Fighting Food Deserts

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Food Deserts

Telephone Town Hall

Balancing the Budget

Booker T. Washington High School

Larry Finch

Ned McWherter

Home Preservation

Aerotropolis

Health Science Center

Grant Announcements



Food
Deserts

This week I reintroduced legislation to combat “food deserts” by offering tax
incentives for the establishment of supermarkets in underserved areas. 
Food deserts are regions with little or no access to supermarkets that offer
healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.



Because of food deserts, far too many people in Memphis and across the country
are leading lifestyles that are jeopardizing their health and the well-being of
their families.  Urban and rural areas are suffering from a lack of
healthy eating choices due to there not being enough fruits and vegetables sold
in their neighborhoods.  Many families also do not have access to the
transportation they need to shop at supermarkets that are further away. 
My bill would give families more healthy eating options by providing
supermarkets with tax breaks to open new locations in urban and rural areas.



Telephone
Town Hall

On
Wednesday I hosted a telephone Town Hall on Medicare and Social Security that
included the participation of more than 8,100 9th District constituents. 
Hearing what my constituents have to say about the issues is very important to
me because it helps me to better represent you in Congress.  The telephone
Town Hall was geared toward the issues of Medicare and Social Security but I
discussed a number of other concerns with 9th District residents, including how
best to create jobs and improve the economy, extending unemployment benefits,
and providing services to veterans, among other topics.  



Balancing
the Budget

On Thursday I spoke on the House floor about the importance of a comprehensive,
mature approach to balancing the budget and reducing the deficit, while still
preserving healthcare and creating jobs. Click
here to see my remarks.



Booker
T. Washington High School

On
Tuesday I visited the students at Booker T. Washington High School to
congratulate them for having been selected as one of six finalists for this
year’s Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.  From 7am CT on
April 21 until 10:59pm CT on April 29, the public will have a chance to view
and rate the videos and essays from each of the six finalists.  One of the
top three rated schools will be selected to have President Obama travel to the
school and give the commencement address.



This is an amazing opportunity for Booker T. Washington High School and I have
the utmost faith in its students and their teachers.  Booker T. Washington
High School has what it takes to win this national competition and a visit from
President Obama.  I am happy to lend my support to the school and the
students. 
Click here for more information about the program.



Larry
Finch

Memphian Larry Finch was laid to rest last Saturday.  Larry was a great
Memphis Tigers basketball player and coach and an amazing human being who did
so much for our city.  I was honored to speak at his funeral on Saturday
in Memphis.  Click
here to see me speak on the House floor about Larry’s life and many
accomplishments.



Ned
McWherter

Former Tennessee Governor and Speaker of the General Assembly Ned McWherter
also was laid to rest this past weekend; I attended the memorial service in
Dresden, his hometown.  Governor McWherter had a long career serving the
state of Tennessee.  I first worked with him in his role as Speaker of the
House of Representatives and then served with him during his entire eight years
as Governor.  He was the most influential and loved Democratic leader from
Tennessee during my lifetime.



Home
Preservation

Last
Saturday I spoke at Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Second Home Preservation
community event at Southwest Community College.  This event gave people
the opportunity to discuss options for any financial challenges that they may
be facing regarding their mortgages.



I have authored legislation to establish a grant program for state and local
governments to help provide mediation between homeowners and lenders in an
effort to help prevent foreclosures in Memphis and across the country.  Click
here to learn more about my Preventing Homeowners from Foreclosure Act of 2011.



Aerotropolis

I spoke at the Airport Cities World Conference at the Peabody Hotel on Tuesday. 
I discussed my legislation to establish an Aerotropolis in Memphis and other
cities across the county.  Click
here to learn more about my initiative.



Health
Science Center

This week I announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
awarded the University of Tennessee Health Science Center $358,000
for heart and vascular diseases research.  The new federal funds will be
distributed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.



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.