Judiciary
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Five million dollars to help eliminate the national rape kit backlog that Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) secured in the House-passed Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill was approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee this morning.
Dear Friend,
This week, the House passed my amendment to provide an extra $5 million to help eliminate the backlog of untested rape kits in America, on the House Floor I highlighted the importance of making sure our veterans receive the care they deserve, and an impressive Memphian was interviewed by Katie Couric for her work to help foster youth. Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – The U.S. House of Representatives this afternoon passed on a voice vote Congressman Steve Cohen’s (TN-09) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill that would provide more federal resources to local law enforcement agencies working to reduce their backlogs of untested rape kits. Of roughly 400,000 untested rape kits sitting in evidence rooms nationwide, an estimated 12,000 remain untested in Memphis—more than anywhere else in the country.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) this evening offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill to provide additional resources to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Pardon Attorney to help President Obama’s Administration more fully realize the goals of its newly-expanded criteria for executive clemency.
Dear Friend,
This week, President Obama’s administration selected Memphis to be included in a brand new program aimed at growing our local economy, I voted to help protect our veterans from substandard care, and I commemorated the life of Rev. Frank McRae on the House Floor. Keep reading to learn what else happened this week.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) joined several U.S. Senators and Representatives today in urging the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, to bring more fairness to struggling students by establishing clear standards of eligibility for “undue hardship” discharge of federal student loans in bankruptcy. In a letter sent by Congressman Cohen, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) with U.S.
Dear Friend,
There were no votes in Congress this week and I enjoyed spending it at home in Memphis, where I helped open the new Fairway Manor affordable housing complex, had the opportunity to speak with elementary school students about the importance of public service, and participated in a conference focused on ensuring that our community’s cemeteries are properly maintained and respected. Keep reading to learn more about what I did in Memphis this week.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Jim McDermott (WA-07) today introduced the Limiting Investor and Homeowner Loss in Foreclosure Act of 2014 to prevent foreclosures and help struggling families keep their homes. The newly-introduced legislation would encourage debtors and secured lenders to come together to discuss and secure mutually beneficial resolutions of their mortgage difficulties.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Legislation introduced by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congressman Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL) to increase government transparency, the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act, passed the House of Representatives. Congress originally enacted the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) as a means to help individuals, retirees, veterans, and small businesses recover attorney’s fees and costs associated with suing or defending against the federal government, but in 1995 removed important reporting requirements. This legislation, H.R.