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 (TN-09), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, tonight voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Congressman Cohen has repeatedly pointed to the positive impacts this bill will have on Memphis and nationwide from economic growth, increased labor participation, and enhanced U.S. competitiveness.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, spoke from the House floor today, applauding a variety of popular elements in the Build Back Better plan nearing a vote in the House including the extension of the Biden Child Tax Credit, the expansion of access to affordable home care for older adults, the authorization of universal, comprehensive paid leave for U.S. workers, and the largest effort to combat climate change in U.S.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, spoke from the House floor and expressed hope that both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – which has passed the Senate – and the Build Back Better Act, which is still being negotiated, will pass with bipartisan support.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today spoke in favor of and voted to advance to the full House of Representatives, the Nondebtor Release Prohibition Act. The measure would, in part, prevent companies from avoiding the financial consequences of their actions by transferring liabilities to other legal entities and then filing for bankruptcy to avoid losses.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today participated in the markup of several bills, speaking in favor of the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, and voting to advance it to the full House of Representatives. The "red flag" bill would allow family members and law enforcement to petition federal judges to temporarily remove firearms from people they find to pose a credible threat of harm to themselves or others.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today went to the House floor to speak in favor of a resolution referring former Trump advisor Steve Bannon to the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution for contempt of Congress. Congressman Cohen then voted for the measure, which passed the House 229 to 202.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today went to the House floor to speak in favor of a resolution referring former Trump advisor Steve Bannon to the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution for contempt of Congress.
The House is expected to take up the resolution this afternoon.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today presided at a hearing on "Oversight of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: The Current State of Integration of People with Disabilities."
In his opening statement, Chairman Cohen said:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today voted for, and the House passed, the Eliminating the Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act, a sentencing reform measure that ends the disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses.
The vote on passage was 361 to 66.
MEMPHIS – Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ed Case (HI-01), Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Tim Ryan (OH-13) tonight wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin seeking information about the U.S.-supplied aircraft Afghan pilots flew to Uzbekistan as the Afghan military collapsed before the Taliban takeover of their country.
The letter reads in part: