Washington, D.C. – In November 1621, after the pilgrims’ first successful corn harvest, a celebratory meal was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It wasn’t for over two hundred years that the meal now known as Thanksgiving was held on a consistent date across the nation.
Just days after delivering the Gettysburg address in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be the final Thursday of November. In 2019, it is customary to reflect on the many things we are grateful for.
Giving Thanks
We have much to be thankful for this year, including our religious freedom. Each day, I open my Bible and study my favorite passages, without fear of persecution. The same cannot be said in many other countries. It is with gratitude that I openly share my beliefs.
Our men and women in uniform, and our first responders, work every day to defend our country and protect our safety. These brave men and women put their lives on the line in the name of freedom. We are so grateful for these heroes.
From the entire Blackburn family, we hope each of you has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Whether you’re making grandma’s favorite pumpkin pie or cooking up some wild turkey, we hope your Thanksgiving meal is delicious.
Honoring Women’s Suffrage
Every woman in Congress has the suffrage movement to thank for our ability to represent our constituents. Thank you, President Trump, for keeping women’s history alive for future generations by signing my bipartisan Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act into law.
It will cement the role women played in the fight for the vote by creating a $1 silver coin, which will be produced at no cost to the taxpayer. Read my op-ed to learn more about the role Tennessee women played in the fight for suffrage.
Speaking Out Against Anti-Semitism
The European Union’s Court of Justice recently issued a rule requiring special labels for goods imported from areas in Israel.
The ruling makes it easier for those wishing to discriminate against products made in Israel and is a win for the radical BDS movement. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and I wrote a letter calling out this blatantly anti-semitic ruling.
Standing Up For Free Speech
Widespread protests recently broke out against the Iranian regime’s decision to increase gasoline prices by 50 percent. Iranian officials then took the unprecedented action of shutting down the internet to silence dissent and hide police brutality. My colleagues and I sent a letter to President Trump urging the Administration to swiftly impose sanctions on the officials responsible and support restoring Internet access.
Stay In Touch
As a reminder, you can reach any of my six offices in Tennessee to share a concern or request assistance with a federal agency. The phone number for my Washington D.C. office is 202.224.3344, the same number previously used by Senators Bob Corker and Bill Frist.
Be sure to follow my work on behalf of Tennesseans on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/marshablackburn
Twitter: @MarshaBlackburn
Instagram: @MarshaBlackburn
My Best,
Marsha
