Shelby County

Coronavirus Update

In an effort to keep TN-09 constituents up to date on the coronavirus situation, I will share updates with important information. I hope you'll take some time to look at this information. As always, if you need to reach my office please call 901-544-4131 for the Memphis office and 202-225-3265 for the D.C. office. Updates will be posted on my website: www.Cohen.House.Gov.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) early this morning voted for, and the House passed, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The measure provides paid leave, establishes free testing, supports strong unemployment benefits, expands food assistance for vulnerable children and families, and increases funding for Medicaid programs across the country. It also contains tax credits for small and medium-sized businesses affected by the relief measures.

The vote on passage was 363 to 40. It now moves to the Senate for a vote.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that, after he votes for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, he will close his Washington, D.C. and District offices to protect his constituents and staff from being exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Congressman Cohen and his staff will work remotely and maintain normal business hours.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – With lead hazards lurking in about 3.6 million homes of families with young children nationwide, Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and David McKinley (WV-01) today introduced the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act – bipartisan legislation to help American families cover the cost of eliminating lead from their homes.

WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Danny Davis (IL-07), who co-introduced H.R. 3250, the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools Study Act, last June, applauded its advance in a Natural Resources Committee Markup this morning.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today announced that the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) will receive a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Integrated Mobility Innovation grant for $394,000.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"MATA is being recognized for its effectiveness, efficiency, quality and safety with this grant, which is good for Memphis and MATA riders. I'm pleased this funding will support good MATA jobs."

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology, today questioned Dr. Walter G. Copan, Undersecretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), about the origins of inaccuracies in some facial recognition algorithms. Last December, NIST found significant differences between the accuracy of algorithms and their ability to properly identify people of color.

Congressman Cohen asked:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today moderated a briefing hosted by the newly re-constituted Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus to discuss issues of student athlete compensation, as well as the fairness and integrity of the games overseen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Congressman Cohen founded the Collegiate Sports Caucus with former Texas Congressman Joe Barton in 2011.