/contact/email.
"So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind — it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact — I can only submit to the edict of others." – Rev. Dr. Marin Luther King Jr., "Give Us the Ballot," 1957.
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.
Every 21 seconds, an American is diagnosed with diabetes. As a member of the Diabetes Caucus in Congress, I urge my constituents to be aware of this health threat and to get assistance, as needed, in prevention and management during November's American Diabetes Month.
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress