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 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:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, questioned witnesses today about police reform measures at a hearing on Police Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability.
Returns to Washington to Conduct Judiciary Committee Oversight
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will return to Washington to participate in Wednesday's Judiciary oversight hearing on Policing Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability.
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MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, applauded introduction of the Justice in Policing Act. The bill incorporates his National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act (H.R. 119), the Police CAMERA Act (H.R. 120), and Police Training and Independent Review Act (H.R. 125). Congressman Cohen has championed these bills for several years.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, June 3, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time -- 9:00 a.m. Central time, Chairman Steve Cohen (TN-09) will preside at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties hearing on protecting the right to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global health crisis poses an unprecedented challenge for administering free and fair elections and ensuring that every eligible citizen is able to vote this November.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) returned to Washington and voted this evening for a $3 trillion measure to address the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the national economy. The measure contains funding for state and local governments, hospitals, first responders, our health care workers, testing, another round of $1,200 economic impact payments and increased spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among many other things.