Energy

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today introduced FedEx Corporation CEO and Chairman Fred Smith, one of the witnesses at a hearing on "The Business Case for Climate Solutions." Congressman Cohen praised FedEx for its work in vaccine distribution and for its efforts to meet ambitious sustainability goals.

In his introductory remarks, Congressman Cohen said:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to President Biden urging that he direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rescind its recently issued nationwide permit to Valero Energy and All Plains American for its proposed Byhalia Connection Pipeline. This pipeline cuts through historic, predominantly Black neighborhoods and crosses over the Memphis Sand Aquifer which could potentially irreparably contaminate the City of Memphis' source of drinking water.

The letter reads in part:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) was pleased to announce today that he has been named to the House Natural Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over the nation's energy and mineral resources; national parks, public lands and wildlife refuges; wildlife conservation, clean water and outdoor recreation. One of Congress' oldest committees, it can trace its jurisdiction to the Public Lands Committee created in 1805.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters in Washington to express his concern that the proposed Byhalia Connection pipeline project plan may be granted a nationwide permit without taking into consideration its proximity to the Davis Wellfield and the potential impact it could have on the environment and our city's precious drinking water.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today congratulated former Tennessee General Assembly Speaker Beth Harwell and Eastern Tennessee State University President Brian Nolan on their Senate confirmations as the newest members of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded the reversal by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on its decision to outsource 108 Information Technology (I.T.) jobs. However, he expressed concern that TVA leadership only recognized the need to protect Tennessee jobs after Trump fired the Chair of the TVA on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded Trump's decision to fire Skip Thompson, Chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), over the TVA's outsourcing of jobs during the ongoing pandemic. He also agreed with Trump's criticism of the TVA CEO's $8 million per year salary, which Congressman Cohen has denounced for years.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today voted for the Moving Forward Act, a sweeping, $1.5 trillion five-year bill that will create jobs while rebuilding America's infrastructure including not only our roads, bridges, and transit systems, but also our schools, housing, broadband access, green energy, and water infrastructure.