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Dear Friend,
This week, I managed the floor debate and voted to pass my bankruptcy relief bill for members of the National Guard and reservists. It has now passed the Senate and is on its way to the president to be signed into law. I also reminded constituents that today is the deadline for signing up for Affordable Care Act plans if they want coverage to begin or resume on January 1, advocated for a new Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River, recommended veterans get screened for diseases caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, again advocated for the removal of former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s name from the current and future headquarters buildings, announced a grant for coordinating treatment of sickle cell disease, wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson requesting accommodations be made for Members to attend a White House Hanukkah reception, wrote to Airlines for America about the recent video of American Airlines employees’ mistreatment of a passenger’s wheelchair, offered U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2024 calendars, and offered some holiday-related health tips. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Passing My National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act
Reminding Constituents of Today’s Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Deadline
Advocating for a New Interstate 55 River Bridge with Department of Transportation Administrators
Recommending Veterans Be Screened for Exposure to Toxic Substances
Urging Removal of Hoover Name from FBI Headquarters
Announcing Grant for Treating Sickle Cell Disease
Requesting Speaker Johnson Extend a Courtesy to Jewish Members of Congress
Writing to Airlines for America about Misuse of Wheelchairs
Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2024 Calendars
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Passing My National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act
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On Monday, I managed the floor debate on my bill to extend for another four years the exemption for certain members of the National Guard and reservists of a means test under the bankruptcy code. I first introduced this exemption provision in 2008 and led efforts to extend it in 2015 and 2019, and I am pleased that the House of Representatives passed this latest extension. On Thursday evening, the Senate also passed my bill, and it is now on its way to the president to be signed into law. Once enacted, it will be only the fourth Democrat-led bill from the Republican-controlled House to become law this year. See my release and my floor speech here and my statement on the Senate action here.
Reminding Constituents of Today’s Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Deadline
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Today is the deadline for open enrollment in Affordable Care Act health plans for residents of Tennessee who want coverage to begin on January 1, 2024. To apply, re-enroll or change plans, see detailed information here.
Advocating a New Interstate 55 River Bridge with Department of Transportation Administrators
The Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing Wednesday on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which I alone among the current Tennessee Congressional delegation supported and which became law in late 2021. The law has made significant investments in our transportation and infrastructure in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District. I took the opportunity to advocate for the joint Tennessee-Arkansas application for $800 million for a new Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi. See my release and line of questions here.
Recommending Veterans Get Screened for Exposure to Toxic Substances
Thirteen months after President Biden signed the PACT Act into law to give veterans more access to health care by making more than 300 health conditions presumptive of a service connection, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has screened 5 million veterans for toxic exposures. The screening, which takes five to ten minutes, is a critical step in detecting, understanding, and treating potentially life-threatening health conditions. Of the 5 million veterans who have received the screening, 2.1 million (43 percent) reported at least one potential service-related exposure.
If you haven’t signed up for screening, you can submit an application and receive your toxic exposure screening after enrollment.
Urging Removal of Hoover Name from FBI Headquarters
On Tuesday, I attended a hearing of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management and questioned witnesses about the process for renaming the existing FBI headquarters and calling for former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s name to be removed from it and for it not to be considered for a new headquarters. The nation’s premiere law enforcement agency should not be associated with the notorious bigot and civil rights violator. See my release on the hearing here.
Announcing Grant for Treating Sickle Cell Disease
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On Monday, I announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant of $364,502 for technical assistance and training to combat sickle cell disease in the Delta region, and to improve communication between health care professionals.
Requesting Speaker Johnson Extend a Courtesy to Jewish Members of Congress
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Votes scheduled for Monday, December 4, were postponed to accommodate members of Congress wanting to attend the White House Christmas reception that evening, which I did. On Monday of this week, the vote schedule conflicted with the White House Hanukkah reception, so I wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson asking for Monday night’s votes to be postponed. Unfortunately, he declined. I find this disrespect for Jewish Members and the Jewish faith to be patently offensive and unacceptable for a man who so ostentatiously wears his religion on his sleeve.
Writing to Airlines for America about Misuse of Wheelchairs
On Wednesday, I led several of my Transportation and Infrastructure Committee colleagues in sending a letter to Airlines for America President Nicolas Calio about our concerns over the misuse and damage to wheelchairs and scooters by baggage handlers. The incident at Miami International Airport is the most recent in a troubling series of mishandled or damaged wheelchair incidents by commercial airlines, which raises serious concerns about the barriers that face travelers with disabilities. See our release here.
Offering U.S. Capitol Historical Society 2024 Calendars
My office currently has a limited number of 2024 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 9th District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter. Please click here to access the form.
Weekly Health Tip
With the holidays upon us, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has produced “12 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season,” including wearing layered clothing for the cold and not drinking and driving. See them all here.
Quote of the Week
“Russian loyalists in Moscow celebrated when Republicans voted to block Ukraine’s aid last week. The host of a Kremlin-run show literally said, and I quote, ‘Well done, Republicans! That’s good for us,’ end of quote. Let me say that again. This host of a Kremlin-run show said, ‘Well done, Republicans! That’s good for us.’ That’s a Russian speaking. If you’re being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it might be time to rethink what you’re doing.” – President Biden at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress |