Energy

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, tonight voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Congressman Cohen has repeatedly pointed to the positive impacts this bill will have on Memphis and nationwide from economic growth, increased labor participation, and enhanced U.S. competitiveness.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, spoke from the House floor and expressed hope that both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – which has passed the Senate – and the Build Back Better Act, which is still being negotiated, will pass with bipartisan support.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today questioned expert witnesses at a Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on "Toxic Coal Ash: Adverse Health Effects from the Puerto Rico Plant and Options for Plant Closure."

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, welcomed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg – "Secretary Pete" -- to his first committee hearing today and raised issues involving the Byhalia Connection Pipeline, the adequacy of Federal Aviation Administration passenger seat safety testing, Memphis' high pedestrian fatality rate and truck safety.

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.