Tennessee
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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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.”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) notified the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday that he will decline his congressional salary until the federal government shutdown ends.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today saying that he learned of their visit to Memphis from the news media, not from their offices, and said he hopes to get answers about how the Memphis Safety Task Force will work.
The letter reads in part:
“If the real purpose of the Memphis Safety Task Force is public safety, we must be more collaborative.”
See the entire text of the letters here:

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being will receive grant of $730,000 and Agape Child and Family Services will receive a grant of $1,250,000 from the Office of Family Assistance Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) initiative. The program is operated by the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Memphis will receive a grant of $409,605 from the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Program of the U.S. Department of Education.
Congressman Cohen announced three Department of Education grants, totaling $922,311, to the University on Friday.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) has been asked by the news media and others about the deployment of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis. In response, he provided the following statement:“Don’t give Donald Trump what he wants by instigating aggression toward the National Guard that could provoke a violent response. A majority of us don’t want them here, but consider that many Guardsmen don’t want to be here either.

MEMPHIS, TN — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) released the following statement today on the passing of former interim Mayor and longest-serving City Councilman in Memphis history, Myron Lowery.


WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9), the former Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, and Andre Carson (IN-7), a Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, today introduced the Aviation Funding Stability Act, a measure that would allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to keep all of its programs running and all of its employees working by drawing from its Airports and Airways Trust Fund during any lapse in typical government appropriations. The current temporary budget agreement ends September 30.
