url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-cosponsors-bill-that-gives-songwriters-a-much-better-deal,Cooper Cosponsors Bill That Gives Songwriters A Much Better Deal,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today cosponsored bipartisan legislation that will help songwriters and modernize music payouts in the digital age. The Music Modernization Act, announced and released today, ensures music creators are more fairly compensated, increases efficiency in the licensing process, provides greater transparency and reforms an outdated system to meet 21st Century needs. Im proud to cosponsor new legislation that gives Nashville songwriters a much better deal in the digital age, Rep. Cooper said. Music City needs the Music Modernization Act! The Music Modernization Act includes several major components: Allows judges to review evidence when setting rates for the public performance of music; Establishes fair assignment of judges for public performance of music; Allows for consideration of fair market standards for compensation for mechanical licenses; and Makes other updates to increase business efficiency, ensure creators get compensated and provide transparency.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-votes-against-tax-scam,Congressman Cohen Votes Against Tax Scam,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted against the Republican tax scam bill Tuesday, noting its potential to harm the middle classes and the future of social safety net programs. The bill passed on a 227 to 203 vote. The plan blows a huge hole in the deficit to give tax breaks to corporations and the super-wealthy, said Cohen.In so doing, the bill paves the way for future cuts to social safety net programs like Medicare and takes us one step closer to dismantling the Affordable Care Act. This bill is a scam on hardworking, middle-class families and is just another iteration of the Republicans tried-and-failed concept of trickle-down economics. It failed under Bush, it failed in Kansas, and H.R. 1 will fail the American public. Its not clear companies will use their tax windfall to create jobs or improve wages, and history suggests they wont. Instead, the savings will likely go to stock buy-backs or to increase stockholder dividends. Reducing tax rates for the wealthiest will provide tax relief to those who need it least in the hope that the benefits will trickle down to families struggling to make ends meet. It wont. The whole approach is a con job and should be recognized as such. At an event before the vote, Congressman Cohen stood in solidarity with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, fellow Democrats and those likely to be harmed by the bill. Pelosi repeated her observation that the Republican tax scam is the worst bill in the history of Congress in terms of the scope of the harm it will do, and noted polling indicating most Americans have come to understand thats true. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-votes-against-republican-tax-bill,Cooper Votes Against Republican Tax Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today issued the following statement after voting against the Republican tax bill: Everyone likes tax cuts, but the Republican tax bill gives most of them to Scrooge, not Bob Cratchit. This billincreases the deficit dramatically, keeps the tax code complicated, prioritizes corporations over people, and even threatens Social Security and Medicare, Rep. Cooper said. The vast majority of Americans dont like it, and with good reason. Reagan-era tax reform was very different; this Trump bill is not an echo of that reform but a craven Christmas present to the most powerful lobbyists in Washington. Trump promised to help everyday Americans but this bill fails to do that.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-congratulates-congressional-app-challenge-winner-delia-batdorff,Cooper Congratulates Congressional App Challenge Winner Delia Batdorff,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"NASHVILLE U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today announced that Delia Batdorff, a local high school junior, is the 2017 Congressional App Challenge winner for Tennessees 5th Congressional District! Information about Delias winning app will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol and atHouse.gov. The Congressional App Challenge is a national effort to encourage students to learn computer programming through annual district-wide competitions hosted by members of Congress. It encourages student participation in technology and math programs by offering students a chance to create and code. A student at RePublic High School in Nashville, Delia is enrolled in a forward-thinking computer science curriculum, where she practices advanced programming skills. Delias winning app is a triangle calculator that solves missing values and angles via trigonometry. Delias app is awesome. Itll help students, architects and engineers, Rep. Cooper said. Delia and so many other Middle Tennessee students are computer experts. Im amazed by their skills every day! Although the competition has closed for this year, it opens back up in 2018, and all middle and high school students in Middle Tennessee are eligible to participate. To learn more about the Congressional App Challenge, click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-decries-fcc-vote-repealing-net-neutrality,Congressman Cohen Decries FCC Vote Repealing Net Neutrality,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) made the following statement minutes after the Federal Communications Commission, on a 3-2 party-line vote, repealed the 2015 Open Internet Order. The ruling Thursday upends the powerful internet neutrality framework that banned blocking, throttling or giving paid prioritization to companies based on whether a content provider paid for faster service, Cohen said. Internet neutrality has been one of the most important consumer protections of our time. Besides that, it has made available in online debate the views and dissent -- that might not get aired on an Internet driven by purely commercial priorities, he said. Congressman Cohen recently penned an opinion-editorial in The Memphis Flyer laying out why the then-proposed end of Internet neutrality would be a bad idea. Read it here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-hails-new-support-articles-impeachment,Congressman Cohen Hails New Support for Articles of Impeachment,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) commended his colleagues Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire for their co-sponsorship of Articles ofImpeachment (H. Res. 621) to against President Trump that he and four others Members of Congress introduced on November 15. “It is past time for Congress to begin impeachment hearings.  The public deserves an open, thoughtful, and deliberate consideration of the mounting evidence. Making the case that the president should be impeached should be a deliberate and thoughtful process involving hearings to inform the public of the rightness of this approach,” Cohen, the ranking member of the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, said Thursday. “I’m grateful to see that our effort is picking up steam and now has eight co-sponsors.” Congresswoman Shea-Porter released a statement: “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, a former military spouse, and an advocate for our troops and their families, I have been appalled to see the Commander and Chief repeatedly make outrageous and irresponsible public statements that put our troops in more danger, insult our allies, and weaken our alliances. Many Members of Congress, including myself, agree with Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker that President Trump poses a dangerous threat to national security and the future of our democracy. I believe it is past time for Members of Congress to put country before party and bring these discussions out into the open.” Congressman Grijalva released a statement Thursday: “It is with the utmost concern for our great nation that I have cosponsored, H.Res. 621, the Articles of Impeachment against Donald J. Trump. Trump is actively undermining the roles and obligations of the highest office in our country and, as a Member of Congress, I cannot stand idly by as he commits crimes against the country he was elected to serve.  His flagrant obstruction of justice warrants a call for impeachment and the immediate action by Congress to fulfill its duty to oust him. “It will take years to repair the damage he has caused to our Democracy, including undermining the independence of judicial branch and attacking freedom of the press guaranteed under the First Amendment.  His continued foreign entanglements and profiteering make a mockery of our constitution.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-joins-senators-gillibrand-and-rubio-and-congressman,Congressman Cohen Joins Senators Gillibrand and Rubio and Congressman DeSaulnier Introducing Truck Underride Bills,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of California and families of truck underride accident victims Tuesday in introducing bipartisan legislation to prevent such unnecessary tragedies. “This is the type of legislation that does not have deep-pocket support; it doesn’t have interest groups with money to push it and to support it. But it has the interests of the people and the safety of the people. It’s the right kind of legislation that should be advocated in Congress more often,” Cohen said at a news conference. “I want to recognize the families who have suffered and lost loved ones, particularly my constituent, Mrs. Higginbotham -- Laurie Higginbotham – who is here. Each of these people have lost chiledren or parents they wouldn’t have if this legislation had been in effect…It is time we passed such an act to save lives.” Laurie and Randy Higginbotham of Memphis lost their son Michael in 2014 when he ran into the side of a tractor trailer making an illegal U-turn, Mrs. Higginbotham told reporters Tuesday. Gillibrand said that while there have been improvements to traffic safety, there is a “massive design flaw” rendering virtually all car-safety features useless when colliding with a truck trailer. “With so many unpredictable accidents on the road, underride guards are an easy solution for protecting people and preventing them from dying when a car collides with a truck,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bipartisan legislation would save lives, and we should pass it as quickly as possible to keep Americans safe while they’re driving, whether they’re heading to see family and friends for the holidays or driving to work on their morning commute. I urge all of my colleagues to join me and Senator Rubio on this bipartisan bill.” “Florida is one of the states with the highest number of reported fatalities due to underride collisions. With hundreds of Americans losing their lives due to these crashes every year, the Stop Underrides Act seeks to prevent these kind of deaths, make our roads safer, and spare more families the grief of losing a loved one by implementing underride guards on trucks across the nation,” said Senator Rubio. “I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in advancing efforts to save hundreds of lives across the country.” Studies and pilot programs show that a simple barrier attached to the lower area of a truck, called an “underride guard,” would help prevent a car from sliding underneath a truck in an accident. Under current federal law, underride guards are not required to be on the sides or front of trucks. Underride guards are already required for the back of a truck, but the standards are outdated. The bills introduced in the House and Senate Tuesday would require underride guards on the sides and front of a truck and update the outdated standards for underride guards on the back of trucks. It would also ensure that the annual inspection for all large trucks includes underride guards as part of the inspection and would require the Department of Transportation to review underride standards every five years to evaluate the need for changes in response to advancements in technology.    ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-commends-fbi-case-work-west-tennessee,Congressman Cohen Commends FBI Case Work in West Tennessee,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – At a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) praised the work of the FBI in West Tennessee criminal investigations, including the case involving Shelby County Code Enforcement Inspector Mickey Wright, whose racially motivated murder was taken up by the FBI and Justice Department as a federal hate crime after an inadequate state prosecution. Wright’s murderer, Cohen noted, is serving a life sentence in a federal prison. See the Congressman’s remarks here. “The FBI has done a great job,” Cohen said. See the Congressman’s 2011 statement on the Wright case’s prosecution here. Cohen also said he disagreed with President Trump’s recent tweet that the FBI is “in tatters,” and asked Wray about the reputation of former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired while investigating possible collusion between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia, as well as the reputation of former FBI Director Robert Mueller, now pursuing that matter as special counsel. Director Wray praised both men’s professionalism.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-votes-against-concealed-carry-reciprocity,Congressman Cohen Votes Against Concealed Carry Reciprocity,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) Wednesday voted against H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which passed the House on a vote of 231 to 198. See his remarks during the floor debate here. He later released the following statement: “Just a month after the mass shooting of 26 in Texas and two months after a gunman killed 58 in Las Vegas, the House majority’s response is to override state laws with reasonable restrictions on the concealed carrying of handguns. Beyond the incomprehensible tone deafness of this action, it ignores the very states’ rights Republicans so often cling to – except when the National Rifle Association tells them not to,” Cohen said. “Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia, including Tennessee, require residents to be at least 21 to receive a concealed carry handgun permit. This bill would allow permit holders from states allowing concealed carry at younger ages to, in essence, violate more restrictive states’ laws. I support concealed carry laws and was the sponsor of Tennessee’s when I was in the state senate, but I think state laws that are more restrictive should be respected.” The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, on whose board of directors Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich serves, opposes the bill, saying that undermining state and municipal laws will increase danger to police officers. The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence also opposes the bill.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-scorns-complete-dysfunction-in-congress-calls-on-congress-to,"Cooper Scorns Complete Dysfunction in Congress, Calls on Congress to Enact Self-Governing Measures",2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today criticized congressional leaders for general inaction and incompetence, citing a long list of missed deadlines, stalled priorities and policy blunders. Rep. Cooper urged House leadership to clear several must-pass measures, and he pushed for self-policing bills that would hold Congress accountable for inaction and misbehavior. “One party controls both chambers of Congress and the White House. Yet very little good is getting done,” Rep. Cooper said. “We need priorities in Washington, D.C., to align with priorities here in Tennessee. Congress shouldn’t be a clown show.” Rep. Cooper called attention to the following issues: Government Shutdown: Barring action from the House and Senate, the federal government will shut down at the end of Friday. Previous shutdowns occurred under divided government – when Republicans controlled one or both houses of Congress and Democrats controlled the presidency, or the reverse. But it has never happened under unified party control. A longtime advocate of congressional accountability, Rep. Cooper supports the No Budget, No Pay Act and the Hold Congress Accountable Act. The latter bill would reduce the salary of members of Congress during a government shutdown.   Short-Term Spending: Even if Republicans resolve their differences this week, any spending bill is likely to be just a brief stopgap. Top Pentagon officials have described such short-term agreements as “wasteful and inefficient,” as well as “damaging” to the military.   CHIP: Congress is already more than two months late in reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a lifeline for 9 million children, including many thousands of young Tennesseans.   Taxes: An emerging Republican tax plan – subject to no real hearings in the House or Senate – is speeding along in Congress despite “glitches” and other problems with its drafting. A report by the Joint Tax Committee indicates the plan would add $1 trillion to the debt. Even Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker voted against the Senate Republican version of the tax plan.   Immigration: The No. 2 Senate Republican this week vowed that his party would not prioritize year-end negotiations to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, leaving 690,000 currently protected, law-abiding young people at risk of deportation.   Conduct in Congress: Sexual harassment allegations continue to plague the Capitol. Rep. Cooper is a lead cosponsor of a bill that would empower victims of sexual harassment and eliminate the confidential “hush fund” currently used to settle sexual harassment claims in Congress. But House Republican leadership has failed to bring this measure to a vote. “Republicans should work with Democrats to keep government open, to legislate like adults and to start helping all Americans,” Rep. Cooper said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-says-special-counsel-needs-protections,Congressman Cohen Says Special Counsel Needs Protections,2017-12-01,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) went to the well of the House of Representatives Friday to call for action to prevent the president from firing the special counsel looking into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. See his floor speech here. “Today in federal district court in Washington, Michael Flynn plead guilty to lying to the FBI, a felony,” Cohen said. “It’s strong indication he’s cooperating with the Mueller investigation concerning Russia and its involvement with President Trump and his team in the election…” Cohen noted that he introduced a constitutional amendment to prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves, their families or administrative and campaign staff. He also called attention to a bill that would prohibit the firing of special counsel without cause. “We must be ready to protect Bob Mueller and the integrity of the rule of law in this country for I foresee this president firing him as Nixon did in the Saturday Night Massacre. We are repeating the horrors of Watergate and the shredding of our Constitution…” The Saturday Night Massacre occurred on October 30, 1973, when President Richard Nixon ordered the firing of Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. That led to the resignations of the then-attorney general and then-deputy attorney general.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-recognizes-world-aids-day,Cohen Recognizes World AIDS Day,2017-11-30,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) made the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day on Friday, December 1: “This year’s World AIDS Day theme is ‘Increasing Impact Through Transparency, Accountability and Partnerships.’ We’ve made great strides in detecting HIV infections and extending the lives of those diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in recent years. Those affected are now able to lead normal lives. But the disease remains a scourge and it’s important for everyone to know their HIV status. “Despite the tragic toll of this disease, we are making historic progress to halt this epidemic. U.S. initiatives like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Ryan White AIDS Program have saved millions of lives around the world and here at home. “We cannot afford to backslide on our commitments to ending this public health emergency. Despite the tremendous gains we’ve made in prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, more than 36 million people worldwide are living with the illness. In the United States, more than a million people are living with HIV, and one out of every seven HIV-positive Americans don’t know that they’ve been infected. While African-Americans and women continue to make up the majority of new HIV cases, HIV can affect anyone regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. “The United Nations believes we can achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2030, but that requires action to address the persistent gaps in education and care. On World AIDS Day and every day, I am committed to saving lives and protecting critical public health.” There are several places in the Greater Memphis area to get testing and those locations can be found using the HIV Testing Sites and Care Service Locator here.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-hails-approval-mandatory-training-workplace-rights,Congressman Cohen Hails Approval of Mandatory Training on Workplace Rights for Members and Employees of the House,2017-11-29,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) praised today’s passage of a resolution (H. Res. 630) requiring Members and Employees of the House of Representatives to complete anti-discrimination and anti-sexual harassment training. Congressman Cohen was a cosponsor of the resolution, which requires members, their staffs and even unpaid interns to take a course of training in workplace rights and responsibilities, including anti-discrimination and anti-sexual harassment training. “I wholeheartedly support the objective of this legislation which aims to foster a work environment of mutual respect and dignity,” Cohen said. “These issues must be taken seriously, and this is an important step towards making that happen.”                                                                                         ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-helps-lead-effort-to-eliminate-congressional-hush-fund-for-sexual,Cooper Helps Lead Effort to Eliminate Congressional Hush Fund for Sexual Harassment Settlements,2017-11-29,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) is one of four lead cosponsors on a bipartisan bill that would empower victims of sexual harassment and eliminate the confidential “hush fund” currently used to settle sexual harassment claims in Congress. “No more cover-ups,” Rep. Cooper said. “We need transparency, safety and appropriate behavior. Sexual misconduct has no place here, or anywhere.” The Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act would overhaul the secret taxpayer-funded system that is currently used to settle harassment claims. The bill would: Prohibit the use of public funds to pay settlements or awards for sexual harassment or assault claims;   Require the Office of Compliance to disclose all previously made payments on its website; (the name of the victim is expressly prohibited from being disclosed);   Require perpetrators to reimburse the taxpayers with interest;   Prohibit nondisclosure agreements as a precondition to initiate procedures to address sexual harassment or assault claims; and   Permit victims of sexual harassment or assault to make public statements about their claim, regardless of any previously signed nondisclosure agreement. Joining Rep. Cooper are lead sponsor Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06) and fellow cosponsors Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-04). The House is voting this afternoon to require members and staff to take the House’s voluntary anti-harassment training course. (Rep. Cooper’s individual office policy already requires him and his staff to take the course.) Earlier this week, Rep. Cooper called for stronger reforms and urged House leaders to move quickly. Rep. Cooper will join his fellow cosponsors to discuss the bill at a press conference today at 3:00 p.m. ET on Capitol Hill in HVC Studio A, which is located in the hallway between the Capitol and Capitol Visitors Center. For media based outside of Washington, the press conference will be broadcast live at Rep. Cooper’s Facebook page.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-says-mandatory-training-not-enough-congressional-sexual,Cooper Says Mandatory Training Not Enough Congressional Sexual Harassment Settlements Should Be Public,2017-11-27,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Ahead of a vote this week to formally establish mandatory sexual harassment training in the House, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) encouraged House leaders to go much further by unmasking the secret settlements that lawmakers have reached with people accusing them of sexual harassment. “Training is not enough,” Rep. Cooper said. “Whenever Congress spends taxpayer money, we should disclose it all. Maybe then, our ‘zero tolerance’ policies will actually mean something. No one is above the law.” Rep. Cooper, whose staff is already required to take an anti-harassment training course offered by the House, said heightened public awareness of sexual harassment issues should be more than enough reason for Congress to take additional steps beyond training. These steps include naming the House and Senate lawmakers who have used a secret taxpayer-funded account to settle sexual harassment claims in Congress – retroactively and, if necessary, moving forward. But Rep. Cooper believes the current practice of secret settlements should be abolished altogether.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-opposition-fcc-plan-end-internet-neutrality,Congressman Cohen Announces Opposition to FCC Plan to End Internet Neutrality,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement after learning that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to do away with Obama Administration regulations ensuring equal access to the Internet when it meets December 14. “I oppose the FCC plan announced today to dismantle the landmark 2015 Internet Neutrality rule that guarantees access and prohibits high-speed internet service providers from blocking or impeding the availability of websites,” Cohen said. “The FCC is kowtowing to the big internet companies, giving them control over what consumers can see and how much premiere content will cost,” he said. “This kind of deregulation will adversely affect the way the public accesses its information and entertainment, all for the benefit a handful of telecommunications giants.” “I believe the Internet should remain a platform for the free expression of ideas and innovation, and remain fast, fair and open for all users. I am closely monitoring these developments, and plan to continue working with my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee on this important issue.” On May 18, 2017, the FCC voted to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking to undo current net neutrality regulations. The current regulations prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing the delivery of internet content to consumers.                                                                           ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/members-introduce-articles-impeachment,Members Introduce Articles of Impeachment,2017-11-15,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, and colleagues, today introduced five Articles of Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. See the articles here and a summary here. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The time has come to make clear to the American people and to this President that his train of injuries to our Constitution must be brought to an end through impeachment.  I believe there is evidence that he attempted to obstruct an investigation into Russia’s interference with the U.S. presidential election and links between between Russia and the Trump campaign, most notably the firing of FBI Director James Comey. The president’s blatant refusal to separate himself from his businesses has led to clear instances of conflict of interest that appear to violate both the domestic and foreign emoluments clauses. And his attacks on ‘so-called’ judges and ‘fake news’ have undermined public confidence in the judiciary and the press. It’s time for Congress to take action to stop this reckless and harmful behavior by removing Mr. Trump from office and to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States.” Congressman Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) made the following statement: “Congress has the power of impeachment when behavior by the President puts the nation and our laws at risk and I think we are at that point, despite the ongoing, important investigations.  Congress needs to step in when there is evidence that the President is interfering with the judicial branch, obstructing or disrupting investigations, or if the President is profiting improperly from his office.  This is the start of a long process and it needs to get started now because as a Member of Congress and as a member of the Judiciary Committee, it is my job.” Congressman Al Green (TX-09) made the following statement: “This brings us another step closer to impeachment.” Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (OH-11) made the following statement: “In the nearly 300 days since he was sworn in, it has become evident that President Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy. It is high time that Congress take a serious look at the President’s actions,” said Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, (OH-11). “If those actions are found to be in violation of the Constitution, then the Congress of the United States needs to do the job the American people elected us to do.” Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY13) made the following statement: “Donald Trump is a threat to our national security and to our justice, and once and for all, we are taking a stand to formally call for his impeachment in the name of our constituents, in support of our Constitution, and for the protection of our Democracy,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “Trump is dangerous and nearly every month that he has served in office, Americans have witnessed some violation of our values, civil liberties, and access to opportunities that represent who we are at home and to our allies around the world. Mr. Trump is failing and has turned back the clock on the more than 50 years of progress our country has made in civil rights and equality. He has obstructed justice, violated the Constitution, and undermined the independence of our judicial system and the freedom of the press. The evidence is there, and the course of action is clear. It’s time to impeach Trump now.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-applauds-mandatory-sexual-harassment-training-in-congress,Cooper Applauds Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training in Congress,2017-11-15,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today applauded Speaker Paul Ryan’s announcement to require all House Members and staff to complete a sexual harassment training course that was merely voluntary until yesterday. Rep. Cooper’s personal office policy had already required that he and his staff complete the House’s sexual harassment training course. “A little more than a year ago, our state attorney general issued a report outlining pervasive sexual harassment at the Tennessee legislature,” Rep. Cooper said. “Congress should probably have a similar report done on itself in order to curb harassment of any type, anywhere. We should be doing the nation’s business and solving problems – not creating terrible new ones.” Several current and former Members of Congress and congressional employees have described detailed stories of sexual harassment in recent news accounts. Speaker Ryan yesterday said the new House-wide policy would take effect “going forward.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-house-republican-tax-plan-hurts-cheatham-davidson-dickson,"Cooper: House Republican Tax Plan Hurts Cheatham, Davidson & Dickson Residents",2017-11-15,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today amplified his opposition to the House Republican tax plan, highlighting specific ways it would hurt Middle Tennesseans in Cheatham, Davidson and Dickson counties. Rep. Cooper previously described the House Republican plan as a “real pain for Tennesseans” on Nov. 2, the day of its release. Several changes have been made since then. Today Rep. Cooper outlined new objections to the so-called “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which would add at least $1.4 trillion to America’s already unacceptable debt. Details remain fluid as Republicans make last-minute changes, but the House is expected to vote on its tax plan tomorrow. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are working through their own version, which currently includes a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. The House plan does not – for now – include the healthcare piece. After passage in each chamber, the House and Senate must work out any differences between their bills and agree on a final bill before it can become law. Based on 2014 tax data collected by the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, many residents of Rep. Cooper’s congressional district claim deductions and tax credits now at risk under the House Republican plan as currently written: 94% of Middle Tennesseans filing a return claimed the personal exemption, which would be eliminated. This is currently worth $4,050 per family member and becomes more valuable as one’s family grows in size. If the House Republican plan becomes law, a family of four currently claiming $16,200 would lose that entire exemption. The personal exemption was worth more than $2.5 billion to Middle Tennesseans filing a return in 2014. 39,000 Middle Tennessee students and families filing a return claimed the student loan interest deduction, which would be eliminated. Currently, eligible households can deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest. 21% of Middle Tennesseans filing a return claimed the earned income tax credit – and would not see that credit expanded. More than 16,000 Middle Tennesseans filing a return claimed the medical expense deduction for an average deduction of $9,800. The deduction would be eliminated. 22% of Middle Tennesseans filing a return claimed the state sales tax deduction for an average of $3,000. Seventy-nine percent of those Middle Tennesseans make less than $150,000. This deduction would be eliminated. Additionally, according to 2016 data from the IRS, only 58 estates in the 5th Congressional District were subject to the estate tax, which would be repealed. The alternative minimum tax, which mostly hits Tennesseans making more than $200,000 per year, would also be repealed. Other deductions would be impacted. For example, the mortgage interest deduction for homebuyers would be limited to $500,000, and the deduction for teachers to purchase classroom supplies would be eliminated. Meanwhile, officials at Tennessee universities have said the House Republican plan would hinder their ability to provide financial aid to students and finance research. Under the GOP plan, the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates that 24% of Americans would see a tax increase of nearly $2,100 by 2027. “President Trump pledged ‘a major, major’ tax cut for American workers,” Rep. Cooper said. “The reality is many Tennesseans will be hurt. We need tax reform that helps everyday Tennesseans.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-defends-historic-preservation-tax-credits,Congressman Cohen Defends Historic Preservation Tax Credits,2017-11-08,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to the chairman and ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee asking for reconsideration of a provision in a pending GOP tax bill that would end Historic Preservation Tax credits. Citing a recent article in The Memphis Commercial Appeal, Cohen noted the many projects in Memphis, across Tennessee, and the country that exist today because private developers have been able leverage their investments in historic buildings through use of the credit. See the text of his letter here. “The Historic Preservation Tax Credit has helped in the renaissance of Downtown Memphis, including Main Street and Court Square Center and its restoration of the historic Lowenstein building and Lincoln American Tower,” Cohen noted. The loss of the tax credit could upend plans to renovate other Memphis landmarks such as the Claiborne Temple. Cohen has had a long history supporting historic preservation efforts. In July 2016, Cohen and Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-01) introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill to increase funding for the Historic Preservation Fund by $2 million to be used for competitive grants to preserve sites and stories of the Civil Rights Movement. This amendment was in addition to his support of annual letters to the Appropriations Committee to increase Federal funds dedicated to the preservation and restoration of structures of historic significance. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-steve-cohen-speaks-favor-weekend-voting,Congressman Steve Cohen Speaks In Favor Of Weekend Voting,2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) joined colleagues representing districts from Hawaii to South Carolina on Tuesday, an election day for some governors and mayors around the country, to promote the Weekend Voting Act. “We need to do everything we can to increase turnout and truly make democracy work and to make it a beacon for the rest of the world,” Cohen said.  “Making voting days convenient for more citizens is the right thing to do.” The Weekend Voting Act would move Election Day to the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November in every even year for elections of Representatives and Delegates to Congress, and in every fourth year for the election of President and Vice President. It would make it easier and more convenient for all Americans to exercise their right to vote, helping to reduce long lines at the polls and increasing voter turnout. The tradition of holding federal elections on the first Tuesday of November is an outdated requirement that began with an act of Congress in 1845. Tuesday was selected for its comparative convenience because it was a designated “court day” and the day in which land-owning voters would typically be in town to conduct business. The tradition was based on the then-agrarian American society. Also speaking for weekend voting were Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at The American Enterprise Institute and a co-founder of WhyTuesday?; Bill Wachtel, a co-founder of WhyTuesday?; and Martin Luther King III, a Civil Rights activist and president of WhyTuesday? ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-highlights-zero-premium-health-insurance-plans-as-aca-signups,Cooper Highlights Zero-Premium Health Insurance Plans As ACA Signups Reportedly Surge,2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today highlighted reports of early surges in this year’s open enrollment period during the first week of Affordable Care Act signups. Encouraging Middle Tennesseans to evaluate their options – including numerous zero-premium or low-cost plans – Rep. Cooper said just five weeks remain before the Dec. 15 deadline. “Obamacare has provided insurance to 20 million people. Republicans keep trying to repeal it, but the law continues to work,” Rep. Cooper said. “Obamacare is more popular than ever and cheaper than you think. Tennesseans who haven’t signed up yet should give it a try.” Rep. Cooper highlighted news reports that said – despite a shorter enrollment period, no advertising and failed Republican attempts to repeal the law – more than 200,000 Americans chose marketplace plans on the first day of open enrollment alone. That is compared with 100,000 signups on last year’s first day of open enrollment, reports said. Additionally, Rep. Cooper pointed out that ACA marketplace insurance plans are available to many Tennesseans at an extremely low cost. For instance, a 45-year-old in Nashville with a $30,000 annual salary will qualify for a plan with $0 in monthly premiums; others would qualify for plans with premium rates of $2-3 a month. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, many Tennesseans across the state making less than $40,000 a year will qualify for at least one zero-premium plan. Most zero-premium plans are the result of “silver-loading,” or increasing the cost of silver health plans to protect against premium increases for bronze and gold plans. Unfortunately, there are 163,000 Tennesseans in the Medicaid “coverage gap” – people making too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to receive a tax credit. They will bear the full brunt of steep rate increases in 2018 because of the Tennessee legislature’s failure to expand Medicaid. A total of 332,000 Tennesseans would be covered by Medicaid if the state legislature passed Insure Tennessee.   Rep. Cooper again reminded Middle Tennesseans to use Healthcare.gov to sign up for health coverage before Dec. 15, the final day to choose a plan. President Trump shortened the open enrollment period by six weeks this year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-introduces-bill-force-president-comply-jfk-records-collection-act,Cohen Introduces Bill to Force the President to Comply With JFK Records Collection Act,2017-11-03,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced a bill today requiring the president to release all documents that can and should be released pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. “Despite the 1992 passage of a Congressionally mandated October 26, 2017, deadline requiring the President of the United States to make a determination about what documents can and should be released to the public regarding President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the current president failed to comply,” Cohen said. The president’s failure to execute this requirement raises long-held concerns that the U.S. government continues to withhold critical information about the events in Dallas 54 years ago this month, Cohen said. President George H.W. Bush signed the JFK Records Collection Act into law 25 years ago, setting the deadline that expired last month. The bill gives the president two days after its enactment to determine what documents can be released and another two days to then release them. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-slams-house-judiciary-committee-s-inaction-protecting-special,"Cohen Slams House Judiciary Committees Inaction on Protecting Special Counsel, Probing Russian Collusion",2017-11-03,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – At a House Judiciary Committee markup, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) called on the Committee Chairman to schedule a hearing on a bill setting the standards for firing special counsels, including Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is pursuing an investigation of possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia in last year’s election. He said the bill, H.R. 3771, the Special Counsel Integrity Act, and the issue, are clearly within the jurisdiction of the committee. See his committee remarks here. “The president never declared he wasn’t going to fire (FBI Director James) Comey, but he fired Comey …When somebody comes at him like Mr. Comey did and like Mr. Mueller has, there’s a goodly chance he will fire him. But the issue is what standards should there be to determine whether he should be fired. The president is not the king…The president doesn’t have unlimited powers…When a president is being investigated by a special counsel established by law to look into charges that he has basically mutilated our democracy, then we should look into that bill that Mr. (John) Conyers has filed and that should be our first priority… “It’s not the issue of whether or not you believe Trump’s not going to fire him; it’s what the law should be if he changes his mind, and for the next president and the next president,” he said. “The special counsel is a special type of employee, especially when he’s investigating the President of the United States for collusion with Russia, for destroying our democracy and for flaunting his and his campaign associates’ activities with Russia which they have constantly lied about…This committee has been made a mockery and a joke of by not taking up any issues dealing with that. We have a duty to do it.” This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard evidence that Russian agents used Facebook and Twitter to sow dissention and raise polarizing hot-button social issues such as immigration, Black Lives Matter, “Islamization” of civil law, and gun rights and reached 126 million Americans, including targeted voters in swing states.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-announces-staff-changes-1,Cooper Announces Staff Changes,2017-11-03,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today announced several changes to his staff. Charlane Oliver is Rep. Cooper’s new Nashville-based community liaison and field representative. A resident of Goodlettsville, Oliver previously was communications director for the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce, and will also join Rep. Cooper’s communications team. A Vanderbilt University graduate, Oliver holds a master of public administration degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She is the founder and board president of The Equity Alliance, a nonprofit group focused on minority civic engagement. Brandi Jackson, a Dickson native, is Rep. Cooper’s new Washington-based scheduler. A former paralegal and editor who attended Belmont University, Jackson is responsible for planning Rep. Cooper’s meetings in Washington and organizing office logistics. Johannes Fischer is Rep. Cooper’s new Washington-based legislative correspondent. A Vanderbilt University graduate, Fischer handles constituent mail, works on digital communications and helps research policy issues. Both Jackson and Fischer formerly worked in Rep. Cooper’s Nashville office and received promotions before arriving in Washington. “I’m so happy to have Charlane, Brandi and Johannes on my staff,” Rep. Cooper said. “They are energetic and deeply committed to helping Middle Tennesseans.” Oliver replaces Alandis Brassel, a Vanderbilt University Law School graduate who served as counsel in Rep. Cooper’s Nashville office. Brassel is now the director of programs at the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville. Jackson replaces Savannah Darnall, now a first-year student at the University of Tennessee College of Law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/health-care-open-enrollment,Health Care Open Enrollment!,2017-11-03,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"Open Enrollment is available NOW through December 15! Step 1:  Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. (It's helpful to review this checklist before calling.)  Step 2:  Shop for a plan that meets your needs. Step 3:  Need help? Click here and find a local contact who can help you with your options.  Get Local Help:  1-844-644-5443 Call the Marketplace: 1-800-318-2596 TTDY:  1-855-889-4325 Frequently Asked Questions Q. How much will it cost?  A. Plans will vary based on a number of factors including the coverage you choose, your income, your age, etc.  Q. Can I enroll in January?  A. No. Enrollment is allowed only during this time unless you have a qualifying life event (birth of child, change in job, etc.)  Q. Will my local hospitals be in network?  A. You can view exact hospital and physicians covered when you shop for plans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-statement-on-republican-tax-plan,Cooper Statement on Republican Tax Plan,2017-11-02,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today issued the following statement on the Republican tax plan: “The Republican tax plan isn’t real reform. It’s real pain for Tennesseans. It hurts families and adds $1.5 trillion to the debt. Surely America can do better,” Rep. Cooper said. “I agree our current tax code is broken, but Republicans should start from scratch and work with Democrats so we can pass a tax bill that can actually become law.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-urges-tennesseans-to-sign-up-for-health-insurance-by-dec-15,Cooper Urges Tennesseans to Sign Up for Health Insurance by Dec. 15,2017-11-02,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today promoted the first week of Open Enrollment, urging Tennesseans to evaluate their health insurance options and choose an Affordable Care Act plan that best fits their needs. “Sign up now for health insurance,” Rep. Cooper said. “You and your family will be glad you did. It’s much more affordable than you think.” Wednesday was the first day to enroll in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage plans at Healthcare.gov. Dec. 15 is the final day to sign up. Rep. Cooper pointed out that the Open Enrollment period is six weeks shorter this year. He also highlighted that the website will be closed for maintenance during some nights and weekends. A calendar is attached showing days and times that Healthcare.gov will be available to use. More than 234,000 Tennesseans selected marketplace plans during the most recent open enrollment period.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-promotes-awareness-open-enrollment-2018-healthcaregov-has-begun,Cohen Promotes Awareness That Open Enrollment for 2018 Healthcare.Gov Has Begun,2017-11-01,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today took to the House floor to remind his constituents and the country that the much-reduced time period for enrolling in health care through Healthcare.gov (“The Affordable Care Act”) has begun. This year’s open enrollment is half the length of time – six weeks shorter – than last year. December 15 is the last day to sign up. “Memphis has recently seen a decrease in the disparity in breast cancer mortality rates between black and white women, a clear indication that access to affordable care saves lives,” Cohen said in a House floor speech. See his remarks here. In 2018, in Tennessee, 88 percent can find a “Bronze” Plan for under $75 a month. In Memphis, many consumers earning between $30,000 and $48,000 a year can find a “Silver” plan for under $100. The Trump Administration’s effort to undermine a program that has led to demonstrable and dramatic improvements in health outcomes has included slashing marketing funding and funding for “navigators” to help people with the process as well as the recent Trump decision to stop the government reimbursing insurers. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-cohen-condemns-bill-aiming-ban-pre-viability-abortions,Ranking Member Cohen Condemns Bill Aiming to Ban Pre-Viability Abortions,2017-11-01,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – At a House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice hearing today, Ranking Member Steve Cohen condemned as “unwarranted government interference” a Republican-sponsored bill that would ban a woman’s right to an abortion if the fetus’ heartbeat can be detected, which can often occur as early as at six-weeks’ gestation. See Cohen’s opening statement here. “By banning pre-viability abortions after as early as six weeks’ gestation, this bill would substantially narrow the window within which a woman may exercise her constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy,” a right recognized since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, Cohen said. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “safe, legal abortion is a necessary component of women’s health care.” Cohen said the so-called “Heartbeat Protection Act,” H.R. 490, would use politics to interfere in the practice of medicine and he strongly opposes it. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-cohen-introduces-constitutional-amendment-limit,Ranking Member Cohen Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Limit Presidential Pardon Power,2017-10-31,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today introduced a Constitutional Amendment to limit the scope of a president’s pardon power.  The Amendment would prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves, as well as members of their family, their administration and campaign staff. Video of the Congressman speaking on House floor about the Amendment can be found here.  “The pardon power is supposed to be a safety valve against injustice,” he said. “It is not supposed to be a way for presidents to put themselves, their families and members of their administration and campaigns above the law.  Monday’s indictment of President Trump’s Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort demonstrates how important it is for Congress to act.” The amendment would apply to the current as well as future presidents. See the text of the amendment here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-introduce-bill-require-president-trump-release-remaining-documents,Cohen to Introduce a Bill to Require President Trump To Release Remaining Documents Regarding JFK Assassination,2017-10-30,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that he will be introducing legislation to require President Trump to immediately release all remaining documents regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK). Today’s announcement follows President Trump’s failure to meet last week’s Congressionally mandated deadline for a final decision as to which documents would be released. “President Trump failed to meet a deadline set in federal law 25 years ago when he decided last week to delay release of some documents associated with the assassination of John F. Kennedy. That kind of slothful approach to meeting a legal dictate is not how it works. If he wanted additional review of sensitive materials, that review should have taken place before last week’s deadline. I will be introducing legislation to enforce the Congressionally mandated deadline and require the President to immediately release all documents.  All of the records have been reviewed and the reviewers know what they propose to be redacted. That should take six days, not six months.” The JFK Records Collection Act was signed into law in October 1992 and mandated release of all records within 25 years unless their release would be more harmful than the public’s legitimate interest in them. The deadline occurred October 26, 2017.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-plan-introduce-constitutional-amendment-presidential,Cohens Statement On Plan To Introduce Constitutional Amendment On Presidential Pardon Power,2017-10-30,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cohen’s Statement On Plan To Introduce Constitutional Amendment On Presidential Pardon Power In light of the Indictment of Former Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, The Need To Act Is Clear [WASHINGTON, D.C.] —  Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), released the following statement after a federal grand jury’s indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was made public Monday: “The indictment of Paul Manafort, who served as Donald Trump’s campaign chairman last year, accelerates the need to pass a Constitutional amendment limiting a president’s pardoning authority. I will be introducing the amendment on Tuesday. If adopted, the amendment would prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves, their families, members of their administrations and individuals who worked on their presidential campaigns. The indictment makes clear that some of Manafort’s activities took place while he was working on the Trump campaign so the need is clear and present.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/taking-budget-and-republicans-flawed-tax-plan,Taking Up the Budget and Republicans Flawed Tax Plan,2017-10-27,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I voted against the Republican Budget blueprint, spoke out against President Trump’s “tax reform” plan, decried the President’s treatment of Senator Bob Corker, called on House Judiciary Committee Chairman to pursue the Trump-Russia campaign probe, remembered Tri-State Defender Publisher and President Bernal E. Smith II, criticized Vice President Pence for casting the tie-breaking vote preventing lawsuits against banks, and hosted my monthly “Congress on your Corner” event. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Taking Up the Budget and Republicans’ Flawed Tax Plan Protecting SNAP Payments for Memphians Decrying President Trump’s Treatment of Senator Bob Corker Calling on Judiciary Committee Chairman to Pursue Trump-Russia Campaign Probe Demanding President Trump Complies with JFK Records Act Remembering Tri-State Defender Publisher Bernal E. Smith II Opposing Efforts to Help Wall Street Avoid Answering to Customers Bringing Congress to Your Corner 9th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment Period Begins November 1 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach The Congressional App Challenge Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Taking Up the Budget and Republicans’ Flawed Tax Plan On Thursday, the House took up and passed a budget blueprint, setting up a tax plan Republican leaders expect to pass before Thanksgiving without Democratic support. The budget measure would allow for a tax plan benefiting the super-rich and add as much as $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next ten years. The rush to pass a tax bill is designed to avoid the kind of scrutiny that would make it clear that low-income and middle-class Americans will end up being victims of a con job. I will continue to fight for low and middle-income interests as the showdown gets closer. On Monday I spoke out against the President’s tax reform plan. Watch my remarks here. Protecting SNAP Payments for Memphians On Thursday, I penned an op-ed in The Commercial Appeal on Governor Haslam’s decision to reintroduce work requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in most Tennessee counties. The Governor’s announced change in policy will turn back time for Shelby County and make it harder to prevent some of our most vulnerable citizens from going hungry. Read my op-ed here.  Decrying President Trump’s Treatment of Senator Bob Corker On Tuesday, I discussed the abhorrent treatment of Tennessee’s Senator Bob Corker at a Judiciary Committee hearing on President Trump’s so-called “Tax reform” plan – in truth, a massive give-away to the wealthiest Americans. Corker speaks the truth when he says President Trump’s likely legacy will be the abasement of our country. Tennesseans can be proud to have a principled leader willing to point out the president’s ongoing embarrassing behavior. See my remarks here. Calling on Judiciary Committee Chairman to Pursue Trump-Russia Campaign Probe On Tuesday, I took to the House floor to note that both House and Senate Intelligence Committees and the Senate Judiciary Committee have ongoing investigations of the connections between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign, but the House Judiciary Committee does not. As a member of that committee, I again urged Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte to open a probe in an area where we clearly share jurisdiction. Hear my floor remarks here. Demanding President Trump Complies with JFK Records Act Photo of John F. Kennedy taken on Union Avenue in Memphis by Congressman Cohen when he was 11 years old. On Thursday. President Trump delayed release of documents related to the 1963 John F. Kennedy assassination, despite a clear deadline set by a 25-year-old federal law. He should have used the time before Thursday’s announcement to determine which documents seriously require redaction, not take another six months to comply. With very few exceptions, the American people should be able to see the records now. Remembering Tri-State Defender Publisher Bernal E. Smith II On Sunday, I was saddened to learn of the death of Tri-Stare Defender publisher and president Bernal E. Smith II. Smith was a strong voice for African-American business and culture. Under his guidance, The New Tri-State Defender carried on its tradition as a beacon for social and economic justice in Memphis. On Friday, I attended his funeral at the Mount Vernon Baptist Church where a huge crowd gathered for the sendoff officiated over by the remarkable 90-year-old Rev. James Netters. Rev. Keith Norman and Dr. Karanja Ajanaku delivered inspiring addresses. Read more about his life here. He will be missed. Opposing Efforts to Help Wall Street Avoid Answering to Customers Vice President Mike Pence, doing the bidding of Wall Street banks whose systemic policies have harmed customers, cast the tie-breaking vote Tuesday night to prevent class-action lawsuits. The vote overturned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would allow class-action lawsuits against banks that violate their customers’ trust, keeping in place the banks’ mandatory arbitration procedures, contradicting the Trump Administration’s claim that it stands up for the working class. I voted against this measure when it came before the House of Representatives in July. Bringing Congress to Your Corner Today my office held “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Gaisman Community Center. My staff and I answered questions and assisted with problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA and other federal agencies. The next “Congress on your Corner” will be Friday, December 1, 2017 from 11am-1pm at the Cordova Branch Library. Visit my website for more information.  9th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon On Friday, November 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at BRIDGES, I will be hosting my 9th annual Veterans Day BBQ Luncheon to honor our veterans in Memphis. I will also discuss my work as your Representative in Washington, DC to help improve the lives of veterans, including my support of programs that assist our veterans who are homeless or who are on the verge of homelessness. Veterans should RSVP at 901-544-4131 by Wednesday, November 8th if you would like to attend. Visit my website for more information. Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment Period Begins November 1 The open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace for 2018 plan shopping and comparison opens November 1, 2017. The last day to sign up for health insurance is December 15, 2017. Please note that the Trump Administration has shortened the enrollment period. Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/ for more information.   2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available My office currently has a limited number of 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s 9th District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter. Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should be aware of precautionary measures that can help ensure their financial security.  If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) has published a helpful guide, which you can find here, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov/contact/email.  The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the 9th Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Quote of the Week ""Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.”  -- Mahatma Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments With Truth  Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9th Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Starting this week, consumers are able to start using the “window shopping” feature of Healthcare.gov to compare plans available during the Open Enrollment period. As in previous years, window shopping lets consumers browse plans without logging in, creating an account, or filling out an application. A new fact sheet with information consumers need to know about this year’s Open Enrollment is posted here. As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/haslams-snap-decision-slap-face-memphis,Haslam's SNAP decision a slap in the face to Memphis,2017-10-26,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"I am deeply concerned about Governor Haslam’s decision to reintroduce work requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in most Tennessee counties. Those in Memphis who benefit from SNAP, many of whom are African American, rely on its financial assistance to feed themselves and their families. The governor’s announced change in policy will turn back time for Shelby County and make it harder to prevent some of our most vulnerable citizens from going hungry.   While Tennessee will continue to waive the work requirement for sixteen counties due to their economic distress, the economic stress of the City of Memphis is being overlooked.  There are, in essence, two Shelby Counties. The Poplar corridor from the Mississippi River to Germantown and Collierville is largely Caucasian and economically competitive. Other parts, such as North Memphis, South Memphis, Millington, and Southeast Memphis are largely African-American and some of the most economically distressed areas in Tennessee. Shelby County, the largest geographic county in Tennessee at 754 square miles, has greater economic disparity than any other county.  The Economic Innovation Group’s (EIG) new 2017 Distressed Communities Index (DCI) lists Memphis as the sixth most distressed area among the nation’s 100 largest cities and the only city in the South at the top of the list.   66.1 percent of Memphians live in a distressed ZIP code. From 2011 to 2015, Memphis saw a 2.7 percent reduction in the number of businesses while Shelby County had a .09 percent reduction.   During that same time, Memphis employment increased 1.3 percent while in Shelby County it increased by 2.9 percent.  Furthermore, the “distress score” for Memphis was 60.7 compared to 22.6 for Fayette County and 32.9 for Tipton County. During the economic recovery, 99 percent of new jobs created nationwide went to college-educated workers and those jobs were co-located where those workers lived. SNAP recipients in Shelby County who are unemployed often do not have the skills to qualify for vacant positions in the area or do not have easy access to training opportunities that are necessary to build those skills. SNAP helps them while they continue to seek employment.  Systemic racism throughout Memphis’s history has led to a lack of educational and job opportunities for many African Americans. Cutting off SNAP benefits will not make the necessary job opportunities available. It will just result in people who literally have no way to survive. The new University of Memphis poverty fact sheet released in September found that Memphis “reverted to the poorest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) with a population over a million people.”   While poverty in the U.S. overall has been dropping, poverty in Memphis is increasing, including in the city’s youth population where 43 percent live in poverty. The report found that “poverty rates for the City of Memphis are higher than poverty rates in Shelby County for every category. Both are higher than poverty rates in Tennessee, and Tennessee poverty rates are higher than U.S. poverty rates in almost every category.” I hope Mayors Luttrell and Strickland will join me in urging Governor Haslam to reconsider waiving federal work requirements for SNAP recipients in Tennessee. At the very least, the governor should take into consideration that Shelby County and the City of Memphis should not be lumped together when determining which Tennessee counties will receive SNAP work requirement waivers. Memphis is larger than most counties in Tennessee and should be considered as an economic entity unto itself. To deny help to those who most desperately need it because others have been fortunate makes no sense and is not good government. Many Memphians will suffer without SNAP.  Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, represents the 9th congressional district of Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-alexander-murray-bill-restores-sanity-to-market,Cooper: Alexander-Murray Bill Restores Sanity to Market,2017-10-25,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today celebrated the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s evaluation of Sen. Lamar Alexander’s bipartisan health stabilization bill. “We have a bipartisan agreement that keeps people insured and restores sanity to the market,” Rep. Cooper said. “It’s a small step and we need to continue fixing the Affordable Care Act.” Drafted with Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. Alexander’s bipartisan bill would fund key insurance subsidies for low-income Americans, according to CBO. Additionally, CBO said, the bill would keep Americans covered. President Trump recently said he would attempt to cancel the subsidies, but he has also expressed openness to Sen. Alexander’s proposal. Nearly 60 percent of all marketplace enrollees in Tennessee – 118,901 people – benefit from the subsidies. That includes 18,588 Davidson County residents; 1,281 Dickson County residents; and 919 Cheatham County residents in 2016.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-s-statement-passing-bernal-smith-ii,Congressman Cohens Statement on the Passing of Bernal Smith II,2017-10-22,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement on the passing of Tri-State Defender publisher and president Bernal Smith II: “Bernal Smith was a strong voice for African-American business and culture,” said Congressman Cohen. “Bernal published the historic Tri-State Defender and carried on its tradition as a beacon for social and economic justice in Memphis and everywhere. His untimely death leaves a void in his family and the lives of his many friends. My thoughts are with his family in this most difficult time.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/protecting-affordable-care-act-0,Protecting the Affordable Care Act,2017-10-20,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I appeared on MSNBC to discuss President Trump’s sabotage of the Affordable Care Act and my intention to introduce articles of impeachment against the President, praised Memphis for reducing racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, spoke at the Greater Memphis Chamber Small Business Development Forum, and attended the National Civil Rights Museum Moral Monday at Mississippi Boulevard Church. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Protecting the Affordable Care Act Reducing Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes Speaking at the Small Business Development Forum Attending the National Civil Rights Museum Moral Mondays Bringing Congress to your Corner 9th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment Period Begins November 1 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach The Congressional App Challenge Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Protecting the Affordable Care Act On Sunday, I was on MSNBC with Alex Witt to discuss President Trump’s sabotage of the Affordable Care Act.  I also discussed my intentions to introduce articles of impeachment against the President. Watch my interview here. Reducing Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes This week, The Commercial Appeal reported that the City of Memphis had significantly narrowed the gap between the rate at which African American women and Caucasian women die from breast cancer. In 2014, I was proud to host a “Building a Healthier Memphis” panel discussion on the racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes in Memphis to bring together those in health care working on this issue. Early detection is crucial to saving lives. During the meeting, we discussed provisions of the Affordable Care Act that enable women to get breast cancer screenings like mammograms with no co-pays or deductibles, which has greatly contributed to the decrease in racial disparities in breast cancer. Speaking at the Small Business Development Forum On Thursday, I gave opening remarks at the Small Business Development Forum hosted by the Greater Memphis Chamber. The forum and panel discussion focused on ensuring our local business owners or future business owners know what resources are available to them to bring their goods and services to market in today’s global economy.  Attending the National Civil Rights Museum Moral Monday   On Monday, I attended the National Civil Rights Museum Moral Monday at Mississippi Boulevard Church. Rev. William Barber delivered a powerful sermon on policy and morality. He is a man on a mission about ending racism, environmental destruction, economic inequality, and materialism. His speech was reminiscent of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech at the Riverside Church in New York City. Read more here. Bringing Congress to your Corner On Friday, October 27 from 11:00am to 1:00pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Gaisman Community Center (4221 Macon Road). If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff and I will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. I hope you can make it.   9th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon On Friday, November 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at BRIDGES, I will be hosting my 9th annual Veterans Day BBQ Luncheon to honor our veterans in Memphis. I will also discuss my work as your Representative in Washington, DC to help improve the lives of veterans, including my support of programs that assist our veterans who are homeless or who are on the verge of homelessness. Veterans should RSVP at 901-544-4131 by Wednesday, November 8th if you would like to attend. Visit my website for more information. Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment Period Begins November 1 The open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace for 2018 plan shopping and comparison opens November 1, 2017. The last day to sign up for health insurance is December 15, 2017. Please note that the Trump Administration has shortened the enrollment period. Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/ for more information.   2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available My office currently has a limited number of 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s 9th District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter. Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should be aware of precautionary measures that can help ensure their financial security.  If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) has published a helpful guide, which you can find here, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov/contact/email.  The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the 9th Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9th Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although the racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes in Memphis has decreased, still more African American women die from breast cancer than Caucasian women. Learn more about breast cancer screenings, which can save lives, here.  As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,  Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-sponsors-bill-to-repeal-law-that-restricts-dea-opioid-enforcement,Cooper Sponsors Bill to Repeal Law That Restricts DEA Opioid Enforcement,2017-10-19,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05), joined by U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (WV-03), U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (OH-13), today introduced bipartisan legislation repealing the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016. The Washington Post and “60 Minutes” recently revealed that the Act has severely restricted the ability of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to investigate and discipline opioid distributors suspected of illegal behavior. The House bill introduced today would restore the stronger, original standard. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. “We need to restore DEA’s full powers, not hamper the agency the way the drug industry wanted,” Rep. Cooper said. “Congress made a terrible mistake letting the drug industry bill slip through. Congress should correct that mistake NOW!” The law has dramatically altered DEA procedures and made it far more difficult for the agency to combat the spread of opioids into the black market. “We need a DEA that is fully empowered to enforce opioid regulations and crack down on irresponsible distributors,” Rep. Jenkins said. “I’m proud to join with Reps. Kuster, Cooper and Ryan to introduce this bill to repeal provisions of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act and ensure bad actors are held responsible for their role in the opioid epidemic in our communities.” “At a time when the opioid epidemic is impacting communities across the country, it’s critical that no tools are taken off the table,” Rep. Kuster said. “We know that the opioid crisis has in part been fueled by the over prescribing of opioid pain medications and any limitations on the DEA’s ability to get unneeded prescription drugs off the street must be eliminated. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to come together in a bipartisan fashion to introduce this bill to repeal provisions of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which DEA officials cite as restricting their ability to do their job.” “It is clear that the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016 has significantly and adversely affected the Federal Government’s ability to crack down on opioid distributors that are endangering communities across the country,” Rep. Ryan said. “I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congresswoman Kuster, Congressman Jenkins, and Congressman Cooper which would repeal provisions of the legislation and restore the Drug Enforcement Administration’s authority to prohibit opioid manufacturers from flooding communities suffering from addiction with more pills.” “It appears that this law has significantly affected the government’s ability to crack down on opioid distributors that are failing to meet their obligations and endangering our communities,” Sen. McCaskill said. “That’s why I introduced legislation that repeals this law and will continue my work investigating the role pharmaceutical distributors played in fueling this public health crisis.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-president-trump-s-decision-end-vital-subsidy-payments,Cohens Statement on President Trumps Decision to End Vital Subsidy Payments Under the ACA,2017-10-13,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement after President Trump’s decision to end Cost-Sharing Reduction payments required under the Affordable Care Act to make health insurance coverage affordable for millions of Americans: “President Trump’s decision to end subsidy payments for low- and middle-income Affordable Care Act participants is mean-spirited and could be devastating to many Ninth District residents,” said Congressman Cohen. “These subsidies make health insurance coverage affordable for millions of Americans, including more than 155,000 Tennessee residents who receive an average of more than $1,200 annually through the ACA. President Trump and many Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to improve the ACA, and have instead done everything in their power to try to dismantle and sabotage the law. I, and many of my Democratic colleagues, believe that affordable health care should be a right, not a privilege, and we will continue to work to preserve and improve the ACA to ensure health insurance remains affordable.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/ensuring-health-insurance-remains-affordable,Ensuring Health Insurance Remains Affordable,2017-10-13,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I criticized the Trump Administration for ending subsidy payments for low- and middle-income Affordable Care Act participants, spoke in support of the First Amendment guarantee of the freedom of the press, supported the Clean Power Plan, participated in a forum on the long-term effects of football-related brain injuries, and introduced a bipartisan bill to protect horses from abuse when being transported. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Ensuring Health Insurance Remains Affordable Safeguarding the Freedom of the Press Protecting Our Environment Participating in a Forum on Long-Term Effects of Football-Related Brain Injuries Introducing the Horse Transportation Safety Act Bringing Congress to your Corner 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach The Congressional App Challenge Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Ensuring Health Insurance Remains Affordable On Thursday night, President Trump announced he would end subsidy payments for low- and middle-income Affordable Care Act participants. This decision is mean spirited and could be devastating to many 9th District residents. These subsidies make health insurance coverage affordable for millions of Americans, including more than 155,000 Tennessee residents who receive an average of more than $1,200 annually through the ACA. Read my full statement here. Safeguarding the Freedom of the Press President’s Trump’s tweets this week challenging the license of NBC News and other news networks and his comments on Thursday attacking the freedom of the press during his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office are a direct attack on the First Amendment and continue a dangerous pattern of the President undermining the Constitution. Read my full statement here. Protecting Our Environment On Wednesday, President Trump announced that he would repeal the Clean Power Plan, the first and only federal limit on carbon pollution from existing power plants. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and President Trump have decided to burden taxpayers with the costs of climate change, increasingly frequent and severe instances of extreme weather, and air pollution. Read my full statement here.  Participating in a Forum on Long-Term Effects of Football-Related Brain Injuries On Friday, I participating in a forum hosted by the House Judiciary Committee Democrats and House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats on the long-term effects of football-related brain injuries. The forum focused on recent studies highlighting advances in sports research for traumatic brain injuries incurred from contact sports and pathways to move forward. Watch my remarks here. Watch the full forum here.  Introducing the Horse Transportation Safety Act On Thursday, Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) and I introduced the Horse Transportation Safety Act. This bipartisan legislation would prohibit interstate transportation of horses in a motor vehicle containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another. When we allow animals to be mistreated or disrespected, we also devalue our own humanity. Read more here. Bringing Congress to your Corner On Friday, October 27 from 11:00am to 1:00pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Gaisman Community Center (4221 Macon Road). If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff and I will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. I hope you can make it.   2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available My office currently has a limited number of 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s 9th District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter. Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should be aware of precautionary measures that can help ensure their financial security.  If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) has published a helpful guide, which you can find here, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov/contact/email.  The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the 9th Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9th Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. The open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace for 2018 plan shopping and comparison opens November 1, 2017. The last day to sign up for health insurance is December 15, 2017. Please note that the Trump Administration has shortened the enrollment period. Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/ for more information.   As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-statement-on-president-trump-s-decision-to-stop-aca-subsidies,Cooper Statement on President Trumps Decision to Stop ACA Subsidies,2017-10-13,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) today released the following statement after President Trump announced his decision to end cost-sharing reduction payments under the Affordable Care Act: “The Affordable Care Act made America healthier and families more secure. It relied on subsidies to bring more people under the umbrella of coverage. Trump is canceling those subsidies, which will throw people off their insurance due to higher premiums that will be unaffordable,” Rep. Cooper said. “As our nation's insurance commissioners have noted, the insurance markets will soon be in chaos. The president could have helped fix our health care system, building on what we've learned from the ACA; instead he is destroying it.” About 59 percent of all marketplace enrollees in Tennessee benefit from cost-sharing reduction payments. That includes 18,588 Davidson County residents; 1,281 Dickson County residents and 919 Cheatham County residents in 2016.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-cohen-condemns-president-trump-s-statements-attacking,Ranking Member Cohen Condemns President Trumps Statements Attacking the Freedom of the Press,2017-10-12,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today condemned President Trump’s recent tweets challenging the license of NBC and other news networks and his comments attacking the freedom of the press during his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office. During the meeting with the Prime Minister, President Trump said, “It is frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write.” “President’s Trump’s recent statements and tweets attacking the freedom of the press and NBC News are a direct attack on the First Amendment and continue a dangerous pattern of the President undermining the Constitution,” said Congressman Cohen. “James Madison said the ‘freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.’ Yet this President has continued to make statements and act in a way to disrespect and delegitimize the press. He has referred to numerous media outlets as ‘fake news,’ he has called the New York Times the ‘failing New York Times,’ and has called the Washington Post the ‘Amazon Washington Post.’ President Trump retweeted a GIF of himself wrestling the CNN logo and has taken to twitter to attack media personalities such as Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough and Megyn Kelly. He excluded American journalists from covering his meeting with the Russian Ambassador and Foreign Minister and has limited video and audio access to White House press briefings. President Trump even went as far as to call the press ‘the enemy of the American people.’ President Trump’s reckless, authoritarian-like attacks on the legitimacy and accuracy of the press are alarming. Attacks on the press, along with attacks on the courts, are the first signs of fascism. Keeping the citizenry informed with accurate information about government actions is vital for the effective functioning of democratic government and for ensuring the ultimate sovereignty of the people over their leaders.” In July, Congressman Cohen, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), and Congressman Mark Sanford (R-SC) hosted a bipartisan forum on freedom of the press entitled, “The State of Press Freedom in 21stCentury America.” You can watch the forum here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cohen-and-jones-introduce-bipartisan-horse-transportation-safety,Reps. Cohen and Jones Introduce the Bipartisan Horse Transportation Safety Act,2017-10-12,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-NC) today introduced the Horse Transportation Safety Act. This bipartisan legislation would prohibit interstate transportation of horses in a motor vehicle containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another. It would also create civil penalties of at least $100 for each horse involved.   “When we allow animals to be mistreated or disrespected, we also devalue our own humanity,” said Congressman Cohen. “Horses cannot be safely or humanely transported in double-deck trailers that are built for much smaller animals, and our laws should reflect that. I am proud to sponsor the Horse Transportation Safety Act, which will ensure that these beautiful creatures are treated humanely.” “As a longtime owner of horses, I know the importance of safe and secure transportation for these precious animals. Double-deck trailers and similar motor vehicles are not it,” said Congressman Jones. “Horses are incredible creatures that deserve the most humane treatment. Thank you Congressman Cohen for introducing legislation to ensure just that.” On November 7, 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a statement recognizing the inhumane practice stating that, “double-deck trailers do not provide adequate headroom for equines, with the possible exception of foals and yearlings. We do not believe that trailers that have two or more permanent levels that are not collapsible can be adequately altered to accommodate adult equines, especially tall equines.” The Horse Transportation Safety Act would close a regulatory loophole whereby drivers have an incentive to inhumanely transport horses to assembly points then reload them into single level trailers just outside their final destination. The American Veterinary Medical Association has approved the National Agriculture Safety Database’s research calling for at least 7’-8’ ceiling clearance for horses when traveling.  The average horse stands 7’ (15 hands) high and when traveling should at least have adequate headroom to stand with normal posture.   Original cosponsors of the legislation include: Reps. Joyce Beatty, Donald S. Beyer, Earl Blumenauer, Mike Capuano, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Katherine Clark, Gerald Connolly, Elijah Cummings, Susan Davis, Mark DeSaulnier, Ted Deutch, Elizabeth Esty, Raul Grijalva, Andy Harris, Alcee Hastings, Walter Jones, Bill Keating, Derek Kilmer, Peter King, Barbara Lee, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Alan Lowenthal, Nita Lowey, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Jim McGovern, Jerry McNerney, Martha McSally, Jerrold Nadler, Grace Napolitano, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Pocan, Jared Polis, David Price, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Adam Schiff, Carol Shea-Porter, Albio Sires, Louise Slaughter, Adam Smith, Jackie Speier, Dina Titus, Nikki Tsongas, Nydia Velazquez, Peter Welch The Horse Transportation Safety Act has been endorsed by the Animal Welfare Institute, the Humane Society of the United States, the National Black Farmers Association, and Return to Freedom, Wild Horse Conservation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-criticizes-trump-executive-order,Cooper Criticizes Trump Executive Order,2017-10-12,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) released the following statement today after President Trump signed an executive order designed to sabotage health insurance markets and increase premiums for Americans with pre-existing conditions: “Today’s announcement is one of many steps this administration has taken to undermine the Affordable Care Act. It creates an exclusive market for the healthy at the expense of the sick, and is opposed by all kinds of health care experts,” Rep. Cooper said. “In the end, Washington lobbyists stand to benefit the most. This executive order will only hurt Americans, not help them.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-epa-s-decision-repeal-clean-power-plan,Cohens Statement on the EPAs Decision to Repeal the Clean Power Plan,2017-10-11,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, today released the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and the Trump Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing the repeal of the Clean Power Plan. “The Trump Administration’s move to repeal the Clean Power Plan is another representation of a backslide on U.S. and global climate goals. Despite all of its shortcomings, the Trump Administration ought to have little difficulty in grasping the severe economic repercussions of repealing a strategy meant to lessen the wide-ranging damage caused by unchecked carbon emissions and climate change. Instead, EPA Administrator Pruitt and President Trump have decided to burden taxpayers with the costs of climate change, increasingly frequent and severe instances of extreme weather, and air pollution. “I support the Clean Power Plan and the Paris Climate Agreement. The Trump administration’s retreat from both plans of action will put America on a path toward more instances of extreme and destructive weather, toward more asthma attacks, more missed days of work and school, and more premature deaths caused by carbon pollution.”  The Clean Power Plan is the first and only federal limit on carbon pollution from existing power plants. By cutting carbon pollution, it is one of the best available tools to combat climate change and to take steps towards reducing air pollution that harms the public’s health.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/conyers-and-cohen-trump-administration-conflates-religious-liberty-right,CONYERS AND COHEN: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONFLATES RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WITH THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE IN LATEST TROUBLING ACTIONS,2017-10-06,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-TN) issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s issuance of two deeply troubling documents: (1) sweeping regulations by the Department of Health and Human Services that attack women’s healthcare by allowing any employer to deny their employees contraceptive coverage based on a religious or moral objection despite the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage mandate and (2) a Department of Justice legal guidance memorandum to federal departments and agencies interpreting the scope of protection for religious liberty so broadly as to potentially undermine civil rights protections for LGBTQ persons, all under the guise of “protecting” religious liberty:      “Protecting religious freedom does not include creating a right to harm or discriminate against others.  The Trump Administration, unfortunately, has chosen to use the protection of religious liberty as a justification to take away women’s access to contraceptive care and to undermine the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. The Administration’s actions today would allow corporations, whether publicly-traded or closely-held,  to deny essential health coverage for women and allow entities receiving federal funds to engage in invidious discrimination against people based on their gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, among other bases.    “Under the legal guidance memorandum issued today by the Department of Justice, an entity receiving federal funds could be permitted to discriminate against LGBTQ persons for example, by denying the opportunity to adopt a child, declining to process spousal or survivor benefits, or refusing to provide any other service they would ordinarily provide.  None of these actions ‘protect’ religious liberty but, rather, warp the concept to create a right to discriminate. “In a week in which the Republican-controlled House passed an unconstitutional and dangerous 20-week abortion ban bill, the Trump Administration’s new HHS rules would further limit women’s access to essential healthcare services. The new rules also undercut the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage mandate by expanding the list of entities eligible to claim a religious objection to providing such coverage.  The list of covered entities will now even include for-profit, publically traded companies like Wal-Mart, who could claim a ‘moral objection’ to providing their female employees access to  essential healthcare services. This is a policy that goes even further than the extreme position taken by the Supreme Court in its 2014 decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. “President Trump views civil rights as just another political wedge issue, and his promotion of ‘religious liberty’ as a shield for discrimination will only further divide this country.  We will continue to fight for the rights of all Americans to be free from discrimination regardless of gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/keeping-victims-las-vegas-mass-shooting-my-thoughts-and-advocating,"Keeping the Victims of the Las Vegas Mass Shooting in My Thoughts and Advocating for Reasonable, Commonsense Gun Laws",2017-10-06,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I was shocked and saddened when I learned of the Las Vegas mass shooting, cosponsored legislation to ban bump stocks that turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns, responded to the shooting by recommending reasonable, commonsense gun laws, opposed the cruel budget passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, introduced the Police CAMERA Act to help provide body cameras for local law enforcement, and spoke out against a GOP bill that infringes on the rights of women that are included in Roe v. Wade. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Keeping the Victims of the Las Vegas Mass Shooting in My Thoughts and Advocating for Reasonable, Commonsense Gun LawsOpposing the Cruel Republican BudgetIntroducing the Police CAMERA ActHelping to Secure Federal Funding to Eliminate the Rape Kit Backlog in MemphisFighting for Women’s Health Bringing Congress to your Corner Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach The Congressional App Challenge Sign Up for My New Grants E-NewsletterQuote of the WeekWeekly Health Tip Keeping the Victims of the Las Vegas Mass Shooting in My Thoughts and Advocating for Reasonable, Commonsense Gun Laws This week, I was saddened and horrified by the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday night. My thoughts go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy and their families. I cosponsored legislation to prohibit bump stocks, like the one the Las Vegas shooter used to convert a semi-automatic rifles into the equivalent of a machine gun, but I hope Congress will go further. I responded to the shooting by urging Congress to pass common sense gun laws, such as no-fly-no-buy and restrictions on certain assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Read my full statement here. Watch my remarks on the House floor on gun control here. Watch my interview with Larry King on this issue and others here. Opposing the Cruel Republican Budget On Thursday, I spoke in support of the Democratic Alternative Budget that invests in infrastructure, schools, medical research, and more to move our country forward. The GOP Budget sets our country back by cutting vital programs to many Americans, having insufficient investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), giving huge tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, and more. Watch my remarks on the House floor here. Watch my remarks with my friend, colleague, and Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) on Facebook Live here (approximately the 9:30 mark).  Introducing the Police CAMERA Act On Wednesday, Senators Brian Schatz, Rand Paul and I introduced the Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available (Police CAMERA) Act. This bill would create a pilot grant program to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing safe and effective body-worn camera programs that also protect civilians’ privacy rights. This bill would be an important step in rebuilding trust between police and the communities they serve. Read more here. Helping to Secure Federal Funding to Eliminate the Rape Kit Backlog in Memphis Late last week, I was pleased to announce that Memphis will be receiving a more than $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) to help process untested rape kits in law enforcement custody. Last month, the House of Representatives passed my amendment to include an additional $4 million in the Fiscal Year 2018 House appropriations package for SAKI funding nationally. Read more here. Fighting for Women’s Health Instead of considering legislation to prevent gun violence, House Republicans brought the questionably named and unconstitutional Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to the House floor on Wednesday without any hearings or mark-ups in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill infringes on the rights of women that are included in Roe v. Wade. Watch my reaction here. Bringing Congress to your Corner On Friday, October 27 from 11:00am to 1:00pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the Gaisman Community Center (4221 Macon Road). If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.   2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available My office currently has a limited number of 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee’s Ninth District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the Ninth District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter. Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should be aware of precautionary measures that can help ensure their financial security.  If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) has published a helpful guide, which you can find here, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov/contact/email.  The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Unfortunately, one in eight women born today in the U.S. will get breast cancer at some point. Learn more about screenings and treatments for breast cancer here.  As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,  Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sens-schatz-paul-and-rep-cohen-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-help,"SENS. SCHATZ, PAUL AND REP. COHEN REINTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO HELP EXPAND RESPONSIBLE USE OF POLICE BODY CAMERAS",2017-10-04,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced the Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available (Police CAMERA) Act of 2017.  This legislation would create a pilot grant program to assist state and local law enforcement agencies develop safe and effective body-worn camera programs that also protect civilians’ privacy rights. “We can’t restore trust between our communities and law enforcement without transparency and accountability. Body cameras alone won’t repair that relationship, but they have proven to be effective and can do a great deal to keep both police officers and community members safe and accountable,” said Senator Schatz “Body cameras will benefit the brave men and women who serve in our police force and the people they protect,” said Senator Paul. “The use of body cameras helps officers collect and preserve evidence to solve crimes, while also decreasing the number of complaints against police. The Police CAMERA Act will help state and local police departments access this new tool, while ensuring that the privacy rights of every civilian are respected.” “Justice is supposed to be blind, but it is not supposed to be blind to the facts. Police body cameras can help provide evidence and restore some much-needed trust between police and the communities they serve,” said Congressman Cohen. “The cameras could show the officer’s actions for what they were, proving both lawful and unlawful activity. The vast majority of police are well meaning, dedicated public servants, and we depend upon them to keep us safe from criminals. But the fact remains some officers go beyond the law in a callous disregard for due process.  Their actions damage the public trust that is essential for good police to be able to serve and protect our communities. Police body cameras, alone, will not solve this problem, but they are an important step in the right direction. I would like to thank Senators Schatz and Paul for their leadership on this issue and for partnering with me on this legislation.” The Police CAMERA Act of 2017 would establish a pilot grant program using existing funding to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies with the purchasing or leasing of body-worn cameras. It would also authorize an impact-study after two years. The study would assess the impact body-worn cameras have on reducing the use of excessive force by police, its effects on officer safety and public safety, and procedures to protect the privacy of individuals who are recorded. “The resulting benefits of the body-worn cameras after almost two years of usage have greatly exceeded my expectations,” said Darryl D. Perry, Chief of Police of the Kauai Police Department. “Not only have our officers embraced this technology wholeheartedly, but our community has commended KPD for being open and transparent.”  Original cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congress-can-use-power-pets-help-women-and-vets,Congress can use the power of pets to help women and vets,2017-10-03,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Each year, Congress works hard to pass bills that will help the American people. While acrimony and partisanship have made this more difficult, lawmakers are considering two bills that have bipartisan support on Capitol Hill and among the American people: H.R. 2327 and H.R. 909, the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS), and the Pets And Women Safety (PAWS) Acts of 2017. Each of these bills involves man’s best friend, and both provide for an underserved segment of America. In the case of H.R. 2327, veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries are provided opportunities for healing through grant-funded service dogs. H.R. 909 expands the number of domestic abuse shelters that can accept pets, in order to help abused women escape domestic violence. Rep. Cohen is a sponsor of both bills, and PIJAC supports them on behalf of the professional pet care community. Passing these bills now would be a powerful symbol to a public eager for Congress to lead, as National Suicide Prevention Month ends and National Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins. The House is already taking important steps to help veterans get the companions they need. On Sept. 26, the House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing about several bills, including H.R. 2327, that can help servicemembers adjust back to non-combat life. H.R. 2327 has support among myriad veterans’ groups, and 200 House co-sponsors. With about 20 veterans committing suicide each day, the PAWS Act is just one way that Congress can improve assistance to America’s military servicemembers who return from war with physical and mental scars. H.R. 909 is likewise an important bill with enormous support. It has 230 co-sponsors in the House and 20 in the Senate. It will provide assistance to many of the approximately one in four women, and one in seven men, who are domestically abused each year. Studies are clear that in a home where human abuse is taking place, a pet is also often a target. With nearly half of women saying they have returnedto an abusive home out of concern for a pet’s safety, H.R. 909 is clearly necessary to save lives and prevent more harm to innocent human and animal victims. The bill provides funds so that abuse shelters can accommodate pets, and extends domestic abuse laws so that courts may require abusers to provide restitution for veterinary costs a victim may incur. These bills recognize the strength of the human-animal bond. Fully 65 percent of U.S. households have a pet; 88 percent of House and Senate offices allow pets in their offices. Not only is connecting people and pets good business – with 1.3 million jobs, mostly small business, supported in 2015 alone – it is also great for human health. Just owning a pet saves over $11 billion in health care dollars each year, according to a conservative study by George Mason University. Other studies show direct links to less stress, better educational results, and improved health for senior citizens. Whether in Washington, D.C. or Tennessee, pets are everyone’s best friend. Congress should use the power of pets to bring people together by passing H.R. 2327 and H.R. 909. Representative Steve Cohen represents the 9th District of Tennessee. Mike Bober is President of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), which is the legislative and advocacy voice of the responsible pet industry.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-hails-federal-grant-more-1-million-help-process-rape-kits,Cohen Hails Federal Grant of More than $1 Million to Help Process Rape Kits,2017-10-02,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen today hailed the announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice that the City of Memphis will be receiving  more than $1 million to help process unsubmitted rape kits in law enforcement custody. “I am pleased that Memphis will be receiving more than $1 million to help ensure that rape kits get processed.  DNA analysis is a powerful weapon against sexual assailants, but it can’t do any good when rape kits don’t get processed,” said Congressman Cohen. ""This grant will help the City of Memphis and our local law enforcement track down assailants, help victims get justice, and protect individuals from becoming victimized by recidivists. I will continue fighting in Congress to ensure that sexual assailants are brought to justice.” The funding awarded to the City of Memphis comes from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), which provides grants to address unsubmitted sexual assault kits in law enforcement custody.  Memphis will be receiving $1,071,394. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed an amendment offered by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) to include an additional $4 million in the Fiscal Year 2018 House appropriations package for SAKI funding nationally.  The passage continued a trend in increased national funding for SAKI by Congress.  In 2015, Congressman Cohen and Congresswoman Maloney successfully offered an amendment to increase funding for SAKI by $4 million.  In 2014, Congressman Cohen successfully offered an amendment to increase funding for SAKI by $5 million.  If the recently House-passed amendment becomes law, Congress will have increased SAKI funding nationally from $36 million to $49 million since 2014 – a 36% increase. At its peak, the backlog reached 12,000 untested kits in Memphis alone with an estimated 400,000 sitting in evidence rooms nationwide. In 2015, Memphis received nearly $2 million from this grant program to reduce its rape kit backlog. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohens-statement-mass-shooting-las-vegas,Congressman Cohen's Statement on the Mass Shooting in Las Vegas,2017-10-02,2017,2017-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - ""I am saddened and horrified by the mass shooting in Las Vegas last night,"" said Congressman Cohen. ""My thoughts go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy and their families. ""It has been and continues to be time for Congress to come together and pass common sense gun laws, such as no-fly-no-buy and restrictions on certain assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. I support Leader Pelosi’s call for the creation of a Select Committee on Gun Violence to study and make recommendations to prevent more mass shootings and to restore confidence in the safety of our communities, and join her in urging Speaker Ryan to bring the King-Thompson Background Check legislation to the House Floor for a vote.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-calls-secretary-price-resign,Cohen Calls for Secretary Price to Resign,2017-09-29,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In the wake of reports that Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tom Price’s repeated use of private jets and military aircrafts, costing the taxpayers over $1 million since May, Congressman Steve Cohen called on Secretary Price to resign. Secretary Price has reportedly flown on chartered flights at least 26 times, even when traveling to cities with ample commercial options, and has mixed personal and government business at exorbitantly high taxpayer expense. “Secretary Price must resign,” said Congressman Cohen. “It is unacceptable that Secretary Price has spent more than $1 million of taxpayer money to fly on private and military jets, as he simultaneously sabotages the Affordable Care Act with massive cuts to the outreach and advertising budgets. As a Congressman, Tom Price called the use of private planes by members of Congress ‘fiscal irresponsibility run amok.’ Now, as the Secretary of HHS, his priorities have clearly shifted, and Secretary Price has shown that he cannot effectively prioritize the needs of Americans.” According to Politico, Secretary Tom Price took at least 26 flights on private jets over the past several months. Following press reports about the cost to taxpayers, Secretary Price announced plans to pay back $51,887 of these costs, which would only account for 13% of the costs of the private jets. He only plans to cover his seat costs on the flights, despite the fact that it was his choice to book private jets and all other costs related to travelling by private jet remain on the taxpayers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/bringing-congress-your-corner-0,Bringing Congress to your Corner,2017-09-29,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I hosted my monthly “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the North Branch Library, reacted to the announced retirement of Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) at the end of his current Senate term in 2018, welcomed Congressman Steve Scalise back to Congress, cosponsored legislation to overhaul the credit reporting system and celebrated National Voter Registration Day. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Bringing Congress to your CornerWelcoming Memphis’s SisterReach to Washington, DCServing with Senator Bob CorkerWelcoming Steve Scalise Back to CongressCosponsoring Legislation to Overhaul the Credit Reporting SystemMemphis Flyer 2017 Best of MemphisCelebrating National Voter Registration Day Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach The Congressional App Challenge Sign Up for My New Grants E-NewsletterQuote of the WeekWeekly Health Tip Bringing Congress to your Corner Today, my office held our monthly “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the North Branch Library. My staff and I answered constituents’ questions about and provided assistance with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA and other federal agencies. We also discussed issues such as health care, tax reform. Our next “Congress on your Corner” will be Friday, October 27 from 11am-1pm at the Gaisman Community Center (4221 Macon Road). Visit my website for more information on future “Congress on your Corner” events.   Welcoming Memphis’s SisterReach to Washington, DC On Thursday, I welcomed Memphis-based SisterReach to Washington, DC. During our meeting, we discussed reproductive justice, the continuation of the health care fight after the failure of the most recent effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and the proposed budget and tax cut’s negative impact on low income women of color. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Orisha Bowers, Lauren Williams-Batiste, London Lamar, Cherisse Scott, Elizabeth Dorse-Merriwether, Jakiera Stewart, Jovanii Woodley, and Patricia Jones. Serving with Senator Bob Corker I was disappointed to learn that Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) will not be seeking re-election in 2018. Senator Corker has been easy to work with, and we have developed an excellent relationship since beginning our careers in Congress in 2006. Bob is highly respected for his knowledge of the issues, especially foreign policy. He has exhibited moments of independence reminiscent of past great Tennessee Senators. I have enjoyed Bob Corker’s friendship and our collegiality since serving together in Tennessee State government, and I will miss serving with him in Congress. Welcoming Steve Scalise Back to Congress Congressman Steve Scalise, who was shot during a Congressional baseball practice in June, returned to Congress this week. Shootings and violence in all forms is abhorrent and violence is not the means to change political discourse in this country. I welcome Congressman Scalise back to Congress and wish him a complete recovery as he continues his rehabilitation. Cosponsoring Legislation to Overhaul the Credit Reporting System On Monday, I cosponsored the Comprehensive Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act to overhaul our nation’s credit reporting system to better protect consumers.  If enacted, this legislation would expand access to free consumer credit reports, credit scores, and ID theft protection tools.  It would also reduce the time that most adverse credit information stays on credit reports from 7 years to 4, and revise the dispute process to ensure that credit bureaus and furnishers have the burden to prove the accuracy of credit information is on the credit bureaus and credit furnishers, not consumers. Memphis Flyer 2017 Best of Memphis On Thursday, I was proud to be featured in the Memphis Flyer’s 2017 Best of Memphis list. The Flyer named me as the “Best Reason to be Proud of Memphis Politics.” Read more here. Celebrating National Voter Registration Day Wednesday was National Voter Registration Day, which celebrates one of our most fundamental rights as an American citizen: the right to vote. You can check your registration status or register to vote online in Tennessee here. Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should be aware of precautionary measures that can help ensure their financial security. If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) published a helpful guide, which you can find here, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov/contact/email. The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants. Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Tonight at sundown begins the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement,” and during the holiday, observers ask for forgiveness for their sins. In Jewish Tradition, observers fast from sundown to sundown. If you are observing the holiday, you can learn some tips to help with the fast here.   As always, I remain, Most sincerely, Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-celebrates-2017-golden-goose-award-winners,Cooper Celebrates 2017 Golden Goose Award Winners,2017-09-28,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) this week honored three teams of scientists whose federally funded – yet seemingly obscure – research has provided benefits to society. “The Golden Goose Award reminds us why politicians must leave scientific research to the scientists,” Rep. Cooper said. “This year’s winners prove how obscure and even unbelievable studies can change the world as we know it. We must continue to support our scientists whose brilliance and ingenuity keep America the greatest nation on earth.” In conjunction with a coalition of business, scientific and academic institutions, including Vanderbilt University, Rep. Cooper launched the Golden Goose Award in 2012 to highlight odd-sounding research that has led to breakthroughs and societal impact. The Golden Goose Award serves as a strong counterpoint to characterizations of basic research as wasteful federal spending by the likes of former Sen. William Proxmire and his “Golden Fleece Award.” Examining such things as mussels and frogs, this year’s Golden Goose Award winners pushed themselves toward important environmental, biological and computer science discoveries. For detailed information on 2017’s Golden Goose awardees, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-announced-retirement-tennessee-senator-bob-corker,Cohens Statement on the Announced Retirement of Tennessee Senator Bob Corker,2017-09-26,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement after Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) announced that he would not seek re-election in 2018: “I was disappointed to learn that Senator Bob Corker will not be seeking re-election in 2018. Senator Corker has been easy to work with, and we have developed an excellent relationship since beginning our careers in Congress in 2006. Bob is highly respected for his knowledge of the issues, especially foreign policy. He has exhibited moments of independence reminiscent of past great Tennessee Senators. I have enjoyed his friendship and collegiality since serving together in Tennessee State government, and I will miss serving with him in Congress.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-statement-on-announced-retirement-of-sen-bob-corker,Cooper Statement on Announced Retirement of Sen. Bob Corker,2017-09-26,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) issued the following statement after Sen. Bob Corker announced he would not seek re-election in 2018: “I congratulate Sen. Corker for two terms in the Senate. Despite our differences, we have a solid working relationship and I admire his expertise on foreign affairs,” Rep. Cooper said. “I wish him the best in his future endeavors, and I thank him for his service to Tennessee.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/working-towards-better-memphis-va-medical-center,Working Towards a Better Memphis VA Medical Center,2017-09-22,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I joined the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management of the VA on his visit to the Memphis VA Medical Center, joined Tavis Smiley on PBS to discuss my intentions to introduce articles of impeachment against President Trump, urged the Governor to make food stamps more available to Tennessee residents in need, introduced a bill to crack down on predatory lending practices, and sent information to my constituents on how they can protect themselves from the recent Equifax data breach. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Working Towards a Better Memphis VA Medical Center Joining Tavis Smiley on PBS Fighting to Make Food Stamps More Available Cracking Down on Predatory Lending Practices Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach Bringing Congress to your Corner The Congressional App Challenge Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Working Towards a Better Memphis VA Medical Center On Wednesday, My staff and I accompanied Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management of the VA Steve Young on his visit to the Memphis VA Medical Center. We discussed with Under Secretary Young and Director David Dunning the problems with the Memphis VA Medical Center and possible solutions that have been proposed by VA administrators to address these problems. I also penned an op-ed in The Commercial Appeal on the problems at the Memphis VA and expressing my optimism that Director Dunning is the right person to lead the hospital. You can read my op-ed here. Joining Tavis Smiley on PBS On Thursday night, I joined Tavis Smiley on PBS to discuss my intentions to introduce articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. You can watch my interview here.  Fighting to Make Food Stamps More Available On Monday, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced that Tennessee would reinstate workforce requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in most counties in Tennessee, including Shelby County, beginning February 1, 2018. Memphians should not be allowed to go hungry, and while I am awaiting more details about how the Governor’s workforce requirement policy for food stamps will be implemented, I fear that is what may happen. Read my full statement here. Cracking Down on Predatory Lending Practices On Wednesday, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and I introduced the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act to crack down on predatory lending practices. This legislation would eliminate the excessive rates and fees that many consumers are charged for payday loans, car title loans, and other types of credit. Read more here.  Important Information on the Equifax Data Breach On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should be aware of precautionary measures that can help ensure their financial security.  If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) published a helpful guide, which you can find here, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov/contact/email.  Bringing Congress to your Corner On Friday, September 29, 11:00am to 1:00pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the North Branch Library (1192 Vollintine Ave). If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff and I will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.   The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. September is Healthy Aging Month. Exercising regularly and eating a balanced, nutritious diet can help maintain a healthy body and brain and slow the aging process. Read more about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle here. As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-disagrees-with-governor-haslam-senators-alexander-and-corker,"Cooper Disagrees with Governor Haslam, Senators Alexander and Corker",2017-09-21,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) today expressed disappointment with Graham-Cassidy supporters U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and Gov. Bill Haslam, offering another point of view that aligns with provider, hospital and disease advocacy groups all over America. “The latest Republican attempt to pass a ‘health’ bill (their fourth) is the worst yet. Although it can be painted to look good in the next few years, the bill makes false promises that will hurt at least 32 million Americans, and hurt them very soon. How many hundreds of thousands of those victims are Tennesseans?” Rep. Cooper said. “Almost everyone who knows anything about health care is strongly against this bill. Why? This bill is a cynical attempt to buy barely enough Republican votes by bribing Southern states to overlook the horrific national damage the bill will cause with $4 trillion in overall cuts. Southern states will suffer, too. To call this a ‘states’ rights’ approach to health reform is a lie. It is a race to the bottom, with each state competing to be crueler to its citizens by denying them health insurance and health care. America deserves better, much better, and I am working to persuade enough Republicans with a soul to stop this devastatingly partisan attack on all Americans.” Gov. Haslam has described Graham-Cassidy as a “home run” and “flat-out good” for Tennessee, and both senators have expressed their willingness to vote for it. While Graham-Cassidy would briefly reward Tennessee with new funding, Cooper said the Volunteer State would have received the money years ago had its legislature expanded Medicaid. Cooper highlighted several studies showing that the Graham-Cassidy bill would cause 32 million Americans to lose their insurance; reduce vital federal funding for Tennessee; and increase premiums for people with pre-existing conditions. “A much better course of action would have been to let our own senator, Lamar Alexander, complete his efforts to craft a bipartisan health reform bill. He has been trying but has been betrayed by his own political party,” Rep. Cooper said. “Apparently, now, even he has given up. That is a tragic mistake. Without bipartisanship, Republicans will merely be repeating the mistakes of previous partisan reform efforts, which Republicans have long criticized. By not learning the lessons of history, Republicans are doomed to repeat history’s mistakes. This bill simply must be stopped!” The bill also would allow plans that exclude important benefits like mental health and maternity care. Additionally: Cooper noted the Graham-Cassidy bill is gaining momentum a day after the state of Tennessee granted drastic rate hikes to insurance companies.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/durbin-merkley-cartwright-cohen-introduce-bicameral-bill-crack-down,"DURBIN, MERKLEY, CARTWRIGHT, COHEN INTRODUCE BICAMERAL BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES",2017-09-20,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) were joined by U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-PA-17) and Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) in introducing the bicameral Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act, legislation that would eliminate the excessive rates and fees that many consumers are charged for payday loans, car title loans, and other types of credit.  Cash-strapped consumers nationwide pay, on average, annual interest rates of 400 percent for payday loans. These excessive interest rates create a vicious debt trap that drains consumer bank accounts and can cause serious and long-term financial harm. This bill would establish a 36 percent annual interest rate cap for all consumer credit transactions, helping consumers dedicate more of their resources to buying American goods and services instead of padding the pockets of predatory lenders. The 36 percent cap is similar to usury laws already enacted in many states and is the same as the cap already in place for military personnel and their families. “Despite the economic gains we have made as a nation in recent years, many working families continue to struggle. For some, payday lenders offer a quick way to make ends meet, but their outrageous interest rates and hidden fees can have crippling effects on the people who can least afford it,” said Sen. Durbin.  “Capping interest rates and fees for consumers will help protect working families from these predatory lending practices—it’s the right thing to do.” “Predatory loans with outrageous interest rates suck working families into an inescapable vortex of debt,” said Sen. Merkley. “This bill’s simple, straightforward approach will protect consumers and ensure that families aren’t bankrupted by high interest rates and hidden fees.” “Predatory lending disproportionately harms people who are already struggling financially. We need safeguards in place to protect working families,” said Rep. Cartwright. “This consumer-friendly legislation would provide relief from exorbitant fees for many low-income consumers across the country.” “Throughout my career, I have always worked to shield people from those who would take advantage of them through predatory lending practices that can wreak havoc on people’s lives and perpetuate a cycle of indebtedness. Both justice and morality dictate that reasonable caps on interest be enacted to protect borrowers from devious lenders,” said Rep. Cohen. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Al Franken (D-MN) and U.S. Representatives Michael Capuano (MA-07), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Elijah Cummings (MD-07), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Robin Kelly (IL-02), James Langevin (RI-02), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-at large), Mark Pocan (WI-02), David Price (NC-04), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Takano (CA-41), and Niki Tsongas (MA-03). Efforts to address the exorbitant interest rates charged on many payday loans have often failed because of the difficulty in defining predatory lending. By setting a relatively high interest rate as the cap and applying that cap to all credit transactions, the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act overcomes the problem and puts all consumer transactions on the same, sustainable, path. In doing so, consumers are protected, predatory lending practices are ended, and consumers will be helped in using credit more wisely. Specifically, the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act would: Establish a maximum APR equal to 36 percent and apply this cap to all open-end and closed-end consumer credit transactions, including mortgages, car loans, overdraft loans, car title loans, and payday loans. Encourage the creation of responsible alternatives to small dollar lending, by allowing initial application fees and for ongoing lender costs such as insufficient funds fees and late fees. Ensure that this federal law does not preempt stricter state laws. Create specific penalties for violations of the new cap and supports enforcement in civil courts and by State Attorneys General. The legislation is endorsed by Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), Americans for Financial Reform (AFR), AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Allied Progress, Americans for Financial Reform, Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending, Billings First Congregational Church – UCC, Casa of Oregon, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Georgia Watch, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, Hel's Kitchen Catering, Holston Habitat for Humanity, Illinois Asset Building Group, Illinois People's Action, Indiana Institute for Working Families, Knoxville, Oak Ridge Area Central Labor Council, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Montana Organizing Project, NAACP, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National CAPACD, National Consumer Law Center, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, New Jersey Citizen Action, People's Action, Prosperity Indiana, Public Citizen, Strong Economy for All Coalition, Student Action, Tennessee Citizen Action, UnidosUS, Virginia Organizing, VOICE -- Oklahoma City, and Woodstock Institute.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/information-equifax-data-breach,Information on the Equifax Data Breach,2017-09-20,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Constituent, On September 7, the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a data breach from earlier this year that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. All 9th District residents should take precautionary measures to ensure their financial security.  If you believe your data may have been compromised, there are steps you can take. These include: regularly monitoring your accounts, creating additional alerts for your credit report, and placing a security freeze on your credit report, which prevents others from opening up accounts in your name without your knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) published a helpful guide, which you can find here, on how to secure your identity following the Equifax data breach. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (901) 544-4131 or visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov/contact/email. As always, I remain. Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/announcement-by-extended-family-of-us-rep-jim-cooper,Announcement by Extended Family of U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper,2017-09-19,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"NASHVILLE – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, on behalf of the extended Cooper family, announced today that Hortense Hayes Powell Cooper died last night, Sept. 18, at Vanderbilt Hospital. She was 98 years old. Further information will follow.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/cohen-mobilizing-va-better-care-memphis,Cohen: Mobilizing the VA for better care in Memphis,2017-09-18,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"The incidents at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center reported last week by the USA Today Network are disturbing and unacceptable. When I read the story, I immediately called Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David Shulkin to express my concerns and discuss solutions to the ongoing problems at the Memphis VA. Memphis-area veterans have made enormous sacrifices for our county and deserve nothing but the best care. Last year, after the Memphis VA received one out of five stars in the VA’s quality-of-care rankings, I called Shulkin, then-Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and urged him to use whatever incentives are available to get the very best director for Memphis. At the time, the Memphis VA had gone through several interim directors and the previous permanent director was transferred due to issues at the hospital. Upon becoming Secretary of the VA, Dr. Shulkin appointed David Dunning as the director of the Memphis VA. Consistent leadership at the Memphis VA had been lacking since Director Jay Robinson was hired to become CEO of Methodist South in 2012. I was proud to work with then-Secretary of the VA Eric Shinseki to bring Director Robinson to Memphis, and I commend him for his work to reform the Memphis VA. Like Director Robinson, I believe Director Dunning has the credentials and passion for Memphis to transform the hospital. Director Dunning began his service in Memphis several months after the most recent incidents reported in the USA Today investigation. Since taking the reins at the Memphis VA, Director Dunning has been reviewing the practices at the hospital and has begun to implement changes to improve the quality of care. He has removed several high-level personnel at the hospital, including the chiefs of surgery, anesthesiology, and research. He has also hired a new head of the human resources department at the hospital. Director Dunning, an Iraq-war veteran and a 30-year career Army officer, was born in Memphis and has deep Memphis roots. In a recent interview with the USA TODAY NETWORK -- Tennessee, Director Dunning referred to Memphis as “forever home” and said he was fully committed to the city. While the appointment of David Dunning as the Director of the Memphis VA was an integral step to repairing the relationship between Memphis veterans and the hospital, it is clear that more improvements are still needed. During my phone call with Secretary Shulkin, I invited him to come to Memphis to visit the VA. Secretary Shulkin assured me that the Memphis VA was one of the hospitals that he was keeping a personal eye on for improvements. I have also spoken to Congressman Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, numerous times about the issues at the Memphis VA, and he expressed interest in accompanying Secretary Shulkin on his visit.  I will continue working with the VA and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the Memphis VA receives all federal funding, staffing and other federal aid necessary to ensure Memphis-area veterans receive the care that they deserve. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen represents Tennessee's Ninth Congressional District.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-tennessee-s-decision-reinstate-work-requirements-snap,Cohens Statement on Tennessees Decision to Reinstate Work Requirements for SNAP Recipients,2017-09-18,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement on Governor Bill Haslam’s decision to reinstate workforce requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in most counties in Tennessee, including Shelby County, beginning February 1, 2018. “Memphians shouldn’t be allowed to go hungry, and while I am awaiting more details about how the Governor’s workforce requirement policy for food stamps will be implemented, I fear that’s what may happen.  According to the most recent census data, the Memphis metro area has the highest poverty rate of metro areas with at least one million people.  We need to be making nutrition assistance more available, not less.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/reining-civil-asset-forfeiture-abuse,Reining in Civil Asset Forfeiture Abuse,2017-09-15,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, the House of Representatives passed an amendment Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and I introduced to rein in civil asset forfeiture abuse and passed an amendment I introduced to increase funding to help eliminate the rape kit backlog. Also this week, I supported Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) Medicare For All Act, I introduced a bill with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to protect job-seekers from credit-based discrimination, I was featured on a CBS This Morning story about the safety risks of shrinking airline seats, I released a statement on the recent natural disasters across the country, and commemorated the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Reining in Civil Asset Forfeiture Abuse Helping to Eliminate the Rape Kit Backlog Supporting Medicare For All Protecting Job Seekers from Credit-Based Discrimination Fighting the Safety Risks of Shrinking Airplane Seats Keeping Those Affected by Recent Natural Disasters in My Thoughts Commemorating the 16th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks Objecting to the House Judiciary Committee’s Lack of Oversight of the Trump Administration Bringing Congress to your Corner Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Reining in Civil Asset Forfeiture Abuse On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan amendment that Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and I introduced to rein in the federal government’s power to seize private property without due process. The amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the Department of Justice’s recently announced expansion of civil asset forfeiture, which reversed a previous ban on the practice of adoptive seizures. Read more here. Watch my remarks here. Helping to Eliminate the Rape Kit Backlog On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed my amendment to include an additional $4 million in the Fiscal Year 2018 House appropriations package for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). This federal program helps local law enforcement agencies who are working to reduce their backlogs of untested rape kits. This is the third time since 2014 that the House has approved an amendment that I have offered to increase funding for this program. Altogether, these amendments have increased annual funding by 36%. Read more here. Supporting Medicare For All On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced the Medicare For All Act to expand the federal Medicare program for all Americans. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the House companion to this bill, introduced earlier this year by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). I have cosponsored this bill since coming to Congress in 2007, and I will continue to advocate for Medicare for all Americans.  Protecting Job Seekers from Credit-Based Discrimination On Thursday, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and I introduced the Equal Employment for All Act to protect job seekers from unfair discrimination from employers based on credit ratings that are often inaccurate and bear little to no correlation to job performance or ability to succeed in the workplace. The legislation would protect prospective employees from being forced to disclose their credit history as part of an employer’s application process. Read more here. Fighting the Safety Risks of Shrinking Airplane Seats On Thursday, CBS This Morning ran a story in which I was featured about the potential safety risks of shrinking airplane seats. Earlier this year, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and I introduced a bipartisan bill to establish a minimum seat size on commercial airlines as well as a minimum distance between rows of seats to protect the safety and health of airline passengers. I am pleased our bill has been included as an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill in the House. Watch the CBS story here. Keeping Those Affected by Recent Natural Disasters in My Thoughts My thoughts go out to the people affected by Hurricane Irma in Florida and across the Southeast, as they did for the people affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana and the people affected by massive wildfires in the West. These victims have experienced suffering, loss of property and, in some cases, loss of life. Read my full statement here. Commemorating the 16th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks Monday was the 16th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. September 11th is a time to remember the victims who tragically lost their lives, as well as the heroism of first responders who risked their lives on September 11 and the subsequent days, weeks and months at Ground Zero and the Pentagon. Read my full statement here. Objecting to the House Judiciary Committee’s Lack of Oversight of the Trump Administration Last week, my Democratic colleagues and I walked out of a House Judiciary Committee meeting because of Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) decision to shut down debate on a Resolution of Inquiry and the lack of oversight of the Trump Administration and its ties to Russia. NowThis Politics reported on the incident. You can watch the video here.  Bringing Congress to your Corner On Friday, September 29, 11:00am to 1:00pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the North Branch Library (1192 Vollintine Ave). If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.   The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. September is National Prostate Health Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among American men. Learn more about symptoms and screening tests for prostate cancer here. L’Shanah Tovah to those celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, next week. As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cohen-sen-warren-introduce-bill-protect-job-seekers-credit-based,"Rep. Cohen, Sen. Warren Introduce Bill to Protect Job Seekers from Credit-Based Discrimination",2017-09-14,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced the Equal Employment for All Act in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to protect job seekers from unfair discrimination from employers based on credit ratings that are often inaccurate and bear little to no correlation to job performance or ability to succeed in the workplace. The legislation would protect prospective employees from being forced to disclose their credit history as part of an employer’s application process. “Using a job applicant’s credit history to deny employment is not just unfair, it also makes no sense because credit scores are not accurate predictors of job performance,” said Congressman Cohen. “We should be doing everything in our power to help people find jobs – not hinder them. I am pleased that a consumer champion like Senator Warren has joined this fight and I look forward to working with her to pass our Equal Employment for All Act.” ""This bill is about basic fairness -- let people compete on the merits, not on whether they already have enough money to pay all their bills. It makes no sense to make it harder for people to get jobs because of a system of credit reporting that has no correlation with job performance,"" Senator Warren said. “We also know that credit histories are riddled with errors and the recent Equifax breach makes that much more likely.” Extensive research has shown that a family’s poor credit is more often the result of medical bills or unemployment than a mark of someone’s character or ability to perform in the workplace. Following the 2008 financial crisis, millions of people confronted job loss, shrinking home prices, and depreciated savings. For too many people, the fallout from the crisis also damaged their credit. Today, credit reports are not always accurate, and poor credit disproportionately targets women, minorities, and those already struggling financially. Including credit checks as part of the hiring process bars qualified workers from entering the workforce. The Equal Employment for All Act would make sure that hiring decisions are made based on an individual’s skill and experience rather than credit reports. Eleven states and the City of New York already have similar laws already in place, and legislation to protect job seekers has been introduced in another 19. Congressman Cohen originally introduced the Equal Employment for All Act in 2009 to prohibit employers from using credit checks and bankruptcy filings in the hiring process unless the position sought requires national security clearance.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-cohen-maloney-amendment-secure-additional-funding-help,House Passes Cohen-Maloney Amendment to Secure Additional Funding to Help Eliminate Rape Kit Backlog,2017-09-12,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – The House of Representatives today passed an amendment offered by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) to include an additional $4 million in the Fiscal Year 2018 House appropriations package for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), which helps local law enforcement agencies working to reduce their backlogs of untested rape kits. Today’s passage continues a trend of increased funding for SAKI.  In 2015, Congressman Cohen and Congresswoman Maloney successfully offered an amendment to increase funding for SAKI by $4 million.  In 2014, Congressman Cohen successfully offered an amendment to increase funding for SAKI by $5 million.  If today’s House-passed amendment becomes law, Congress will have increased funding from $36 million to $49 million since 2014 – a 36% increase. “DNA analysis has been revolutionary in helping catch criminals and prevent further crimes from occurring.  But when evidence is sitting on a shelf somewhere waiting to be tested, that means assailants are still at large and could be assaulting more victims,” said Congressman Cohen.  “The backlog of untested rape kits across this country is shameful, and we need to commit the resources necessary to get them tested.  This increased funding will help make that happen. I am grateful that our amendment was included, and I am proud to have Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s support.” “Local law enforcement agencies need federal resources to address rape kit backlogs and seek justice for survivors of sexual assault,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “I worked to pass the Debbie Smith Act, which has been called the most important anti-rape legislation ever signed into law, to provide substantial federal funds to help states and localities work through DNA evidence backlogs and increasing funding for SAKI will continue this much needed work. Rape kits that are sitting on shelves need to be tested and predators who walk our streets must be put behind bars. I’m proud to have worked with Rep. Cohen on this amendment.” At its peak, the backlog reached 12,000 untested kits in Memphis alone with an estimated 400,000 sitting in evidence rooms nationwide. In 2015, Memphis received nearly $2 million from this grant program to reduce its rape kit backlog.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-walberg-cohen-amendment-rein-civil-forfeiture-abuse,House Passes Walberg-Cohen Amendment to Rein in Civil Forfeiture Abuse,2017-09-12,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan amendment offered by Congressmen Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) that reins in the federal government’s power to seize private property without due process. The amendment prohibits funding to implement the Department of Justice’s recently announced expansion of civil forfeiture, which reversed a previous ban on the practice of adoptive seizures. Congressmen Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Tom McClintock (R-CA) also sponsored the bipartisan amendment.   “Under current civil forfeiture law, the system is ripe for abuse and has undermined the constitutional rights of far too many Americans. We should not accept a system where the government can seize innocent people’s property without charging them with a crime,” said Congressman Walberg. “This bipartisan amendment takes an important step in halting the practice of adoptive seizures, protecting the rights of states and localities, and limiting some future abuses. Ultimately, Congress must cement more comprehensive reforms into law, including those called for in my bipartisan bill, the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act.”   “I am pleased that the House passed our bipartisan amendment to stop Attorney General Sessions from implementing his recent directive to make it easier for law enforcement to seize people’s property and cash. When I was the Memphis Police Legal Advisor, I saw firsthand how civil asset forfeiture could be misused, and I have been working to correct this issue since the 1990s when I was a Tennessee State Senator. In Congress, I am proud to work with Rep. Walberg on this amendment as well as bipartisan legislation to eliminate the financial incentive for these kind of forfeitures and increase the standard of proof that that prosecutors need to meet. This has been a cash register system of ‘justice’ with injuries to both law enforcement and the citizenry. Under this system, a citizen can lose property to forfeiture without ever having been arrested, much less convicted. It is past time to do away with these unfair practices,” said Congressman Cohen.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-to-join-effort-to-force-house-vote-on-dream-act,Cooper to Join Effort to Force House Vote on DREAM Act,2017-09-12,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) announced today that he will join a legislative effort to force a vote on the DREAM Act, a bill that would provide a path to citizenship and permanent protection for young people who arrived in America as children. “DREAMers are our friends and neighbors. They are hard workers and many are going to school or serving in our military,” Rep. Cooper said. “They have bright futures and embody the best of America. The DREAM Act has bipartisan support, so Congress should be allowed to vote on it.” Last week in Nashville, Rep. Cooper criticized President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program unless Congress acts in six months. Former President Barack Obama started DACA after Congress failed to agree on comprehensive immigration reform, and the program has granted permits to an estimated 750,000 “DREAMers,” including 8,000 Tennesseans. To achieve their goal of a House vote on the DREAM Act, Democrats plan to file a discharge petition later this month. A discharge petition is a legislative procedure that at least half of House members must support in order to bring a given bill to the floor for a vote. The DREAM Act discharge petition effort is being led by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD-5) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-1). Rep. Cooper plans to sign the discharge petition. Rep. Cooper was the only member of Tennessee’s congressional delegation to vote for the DREAM Act in 2010. A cosponsor of the DREAM Act, Rep. Cooper continues to seek a long-term legislative solution and a path to citizenship for DREAMers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-commemorates-16th-anniversary-september-11th-terrorist-attacks,Cohen Commemorates the 16th Anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks,2017-09-11,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement on the 16th anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: “September 11th is a time for each of us to reflect on the horrific terrorist attacks that occurred 16 years ago today. We also remember the victims who tragically lost their lives, as well as the heroism of first responders who risked their lives on September 11 and the subsequent days, weeks and months at Ground Zero and the Pentagon. Memphians in particular should remember Memphis-native Gary Lasko and keep his family in their thoughts. Gary died in the collapse of the first World Trade Center building. As we continue the fight against terrorism, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, we must remain ever-vigilant to help ensure that a tragedy like September 11, 2001 is never repeated.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-recent-natural-disasters-united-states,Cohens Statement on Recent Natural Disasters in the United States,2017-09-11,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement on the recent natural disasters in the United States, including Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Harvey and wildfires in the West: “My thoughts go out to the people affected by Hurricane Irma in Florida and across the Southeast, as they did for the people affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana and the people affected by massive wildfires in the West. These victims have experienced suffering, loss of property and, in some cases, loss of life. In addition to the irreplaceable human lives lost, each of these natural disasters have and will cost American taxpayers billions of dollars in cleanup, search-and-rescue and reconstruction costs. They have had an extraordinary economic and environmental impact, which I believe has been exacerbated by climate change and will only get worse in time. We should come together as a country to aid victims of natural disasters, just as the country came to the aid of Memphians during past flooding and tornado events. We need stronger infrastructure and better laws to protect against flooding and prohibit building housing in flood plains. Now is not the time to cut funding for climate change research. Now is not the time to consider cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans. We should be reforming our tax structure to ensure middle- and lower-income Americans have more disposable income to stimulate the economy and the federal government has sufficient funds to respond to natural disasters and international crises without taking funding from health care and other essential life preserving programs.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/opposing-president-trump-s-decision-end-daca-program,Opposing President Trumps Decision to End the DACA Program,2017-09-08,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I opposed President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, criticized Republicans for blocking my appropriations amendments to prohibit federal spending at Trump-owned hotels, resorts and businesses, spoke with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David Shulkin to reiterate my concerns about the quality of care at the Memphis VA Medical Center, objected to House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) decision to shut down debate on the Trump Administration’s ties to Russia, accepted the 2017 Excellence in Design Award from the Waterfront Center on behalf of Big River Crossing, and voted for an emergency disaster aid package for those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Opposing President Trump’s Decision to End the DACA Program  Criticizing Republicans for Blocking My Amendments to Prohibit Federal Spending at Trump-Owned Hotels, Resorts and Businesses  Working with the Secretary of the VA to Fix Issues in Memphis  Objecting to House Judiciary Committee’s Lack of Oversight of the Trump Administration  Honoring Big River Crossing in Washington, D.C.  Voting for a Hurricane Harvey Relief Package and to Keep the Government Open  Bringing Congress to your Corner The Congressional App Challenge  Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter  Quote of the Week  Weekly Health Tip Opposing President Trump’s Decision to End the DACA Program On Tuesday, President Trump announced that he would be ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program with a six-month delay. This decision by the President is heartless, illogical and un-American. DACA is a commonsense, compassionate program that helps protect from deportation young people who were brought to the United States by no choice of their own. Read my full statement here. Criticizing Republicans for Blocking My Amendments to Prohibit Federal Spending at Trump-Owned Hotels, Resorts and Businesses On Wednesday and Thursday, the House Rules Committee blocked my 16 appropriations amendments to prohibit federal spending at Trump-owned hotels, resorts and other Trump-owned businesses. It is shameful that Republicans are allowing Trump to profit off the Presidency. History will look back on the President’s actions as brazenly in violation of our Constitution. Read my full statement here. Working with the Secretary of the VA to Fix Issues in Memphis Yesterday, I spoke with Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Dr. David Shulkin about the unacceptably poor care at the Memphis VA Medical Center. I invited the Secretary to come to Memphis, and I will continue to work with the Secretary to ensure that Memphis receives all federal funding, staffing and aid necessary for Memphis-area veterans to receive the care that they deserve. Read my full statement here.  Objecting to House Judiciary Committee’s Lack of Oversight of the Trump Administration Yesterday, my Democratic colleagues and I objected to the House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) decision to shut down debate on a Resolution of Inquiry and the lack of oversight of the Trump Administration and its ties to Russia. What happened during the meeting was a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham. Watch my comments at the 3:55mark here. Honoring Big River Crossing in Washington, D.C. Today I was proud to accept the 2017 Excellence in Design Award from the Waterfront Center in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Big River Crossing. The Waterfront Center assists communities across the globe in making the wisest and best long-term uses of waterfront resources for maximum public benefit. The Design in Excellence award internationally recognizes developments that have catalyzed active public enjoyment of and access to a waterfront while also making civic, environmental, and educational contributions to the surrounding area and incorporating natural and historical features. I was proud to work with then-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to secure nearly $15 million in federal funding through the TIGER grant program to help fund this project. Read more here. Voting for a Hurricane Harvey Relief Package and to Keep the Government Open Today, I voted for an emergency disaster aid package for those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. This legislation also included a provision to raise the debt ceiling and to keep the government funded through December 15. I would like to thank House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for their work in securing this deal. My thoughts are with those in the path of Hurricane Irma in Florida this weekend.  Bringing Congress to your Corner  On Friday, September 29, 11:00am to 1:00pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the North Branch Library (1192 Vollintine Ave). If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.   The Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. K-12 students to learn how to code by creating their own applications, or “apps.” The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students entering the competition must submit their app on CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time on November 1, 2017. Click here for more information. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here. Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Nearly one in six children in the United States is obese, putting these children at risk for health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Read more about the effects of childhood obesity and how to combat it here.  As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-issues-memphis-va-medical-center,Cohens Statement on Issues at the Memphis VA Medical Center,2017-09-07,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement after reports of issues at the Memphis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center: “Poor care at the Memphis VA Medical Center is unacceptable. That’s why last year, after the Memphis VA received one out of five stars in the VA’s quality-of-care rankings, I called then-Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health David Shulkin urging him to get the very best director for the Memphis VA. At the time, the Memphis VA had gone through several interim directors and the previous permanent director transferred due to issues at the hospital. Upon becoming Secretary of the VA, Dr. Shulkin appointed David Dunning as the director of the Memphis VA Medical Center. It is my understanding that the new director has been reviewing the practices at the hospital and has begun to implement changes to improve the quality of care. Clearly more improvements are needed. I’ve called the Secretary today to reiterate my concerns, and I will continue to work with the Secretary to ensure that Memphis receives all federal funding, staffing and aid necessary to ensure Memphis veterans receive the care that they deserve.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/republicans-block-cohen-amendments-prohibit-federal-spending-trump-owned,"Republicans Block Cohen Amendments to Prohibit Federal Spending at Trump-Owned Businesses, Hotels & Resorts",2017-09-06,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – The House Rules Committee tonight blocked eight of the 16 appropriations amendments offered by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) to prohibit federal spending at Trump-owned hotels, resorts and other Trump-owned businesses. The other eight amendments have yet to be considered by the House Rules Committee The amendments were offered to the upcoming appropriations package that is scheduled to be considered on the House floor this week. “It is shameful that Republicans are allowing Trump to profit off the Presidency. History will look back on the President’s actions as a brazen violation of our Constitution,” said Congressman Cohen. “The President’s refusal to divest from his privately owned businesses creates a conflict of interest when steering federal spending to his resorts and other businesses. It also continues to raise serious questions about his compliance with the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which is a vital protection against foreign governments’ corrupting influence, as well as the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause, which prohibits the President from receiving federal funds in excess of his official salary. The American people should have total confidence that the President is serving their interest, not his own financial enrichment.” Specifically, Congressman Cohen offered two amendments to each of eight upcoming appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2018: Interior & Environment; Agriculture & Rural Development; Commerce, Justice, & Science; Financial Services; Homeland Security; Labor, Health & Human Services, Education; State & Foreign Operations; and Transportation, Housing & Urban Development.  Half of his amendments prohibit federal funds from being spent at Trump hotels and resorts. The other half of his amendments prohibit federal funds from being spent at Trump-owned businesses identified in his financial disclosures. According to press reports, President Trump spent 40 of his 181 full days in office – approximately 22 percent of his days in office -- at a Trump-branded golf course. It has also been reported that the Secret Service has spent $73,000 on golf cart rentals at Trump properties. The secret service has said they will run out of money to protect the President by September 30. Congressman Cohen offered similar amendments to an appropriations package that passed the House in July, however the Republican majority blocked them from being considered on the House floor. Congressman Cohen is helping lead a lawsuit filed by nearly 200 Members of Congress against President Trump for allegedly violating the U.S. Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause.  The Foreign Emoluments Clause prohibits the President from accepting payments and other benefits from foreign governments without seeking and receiving Congressional authorization. More information about the lawsuit can be found here.Congressman Cohen has announced he is drafting articles of impeachment for, among other things, potential violations of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause. Additional information on his impeachment announcement can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-bill-would-halt-congressional-pay-if-us-defaults-on-debt,Cooper Bill Would Halt Congressional Pay if U.S. Defaults on Debt,2017-09-06,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – As Congress returned from its August recess and Republican majorities failed to develop a plan for funding government, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) reintroduced a bill that would stop congressional pay in case of an even bigger catastrophe: American default. “It’s our duty in Congress to keep America strong. Risking our nation’s credit rating hurts America. Members of Congress should do their jobs, not play political games,” Rep. Cooper said. “Shutting down government is shameful. Defaulting on our debt is dangerous.” Cooper is the lead sponsor of the Stop Pay for Members Act as Congress again lumbers toward fiscal meltdown. Even as a government funding bill expires Sept. 30, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recently warned that Congress must raise the debt ceiling by late September or risk federal default. Raising the debt ceiling is a parliamentary procedure that allows America to pay bills Congress is already obligated to pay. A veteran supporter of a bipartisan debt plan that would tackle America’s toughest issues, Cooper says his bill is a needed antidote to rampant congressional misbehavior. Just six years ago, Congress came within hours of failing to increase the debt limit in time, leading the nation to the brink of default. Citing partisan brinksmanship and an inability to complete even basic tasks in Congress, Standard & Poor’s downgraded America’s credit rating as the 2011 dispute resolved itself at virtually the last minute. The U.S. Treasury issued a report in 2013 detailing the impasse’s impact on the economy. Cooper first introduced the Stop Pay for Members Act during the 2011 crisis. Two years later, Cooper reintroduced the bill during a similar breakdown, and House Republicans eventually used it as the basis of an amendment to a debt ceiling bill. The amendment passed overwhelmingly, receiving 340 votes. A longtime advocate for fiscal accountability, Cooper is also sponsoring the No Budget, No Pay Act, a bill that would halt congressional pay if Congress fails to pass America’s budget bills on time.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hot-cars-act-passes-house,HOT CARS Act Passes House,2017-09-06,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) today celebrated House passage of critical legislation for Tennesseans that would prevent infants and toddlers from being killed or injured when unknowingly left behind in vehicles. Cosponsored by Rep. Cooper earlier this summer and passed today as part of a larger bill, the Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats (HOT CARS) Act would require the federal government to issue a final rule requiring stringent safety features in all new passenger vehicles. The HOT CARS Act says each vehicle must be equipped with a reminder system to alert the driver if a passenger remains in the back seat when a vehicle is turned off. The technology is available and akin to a seat belt reminder, complete with warning sounds and flashing graphics near the speedometer. In the last 19 years, at least 736 children have died of heatstroke after being left in vehicles; 25 of those deaths occurred in Tennessee, consistently placing our state in the 10 highest totals nationwide, according to NoHeatStroke.org, a program supported by the National Safety Council. This year, 36 children have suffered such a death in America, including an 11-month-old infant in Chattanooga and a 2-year-old child in Gatlinburg in July. “I’m thankful for quick House passage, and I hope the Senate follows our sense of urgency,” Rep. Cooper said. “Smart legislative action would help save precious lives.” NASA engineers developed a child presence sensor in 2003, but the agency has only had one potential license, which was withdrawn. Some car seat manufacturers have installed child presence sensors on their car seats, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned against relying on these systems. To date, only General Motors has installed a Rear Seat Reminder. It is available on more than 20 vehicles and is now a standard feature on many of GM’s 2017 and 2018 model vehicles. More than 20 of the nation’s leading public health, consumer and safety organizations support the HOT CARS bill. A bipartisan effort, the HOT CARS Act was introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and joined by Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Last fall Tim Ryan challenged Nancy Pelosi for Democratic Leader. Along with more than 60 other Democrats, Rep. Cooper supported Tim Ryan, saying he is part of a new generation and applauding his vision to lead House Democrats.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-s-statement-announcement-trump-administration-will-end-daca,Cohens Statement on the Announcement that the Trump Administration will End the DACA Program,2017-09-05,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. “President Trump’s decision to end the DACA program is heartless, illogical and un-American. DACA is a commonsense, compassionate program that helps protect from deportation young people who were brought to the United States by no choice of their own. According to the Center for American Progress, 95% of these DREAMers are currently either working or in school. The decision is not only harmful for the DREAMers, but also for America which relies on them for a more effective and productive workforce. I urge Congress to move quickly to protect these bright and talented young people who have significantly contributed to what makes America great.” Congressman Cohen has requested to cosponsor the bipartisan, bicameral DREAM Act of 2017 to allow certain U.S.-raised immigrant youth to earn lawful permanent residence and American citizenship.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/at-news-conference-cooper-criticizes-president-s-daca-decision,"At News Conference, Cooper Criticizes Presidents DACA Decision",2017-09-05,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"NASHVILLE – Surrounded by DREAMers and other leaders of Nashville’s vibrant immigrant community, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) today criticized President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, citing the innocence, hard work and future of those affected. “You were brought here through no fault of your own,” Rep. Cooper said this morning at Casa Azafrán. “It’s not your fault you didn’t have paperwork when you were 2 or 3 years old. But you’ve done everything right. You’re working hard in school, you have bright futures, and we want your future to be here in the United States of America. … I am thankful for your presence in this country. I am thankful for your innocence and your hard work.” Former President Barack Obama started DACA after Congress failed to agree on comprehensive immigration reform. The program has granted permits to an estimated 750,000 young people – known as “DREAMers” – who arrived in America as children. Immediately before Rep. Cooper spoke at Casa Azafrán, President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that DACA would be terminated unless Congress acts on a legislative solution within six months. Rep. Cooper said there was “good news” and “hope,” pointing out that Tennessee’s two U.S. senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, supported comprehensive immigration reform as recently as 2013. But Rep. Cooper said the president’s decision unnecessarily places innocent young people in “a terrible limbo” and squanders a variety of benefits America otherwise would enjoy. “To throw that away, as the president’s policy is suggesting, would be just shooting ourselves in the foot,” Rep. Cooper said. “America needs you.” As the only member of Tennessee’s congressional delegation to vote for the DREAM Act in 2010, Rep. Cooper continues to favor a long-term legislative solution and a path to citizenship for DREAMers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/reaffirming-us-support-nato-and-remembering-holocaust,Reaffirming U.S. Support for NATO and Remembering the Holocaust,2017-09-01,2017,2017-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I was part of a Congressional Delegation to Eastern Europe and the Baltic Countries to reaffirm Congressional support for NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and learn more about NATO’s efforts to combat Russian aggression and influence in Europe. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Reaffirming U.S. Support for NATO and Remembering the Holocaust Bringing Congress to your Corner Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Reaffirming U.S. Support for NATO and Remembering the Holocaust This week, I was part of a Congressional Delegation to Eastern Europe and the Baltic Countries hosted by Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) to reaffirm Congressional support for NATO and learn more about NATOs efforts to combat Russian aggression and influence in Europe. In every discussion, whether it was with the Montenegrins, Estonians or Lithuanians, one consistent theme was to not trust Russia or Russian President Vladimir Putin. Several people in our meetings referred to Putin as having not changed since he was a mid-level KGB officer.  Meeting with the Minister of Defense in Estonia In addition to the 2016 American Presidential election, Russia has interfered in many elections in Europe, including in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Montenegro. The Russians used social media and fake news in all of these elections and always supported the anti-democracy, anti-NATO, anti-American candidate. I am proud to have introduced a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives earlier this year with Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL), who was also part of the delegation, to reaffirm U.S. support for NATO and Eastern European countries. NATO is critical to the safety and security of the United States and our European allies and to promoting democracy and stability in Europe.  Meeting with U.S. Marines outside of the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro  At the beginning of the Congressional Delegation, we met with U.S. troops at the Grafenwoehr training facility outside of Nuremburg, Germany and in Krakow, Poland. We received briefings on U.S. involvement in NATO and on the upcoming Zapad 2017 military exercise later this month for the Russia and Belarus armed forces. NATO forces are extremely concerned about these military exercises, which will be the largest conducted by Russia since the Cold War.  While in Poland, we visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, which was an incredibly moving experience. What the Nazis did to Jews, gays and lesbians, political opponents, people with disabilities, and others during the Holocaust was horrific. The experience was particularly chilling after seeing Neo-Nazis marching through the streets in Charlottesville, Virginia and President Trump refusing to unequivocally denounce hate groups. We should be doing everything in our power to prevent an event like the Holocaust from happening again.  The entrance to Auschwitz. The infamous sign reads “Arbeit Macht Frei” or “Work Will Set You Free” Birkenau death camp Wreath laid by our delegation at Auschwitz  While in Vilnius, Lithuania, we met with the President of Lithuania and got her thoughts on the Zapad 2017 military exercise, President Putin and the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. I also visited the site of the Ponary massacre where 100,000 people (70,000 of whom were Jewish) were gunned down by the Nazis during the Holocaust.  Meeting with the President of Lithuania  Memorial commemorating the Ponary Massacre As we travelled through the Baltic Counties, they all mentioned that they would like to see an increased American presence in the region to help counter the increasing influence of Russia. We visited with a platoon of American troops at the Tapa Army Base in Estonia. One of the soldiers was from Clarksville, TN and another from Murfreesboro, TN. We also met with NATO cybersecurity officials and Estonian intelligence officials on Russian cyber threats.  Holocaust Memorial in Kaunas, LithuaniaBringing Congress to your CornerOn Friday, September 29, 11:00am to 1:00pm, my office will hold “Congress on your Corner” office hours at the North Branch Library (1192 Vollintine Ave). If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. We hope you can make it.   Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. It is almost time to get your flu vaccinations for the 2017-2018 flu season. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued their recommendations for this season. Read more here. I hope you were able to stay out of the rain and Go Tigers! As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/tennessee-needs-start-over-tennessee-promise,Tennessee needs to start over with Tennessee Promise,2017-08-28,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"New York Times columnist David Leonhardt recently highlighted the current trend to focus on vocational training as a cure-all for job preparedness, student debt and poor matriculation. As Leonhardt points out, vocational education may be beneficial in the short term but the long-term prospect will leave workers out in the cold. Leonhardt states, “Vocational education, done right, helps workers find jobs when they are young. But as they age — and job requirements change — workers are often not well prepared for the changes, according to the study, published in The Journal of Human Resources. Rather than retraining workers, many companies decide to let them go and hire other workers.” Leonhardt emphasizes vocational training should not come at the expense of general education. He recommends prioritizing and expanding efforts to increase four-year college graduates who receive a “broad, flexible education” who will have a much better chance in the job market and will be able to adapt to market changes. Leonhardt’s points are applicable to the Tennessee Promise program. Gov. Bill Haslam and former Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd touted Promise as a panacea for joblessness and as “free” or “found” money because taxes were not raised to fund it.  However, the price tag is very high for students who have shown the academic skills and work ethic to receive the Tennessee HOPE scholarship and succeed in receiving a four-year college degree. HOPE scholarships were reduced from $4,000 to $3,500 per year for freshmen and sophomores and the Aspire Award for students whose family income is $36,000 or less was cut from $3,000 per year to $2,250. The HOPE and Aspire scholarships will never increase again as all future lottery revenue growth has been directed to Promise, reducing the HOPE scholarship to a stipend as tuitions rise. Promise recipients have five semesters to complete the two-year program so graduation rates for the first class are not yet available. Still, some indicators are very discouraging. Less than 5 percent of the 1,300 students at Southwest Community College who began Promise two years ago completed the program. In a May 2016 Tennessean story, Promise-architect Mike Krause, now executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, admitted that the significant number of Promise drop outs were academically unprepared for college. Conversely, the HOPE scholarship program has high retention and graduation rates because students arrive prepared for college, having worked to earn the scholarship in the first place. Promise, designed for students coming straight from high school, does not target the blue-collar group most in need of help. Stanford professor Eric Hanushek, a researcher of The Journal of Human Resources study, recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal that “The largest problem of skills in the U.S. today isn’t a shortage of young workers with specific competencies. Instead it is a need for more general cognitive skills that give workers the ability to adapt to new circumstances and new jobs.” Tennessee needs to go back to the drawing board with Promise and consider the data in the study.  Long term planning is essential for workers to have opportunities for good-paying jobs.  Students with the aptitude and will to succeed should be rewarded with HOPE scholarships that reflect rising tuition so they do not graduate with crippling debt. All tuition assistance programs should teach skills that are flexible and give people the tools needed to retain good-paying jobs throughout their working years. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, represents District 9 in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a former state legislator, Cohen worked to create the Tennessee Education Lottery that funds the HOPE Scholarship.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reacts-president-trump-s-pardon-joe-arpaio,Congressman Cohen Reacts to President Trumps Pardon of Joe Arpaio,2017-08-26,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Cohen Reacts to President Trump’s Pardon of Joe Arpaio   [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued the following reaction to President Trump’s pardon of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. “President Trump's pardoning of Joe Arpaio isn't just bad, it's dangerous. The President continues to show a callous disregard for the independence of our federal judiciary,” said Congressman Cohen.  “Even worse, he did so in defense of a man who had been criminally convicted of failing to follow a court order in connection with a lawsuit involving racial profiling.  This was not only a terrible decision, but if reports are accurate that he did not consult the Department of Justice, it was also done incredibly irresponsibly. Presidents have a duty to consult professionals and experts before taking action.  Authoritarianism always starts with attacks on the press and the judiciary.  We must guard against these kind of attacks against democracy.  The rule of law is one of our basic precepts.  We fought a revolution to place the law above men.  By pardoning the former sheriff, the President has once again abused his authority and divided our nation.  I will be reviewing the President’s action with my Judiciary Committee colleagues to determine how best to address it.”     ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-us-navy-sailors-uss-mccain-tragedy,Congressman Cohen Remembers the U.S. Navy Sailors of the USS McCain Tragedy,2017-08-25,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Cohen Remembers the U.S. Navy Sailors of the USS McCain Tragedy 2 U.S. Navy Sailors Died in Accident Off the Coast of Singapore, 8 Missing as Navy Suspends Search-and-Rescue [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) spoke in remembrance today of the two deceased and eight missing U.S. Navy sailors of the USS John S. McCain tragedy. The ten sailors were serving aboard the USS John S. McCain when it collided with a merchant ship near Singapore on August 21, 2017. “I was saddened to learn that the United States Navy suspended its search-and-rescue operations for the eight missing sailors of the USS John McCain,” said Congressman Cohen, “and to learn of the deaths of two other Navy sailors aboard the ship, Kenneth Aaron Smith and Dustin Louis Doyon. These Americans died serving our country and serving each other in camaraderie as shipmates. I am honored to have the opportunity to represent people in the United States Navy at the Millington Naval Base. I am thankful for their service and for the brave efforts of the sailors of the USS John S. McCain, who gave their lives in service to their country. The USS John S. McCain, a missile-guided destroyer named in honor of United States Senator John S. McCain’s father and grandfather, both of whom were admirals in the U.S. Navy, was passing east of the Strait of Malacca on its way to Singapore when it collided with a merchant vessel. You can learn more about the victims in a New York Times article here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-introduces-amendments-prohibit-federal-spending-trump,"Congressman Cohen Introduces Amendments to Prohibit Federal Spending at Trump-Owned Hotels, Resorts, and other Trump-owned Businesses",2017-08-23,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Eisenstatt 202.225.3265 August 23, 2017   Congressman Cohen Introduces Amendments to Prohibit Federal Spending at Trump-Owned Hotels, Resorts, and other Trump-owned Businesses [WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen, who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today introduced a series of 16 appropriations amendments to prohibit federal spending at Trump-owned hotels, resorts and other Trump-owned businesses.  The amendments were offered to an upcoming appropriations package that is scheduled to be considered on the House floor in September. “Congress should not allow the President to use his office to profit himself and his family,” said Congressman Cohen.  “The President’s refusal to divest from his privately owned businesses creates a conflict of interest when steering federal spending to his resorts and other businesses.” According to press reports, President Trump spent 40 of his 181 full days in office – approximately 22 percent of his days in office -- at a Trump-branded golf course.  It has also been reported that the Secret Service has spent $73,000 on golf cart rentals at Trump properties. “The President’s refusal to divest also continues to raise serious questions about his compliance with the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which is a vital protection against foreign governments’ corrupting influence.” said Congressman Cohen. The Foreign Emoluments Clause prohibits the President from accepting payments and other benefits from foreign governments without seeking and receiving Congressional authorization. “The American people should have total confidence that the President is serving their interest, not his own financial enrichment.  President Trump’s refusal to disclose information to Congress or seek Congress’s authorization for accepting profits from foreign governments stemming from his sprawling foreign financial interests is a brazen violation of the Constitution and a danger to our democracy.”  Specifically, Congressman Cohen offered 2 amendments to each of 8 upcoming appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2018: Interior & Environment; Agriculture and Rural Development; Commerce, Justice, Science; Financial Services; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.  Half of his amendments prohibit federal funds from being spent at Trump hotels and resorts. The other half of his amendments prohibit federal funds from being spent at Trump-owned businesses identified in his financial disclosures. A link to the text of these amendments will be posted when it becomes available. Congressman Cohen offered similar amendments to an appropriations package that passed the House in July, however the Republican majority blocked them from being considered on the House floor.  Congressman Cohen is helping lead a lawsuit filed by nearly 200 Members of Congress against President Trump for allegedly violating the U.S. Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause.  More information about the lawsuit can be found here.Last week, Congressman Cohen announced he is drafting articles of impeachment for, among other things, potential violations of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause. Additional information on his impeachment announcement can be found here.     ***",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-opposes-increased-presence-afghanistan,Cohen Opposes an Increased Presence in Afghanistan,2017-08-21,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cohen Opposes an Increased Presence in Afghanistan  [WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) responded today to President Trump’s announcement to increase U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. “It has been said that, “Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires.” Alexander the Great, the British Empire and the Soviet Union were all met with crushing military defeats in Afghanistan.”, said Cohen. “After sixteen years of war we have not made great progress because there have been issues of corruption in the Afghan Government and the Afghan people are ambivalent towards their government and towards the eventual outcome of the war. The President’s nuanced speech did not contain any element that makes me believe that we will be successful in Afghanistan. My thoughts are with the soldiers who were watching tonight’s speech and their fellow soldiers, some of whom will sacrifice their lives in what is a war without a likelihood of success. God bless our American troops.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-cohen-introduce-articles-impeachment-against-president,Ranking Member Cohen to Introduce Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald Trump After Comments on Charlottesville,2017-08-17,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Eisenstatt 202.225.3265 August 17, 2017    Ranking Member Cohen to Introduce Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald Trump After Comments on Charlottesville [WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today announced that he will be introducing articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump following the President’s comments on the horrific events in Charlottesville, Virginia. “I have expressed great concerns about President Trump’s ability to lead our country in the Resolution of No Confidence (H.Res. 456) that I introduced in July with 29 of my colleagues; however, after the President’s comments on Saturday, August 12 and again on Tuesday, August 15 in response to the horrific events in Charlottesville, I believe the President should be impeached and removed from office. Instead of unequivocally condemning hateful actions by neo-Nazis, white nationalists and Klansmen following a national tragedy, the President said ‘there were very fine people on both sides.’ There are no good Nazis. There are no good Klansmen.” “We fought a World War to defeat Nazis, and a Civil War to defeat the Confederacy.  In reaction to the downfall of the Confederacy, and the subsequent passage of the Reconstruction Amendments to our constitution, the KKK embarked on a dastardly campaign to terrorize and intimidate African Americans from exercising their newly acquired civil rights.  Subsequent incarnations of the Klan continued to terrorize African Americans with lynchings and civil rights murders such as the assassination of Medgar Evers and the killings of Schwerner, Chaney, Goodman and other civil rights workers.” “When I watched the videos from the protests in Charlottesville, it reminded me of the videos I’ve seen of Kristallnacht in 1938 in Nazi Germany. It appeared that the Charlottesville protesters were chanting ‘Jews will not replace us’ and ‘blood and soil,’ an infamous Nazi slogan, as they marched with torches that conjured up images of Klan rallies. None of the marchers spewing such verbiage could be considered ‘very fine people’ as the President suggested. And it certainly appeared the participants were in lock-step. Some of the white nationalist protesters were interviewed by the media, such as Sean Patrick Nielsen. He said one of his three reasons for being there was ‘killing Jews.’ Another was Christopher Cantwell, one of the white nationalist leaders, who said he couldn’t watch ‘that Kushner bastard walk around with that beautiful girl’ and said he hoped ‘somebody like Donald Trump, but who does not give his daughter to a Jew,’ would lead this country. As a Jew and as an American and as a representative of an African American district, I am revolted by the fact that the President of the United States couldn’t stand up and unequivocally condemn Nazis who want to kill Jews and whose predecessors murdered 6 million Jews during the Holocaust, and could not unequivocally condemn Klansmen whose organization is dedicated to terrorizing African Americans. “President Trump has failed the presidential test of moral leadership. No moral president would ever shy away from outright condemning hate, intolerance and bigotry. No moral president would ever question the values of Americans protesting in opposition of such actions, one of whom was murdered by one of the white nationalists. Senator John McCain rightfully tweeted this week that there was ‘no moral equivalency between racists and Americans standing up to defy hate.’ Senator Marco Rubio tweeted, “Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists.” President Trump has shown time and time again that he lacks the ethical and moral rectitude to be President of the United States. Not only has he potentially obstructed justice and potentially violated the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, but he has also shown that he is incapable or unwilling to protect Americans from enemies, foreign and domestic. Neo-Nazis and the KKK are domestic terrorists. If the President can’t recognize the difference between these domestic terrorists and the people who oppose their anti-American attitudes, then he cannot defend us.” Martin Niemöller, a prominent Protestant pastor who was an outspoken critic of Adolph Hitler, said:   First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.   Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—  Because I was not a Trade Unionist.   Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.   Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.   “They have come for me, and for the majority of my Congressional constituency. Accordingly, I must speak out today after what happened on Saturday and our President’s subsequent response. It is morally and legally incumbent upon me, based on my oath of office, to introduce articles of impeachment.”    ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-urges-dhs-and-doj-devote-more-resources-combat-domestic-terrorism,Cohen Urges DHS and DOJ to Devote More Resources to Combat Domestic Terrorism by White Supremacists Following the Events in Charlottesville,2017-08-15,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke and Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reestablish the Extremism and Radicalization Branch of the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division and requesting an update from DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on how each Department is apportioning resources to ensure that they are commensurate with the risk posed by white supremacists and other hate groups acting as domestic terrorists. A PDF of Congressman Cohen’s letter can be found here. Congressman Cohen raised this issue with then-Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson at a House Judiciary Committee hearing in 2015. You can read the questions and answers here.   August 15, 2017   The Honorable Elaine Duke                                         The Honorable Jeff Sessions Acting Secretary                                                           Attorney General U.S. Department of Homeland Security                       United States Department of Justice 3801 Nebraska Ave., NW                                             950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20528                                              Washington, DC 20530   Dear Acting Secretary Duke and Attorney General Sessions: The recent violence in Charlottesville, Virginia is a chilling reminder of threats posed by white supremacists and other hate groups.  According to Attorney General Sessions, the fatal car attack met the definition of domestic terrorism.[1]    The number of incidents involving domestic terrorism in recent years has far exceeded the number of incidents inspired by a violent interpretation of Islam.  In 2015, the New York Times reported that since September 11, 2001, “nearly twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists, antigovernment fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims.”[2]  Other analyses have found similar results.[3] [4] Despite this, questions persist about the amount of resources that are being devoted to detect and disrupt domestic terrorist plots by white supremacists and other hate groups as compared to plots inspired by a violent interpretation of Islam.  For example, following conservative pushback against its 2009 report on the rise of extremism, the Department of Homeland Security disbanded the Extremism and Radicalization Branch of the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division, and reduced the number of personnel studying domestic terrorism unrelated to Islam.[5]  If anything, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice should be redoubling their efforts to address domestic terrorism.    I urge the Department of Homeland Security to reestablish the Extremism and Radicalization Branch of the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division, and in the meantime, I would appreciate an update from each of you as to how each of your Departments are apportioning resources to ensure that they are commensurate with the risk posed by white supremacists and other hate groups acting as domestic terrorists. As always, I remain, Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress 1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/14/was-the-charlottesville-car-attack-domestic-terrorism-a-hate-crime-or-both/?utm_term=.ff5d7f67cd4a 2 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/us/tally-of-attacks-in-us-challenges-perceptions-of-top-terror-threat.html?_r=0 3 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/domestic-terrorism-white-supremacists-islamist-extremists_us_594c46e4e4b0da2c731a84df 4 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/terrorism-right-wing-america-muslims-islam-white-supremacists-study-a7805831.html 5 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/homeland-security-department-curtails-home-grown-terror-analysis/2011/06/02/AGQEaDLH_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.3f2be74c6891",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/hosting-town-hall-meeting,Hosting a Town Hall Meeting,2017-08-11,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I hosted a town hall meeting at the Burton Callicott Auditorium at the Memphis College of Art, honored Korean War hero Private Edward O. Clearborn, had an educational lunch with former moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press Marvin Kalb, spoke to the Memphis Retired Teachers Association, taped two upcoming TV appearances in Memphis, and remembered country music legend Glen Campbell. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Hosting a Town Hall Meeting Honoring Private Edward O. Cleaborn Meeting with Marvin Kalb Speaking at the Memphis Retired Teachers Association Meeting Upcoming Appearances on TV in Memphis Remembering Glen Campbell Update on My NowThis Video Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Hosting a Town Hall Meeting On Saturday, I hosted a town hall meeting at the Burton Callicott Auditorium at the Memphis College of Art. I appreciated having this opportunity to listen to the Ninth District’s perspective on a variety of issues facing our community. I would like to thank everyone who took part in the democratic process last weekend by attending the town hall meeting in person as well as those who tuned in on Facebook Live. I would also like to thank Dr. Art Sutherland and Dr. Roger LaBonte for joining me in answering your questions about health care. I know there has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding this issue as Republicans attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In case you missed it, you can watch the full town hall meeting here. Honoring Private Edward O. Cleaborn August 15th is “Private Edward O. Cleaborn Day” in Memphis. I was proud to help secure a HOPE VI federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to renovate the Clearborn Apartments in Memphis and ensure the apartments remained named after this Korean War hero.  Edward Obern Cleaborn entered the Army on February 13, 1950 at the age of 17 because “he couldn’t find a job.” On August 15, 1950, near Kuri, Korea, Private Cleaborn and the 34th All Negro GI Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division attacked a ridge on which the enemy was occupying. His platoon was pinned down almost immediately by machine-gun fire. Private Cleaborn killed the machine gun crews and other enemy troops who attempted to re-man the guns. Far East Command Headquarters said, “Cleaborn single-handedly wiped out red-gun crews threatening his unit.” Disregarding burns on his hands from continuous firing, Private Cleaborn remained on the ridge to cover his platoon’s withdrawal and permit the evacuation of the wounded. He continued firing from this position, thus denying the enemy access to adjacent higher ground, until he was mortally wounded.  For his heroism, Private Edward O. Cleaborn was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, and posthumously the Distinguished Service Cross. The annual memorial in Memphis in his honor will be held on Sunday, August 13, 2017 from 2pm-6pm at the Cleaborn Pointe at Heritage Landing (440 S. Lauderdale Street, Memphis, TN 38126). Meeting with Marvin Kalb On Wednesday, I had the privilege of having an educational lunch with Marvin Kalb, one of the greatest journalists and a former moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press. Mr. Kalb and I discussed President Trump, North Korea, Richard Nixon, Congress, authoritarianism, the state of the freedom of the press, and our Jewish heritage. Speaking at the Memphis Retired Teachers Association Meeting On Thursday, I spoke to the Memphis Retired Teachers Association. I gave them an update on health care, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, tax reform and efforts on education in Congress.  Upcoming Appearances on TV in Memphis Tonight at 7pm CT, I’ll be on WKNO’s Behind the Lines where I’ll discuss tax reform, health care and President Trump with Bill Dries of Memphis Daily News and WKNO host Eric Barnes. On Sunday at 9am CT, I’ll be on Local 24’s This Week with Brandon Artiles to discuss health care, President Trump, North Korea and other issues affecting Memphis.  Remembering Glen Campbell On Tuesday, country music legend Glen Campbell passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. Glen and his family courageously carried a message about Alzheimer’s and its costs to his fans through his farewell tour. He was a great singer/songwriter and spirit. My thoughts are with him and his family. Update on My NowThis Video My video posted by NowThis Politics has now been viewed over 3 million times, has more than 73,000 likes, more than 54,400 shares, and more than 5,800 comments. I also gained more than 5,000 new followers on Twitter. Follow me on Twitter at @RepCohen. In case you missed the video, you can watch it here. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week In light of the tense situation in North Korea, the quote this week comes from Albert Einstein: Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, there are certain steps you can take to help treat and care for your loved ones who have been diagnosed and allow them to live a more comfortable life. Learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease and what steps can be taken here. As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/hosting-town-hall-meeting-saturday,Hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday,2017-08-04,2017,2017-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I appeared on WREG’s Live at 9 to discuss health care, President Trump and promote my town hall meeting tomorrow, celebrated National Night Out by attending programs around the city, attended the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Tennessee Headquarters Centennial Celebration, participated in a National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) town hall meeting on mental health, and spoke at the Frayser Exchange Club meeting. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Hosting a Town Hall Meeting on SaturdayCelebrating National Night OutAttending the COGIC Tennessee Headquarters Centennial CelebrationParticipating in a NAMI Mental Health Town HallSpeaking at the Frayser Exchange Meeting Sign Up for My New Grants E-NewsletterQuote of the WeekWeekly Health Tip Hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday Tomorrow at 10 AM, I will be hosting a town hall meeting at the Burton Callicott Auditorium at the Memphis College of Art (1930 Poplar Ave.). I know health care is on the forefront of many peoples' minds, and I look forward to discussing the important issues that matter most to you. More details here. I was on WREG Live at 9 this morning to discuss health care, President Trump and promote the town hall. You can watch the segment here. Celebrating National Night Out On Tuesday, I attended several different Memphis neighborhood association events to celebrate National Night Out. National Night Out is an annual movement across the country to help build trust between the police and communities to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. I was pleased to meet former Memphis State Tigers point guard Andre Turner, the Little General, and his family (pictured above). Go Tigers! Attending the COGIC Tennessee Headquarters Centennial Celebration On Monday, I congratulated Bishop David Hall, Sr., Mother Geraldine Miller, and members of Church of God in Christ (COGIC) on the Tennessee Jurisdictional Headquarters 100th Anniversary at Pentecostal Temple. I was on the Don Imus radio show in June, and I told him we shared a mutual friend, the late Bishop G.E. Patterson. Bishop Patterson was the Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of COGIC. I want to thank COGIC for filling the physical, emotional, and most importantly spiritual needs in Memphis.   Participating in a NAMI Mental Health Town Hall On Thursday, I participated in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Memphis Affiliate town hall meeting on mental health issues. At the town hall, we discussed the Affordable Care Act and mental health legislation before Congress. I was joined at the meeting by State Representative Johnnie Turner, NAMI President Dr. John Tetzeli, NAMI Vice President Yvonne Osbourne and other members of NAMI Memphis Chapter’s board. Speaking at the Frayser Exchange Club Meeting On Thursday, I spoke at the Frayser Exchange Club weekly meeting at Impact Baptist Church. During the meeting, I gave attendees a legislative update on health care, protecting our democracy from Russia and President Trump and supporting the Democrats’ new Better Deal economic agenda to bring jobs to Memphis. Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week In honor of Saturday’s town hall – a viral response from Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA)’s town hall: Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Vaccines are critical to keeping children and adults safe from a myriad of life-threatening diseases. Learn more about the importance of vaccines here. As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,  Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-and-ross-reintroduce-bipartisan-housing-accountability-act,Cohen and Ross Reintroduce the Bipartisan Housing Accountability Act,2017-07-28,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Congressman Dennis Ross (R-FL) today reintroduced the Housing Accountability Act, a bipartisan bill to hold property owners of low-income housing accountable for poor living conditions. This legislation would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to survey tenants living in subsidized housing twice a year about property conditions and management performance and create new penalties for property owners who repeatedly fail the tenant surveys. In 2015, local and federal investigations found deplorable living conditions at several federally subsidized-housing properties owned by the Global Ministries Foundation (GMF) in Memphis, Tennessee and Jacksonville, Florida. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced a similar bill in the United States Senate in January. “I was very disturbed by the deplorable living conditions many Memphians experienced at Warren and Tulane Apartments,” said Congressman Cohen. “Congress must step in to prevent this from happening again in Memphis or anywhere else. Our legislation would hold slumlords of low-income housing accountable for neglecting their properties and their tenants. By surveying tenants directly on property conditions, residents can report any issues directly to HUD without fear of reprisal from owners and managers who have been known to threaten to evict those who try to complain.” “No matter someone’s income or socioeconomic status, no one deserves to live in squalor,” said Congressman Ross. “Everyone deserves to be treated fairly and to live in a safe, clean home. People from all backgrounds and of all ages are living in deplorable living conditions in subsidized housing, with fear of eviction, retaliation or inaction if they make any reasonable requests or complaints to their landlords or property managers. I am proud to join Rep. Cohen and Sens. Rubio and Nelson in putting forth bipartisan legislation that will help families improve their living conditions, and give them the ability and strength to ensure their homes are up-to-code and well kept.”  Global Ministries Foundation (GMF) is a faith-based non-profit organization located in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2015, numerous media outlets reported on deplorable living conditions at GMF owned properties in Memphis. Apartment units in Memphis had holes in the walls made by rats, exposed electrical wiring, broken windows, no working light, a moldy bathroom and leaky roof. In Jacksonville, Florida, the residents at Eureka Garden, another property owned by GMF, were forced to live in uninhabitable units plagued by mold, gas leaks, water damage, and crumbling staircases. In addition, GMF-owned properties in Memphis had a combined evaluation of 38, a failing score, but GMF continued to collect $2.3 million in rent subsidies from HUD for those buildings in 2014 and $6.3 million from its six Jacksonville properties.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/chastising-house-judiciary-republicans-squelching-voice-minority,Chastising House Judiciary Republicans for Squelching the Voice of the Minority,2017-07-28,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I chastised House Judiciary Republicans for squelching the voice of the minority party, announced that I would be hosting a town hall meeting on Saturday, August 5, inquired about the President potentially violating the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause, cosponsored a resolution disapproving of President Trump firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller, hosted a bipartisan forum on the freedom of the press, met with the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward, introduced a bipartisan bill to hold owners of low-income housing accountable for poor living conditions, spoke in support of a bill to create a network on civil rights monuments and memorials, sent a letter to the acting ICE Director expressing my concerns about the recent ICE raids in Memphis, and spoke at a Biomedical Research Caucus briefing on Alzheimer’s disease. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Chastising House Judiciary Republicans for Squelching the Voice of the Minority Hosting a Town Hall Meeting Inquiring About President Trump’s Potential Acceptance of Foreign Emoluments Cosponsoring a Resolution Disapproving of Any Attempt by President Trump to Fire Robert Mueller Hosting a Bipartisan Forum on the Freedom of the Press Meeting with the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward Holding Property Owners of Low-Income Housing Accountable for Poor Living Conditions Supporting a Network of Civil Rights Monuments Seeking Answers About the ICE Raids in Memphis Speaking at the Biomedical Research Caucus Briefing on Alzheimer’s Disease Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Chastising House Judiciary Republicans for Squelching the Voice of the Minority On Wednesday, I spoke in support of a Resolution of Inquiry offered by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) to seek answers concerning President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey and Attorney General Jeff Sessions' role therein. Instead of allowing this resolution to be debated, the Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee introduced an amendment to replace the resolution’s language with new language that would, instead, seek information relating to old gripes about Hillary Clinton. The Majority disgustingly squelched the voice of the Minority. Watch my speech during the Committee meeting here and my subsequent speech on the House floor here. NowThis Politics also posted a video about my speech that you can watch here. The video has over 600,000 views on Facebook and my speech has gone viral on Twitter. Hosting a Town Hall Meeting On Saturday, August 5 at 10 AM, I will be hosting a town hall meeting at the Burton Callicott Auditorium at the Memphis College of Art (1930 Poplar Ave.). I know health care is on the forefront of many peoples' minds, and I look forward to discussing the important issues that matter most to you. More details here. Inquiring About President Trump’s Potential Acceptance of Foreign Emoluments On Thursday, during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, I spoke in support of a Resolution of Inquiry offered by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) that would seek government communications related to the lease of the Old Post Office Building (now the Trump International Hotel) in Washington, DC. The President accepting money through his hotel from foreign governments as part of an effort to curry favor with him by staying at his hotel is potentially an unconstitutional violation of the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause. We can’t let President Trump and his family con the American people. Watch my remarks here. Cosponsoring a Resolution Disapproving of Any Attempt to Fire Robert Mueller On Thursday, I was proud to stand with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) in cosponsoring her resolution disapproving of any attempt by President Trump to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller or abuse his pardon power. Watch my remarks here. Hosting a Bipartisan Forum on the Freedom of the Press On Monday, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), Congressman Mark Sanford (R-SC) and I hosted a bipartisan forum on the state of press freedoms in 21st century America. You can watch the forum here. Meeting with the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward On Tuesday, I had the privilege of meeting with the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward, the journalist famous for uncovering the Watergate Scandal during the Nixon Administration. Bob and I had a long discussion about the current political climate in our country. Holding Property Owners of Low-Income Housing Accountable for Poor Living Conditions Today, Congressman Dennis Ross (R-FL) and I reintroduced the Housing Accountability Act, a bipartisan bill to hold property owners of low-income housing accountable for poor living conditions. I was very disturbed by the deplorable living conditions many Memphians experienced at the Global Ministries Foundation (GMF) properties of Warren and Tulane Apartments. Read more.  Supporting a Network of Civil Rights Monuments On Wednesday, I spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 1927, the African American Civil Rights Network Act. This bill would establish a network of sites around the country that commemorate and honor the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the soldiers of the movement who fought for justice and equal rights. Watch here. Seeking Answers About the ICE Raids in Memphis Today, in light of the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Memphis, I sent a letter to ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan expressing my concern and seeking more information about how and why the raids were conducted, as well as ICE’s justification for who was targeted. Read the letter here.  Speaking at the Biomedical Research Caucus Briefing on Alzheimer’s Disease On Wednesday, I introduced MIT Professor Dr. Li-Huei Tsai at a Biomedical Research Caucus briefing entitled, “Shining a Light on the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.” As co-chair of the caucus, I have continuously advocated for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to find cures and treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s.     Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in August 2013….some things never change. Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Today, the FDA announced that it planned to reduce the amount of nicotine in cigarettes and e-cigarettes in an attempt to curb addiction. Learn more about the harms of smoking and how you can quit here.  As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-statement-on-senate-republicans-health-care-vote,Cooper Statement on Senate Republicans Health Care Vote,2017-07-25,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to advance legislation that would undermine health care coverage for millions of Americans: “The Senate has, until now, been known as the thoughtful, deliberative house of Congress. Republican senators just voted to advance consideration of multiple health care plans that have received no hearings, but will reorder one-sixth of our economy and throw millions of people off of their health insurance,” Rep. Cooper said. “So today marks a dramatic change in our history. It’s shameful. I ask Tennesseans to continue to engage with their representatives and senators. All Americans deserve affordable health care that works and that doesn’t bankrupt our country or our families.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/introducing-resolution-no-confidence-president-donald-trump,Introducing a Resolution of No Confidence in President Donald Trump,2017-07-21,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I introduced a Resolution of No Confidence in President Donald Trump, participated in a forum on voting rights, questioned Department of Transportation officials on school bus safety, assisted Ninth District residents with problems with federal agencies at my monthly Congress on Your Corner office hours, honored Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on the House floor, congratulated Memphian Rachel Heck on her performance at the U.S. Women’s Open Golf Tournament, and welcomed Team Memphis basketball team to my Washington, DC office. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Introducing a Resolution of No Confidence in President Donald TrumpParticipating in a Forum on Voting Rights and Privacy Concerns Under the Pence-Kobach Commission Questioning DOT Officials on School Bus SafetyBringing Congress to Your CornerHonoring Senator John McCainCongratulating Rachel Heck on Her Performance at the U.S. Women’s OpenWelcoming Team Memphis to Washington Sign Up for My New Grants E-NewsletterQuote of the WeekWeekly Health Tip Introducing a Resolution of No Confidence in President Donald Trump On Wednesday, I introduced H.Res. 456, a Resolution of No Confidence in President Donald Trump. My resolution, which has the support of 29 of my colleagues in the House of Representatives, details President Trump’s unacceptable behavior as President and expresses a lack of confidence in his service. On Wednesday morning, I held a press conference with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), to introduce the resolution. You can watch the press conference here. You can read more about my resolution here.  From Left to Right: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) Participating in a Forum on Voting Rights and Privacy Concerns Under the Pence-Kobach Commission On Tuesday, I participated in a forum hosted by the House Judiciary Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus on voting rights and privacy concerns under the Pence-Kobach Commission, the commission created by President Trump to investigate unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud in the 2016 Presidential election. I was proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act, which would fully restore and modernize the original Voting Rights Act of 1965 to reflect today’s societal needs and challenges. You can watch the forum here and here.  Questioning DOT Officials on School Bus Safety  On Tuesday, during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing, I questioned safety officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation about school bus safety and contracting oversight issues for bus drivers that may have contributed to the deaths of school-aged children in Chattanooga, TN and Baltimore, MD in November 2016. Watch my remarks here. Read more here. Bringing Congress to Your Corner Today, my staff and I were at the Parkway Village Library for our “Congress on Your Corner” office hours to assist Ninth District residents with questions or problems with federal agencies and benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA and more. For more information about future Congress on Your Corners, visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov.  Honoring Senator John McCain On Wednesday, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) announced that he was diagnosed with brain cancer.  Senator McCain is a true American hero who served our country in Vietnam, in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. I urge everyone to keep Senator McCain in your thoughts and prayers, and I hope he can come back to work soon. Watch my remarks here. Congratulating Rachel Heck on Her Performance at the U.S. Women’s Open (Photo: Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports) Last weekend, St. Agnes sophomore Rachel Heck made Memphis proud with her performance at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open Golf Tournament. At 15 years old, Rachel was the youngest competitor in the field this year and is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, native Memphis golfers ever. I enjoyed following Rachel at the U.S. Women's Open and I wish her the best as she continues her golf career at St. Agnes and then at Stanford University. Read more about Rachel’s performance here.  Welcoming Team Memphis to Washington On Thursday, I welcomed Coach Dorsey Sims and the TEAM Memphis basketball team to my Washington, DC office. The students, from high schools across Memphis, will be playing in their annual tournament. Good luck to TEAM Memphis! Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Recently, there has been an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Shelby County. Legionnaires' is typically spread when people breathe in mist containing legionella bacteria. In many cases, the infection doesn't cause a serious illness, but it can trigger symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, aches and nausea. Read more here.  As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,  Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hill-dems-launch-no-confidence-resolution-against-trump,Dems launch no confidence resolution against Trump,2017-07-19,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"A group of liberal House Democrats stepped up criticism of President Trump on Wednesday, introducing a “no confidence” resolution that officially questions Trump’s fitness to serve as commander in chief. It logs a laundry list of controversies swirling around the president — including his campaign’s many contacts with Russian officials, his refusal to release his taxes, his verbal attacks on women and the press, and his firing of FBI Director James Comey. Sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), the resolution has been endorsed by 23 more Democrats, including Reps. John Lewis (Ga.), a civil rights icon; John Yarmuth (Ky.), ranking member of the Budget Committee; David Cicilline (R.I.), who leads the Democrats’ policy and communications arm; and Judy Chu (Calif.), who heads the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Trump’s track record, Cohen said, exposes “a president that you wouldn’t want your children to look up to.” “The way he talks about women, the press, the language he uses, the use of Twitter — you don’t want him to be a role model,” Cohen said during a press briefing in the Capitol. “It’s injurious to our culture, and it’s injurious to … our foreign policy.” The resolution has no chance of moving through the chamber, which is led by Republicans, who have largely defended Trump in the first six months of his tenure. And Cohen acknowledged that the effort is unlikely to sway a president known to buck the advice from even his closest associates. “Is it going to have an effect on him? Apparently, his family members don’t have an effect on him; his Republican friends don’t; his Cabinet members don’t,” Cohen conceded. But with Trump’s approval rating at historic lows, the Democrats are hoping to send a message to voters that they’re sympathetic to the public’s frustration with the White House. “This is an attempt at a political intervention,” Cohen said. Unveiling their resolution, the Democrats went after Trump over the recent news that he’d had a second conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a dinner for world leaders during the G-20 economic summit in Hamburg, Germany, earlier this month. The meeting was previously undisclosed, and the only interpreter at the table was reportedly provided by Moscow. “This is not the behavior of the leader of the free world,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas). The Democrats also lambasted Capitol Hill Republicans for defending Trump’s actions and his unconventional approach to governing. “It is not normal,” said Chu. “Trump’s behavior is cruel and unethical, and it’s driving the people’s faith in government to dangerously low levels.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders have focused their anti-Trump efforts on creating an independent commission to investigate any possible collusion between the president and Russia. But Cohen said he first floated his no-confidence resolution in a Democratic Steering and Policy Committee meeting, where it won Pelosi’s blessing. “She said she didn’t have a problem with us going forward with these types of actions,” said Cohen, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee’s subpanel on the Constitution. “She preferred people to stay focused on what she thinks is the most important item present, which is an independent prosecutor bill, which I support.” The outside prosecutor bill has won scant support from Republicans — only Reps. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and Justin Amash (R-Mich.) have signed on — and Cohen said he doesn’t expect any broader show of GOP backing unless Trump tries to fire Robert Mueller, the special prosecutor tapped to lead the Justice Department’s probe into Russian election meddling. Cohen predicted such a firing is likely. “At that point, I think Republicans will then call for an independent prosecutor,” he said. Some Democrats have been critical of party leaders for focusing too intently on Trump — a strategy that backfired in November’s elections and left the Republicans pulling all the levers of power in Washington.Those Democrats want the party to concentrate on jobs, wages, healthcare and other bread-and-butter economic issues that affect their constituents on a daily basis. But Cohen and other supporters of the no confidence resolution rejected the notion that the Democrats can’t promote a jobs agenda and attack Trump simultaneously. “You can do both,” he said. “You can attack the jobs and the economy front … and also question this president who puts our very values at stake and our democracy at stake.” Chu agreed. “These are not mutually exclusive tactics to take,” she said. “Yes, we have to concentrate on those issues, but that doesn’t mean that we ignore what President Trump is doing to undermine this country.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-cohen-introduces-resolution-no-confidence-president,Ranking Member Cohen Introduces Resolution of No Confidence in President Donald Trump,2017-07-19,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today introduced a Resolution of No Confidence in President Donald J. Trump. The resolution details President Trump’s unacceptable behavior as President and expresses a lack of confidence in his service. A copy of the resolution can be found here. “Since taking office in January, President Trump has exhibited unacceptable and often offensive behavior for a President of the United States,” said Congressman Cohen. “He has taken the unprecedented action in the modern era of refusing to release his tax returns. He has refused to divest from his private business interests, creating conflicts of interest and potential violations of the Constitution’s emoluments clause. He fired his F.B.I. Director while the F.B.I. was investigating potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. He recklessly provided Russian officials with classified information during an oval office meeting. He has repeatedly used Twitter to insult and undermine the press, Congress, and the Judiciary. His Cabinet has the fewest number of women and minorities since the Reagan Administration. The gender pay gap at the Trump White House is more than double the national average. The list goes on and on and on.” Congressman Cohen continued, “President Trump has been President for six months and his probationary period is long over. This resolution sends a clear message to the President that we disapprove of his cumulative actions, that we are simpatico with our constituents and a majority of the America people, and that we have no confidence in his service.” Video from the press conference earlier today can be found here. Cosponsors of the resolution include (alphabetical): Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Al Green (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Luis Gutierrez (D-TX), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), John Yarmuth (D-KY)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-cosponsors-hot-cars-bill-to-protect-infants-and-toddlers,Cooper Cosponsors HOT CARS Bill to Protect Infants and Toddlers,2017-07-19,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) has cosponsored the Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats (HOT CARS) Act, a critical bill for Tennessee that would prevent infants and toddlers from being killed or injured when unknowingly left behind in vehicles. Since 1998, more than 700 children have died of heatstroke after being left in vehicles; 25 of those deaths occurred in Tennessee – tied for the seventh-highest total among all states, according to NoHeatStroke.org, a program supported by the National Safety Council. Already this year, 23 children have died this way in America, including an 11-month-old infant in Chattanooga and a 2-year-old child in Gatlinburg earlier this month. The HOT CARS Act would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue a final rule requiring each new passenger vehicle to be equipped with a reminder system to alert the driver if a passenger remains in the back seat when a vehicle is turned off. The technology is available and akin to a seat belt reminder, complete with warning sounds and flashing graphics near the speedometer. “Your car already reminds you to fasten your seatbelt, so why can’t it also remind you to check the rear seat?” Rep. Cooper said. “That could be the difference between the life and death of a child.” NASA engineers developed a child presence sensor in 2003, but the agency has only had one potential license, which was withdrawn. Some car seat manufacturers have installed child presence sensors on their car seats, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned against relying on these systems. To date, only General Motors has installed a Rear Seat Reminder. It is available on more than 20 vehicles and is now a standard feature on many of GM’s 2017 and 2018 model vehicles. More than 20 of the nation’s leading public health, consumer and safety organizations support the bipartisan HOT CARS bill. The HOT CARS Act was introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), joined by Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Last fall Tim Ryan challenged Nancy Pelosi for Democratic Leader. Along with more than 60 other Democrats, Rep. Cooper supported Tim Ryan, saying he is part of a new generation and applauding his vision to lead House Democrats.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-questions-dot-officials-about-school-bus-safety-house,Cohen Questions DOT Officials About School Bus Safety at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing,2017-07-18,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today questioned safety officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation about school bus safety and contracting oversight issues for bus drivers that may have contributed to the deaths of innocent Americans and school-aged children in Chattanooga, TN and Baltimore, MD in November 2016. Congressman Cohen questioned why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet issued regulations or a rulemaking process to require the installation of life-saving seat belt technology, despite that National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations dating back to 2010 resulted in recommendations that school buses be equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts. “Six school-aged children were taken…too early is not the right term. They were taken and that was wrong. No more precious cargo is there for any commercial carrier than school-aged children entrusted by their parents to go and get educated and get a better life. In both cases it seems there were a number of safety precautions and oversight issues that could have prevented or mitigated the risk of injuries and fatalities suffered from the unfortunate events,” Congressman Cohen stated in his remarks. Congressman Cohen went on to ask the NTSB and NHTSA why they have failed to initiate a rulemaking process to mandate the installation of seat belts on school buses, despite their unequivocally affirmative positions on the need for three-point seat belts. “I’ve been working on this [school bus safety] since the 1990s. I have always had school boards against it. They didn’t want to spend the money. The money should come secondary to safety…Dollars shouldn’t be the issue with our precious cargo.” Video of Congressman Cohen’s remarks can be found here. In January 2017, Congressman Cohen, Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), and Congressman John Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) sent a letter Congressmen Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to request a hearing on school bus safety. You can read that letter here. In December 2016, Congressman Cohen introduced the Bring Enhanced Liability in Transportation for Students (BELTS) Act to help protect children who ride on school buses. You can read more about that bill, which the Congressman plans to reintroduce, here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/republicans-block-cooper-amendment-advocating-community-input,Republicans Block Cooper Amendment Advocating Community Input,2017-07-18,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) this week proposed an amendment to the Ozone Standards Implementation Act that would have ensured states have the option of including local land use policies – such as zoning and local ordinances – in State Implementation Plans (SIPs). SIPs are state-approved, long-term plans required for meeting federal air quality standards, such as controlling smog and other harmful pollutants. But existing law is ambiguous on including local land use policies in these SIPs. Republicans blocked Rep. Cooper’s amendment from reaching the House floor. Under Rep. Cooper’s amendment, states would have retained final decision-making power over whether to include local input. However, the amendment would have given local communities greater input as states decide how land is allocated for various purposes. A recent example involves the planned gas compressor station in Joelton, Tenn., where Rep. Cooper led a vocal yet unsuccessful charge to deny an industrial company’s plans to do business in a residential community. Rep. Cooper’s amendment would not have retroactively affected that case, but it would have applied to similar matters in the future. “This has affected us in Middle Tennessee, but it’s a problem everywhere in America,” Rep. Cooper said. “There are good people in local communities and their concerns matter. They shouldn’t be steamrolled in the process.” Catholic nuns in Pennsylvania confronted similar issues – recently documented in The Washington Post – when they built a chapel in a cornfield to block the path of a proposed gas pipeline.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cohen-sends-letter-tdec-requesting-more-information-arsenic-ground-water,Cohen Sends Letter to TDEC Requesting More Information on Arsenic in Ground Water at TVA Allen Fossil Plant,2017-07-17,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) sent a letter to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Robert Martineau requesting more information on the recently discovered high levels of arsenic and other harmful toxins in ground water within monitoring wells at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Allen Fossil Plant in Memphis, TN. A copy of Congressman Cohen’s letter can be found here. “I am concerned about recent news that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) discovered high levels of arsenic and other harmful toxins in ground water within monitoring wells at the Allen Fossil Plant,” said Congressman Cohen in his letter. “…I would appreciate your informing me: 1)How TDEC reached its conclusion that these contaminants are not impacting drinking water and the basis for its conclusion; 2)What TVA and TDEC are doing to ensure that these contaminants are not impacting, and will not impact drinking water; 3)What TVA and TDEC are doing to ensure that the Memphis Sand aquifer, a precious interstate resource, remains a viable source of drinking water.” Congressman Cohen sent multiple letters to TVA President Bill Johnson in 2016-2017 expressing concern about TVA’s decision to pursue the use of water from the Memphis Sands Aquifer to cool the natural gas generators at the Allen Plant and its impact on drinking water in Memphis. You can read those letters here, here and here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/urging-president-disband-his-voter-fraud-commission,Urging the President to Disband His Voter Fraud Commission,2017-07-14,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, I urged President Trump to disband his voter fraud commission, sent a letter to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation requesting more information on the scope and impact of the arsenic leak at the TVA plant in Memphis, urged the House Judiciary Committee to reschedule marijuana, met with St. Jude patient Lela Moody, mourned the victims of the KC-130 plane crash in Mississippi, and criticized Donald Trump, Jr.’s meeting with a Russian lawyer on PoliticKING with Larry King. Last week, I criticized President Trump and Russia at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk. Tomorrow, I’ll be on MSNBC with Richard Lui at 3pm CT to discuss Russia and the Senate Republicans’ mean and heartless health care bill. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen. Urging the President to Disband His Voter Fraud Commission Requesting More Information About the Arsenic Leak at the TVA Plant in Memphis Fighting for More Sensible Drug Policies Meeting with St. Jude Patient Lela Moody Criticizing President Trump and Russia at the OSCE PA in Minsk Mourning the Victims of the KC-130 Airplane Crash in Mississippi Criticizing Donald Trump, Jr.’s For His Meeting with a Russian Lawyer Bringing Congress to Your Corner Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Quote of the Week Weekly Health Tip Urging the President to Disband His Voter Fraud Commission On Monday, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and I sent a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately disband the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. In the letter, we expressed serious concerns with the Commission’s request for the personal information of voters from states to investigate unsubstantiated claims that millions of people voted illegally in the 2016 presidential election. Read more here. Requesting More Information About the Arsenic Leak at the TVA Plant in Memphis On Thursday, I sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation requesting more information about the scope and impact of the arsenic leak in the ground water within wells at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Allen Fossil Plant. Read my letter here.  Fighting for More Sensible Drug Policies On Wednesday, at a House Judiciary Committee meeting, I criticized our nation's anachronistic drug laws and urged the Committee to reschedule marijuana. The fact that marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug along with heroin, ecstasy, and acid is ludicrous. Watch my remarks here. Meeting with St. Jude Patient Lela Moody On Thursday, I met with 4-year-old St. Jude patient Lela Moody, her parents Amanda and Charles, and her doctors from St. Jude. I am proud to represent the #1 pediatric cancer hospital in the country that has saved so many young peoples’ lives. Criticizing President Trump and Russia at the OSCE PA in Minsk While at the annual Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly last week in Minsk, Belarus, I witnessed the real Russia that votes against human rights, democratic values, free elections, and the territorial integrity of nations, while President Trump saw the fake Russia during his meeting at the G20 Summit in Germany with former KGB agent and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Read more here. Watch my remarks in Minsk here. Mourning the Victims of the KC-130 Airplane Crash in Mississippi I was saddened by the terrible KC-130 plane crash on Monday in Mississippi that took the lives of 15 Marines and 1 Navy corpsman. My thoughts go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. Criticizing Donald Trump, Jr.’s For His Meeting with a Russian Lawyer  On Tuesday, Donald Trump, Jr. released an email chain, that he reportedly knew was going to be released by the New York Times, between him and Rob Goldstone about “Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump” and information from the Russian government that “would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to [Donald Trump].” These emails provide damning information that shows intent, if not actual collusion with the Russians. Read more here. You can watch my interview with Larry King on this topic here. Bringing Congress to Your Corner On Friday, July 21 from 11am-1pm at the Parkway Village Library (4655 Knight Arnold Road), my staff and I will hold “Congress on Your Corner” office hours to assist Memphians with questions or problems with federal agencies such as Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA and more. Please mark the date on your calendar. For more information about Congress on Your Corner, visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov.  Sign Up for My New Grants E-Newsletter Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 9th District's universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. If you are interested in receiving up-to-date federal grant information, including a list of the most recent grant awards and opportunities, please click here to sign up for my Grants E-Newsletter. I also encourage you to explore the resources on my website to help you and your organization search and apply for grants.  Quote of the Week This week, I was proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act, which would fully restore and modernize the original Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 to reflect today’s societal needs and challenges. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Voting is the foundation stone of political action.” Weekly Health Tip Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Ninth Congressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle. Vitamin D is a critical nutrient found in some foods needed to maintain strong bones. Vitamin D can also be made organically by the body when the skin is directly exposed to the sun. Don’t forget, however, to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Read more about the importance of Vitamin D here.  As always, I remain.  Most sincerely,   Steve Cohen Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cooper.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cooper-slams-defense-contractor-s-dream-amendment,Cooper Slams Defense Contractors Dream Amendment,2017-07-14,2017,2017-07,Democrat,House,TN,Jim Cooper,C000754,cooper.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) spoke on the House floor this week to strongly oppose an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would reduce oversight and weaken requirements on weapon acquisitions related to the Missile Defense Agency. “This is not a vote on whether we are for or against missile defense,” Rep. Cooper said on the House floor. “I am strongly for missile defense. I just want to make sure that it works.” Despite Cooper’s opposition, the amendment, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5), passed the House 235-189 on Friday. It would eliminate Congress’ “fly-before-you-buy” rule, removing the Secretary of Defense from the process of vetting and approving billions of dollars’ worth of missile defense weaponry. In his floor remarks, Rep. Cooper called the amendment “a defense contractor’s dream.” “[This] is a vendor’s dream, [this] is a defense contractor’s dream, because it would enable them to sell stuff to us – the American taxpayer and to the citizens of this country – promising national defense, but not proving it,” Rep. Cooper said. The existing rule requires the Secretary of Defense to refrain from buying and deploying such weaponry until the Secretary believes there is enough data to know the weapons – missile defense interceptors among them – will work reliably and as intended. A member of the House Armed Services Committee and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Rep. Cooper noted that Rep. Lamborn’s amendment was not voted on in committee or subcommittee votes on NDAA. The Pentagon and the Missile Defense Agency do not support Rep. Lamborn’s amendment, Rep. Cooper added. “We need to fly it before we buy it. We need to test it before we invest in it,” Rep. Cooper said. “We need to make sure that it works before we fork over the dough.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z