Memphis

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, today joined Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and several other colleagues in introducing the Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act.

Congressman Cohen has long been a leader in addressing the issue of high infant and maternal mortality, especially in Memphis, and has worked tirelessly to find solutions to these devastating problems that disproportionately affect Black Americans.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the University of Memphis has received a $251,990 grant from the National Science Foundation to acquire a Crystal X-Ray Diffractometer as a regional resource for research and education.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded the reversal by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on its decision to outsource 108 Information Technology (I.T.) jobs. However, he expressed concern that TVA leadership only recognized the need to protect Tennessee jobs after Trump fired the Chair of the TVA on Tuesday.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to Democratic leaders negotiating the next round of coronavirus pandemic economic relief to urge them to prioritize the needs of small and minority businesses in the Paycheck Protection Program and to ensure there are proper levels of transparency in place.

MEMPHIS – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Jim Cooper (TN-05) today wrote to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee expressing their concern that the state has placed obstacles in the way of families eligible for food assistance and other benefits available through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program, and potentially forfeiting $60 million in federal funds devoted to the program.

The letter reads in part:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded Trump's decision to fire Skip Thompson, Chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), over the TVA's outsourcing of jobs during the ongoing pandemic. He also agreed with Trump's criticism of the TVA CEO's $8 million per year salary, which Congressman Cohen has denounced for years.

WASHINGTON -- Monday, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) sent a letter to House leadership saying that the next COVID-19 stimulus package should mandate that lenders participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) prioritize minority-owned businesses and require the disclosure of loan recipients to ensure accountability and compliance.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) was saddened to learn of the death Friday of his friend, the Reverend Steve Montgomery, the beloved former pastor of Idlewild Presbyterian Church, who retired 15 months ago, and released the following statement:

"I've been dealing with the death of my friend Congressman John Lewis, and was shocked at the news of Steve Montgomery's death. There was a lot of John Lewis in Steve Montgomery: He was courageous, he was caring, he was forgiving, he was humble, and he was smart. His life was a blessing and his death is a great loss."