{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cohen.house.gov/president-nomiates-memphian-ron-walter", "President nominates Memphian Ron Walter", "2014-08-29", "2014", "2014-08", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\u00a0\u00a0 This week, I appeared on CNN and MSNBC, attended the ribbon cutting for the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy, and am looking forward to attending WLOK\u2019s Stone Soul Picnic on Saturday.\u00a0 Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week.\nWREG President Ron Walter Nominated to Serve on TVA Board\u00a0Discussing Ferguson, Review of Police Tactics, Race in America and Attacks by the Islamic State on CNN, MSNBC\u00a0Maxine Smith STEAM Academy Opens\u00a0Memphis Minority Business Council Economic Development Forum\u00a0Stone Soul Picnic\u00a0Facebook Photo ContestPresident Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People\u00a0Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property\n\t\u00a0WREG President Ron Walter Nominated to Serve on TVA Board\n\tYesterday, President Obama nominated WREG President Ron Walter to serve on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). I was pleased to recommend Ron Walter to President Obama, as I have known Ron for nearly 40 years and know of no finer citizen of our community. He is diligent in all things and active and loved in the community for his genuine, caring attitude. I know Ron will do an outstanding job and serve the TVA constituency with good judgment and rectitude.\u00a0If confirmed by the Senate, Walter will fill one of the nine positions on the TVA Board.\n\t\u00a0\n\tMs. V. Lynn Evans, who I previously recommended to President Obama, is currently serving on the TVA Board.\u00a0Once Walter is confirmed, I believe it will be the first time that the TVA Board includes two citizens from Shelby County, and it will be the first time that the Board includes two African-Americans.\n\t\u00a0Discussing Ferguson, Review of Police Tactics, Race in America and attacks by the Islamic State on CNN, MSNBC\u00a0  \u00a0  On Tuesday, I joined\u00a0John Berman on CNN\u2019s New Day to discuss\u00a0several issues ranging from my call for a congressional hearing on excessive force by police to the attacks by the group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).\n\t\u00a0\n\tPolice have a dangerous job, but there are too many deaths of unarmed civilians who have came into contact with police.\u00a0Lethal force should only be as a last resort after using all other reasonable means of apprehension.\u00a0That is why, as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, I initiated a\u00a0letter, co-signed by Ranking Member of the full Judiciary Committee John Conyers of Michigan and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime Bobby Scott from Virginia, to Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte demanding that he convene a Congressional hearing on recent incidents of local law enforcement using excessive\u2014sometimes deadly\u2014force.\n\t\u00a0\n\tThe CNN\u00a0interview began with a discussion of the attacks by the group called\u00a0the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).\u00a0ISIS is dangerous for the United States and for the world.\u00a0I support President Obama\u2019s decision to launch air strikes against these terrorists.\u00a0You can watch the full CNN interview\u00a0here.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tOn Sunday, I spoke with Milissa Rehberger on MSNBC about many of the same issues and the prevalence of guns in our culture.\u00a0You can watch the interview\u00a0here.\n\t\u00a0\n\tWe talked about how poverty, disease, lack of health care in the inner city, unemployment, crime and warehousing people in prison are a miasma of conditions in America that stem from Jim Crow laws and need to be addressed by Congress.\n\t\u00a0Maxine Smith STEAM Academy Opens\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  I was honored to speak at the dedication ceremony for the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy.\u00a0The new middle school will focus on empowering the whole child to learn science, technology and mathematics through engineering and the creative arts.\n\u00a0\n\tMaxine was the conscience of the community and always spoke truth to power.\u00a0She was one of my dearest friends and a personal mentor.\u00a0We worked together on numerous issues including serving on the committee to determine qualifications for Tennessee Education Lottery scholarships and on the presidential search committee for the University of Memphis which chose the first female president, Dr. Shirley Raines.\n\t\u00a0\n\tMany of Maxine\u2019s family and closest friends were present at the dedication including Judge Russell Sugarmon and his wife Gina.\n\t\u00a0\n\tThe mission behind the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy properly reflects its namesake.\u00a0Maxine was a complete citizen who understood the importance of education.\u00a0When accepting her National Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum, Maxine said, \u201cEducation will determine the food you eat, the job you hold\u2026the greatness you achieve.\u201d\n\t\u00a0Memphis Minority Business Council Economic Development Forum\u00a0\n\tOn Wednesday, I spoke at the Memphis Minority Business Council (MMBC) Economic Development Forum.\u00a0The MMBC Economic Development Forum is the largest economic development conference in the Mid-South. Its primary focus is to foster and facilitate opportunities for minority and women-owned business enterprises regionally and nationally.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tI was proud to bring Tennessee\u2019s first-ever Minority Business Development Agency Business Center to Memphis, which is helping many minority entrepreneurs in Memphis reach the full potential.\u00a0I am also pleased by the success of my annual federal procurement fair to Memphis businesses secure federal contracts.\u00a0I am committed to playing my part to support and empower minority businesses in the Ninth District and to working with MMBC to expand opportunities for minority and women entrepreneurs in Memphis.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0Stone Soul Picnic\n\tI will be attending the WLOK\u2019s 40th Annual Stone Soul picnic at Tom Lee Park on Saturday where I will introduce the Stax Music Academy set and enjoy listening to some of the great music produced in Memphis.\u00a0I hope to see you there.\n\t\u00a0Facebook Photo Contest\u00a0\u00a0\n\tI\u2019m updating my Facebook cover photo\u2014and my next one could be a photo that you took! If you have a great photo that represents the Ninth District and you'd like to have it highlighted on my Facebook page, please\u00a0email it to me here. I'll post the best photos sent in, and anyone who \"likes\" my page will be able to vote to choose which photo will be my next cover photo.\n\t\u00a0President Obama Seeking Mentors for Young People\u00a0\n\tIt 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\u2019s why President Obama is calling on Americans to sign up as long-term mentors to young people through his new \u201cMy Brother\u2019s Keeper\u201d 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\u00a0here.\n\t\u00a0Make Sure to Claim Unclaimed Property\n\tThe 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\u2019t searched in a while, you can visit\u00a0https://www.claimittn.gov\u00a0and 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!\nI hope you and your family have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend.\nAs always, I remain.\u00a0  Most sincerely,\u00a0  \u00a0  Steve Cohen\u00a0  Member 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": ["http://cohen.house.gov/president-nomiates-memphian-ron-walter"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8709498215466738, "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"}