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), joined by Congresswomen Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), today introduced the Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act that would prohibit debt collectors from collecting or attempting to collect debt from consumers after a statute of limitation has expired.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for, and the House passed, the Dream and Promise Act, providing a path to citizenship for young people brought to this country as children. Before the vote, Congressman Cohen spoke from the House floor during debate on the measure.
In those remarks, he said, in part:
"These Dreamers are trained in America. They've been educated in America. They're talented. They're smart.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded that elements of his Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act were included in the American Recovery Plan Act that President Biden signed into law last week. Introduced with Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the measure will help put an end to the for-profit college industry's aggressive recruiting of veterans, service members, and their families.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) tonight listened to President Biden's first prime time address from the East Room and commended the President for his historic efforts to address the pandemic and its economic fallout.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today participated in a Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security hearing on "Controlled Substances: Federal Policies and Enforcement." Congressman Cohen, a longtime member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, was an original cosponsor and voted for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which passed the House in December.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for and the House passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, to clarify and strengthen firearms transfer laws.
H.R. 8 requires a background check for every gun sale or transfer. The bill provides some specific commonsense exceptions such as allowing a person to give a gun as a gift to a family member; loaning a gun for hunting or target shooting; or temporarily transferring a gun for self-defense.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for and the House passed the Senate amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion measure addressing the coronavirus pandemic and its unprecedented economic consequences. The measure now goes to President Biden who is expected to sign it into law.
Today's vote on passage was 220 to 211.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) tonight voted for and the House passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would re-orient federal labor law to favor worker rights and do away with "right to work" laws that hamper labor organizing in 27 states, including Tennessee. It is the most significant pro-labor legislation in a generation.
The vote on passage was 225 to 206.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Kelly Armstrong (ND-At Large) today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act of 2021. The legislation would end the unjust practice of judges increasing sentences based on conduct for which a defendant has been acquitted by a jury.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa introduced the measure in the Senate last Thursday.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which has jurisdiction over voting rights, today voted for H.R. 1, the For the People Act. The measure will restore public confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections, limit the influence of Big Money and special interests, strengthen oversight of election spending, establish non-partisan commissions for redistricting, and end conflicts of interest while improving ethics rules.