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) 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.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today condemned President Trump's commutation of Roger Stone's sentence on seven felony convictions. Stone was convicted of making false statements to Congress, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. He was scheduled to surrender Tuesday to begin a 40-month sentence.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today introduced a Congressional Resolution seeking an inquiry into whether the House of Representatives should impeach Attorney General William P. Barr. The resolution has 35 co-sponsors.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for H.R. 51, Washington, D.C. Admission Act, making 66 of the 68 square miles of the present federal district a state.
The vote on passage was 232 to 180.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee that voted to advance the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to a floor vote last week, today said he intends to vote for the measure. Congressman Cohen participated in the debate on the bill this afternoon. The vote is expected this evening.
In his floor debate remarks, Congressman Cohen said:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will return to Washington to participate in a hearing examining the unprecedented politicization of the Department of Justice under Attorney General William Barr. The hearing on interference and threats to prosecutorial independence will include prominent whistleblowers in recent high-profile cases as witnesses.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today urged his colleagues to focus on police overuse of force against African Americans, and not misleading and distracting narratives, in its consideration of the Justice in Policing Act.
The Committee voted to send the measure to the House floor after a day-long markup.
During debate on the measure, Congressman Cohen made a speech in which he said in part: