Newsletter - Bringing New Small Business Development Initiatives to Memphis

Statement

Dear Friend,

This week, Congress is not in session--and won't be back until November 12th--because House Republican leadership and their Do Nothing Caucus chose to recess earlier than the House has recessed before an election since the 1960s. We should be working to pass the Democrats' Jumpstart agenda to create transportation and infrastructure jobs, raise the minimum wage, provide equal pay for equal work, restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act, help our students afford college, and renew unemployment insurance, but Republicans just wanted to go home instead of getting real work done for our country. Keep reading for more information about what I did in Memphis this week.

Remembering Bishop G.E. Patterson

On Monday, I spoke at a commemoration banquet in honor of the late Bishop G.E. Patterson's 75th birthday. Bishop Patterson was a renaissance man, a great preacher, a civil rights leader, a businessman and a musician. He was a golden-throated warrior of the gospel who was respected nationally by ministers and others, including by a noted national radio host who trumpeted him as an example of a great preacher. The birthday banquet was emceed by Mearl Purvis and was worthy of Bishop Patterson's status. There were hundreds of the Bishop's friends in attendance, and Sister Louise was radiant while Mother Frances Kelley was beautiful as always.

Bringing New Small Business Development Initiatives to Memphis

Memphis is home to many well-qualified, high-potential minority entrepreneurs who do great work, which is why throughout my career I have pursued legislation and policies to help minority-owned small businesses grow and boost our city's economy. I fought for years to secure funding for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center in Memphis, and my persistence led to a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in 2012. The MBDA is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America.

In June, I also hosted my annual Procurement Fair to help Memphis-area businesses better compete, as well as announced that the MBDA Business Center won an additional $250,000 of federal funding in April. This week, I was pleased to announce that Operation HOPE, a non-profit focused on improving the lives of the working poor and struggling middle class families through "financial dignity" programs, will use a new $835,910 federal investment to launch financial literacy and small business development "HOPE Inside" initiatives in Memphis and 4 other cities. This federal investment will help new small businesses get off the ground and create jobs, and it will also make available the tools Memphis families need to thrive and succeed in today's economy.

The HOPE Inside initiatives consist of partnerships with financial institutions, retail stores, supermarkets, local municipalities, community-based organizations and shopping centers to provide financial literacy and credit counseling services, homeownership and foreclosure prevention programs, and small business development workshops and assistance to local citizens and entrepreneurs. A HOPE Inside location is currently open at the SunTrust Bank on Monroe Avenue and another will open soon at the First Tennessee Bank on Union Avenue, with additional locations expected to open by the end of the year.

Helping Build a Healthier Memphis

On Saturday, I attended the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority's Health and Fitness Expo at Mt. Pisgah Middle Baptist Church in Memphis. The Health and Fitness Expo brings community members, leaders, and stakeholders together to address the all-important issue of health and is a great way to make Memphis a healthier place.

Earlier this year, I launched my "Building a Healthier Memphis" series to help achieve the same goal. My series is focused on health and wellness issues that affect us right here at home in the 9th District. So far, I have hosted lively forums on the topics of breast cancer disparities, diabetes, and maternal health and infant mortality. Each of these events has hosted a number of different health professional ranging from doctors and researchers based here in Memphis to federal representatives from departments such as the Centers for Disease Control. Our city is home to some of the country's most well-respected and advanced medical practitioners and researchers, but we are also home to a community of disadvantaged people who have faced many barriers in getting access to health care. At each of these events, Memphians have had the opportunity to meet with professionals, patients, and community activists to forge relationships to tackle these issues head on in our community.

While the series is still in its infancy, I am committed to continuing its successes in future events focused on unique health issues that affect our city. Stay tuned for details on my next "Building a Healthier Memphis" event which will focus on Tennessee's healthcare marketplace open enrollment period.

Thanking Attorney General Eric Holder

News broke yesterday that United States Attorney General Eric Holder will resign from his position as soon as a replacement is selected by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As our Attorney General, Eric Holder served our nation well and I enjoyed working closely with him on several issues of justice. I commend him for his herculean efforts to strengthen and protect voting rights and civil rights, as well as for his work on many other important justice issues including reforming our nation's outdated drug laws.

One of the issues that I spoke with Attorney General Holder about, both in Committee and in person, was commutations for those who are serving prison sentences that are in excess of the current sentencing guidelines. In his remaining time at the Justice Department, I hope the Attorney General encourages President Obama to expand the use of commutations which are just based on the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced racially-biased federal sentences for certain drug offenses.

Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Sold in Memphis

Reports of a $1 million winning Powerball ticket being sold in Memphis were also in the news yesterday. I am very happy for the prize winner and even happier to know that this is also good news for students across Tennessee. I fought for many years as a Tennessee State Senator to overcome stiff opposition for a referendum on the Lottery and, subsequently, to pass legislation to create the Lottery Scholarship program.

I am proud of my decades of work as a State Senator to create the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program, which has provided more than $3 billion to help Tennessee's young adults attend college over the last decade. As college costs skyrocket and college degrees become more important, it is critical that we do everything we can to keep college affordable for hard-working students and families. Every dollar spent on lottery tickets in our state directly helps students attend high-quality colleges, and that can only be good for Tennessee and for the Tennessee economy

Recognizing St. Jude's Support for our Country

This morning at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel presented the Employer Support Freedom Award to Dr. James Downing, CEO of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Freedom Award is the U.S. government's highest honor bestowed on employers. It is presented to a small number of employers who have demonstrated exceptional support to Guard and Reserve employees. Only 15 employers, chosen from the thousands nominated by their National Guard and Reserve employees, are presented this one-of-a-kind award annually. I am glad that St. Jude how proven their commitment to our nation's heroes with its volunteer-based Military Support Resource Group that supports service members and their families during deployments, and I am pleased the Department of Defense is recognizing St. Jude's support.

Protecting our Natural Resources

This week, President Obama dramatically expanded the Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument protected conservation area. With this move, the President has used his powers to protect more land and sea than any other President in the last 50 years. I support the President and his efforts to protect our natural resources, coral reefs, and the marine ecosystem.

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.

Facebook Photo Contest Winner

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos for my Facebook Cover Photo contest. I am very pleased to announce that the winning cover photo, which you can see here, was submitted by Marilyn Livesay and the runner-up was submitted by Robert McKim, both Memphians. Congratulations to each of them!

President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People
It is important that all children can count on caring adults who are engaged in their lives, but too many young people lack this important support. That's why President Obama is calling on Americans to sign up as long-term mentors to young people through his new "My Brother's Keeper" initiative. The President is seeking people from all walks of life who want to develop sustained and direct mentoring relationships that will play vital roles in the lives of young people in Memphis and around the country. If you are interested in signing up to help young adults in our city stay on track, you can do so here.
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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