Working to End Credit Checks

Dear Friend,

This week I joined with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus to host a Congressional Briefing entitled “Employment Credit Checks: Unwarranted Barrier to Employment.”  The briefing featured a diverse panel that discussed the adverse impact pre-employment credit screenings are having on minorities, women, and the unemployed, and the need for legislation to curb the use of such screenings by employers.

Employment Credit Checks: Unwarranted Barrier to Employment
Republic of Georgia
September Jobs Report
Memphis Airways Bridge
The Works, Inc.
The Soulsville Charter School Gets Invited to VP Debate
Listening to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
Free Photo Identification
Grant Announcements

Employment Credit Checks: Unwarranted Barrier to Employment

Yesterday I joined with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus to host a Congressional Briefing entitled “Employment Credit Checks: Unwarranted Barrier to Employment.”  I am the author of legislation (H.R. 321) that would prohibit employers from using credit checks as part of the hiring process. The briefing featured a diverse panel that discussed the adverse impact pre-employment credit screenings are having on minorities, women, and the unemployed, and the need for legislation to curb the use of such screenings by employers.  The panel consisted of Ben Peck, Senior Legislative and Policy Associate, Demos; Tanya Clay House, Director of Public Policy, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Sarah Crawford, Director of Workplace Fairness, National Partnership for Women and Families; Jose Garcia, Policy Fellow, National Council of La Raza; and Hilary Shelton, Director of Washington Bureau, NAACP.

Using a job applicant’s credit history to deny employment is not fair because personal credit history is not an accurate predictor of job performance.  Memphis is in the bottom 10 cities in the nation when ranked by average credit scores, according to a 2012 survey by Experian, one of the nation’s major consumer credit rating firms. Second chances in Hollywood and professional sports occur every day, but not for my constituents who are desperately looking for work.  We should be doing everything in our power to help people find jobs during these tough economic times – not hinder them.

Republic of Georgia
I recently served as an international monitor for the high-profile Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Georgia as a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE – also known as the Helsinki Commission).  I was appointed to the Helsinki Commission by House Speaker John Boehner in early 2011.  It was an honor to serve as a monitor for the Helsinki Commission.  The Georgian government worked hard to hold free and transparent elections and this was its first litmus test for democracy.  The Helsinki Commission and the world were watching this election closely because Georgia’s future and international reputation is at stake. These elections were an important test for Georgia’s democracy.  I have long been an advocate for protecting the right to vote in America and overseas and will continue to fight for the right to vote.

The election I witnessed was free and fair, with checks and balances in place that assured that people were registered voters and only voted once. There were some activities leading up to election day, weighted by the government to their advantage, that made it more difficult for Georgia Dream Party leader Bidzina Ivanishvili to get his message out.  Nevertheless, it appears the people’s will prevailed and, for the first time, a peaceful change in power via the election process has come about in a former Soviet satellite.  I met Mr. Ivanishvili on Sunday morning and presented him with a U.S. House of Representatives coin as a token of goodwill. He accepted the coin with a broad and gracious smile. It was beautiful and inspirational to witness the ecstatic Georgian people participate in the Democratic process.  Hundreds of thousands of citizens participated in a rally in Tbilisi after the election results were announced.  The OSCE helped contribute to this birth, growth and fulfillment of democracy and I’m happy to say that Democracy is alive and well in Georgia, which is important to the U.S.A. because the country serves as a friend and buffer on the Russian border and is a pipeline for oil and gas to Europe from Azerbaijan.

September Jobs Report
I issued a statement today on the U.S. Department of Labor’s September employment report, which shows that the U.S. economy added 114,000 jobs in September -- the 31st straight month of private sector job growth -- and saw unemployment fall to 7.8 percent. Unemployment is still a major concern in Memphis and across America but the September employment report is proof positive President Obama and Democrats are working to rebuild our economy despite Republican efforts to stunt job growth through inaction in Congress.  Far too many families across the country are struggling to put food on the table and pay their bills.  Republicans must stop their obstructionist ways so we can continue to build upon the slow but steady economic growth we are experiencing.  

President Obama laid out an impressive plan that will help create jobs and improve our economy right now.  The American Jobs Act would put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans by helping small businesses grow, extending the payroll tax and investing in our infrastructure.  The measure is based on bipartisan ideas and will be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes and asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.  I will be proud to support President Obama’s American Jobs Act when it reaches the House floor.

Memphis Airways Bridge
On Tuesday I announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded Tennessee $3,722,177 in new federal funds to replace the Memphis Airways Bridge over Nonconnah Creek at the same location as a result of bridge scour and erosion.  I was pleased to announce that the City of Memphis has once again received a multi-million dollar federal grant that will be used to improve the state of our city’s infrastructure.  These new federal funds will upgrade a vital bridge connector that will be constructed to ensure that it can withstand a violent earthquake or other natural disasters.

The Works, Inc.
On Wednesday I announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded The Works, Inc. $788,673 in new federal funds for community services and community economic development.  The Works is a necessary force in revitalizing South Memphis. Such a generous grant gives The Works the resources necessary to serve South Memphis to the best of its ability.  I am pleased with the success of The Works as they continue to invest in South Memphis.  I thank the Department of Health and Human Services for their continued support of the restoration and revitalization of South Memphis.

The Soulsville Charter School Gets Invited to VP Debate

“I am a man of strength and power, a driving force that will use the rocks that have been thrown at me and build a castle.  I will continue to keep the faith and determination given to me by my father.”  It was this high school senior statement posted on The Soulsville Charter School’s college counseling center from student Justin Hicks that was the impetus for 20 students from the school being invited as the only school outside Danville, Kentucky to the only vice presidential debate of the election season at Centre College on October 11.  Please join me in congratulating our students on this great achievement and click here to learn more.

Listening to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
This week I participated in a Helsinki Commission briefing on child sex trafficking.  The sex trafficking and abuse of children is a crime that destroys the lives of the victims as well as the social fabric of society. The traffickers and abusers rely on their ability to frighten a child into silence or the reluctance of adults to listen when children speak. It is imperative that the justice system be ready to listen to allegations and to thoroughly investigate them.

The Helsinki Commission, in conjunction with the Victims’ Rights Caucus, held this briefing on how justice systems can most effectively respond to domestic and international allegations of child trafficking. The briefing included a current case study in the Netherlands, where a government official has been accused of domestic and international child sex trafficking.  Dutch authorities conducted a preliminary investigation, but many have found it grossly unsatisfactory as Dutch authorities interviewed only one of three victims and none of the available witnesses or facilitators of the alleged crime was interviewed.  For more on the case study, please view the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmeYiR-yyS4.

This week, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national, bipartisan children’s advocacy group, recognized 100 Members of Congress -- including me -- for leadership on issues important to children during the 112th Congress.  It’s an honor to be recognized by the First Focus Campaign for Children for my work on behalf of America’s children. Our children represent the best for our country’s future and we must invest in them, their health and their educations.  I take pride in fighting for our children in Congress and will continue to fight for them throughout my career.

Free Photo Identification
State officials recently announced plans to open eight driver service centers, including one in Memphis, on the first Saturday of October and November to give citizens more opportunities to get photo identification cards required for voting in the November election.  The centers will open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 6 – TOMORROW -- and November 3 but only for issuing voter photo IDs and converting non-photo driver’s licenses into photo driver’s licenses.  In Shelby County, only the driver service center at 3200 East Shelby Drive will open on the two Saturdays.

However, registered voters without any of the government-issued photo IDs approved for voting purposes may obtain the voter photo IDs at the three other driver service centers in Shelby County during their regular business hours -- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. They are at 3040 Walnut Grove, 6340 Summer and 5019 West Union Road in Millington. They are also available at the limited-service License Reinstatement Center in Hickory Ridge Mall during its regular business hours on weekdays.  If you only need to get an ID for voting purposes, 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.

Grant Announcements
I regularly 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 regularly on my website.

Wishing you a happy and safe weekend,

As always, I remain,

Most sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress