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 (TN-9) today reintroduced a joint resolution to amend the Constitution by abolishing the Electoral College. The archaic vestige of a compromise with pro-slavery Southerners during the 18th century debate over the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College can – and has, as recently as 2016 – thwarted the will of the American people by installing as president the loser of the popular vote.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, today extolled the bipartisan leadership of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee that led to overwhelming support of this year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act. Congressman Cohen emphasized the importance of ensuring that the provisions of the law, signed six months ago, are fully implemented as Congress intended.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Senator Edward J. Markey (MA) led a letter to the leadership of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with seven House and two Senate colleagues urging the federally owned electric utility agency to reconsider its focus on expanding gas-fired power generation and instead encourage and plan for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and distributed energy sources in its final Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Committee on Ethics, today offered a privileged resolution continuing his effort to publicly release the Ethics Committee’s report of alleged misconduct by former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. The measure was referred to the Ethics Committee in a parliamentary maneuver designed to prevent the release.
Congressman Cohen released the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee long concerned about the potential abuse of the presidential pardon power, was pleased to see his proposed Constitutional Amendment to limit the pardon power was endorsed by former Clinton Administration Labor Secretary Robert Reich.
Reich called attention to the proposed amendment in a Substack article on Tuesday after President Biden pardoned his son Hunter.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Committee on Ethics, today reoffered a privileged resolution continuing his effort to release the Ethics Committee’s report of alleged misconduct by former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. He will speak on the measure and notice it on the floor this evening.
Congressman Cohen said:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee long concerned about the potential abuse of the presidential pardon power who has sought to amend the Constitution to protect against perceived conflicts of interest, today released the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a student of American history convinced that the remaining records connected to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy should be unsealed as a demonstration of government transparency, said he appreciated President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to release all remaining records once he returns to the White House. An admirer and supporter of President Kennedy, Congressman Cohen was in junior high school at the time of the assassination. It was a trauma for the entire country.
WASHINGTON – “The day after Donald Trump announced Matt Gaetz would be his pick for Attorney General, I went to the House floor to demand that the House Ethics Committee Report on Matt Gaetz be made public.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Ethics Committee, today introduced a privileged resolution to require the Ethics Committee to preserve and release its findings from an investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida.
Gaetz has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be Attorney General of the United States.