Dear friend,
On Friday, August 3 at 3 p.m. CT, I will be hosting a Telephone Town Hall on the economy and how best to create jobs, Medicare and Medicaid, and other important topics. And this week President Obama signed an Executive Order to improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for African Americans.
Telephone Town HallWhite House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African AmericansNational Civil Rights MuseumOnline Sales TaxEarly Voting and Free Photo IdentificationAdvocating for Mental Health Research and TreatmentCollege AidBloomberg TVAudit the Federal ReserveMLGW ScamGrant Announcements
Telephone Town Hall
On Friday, August 3 at 3 p.m. CT, I will be hosting a Telephone Town Hall on the economy and how best to create jobs, Medicare and Medicaid, and other important topics. If you are a District 9 resident and would like to participate, please sign up for my Town Hall by clicking here.
White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans
On Wednesday, during his remarks at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans, LA, President Obama announced he would sign an Executive Order this week to improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for African Americans. The President has made providing a complete and competitive education for all Americans – from cradle to career – a top priority. The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans will work across federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education programs for African American students. The Initiative aims to ensure that all African American students receive an education that fully prepares them for high school graduation, college completion, and productive careers. Click here to learn more.
National Civil Rights Museum
On Wednesday I announced that the National Civil Rights Museum has received a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant worth $352,000 for the Renovation of the Lorraine Motel Permanent Exhibits. NEH grants are highly competitive and involve a rigorous review and selection process to ensure that the best of humanities research, education, preservation and public programs is cultivated. The National Civil Rights Museum is one of the most prestigious museums in the country. These new federal funds will be used to help future generations better understand and appreciate the Civil Rights Movement.
Online Sales Tax
On Tuesday I introduced Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Marketplace Equity Act of 2011 – legislation I co-sponsored to establish a uniform national standard for determining when a state can tax an online sales transaction. It was good to have Governor Bill Haslam in Washington to discuss how this legislation would benefit Tennessee and its economy. Current law needs to be updated to account for the tremendous growth in e-commerce over the last decade and a half. Tennessee relies heavily on sales tax revenue, as it does not have an individual income tax. It’s important that Congress act to establish a clear, uniform standard for collection of sales taxes on online sales. Click here to see a video of me and Governor Haslam discussing this issue.
Early Voting and Free Photo Identification
Early Voting in Memphis has already begun for the August 2 elections but the last day to vote early is July 28 -- tomorrow. I encourage you to take advantage of early voting and cast your ballots sooner rather than later so as to avoid long lines and any election day problems that may arise. Visit the Shelby County Election Commission by clicking here to learn more about early voting in Memphis.
Also, Shelby County driver service centers are no longer open on Saturdays but if you or someone you know still needs a photo ID for voting purposes you don’t have to wait in line. If you only need to get an ID for voting purposes, you can still visit any driver’s license renewal station in Shelby County during regular business hours and there is a special line to serve your needs. And if you are a Veteran who needs ID you can get free government-issued photo IDs at the Veterans Administration. To learn more about the new voter ID laws, visit my website here.
Advocating for Mental Health Research and Treatment
I spoke on the House floor on Tuesday about the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado and how we need to invest more in mental health research and treatment to prevent future tragedies like this from taking place again. And on Wednesday I appeared on The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur to discuss this very subject. You can see me discuss this subject on the House floor by clicking here. And click here if you’d like to see my Young Turks interview, which aired on Current TV.
College Aid
On Monday I announced that the U.S. Department of Education has established a new streamlined website and several social media tools that will make it easier for students and families to navigate the financial aid process and make informed decisions about paying for college. The launch of the new website, StudentAid.gov, follows a report from the U.S. Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about consumer protection issues with private student loans and recommendations to improve the student loan marketplace, including a recommendation to pass legislation I authored to restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt.
Bloomberg TV
This week I did an interview with Bloomberg TV on my proposed reforms on private student loans and bankruptcy. The interview was posted on Bloomberg.com, Bloomberglaw.com, YouTube, i-Tunes and the Bloomberg Terminal. Click here to see me discuss this important issue.
Audit the Federal Reserve
This week I voted to support Congressman Ron Paul’s legislation calling for a full audit of the Federal Reserve, including an audit of the Fed’s monetary policy decisions. The House approved the Federal Reserve Transparency Act by a vote of 327 to 98 – with strong bipartisan support. Click here to learn more about this legislation.
MLGW Scam
MLGW is receiving renewed reports from customers who appear to have fallen victim to a nationwide utility bill scam. As part of the scam, customers are being told that President Obama has approved special funding through the Federal Reserve Bank for utility bill assistance. There is no such funding. The most recent reports involve scammers giving victims a toll-free number to call for utility assistance. The customer is then prompted to enter his or her social security number and additional information, and is then provided with a fraudulent bank routing number. The routing number is not valid and the payments will not be applied to MLGW customer bills. The scams have also been reported in several other states. Customers who believe they have been victimized by a scam should contact MLGW at 901.544.MLGW (6549).
Grant Announcements
Each week I release a list of grant announcements from federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, and others. These federal funding opportunities are available to faith-based and neighborhood associations, nonprofits and other community organizations in the 9th district. The announcements are updated weekly on my website.
Wishing you a happy and safe weekend,
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress