Government Reform
In Congress, I have taken numerous steps to begin to change the way we do business in Washington and to restore accountability and transparency to government. I have voted for and passed legislation that banned gifts from lobbyists, prohibited the use of corporate jets, and required full disclosure of earmarks. Also I have passed legislation banning pensions for Members of Congress convicted of certain crimes; and strengthening the Freedom of Information Act to increase government transparency.
More on Government Reform
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) went to the House floor Tuesday to condemn Republican rules passed in the opening legislative actions of the Republican majority, including passage of a measure to revoke spending for the IRS to go after tax cheats.
In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over bankruptcy law, today reintroduced the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act (H.R. 138). The legislation would restore the treatment of private student debt to its pre-2005 status and make it dischargeable in bankruptcy.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today applauded the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol for its thorough investigation and compelling conclusions.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen, who has advocated for the release of records and files associated with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy throughout his career in public office, expressed disappointment with the National Archives and Records Administration’s limited release of the remaining records, and made the following statement today:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted no on the National Defense Authorization Act that contains $45 billion more than President Biden requested earlier this year.
The vote on passage was 350 to 80.
After the vote, Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA-18) today led a letter to the Public Interest Declassification Board seeking release of the remaining 14,000 documents associated with the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. They note that the public is skeptical about the official version of events and that the documents’ release would help restore confidence through transparency.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a vocal critic of the Tennessee Valley Authority, today introduced the TVA Reform and Consumer Protection Act that would allow greater competition inside and outside its electricity service territory by eliminating the “fence,” lowering costs to ratepayers, and subjecting the federally owned utility to much needed oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bicameral group of 58 members of Congress in a letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) in response to the agency’s potential rulemaking focused on reducing unnecessary single-use plastics in government purchases.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who was in the House chamber when insurrectionists attempted to disrupt certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021, today voted for the Presidential Election Reform Act.
The vote on passage was 229 to 203.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today spoke in favor of and then voted for the Respect for Marriage Act.