Skip to main content

Media

Latest News

October 8, 2009
The Cohen Amendment addresses current law which limits who can be designated by a service member to oversee the disposition of remains to a spouse, blood relative, or adoptive parent. Cohen’s language would require the Pentagon to initiate a study to examine the effects of expanding the current statute to allow other people, including foster parents, friends or fellow soldiers to be designated.
Issues:Defense
October 8, 2009
H.R. 1478, the Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009, would overturn a Supreme Court ruling that excludes service members injured or killed as a result of military medical malpractice from seeking justice. In 1950, the Supreme Court ruled that active duty service members were excluded from the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows persons to sue the federal government for damages. That decision established what is now known as the “Feres Doctrine.”
Issues:Defense
October 7, 2009
Floor Statements

Congressman Cohen Pays Tribute to PFC Brandon Owens, who died while serving his country in Afghanistan
October 1, 2009
This afternoon the House of Representatives passed a joint Senate-House compromise to HR 3183, the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act. The bill contains $1,369,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the mouth of Memphis Harbor (McKellar Lake) and $354,000 for Wolf River Harbor maintenance. The measure also includes $500,000 for the University of Memphis to invest in the use of biofuel micro-refineries that will use biomass and other waste to generate sustainable energy.
September 30, 2009
The VA announced this afternoon that starting October 2, student-veterans in the Ninth District can apply online, rather than travel to Nashville, to receive an emergency payment up to $3,000 to cover the costs of books and housing.
September 30, 2009
Floor Statements

Congressman Cohen Tribute to Civil Rights Pioneer Dr. Vasco Smith
September 25, 2009
Grants were also awarded to study health disparities among minorities and fund programs to help women cope with postpartum depression, support drug abuse assessment, intervention, and treatment efforts, and a suicide prevention initiative.
Issues:Health Care
September 23, 2009
Immediately following the hearing, Congressman Cohen announced he will soon file legislation soon to give private student loan borrowers more equitable treatment during the bankruptcy process.
Issues:Education
September 23, 2009
“I am delighted to hear that Congressman Pallone has included the NEWBORN Act as an amendment to HR 3200. Infant mortality is a heartbreaking phenomenon that I’ve long been fighting to end and we are now one step closer to improving the health of our newborns,” Congressman Cohen said. “I will not stop fighting to end our nation’s high rate of infant mortality until the job is finished.”
Issues:Health Care
September 22, 2009
This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed H.R 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, which will provide increased federal support to states, like Tennessee, with high unemployment.