Click here to view the story on the CNN website.

The SPEECH Act puts an end to “libel tourism”, the practice of exploiting plaintiff-friendly defamation laws in foreign countries in an attempt to silence or intimidate American journalists, authors and publishers.

“Libel tourism threatens to undermine free speech in the U.S. because, with the rise of the internet and foreign courts’ liberal exercise of personal jurisdiction over Americans, foreign defamation law that lacks the constitutionally mandated speech-protective measures of U.S. law can be applied to publications that are substantially or entirely distributed in the U.S.,” said Congressman Cohen during his floor speech.

Supporters of the SPEECH Act include the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the Vermont Library Association, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers, the American Civil Liberties Union, First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, and former CIA Director James Woolsey.

The Commercial Appeal:

Incumbent 9th District Congressman Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., received a $5,000 contribution today from the Congressional Black Caucus political action committee.

“You have been selected to receive this contribution because of your commitment to the CBC PAC’s goals,” Meeks wrote.

With almost $1 million in his campaign account, the amount is immaterial, but its symbolic value is significant because it indicates strong support for him among black colleagues in Congress. His opponent, Willie Herenton, has argued that the district should elect the former Memphis mayor so that one of the 11-member Tennessee Congressional delegation is an African-American.

“The CBC PAC’s mission is to increase the number of African-Americans in the U.S. Congress (and) to support non-black candidates who champion CBC interests,” said the letter from PAC Chairman Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y.

Click here to read the rest.

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1555 Madison Avenue

Memphis, TN 38104

Thursday, August 5, 2010

7:30 p.m. to Midnight

Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Food and Beverages (non-alcoholic)

Cash Bar

Entertainment by Prime Cut Band

Excerpt:

Because a former Agriculture Department official lost her job over wrongly-reported racial bias by some media, race relations in America are again thrust onto the front pages and into “breaking news.”

Our Most Intriguing Person today is calling attention to his racial difference in the political arena.

A Tennessee Democrat, Rep. Steve Cohen went to Washington three years ago ready to join the Congressional Black Caucus. (60 percent of his constituents are African-American).  But there’s a problem: CBC members must be black. Steve Cohen is not.

Read the rest at the CNN website.

“Steve Cohen has been an invaluable leader in championing clean energy jobs and protecting our natural treasures,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “We are proud to endorse Congressman Cohen for re-election because his record proves he knows that the policies needed to grow Tennessee’s economy and keep America’s competitive edge are the same policies that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and curb harmful carbon pollution.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement from the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund,” said Congressman Steve Cohen.  Throughout my career in public service, I have been a strong proponent of efforts to lower energy costs, invest in renewable energy resources, promote energy independence and create a stronger more secure economy. And I will continue to be an advocate for clean energy and our environment when I return for the 112th session of the United States Congress.”

The League of Conservation Voters was founded in 1969 to advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will adopt and implement such policies.

Rep. Cohen received a perfect 100% score on LCV’s 2009 National Environmental Scorecard and has a lifetime LCV score of 98%.

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