Newsletter - Launching a New Multimillion Dollar U of M Research Initiative
Statement
Dear Friend,
This week, I helped launch a brand new multimillion dollar research initiative led by the University of Memphis, I spoke out about the need to reform our criminal justice system, and the federal government took steps to prevent former Mo' Money employees from taking advantage of consumers. Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week.
Launching a New Multimillion Dollar Research Initiative at U of M
Yesterday, I joined several University of Memphis officials to help announce a brand new, multimillion dollar research partnership that will be headquartered in Memphis and spearheaded by U of M researchers. Being selected to lead a new National Center of Excellence for mobile health data by the National Institutes of Health, the NIH, shows the respect that the University of Memphis is gaining for its research endeavors on the national level. I have never seen and didn't think I'd ever see Memphis with this class of universities, leading a coalition of schools including Northwestern, Cornell Tech, UCLA, UMass Amherst, Ohio State, UC San Francisco, and the University of Michigan.
You can read more about the research partnership here. This significant infusion of federal funds will help to solidify our city and our University at the forefront of this rapidly growing, increasingly important sector of the biomedical industry. I will keep working to roll back sequestration's crippling cuts to the NIH so that it can continue supporting important projects like this as well as research into cures for some of the most deadly diseases known to man.
Speaking Out About Reforming Our Justice System
This morning, I was at First Baptist Church to give the welcoming remarks for the 2014 Lifeline to Success Justice Reform Conference. Reforming our criminal justice system has been one of my top priorities throughout my career. I am happy to work with Pastor DeAndre Brown, Lifeline to Success Executive Director, to further these efforts, and I commend him for his leadership and good work.
Even as Memphis police legal advisor more than 30 years ago I worked toward a fairer and more rational system, helping create a Citation in Lieu of Arrest for certain non-violent crimes like marijuana possession. In Congress, I was recently selected by my colleagues to be the most senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice and have fought for a number of reform issues, including sponsoring legislation that made our nation's sentencing policies less racially-biased and fairer, encouraging the President to expand his use of the executive clemency powers to free people who do not deserve to still be incarcerated, working to see that ex-offenders who have paid their debt to society can get a fresh start in life, and protecting and expanding voting rights for all Americans. And just this week, the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights awarded me with a perfect score for my votes on civil and human rights issues like these over the last two years.
Fighting for criminal justice reform has been a difficult and often lonely pursuit, but I'm pleased to say that there's greater momentum today than I've seen in a long time toward fixing some of the fundamental problems in our criminal justice system. Reform of the criminal justice system will not come easily, but there's a growing awareness that change is needed. I'll continue fighting for these reforms in Congress and I was happy to join the Lifeline for Success Conference to raise awareness of these important issues.
Protecting Consumers from Mo' Money and Unscrupulous Tax Preparers
On Tuesday, the United States Government filed a lawsuit to prevent three former Mo' Money licensees and managers from preying on Memphis' poor and middle-class with their fraudulent and predatory tax preparation schemes. The lawsuit sends a striking message that people cannot take advantage of Memphians or victimize Americans through tax fraud, and it follows last year's court order stopping Mo' Money's owners and another former manager from preparing taxes ever again. It is a good step to protect our city's consumers. Those perpetrating tax preparation scams that prey on the poor and the middle class should be punished as severely as possible under the law, and I'm glad the Department of Justice is continuing to respond to the concerns of the Ninth District and took action against these individuals.
Developing the Memphis Workforce
At Tuesday's 8th annual University of Memphis Freight Conference, I announced that the University has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as the Southeast Regional Surface Transportation Workforce Center. I was proud to support the University of Memphis's efforts to receive this important designation, and I am pleased that it has been selected as one of only five such centers in the United States. The nearly $1 million in federal funding attached to this selection will help Memphis lead the way in transportation workforce development and further cement our status as the Mid-South's transportation leader for years to come.
Recovering from September's Floods
Last month, many Memphians and Memphis small business owners suffered from property damage and property loss as a result of the severe floods on September 11th. I was pleased to announce earlier this week that the U.S. Small Business Administration has launched a Shelby County Disaster Loan Outreach Center to assist citizens who were affected by these floods at 1075 Mullins Station Road (Building C, Room 133). The outreach center will provide one-on-one assistance to citizens applying for disaster-damaged real estate loans of up to $200,000 and disaster-damaged personal property loans of up to $40,000. Businesses and non-profit organizations may also be eligible to apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace damage or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
The Shelby County outreach center will be open until 7pm tonight, from 10am to 2pm tomorrow, and from 10am to 4pm. More information is available here. Every Ninth District citizen who was negatively affected by last month's floods should take advantage of this opportunity and ensure they don't miss out on recovery assistance they are eligible for.
Keeping America Safe from Ebola
Americans are very concerned about the recent Ebola epidemic that has plagued multiple countries in West Africa. Despite the first travel-associated case of Ebola recently being diagnosed in the United States, it is important to remember that the risk of an outbreak of the disease in this country is unlikely due mainly to our highly advanced health infrastructure. I am also pleased to report that President Obama has recently implemented increased travel screening and tracking procedures at airports to further reduce the risk to Americans. The United States Centers for Disease Control, or the CDC, have launched a regularly-updated web page with information about Ebola and how our nation is working to address and prevent it from spreading. You can visit the CDC's Ebola information page here.
Working to Protect the Right to Choose
In my career, I have always be a champion for women's reproductive rights and in 2007 Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) awarded me with their Bob James Award for my efforts. Yesterday, I was pleased to be able to attend PPGMR's annual Bob James Award ceremony and congratulate my friend Beverly Marrero on receiving this year's award. As a Tennessee State Senator she was a passionate advocate for a woman's right to make her own health care decisions and she has always been a great champion of Planned Parenthood. A woman must have the ability to make her own decisions about her health and her body, and it is not the place of our criminal system or for politicians to decide what's best for a woman's health. In Congress, I will continue fighting against right-wing efforts to limit those rights and make choices for women that are better left to women and their doctors.
Matchup between NBA All-Star Detlef Schrempf& Grizzlies Owner Robert Pera
Earlier this year, I enjoyed having the opportunity to meet former NBA star Detlef Schrempf in my Capitol Hill office. Detlef was visiting Washington to highlight the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, which in Memphis this week launched a three-city interactive pilot program to help educate Americans about the health benefits of fish. In the past, Grizzlies Owner Robert Pera has challenged both Michael Jordan and Tony Allen to matchups. Since these have not happened, this week I suggested that he should ask the 3-time NBA All Star to a matchup by launching the new #DetlefVsPera hashtag to draw attention to this possible one-on-one. If you want to see this matchup happen too, you can help make it happen by tweeting the hashtag and sharing it with your friends!
New American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington
This week, President Obama dedicated the new American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial across the street from my Capitol Hill office to honor American veterans who have been disabled for their lifetime and to give Americans the chance to learn about the experiences of some of our nation's heroes. The main structure of the Memorial is a star-shaped fountain with a single flame arising from the water in the center. If you are visiting our nation's capital, this new Memorial is certainly worth a few moments of your time and reflection.
Building a Healthier Memphis and Fighting Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the racial disparity in breast cancer outcomes in Memphis and throughout the county is deplorable, but we can do more to address it. This year, I launched my "Building a Healthier Memphis" series on wellness in the Ninth District with a panel discussion and educational session focused on this important issue. The panel at my event earlier this year discussed the reasons for the current outcome gap and helped identify how Memphians can take advantage of provisions of the President's Affordable Care Act that include no copay and no deductible mammograms to address the disparity and improve outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.
If you are interested in learning more about the Affordable Care Act, how it works, and how it can help you and your family, Seedco will be hosting informational sessions at the Ben Hooks Library from 10:30am to 1pm on October 14th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, and November 6th and 13th (this session will end at 5pm). When the health care insurance open enrollment period for 2015 coverage begins, Seedco will also host enrollment sessions at the library from 10:30am to 5pm on November 18th, and from 10:30am to 1pm on December 4th, 11th, 16th, and 18th. At each of these sessions, there will be certified health care navigators on site to answer questions you have about the law and assist you in the enrollment process. If you are interested in attending one of the enrollment sessions, please call 901.405.7895 to RSVP.
Service Academy Nominations
Every year, I have the honor of nominating ten highly qualified young people from the Ninth District for appointments to our nation's Service Academies. If you are interested in attending one of these outstanding institutions, I will be happy to consider you for selection as one of my nominees. To be eligible for appointment, you must meet a number of requirements listed here and be a legal resident of the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. If you are not certain that your legal domicile is in the Ninth District, call my congressional office at 901.544.4131 the number provided below and request address verification.
Before applying to my office for a Service Academy appointment, you should obtain an application from the Military Academy of your choice. If you are having trouble obtaining an application, please let me know and I will assist you. As part of the application process, please complete the Personal Data form located here, submit a Letter of Interest and return to my office with the following: 1) your highest ACT/SAT score, 2) three letters of recommendation from people who know you well (ministers, coaches, scoutmasters, teachers or employers are good options), and 3) an official transcript which includes your course listing, current GPA, grades, and class rank. Your transcript should be mailed to my office at 167 North Main Street, Suite 369 by your school in a sealed (unopened) envelope; report cards are not eligible.
All information must be submitted to my office no later than October 31, 2014. Once the information is received, you will be contacted to schedule an interview. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Archer at 901.544.4131.
Helping Keep College Affordable
With young adults from across the Ninth District heading to college, I wanted to take a few moments to highlight the various federal aid programs that are available for students and their families to take advantage of. If you are attending college and are interested in learning more about financial student aid that may be available, please don't hesitate to visit StudentAid.gov. If you are trying to help a child or friend afford college, there are a number of resources available at http://www.financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/ as well.
Memphis Accepting the President's My Brother's Keeper Community Challenge
President Obama announced his "My Brother's Keeper" (MBK) initiative earlier this year to help ensure youth across the country, including boys and young men of color, have opportunities to overcome barriers to succeeding in life and to improving their lives. Just recently, the President announced the MBK Community Challenge to encourage communities to implement a coherent cradle-to-college and career strategy aimed at improving life outcomes for all young people. I am pleased that Memphis is an early acceptor of this challenge which aims to ensure that all children enter school prepared and read at grade level by the 3rd grade and ensure that all young people graduate from high school, complete a post-secondary education, are safe from crime, and that youth who are out of school are employed.
Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property
The State of Tennessee maintains a searchable database of unclaimed property, which can include bank accounts, stocks and dividends, wages, refunds, insurance payments, gift certificates, credit balances and overpayments, and a number of other things. There is no cost for accessing the database, and you may find that you are owed money or property. If you have not searched the database yet or if you haven't searched in a while, you can visit https://www.claimittn.gov and see for yourself whether the state is holding any property or assets for you. And you may pass this information along to your friends and family as well!
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress
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