Defense
With the 164th Airlift Wing and the Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington both within Tennessee's Ninth Congressional District, defense and military policy play a significant role in the community.
Congressman Cohen works to support the troops with sufficient funding so that they have access to adequate equipment and receive necessary training. The men and women who serve in the military put their lives on the line to protect American interests and values, and Congress must work to protect their interests. This includes protecting the pay, retirement and health benefits they earned through their service to our country.
As the world becomes more volatile, dangerous and interconnected, it is important to remember that going to war is a significant decision that can lead to devastating effects both at home and abroad. It’s a decision that should not be made unilaterally by the Executive Branch, regardless of party. According to the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war, and that is a decision Congressman Cohen takes very seriously.
He prioritizes legislation that protects servicemembers and their access to essential services. Here are some of the measures the Congressman supports with this goal in mind:
- Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act to extend health care coverage to TRICARE (Active Duty and Retired) beneficiaries who have adult children younger than 26 years old. This would lower health care costs and guarantee access for hundreds of thousands of military families across the country.
- Pay Our Troops Act to ensure pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service during a government shutdown.
- Gold Star Family Education Parity Act to expand and modernize education benefits for the surviving dependents of service members who died in the line of duty by ensuring that families, receive the full Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits their loved ones earned, even if those benefits were not formally transferred prior to the service member’s death.
More on Defense
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) expressed his appreciation for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to fire him today over their differences on the conduct of the war and on domestic political issues, and made the following statement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Memphis will receive U.S. Navy funding of $21,184,191 over 48 months to develop an Unmanned Systems Degraded Environment Facility for testing drones in complex and controllable airflow patterns. The funding was awarded based on competitive bids solicited in 2022 and will produce a facility for testing unmanned vehicles and Naval simulators under degraded visual conditions.
WASHINGTON –Today, Evan Gershkovich, reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony by a court in Russia. Gershkovich’s sentencing comes after he was arrested almost 16 months ago on manufactured espionage charges. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member and OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) issued the following statement:
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on the Servicemember Quality of Life Investment Act and National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2025 (H.R. 8070). Although Congressman Cohen strongly supported several of the bill’s provisions, including pay raises for enlisted U.S.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor this morning, urging support for bills providing aid to Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific region.
In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today hailed the Senate passage of his National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act. Earlier this week, Congressman Cohen managed the House debate and consideration of this important legislation. Now, after being approved by both chambers of Congress, Congressman Cohen’s bill will go to President Biden to be signed into law.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today managed the floor debate and then voted for his National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act that extends for four more years the exemption from the bankruptcy code’s means test for certain members of the National Guard and reservists. Congressman Cohen led the effort to exempt members of the National Guard and reservists in 2008 and extensions of the exemption in 2015 and 2019.
WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen released the following statement regarding his vote to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) will observe Veterans Day on Friday’s national holiday and made the following statement: