Press Releases
Congressman Cohen said, “Staying the course in Iraq is no longer a viable option. Whatever your opinion of the war – its origins, the mismanagement, the performance of the Iraqi government – one thing is clear: we can not afford to sustain the deployment in Iraq.
“I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this legislation, which creates a Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System for residential mortgage loan originators and establishes a minimum standard requiring that borrowers have a reasonable ability to repay a loan,” stated Rep. Cohen. “The bill will also expand and enhance consumer protections for ‘high-cost loans’ as well as include protections for renters of foreclosed homes. Finally, the bill establishes an Office of Housing Counseling through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
According to the Justice Department, nearly two-thirds of all offenders that are released from prison end up back in jail within three years. “The days of releasing prisoners back into the community with a bus ticket and a meal voucher must come to an end,” explained Congressman Cohen. “Left without any resources, far too many ex-offenders fall back through the cracks into the criminal underworld.”
“I was proud to vote for this important legislation that cuts taxes for middle-income families and saves nearly 25,000 Memphis households from paying the Alternative Minimum Tax,” said Congressman Cohen. “Memphians have seen the cost of health care, gas and college education skyrocket while their homes have lost value. This was a very important bill to pass to give them a break, and it was done while adhering to the principles of fiscal responsibility and a pay-as-you-go budget.”
“Funding for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) is vital and I’m extremely pleased with this victory for the Ninth District,” stated Congressman Cohen. “This project has been a legislative priority for me. This appropriation will provide funding for this worthy project that saves lives, creates jobs and gives Memphis a competitive advantage. A properly equipped RBL will serve as a magnet for bioscience business and industry.”
“I certainly understand some of the concerns that my colleagues in Tennessee have, but the fact of the matter is that consent decrees are vital to enforcing civil rights, disability rights and environmental protection,” said Congressman Cohen. “Cases involving police brutality, racial profiling and employment discrimination have been resolved through the use of consent decrees. This legislation would terminate each decree without consideration of merit or ongoing need.”
U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) nominated the Memphis Public Library for the award. He said, “I take immense pride in the recognition of our own Memphis Public Library & Information Center for their outstanding service to the City of Memphis by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. IMLS ought to be commended for awarding their distinguished National Medal to our library system, and I offer my sincerest congratulations to the hardworking and dedicated staff of the Memphis Public Libraries. This honor is long overdue."
“We need to have a contempt charge brought,” said CongressmanCohen on the floor of the House. “We need to have them be punished for theircontempt for this Congress, which is, in essence, contempt of the Americanpeople and contempt of the Constitution, and of all things good that theAmerican people stand for.”
Congressman Cohen expressed his firm support for the newbill, which will correct narrow interpretations of the ADA in a series of decisions by conservativefederal courts over the past few years. “These courts have held that things asbasic as liver function, thinking and communication are not ‘major lifeactivities,’ which excludes valid recipients from their rightful ADA benefits,” heexplained.