Voting to Advance the Equal Rights Amendment
March 19, 2021 |
Dear Friend, This week, I returned to Washington to speak in favor of and vote to advance the 28th Amendment to the Constitution: the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equal rights to all Americans regardless of sex . I also voted to reauthorize the Violence and Against Women Act. I was pleased to be able to introduce FedEx CEO and Chairman Fred Smith when he appeared before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to testify about businesses like his that are dedicated to environmental sustainability. I presided at a hearing on discrimination and violence against Asian Americans less than two days after the murder of six women of Asian descent in the suburbs of Atlanta. I also congratulated Commercial Appeal music writer Bob Mehr for winning a prestigious Grammy Award. Earlier this week, I led a letter with 113 other members of Congress asking Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to publish a Trump Administration-delayed rule protecting horses against the intentional injury to their feet and legs known as "soring." I was pleased to inform my friends and constituents that the annual federal income tax filing deadline has been extended from the traditional April 15 to May 17. I also announced four major research grants to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and offered a weekly health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens. Voting to Advance the Equal Rights Amendment Introducing FedEx CEO Fred Smith at Hearing on the Business Case for Climate Solutions Presiding at a Hearing on Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans Congratulating The Commercial Appeal's Bob Mehr Asking Agriculture Department to End Horse "Soring" Informing Everyone of Extension of Tax-Filing Deadline to May 17 Announcing Major Research Grants to UTHSC Voting to Advance the Equal Rights Amendment I returned to Washington to speak on Wednesday from the House floor in support of removing an artificial deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. I am proud of my vote in favor of this measure, which would advance equal rights for women in the United States Constitution as the 28th Amendment. I also voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. See my release on these issues here. Introducing FedEx CEO Fred Smith at Hearing on the Business Case for Climate Solutions FedEx CEO and Chairman Fred Smith appeared as a witness before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday to testify about the company's commitment to sustainability. I was pleased to introduce him and highlight what FedEx has done to improve our community. I also asked him several questions about truck safety and drone deliveries. See my release on the hearing here. Presiding at a Hearing on Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans Less than 48 hours after the murder of eight people, including six Asian American women, by a man in Georgia, I presided at a hearing of my subcommittee on discrimination and violence against Asian Americans. See my release, including my opening statement and questions to witnesses here. See the colloquy I had with Congressman Chip Roy of Texas here. On Thursday, I spoke from the House floor in favor of the American Dream and Promise Act which would provide a pathway to citizenship for talented young people who are Americans in every way but their legal status. I later proudly voted for the measure. See my speech and my release on the vote here. Congratulating The Commercial Appeal's Bob Mehr The Commercial Appeal's longtime music writer Bob Mehr was honored this week with the Recording Academy's Grammy Award for Album Notes for his work on The Replacement's "Dead Man's Pop." New Orleans-based Memphis Grammy Chapter members also won: Bobby Rush for Best Traditional Blues Album; P.J. Morton for Best Gospel Album; and the New Orleans Nightcrawlers for Best Regional Roots Album. Congratulations to them all for this prestigious international recognition. Asking Agriculture Department to End Horse "Soring" On Tuesday, I led my colleagues Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Vern Buchanan of Florida, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania in sending a letter with more than 100 bipartisan Members of Congress asking Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to publish a rule to prevent the intentional harming of horses known as "soring." The Obama Administration was days from publishing the popular rule in 2017 before leaving office and it was later withdrawn by the Trump Administration. See my release and the letter here. Informing Everyone of Extension of Tax-Filing Deadline to May 17 In case you didn't hear, let me be the bearer of good news: the federal income tax filing deadline for individual filers has been extended from the traditional April 15 date to May 17. See more information here. Announcing Major Research Grants to UTHSC On Wednesday, I announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive two grants totaling more than $1 million for anti-fungal research. See that release here. On Friday, I announced the medical school will receive two additional NIH research grants for $808,839. See that release here. With more than 115 million shots administered in the United States, we're moving to meet President Biden's goal to make vaccines available to all Americans by May. Please make every effort to get your vaccination when you become eligible. Because there are concerns about virus variants and we're still a ways away from establishing herd immunity, we must remain vigilant and follow public health protocols involving washing hands, wearing masks and keeping our distance. I know we're all eager to get the vaccine, so check here to see when you will be eligible. To make an appointment through the City of Memphis, click here or call (901) 222-SHOT (222-7468). "Eleanor Roosevelt, who shaped the Universal Declaration on Human Rights once said, ‘Without equality, there can be no democracy.' In other words, the status of women is the status of democracy. For our part, the United States will work to improve both." -- Vice President Kamala Harris in a speech Tuesday to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |
