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
Congressman is leading federal bill with Senators Cory Booker and Rand Paul to recognize medicinal marijuana nationwide
[WASHINGTON, DC] – With both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly voting unanimously last night to send a bill allowing for the medicinal use of a non-psychoactive cannabis oil known as cannabidiol (CBD) to Governor Bill Haslam’s desk, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) called on the Governor to quickly sign the bill into law and provide Tennessee children suffering from epilepsy access to this safe, effective treatment.
Dear Friend,
This week, I hosted my latest “Building a Healthier Memphis” event to highlight how important it is that Memphis parents ensure their children receive the appropriate vaccines, we commemorated the 47th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and in South Carolina another unarmed African-American male was killed by a police officer.
Without adequate, comprehensive national data on fatal police interactions exists, abuses are difficult to identify and fix
[MEMPHIS, TN] – A bill introduced earlier this year by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, would close a loophole in federal law that makes it easier for local law enforcement agencies, including one in South Carolina where an officer has been charged with shooting an unarmed man in the back, to hide police shootings from the public.
[MEMPHIS, TN] - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded President Obama’s decision to commute the sentences the sentences of 22 drug offenders serving sentences in federal prisons, including one Memphian who has already served nearly 20 years.
[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today joined lead sponsors Rep. John Lewis (GA-05), House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (SC-06), Rep. John Conyers (MI-13), Rep. Robert Brady (PA-01) and more than 170 Democrats in reintroducing the Voter Empowerment Act (VEA) in the House of Representatives. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York will introduce a companion version in the Senate.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Sunday’s 60 Minutes shed light on a growing problem that Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) has worked to address for several years, the archaic state record-keeping systems that contribute, along with inaccurate reports from other sources, to errors in Social Security’s so-called “death master file,” which most federal agencies and private firms rely on to limit payments and other services.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) has introduced H.R.411, the Streamlining and Improving Methods at Polling Locations and Early(SIMPLE) Voting Act, which would ensure that every state allows citizens to vote for at least 15 days prior to federal elections and require that states provide adequate poll workers and other resources to prevent wait times of longer than one hour. Congressman Cohen also joined Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., and U.S.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – On the five-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) joined U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-21), Donna F. Edwards (MD-04), and Jim McGovern (MA-02) to introduce the Democracy for All Amendment. This proposed amendment to the United States Constitution would reverse highly controversial Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United v. FEC and McCutcheon v.