Science and Technology

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the University of Memphis will be receiving $395,791 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for research identifying the neurophysiological basis of "risky decision-making."

Congressman Cohen also announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will be receiving $388,611 from the National Institute of Mental Health to study genes, neural circuits and behavior.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be receiving a $538,500 grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for work in biological chemistry.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"I'm pleased to announce this significant funding for important research that supports advances in identifying, treating and preventing disease. This funding will keep St. Jude at the apex of research into childhood illnesses."

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center will be receiving a $228,000 research grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to examine infection from leptospira bacteria.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"I'm pleased to announce this important research grant which will keep Tennessee's medical school in the vanguard of scientific research."

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Betty McCollum (MN-04) led a letter with 32 other representatives to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking for an explanation of why the agency disregarded the advice of its own scientists by issuing a rule restricting but not banning asbestos, a known carcinogen. See the letter here.

The letter reads in part:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, questioned Federal Aviation Administration Acting Administrator Daniel K. Elwell about two fatal crashes of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in October 2018 and in March of this year. See the exchange here.

During his exchange with Administrator Elwell, Congressman Cohen asked: "I believe every country grounded the MAX before we did. Every country. How were we last?"

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, questioned witnesses at a hearing today looking at achieving the promise of a diverse workforce by encouraging minority students to consider studying the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines. Congressman Cohen asked the witnesses about the role of scholarships in promoting diversity in those disciplines. See his exchange with the hearing witnesses here.

The witnesses at the hearing were:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, today wrote to Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking for an explanation of why the agency disregarded the advice of its own scientists by issuing a rule restricting but not banning asbestos, a known carcinogen.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted for, and the House passed, H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, ensuring that the United States honors its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 and leaves a healthier, safer and more sustainable world for future generations. The vote was 231 to 190.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement: