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://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-welcomes-release-matt-gaetz-ethics-report,Congressman Cohen Welcomes Release of Matt Gaetz Ethics Report,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS, TN – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today applauded the release of the House Ethics Committee’s report detailing the findings of its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). The report uncovered substantial evidence of misconduct, including violations of House rules, state and federal laws, and standards of conduct. Congressman Cohen has long advocated for the report's release to ensure transparency and accountability in government. Earlier this month, he introduced a privileged resolution to force the release of the Ethics Committee’s report on Matt Gaetz. “Transparency is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the release of this report is a victory for the American people,” said Congressman Cohen. “Congressman Casten of Illinois and I fought for the release of this report because the public had a right to know what was uncovered in this thorough and long-lasting investigation. I commend the members of the Ethics Committee who voted to release this report despite objections. Matt Gaetz called it a ‘witch hunt’—and he knew that was a lie. He claimed it was about drinking and partying, but today’s report proves it was far worse: it wasn’t just alcohol and marijuana, it was cocaine, ecstasy, and more disturbingly it was about paying women for sex, including a 17-year-old girl. It also revealed that he accepted gifts well beyond ethical limits, including paid transportation and lodging for a trip to the Bahamas where some of these illicit activities took place. Investigators found that he accepted impermissible gifts, special favors and privileges, and that he obstructed Congress during the investigation. This goes far beyond ‘partying’—it exposes a pattern of unethical, illegal, and deeply troubling behavior.” “Gaetz isn’t alone in trying to hide behind the ‘witch hunt’ excuse,” Congressman Cohen added. “George Santos tried the same tactic to deflect from his misconduct, and it didn’t work for him, either. Accountability matters, and today’s release is proof that these House Ethics Committee investigations are not only thorough but essential to protecting the integrity of Congress.” The report follows years of allegations against Gaetz and a comprehensive investigation conducted by the House Ethics Committee. Congressman Cohen, along with Congressman Sean Casten (IL-6), introduced privileged resolutions earlier this year to force the report's release. Their efforts underscored the importance of public access to the findings of taxpayer-funded investigations. Congressman Cohen has consistently argued that withholding such reports erodes public trust and allows bad actors to deflect and deceive. Click here to read more. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-cancer-research-grant-st-jude-10,Congressman Cohen Announces Cancer Research Grant to St. Jude,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $738,024 from the National Cancer Institute to study chromatin binding domains and neuroblastomas. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am pleased to see the National Cancer Institute making this kind of investment in our premiere children’s research hospital to advance our understanding of childhood cancers. The work undertaken because of this funding will improve and perhaps save lives.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-grant-memphis-zoo,Congressman Cohen Announces Grant to Memphis Zoo,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Memphis Zoo will receive a grant of $395,000 to transform food waste destined for landfills into sustainable fertilizer for local agriculture. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is part of a nationwide initiative involving 26 cooperative agreements aimed at supporting innovative waste management practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The forward-thinking leadership at the Memphis Zoo, which also received federal funding for rooftop solar panels earlier this year, is to be commended for its continued commitment to sustainability. This USDA grant will support an innovative waste management program that turns food waste into a valuable resource for local farmers. The Zoo’s commitment to ‘going green’ serves as a model for our community and beyond.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-hematology-grant-st-jude,Congressman Cohen Announces Hematology Grant to St. Jude,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $252,285 as an Institutional National Research Service Award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The funding will support Basic and Translational Research Training in Pediatric Classical Hematology. Congressman Steve Cohen made the following statement: “I am always pleased to see one of our National Institutes of Health investing in research leading to better outcomes for children. St. Jude is a leader in this field and deserves this National Research Service Award recognizing its role in improving and saving young lives.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-welcomes-reports-ethics-committee-vote-release-gaetz,Congressman Cohen Welcomes Reports of Ethics Committee Vote to Release Gaetz Investigation Report,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Ethics Committee, today welcomed press reports that the Ethics Committee has voted to release its report on its investigation of alleged misconduct by former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. Congressman Cohen introduced two privileged resolutions seeking public release of the report and preservation of related documents on November 20 and December 3. In a parliamentary procedure aimed at burying the Committee’s findings, the Congressman’s second resolution was referred to the Ethics Committee on December 5. The Ethics Committee operates in confidence, and it is unclear when the Committee reportedly agreed to release the report. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am encouraged that some on the Ethics Committee understand that the credibility and dignity of the House itself is at stake. The Committee spent years reviewing accusations of Gaetz engaging in sexual misconduct, using illicit drugs, sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds to personal use, and accepting a ‘bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gifts.’ This is some of the most serious misconduct the Committee has ever addressed. “The public needs this report. Gaetz himself called this process a ‘witch hunt’ and impugned the integrity of the House and the Ethics Committee. I’m confident the Committee’s seriousness, professionalism, and integrity will come through when the public sees the final report. “I also believe this report will be instructive for Members of Congress and the public. This is an opportunity to explain what unethical and unlawful conduct looks like. “The light of day, the best disinfectant, will now show who President-elect Trump wanted to be his Attorney General, and the character of a man who is likely to play an important role in a second Trump Administration.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-applauds-sweeping-protections-airline-passengers,Congressman Cohen Applauds Sweeping Protections for Airline Passengers with Disabilities,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen, the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, today attended Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s announcement of a final rule that is the biggest expansion of rights for passengers with disabilities in a generation. The new rule, which incorporates many elements of Congressman Cohen’s Mobility Aids on Board Improve Lives and Empower All (MOBILE) Act, requires airlines to meet rigorous standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities, particularly those who use wheelchairs. An estimated 5.5 million Americans use a wheelchair, and many encounter barriers when it comes to air travel. U.S. Department of Transportation data shows 11,527 wheelchairs and scooters were mishandled by carriers required to report that data. When an individual’s wheelchair is delayed or damaged by an airline, their mobility, health, and freedom can be severely impacted until the wheelchair is returned, repaired or replaced. For many people with disabilities, the pain of a broken or lost wheelchair or other mobility aid is like the pain of an injury or loss of an able-bodied person’s legs. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The comprehensive final rule being announced today will assure safe and dignified air travel for those with disabilities. This has been my highest priority and is the reason I introduced the MOBILE Act, whose provisions are incorporated in this well-reasoned and timely approach to those with mobility-related disabilities. I applaud Secretary Buttigieg for getting this rule out, and the flying public will notice the significant improvement.” The final rule ensures safe and dignified assistance, requires annual hands-on training for airline personnel, and mandates prompt boarding, deplaning, and return of mobility devices. Airlines must notify passengers about the status of their wheelchairs and provide loaner devices, repair or replacement options, and reimbursements for delays or damages. The rule also improves transparency by requiring airlines to publish cargo hold dimensions and sets new standards for on-board wheelchairs. The final rule will be effective on January 16, 2025 and can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news. Travelers can learn more about their protections when they fly at FlightRights.gov. Consumers may file an airline complaint with the Department here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-polio-survivor-comes-out-publicly-against-robert-f,"Congressman Cohen, a Polio Survivor, Comes Out Publicly Against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination for HHS Secretary",2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that he will publicly oppose the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Congressman Cohen, one of two members of Congress who contracted polio as children and continue to suffer its debilitating effects, said Kennedy’s anti-vaccine obsession makes him the wrong person for the job. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Despite my cordial relations with Robert Kennedy over 40 years, his position on vaccines disqualifies him for consideration as a Secretary of Health and Human Services. I contacted polio as a child, spent three months in the hospital and more than a year on crutches. I still wear a brace because it is difficult to stand, even for the national anthem. “I believe I have a duty to speak out for all who have had polio – from those lightly affected to those who lived in iron lungs and died. For those unfamiliar with polio, it’s important to learn from those infirmities. “In 1954, my father was a pediatrician in Memphis, Tennessee. As part of the worldwide effort to stop polio, he was given a limited number of Salk vaccine doses to give to second graders. My brother was in second grade and so received one of the doses. I was in kindergarten and didn’t meet the medical protocol. Unvaccinated, I contracted polio in September of 1954. Fortunately, I was among the lucky ones who survived but I was hospitalized, treated with hot packs, spent over a year on crutches, and I endured years of physical therapy. I now suffer the effects of post-polio syndrome which requires me to wear a brace for walking and standing. Many others were much more severely affected. “For 70 years, the world has been near polio-free thanks to the Salk and subsequent polio vaccines. Most people don’t give a second thought to polio, as they have