Defense
Information concerning my stance on Defense and Military issues.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) -- a member of the Helsinki Commission -- today issued the following statement upon news of the upcoming release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive since 2006 by Hamas. Egyptian authorities helped broker a deal that will reunite the soldier with his family in the near future. While in the Middle East in June on a fact-finding mission, Congressman Cohen met with Egyptian officials to urge them to help win the release of Corporal Shalit and move the peace process forward.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation -- the National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act of 2011 -- Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) authored with Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA-4), Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA-46), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-8) to help members of the National Guard and Reserve obtain bankruptcy relief should they need it.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today released the following statement in advance of the ten year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) recently voted to reduce the federal deficit by more than $66 billion when he voted on nearly a dozen amendments. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2219) passed the U.S. House of representatives late last week. The $649 billion defense spending bill increases the Pentagon budget by $17 billion and covers the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Defense Department is the only agency that will see a double-digit increase in its budget.
“Considering the sacrifice our National Guardsmen and Reservists are making on our country’s behalf overseas, it is only fair and right that we help them during the bankruptcy process,” said Congressman Cohen. “Our measure would extend a bankruptcy provision that is set to expire later this year that enables Guardsmen and Reservists to bypass the ‘means test.’ In these tough economic times, veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan face a risk of financial distress.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today issued the following statement after voting for the adoption of his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the U.S. House of Representatives. The amendment prevents funds authorized in the NDAA from being used to deploy, establish, or maintain a presence of Members of the Armed Services or private security contractors on Libyan territory. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 416-5.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, legislation Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) authored -- the Honor the Written Intent of Our Servicemember Heroes (WISH) Act -- to enable military personnel to determine who they want to organize their funeral arrangements was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the FY2012 Defense Authorization bill. The measure now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Congressman Cohen released the following statement upon learning of the death of Osama bin Laden:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today voted to support legislation that would repeal a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the U.S. military. The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Air Force announced Memphis will not be the preferred base location for eight new C-17 aircraft: