Voting to Bring Major Federal Spending Projects to Memphis
Dear Friend,
This week, I voted on two major annual federal spending bills that include all of my sponsored community projects for the 9th Congressional District. I also spoke out forcefully against the continuing Russian incursion in Ukraine and called for a Russian oil ban, which has now been enacted; called attention to the $350 billion dollars set aside in the American Rescue Plan to help communities bolster their police departments and community policing programs; and offered a health tip. Keep reading follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens.
Voting to Bring Major Federal Spending Projects to Memphis
Continuing to Defend the Independence of Ukraine
Calling Attention to Police Funding in American Rescue Plan
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Voting to Bring Major Federal Spending Projects to Memphis
On Wednesday night, I voted for annual federal spending bills which will tackle our nation's most pressing needs and bring huge benefits to Memphis. The bills include significant investments in education, health care, climate resilience and jobs as well as well as raises for our men and women in uniform and billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. I also successfully brought home $11.7 million in funding for community projects in Memphis that I requested through the appropriations process. See more information on these projects and what else is in the spending bills here.
Continuing to Defend the Independence of Ukraine
On Sunday morning, I was interviewed by CNN's Kaitlin Collins about the situation in Ukraine and the call I participated in the previous day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. I said I supported a Russian oil ban and would support Zelensky's proposed no-fly zone if the Biden Administration agreed to it. I also brought up the horrific slaughter of civilians by Putin's armies which is a human rights violation and must stop. See that interview here. On Monday, I wrote to President Biden urging him to ban Russian oil and energy sales, which the President did on Tuesday. I also called attention to additional Russian oligarchs that the Administration should sanction including Roman Abramovich. Also Monday, I cosponsored the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act. On Tuesday, I spoke out about Putin's war at a hearing of the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights. On Wednesday night, as part of the appropriations process, the House voted, with my support, to send Ukraine $13.6 billion in aid and, separately, voted to ban oil and gas sales from Russia. See my release on that development here. On Friday, I spoke at the extraordinary session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly about the Russian invasion. See those remarks here.
Calling Attention to Police Funding in American Rescue Plan
On Tuesday, as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, I questioned expert witnesses about addressing crime during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. I noted that the American Rescue Plan set aside $350 billion for communities to bolster their police departments and violence prevention efforts, funding that not a single Republican voted to support. See my release on the hearing here.
Weekly Health Tip
It is still important to get tested for Covid-19 before participating in events in large crowds or among strangers in enclosed spaces. The White House is making free tests available. For more information on the free tests, see the White House announcement here. The White House also has some bold initiatives for testing for and treating positive Covid-19 cases on the spot in many retail pharmacies.
Quote of the Week
"We will not forgive the destroyed houses. We will not forgive the missile that our air defense shot down over Okhmatdyt today. And more than five hundred other such missiles that hit our land. We will not forgive the shooting of unarmed people. Destruction of our infrastructure. Hundreds and hundreds of victims. Thousands and thousands of sufferings. And God will not forgive. Not today. Not tomorrow. Never. And instead of Forgiveness, there will be a Day of Judgment." -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in video address to his people on Sunday.
Like you, I am eager to see the NCAA brackets on Sunday. Go Tigers!
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress