Voting to Strengthen Gun Background Checks
March 1, 2019 | |
Dear Friend, Voting to Strengthen Gun Background Checks Voting to Strengthen Gun Background Checks This week, on Wednesday and Thursday, I voted for and the House passed the first significant gun violence prevention bills in more than eight years. These bills, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act, will help keep guns out of the wrong hands. See my releases about these votes here and here. Chairing a Hearing on the President's National Emergency
Cosponsoring a Bill to Stop Voter "Caging" Voter caging is an unfair scheme that makes use of the U.S. Mail to disqualify eligible voters, and should be outlawed. Specifically it involves the sending of non-forwardable mail to the addresses of registered voters and then challenging registrations when the mail comes back as undeliverable. This tactic has often targeted minority voters, and I believe it needs to end. I proudly cosponsored Florida Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's bill this week that would do just that. Introducing Horse Transportation Safety Act On Wednesday, Representatives Peter King of New York, Dina Titus of Nevada and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania joined me in introducing the Horse Transportation Safety Act, a measure to ensure the safe and humane treatment of horses on roads and highways by ending the exploitation of a regulatory loophole designed to ban transport of horses in double-deck trailers. See my release about the measure here. Meeting with XPO Logistics Regarding Recent Memphis Layoffs Also on Wednesday, I met with officials from XPO Logistics about changes in the company's policy regarding pregnant employees and about the company's promise to rehire hourly employees affected by the closure of the Memphis warehouse. This meeting followed a letter that Representative Rosa DeLauro and I sent the company demanding answers about those policy changes. See my releases here and here. Announcing $6.5 Million Cancer Support Grant to St. Jude On Tuesday, I announced that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be receiving a Cancer Support Center grant of $6,533,713 from the National Cancer Institute. See my release on the grant here. Announcing National Science Foundation Research Grant
On Wednesday, I announced that the National Science Foundation has awarded a $252,934 grant to the University of Memphis for a multidisciplinary program for undergraduates in the Physics and Material Sciences program. The grant underwrites a summer program in which students will be immersed in research-intensive activities. Preparing students in all areas of science, technology, engineering and math – the STEM disciplines – is always a good investment. I applaud the National Science Foundation and the University of Memphis for their collaboration. Speaking at Judge Russell Sugarmon's Funeral On Tuesday, I spoke at the funeral of my friend and mentor, Russell Sugarmon, at Metropolitan Baptist Church. Judge Sugarmon's memory will soon be honored with a Post Office named for him on Autumn Avenue after a bill I introduced became law last year. The city, the state and the country have lost a national hero who led an exemplary life. He will be missed. Asking Governor Lee to Remove Bust of Forrest from the State Capitol Last week, I wrote a second letter to Governor Bill Lee asking him to remove the bust of Confederate General and Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest from the State Capitol. I released the letter on Monday and will continue to work to have this statue, which is offensive to most Tennesseans and particularly to African Americans, relocated. See my letters on the subject here. Speaking at American University's Kennedy Political Union
On Thursday night, I was honored to speak at the Kennedy Political Union, a non-partisan, student-run speakers bureau, and the students in American University's Department of Communication. I was reminded of President John F. Kennedy's prophetic 1963 commencement address at the university which contained the immortal words "in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet." Professor Jane Hall asked me about my role on the Judiciary Committee, being in Congress during the Trump era and my thoughts about the new freshman class. I also took questions from some very bright students about climate change and private student debt and my bill to permit it to be discharged in bankruptcy. Reminding Constituents of April 15th Tax-Filing Deadline The April 15th deadline for filing federal tax returns is fast approaching. I would point out that taxpayers earning $66,000 or less last year are eligible to file their tax returns online for free through the Free File Program on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website here. Signing 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 notification as soon as the next event is scheduled.
March is National Sleep Awareness Month and next week is National Sleep Awareness Week. The way you feel while you're awake depends in part on what happens while you're sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development. See the National Institutes of Health's guidance about needed sleep and sleep deprivation here. Quote of the Week
"So, let us not be blind to our differences--but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal." – President John F. Kennedy, "Strategy of Peace" Commencement Address at American University, June 10, 1963. As always, I remain
Steve Cohen |
