Judiciary

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.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today presided at a hearing on "H.R. 40: Exploring the Path of Reparative Justice." The hearing explored H.R. 40, which would create a commission to study and develop a proposal for reparations for African Americans first proposed more than 30 years ago by the late Congressman John Conyers of Michigan.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today presided over a hearing on "The Constitutional Means to Prevent Abuse of the Clemency Power." As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Cohen has introduced joint resolutions in the current and previous Congresses to limit the pardon power outlined Article 2 of the Constitution.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of both the Judiciary the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, today introduced a bill to name the Memphis Federal Building at 167 North Main the Odell Horton Federal Building, honoring in his name alone the first African American federal judge to serve in the Western District of Tennessee since Reconstruction.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) responded to President Trump's final outrage in office by condemning his pardons of the corrupt and well-connected. Congressman Cohen is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties and has introduced three Constitutional Amendments since October 2017 to limit the pardon power, most recently on the first day of the new Congress on January 3. The proposed Constitutional

Amendment introduced this year would forbid pardons given with corrupt intent.