Environment
Information regarding my stance on Environmental issues.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today questioned expert witnesses at a hearing on "An Update on the Climate Crisis: From Science to Solution" before the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Congressman Cohen asked about the health consequences of extreme heat and air pollution, the impact of climate change in terms of the extinction of rare species and the impact of plastic pollution in the world's oceans.
Toward the end of his questioning, Congressman Cohen, an advocate of banning single-use plastic bottles and eating utensils, said:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that modernizes the trade arrangements between the three countries by updating and improving provisions of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). USMCA was made significantly stronger than the text that the President originally presented thanks to months of tireless work by Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Neal and the USMCA Working Group.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, today questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler on his decision in April to disregard the advice of his agency's own scientists by issuing a rule that restricted but did not ban asbestos. Congressman Cohen led a letter with 33 Congressional colleagues questioning that decision.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) questioned Dave Ross, Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Water, about the agency's retreat from protections of groundwater and, in particular, coal ash contamination. See the exchange here.
Congressman Cohen noted that Tennessee has a serious problem with coal ash contamination and that he and his colleague, Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), have been working to shine light on it.
WASHINGTON – In light of yesterday's announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposal to continue to weaken safeguards for coal ash piles, Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09), Bobby Rush (IL-01), John Sarbanes (MD-03), and David Price (NC-04) wrote a letter to Andrew Wheeler, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), signed by 27 fellow Members of Congress.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Betty McCollum (MN-04) led a letter with 32 other representatives to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking for an explanation of why the agency disregarded the advice of its own scientists by issuing a rule restricting but not banning asbestos, a known carcinogen. See the letter here.
The letter reads in part:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, today wrote to Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking for an explanation of why the agency disregarded the advice of its own scientists by issuing a rule restricting but not banning asbestos, a known carcinogen.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted for, and the House passed, H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, ensuring that the United States honors its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 and leaves a healthier, safer and more sustainable world for future generations. The vote was 231 to 190.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has asked for a congressional hearing on the impacts of coal-burning energy plants and coal ash dumps on health, groundwater, and aquatic life.
Cohen wants the matter heard before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, putting the request in a Monday letter to its ranking members and to members of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Federal and state lawmakers are calling on the Tennessee Valley Authority to expedite its efforts to clean-up the toxic coal ash in Memphis.
TVA said there are nearly three million cubic yards of coal ash still sitting at the site on President's Island.
State Senator Brian Kelsey introduced a resolution on Wednesday urging TVA to do more to make ensure the city's drinking water is protected since there are some toxins near the site that threaten the water supply.