Memphis

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Kelly Armstrong (ND-At Large) today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act of 2021. The legislation would end the unjust practice of judges increasing sentences based on conduct for which a defendant has been acquitted by a jury.

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa introduced the measure in the Senate last Thursday.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today attended his first hearing of the Committee on Natural Resources that he joined in January. The hearing, which he attended remotely, was on Discussion Draft of the Insular Area Climate Change Act. The insular areas of the United States are territories that do not belong to one of the 50 states, and include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Marco Rubio of Florida today planned to reintroduce bipartisan legislation to strengthen safety measures to prevent deadly underride accidents involving tractor-trailers and straight trucks. The bipartisan Stop Underrides Act would require underride guards on the sides and front of all new trucks and update outdated standards for underride guards on the rear of trucks.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which has jurisdiction over voting rights, today voted for H.R. 1, the For the People Act. The measure will restore public confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections, limit the influence of Big Money and special interests, strengthen oversight of election spending, establish non-partisan commissions for redistricting, and end conflicts of interest while improving ethics rules.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, tonight expressed deep satisfaction at the passage of the groundbreaking George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which he believes will help build trust between police departments and the communities they serve. The measure contains major elements of bills Congressman Cohen authored, including the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, the Police CAMERA Act, and Police Training and Independent Review Act.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that Shelby County will receive a $1,009,893 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program has been successful in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and in providing treatment to those in need. This grant funding will help Shelby County provide care for those affected by HIV and AIDS, and will improve treatment outcomes for patients in Shelby County. It will ultimately save lives."

WASHNINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today went to the House floor to urge passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, emphasizing its redistricting and voting rights provisions.

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:

"This is an important and good bill. It's a comprehensive bill that takes in a lot of issues that are important to giving people their opportunity to vote and the people the opportunity to elect their leaders in a fair manner.

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today re-introduced the Civil Rights Enhancement and Law Enforcement Accountability Improvement Act. The measure would apply the doctrine of respondent superior to employers of a law enforcement officers. If enacted, the employer would be vicariously liable for officers' acts or omissions committed within the scope of their employment that deprive people of their constitutional rights.