Judiciary
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted today to authorize the Judiciary Committee to subpoena Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker if he fails to appear or refuses to answer questions at a scheduled oversight hearing on Friday. The committee approved a resolution to authorize the subpoena by a vote of 23 to 13.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) questioned expert witnesses on gun violence today in the first House hearing addressing gun violence in eight years, despite the rising level of mass shootings in recent years. The Judiciary Committee on which Congressman Cohen serves as a senior member is considering H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Check Act. See the exchange here.
During his questioning, Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. This legislation requires the federal government to keep records on Equal Access to Justice Act payments, including reimbursements to individuals for attorney's fees accrued as a result of unjustified legal action taken by the federal government.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) was named Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties today by the House Judiciary Committee.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) went to the well of the House today to speak on behalf of a resolution condemning white nationalism and white supremacy, following controversial comments by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) in a New York Times interview.
WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Don Young (Alaska-at-large) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow patients to have access to medical marijuana in states where marijuana is legal without fear of federal prosecution.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced two Constitutional Amendments today on the opening day of the new Congress. The first would eliminate the Electoral College and provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President of the United States. The second would limit the presidential pardon power by prohibiting presidents from pardoning themselves, members of their families, members of their administrations and their campaign staff.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced a package of criminal justice and voter protection bills today on the first day of the new Congress:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Congressman Tony Cardenas (D-CA) and Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) praised final passage of the Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Training Program (H.R. 767) today on a 386 to 6 vote, a measure to provide training to health care professionals on identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted for the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that passed the House today on a 358 to 36 vote after clearing the Senate late Tuesday night.