Dear Friend,

This week, I spent two days in Nashville in an effort to prevent the General Assembly from disenfranchising the Black voters of Tennessee’s 9^th Congressional District with a racially suspect and partisan gerrymandered voting map. After the maps passed and Governor Bill Lee signed them into law, I’ve resolved to fight this in court and filed a lawsuit this morning seeking to put the legislation off until the 2028 elections. I also held a press conference to talk about the $3.15 million I secured through the annual appropriations process to help rebuild the Historic Clayborn Temple that burned down last year, announced major National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and offered  Bill Day cartoon and a weekly health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.

Fighting to Preserve Memphis’ and Tennessee’s Black Vote

Celebrating Investment in the Restoration of Clayborn Temple

Announcing $3.1 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude

A Bill Day Cartoon

Weekly Health Tip

Quote of the Week

Fighting to Preserve Memphis’ and Tennessee’s Black Vote

I went to Nashville this week to testify in two state legislative committee hearings against a redistricting proposal that will disenfranchise the Black voters of Tennessee’s 9^th Congressional District. I told state lawmakers that the power grab would dilute the Black vote and was being done at the request of Donald Trump who fears the oversight a Democratic House Majority would have next year over his corruption and lawlessness. Although Governor Bill Lee has signed the newly redrawn district maps into law, I will continue in the courts and in the court of public opinion to resist this anti-democratic takeover. This morning I filed a lawsuit seeking to put off the effect of the new maps until the 2028 elections. See my statement on the developments this week here.

I also held a press conference Thursday after Governor Lee signed the maps into law.

Celebrating Investment in the Restoration of Clayborn Temple

This morning I held a press conference at the Historic Clayborn Temple for which I secured $3.15 million in Community Project Funding through the annual appropriations process after it burned down in an arson attack last year. Church officials and my District Director, Willie “Hank” Henry, also spoke. Hank recalled attending organizing meetings of striking sanitation workers at the church in 1968 as a 17-year-old high school student. I am pleased to see the historic temple being brought back as an enduring symbol of resilience.

Announcing $3.1 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude

On Tuesday, I announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive two grants totaling $3,109,370 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). See details in my release here.

A Bill Day Cartoon – “Strait of Hormuz Choke Point”

Weekly Health Tip

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889.  It is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, caring counselors are available to talk with you any time.

Quote of the Week

“While we expected this egregious result, it’s hard to contemplate how much harm the General Assembly has done to the voice of Black voters in Tennessee, and specifically in Memphis. The procedures outlined in this hastily drawn legislation are obviously inadequate. The time factor for creating new district lines for candidates is clearly inadequate and confusing for voters after established lines have been in place and candidates have been campaigning for two months. The new arrangement cannot result in fair representation. Beyond all that, the fact that each of these new districts was drawn to divide almost exactly into thirds the Black voting population of the 9th District suggests serious racist and unethical intent and raises legal issues about the use of race being the true predominant factor in this redistricting effort.” – From my statement after the new redistricting maps passed

I want to wish all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday.

As always, I remain

Sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress