In Memoriam

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Larry Finch

Ned
McWherter


Opposing
the Government Shutdown


Stopping Youth Violence


Aerotropolis


MLK


Arts
Advocacy


John
Adler


Valerie
June


Christ
Community Health Services


Dirty
Air Act


Delta Regional Authority


Grant Announcements




Larry
Finch


Memphian Larry Finch passed away last Saturday at the age of 60.  Larry
led the Memphis State Tigers to the 1973 NCAA title game against UCLA and
coached his alma mater for 11 years, compiling a record of 220 and 130 between
1986 and 1997 -- taking the Tigers to the NCAA tournament six times.




But Larry was much more than just an amazing basketball player and coach. 
He was a unifier who helped bring Memphis together during some tough
times.  Larry did so much for our city.  Please join me and other
Tiger fans in celebrating Larry’s life and accomplishments, and please join me
in keeping his wife Vickie and their children in our prayers.  On Monday I
memorialized Larry on the House floor.  Click
here to watch my speech.




Ned
McWherter


I was saddened to learn about the death of my good friend former Tennessee
Governor Ned McWherter on Monday, who also served as Speaker of the General
Assembly.  Governor McWherter was the most influential and loved
Democratic politician from Tennessee during my lifetime.  I had a good
conversation with Governor McWherter just one week ago.  We
reminisced about our time together in the Tennessee General Assembly and his
time as Governor.




Governor McWherter crossed racial and economic lines to communicate and work
with people to get things accomplished.  We worked together on the Jobs
Conference, the Brooks Museum expansion, and securing funding for the Memphis
Zoo.  Governor McWherter was a great friend to Memphis and a great
Tennessean.  We will miss him.




Opposing
the Government Shutdown


I
spoke on the House floor yesterday
about my opposition to a government shutdown.  And I spoke again this
morning about the budget stalemate.  Bill Day, the nationally
syndicated editorial cartoonist, summed up the controversy quite well with his
cartoon to the left.  Instead of helping our country move forward during
these tough economic times, the GOP wants to hold the government hostage and play
political games with our nation’s future.




Congressional leaders are negotiating on a budget bill to keep the government
running but it is possible that they will not reach an agreement before the
current bill runs out tonight. The government will shut down at midnight if
they fail to come up with a bill that can pass Congress and that the President
can sign.




Though we do not have many firm answers at this point, I want Memphians to have
an idea of what to expect if it does come to a shutdown.  Go to my
website to learn what a government shutdown would mean to you.  My
staff will continue to revise and update my website as information becomes
available and changes.  While I don’t want Memphians to worry -- laws will
still be enforced, emergencies will be responded to, and our country will be
defended -- a shutdown would have an impact on our daily lives.  That is
why I continue to urge Congressional leaders to reach a budget agreement.




Stopping
Youth Violence


Memphis
and Shelby County Officials were in Washington, D. C. this week to present a
comprehensive, community-based youth violence prevention plan in line with its
participation as one of six selected cities with the Obama Administration’s
National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention.




I helped get Memphis into this national program.  President Obama launched
the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention in October 2010.  The goal
of the Forum is to use multi-disciplinary partnerships, balanced approaches,
and data-driven strategies to address youth violence.  Memphis and the
other five cities were selected based on need, geographic diversity, and
willingness and capacity to develop comprehensive plans.




This is an exciting opportunity for the city of Memphis.  From the first
meeting in my office with officials at the Departments of Education and Justice
and key Administrative and local community stakeholders, I knew this initiative
was going to result in a strong plan moving forward that will reduce youth
violence in our neighborhoods and continue to make Memphis a safer place.




Aerotropolis


This week I introduced two
bills to spur development of aerotropolis transportation systems in Memphis
and across the country.  The Memphis Aerotropolis is more than a
transportation network – it
is an economic development engine for the Mid-South.  The need to ship
and receive goods more quickly and over longer distances is increasing by the
day.  Establishing aerotropolis transportation systems in Memphis and
across the country will spur economic growth, create jobs, improve our shipping
transportation network, and enable us to compete more effectively in the 21st
Century global economy.




MLK


On Monday I issued a statement honoring
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  The Civil Rights leader was assassinated
43 years ago on April 4, 1968.  Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. called
upon our nation to fulfill the promise of its founding dream for all of our
people through nonviolence.  In Memphis, where an assassin’s bullet took
Dr. King’s life, this day has particular significance.  While Dr. King’s
death remains a painful memory for Memphis, the National Civil Rights Museum
that was built upon the site of the tragedy is dedicated to preservation and
education about civil rights.




I urge everyone to remember and reflect upon the life of Dr. King and to honor
his life through community service.  I hope that we use this occasion to
renew our commitment to fulfilling Dr. King’s dream.  In his brief time
with us, Dr. King inspired a nation to build ‘the beloved community’ of which
he spoke.  I ask everyone to do their part to honor Dr. King and help make
justice a reality for all of God’s children.




Arts
Advocacy


On
Tuesday I spoke at a Congressional Arts Kick Off event on Capitol Hill with
actor Kevin Spacey.  I talked about the importance of federal funding for
state and national arts programs, which are a strong driver of our economy that
boosts tourism and employs 2.9 million Americans.




John
Adler


My friend former Congressman John Adler passed away on Monday.  I honored
his life and accomplishments on the House floor.  Click
here to see my remarks.




Valerie
June


Memphis
singer Valerie June visited me in Washington this week.  To learn more
about Valerie and her music visit her website at www.valeriejune.com.




Christ
Community Health Services


On Tuesday I announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded
Christ Community Health Services of Memphis, Tennessee $214,955 for
continuing operations.  The federal funds will be distributed through
the Health Resources and Services Administration Division of Grants Management
Operations.




Dirty
Air Act


On
Wednesday I participated in a news conference opposing the Dirty Air Act, also
known as the Energy Tax Prevention Act.  The House Sustainable Energy and
Environment Coalition, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the American Lung
Association and Operation Free oppose the measure because it would overturn
science, repeal important Clean Air Act pollution control standards that
protect public health, and increases U.S. oil dependence and the fuel costs
that Americans face at the pump.




Delta
Regional Authority


This week I met with representatives from the Delta Regional Authority who were
visiting Washington.  I’ve worked closely with the Delta Regional
Authority these past few years on several projects, including their efforts to
give $3 million to Electrolux, the economic distress determination for Section
42 of downtown Memphis which enabled Pinnacle Airlines to apply for a new
market tax credit, and their efforts to help the Memphis Bioworks Foundation.




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.