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Dear Friend,
This week, I welcomed the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, to Memphis and accompanied her to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where, among its other miraculous undertakings, it is facilitating the evacuation of Ukrainian children for treatment in our world-renown institution. I also applauded Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who exhibited grace and poise during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee even in the face of baseless partisan attacks. In my increasingly significant role in foreign policy as the Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, I have written to the Administration, attended hearings and participated in briefings where I have voiced strong support for the U.S. and our allies to provide military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. I also attended the going-away service for the courageous Marvis Jones, one of the Memphis State Eight; commended former city Councilman John Vergos for an original and thoughtful approach to diplomacy in the Ukraine-Russian war; reminded everyone that the dedication of the Memphis Suffrage Monument, recognizing the roles Memphis and Tennessee played in the extension of important civil rights for women, will be held on Sunday; announced some significant federal grants; spoke at a Congressional briefing on Cerebral Palsy; introduced a resolution condemning the possible Russian use of weapons of mass destruction; and provided a health tip involving a new coronavirus strain. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I’m doing as it happens.
Welcoming First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to Memphis to Visit St. Jude
Applauding Judge Ketanji Brown at Her Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing
Calling for More Fighter Jets for the Ukrainian Air Force
Remembering LaVerne Jones, One of the Memphis State Eight
Commending John Vergos for His Suggested Outreach to Eastern Orthodox Prelates
Dedicating the Memphis Suffrage Monument on Sunday
Announcing Vision Research and Air Quality Monitoring Grants
Addressing Cerebral Palsy Foundation Briefing
Introducing Resolution Condemning Possible Russian Use of Chemical Weapons
Welcoming First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to Memphis to Visit St. Jude
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Earlier today, I welcomed First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to our city when she landed at Memphis International Airport, and then joined her on a tour of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, visiting patients and their parents who realize St. Jude is saving their lives by helping to evacuate children from Ukraine for treatment at its world-renowned facilities. The patients’ stories were very touching and some told the First Lady that St. Jude is an angel of hope and heaven on earth. Dr. Biden congratulated the doctors and staff for their dedication and service and for their efforts advancing the Administration’s “Cancer Moonshot.” I thanked Dr. Biden for drawing attention to the effort. I also mentioned to Dr. Biden that the hospital’s first chief executive and medical director, Dr. Donald Pinkel, who helped save countless lives of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, recently passed. See my Congressional Record statement remembering him here.
Applauding Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson at Her Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing
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Much of the nation was riveted by this week’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a model of grace under pressure and a brilliant jurist. I look forward to seeing her nomination confirmed and watching her take her seat as the first Black woman in history on the nation’s highest court.
Calling for More Fighter Jets for the Ukrainian Air Force
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As Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I questioned expert witnesses at a hearing Wednesday entitled “Opposing Russian Imperialism in Ukraine and Beyond.” I reiterated my position that the United States and its allies should do all they can to facilitate the transfer of fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force. See my release including my opening statement and line of questioning here.
Remembering LaVerne Jones, One of the Memphis State Eight
On Monday, I attended and spoke at the funeral of my friend, the inspiring LaVerne Jones, one of the Memphis State Eight who integrated what is now the University of Memphis in 1959. Her courageous actions opened the door of opportunity to so many, and she will be missed. See remarks on her life that I placed in The Congressional Record here.
Commending John Vergos for His Suggested Outreach to Eastern Orthodox Prelates
On Thursday, The Commercial Appeal published a thoughtful opinion article by my friend John Vergos which argued for getting Eastern Orthodox prelates, including Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, involved in trying to end the war in Ukraine. See that article here.
Dedicating the Women’s Suffrage Monument on Sunday
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Photo by Andree LeQuire
I will attend and speak at the dedication of the Memphis Suffrage Monument – “Equality Trailblazers” – on Sunday on the river side of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The 1 p.m. dedication is being live streamed by the Downtown Memphis Commission here. I want to commend Paula Casey and all those responsible for making the monument a reality. Among those honored in the monument are Maxine Smith, Minerva Johnican and Lois DeBerry with whom I served as a Shelby County Commissioner, state Senator and community activist. It also depicts the “100 Year March,” the peaceful efforts to assure voting rights, and Tennessee being “The Perfect 36” – the 36th state ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extending voting rights to women in 1920.
Announcing Vision Research and Air Quality Monitoring Grants
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This week, I have announced significant federal grants to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) from the National Eye Institute and to the Shelby County Health Department for air quality monitoring from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. See those releases here and here.
Addressing Cerebral Palsy Foundation Briefing
On Thursday, I spoke to a congressional briefing arranged by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and pledged my continued support for a dedicated funding source and increased research funding for this disability that is identified in 1 out of 345 children and one million Americans. Over the years, I have led efforts to provide research funding that would improve outcomes for this diagnosis which has no reliable treatments and no cure. See my statement to the briefing here.
Introducing Resolution Condemning Possible Russian Use of Chemical Weapons
On Thursday, as Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I joined its ranking member in introducing a resolution condemning the potential use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons by the Russian Federation in its brutal and illegal war in Ukraine. The resolution says the use of such weapons would constitute crimes against humanity. See our release and the resolution text here.
I don’t like what I am hearing about the new coronavirus subvariant BA.2, which is more transmissible than Omicron and now constitutes 35 percent of cases in the U.S., up from 22 percent last week. We all want things to get back to normal but wishful thinking isn’t going to get us there. Please practice sensible public health protocols when you’re out in public and in crowds. Rest assured that whatever Congress can do to effectively address this developing situation will have my full support.
“During this hearing, I hope that you will see how much I love our country and the Constitution, and the rights that make us free. I stand on the shoulders of many who have come before me, including Judge Constance Baker Motley, who was the first African American woman to be appointed to the federal bench and with whom I share a birthday. And like Judge Motley, I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building – ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ — are a reality and not just an ideal. Thank you for this historic chance to join the highest Court, to work with brilliant colleagues, to inspire future generations, and to ensure liberty and justice for all.” – Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in her opening statement Monday at her confirmation hearing to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress
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