Ensuring the Safety of Our Children
Dear Friend,
This week, I introduced a bill to create federal grants for seat belts on school buses, hailed the Senate’s passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, participated in a forum on potential changes to the Electoral College, renewed my call for the Memphis VA Medical Center to hire a permanent director, passed a bill to ensure swift search and rescue response during disasters, praised the House for passing a bill to protect consumers from online ticket scalpers, commended the Army Corps of Engineers for their decision to seek an alternative route for the Dakota Access Pipeline, and attended the White House Christmas Party. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Ensuring the Safety of Our Children
Two Minute Speech, Two New York Times Stories, Two Quotes, Too Honored
Abolishing the Electoral College
Working to Hire a Permanent Director for the Memphis VA Medical Center
Passing the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act
Protecting Consumers Online Ticket Scalpers
Fighting for a Cleaner Environment
Attending the White House Christmas Party
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
Weekly Health Tip
2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
Ensuring the Safety of Our Children
In the wake of the tragic crash in Chattanooga, I introduced a bill on Wednesday that would create grants to purchase new school buses with lap/shoulder seat belts or equip existing ones with such belts, require background checks for school bus drivers and other measures to ensure the safety of our children riding on school buses. Read more about my bill here.
Two Minute Speech, Two New York Times Stories, Two Quotes, Too Honored
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which included our EUREKA Act to help encourage innovative solutions for fighting awful diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The bill will now go to President Obama’s desk for his signature. I was honored to be quoted in the New York Times twice this week from my floor speech regarding 21st Century Cures Act. You can read those articles here and here. You can watch my remarks on the House floor here and read more about my work on this bill here.
Abolishing the Electoral College
On Tuesday, I heard from experts and scholars on potential reforms to the electoral college at the Electoral College Forum hosted by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. Last week, I introduced a constitutional amendment to abolish the electoral college and provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President. You can read more about the forum and my amendment here. You can watch my remarks at the forum here.
Working to Hire a Permanent Director for the Memphis VA Medical Center
On Wednesday, it was announced that the Memphis VA Medical Center received a 1-out-of-5-star rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. When I first learned of this poor rating in November, I wrote to VA Secretary Robert McDonald and Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin expressing concerns about the hospital and urging them to use recruitment rewards and incentives to get the very best director for the Memphis VA Medical Center. Read more about my work on this issue here.
Passing the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act
On Thursday, I was pleased that the House followed the Senate’s lead and passed the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act to codify specialized teams of police officers, firefighters and other first responders who provide swift search and rescue services when disaster strikes. I first worked on this issue when I arrived in Congress in 2007 when I introduced this bill in the 111th Congress. Tennesseans know the importance of Urban Search and Rescue teams now more than ever after the tragic fires in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains, a treasure of our state. Police officers, firefighters and other first responders put their lives on the line to carry out these heroic, life-saving activities. Read about my work on this effort here. Watch my remarks on the House floor in support of this bill here.
Protecting Consumers Online Ticket Scalpers
On Thursday, the House passed a final version of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act to outlaw bots and other computer programs used by scalpers to scoop up the best tickets for sporting events, concerts, etc. and resell them for inflated prices. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill to protect consumers and look forward to the President signing this important bill into law.
Fighting for a Cleaner Environment
On Monday, I was pleased the Army Corps of Engineers decided it would seek an alternative route for the Dakota Access Pipeline. Read my statement on the decision here.
Attending the White House Christmas Party
On Thursday, I attended the White House Christmas Party. The party was a bipartisan way to finish out the 114th Congress. It has been an honor working with President Obama over the past 8 years. It saddens me that this was President and Mrs. Obama’s last party at the White House for members of Congress.
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
The United States Department of Agriculture is seeking applications for grants to increase purchases of healthy fruits and vegetables by low-income families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The federal funding will be awarded to eligible nonprofits and governmental organizations that demonstrate a successful track record of nutrition programs and develop innovative systems that can be replicated by other underserved communities. The deadline to apply is December 12. For more information on this grant program, click here.
Each week, I will be suggesting a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9th Congressional District. As always, it’s best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.
Having quality, affordable health insurance is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. The open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace for 2017 plan shopping and comparison is open. The deadline to sign up is January 31, 2017. Visit my website for more information on getting covered for 2017.
2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
My office currently has a limited number of 2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s Ninth District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the Ninth District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress