Press Releases

Washington -- On July 30, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed four pieces of legislation to improve benefits and services for America’s veterans. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) was pleased to support each of the bills, including H.R.2874, a bill increasing care for homeless and low-income veterans. H.R.2874, the Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, will improve mental health care and provide counseling for veterans returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, and all other U.S. conflicts post-1991.

Washington, DC -- It has been more than 10 years since American workers have seen an increase in the federal minimum wage marking the longest gap in the history of the law. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), long championing the need for an increase, was pleased to support legislation that brought about the first incremental wage increase since 1997. The federal minimum wage increase, going into effect today, from its current hourly rate of $5.15 to $5.85 is the first of three 70-cent increases which culminate in July of 2009 at $7.25/hour.

Washington, DC – Thursday, July 19, Congressman Steve Cohen was joined by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chairwoman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, in sending a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relaying their concerns with FEMA’s most recent logistical debacle, the waste of $67 million spent on the shipping, storage and disposal of 84.9 million pounds of ice.

Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. House approved an appropriations amendment to increase funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities by $100 million and for Historically Black Graduate Schools by $25 million. Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-5), sponsor of the amendment, stated on the House floor, "The need is great. Historically Black Colleges and Universities across America need help and they need help now."

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) is pleased to announce a series of recent grants issued by the Department of Health & Human Services. The six grants, awarded for projects beginning in July of 2007, will bring $977,687 into Memphis for research and workforce development. Recipients include the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the University of Memphis, and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Washington, DC -- Earlier this afternoon, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) was prominently featured on Air America's The Randi Rhodes Show, in a segmentcentering on former White House Counsel Harriet Miers. Remarks Congressman Cohen made in today's Judiciary Committee hearing concerning the no-show of Ms. Miers were aired during the radio program, which aired between 3PM EST and 6PM EST.

A portion of the segment may be listened to by clicking HERE.

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Washington, DC -- In a full committee meeting of the House Committee on the Judiciary today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) asked questions of panel witnesses and constitutional experts in direct response to President Bush's commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence. The hearing on Presidential Clemency and misuses of power was part of an ongoing oversight investigation into repeated instances of executive branch misdoings.

Washington, DC -- Earlier today, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee amended the Federal Aviation reauthorization bill, making it easier for non-airline FedEx Express to unionize. The bill as amended would adversely affect FedEx Express, the largest employer in Memphis, as well as the national and world economies. The amendment would allow FedEx Express workers to organize under the National Labor Relations Act instead of the Railway Labor Act. Currently, only FedEx pilots are unionized.