Government Reform

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and State Senator Raumesh Akbari (District 29) today condemned a bill signed into law last week that makes it a felony to protest on the grounds of the state Capitol. The measure also imposes mandatory minimum jail sentences for assaulting a first responder or participating in a riot. It also enhances penalties for vandalism of government property.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today returned to Washington and voted for the Delivering for America Act to restore normal operations and confidence in the U.S. Postal Service. This is in response to the Trump Administration efforts to dismantle postal infrastructure and to delay deliveries of vital shipments during a pandemic and before large scale mail-in voting for the November Presidential election is set to occur. The vote on passage was 257 to 150.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today wrote to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland about an outdated funding formula that shortchanges Memphis in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) program. Congressman Cohen told Strickland that he plans to introduce legislation to both remedy the formula and increase overall funding for the program after seeking the mayor's input.

The letter reads in part:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing his concern about the removal of sorting machines from Memphis postal processing facilities and the delays in delivery times that have resulted in reduced service. He urged DeJoy to reverse his decisions and "ensure people can receive their mail in a timely manner."

The letter reads in part:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today expressed deep concerns about Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's reported conflicts of interests in running the USPS.

Yesterday, Congressman Cohen joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and 191 other House Democrats in calling for the reversal of policies that have worsened the crisis facing the Postal Service and exacerbated a dramatic increase in delayed and undelivered mail. 

MEMPHIS – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Jim Cooper (TN-05) today wrote to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee expressing their concern that the state has placed obstacles in the way of families eligible for food assistance and other benefits available through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program, and potentially forfeiting $60 million in federal funds devoted to the program.

The letter reads in part:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded Trump's decision to fire Skip Thompson, Chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), over the TVA's outsourcing of jobs during the ongoing pandemic. He also agreed with Trump's criticism of the TVA CEO's $8 million per year salary, which Congressman Cohen has denounced for years.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today introduced the Civil Rights Enhancement and Law Enforcement Accountability Improvement Act. The measure would explicitly provide that an employer of a law enforcement officer is vicariously liable for officers' acts or omissions committed within the scope of their employment that deprive people of their constitutional rights. Municipalities would be liable to the same extent as private employers under state law.