Judiciary
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) chaired the first hearing of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties today for a hearing on the National Emergencies Act of 1976 and President Trump's declaration of an emergency on the U.S.-Mexican border. See his opening statement here.
Afterward, Congressman Cohen said:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted for, and the House passed, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, the first significant gun violence protection bill in years. The vote was 240 to 190. The measure requires a background check for every gun sale or transfer with some reasonable and explicit exceptions, such as allowing temporary transfers to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, and by law enforcement and the military.
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen said he'd soon like to have Congressional hearings on the possibility of reparations for slavery. The Memphis Democrat said he's working on the issue with U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas.
He said her bill calls for a study of reparations, not the actual reparations themselves, and that he'd like to invite writers such as Ta-Nahesi Coates, Jelani Cobb, and Michelle Alexander to give testimony.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) remembered his friend and mentor Judge Russell B. Sugarmon this evening and made the following statement:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee lawmakers are responding to President Trump's decision to declare a national emergency at the border. This move will allow for more federal money for the wall at the U.S. Mexico border.
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) said he does not believe that the President's declaration is supported by the facts. He went on to say that "Apprehensions at the border have been declining for the last 18years and the drugs that enter our country mainly come through established ports of entry, not remote border crossings."
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today condemned President Trump's declaration of a state of emergency on the U.S.-Mexican border and made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) received a 100 percent score from the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the organization behind Nuns on the Bus led by Sister Simone Campbell. The score was based on seven House votes, including House passage in December of the First Step Act, which was signed into law.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
"I am proud to receive a 100 percent score from the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and for its recognizing my voting record on issues of social justice.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, voted today to move the Bipartisan Background Checks Act to the floor for consideration by the full House.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, questioned Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker at a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing today.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) hailed House passage of the Open Book to Equal Access to Justice Act, a bill he introduced earlier this year with Representative Doug Collins (R-GA).
While managing floor debate on the bill this afternoon for the Democratic side of the aisle prior to House passage, Congressman Cohen argued: