Judiciary
Congressman recommended Lipman after convening diverse, bipartisan screening committee
[WASHINGTON, DC] –Sheryl Lipman, who Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) recommended to President Obama to fill a vacancy on the District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, was today approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is tasked with reviewing nominations to the federal bench. Ms. Lipman currently serves as Chief of Staff to University of Memphis Interim President R. Brad Martin and formerly served as University Counsel.
[MEMPHIS, TN] – After President Obama commuted the sentences of 8 Americans serving unfair crack cocaine sentences and pardoned 13 others, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) positively acknowledged the use of executive clemency but noted that thousands more like these Americans remain incarcerated, serving sentences that would not be ordered today and that have been repudiated by Congress and by the United States.
[WASHINGTON, DC] –Sheryl Lipman, who Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) recommended to President Obama to fill a vacancy on the District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, today appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is tasked with reviewing nominations to the federal bench. Ms. Lipman currently serves as Chief of Staff to University of Memphis Interim President R. Brad Martin and formerly served as University Counsel.
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) this week introduced legislation, the Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act, to protect Americans from the predatory and abusive tactics of debt collectors. The Congressman’s proposal would prevent debt collectors from threatening legal repercussions when none are available or tricking consumers into paying more than they would otherwise be legally obligated to pay.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Voter ID Accessibility Act to mitigate the harmful and potentially disenfranchising effects of the unfair, burdensome and restrictive Tennessee voter ID law. Late last week, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the law, which requires Tennesseans to present selected photographic identification—including gun permits and hunting licenses but excluding photographic library cards—in order to cast a ballot.
Dear Friend,
This week, our nation turned the page on a sad chapter in its history when President Obama signed a consensus agreement to re-open the federal government and prevent our nation from defaulting on our debts for the first time in history.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Following recent announcements that President Obama’s Administration will respect state marijuana laws and seek smarter sentences when prosecuting low-level drug offenses, U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Sam Farr (CA-20), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Jared Polis (CO-02) urged the President to take another step towards common-sense drug policy by nominating a new “Drug Czar” who will bring reason, science, and facts to the soon-to-be-vacant position.
Dear Friend,
I know we are all shocked, stunned, and saddened by the tragic events that unfolded on Monday morning at the Navy Yard in Washington. I have spent much of this week thinking of the victims and all those affected by the horrors—but I simply cannot imagine the horror they must have experienced and the grief felt by their families. I hope we keep them all in our thoughts and prayers as they begin the recovery process.
Dear Friend,
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), today joined Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA-06), Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA-14), Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (AL-06) and Congressman Steve Chabot (OH-01) in introducing H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. The legislation makes permanent a moratorium on the imposition of new taxes to internet access by state and local governments, which was originally enacted in 1998.