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

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Equity Act, which would update the current U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG funding criteria and adopt a single formula for grants based on factors reflecting current needs.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today applauded President Biden’s announcement to reschedule marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 under the Controlled Substances Act, and welcomed Attorney General Merrick Garland’s move to begin the formal rulemaking process.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

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WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today applauded the Biden Administration decision to publish a final rule that will expand health care for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, also known as “Dreamers.” The decision ensures that DACA recipients can enroll in a Qualified Health Plan through the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace or for coverage through a Basic Health Program.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a longtime opponent of the intentional injury to horse legs and feet called soring to create an exaggerated gait at walking horse shows, today applauded the release of U.S.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Tri-State Community Health Center will receive a grant of $1,416,200 for its ongoing work with the underserved from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, and today urged Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Chair Joe Ritch and President Jeffrey Lyash not to move forward with a new 1,500 megawatt gas plant and 122-mile pipeline based on an incomplete and insufficient environmental impact statement, which has been called out directly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its inadequacy.

WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Richard Hudson (NC-09) today announced the official relaunch of the Congressional Global Road Safety Caucus. The Caucus will continue to bring awareness to road safety initiatives and mobilize Congressional support to tackle the significant domestic and global health and safety crisis. Congressmen Hudson and Cohen will serve as Co-Chairs.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will receive a Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) grant of $2,693,160 for the Over and Under I-40 project, in which the CRA will lead a community-driven planning effort to mitigate the impacts of Interstate 40 (I-40) for seven historically African American and disadvantaged North Memphis neighborhoods including Klondike, Smokey City, New Chicago, North Parkway-Forest, Speedway Terrace, Medical District and Crosstown.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today applauded the passage of his TVA Salary Transparency Act, which would reinstate and modernize the Tennessee Valley Authority’s annual reporting requirement to Congress on its management structure and on the compensation of its top executives and managers. Specifically, the legislation would correct a change enacted in 1995 that removed a requirement to disclose the management structure and salaries of TVA executives as part of legislation to eliminate antiquated federal agency reporting requirements.
