Government Reform

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Ethics Committee, today introduced a privileged resolution to require the Ethics Committee to preserve and release its findings from an investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida.

Gaetz has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be Attorney General of the United States. 

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor today, making the case that the United States Senate should not agree to Donald Trump’s request to permit recess appointments of his nominees without hearings or votes. He also called for the release of the Ethics Committee report on the conduct of Matt Gaetz, who resigned his House seat on Wednesday night after being nominated for Attorney General.

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today filed a discharge petition on the House floor to force a vote on his Latonya Reeves Freedom Act. The rare parliamentary maneuver would require a vote on the measure if 218 members of Congress sign the petition. The bill currently has 222 cosponsors.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who led early efforts to find President Trump in violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clauses when Trump was in office, today welcomed the House Oversight Committee’s conclusion that Trump accepted “ethically

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today reintroduced the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, requiring the collection of pertinent information in these cases. The 1994 Crime Bill requires the Attorney General to collect information on instances of “excessive” force but the term is difficult to define. Congressman Cohen’s bill would be limited to cases of deadly force.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today spoke in favor of the Assuring Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act -- and voted to pass it favorably out of committee. The bill is now eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Equity Act, which would update the current U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG funding criteria and adopt a single formula for grants based on factors reflecting current needs.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today applauded President Biden’s announcement to reschedule marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 under the Controlled Substances Act, and welcomed Attorney General Merrick Garland’s move to begin the formal rulemaking process.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement: