Press Releases

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis has been awarded a total of $885,004 in funding for two important research projects. These grants come from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“These funds will help continue the important work being done by the skilled researchers at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis,” said Congressman Cohen.

[WASHINGTON, DC] – As many in Congress focused on getting out of town as quickly as possible last week, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) remained focused on his work helping Memphis and introduced the Jobs for Urban Sustainability and Training (JUST) in America Act. The legislation is designed to create jobs and provide training for Americans struggling to find work by eliminating tax breaks to major oil companies and putting the funds towards public works and job training programs for unemployed workers.

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that two local organizations have been awarded a total of $373,888 in grant funding to help reduce homelessness in Memphis. The Community Alliance for the Homeless will receive $157,418 in two separate grants and the Friends for Life Corporation will receive for $216,470 from a single grant.

“This funding will help local communities and organizations work to reduce—and eventually eliminate—homelessness in Memphis,” said Congressman Cohen.

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today commemorated the 48^th anniversary of the landmark Voting Rights Act, which President Lyndon Johnson signed into law on August 6^th, 1965, and called on Congress to address a recent Supreme Court ruling that eviscerated important protections that have helped secure the right to vote for all Americans for nearly 5 decades.

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Prior to returning to his work in Memphis last week, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced H.R. 3015, the Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act, to help reduce the prevalence of “food deserts” and help ensure that healthy, fresh food is available throughout the nation, including in urban areas. The legislation would provide tax incentives for the establishment of supermarkets in empowerment zones and formerly designated renewal communities.

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) reintroduced his Fresh Start Act–which he originally introduced in 2010–late last week to enable non-violent federal offenders who have served their sentence and are now law-abiding, productive members of society to have their conviction expunged from their records.

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congressman Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL) introduced H.R. 2919, the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act, this week to increase transparency and help ensure adequate protection under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). Congress originally intended EAJA as a means to help individuals, retirees, veterans, and small businesses recover attorney’s fees and costs associated with suing or defending against the federal government, but in 1995 removed important reporting requirements.

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that President Obama has nominated Sheryl Lipman, Chief of Staff to University of Memphis Interim President R. Brad Martin and former University Counsel, to serve as District Court Judge for the Western District of Tennessee. The Congressman recommended Ms. Lipman after convening a diverse, bipartisan screening committee to conduct interviews of nine potential candidates for the position.