{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/have-safe-and-happy-holiday-season", "Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nI wanted to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very safe and happy holiday season. This week, I commended the President for issuing a record number of commutations and pardons in one day but encouraged him to do more when it comes to marijuana-related convictions, and I announced I would be reintroducing a bipartisan bill to establish a\u00a0minimum seat size on airplanes for the safety and health of passengers. I will also be appearing on MSNBC Friday morning to discuss Russia\u2019s influence in our elections and President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s transition. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter\u00a0and\u00a0Facebook\u00a0to see these updates as they happen.\nPreparing to Host My 2017 District Issues Meeting  Commending Presidential Commutations for Non-Violent Drug Offenders  Fighting for the Safety of Airline Passengers  Appearing on MSNBC on Friday  Highlights from 2016  Helping Memphians Get Covered  Weekly Health Tip  2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available\nPreparing to Host My 2017 District Issues Meeting\nOn Monday, January 9 from 9am-11am, I will be holding\u00a0my annual District Issues Meeting at my Memphis Office to discuss issues affecting the Ninth District. Earlier this month, I sent out a survey asking you to tell me what issues you thought were most important for Congress to be working on next year. You provided me with very useful feedback to take back to Washington, highlighting the need for Congress to protect Medicare and Social Security, address gun violence, create good-paying jobs, expand access to affordable healthcare, ensure equal rights for all and much more. If you have not yet filled out the survey, you can do so below:\u00a0Click to open in a separate window\nCommending Presidential Commutations for Non-Violent Drug Offenders\nOn Monday, I commended President Obama for granting a record number of commutations and pardons in one day for those serving unjustly long sentences for largely non-violent drug convictions. However the President should continue working at Mach speed to issue as many appropriate commutations and pardons as possible before leaving office, especially for those in jail for non-violent marijuana convictions and for crack-cocaine disparity injustices.\u00a0Read more\u00a0here. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nFighting for the Safety of Airline Passengers\nOn Monday, I announced that Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and I would be reintroducing the bipartisan SEAT Act early next year to establish a minimum seat size on commercial airlines as well as a minimum distance between rows of seats to protect the safety and health of airline passengers. Read more\u00a0here.\u00a0\nAppearing on MSNBC on Friday\nOn Friday morning, I will be on MSNBC at approximately 9am CT to discuss Russia\u2019s influence in the 2016 Presidential election and President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s transition. Tune in!\u00a0\nHighlights from 2016\nBelow are a few highlights from a very productive year as your Congressman. I look forward to continuing to represent the Ninth District in 2017. \u00a0\nCongressman Cohen\u00a0spoke on the House floor in support of the 21st Century Cures Act in November. Congressman Cohen\u2019s\u00a0EUREKA Act for Alzheimer\u2019s research was included in the final bill that President Obama signed into law last week. He was quoted twice in the New York Times for his remarks. You can read those articles\u00a0here and\u00a0here.\nPolitical Cartoon that appeared in the Commercial Appeal on December 11, 2016. Congressman Cohen\u00a0introduced a Constitutional amendment in December to abolish the electoral college and provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President.\n  Congressman Cohen attended the Big River Crossing opening ceremony in October. Congressman Cohen helped secure a $15 million federal TIGER Grant as part of the public-private partnership to fund the project.\nCongressman Cohen and Former Israeli President Shimon Peres in 2007. Congressman Cohen was\u00a0invited by President Obama to help represent the United States in Israel for the funeral of Shimon Peres in September.\nCongressman Cohen questioned Attorney General Loretta Lynch in July about the need for additional police sensitivity trainings and the need for independent prosecutors to investigate instances of police use of deadly force. Congressman Cohen\u2019s\u00a0Police Training and Independent Review Act currently has 100 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and the support of the NAACP. \u00a0\nCongressman Cohen hosted constituents, local gun violence prevention groups and city leaders in his District Office in June for a discussion on\u00a0gun violence prevention after he was one of the original 15 members to take to the House floor with civil rights icon Representative John Lewis (D-GA) to demand Speaker Paul Ryan hold a vote on legislation to expand background checks and legislation to prevent gun sales to suspected terrorists.\n  In March, Congressman Cohen was part of the Congressional delegation that accompanied President Obama on his\u00a0historic trip to Cuba.\u00a0Congressman Cohen attended the Cuban National Team v. Tampa Bay Rays exhibition game in Cuba sporting his autographed hat from his childhood hero Minnie Minoso.\u00a0\n\u00a0Congressman Cohen\u00a0spoke out against continued efforts by House Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and defund Planned Parenthood in January. Congressman Cohen has been one of the staunchest supporters of the ACA and Planned Parenthood throughout his time in Congress.\u00a0\nHelping Memphians Get Covered\n  \n\tThe open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace for 2017 plan shopping and comparison is open. The last day to sign up for health insurance is January 31, 2017. Visit my website for more information on getting covered for 2017. \u00a0\nWeekly Health Tip\nEach week, I will be suggesting a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9th Congressional District. As always, it\u2019s best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.\u00a0\nThe Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released a list of 12 ways to have a safe and healthy holiday season with your friends and family, including washing your hands to prevent the spread of illness, practicing fire safety around your space heaters and fireplaces, and more. Read the full list\u00a0here.\n2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available\nMy office currently has a limited number of 2017 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete\u00a0this form\u00a0on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee\u2019s Ninth District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the Ninth District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter.\nAs always, I remain.\u00a0  \n\tMost sincerely,    \n\tSteve Cohen  \n\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/have-safe-and-happy-holiday-season"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.9038069769740105, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}