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Welcoming Memphians to my Capitol Hill Office in Washington

July 18, 2014
Enewsletters

Dear Friend,

My thoughts, prayers, and condolences are with the victims of yesterday’s Malaysia Airlines tragedy as well as with their families, friends, and loved ones. We must now investigate and determine the facts of this tragic event and hold accountable those responsible.

This week was busy as I was invited to the White House to speak with President Obama about several issues including a potential visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, I joined Secretary of State John Kerry for a briefing on the situation in Israel and the Middle East, the House finally passed a short-term highway funding bill that will help create jobs in the Mid-South, and I worked with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on a path forward for restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act. Keep reading to get all the details and to read about even more that happened this week.

Welcoming Memphians to my Capitol Hill Office in Washington
Promoting Memphis to President Obama
Protecting Firefighter& Police Officer Pensions
Cracking Down on Excessive and Predatory Interest Rates and Fees
Putting the Middle Class First
Working for Peace in the Middle East
Fighting to Protect the Right to Vote for All Americans
Serving the Memphis Public Library
Bringing Justice to Deserving Non-Violent Offenders
Keeping Our Infrastructure Safe
Recruiting More Teachers for Memphis
Pushing for Women’s Rights
Calling on Congress to Respect DC’s Autonomy
Facebook Photo Contest
President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People
Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property

Welcoming Memphians to my Capitol Hill Office in Washington

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Ever since I first arrived in Congress, I have made every effort to make my Capitol Hill office as welcoming as can be to the citizens of the Ninth District. This week, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet with Reverend Melvin Wade and his wife Geraldine, Melanie Wade and Ryan Simpson as well Ryan Simpson, Jr. and in the Capitol building.

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I also enjoyed seeing Pastor Sam Mickens and his wife during his visit to our nation’s capital, as well as Reverend Rickey Dugger, Sr. and his wife Patsy with Cedric and Mary Banks on their visit.

Promoting Memphis to President Obama

Wednesday evening, I had the opportunity to speak with President Obama at the White House and took advantage of the chance to bring up several Memphis priorities. With Republicans focused on Benghazi conspiracy theories and wasting taxpayer dollars on a frivolous lawsuit against the President, President Obama told me that when he goes around the country, no one mentions those issues—but the people do talk about passing a jobs bill, increasing the minimum wage, and helping make college more affordable for our young people and their families. These are all goals that I am working to achieve in Congress. The President and I also agreed that we need a long-term highway funding bill to ensure our nation’s infrastructure is well-maintained and safe as well as to create good paying jobs right here in our city and throughout the country.

I urged the President to make broader use of his clemency powers to issue pardons and commutations for incarcerated Americans who are serving sentences that are longer than they would have to serve if sentenced under current law, and of course I told him how pleased the National Civil Rights Museum was to receive his letter celebrating its grand re-opening and they will display it prominently in the museum. I also mentioned that he should come see it in person, and I was pleased when he said that he would and that he would bring his daughters. I look forward to welcoming him to Memphis.

Protecting Firefighter& Police Officer Pensions

This week, I cosponsored a bill with Congressman John Conyers that would help protect the pensions and benefits of public service employees—including firefighters and police officers. Our legislation would impose higher standards that local governments must meet before modifying collective bargaining agreements or retiree benefits as well as provide several other protections for retirees and public employees in municipal bankruptcies.

We should keep our promises to firefighters, police officers, and all citizens who have devoted their lives to serving their communities. They worked hard to protect us, and they have earned the benefits they were promised. I am pleased to join Congressman Conyers on this important legislation that will strengthen protections for our first responders and all public servants.

Cracking Down on Excessive and Predatory Interest Rates and Fees

Throughout my career, I have always worked to shield people from those who would take advantage of them through predatory lending practices. Predatory lenders wreck people’s lives and perpetuate a cycle of indebtedness. Justice and morality dictate that reasonable caps on interest be enacted to protect borrowers from devious lenders.

That is why yesterday, Congressman Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania and I introduced the “Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act.” Our legislation would cap fees and interest rates that predatory lenders charge on payday loans and other consumer credit products like tax refund anticipation loans, which can sometimes reach 300%. The bill would limit interest rates and fees at 36% for all consumer credit transactions, the same rate cap that is already protecting military personnel and their families.

Putting the Middle Class First

This week, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi unveiled the House Democrats’ new “Middle Class Jumpstart” action plan. Our new plan, introduced the same day that Republicans gathered to consider a frivolous lawsuit against President Obama at taxpayer expense, outlines a better vision for our nation that will raise new ladders of opportunity for all families and reignite the American Dream.

I am proud to stand behind our new action plan to put middle class families first, create good-paying jobs, help women succeed, and make college more affordable. Instead of focusing on further stacking the deck in favor of corporations and the ultra-wealthy, it is time for Congress to turn its attention to what really matters: helping middle class families. I will continue working with members of both parties on real solutions that put families in Memphis and across the country above special interests. I hope my colleagues across the aisle join us to jumpstart the middle class.

Working for Peace in the Middle East

In addition to speaking with the President this week, yesterday morning I met with Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department for a briefing on Israeli-Palestinian relations. We agreed that the only way to achieve sustained peace is a two-state solution. Our discussion also included an update on Iranian nuclear capabilities as well as the situation in Syria and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

I recalled during our conversation that after President Reagan’s controversial visit to the Bitburg Military Cemetery in Germany, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, reflecting upon many horrific human rights abuses at the time said “we must continue, for if not, despair will not be the question, but will be the answer—and despair is never the answer.” The Secretary was buoyed to hear the quote which I offered to help him in times when he might look towards despair, and he exclaimed that Mr. Wiesel was a constituent of his when he served in the U.S. Senate and that he admired the human rights activist greatly.