been the beneficiaries of the vaccine. In the early winter of 1954, Robert Kennedy Jr., now the President-elect’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was born into a world blessed with a polio vaccine. He and his contemporaries were among those fortunately spared the scourge of polio. “Kennedy, who has earned a reputation as the leading voice against vaccinations of all kinds, is being advised in choosing health care officials by his attorney, Aaron Siri. Siri specializes in anti-vaccine lawsuits of all sorts and has petitioned the U.S. Government to revoke the approval of the polio vaccine. Kennedy himself has spoken about having a placebo study for the polio vaccine in which some children would not get immunized while others would. That’s morally unacceptable. “Because of the Salk and other vaccines, we have almost wiped polio out worldwide. Thanks to the alliance of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International, the polio vaccine is available around the world. “If Kennedy were successful in rolling back the polio vaccine’s approval, potentially millions would suffer and many would die. The only other member of Congress who is a polio survivor, Senator Mitch McConnell, stated that ‘efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous.’ “Leaving children unvaccinated for polio will also be an expensive and unnecessary experiment that, in addition to the human costs, will cost the taxpayer. The medical care for those who contract polio will be great and many who survive will need life-long care. “Robert Kennedy Jr. may have some good ideas about nutrition and processed foods, but should not be in charge of the health and medical care. I do not say that lightly because I have known him for many years and we have had a good relationship. But I can’t forget that I was the child who did not receive the vaccine and polio has been a constant part of my life. “We must respect established scientific facts. We must follow rigorous scientific protocols and follow the facts as they become available, but we do not need to turn back established medical protocols on the whim of those who have no medical training. There is no doubt about the safety and efficacy of the polio vaccine in preventing polio. None.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-6-million-grant-literacy-mid-south,Congressman Cohen Announces $6 Million Grant to Literacy Mid-South,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Literacy Mid-South Inc., in partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) and the Center for Research in Education Policy at the University of Memphis, will receive a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The funding over five years will support Literacy Mid-South’s “Tutor901: High Impact Tutoring for High Needs Students,” a program that will focus on about 1,500 second-fourth grade students in 18 MSCS elementary schools. The program is aligned with the Department of Education’s definition of “underserved students,” including those living in poverty and performing significantly below grade level. The progress of the effort will be rigorously evaluated to ensure its effectiveness. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Reading is fundamental for getting ahead in the modern world. This substantial investment in our elementary school students most in need of assistance will pay dividends in improved life outcomes. I am pleased to see Literacy Mid-South taking this initiative and appreciate the dedicated tutors who will be doing this critically important, inspiring, and fulfilling work.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-speaks-favor-and-votes-reauthorize-soar-act,Congressman Cohen Speaks in Favor and Votes to Reauthorize the SOAR Act,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today spoke from the House floor and voted for reauthorizing the Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act that became law in 2018. The legislation aims to renew and continue essential training for health care professionals in identifying and responding to human trafficking. The measure passed the House by voice vote. In his floor speech, Congressman Cohen said the idea for the legislation came from a meeting he had with health professionals at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, then added in part: “The SOAR to Health and Wellness Program has made tremendous strides to train health care workers on the signs of human trafficking and the appropriate steps to take once a victim has been identified. As Members of Congress, we should continue to support this program so that more people can be trained to properly identify and assist victims of human trafficking. “We should pass the reauthorization bill, and we should let our constituents know that if they are being trafficked or are suspicious that someone they see is being trafficked, help is available.” Congressman Cohen also offered phone numbers to assist those suspicious they are witnessing possible trafficking: the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 866-347-2423 and the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. See those remarks here. The SOAR Act would support efforts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to combat human trafficking by re-establishing the “Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond to Health and Wellness Training” program. While human trafficking victims are often difficult to identify, many trafficking victims end up in a health care setting at some point while being exploited, including in clinics, emergency rooms and doctors’ offices. The SOAR Act would help close the gap in health care settings without plans for treating human trafficking victims by: Re-Establishing the “SOAR to Health and Wellness Training” Grant Program: The bill would allocate $4 million annually to fund training for healthcare professionals to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and provide appropriate care to