Judiciary

WASHNINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today went to the House floor to urge passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, emphasizing its redistricting and voting rights provisions.

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:

"This is an important and good bill. It's a comprehensive bill that takes in a lot of issues that are important to giving people their opportunity to vote and the people the opportunity to elect their leaders in a fair manner.

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today re-introduced the Civil Rights Enhancement and Law Enforcement Accountability Improvement Act. The measure would apply the doctrine of respondent superior to employers of a law enforcement officers. If enacted, the employer would be vicariously liable for officers' acts or omissions committed within the scope of their employment that deprive people of their constitutional rights.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), joined by Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Bobby L. Rush (IL-01), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Gwen Moore (WI-04), André Carson (IN-07), Donald M. Payne Jr. (NJ-10), and Karen Bass (CA-37), today introduced a bill to remove the name of former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover from the FBI Headquarters Building in downtown Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today introduced a measure to enforce Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibiting those who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding public office.

Bills aimed at improving police-community relations, diversity training

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security today questioned expert witnesses in a hearing on "The Rise of Domestic Terrorism in America."

During his five minutes questioning expert witnesses, Congressman Cohen said the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters and white nationalists was just the most recent example of the phenomenon that has been increasing in recent years. He said:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on the Courts, today participated in a hearing on "The Need for Lower Court Judgeships – 30 Years in the Making." Congressman Cohen focused his questions to the panel of expert witnesses on the need for more federal appellate court judgeships and importance of a diverse federal judiciary that fully reflects the American people.

During his questioning, Congressman Cohen said:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act to regulate and reinforce protections for civil rights memorials and monuments across the United States by establishing federal penalties against vandalism of these sites, similar to the existing safeguards in place for the vandalism of veterans' memorials. It would also direct the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights to create a list of monuments and memorials that should be protected.