Media

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today expressed hope that President Obama’s newly-announced changes to domestic surveillance programs would result in meaningful reforms that help restore the public’s trust in its government, but he also reiterated that Congress must act as well to fully protect the rights and privacy of American citizens from the National Security Agency (NSA).

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) this week introduced two bills, the Justice Integrity Act and the Byrne/JAG Program Accountability Act, to help address, reduce, and prevent racial disparities in the United States’ criminal justice system. The Congressman’s bills, which he also introduced in previous Congresses, are aimed at identifying racial and ethnic disparities, examining their causes, and developing plans for reducing or eliminating those unjustified disparities wherever they are found.

Congressman recommended Lipman after convening diverse, bipartisan screening committee

[WASHINGTON, DC] –Sheryl Lipman, who Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) recommended to President Obama to fill a vacancy on the District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, was today approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is tasked with reviewing nominations to the federal bench. Ms. Lipman currently serves as Chief of Staff to University of Memphis Interim President R. Brad Martin and formerly served as University Counsel.

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Following the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) making available as much as $600 million in funding to help local organizations combat veteran homelessness, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today urged Ninth District-based veteran service groups to apply for federal support so that they can better serve more Memphis-area veterans.

Congressman calls for scholarships to be fully funded and for Pell Grants to be increased

Agreement includes provisions similar to Congressman’s legislation to limit waste, fraud and abuse in Afghanistan

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2014, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 359-67.

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton today expressed their disappointment that Memphis was not eligible for the first round of President Obama’s “Promise Zone” initiative and recommitted to working together to see Memphis awarded a “Promise Zone” designation in the next rounds of the competition, which will use different selection criteria. In a letter sent earlier today, Congressman Cohen urged U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan to strongly consider Memphis in the 2014 round of the program.