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) will return to Washington Thursday and plans to vote Friday on a fifth bill in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Heroes Act, H.R.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip James Clyburn asking them to prevent the privatization and outsourcing of federal jobs during the ongoing pandemic. Congressman Cohen cited a plan by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to outsource 108 Information Technology (I.T.) jobs to private contractors.
Congressman Cohen's letter reads in part:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) returned to Washington and voted today for a $484 billion response to the coronavirus pandemic with aid concentrated on small businesses and hospitals. This is the fourth bill Congress has passed to address the crisis that devotes $60 billion for loans to small businesses, such as minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned enterprises. In addition, the bill provides $60 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and $25 billion for testing.
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Aviation, today wrote Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) Stephen Dickson and Deputy Administrator Daniel K. Elwell requesting that funding to airports provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act be suspended until an equitable funding formula can be found.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced they would send a letter to House and Senate leaders next week calling for repeal of a $170 billion tax break in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for hedge fund owners and real estate developers. While most Americans will get a one-time economic impact payment of $1,200, the individuals eligible for this tax break stand to gain an average tax break of $1.6 million.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today presided over a hearing on "Presidential Clemency and Opportunities for Reform."
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, today wrote to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson to ask for accurate and credible evidence that the Amtrak ridership supports decisions to end dining car service on some long-distance routes.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, testified this evening before the House Rules Committee, urging the panel to adopt a rule for consideration of a resolution enabling the full ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. It would become the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today presided over a hearing on "Citizens United at 10: The Consequences for Democracy and Potential Responses by Congress."
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) went to the well of the House today to condemn the lack of diversity in President Trump's appointments to the federal judiciary, to his cabinet and to the Tennessee Valley Authority's Board of Directors.
"I'm concerned about the lack of diversity, the lack of care about diversity, that this Administration shows in its appointments and in its actions," he said. "In the federal judiciary, the President has nominated approximately 250 judges, six of whom are African American. That's a disturbing and chilling number."