victims; Encouraging an Interdisciplinary Approach: The SOAR Act encourages collaboration among healthcare providers, law enforcement, and service organizations to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice; and Providing Continued Support: The bill reinforces commitment to ongoing education and awareness efforts within the healthcare community to address human trafficking. Congressman Cohen has been a leading advocate for addressing human trafficking for years. He first introduced the SOAR Act in 2016 following a discussion on human trafficking awareness at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, attended by first responders, health care workers, faith-based groups, and more. The bill’s initial passage and subsequent implementation have marked significant strides in the national effort to combat human trafficking, with tens of thousands of health care professionals across the country receiving specialized training. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-885504-grant-southwest-tennessee-community,"Congressman Cohen Announces $885,504 Grant to Southwest Tennessee Community College",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Southwest Tennessee Community College (STCC) will receive a grant of $885,504 from the U.S. Department of Education’s Basic Needs – Supporting Student Success Program. The funding will support on-campus food pantries, free bus passes, and a kiosk to help students connect with local, state and federal benefit programs, among other things, for an estimated 700 students over three years. The goal is to reach higher retention levels and increase degree or certificate completion by reducing “basic needs insecurity.” Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Low-income and other disadvantaged students will benefit from this grant, which will improve access to the basic needs that will keep them in the classroom and completing their studies.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-introduces-resolution-abolish-electoral-college-0,Congressman Cohen Introduces Resolution to Abolish the Electoral College,2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today reintroduced a joint resolution to amend the Constitution by abolishing the Electoral College. The archaic vestige of a compromise with pro-slavery Southerners during the 18th century debate over the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College can – and has, as recently as 2016 – thwarted the will of the American people by installing as president the loser of the popular vote. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Americans expect and deserve to see the winner of the national popular vote for any elected office assume the office as its legitimate winner. The Electoral College is a vestige of the 18th Century when voters didn’t know the candidates. Today, Presidential candidates are widely known and regularly appear on Americans’ phones and television screens. It is also a relic of a time when pro-slavery Southerners debating the Constitution in 1787 sought and gained electoral strength by counting ineligible, non-voting enslaved people as part of their state populations. “The President should be elected by the people, not politicians. We must count every vote, and every vote should be counted equally. “While there is so much wrong in incoming President Trump’s Electoral College Truth Social post, one thing is true: it is long past time to abolish this anachronistic institution and guarantee that the winner of the popular vote takes office. I welcome President Trump’s support for a national popular vote and encourage Republicans to follow his lead and support this Amendment.” On December 9, 2024, Donald J. Trump posted on Truth Social that “The Democrats are fighting hard to get rid of the Popular Vote in future Elections. They want all future Presidential elections to be based exclusively on the Electoral College!” Congressman Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, has introduced similar joint resolutions in 2021 and 2019. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-26-million-head-start-and-early-head-start,Congressman Cohen Announces $2.6 Million in Head Start and Early Head Start Funding for Porter-Leath,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Porter-Leath Inc will receive a grant of $2,667,179 from the Administration for Children and Families Office of Head Start to operate its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This is an investment in our community, its children and our future. I’m pleased that Porter-Leath will be receiving this Head Start funding to help ensure children in our community will be ready for the classroom and the future. Head Start and Early Head Start provide essential preparation and needed skills for Shelby County children so that they are academically and socially ready to succeed in an increasingly complex world. Early Head Start programs provide these essential skills to our younger children, making sure they are ready for kindergarten and elementary school.” Porter-Leath has served the Memphis community for more than 160 years, offering resources to at-risk children and their families. The Administration of Children and Families partners with local providers to address and respond to the needs of vulnerable families, while the Office of Head Start allocates grant funding to nonprofit and for-profit agencies that offer Head Start services. Both organizations emphasize inclusive and holistic early development programs to better communities across the United States. