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
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.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, tonight expressed deep satisfaction at the passage of the groundbreaking George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which he believes will help build trust between police departments and the communities they serve. The measure contains major elements of bills Congressman Cohen authored, including the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, the Police CAMERA Act, and Police Training and Independent Review Act.
WASHNINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today went to the House floor to urge passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, emphasizing its redistricting and voting rights provisions.
In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:
"This is an important and good bill. It's a comprehensive bill that takes in a lot of issues that are important to giving people their opportunity to vote and the people the opportunity to elect their leaders in a fair manner.
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today re-introduced the Civil Rights Enhancement and Law Enforcement Accountability Improvement Act. The measure would apply the doctrine of respondent superior to employers of a law enforcement officers. If enacted, the employer would be vicariously liable for officers' acts or omissions committed within the scope of their employment that deprive people of their constitutional rights.