Government Reform
In Congress, I have taken numerous steps to begin to change the way we do business in Washington and to restore accountability and transparency to government. I have voted for and passed legislation that banned gifts from lobbyists, prohibited the use of corporate jets, and required full disclosure of earmarks. Also I have passed legislation banning pensions for Members of Congress convicted of certain crimes; and strengthening the Freedom of Information Act to increase government transparency.
More on Government Reform
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and a member of its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, today questioned expert witnesses on marijuana policy at a hearing on "Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform."
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Congressmen Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) today introduced the Complete Streets Act, legislation that would promote safer and more accessible transportation routes across the United States.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) reacted to today's 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to resolve the issue of partisan gerrymandering by pointing to a Congressional solution to the problem: his H.R. 124, the John Tanner Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, presided over a hearing on "Continuing Challenges to the Voting Rights Act Since Shelby County v. Holder." The Act, repeatedly reauthorized on a bipartisan basis, most recently in 2006, was undermined by the 2013 ruling in the Shelby County case. The Act has not been reauthorized since the ruling because bipartisan support has evaporated.
In his opening statement Chairman Cohen said:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today presided over a hearing on "H.R. 40 and the Path to Restorative Justice."
In his opening statement, Chairman Cohen said:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) applauded House passage of his amendment to the State and Foreign Operations spending bill that would prohibit certain federal departments and agencies from spending taxpayer dollars at Trump-owned businesses. The vote was 231 to 187.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Ben Cline (VA-06) introduced the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act to ensure that certain members of the National Guard and Reserves who fall on hard economic times after their military service will continue to obtain bankruptcy relief without having to fill out the substantial paperwork required by the so-called "means test" under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today voted to move a measure improving and extending the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund to the House floor.
On Tuesday, Congressman Cohen presided over a hearing on the compensation fund which examined the health consequences of the September 11, 2001, attack on first responders and people living and working near the targeted crash sites.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Betty McCollum (MN-04) led a letter with 32 other representatives to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking for an explanation of why the agency disregarded the advice of its own scientists by issuing a rule restricting but not banning asbestos, a known carcinogen. See the letter here.
The letter reads in part:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen's amendment providing free credit scores to consumers passed the House today and was made a part of the Consumers First Act. The bill provides sweeping consumer protections eroded by the Trump Administration. It passed on a vote of 231 to 191.