Government Reform

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.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today introduced the Citizen Participation Act, which would make it easier to dismiss frivolous lawsuits brought to intimidate individuals because of their speech.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today spoke from the House floor about amendments he has supported in this year's annual spending bills, including a prohibition on federal spending at Trump-owned businesses that he has introduced in previous Congresses.

Congressman Cohen also spoke in favor of amendments to a spending bill that would treat horses more humanely.

In his remarks on his amendments prohibiting unconstitutional emoluments, Congressman Cohen said:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today chaired a hearing on press freedom in the United States. Congressman Cohen noted that, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, there have been more than 500 attacks on journalists during Black Lives Matter protests since May 26. Congressman Cohen also expressed his concern about Trump Administration efforts to muzzle the Voice of America.

In his opening remarks, Congressman Cohen said:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for legislation to remove all Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol and to replace the bust of Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney with a bust of Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court. Taney wrote the majority opinion in the Dred Scott v. Sanford case on March 6, 1857, which argued that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress had no power to prevent the spread of slavery.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, today wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman Peter DeFazio of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen to express his concern about the misguided formula for airport relief authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that went into effect in late March.