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Environment

Information regarding my stance on Environmental issues.

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United States Congressional Seal
January 31, 2026

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) wrote to Governor Bill Lee on Friday evening asking him to seek Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for Shelby County for expenses incurred in response to the recent snowstorm. Congressman Cohen noted that the preliminary damage assessment of $4.7 million exceeds the minimum requirement for seeking the assistance.

The letter reads in part:

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U.S. House of Representative seal
January 14, 2026

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today testified before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee about his priorities for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District and for improvements to national safety programs he has long championed.

The Committee invited individual members to present their priorities during its “Member Day” hearing as it works on the surface transportation reauthorization bill. See that testimony here.

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U.S. House of Representative seal
January 13, 2026

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Tipton County will receive $146,880 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for debris removal following last April’s severe storms.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Last year’s tornadoes that swept through Tennessee, killing 10 people, hit Tipton County particularly hard. I am pleased to see this funding, which will help to put the remnants of those storms behind us.”

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U.S. House of Representative seal
December 29, 2025

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Program has awarded two grants totaling $6,891,760 to the Memphis Fire Department and the MidSouth Development District.

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United States Congressional Seal
December 17, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today reintroduced the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act, legislation to help American families cover the cost of eliminating lead from their homes.  The Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act would significantly broaden the national response to this threat to public health by providing refundable tax credits for homeowners, landlords, and tenants to remove lead from homes.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

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United States Congressional Seal
December 11, 2025

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor and later voted against the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act after three amendments he proposed to better protect the Memphis water supply were rejected by the Rules Committee. The measure passed on a 221 to 205 vote.

Congressman Cohen’s proposed amendments would have:

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U.S. House of Representative seal
December 3, 2025

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), who has exercised vigorous oversight of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) policies throughout his career representing Memphis and its utility, Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW), today urged the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to reject President Trump’s nomination of Lee Beaman to the TVA Board of Directors. Beaman is going before the committee for a confirmation hearing today. Congressman Cohen noted Mr.

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United States Congressional Seal
December 2, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Tim Burchett (TN-2) today reintroduced the TVA Increase Rate of Participation (IRP) Act to require greater transparency and accountability in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process. The IRP process is a comprehensive study projecting how the nation’s largest federal utility meets energy needs.

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U.S. House of Representative seal
November 20, 2025

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today introduced the Clean Cloud Act, legislation to establish emission standards for electricity used by high-demand energy users such as cryptominers and data centers. The measure has seven original cosponsors. The companion bill was introduced by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). 

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

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United States Congressional Seal
November 13, 2025

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today spoke at the fence-cutting and dedication of the new trail through the newly re-opened 17 acres of old growth forest in Overton Park for which he secured $3 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding. The grant also solved a longstanding Memphis Zoo parking challenge by protecting the Overton Park Greensward. The improvements resulting from the federal funding will open a walking path and more access to a beautiful part of Memphis as well as provide a solution to Memphis Zoo visitors parking on the Greensward.