{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cohen.house.gov/working-senator-elizabeth-warren-protect-workers", "Working with Senator Elizabeth Warren to Protect Workers", "2015-09-18", "2015", "2015-09", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nThis week, Senator Elizabeth Warren and I fought to protect workers from unfair hiring discrimination, I defended Planned Parenthood and womens health from unfounded attacks from the right, and I helped announce new funding for pediatric cancer research at St. Jude. Keep reading to learn more or follow me on TwitterandFacebookto see these updates as they happen.\nWorking with Senator Elizabeth Warren to Protect Workers  Defending Planned Parenthood from Deceitful Attacks  Supporting St. Jude and Fighting Childhood Cancer  Recognizing Memphis Workers  Your Chance to See the Pope in Washington  Preventing Veteran Suicide  Grants for Memphis\nWorking with Senator Elizabeth Warren to Protect Workers\nUsing a job applicants credit history to deny employment is not just unfair because its nearly impossible to raise your credit score without a jobit also makes no sense because credit scores are not accurate predictors of job performance. But American employers are using credit checks to screen potential employees anyway.\nWe should be doing everything in our power to help increase the chances of people finding jobs  not hinder them. Thats why this week I introduced the Equal Employment for All Act, which would ensure that job hunters cant be forced to disclose their credit scores during the hiring process, and co-wrote an op-ed with Senator Elizabeth Warren about why the bill should become law. I am pleased that a consumer champion like Senator Warren has joined this fight, and I look forward to working with her to pass our common-sense legislation.\nDefending Planned Parenthood from Deceitful Attacks\nAfter last weeks Republican-led Planned Parenthood show trial in the House Judiciary Committee that didnt even include a representative from the womens health organization the Republicans were attacking, today the House votedwithout my supportto defund Planned Parenthood. I spoke out against these efforts this morning, and you can watch my speech here. Not only are these recent attacks unfounded and based on misleading videos that have been widely discredited, but todays vote was rushed to the floor without even a public hearingensuring the American people couldnt tell Congress how they felt. \nThe truth is that it is already prohibited for federal funds to be used for abortion services, and this effort to defund Planned Parenthood would only deny women  especially low-income and minority women  access to the vast majority of Planned Parenthoods other health services health services like wellness exams, cancer screenings, contraception, and STD prevention and treatment.\nNearly three million women each year get their healthcare services from Planned Parenthood, and 97% of those services have nothing to do with abortion. Instead of these theatrical end-runs around Roe v. Wade and the American people, our focus should be on ensuring women can receive the care they need.\nSupporting St. Jude and Fighting Childhood Cancer\nSeptember is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and I was pleased to help announce a new $250,000 grant for pediatric cancer research led by Dr. Charles Gawad at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital from Hyundai Hope on Wheels this morning. The grant was part of more than $10 million announced this morning, and brings Hyundais total donations to St. Jude to $790,000 since 2010.\nAnd earlier this week, I met with St. Judes Rob Clark, the American Heart Associations Loreane Mays, and Kimberly Miller of the HIV Medicine Association in my Capitol Hill Office to discuss the importance of funding health research. Ill continue fighting to increase funding for the NIH, the National Institutes of Health, which is another Department of Defense that helps us find cures for some of the worlds most deadly diseases and illnesses.\nRecognizing Memphis Workers\nOn Tuesday, I spoke to members of the National Treasury Employees Union Local 98 about the how important workers are to the Memphis economy, and the whole American economy. We need to do more to support them and I will continue fighting to ensure everyone who works hard has a shot at the American Dream.\nYour Chance to See the Pope in Washington\nNext week, Pope Francis will become the first Pope to address a Joint Session of Congress. Each Member of Congress has been allocated a small number of standing tickets to watch the Pope's speech from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, and this month I held a lottery to give the tickets away to citizens of the Ninth District. Congratulations to those whose names were drawn.If you were not selected as a winner but would still like to travel to Washington for the chance to see Pope Francis in person, His Holiness will participate in a short parade near the White House on Wednesday morning. You can learn more details here.\nPreventing Veteran Suicide\nSeptember is also Suicide Prevention Month and I hope everyone in the Ninth District is aware of local resources that are available if you or someone you know is struggling. The Memphis Crisis Center can be reached at (901) 274-7477 and, if you are a veteran, the Memphis Veterans Administration Medical Center suicide prevention coordinator can be reached at (901) 523-8990 while the national Veterans Crisis Hotline is (800) 273-8255, option 1.\nNext month, on October 24th, First Congregational Church (1000 South Cooper) will host a town hall meeting from 2-5pm for veterans, active military, first responders, and families dealing with post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. You can call (901) 832-6093 for more information.\nGrants for Memphis\nThis week, I was pleased to announce more than $750,000 for judicial programs in Memphis and throughout Shelby County, as well as a grant for the Metal Museum and $625,000 for facility upgrades and research projects at the Memphis Zoo that will help improve our citys world-class zoo and attract new tourists.\nYesterday, I also announced nearly $1.4 million for Memphis International Airport improvements to reduce emissions and improve the air quality in and around the airport. This funding will help ensure the Memphis Airport can continue serving travelers comfortably and efficiently while protecting our environment for Memphians who live nearby.\nAs always, I remain.  \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": ["http://cohen.house.gov/working-senator-elizabeth-warren-protect-workers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2123999185860157, "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"}