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
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.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today presided at a hearing examining the potential reforms of the 1976 National Emergencies Act and presidential emergency powers.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today questioned National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy on several traffic safety issues.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittee on Aviation, expressed his disappointment at a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) study of airplane seat sizes as it relates to the emergency evacuations of passengers.