Your Chance to See the Pope in Washington
Dear Friend,
This week, I’m offering Memphians a chance to see the Pope during his visit to Washington later this month, I met with a Cordova cancer survivor working to increase federal cancer research funding, announced Memphis was selected as Tennessee’s only winner of the Small Business Administration’s Startup in a Day competition, and I helped break ground on a new expansion of Methodist South Hospital’s Emergency Department. Keep reading to learn more or follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Your Chance to See the Pope in Washington
Fighting to End Cancer and Fund Research
Bringing Congress to your Corner
Getting Memphis Startups off the Ground
Breaking Ground on Methodist South Hospital’s Expansion
Helping Citizens Afford Utility Bills
Discussing Education Policy with the New SWCC President
Grants for Memphis
Your Chance to See the Pope in Washington
Don’t miss out on the chance to see Pope Francis’ speech to Congress in Washington, DC! Sign up here before 5pm today to enter my lottery for tickets to watch the speech on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.
Fighting to End Cancer and Fund Research
This afternoon, Cordova cancer survivor Lori Kuhuski visited my Memphis office with and Bert Fayne from the American Cancer Society’s Mid-South Division to discuss federal research initiatives and deliver a petition with the signatures of 300 Memphians urging increased cancer research funding. The petition is part of the “One Degree” initiative aimed at building a nationwide movement supporting cancer research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by highlighting that every American is just one degree away from someone with cancer.
The likelihood of any one of us dying from a terrorist attack or weapon fired by a rogue nation is very slim, but the odds of suffering from disease are much more likely. One in two men and one in three women in this country will suffer from cancer at some point in their lives and there is a wide racial disparity in breast cancer outcomes in Memphis. While we more than adequately fund the Department of Defense, Congress has significantly cut funding for the NIH and for biomedical research, preventing critically important research for cures and treatments for cancer and other diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, stroke, heart disease, and Parkinson’s. I was pleased to see Lori today, was happy to accept her petition, and will continue to work in Congress to increase funding for critical medical research.
Bringing Congress to your Corner
On Friday, September 11th, from 10am to 1pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library. If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.
Getting Memphis Startups off the Ground
Fast growing start-up companies are no longer unique to locales like Silicon Valley in California. In cities across the nation, including Memphis, industries ranging from retail and healthcare to entertainment and education are being reshaped by entrepreneurs. We have to do everything we can to help them get off the ground and grow. On Wednesday, I was pleased to be on hand to help announce that the Small Business Administration selected Memphis as one of their Startup in a Day competition winners (the only winner in Tennessee) for our city’s work to help innovative startups succeed in the Mid-South.
Breaking Ground on Methodist South Hospital’s Expansion
I was pleased to participate in Tuesday’s groundbreaking of the $8.75 million expansion of Methodist South Hospital’s Emergency Department, which will add more than 12,000 square feet, more comfortable waiting areas, a better registration desk, and larger patient rooms to the facility. I’m looking forward to the newly-expanded Emergency Department opening.
Helping Citizens Afford Utility Bills
Federal funding helped more than 27,500 Shelby County households pay their utility bills last year, and this year the Shelby County Government is making the process simpler for low-income families to apply for help. Citizens of Shelby County who need assistance paying their utility bills can call (901) 222-4280 to schedule an appointment at the Community Services Agency at 3772 S. Hickory Ridge Mall, near Winchester at Hickory Hill. You must bring to your appointment Social Security cards and proof of income for all household members, a recent utility bill, as well as a photo ID.
Discussing Education Policy with the New SWCC President
I enjoyed meeting yesterday with the new President of Southwest Tennessee Community College, Dr. Tracy Hall, and discussing education issues. I will continue fighting in Congress to make college more affordable for students and their families.
Earlier this week, I announced more than $780,000 in federal funding for research at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Read more about the grants here.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress