Government Reform
In Congress, Congressman Cohen has taken numerous steps to begin to change the way we do business in Washington and to restore accountability and transparency to government.
He has voted for and passed legislation that banned gifts from lobbyists, prohibited the use of corporate jets, and required full disclosure of earmarks. He has supported legislation banning pensions for Members of Congress convicted of certain crimes, and to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act by increasing government transparency.
Congressman Cohen has also taken the lead on important structural reforms, like non-partisan redistricting with the John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act, and the rigorous, nonpartisan agency oversight with the Independent Acting Inspectors General Act.
More on Government Reform
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), who has represented a majority-Black district in Congress since 2007, responded to state Republican lawmakers’ call for a special legislative session to consider redistricting, and made the following statement:
“This transparent effort to create a seat for a member of Congress who will rubber stamp Trump’s increasingly bizarre and dangerous agenda will also dilute the Black vote in Tennessee to the point of irrelevance.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), Caucus Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) led a group of lawmakers expressing concerns to President Donald Trump and Acting Chairman for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) William English regarding NEH funds being unlawfully redirected toward the construction of a Triumphal Arch.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the leading Congressional advocate for decriminalizing marijuana, today welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice decision to loosen restrictions on medical marijuana by rescheduling state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III. But he said more needs to be done to remove recreational use of marijuana from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act in the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a longtime advocate of fair and sensible laws regarding marijuana, will hold a press conference and policy briefing to address the impact of incarcerating those charged with marijuana-related offenses.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who has long sought the removal of Trump lackey Pam Bondi as Attorney General, today welcomed the decision to remove her from running the U.S. Justice Department. Congressman Cohen released the following statement in response to the announcement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) tonight released a statement after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington ruled that construction of a White House ballroom must cease until President Trump receives Congressional approval after demolishing the East Wing. The statement reads:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a Co-Chairman of the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, today wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrance C. Cole seeking clarity on two drug policy implementation issues: rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act and implementing the scientific provisions of the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) in Fentanyl Act.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a cosponsor of legislation that would fund critical agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard and other DHS components, vowed to sign a discharge petition to force a vote on the measure. At the same time, Congressman Cohen continued to insist that any funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) be contingent on significant policy reforms guaranteeing civil rights and transparency.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a day after she appeared before the Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing. In yesterday’s hearing, Congressman Cohen challenged Secretary Noem on her claim that she was deporting “the worst of the worst.” In remarks at this morning’s markup, Congressman Cohen followed up on his line of questioning, explaining why local law enforcement agencies decline to cooperate with an “out of
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today spoke out against out-of-control immigration enforcement and misplaced priorities at a Committee markup. He also condemned “open and notorious unprosecuted corruption” and outrageous pardons of convicted felons.
In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part: