9th District
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Prior to returning to his work in Memphis last week, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced H.R. 3015, the Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act, to help reduce the prevalence of “food deserts” and help ensure that healthy, fresh food is available throughout the nation, including in urban areas. The legislation would provide tax incentives for the establishment of supermarkets in empowerment zones and formerly designated renewal communities.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that President Obama has nominated Sheryl Lipman, Chief of Staff to University of Memphis Interim President R. Brad Martin and former University Counsel, to serve as District Court Judge for the Western District of Tennessee. The Congressman recommended Ms. Lipman after convening a diverse, bipartisan screening committee to conduct interviews of nine potential candidates for the position.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today congratulated the City of Memphis on being named one of the world’s top 20 travel destinations by MSN. The top 20 list included Memphis alongside world icons like Paris, Venice, and Istanbul and natural wonders like Jackson Hole. In describing Memphis, the article mentions a greenway that includes the Harahan Bridge Project, which Congressman Cohen spent nearly three years working on in order to secure funding.
[MEMPHIS, TN] - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement upon learning of the passing of Tennessee House Speaker Pro Tempore Emeritus Lois DeBerry, the longest serving member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and the first female and only African American to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore:
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today on the Floor of the United States House of Representatives, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) commemorated the fifth anniversary of the passage of H.Res.194, the first official Congressional apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws. The text of the apology, which passed the House on July 29, 2008, is available here and video of the Congressman’s remarks on the House Floor today is available here.
The Congressman’s remarks as prepared follow:
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that the University of Memphis has been awarded a total of $890,000 in grant funding for arts and research projects. The three grants announced today were awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
“This funding underscores the important role University of Memphis scholars play in areas of national importance including sciences and the humanities,” said Congressman Cohen.
[MEMPHIS, TN] – After House Republican leadership violated their own policy of publically posting legislation at least 3 days in advance of a vote and jammed through an ultra-conservative Farm Bill with just a few hours’ notice, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) expressed his disappointment with provisions of the legislation that continue billions of dollars in unnecessary subsidies to the largest farms and multimillion-dollar agribusinesses while providing nothing for nutrition, food stamp, and food bank programs that millions of children and families across the nation rely on to survive.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) late yesterday introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill that would have helped our nation achieve energy independence and bolstered local employers like Sharp Electronics. Though the amendment failed late yesterday evening, the Congressman's legislation aimed to promote homegrown renewable energy, help reduce heating and cooling costs for American families, and create opportunities for renewable energy companies to grow private-sector jobs.