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
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.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor today, making the case that the United States Senate should not agree to Donald Trump’s request to permit recess appointments of his nominees without hearings or votes. He also called for the release of the Ethics Committee report on the conduct of Matt Gaetz, who resigned his House seat on Wednesday night after being nominated for Attorney General.
In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today filed a discharge petition on the House floor to force a vote on his Latonya Reeves Freedom Act. The rare parliamentary maneuver would require a vote on the measure if 218 members of Congress sign the petition. The bill currently has 222 cosponsors.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who led early efforts to find President Trump in violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clauses when Trump was in office, today welcomed the House Oversight Committee’s conclusion that Trump accepted “ethically
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today reintroduced the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, requiring the collection of pertinent information in these cases. The 1994 Crime Bill requires the Attorney General to collect information on instances of “excessive” force but the term is difficult to define. Congressman Cohen’s bill would be limited to cases of deadly force.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today spoke in favor of the Assuring Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act -- and voted to pass it favorably out of committee. The bill is now eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives.