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
The grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, was bitterly disappointing to many whose fervent hope is to see all Americans treated with dignity and equality under our laws. Brown’s death is a tragedy that cannot be denied. His devastated family understandably feels they did not receive justice.
Dear Friend,
This week, I joined the Memphis Downtown Commission to help our efforts to revitalize the city center, I discussed our nation's response to recent Ebola diagnoses on CNN, and I visited a LeMoyne-Owen College class to have a conversation about our federal government with local students. Keep reading to learn more about what I did this week.
[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) is calling on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to ensure that the City of Memphis receives more than $2.2 million in police department funding it is owed that was mistakenly awarded to DeKalb County, Georgia in 2009.
Top 5 congressional districts with the most African-Americans have been gerrymandered by conservative Deep South state legislatures
[MEMPHIS, TN] – In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) sought to shed light on the redistricting practice known as “packing” that is increasingly used by many conservative-led state legislatures in the South to minimize the influence held by minority communities, specifically African-American communities.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has asked Attorney General Eric Holder to take a close look at the practice of “packing” minorities, especially African-Americans, into a single legislative district to reduce their overall influence.
“All Americans hold dear the sacred, constitutionally-protected right to vote, and we too often take for granted the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’” the Memphis Democrat wrote in a letter to the attorney general.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has asked Attorney General Eric Holder to take a close look at the practice of “packing” minorities, especially African-Americans, into a single legislative district to reduce their overall influence.
“All Americans hold dear the sacred, constitutionally-protected right to vote, and we too often take for granted the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’” the Memphis Democrat wrote in a letter to the attorney general.
Dear Friend,
This week we celebrated Constitution Day, Congress voted to prevent another government shutdown and support President Obama’s strategy to confront and degrade the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (a.k.a. ISIS), I met with the new President of the University of Memphis as well as the incoming Director of the National Civil Rights Museum, and First Lady Michelle Obama visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week.
Dear Friend,
This week we reflected on the 13th anniversary of September 11th, President Obama clearly outlined his strategy to degrade and dismantle the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (a.k.a. ISIS), and I announced more than $1 million to help Memphians get health insurance coverage. Keep reading to learn more about what happened this week.
[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement upon learning of the video released by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) claiming to show an execution of journalist Steven Sotloff:
“I was saddened to learn of the latest video purporting to show the execution by ISIS of journalist Steven Sotloff. If it proves true, the beheading of a second American journalist is further proof that ISIS, with a desire to create a caliphate, is a threat to America and to democracy everywhere.”
-30-
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today cosponsored legislation to help protect the pensions and benefits that public service employees—including firefighters and police officers—have worked hard for and earned.