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-seeks-ensure-compliance-faa-reauthorization-act,Congressman Cohen Seeks to Ensure Compliance with FAA Reauthorization Act in Hearing on its Implementation,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, today extolled the bipartisan leadership of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee that led to overwhelming support of this year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act. Congressman Cohen emphasized the importance of ensuring that the provisions of the law, signed six months ago, are fully implemented as Congress intended. He highlighted specific measures he championed, including the EVAC Act, dealing with evacuation standards, the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act, dealing with complaints filed by passengers with disabilities, and the SAFE Act, dealing with regulations related to flight data recovery for aircraft used in extended overwater operations. In his opening statement, Congressman Cohen said in part: “While the 118th Congress is on track to become one of the least productive in U.S. history, that is not the case in this Committee, where earlier this year we passed an overwhelmingly bipartisan, long-term FAA reauthorization bill. It has now been over six months since FAA reauthorization was signed into law, so it is time to ensure the law is being expeditiously implemented. “The bill aimed to address numerous challenges facing our aviation system. These include the modernization of safety and technology infrastructure, the integration of new entrants into U.S. skies, the shortage of air traffic controllers, and the poor treatment of airline passengers, especially passengers with disabilities.” See Congressman Cohen’s entire opening statement here. In his questions to witnesses, Congressman Cohen focused on some of the provisions of the new law that he championed that would require realistic tests of whether aircraft can meet the 90-second evacuation standard, the treatment of passengers with disabilities and their mobility aids, and efforts to strengthen the aviation workforce, including hiring more air traffic controllers. See Congressman Cohen’s line of questioning here. Witnesses at today’s hearing were: Mr. Jason Terreri, Executive Director, Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, on behalf of the Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA); Mr. Adam Woodworth, Chief Executive Officer, Wing; Mr. Pete Bunce, President & Chief Executive Officer, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA); and Mr. Greg Regan, President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-and-senator-markey-lead-letter-urging-tva-reconsider,Congressman Cohen and Senator Markey Lead Letter Urging TVA to Reconsider Plans for Increased Use of Natural Gas,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Senator Edward J. Markey (MA) led a letter to the leadership of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with seven House and two Senate colleagues urging the federally owned electric utility agency to reconsider its focus on expanding gas-fired power generation and instead encourage and plan for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and distributed energy sources in its final Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The IRP will be used to shape TVA’s energy portfolio through 2050, with lasting impacts on affordability and reliability for its 10 million customers in the Tennessee Valley, as well as on the United States’ clean energy goals. After reviewing the draft IRP, the lawmakers made six specific recommendations to help TVA “lead the energy sector to a cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable future, instead of increasing reliance on expensive, polluting, and unreliable natural gas.” TVA is currently accepting public comments on its IRP until December 11. The letter reads in part: “The Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) suggests that TVA will need 9 to 26 gigawatts of additional capacity by 2035. We are concerned that up to 19 of those gigawatts may be provided by natural gas plants, many of which rely on expensive carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and hydrogen that also fail to reduce—and may even increase—conventional pollutants from gas units that directly harm human health. This is in addition to TVA’s existing planned gas buildout, which is projected to be one of the largest of any American utility this decade. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, TVA should prioritize renewables, energy efficiency, and distributed energy in its final IRP, which will reduce costs to consumers.” Read the entire letter here. Environmental groups endorsed the position taken by the lawmakers with the following statements: “Our country’s largest federal utility is stuck in the fossil-fuel era when it should be building a renewable, resilient energy future,” said Gaby Sarri-Tobar, a campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity’s energy justice program. “TVA’s long-range plan could lock in planet-heating gas and dangerous false solutions like carbon capture, leaving the next generation to shoulder skyrocketing energy bills, more extreme weather, and dirtier air and water. The 10 million people living in the Tennessee Valley are counting on TVA to improve their quality of life. TVA’s leaders can deliver on that promise with a plan for 100 percent renewable energy.” “We are grateful to Congressman Cohen and Senator Markey for their leadership and advocacy for the millions of customers that TVA serves as the utility finalizes its IRP for the next five years,” said Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Manager Amy Kelly. “Our communities deserve a plan that lowers energy costs for families, strengthens resilience to severe weather, and reduces harmful pollution. We hope that TVA will seriously consider the concerns outlined by Congressman Cohen, Senator Markey and other members of Congress to finalize a plan that delivers a brighter future for the next generation.” The letter was signed by Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Representatives Nanette Barragán, Raúl Grijalva, Jared Huffman, James McGovern, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Melanie Stansbury, and Rashida Tlaib. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-votes-water-resources-bill-millions-local-us-army,Congressman Cohen Votes for Water Resources Bill with Millions for Local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today voted for the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which includes major U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects for improvements in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District that Congressman Cohen submitted and advocated for. Today, the House voted on the House Amendment to the bill, which represents the final version of WRDA as negotiated over recent months to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. The bill will return to the Senate for its consideration before it can be sent to the White House to be signed into law. The measure includes the dredging of the Pidgeon Harbor, the only Mississippi River access for industries operating from the Pidgeon Industrial Park and authorization for the Hatchie-Loosahatchee Ecosystem Restoration project, which would reconnect habitats, enhance biodiversity, and provide critical ecosystem services across an ecologically significant 39-mile stretch of the Mississippi River near Memphis and approximately 146,000 acres. If successful, the measures from this Restoration Study will help connect the entire Lower Mississippi River floodplain, which is one of the largest floodplains in the world, comprised of approximately three million acres. The WRDA bill also includes policy provisions advocated by Congressman including those to ensure cybersecurity, physical security, public safety, and stakeholder input before any use of remote operations at locks and dams and hydroelectric dams. It also includes some of the Congressman’s environmental justice language affecting the Corps’ approach to projects in disadvantaged communities. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This WRDA bill improves critical water resources infrastructure, empowers all communities to engage with the Army Corps, responds to emerging threats from climate change, bolsters local economies, and boosts U.S. economic competitiveness and supply chains. “I am particularly grateful for the inclusion of several of my project and policy requests that will directly impact communities in my district. The inclusion of Pidgeon Harbor in the Army Corps’ Operation and Maintenance General Budget for regular dredging maintenance is essential to its ongoing operation and vital to the companies located at the industrial park. Pidgeon Harbor is the only dedicated access point to the Mississippi River for businesses in the Pidgeon Industrial Park, whose five facilities generate 500 jobs and produce an annual economic impact of $1.2 billion. “Additionally, the inclusion of the Hatchie-Loosahatchie Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study will showcase a comprehensive approach to managing the Lower Mississippi River and implementing restoration on a systemic scale. The Hatchie-Loosahatchie project comprehensively addresses significant and historically important habitats in Arkansas and Tennessee and includes measures to address floodplain connectivity and reconnection of side channels, aquatic channel enhancement, restored natural vegetation, and water management. “Once again, Congress has delivered on a bipartisan, bicameral, and biennial WRDA bill that will improve our nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterways, navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-presides-hearing-exposing-belarusian-role-supporting,Congressman Cohen Presides at a Hearing Exposing Belarusian Role Supporting Russia in its War with Ukraine,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the House Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today presided at a hearing on “The Role of Belarus in Russia’s Crimes.” Ranking Member Cohen focused his questions to hearing witnesses on Belarus’ taking of Ukrainian children and the fate of political prisoners held by the regime. Ranking Member Cohen also released the following statement: “In my position as the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on political prisoners, I’ve heard a lot about—and frequently spoken out against—Lukashenka’s mass imprisonment of Belarusians and threats against Belarus’ democratic leaders and activists abroad. “Since the start of Putin’s war in Ukraine, Belarus has effectively operated as an extension of Russia. Lukashenko bears responsibility for cooperating with Russia in its war efforts, and he cannot be allowed to fly under the radar. Especially disturbing is Belarus’ role in taking vulnerable Ukrainian children and brainwashing and militarizing them. “Independent human rights organizations have reported that more than 2,400 Ukrainian children have been sent to ‘recreation camps’ in Belarus, where they are subjected to pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian indoctrination and military training. We must help prevent Belarus from escaping culpability and highlight the threats posed by Putin using the territory and resources of Belarus to help wage war on Ukrainians and threaten the rest of Europe. “I also want to spotlight political prisoners in Belarus. Lukashenko has over 1,300 political prisoners including opposition leaders, journalists and activists. Ales Bialiatski, Maria Kalesnikava, and many others are experiencing heath issues that cannot be properly addressed in prison. They should be released immediately along with any other political prisoners with dire health conditions. Time is of the essence. “We can’t forget Belarus’ cooperation in war crimes, and I think our witnesses today will make it very clear where the responsibilities lie and how we can defend freedom from these dictators.” Witnesses at today’s hearing were: Matvei Kupreichyk, Public Representative, BELPOL; Gabrielius Landsbergis, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Lithuania; and Kateryna Rashevska, Legal Expert, Regional Center for Human Rights # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohens-effort-make-public-report-matt-gaetz-referred-ethics,Congressman