Fighting to Protect the Right to Vote for All Americans

On Tuesday, as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, I met with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and several other Members of Congress to plan a path forward to restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act that were struck down by the Supreme Court last year. Chief Justice John Roberts was wrong when he said the Voting Rights Act is no longer needed. In the past, people have been beaten or even killed in the struggle to ensure the right to vote was available to all Americans. But we are still seeing efforts to curtail this constitutional right throughout the country, and it is clear that the law’s protections are still critical in the fight against discrimination.

I have cosponsored the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 to restore critical voting rights protections for all Americans, but sadly very few Republicans have signed on in support of the bill. Every Congressperson should support the Voting Rights Amendment Act to renew these protections that safeguard our democracy. It is nearly impossible to find a Republican to support the bill. It seems that most Republicans who could be persuaded have already signed onto the bill, but I will continue to make the effort to find others. The Supreme Court told us we need to modernize the Voting Rights Act, and we should not wait another day to do that. It’s time to pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act to ensure that the sacred right to vote is not denied to any American.

Serving the Memphis Public Library

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I am pleased that on Sunday, I was awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Memphis Public Library& Information Center for my volunteer service to the library. Libraries perform a valuable public service, providing access to information to all our citizens, and I am proud to lend my support to the Memphis Public Library.

Bringing Justice to Deserving Non-Violent Offenders

Throughout my career, I’ve fought for fairer sentencing laws and worked to eliminate racially-biased sentencing disparities. After years of advocating on behalf of Americans who are unfairly incarcerated, I am pleased that our nation’s policies are beginning to bend further towards justice.

While the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which I cosponsored and President Barack Obama signed into law, reduced the racially-biased 100:1 disparity between crack and powder cocaine mandatory minimum sentences, it did not apply retroactively to thousands of people who were sentenced before the law was passed who are still serving sentences that have been repudiated by Congress and the President.

Today, in an unanimous vote, the U.S. Sentencing Commission decided to retroactively apply its recently-updated sentencing guidelines across all drug categories to an estimated 46,000 non-violent drug offenders who have already been sentenced. Today’s shift to retroactively reduce sentences could reduce prison sentences for eligible offenders by an average 25 months, and it will help reduce prison overcrowding in America. I am glad the Sentencing Commission made the right choice today. It is another important step on the path towards justice.

Keeping Our Infrastructure Safe

This week, the House passed a short-term reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund that will help keep American workers on the job building the nation’s transportation network. While I supported the bill, we still need to pass a long-term bill to really kick-start our economy and create jobs in the Mid-South. A long-term bill will help provide the investment needed to keep our roads and bridges safe and ensure that our country can efficiently move freight from city to city. It is the only way to truly address our nation’s infrastructure deficiencies, and it will help us bring jobs back to our country and our city.

Recruiting More Teachers for Memphis

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On Wednesday, I enjoyed meeting a bright, young Memphis teacher named LeeAnn Allen, who recently completed her 2 year commitment with Teach for America. She enjoyed her experience during these last two years, and she has chosen to continue teaching at Power Center Academy. We need more talented individuals like LeeAnn in Memphis to educate our community’s children, and I am pleased that Teach for America is helping more people see what a rewarding career teaching can be.

Pushing for Women’s Rights

Nothing should come between a woman and her health care decisions. Unfortunately, last month’s Hobby Lobby Supreme Court decision puts an employer in that position. I agree with Justice Ginsburg’s dissent when she says that "workers who sustain the operations of [for-profit] corporations are not commonly drawn from one religious community." Because of this, employers should not be able to impose their own religious beliefs upon another individual. The employer should instead be a conduit for an employee to receive health insurance at a better rate than the employee might have otherwise received it. This week, I joined my Democratic colleagues in the House in an effort to force a vote on our “It’s Not My Boss’s Business” legislation to correct the Supreme Court’s misguided decision and ensure that no employee is denied access to important health care services because of their employer’s beliefs. I am disappointed that House Republicans blocked this effort.

Calling on Congress to Respect DC’s Autonomy

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On Monday, I spoke on the House floor against a Republican effort to prevent the people of the District of Columbia from creating their own laws and being autonomous from a gridlocked, partisan Congress, simply because a few conservative Republicans don’t like that DC has decriminalized marijuana. Their efforts smack of colonialism, and should stop. After my speech, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office, who represents the District in the House, reached out to thank me for standing up for the city. You can watch my speech here.

Facebook Photo Contest

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I’m updating my Facebook cover photo—and my next one could be a photo that you took! If you have a great photo that represents the Ninth District and you'd like to have it highlighted on my Facebook page, please click the link below to send it to me. I'll post the best photos sent in an album next week, and anyone who "likes" my page will be able to vote to choose which photo will be my next cover photo.

President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People

It is important that all children can count on caring adults who are engaged in their lives, but too many young people lack this important support. That’s why President Obama is calling on Americans to sign up as long-term mentors to young people through his new “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. The President is seeking people from all walks of life who want to develop sustained and direct mentoring relationships that will play vital roles in the lives of young people in Memphis and around the country. If you are interested in signing up to help young adults in our city stay on track, you can do so here.

Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property

The State of Tennessee maintains a searchable database of unclaimed property, which can include bank accounts, stocks and dividends, wages, refunds, insurance payments, gift certificates, credit balances and overpayments, and a number of other things. There is no cost for accessing the database, and you may find that you are owed money or property. If you have not searched the database yet or if you haven’t searched in a while, you can visit https://www.claimittn.gov and see for yourself whether the state is holding any property or assets for you. And you may pass this information along to your friends and family as well!

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
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Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

Issues:9th DistrictBudgetChildren and FamiliesEconomy and JobsHealth CareHomeland SecurityJudiciaryMemphisShelby CountyTennessee