Judiciary
[MEMPHIS, TN] – With time running out for this Congress to pass a budget for next year, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today led a coalition of 18 Members of Congress in urging appropriators to include in their forthcoming budget compromise bill $5 million aimed at cutting through the backlog of untested rape kits that he secured in the House-passed Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. In May, an amendment authored by Congressman Cohen to add this important funding passed the House on a voice vote.
As Americans gather at their Thanksgiving table this month and join in the annual Black Friday sales, there are thousands of people who will be left out of this holiday cheer. They are far away from their families, serving lengthy sentences for non-violent, and often minor, offenses. Even though they pose no danger to the public, and taxpayers spend as much as $30,000 a year to incarcerate them, they remain in prison because of an antiquated sentencing system, with little hope of release anytime soon. That is, unless the President commutes their sentences.
As Americans gather at their Thanksgiving table this month and join in the annual Black Friday sales, there are thousands of people who will be left out of this holiday cheer. They are far away from their families, serving lengthy sentences for non-violent, and often minor, offenses. Even though they pose no danger to the public, and taxpayers spend as much as $30,000 a year to incarcerate them, they remain in prison because of an antiquated sentencing system, with little hope of release anytime soon. That is, unless the President commutes their sentences.
Dear Friend,
This week, the HealthCare.gov marketplace opened for 2015 plan selections, I spoke with nearly 7,300 Ninth District citizens during a telephone town hall meeting, and the President laid out his plan to help alleviate some of the problems with our broken immigration system. Keep reading to learn what else happened this week.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement after President Barack Obama announced a series of executive actions to alleviate several dysfunctional aspects of the United States’ immigration system:
Top 5 congressional districts with the most African-Americans have been gerrymandered by conservative Deep South state legislatures
[WASHINGTON, DC] – As the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case regarding the legality of legislative maps drawn to minimize the political power of African-Americans, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today condemned the increasing use of this racially-biased redistricting practice, known as “packing,” across the Deep South.
Dear Friend,
This week saw low voter turnout for the midterm elections. Those who exercised their right to vote sent a message to Washington that they are frustrated by gridlock. I am pleased to continue representing the Ninth District in my 5th term in Congress and I look forward to continuing my work to find common ground and help hardworking Memphians get a fair shot at the American Dream. Keep reading to learn more about what I did this week.
[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, has been named a 2014 Champion of Reform by the Drug Policy Alliance for his “major contributions” to bringing our federal drug policies into the 21st century and reducing the racial disparities they cause in our criminal justice system. Congressman Cohen is one of only 10 Members of Congress to receive this distinction from the Drug Policy Alliance.
Dear Friend,
This week, I led almost 50 Members of Congress in demanding needed support for medical research to help find a vaccine for Ebola and prevent its spread, I asked Governor Haslam to work with Attorney General Eric Holder to do more to ease the suffering of a 3-year-old Memphian, and I fought to stop conservative-led state legislatures from diluting the voting power of African-Americans. Keep reading to learn more about what I did this week.