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), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today reintroduced the Fresh Start Act, a bill to permit the expungement of the records of certain non-violent offenses.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today discussed the need for an increased focus on environmental justice by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and greater efforts to restore the Mississippi River at a Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing to consider priorities for the 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today responded to the decision by Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-05) not to seek re-election with the following statement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, today questioned expert witnesses at a hearing entitled "The First Step Act, The Pandemic, and Compassionate Release: What Are the Next Steps for the Federal Bureau of Prisons?"
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a vocal critic of the Tennessee Valley Authority's relationship with Memphis, its largest customer, today applauded efforts by the Chairs of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and three of its Subcommittees to get answers about the federally chartered company's ratepayer energy burden and apparent resistance to addressing renewable energy and climate change, an issue he has repeatedly raised.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to state Representative Curtis Johnson, chairman of the House Select Committee on Redistricting, urging the Committee to focus on the "shared needs and values of constituents within each community," and include the entirety of Memphis in a single compact and contiguous congressional district.
Congressman Cohen's letter reads in part:
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) released the following statement after the White House released just 1,500 documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, leaving more than 10,000 documents either partially redacted or withheld entirely:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today called attention to the Committee's release of a report on the General Services Administration's (GSA) handling of the lease of the Old Post Office in Washington to former President Donald Trump.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) tonight applauded the Senate's passage of his bill renaming the Memphis federal building exclusively for the late Judge Odell Horton. The measure, which removes the name of the late Congressman and segregationist Clifford Davis, now goes to President Biden to be signed into law.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for the Protecting Our Democracy Act, a comprehensive measure aimed at preventing presidential abuses of power and protecting elections from foreign interference. The measure contains his amendment to require Congressional oversight when the President grants self-pardons or pardons family members, administration officials, or paid campaign staffers.