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.
More on Shelby County

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) will recognize World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, and released the following statement:

WASHINGTON –Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today applauded the release of his Memphis constituent Tony Holden from detention in Kuwait. Congressman Cohen has sought his release with letters to the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States and to the U.S. State Department.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today submitted public comments to Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) Director Dr. Michelle Taylor as the department evaluates an application for an emissions permit for CTC Property LLC’s (CTC’s) xAI supercomputer Colossus.
In his public comment, Congressman Cohen wrote in part:
“Should the permit be granted, I request that Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) require the most stringent emissions controls, frequent reporting on emissions, and regular site visits to ensure compliance…

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration reversed decisions to cancel international Student Exchange Visa Information System (SEVIS) records for students across the country, including dozens associated with Memphis area institutions like Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, and the University of Memphis:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today led a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency with seven Congressional colleagues seeking the release from ICE detention of Kseniia Petrova, a Russian research scientist working at Harvard University Medical School.
The letter reads in part:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Shelby County Board of Education will receive a grant of $7,446,186 for its Head Start projects from January through June 29 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Head Start.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) led a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner on Friday urging him to reverse the cancellation of contracts and the freezing of all funding associated with the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP). Congressman Cohen announced $5.2 million in GRRP funding for Wesley Stage Park in Memphis and $11.4 million for the Broadmeadow Apartments in Covington in March 2024.
Fifteen Congressional colleagues co-signed the letter.
The letter reads:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts today led 59 Congressional colleagues in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin requesting a list of companies seeking a Presidential Exemption under the Clean Air Act. The letter also requests information about how the companies claim the exemption would be in the national security interests of the United States, whether technical issues make meeting existing standards difficult, and other details about the companies’ requests.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) went to the House floor Wednesday evening to speak against a Republican budget resolution aimed at requiring massive cuts to the social safety net programs in order to give a tax cut to millionaires and billionaires. The measure passed on a 216 to 214 vote this morning.
In his floor speech, Congressman Cohen said in part:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, raised concerns about the potential impact of Project 2025’s proposal to eliminate federal funding for transit systems. During a hearing of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit reviewing federal transit policy, Congressman Cohen questioned witnesses about how such drastic cuts would affect the working Americans who rely on public transportation every day.