Cohen’s Effort to Make Public the Report on Matt Gaetz is Referred to the Ethics Committee,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Committee on Ethics, today offered a privileged resolution continuing his effort to publicly release the Ethics Committee’s report of alleged misconduct by former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. The measure was referred to the Ethics Committee in a parliamentary maneuver designed to prevent the release. Congressman Cohen released the following statement: “I brought this resolution to the floor today as an act of transparency. Many Americans view our institutions and government as protecting the powerful at the expense of the public. We need to restore trust. “I urge all my colleagues to support release of the Ethics Committee report to inform the public about the potential misconduct of a former – and most likely future – officeholder; let the committee speak for itself; ensure a strong accountability system in Congress; and educate Congress and the public about our ethical obligations. “Matt Gaetz, a former member of this body, faced some of the most serious allegations ever investigated by our Ethics Committee. There were the salacious allegations about sex and drugs. But there were also very serious allegations about public corruption and the abuse of Gaetz’s office. That second category of allegations goes to the very integrity of this body and our work on behalf of the American people. We are keepers of the public trust and must be, like Caesar’s wife, above reproach. “Gaetz also made a point of calling the Ethics investigation a ‘witch hunt,’ showing disrespect, and a causing a breach of the expected decorum a Member should show for this House. Only release of the report will establish this was not a witch hunt. “Some members of Congress retire into the sunset, but Matt Gaetz sought an even more powerful position, representing all citizens and upholding our Constitution and laws -- and there is every reason to believe he will be in the next Administration, probably in a position that does not require Senate confirmation. He is still advising President-elect Trump. “It is imperative that we know his character and if he unethically and unlawfully abused his public office. “I will continue to seek the release of the Ethics report and hope the Committee sees the wisdom of doing so without further intervention.” See the resolution here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-cohen-and-mcclintock-condemn-iranian-death-sentences,Congressmen Cohen and McClintock Condemn Iranian Death Sentences for Political Prisoners,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Tom McClintock (CA-5), the Co-Chairmen of the Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, today released the following statement: “As the co-chairs of the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, we strongly condemn the death sentences imposed on six Iranian political prisoners for their support of the organized Iranian resistance, MEK/PMOI, and the Iranian protesters. This escalating crackdown on dissent by the Iranian regime is a grave violation of human rights and comes amid a rise in death sentences in recent weeks. We call on the regime to halt these executions immediately and uphold justice and human dignity. Stand with Abolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amrian, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Mohammad Taghavi. Their lives depend on it.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-936722-tipton-county-schools,"Congressman Cohen Announces $936,722 to Tipton County Schools",2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Tipton County School District will receive $936,722 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program for 14 video conferencing units, software and training. Instructors will deliver expanded educational opportunities to an estimated 10,638 Tipton County residents, according to the USDA. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am pleased to see this substantial investment in the student of rural Tipton County. Modern education often requires access to the high technologies absent in many rural areas. This will improve education in Tipton County and enhance the learning of its students.” Congressman Cohen represents much of Tipton County after a 2022 redistricting by the state legislature. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/former-labor-secretary-robert-reich-endorses-congressman-cohens,Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich Endorses Congressman Cohen’s Constitutional Amendment to Limit the Presidential Pardon Power,2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee long concerned about the potential abuse of the presidential pardon power, was pleased to see his proposed Constitutional Amendment to limit the pardon power was endorsed by former Clinton Administration Labor Secretary Robert Reich. Reich called attention to the proposed amendment in a Substack article on Tuesday after President Biden pardoned his son Hunter. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I appreciate Mr. Reich’s endorsement. As he noted, my Constitutional Amendment would explicitly prohibit a self-pardon, pardons of family members, administration officials, and campaign employees. It would also bar the President from issuing pardons to those whose crimes were committed to further a direct and significant personal interest of the President or others close to him or her, and those whose crimes were committed at the direction of, or in coordination with, the President. Finally, the amendment also clarifies that no pardon issued for a corrupt purpose – past, present, or future – is valid.” Congressman Cohen noted that he has introduced versions of his Constitutional Amendment in successive Congresses since October 2017. He has worked to limit the pardon power since 1977 when he served as Vice President of the Tennessee Constitutional Convention during the tenure of a Democratic governor. