Tennessee

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem urging them to discontinue targeting local law enforcement officers nationally, including those in Memphis, for recruitment to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The letter reads in part: 

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-) swiftly and forcefully condemned President Trump’s attacks on “Democrat programs” he is closing down as the government shutdown entered its third week. He also addressed press reports that young Republican state leaders used racist, antisemitic and homophobic language in thousands of a group chat messages earlier this year that have now been made public. He made the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding answers after reports that the United States is bailing out Argentina and its Trump-supporting President Javier Milei. The letter reads in part:

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today expressed his condolences over the loss of life and injuries in an explosion at a munitions plant near McEwen, Tennessee, earlier today and released the following statement:

“I express my profound condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this horrific incident. I will continue to monitor the situation and will work with Senators Blackburn and Hagerty, and Congressman Kustoff, and with local and state officials, as the investigation continues.”

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) is observing the beginning of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after more than two years of war, and made the following statement:

“I welcome the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a ceasefire framework. As part of the agreement, all remaining hostages in Gaza will be returned to their families. After two long years, the hostages and families can finally start their healing process. 

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, plans to introduce the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act on Friday.

In a statement, Congressman Cohen said:

“With the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Vasquez Perdoma v. Noem, the Supreme Court rubber-stamped racial profiling, a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s militarized policing strategy.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) wrote to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought today seeking clarification on whether federal employees furloughed because of the government shutdown will receive back pay when their offices re-open.

A recent OMB memorandum suggested employees may not be guaranteed back pay, which “is inconsistent with both federal law and decades of bipartisan precent,” Congressman Cohen’s letter says.

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today released the following statement observing the second anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks and hostage taking in 2023 in Israel:

“On this solemn anniversary, there is reason to be hopeful that the war will soon end – perhaps this week – and that remaining hostages will be released to their families. It is past time for adequate levels of food and medical aid to flow into Gaza and for a semblance of peaceful co-existence to be restored.”