Civil Rights
Protecting Civil Rights and Voting Rights
Congressman Cohen is constantly pushing for the United States to live up to its highest ideals of equality, pluralism, and the rule of law. That is why he is a lead sponsor of the Do No Harm Act. This bill realigns civil rights law so that religion cannot be used to circumvent anti-discrimination law. Congressman Cohen is also working to strengthen our civil rights laws, as a cosponsor of the Equality Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, across all areas, including housing, employment, public accommodations, education, and health care.
The Congressman is keenly aware our representative democratic system depends on every citizen being able to cast a meaningful ballot and that vote being counted. He is a leader on voting rights and has led the charge for the John Lewis Voting Rights Amendment Act, which would restore the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court struck down portions of it in Shelby County v. Holder by establishing a new, nationwide coverage formula for preclearance. As Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, he held 13 hearings, including one in Memphis, documenting racial discrimination in voting and the need for robust enforcement.
He also introduced the Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act, which requires states to allow early voting for federal elections for at least two weeks prior to Election Day. It also ensures that polling locations are within walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route, sufficient voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources are provided, wait times are fair and equitable for all voters across a state, and no one is required to wait longer than one hour to cast a ballot at a polling place.
The Congressman is also a cosponsor of the Automatic Voter Registration Act to require states to automatic voter registration, as well the America Votes Act which allows voters to provide a sworn, written statement attesting to their identification to meet voter identification requirements, and the Weekend Voting Act, which would move election day to a weekend to help ensure that every voice and vote is counted equally,
Congressman Cohn is a cosponsor of a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission decision. Rich corporate and special interests should not be allowed to drown out the voices of everyday Americans with their money. He similarly is a cosponsor of the Disclosure of Information on Spending Campaigns Leads to Open and Secure Elections (DISCLOSE) Act which requires disclosure of campaign-related spending by corporations, Super PACs and other outside groups. Finally, the Congressman cosponsored the Campaign Sunlight Act, which requires sponsors of political advertisements to make the contents and sources of information used in their ads available for public inspection online.
More on Civil Rights
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned expert witnesses before its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government at a hearing entitled “Partisan and Profitable: The SPLC’s Influence on Federal Civil Rights Policy.”
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners, and Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-2), Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, will introduce on Friday a House resolution supporting the designation of October 30 – today – as the International Day of Political Prisoners.
The resolution reads:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, plans to introduce the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act on Friday.
In a statement, Congressman Cohen said:
“With the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Vasquez Perdoma v. Noem, the Supreme Court rubber-stamped racial profiling, a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s militarized policing strategy.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned the premise of a Republican-inspired hearing on “Europe’s Threat to American Speech and Innovation,” calling it “disingenuous.”
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, as a federal holiday on Thursday, June 19. Juneteenth recognizes the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved Texans that “all slaves are free” and that the Civil War had ended. The emancipated residents of Galveston celebrated that day and, over the years, its popularity as a holiday spread across the country and became an annual tradition.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) received the “Equality Ally Award” from Q Street on Thursday evening, a recognition of his commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and civil rights. In response, Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“I am proud to receive the Equality Ally Award from Q Street, especially during Pride Month. I am pleased to see my commitment to the LGBTQ+ community recognized in the work I do advancing civil rights for all. I will remain a steadfast supporter, and thank Q Street for this award.”
WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Jim McGovern (MA-2) along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island today introduced a resolution condemning President Trump’s continual attacks on the free press. The resolution calls for the Executive Branch to respect the rights of journalists and allow them to perform their duties “without fear of retaliation.” The United States must reaffirm its commitment to preserving and protecting freedom of the press as a cornerstone of democracy.
MEMPHIS – Six weeks after his initial request, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today renewed his demand for information about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies, priorities and transparency from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Earlier today, the Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to consider the challenge to the deportations of Venezuelans accused without evidence of being members of a terrorist gang.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement: