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
Long a proponent of taking the decennial congressional apportionment process out of the hands of politicians, Rep. Steve Cohen has once again introduced legislation to do just that.
The apportionment process, Cohen says, often leads to partisan gerrymandering. He favors an independent redistricting commission. On Thursday, Cohen reintroduced the John Tanner Fairness and Independence in Redistricting (FAIR) Act, which would create such a commission.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today reintroduced the John Tanner Fairness and Independence in Redistricting (FAIR) Act to take the decennial congressional apportionment process, which often leads to partisan gerrymandering, out of the hands of politicians and give it to an independent redistricting commission. Congressman Cohen also introduced the FAIR Act in the 113th Congress.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement regarding the 2015 government funding agreement:
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.
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.