Voting to Advance the Equal Rights Amendment

Dear Friend, 

This week, I voted to advance a bill allowing full ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. I also called attention to the December 15 deadline for open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance; hosted my 11th annual Veterans Day event; introduced the Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act; took steps to reinstate the Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus; questioned Amtrak’s CEO about his commitment to customer service; offered Capitol Historical Society calendars; and made my weekly health tip. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see more updates as they happen.  

Voting to Advance the Equal Rights Amendment 
Calling Attention to Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act Health Coverage  
Hosting 11th Annual Veterans Day Celebration 
Introducing Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act 
Planning to Reinstate Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus 
Questioning Amtrak CEO’s Commitment to Customer Service 
Offering 2020 U.S. Historical Society Calendars  
Weekly Health Tip 
Quote of the Week 

Voting to Advance the Equal Rights Amendment 

On Wednesday, I voted in the House Judiciary Committee to advance a measure eliminating the ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the House floor. The amendment would enshrine in our Constitution that all American citizens are equal under the law regardless of gender. In my opening statement, I said the fundamental guarantee of equality should be welcomed, not feared. See my release and the full statement here. 
  
Calling Attention to Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act Health Coverage  

Open Enrollment for 2020 Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance coverage began on November 1 and ends December 15, which is closer than you might think. The Trump Administration reduced the open enrollment period by six weeks after taking office and is keeping that limited window of opportunity again this year. I have scheduled a “Congress On Your Corner” for Friday, November 22, at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue, so that my District Office staff and an ACA “navigator” can help with the process, as well as with questions about other federal agencies and programs. See more details about the upcoming Congress on Your Corner here and check out HealthCare.gov to see what your coverage options are for 2020.   
  
Hosting 11th Annual Veterans Day Celebration 

 
On Veterans Day, I celebrated at the Kroc Center, joined by the Trezevant High School Junior ROTC Color Guard; hundreds of Mid-South veterans and guests Captain Alonza J. Ross, commander, Naval Support Activity Mid-South; Terrell Owens, chief of police, VA  Medical Center; David K. Dunning, director, Memphis VA Medical Center; and Dr. Michael C. Ellis Sr., Office of Community Engagement and Outreach Division of Community Services. See my release about the event here. 

Introducing Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act 

On Tuesday, I introduced the Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act with Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon. The bill would prohibit debt collectors from attempting to collect from consumers after the statute of limitations has expired. See my release on the bill here.  

Planning to Reinstate Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus 

On Wednesday, I filed the necessary paperwork with the Committee on House Administration to reinstate the Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus. In the wake of recent NCAA eligibility issues, like the one involving James Wiseman at the University of Memphis, and sexual abuse coverups, and calls for student athletes to benefit financially from their success, it’s clear that issues involving college sports will come before Congress. See my release on the Caucus here. 

Questioning Amtrak CEO’s Commitment to Customer Service 

More than 11 years ago, then-Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson testified before the House Judiciary Committee and, under questioning by me, promised that Memphis International Airport would retain its hub status and that our non-stop flight to Amsterdam would continue. I was skeptical at the time and was, unfortunately, proven right when neither promise was kept. So when Anderson, now CEO of Amtrak, came before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Wednesday, I told him frankly that I doubted his commitment to customer service and disagreed with his decision to do away with Amtrak’s traditional dining service. See my release and the exchange with Anderson here.

Offering 2020 U.S. Historical Society Calendars  

My office will have a limited number of 2020 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 Ninth District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the Ninth District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my e-Newsletter.    
  
Sign Up for “Congress on Your Corner” and this e-Newsletter     

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 a notification as soon as the next event is scheduled. My next Congress on Your Corner will be next Friday, November 22, at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Those who want more information or assistance during open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance are encouraged to attend.  
  
For those who haven’t participated in a telephone town hall, it’s easy to sign up for them by using this form.    
   
If you would like to receive this weekly e-Newsletter, or share it with others, you can do that with this form.   
  
Weekly Health Tip  

  
November is National Healthy Skin Month, calling attention to the 3,000+ skin diseases treated by dermatologists. Effective treatments for skin disease and other ailments are often delayed due to burdensome insurance requirements like step therapy. I am a cosponsor of the Safe Step Act (H.R. 2279) to assure that doctors are able to prescribe patients the best treatments. See the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases guidance on skin diseases – and how to avoid them – here.  
  
Quote of the Week 

“To withhold that assistance for no good reason other than help with a political campaign made no sense. It was counterproductive to all of what we had been trying to do. It was illogical. It could not be explained. It was crazy.” – William B. Taylor Jr., the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, testifying in the impeachment inquiry Wednesday about $391 million in military aid withheld from that country.  
  
As always, I remain
Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress