Shelby County
As a fourth-generation Memphian, I have dedicated my life to public service in Memphis and Shelby County. My work has defined my life and affected the lives of people in Memphis, across Tennessee and now across America throughout my career in national, state and local politics.
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WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today voted to require the President to seek Congressional authorization for starting the war against Iran. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to declare war, and President Trump did not seek Congressional approval before launching attacks in concert with Israel on Saturday.
The vote to rein in the President’s war-making failed on a vote of 212 to 219.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a day after she appeared before the Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing. In yesterday’s hearing, Congressman Cohen challenged Secretary Noem on her claim that she was deporting “the worst of the worst.” In remarks at this morning’s markup, Congressman Cohen followed up on his line of questioning, explaining why local law enforcement agencies decline to cooperate with an “out of
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today explained why local law enforcement agencies decline to cooperate with an “out of control” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency at a markup of legislation aimed at forcing state and local governments to enforce federal immigration law.
In his remarks at the markup, Congressman Cohen said in part:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at an oversight hearing. Congressman Cohen asked Secretary Noem about her lack of response to repeated letters he has written to her over the past year and about claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are deporting the “worst of the worst.”
In his exchange with the Secretary, Congressman Cohen said in part:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a $573,500 Outstanding Investigator Award grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for a project entitled “Understanding Phase Separation in Biology and Disease.” The grant is being awarded to Dr. Richard W. Kriwacki, a member of the St. Jude faculty in the Department of Structural Biology.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, made the following statement after reviewing overnight reports of the joint U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran:
“The American people did not vote for another war in the Middle East. They voted for lower costs, safer communities, and improving quality of life for their families — not launching military action that risks dragging us into another open-ended conflict with Iran.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, today received a 93 percent score on the American Civil Liberties Union Legislative Scorecard.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“I have always been a staunch supporter of our civil liberties and appreciate the work the ACLU does in promoting and protecting them. That’s why I am grateful to see it recognize my consistent voting record to protect our civil rights.”
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) received a 96 percent on the League of Conservation Voters’ National Environmental Scorecard for his voting record on 28 measures in 2025 deemed important to the organization. The votes ranged from protections for endangered species to clean energy and sustainable treatment of federal lands. Congressman Cohen is the only member of the Tennessee Congressional delegation who scored higher than zero.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON -- Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Robert Aderholt (AL-4), co-chairs of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, released the following statement in response to attacks on protesters in Washington, D.C. on Friday:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen TN-9), the House Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, released the following statement on today’s fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia: