Press Releases
[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who is known across the state for his twenty-year fight to create a state lottery as “The Father of the Tennessee Education Lottery” and because Tennessee Lottery money is the source of the funding for Tennessee Promise has already been dubbed by some as “The Grandfather of the Funding of Tennessee Promise,” released the following statement regarding Governor Bill Haslam’s recent criticisms of America’s College Promise, which is President Obama’s new plan to provide two free years of community college:
[MEMPHIS, TN] – In response Attorney General Eric Holder’s comments this week regarding marijuana at the National Press Club, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) called on Attorney General Eric Holder to use existing authority to reschedule marijuana.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Reps. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Keith Ellison (D-MN), and Maxine Waters (D-CA) sent a letter today to Speaker of the House John Boehner urging him to postpone Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before a joint session of Congress. The letter was cosigned by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), André Carson (D-IN), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Danny Davis (D-IL), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr.
[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement after learning that Shelby County residents are receiving phone calls from scammers claiming to sell anti-virus software.
“Phone scammers are becoming increasingly savvy,” said Congressman Cohen. “Be wary of anyone who calls or emails you and asks you to relay personal information. If you are skeptical, it is best to trust your instinct. Please, for your own protection, do not give them any information.”
[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that Shelby County has been awarded $5,653,472 in federal funding to help address the HIV/AIDS epidemic and provide care for those living with HIV. This funding comes through the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which helps local governments provide HIV-related services to more than half a million people each year who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with the disease.
Without adequate, comprehensive national data on fatal police interactions exists, abuses are difficult to identify and fix
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) applauded FBI Director James Comey for stating in a speech this morning that it is “ridiculous that [he] can’t tell you how many people were shot by the police last week, last month, last year.” In the same speech, Director Comey suggested that police departments nationwide should be required to report shootings that involve police officers so that these numbers can be tracked.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced $6,701,299 in federal funds to help improve and modernize public housing facilities in the Ninth District. The Memphis Housing Authority will receive a total of $6,589,736 and the Millington Housing Authority will receive $111,563 in 2015 Capital Fund Program grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a Humane Society “Humane Champion,” is leading a delegation of 43 members of Congress in an effort to stop taxpayer-funded animal abuse and inhumane testing at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) in Nebraska.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – On the floor of the United States House of Representatives today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) spoke in support of awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, or the final voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery in March of 1965. In 2010, Congressman Cohen marched arm-in-arm with Congressman John Lewis, who led the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge 50 years ago, on the 10th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Selma.
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued the following statement regarding the passing of radio personality Zeke Logan:
“Today is a sad day; another Memphis treasure lost. Zeke Logan was funny, friendly, and down-to-earth. Zeke and Drake had me on their show many times and were very supportive, and I recall spending a nice afternoon in Washington having an outdoor lunch with Zeke and his family, whom he loved so much. I am sorry to learn of his passing and send my condolences to his family and loved ones.”