March 15, 2024

Dear Friend,

This week, I was pleased to announce a major U.S. Department of Transportation investment in North Memphis neighborhoods divided by Interstate 40 that will transform and reconnect the area. I also celebrated House passage of my TVA Salary Transparency Act, questioned Special Counsel Robert Hur on his exoneration of President Biden for an innocent mishandling of classified documents, warned that the United States will not recognize the illegitimate Russian elections this weekend or President Putin holding office beyond May 7, relaunched the Global Road Safety Caucus, surveyed the fire damage to my Midtown garage, and offered a health tip on seasonal allergies. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.

Applauding $2.6 Million Investment in North Memphis Neighborhoods

Passing TVA Salary Transparency Act in the House

Discussing District Priorities with Constituents Visiting D.C.

Defending President Biden Against Partisan Sniping at Hur Hearing

Predicting Illegitimate Vote for Putin in Russia

Relaunching Global Road Safety Caucus

Returning to a Fire at My Midtown Home

Weekly Health Tip

Quote of the Week

Applauding $2.6 Million Investment in North Memphis Neighborhoods

On Tuesday, I announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is investing $2,693,160 for the “Over and Under I-40” project in which the Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will lead a revitalization of North Memphis neighborhoods divided by Interstate 40. See my release, including Mayor Paul Young’s and the CRA’s enthusiastic endorsement, here.

Passing TVA Salary Transparency Act in the House

On Monday, my TVA Salary Transparency Act, which I introduced last year with my friend Congressman Tim Burchett of Knoxville, passed the House of Representatives. The bill would reinstate and modernize the Tennessee Valley Authority’s annual reporting requirement to Congress on its management structure and on the compensation of its top executives and managers. It now moves to the Senate for consideration. TVA ratepayers and the general public deserve this information. See my release here.

Discussing District Priorities with Constituents Visiting D.C.

Clockwise left to right: 1. Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearengen, Congressman Cohen, and Memphis City Council Member Jana Swearengen-Washington. 2. Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority government affairs director Michael Fulton, Board Vice Chairman Jack Sammons, Board Chairman Michael Keeney, Congressman Cohen, President and CEO Terry S. Blue, District 9 Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Schnelle and FAA Fellow Geoffrey Ding. 3. City Council members Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, Jerri Green, Congressman Cohen, Janika White, and JB Smiley Jr.

This was a busy week meeting with Memphis-area public officials to discuss critical issues and the funding I’m working on bringing to the district. On Tuesday, I met with Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearengen and her sister Memphis City Council Member Jana Swearengen-Washington, and on Wednesday, members of the Memphis City Council stopped by to talk about crime prevention and youth development initiatives, among other issues. Later in the morning, I met with members of the Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority on a variety of aviation issues I can address as the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee. These meetings are always valuable and help our local officials get better acquainted with how the federal government and my office can help all of our constituents.

Defending President Biden Against Partisan Sniping at Hur Hearing

Congressman Cohen (on hearing video screen) at Hur hearing

Special Counsel Robert Hur appeared before the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and explained why he found no grounds for charging President Biden for mishandling classified documents after serving as vice president. In what Republicans had hoped would be a partisan dust-up, Hur presented his report in a commendably sober and serious way. In my questions to Hur, a Republican, I elicited firm acknowledgments that his conclusions were reached independently and without interference from the Biden Justice Department. Throughout his testimony, Hur made clear how President Biden’s actions and Donald Trump’s actions were completely different. Trump is being charged in Federal Court for hording classified materials and obstructing the government’s ability to have them returned.  See my release including my line of questioning here.

Predicting Illegitimate Vote for Putin in Russia

Next week, as the Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), I will join Commission Chairman Joe Wilson of South Carolina in introducing a congressional resolution stating that the United States will not recognize Vladimir Putin as the President of Russia beyond May 7. Sham elections scheduled for this weekend are sure to lead to his continued murderous and tyrannical rule, but we should be honest in our assessment of what is really going on.

Relaunching Global Road Safety Caucus

On Wednesday, I joined Congressman Richard Hudson of North Carolina in relaunching the Global Road Safety Caucus, in an effort to bring awareness to road safety initiatives and mobilize Congressional support to tackle the significant domestic and global health and safety crisis. See our release here.

Returning to a Fire at My Midtown Home

Returning to Memphis Wednesday evening, I was informed as I got off the plane that my detached garage at my home in Midtown was on fire. While I am saddened by the loss of the garage and three vehicles I am grateful for the quick response by the Memphis Fire Department.  They kept the fire from spreading to my house or further into the neighborhood. I am grateful for the Memphis Fire Department, the Memphis Police Department, MLGW, my neighbors, and my friends who have all been splendid. I thank all of those who have expressed their support and concern.

Weekly Health Tip

The redbuds are in bloom and soon more awakening trees will scent the breeze with allergy-producing pollen. Be prepared for this seasonal joy for the eyes but assault on other senses with some useful allergy guidance from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) here.

Quote of the Week

“So, when you see shovels in the ground, people going to work, I hope you feel what we do and you feel it with a sense of pride.  Pride in your hometowns.  Pride in making a comeback.  Pride in America.  Pride in knowing we can get big things done when we work together.” -- President Biden, speaking Monday to the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference.

As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress