Judiciary

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today went to the House floor to denounce a Republican talking point suggesting that the Second Amendment right to bear arms, including assault rifles, is a "God-given right." The speech was in response to Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio and others in Wednesday's debate on the Protecting Our Kids Act which passed the House last night.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, voted for the Protesting Our Kids Act this evening – sensible gun safety legislation that is popular with the public – and spoke from the House floor during today's debate on the measure.
The vote on passage was 223 to 204.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support the Protecting Our Kids Act but called out Republican refusal to support popular and reasonable gun reform proposals. He also ridiculed the idea that Democrats are rushing out gun legislation when the proposals have been discussed for decades.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today urged his colleagues to advance the Protecting Our Kids Act but also advocated a ban on assault weapons because "assault weapons are made to kill."
In his remarks during the bill's markup, Congressman Cohen said in part:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, and a member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, today applauded President Biden's Executive Order reforming policing practices, which was announced on the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today managed the House floor debate on H.R. 6943, the Public Safety Officer Support Act, and H.R. 2992, the Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Law Enforcement Training Act. He also managed the floor debate on a resolution condemning rising antisemitism.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned expert witnesses at a hearing entitled "Revoking Your Rights: The Ongoing Crisis in Abortion Care Access."
In his questions, Congressman Cohen said an effort is under way to outlaw abortion in all 50 states, and continued:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today presided at a hearing examining the potential reforms of the 1976 National Emergencies Act and presidential emergency powers.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about Ukrainian refugees, including children brought to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis for treatment. He also expressed his concern for Afghan interpreters awaiting entry into the U.S.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned expert witnesses at a Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet hearing on "Building Confidence in the Supreme Court through Ethics and Recusal Reform."