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-privileged-resolution-release-ethics,Congressman Cohen Reintroduces Privileged Resolution for Release of Ethics Records on Matt Gaetz,2024-12-03,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Committee on Ethics, today reoffered a privileged resolution continuing his effort to release the Ethics Committee’s report of alleged misconduct by former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. He will speak on the measure and notice it on the floor this evening. Congressman Cohen said: “Matt Gaetz faces some of the most serious and troubling allegations the Ethics Committee has ever investigated. By resigning, Gaetz thought the report would not be released. The accused should not be permitted to determine whether the Ethics Committee report will be released. Much staff time and expense has gone into the investigation. The report would apparently expose not just the salacious allegations – the sex and drugs – but also the misuse of his office, the conversion of campaign funds for personal use and other misconduct. Release of the report would educate members of Congress as to what is beyond acceptable. Justice Louis Brandeis told us more than 100 years ago that ‘sunlight is the best disinfectant.’ There must be something in the report or Gaetz would not have resigned. “Gaetz also made a point of calling the Ethics investigation a ‘witch hunt,’ deriding the Committee, an offense against the decorum of the House that should not go unanswered. Only release of the report will establish this was no witch hunt. “We shouldn’t allow a person to escape consequences by resigning a day before a report is to be released, particularly if we expect to see that person assume a position of trust in the incoming Administration.” The resolution reads in part: That “on April 9, 2021, the Committee on Ethics initiated a review of allegations that Representative Gaetz may have ‘engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct’ in violation of Federal law and the Rules of the House.” The resolution states the Ethics Committee shall “publicly release the Committee’s report, including any associated findings, recommendations, and proposed disciplinary actions, as discussed by the Committee on November 20, 2024, regarding the alleged violations of the House of the Code of Conduct or of a law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct by Matthew Louis Gaetz II while serving as a Member of the House of Representatives.” See the entire resolution here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/concerns-about-hunter-bidens-pardon-ring-hollow-republicans-sidelined,Concerns about Hunter Biden’s Pardon Ring Hollow as Republicans Sidelined Congressman Cohen’s Constitutional Amendment that Would Have Limited Pardons,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee long concerned about the potential abuse of the presidential pardon power who has sought to amend the Constitution to protect against perceived conflicts of interest, today released the following statement: “President Biden has lost one son and would do anything he could for his remaining son. I’m in no way surprised at this pardon since the father-son bond is so strong. It’s also clear that Hunter Biden was targeted because he was the son of the President and held to account in ways similarly situated people would not have been. The pardon power is supposed to be a safety valve against injustice, and I understand why President Biden thought it appropriate in this instance. “But to all those who find this pardon distasteful, I encourage you to cosponsor and support the constitutional amendment I have introduced in the last several Congresses to reform the pardon power. The measure would eliminate pardons for the President’s self, the President’s family, Administration officials and campaign staff, and those who commit crimes on behalf of, for the benefit of, or at the direction of the President -- all instances with inescapable perceptions of conflicts of interest. The amendment also clarifies that no pardon issued for a corrupt purpose – past, present, or future – is valid. The measure has never received a Republican cosponsor, though, with their new recognition of the issue, I sincerely hope that will change.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-12-million-grants-uthsc,Congressman Cohen Announces $1.2 Million in Grants to UTHSC,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive two grants from tow National Institutes of Health totaling $1,213,557. The first, for $754,446, is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for research on the microbiome. The second, for $459,111, is from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, for research on a “Novel Pharmacological Approach to Stroke Neuroprotection.” Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am always pleased to see our National Institutes of Health investing in life-saving research at our medical school. This funding will lead to important insights and help future doctors address illness.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-44-million-grant-upgrade-memphis-firehouse,Congressman Cohen Announces $4.4 Million Grant to Upgrade Memphis Firehouse Maintenance Building,2024-11-08,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the State of Tennessee will receive a Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant of $4,438,548 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to upgrade the Memphis firehouse maintenance building at 354 Adams Avenue to current seismic and other building standards. The grant figure represents 90 percent of the total project cost. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This FEMA funding will bring a building critical to public safety up to code and permit it to meet the city’s needs in case of an emergency. This is a smart, and potentially life-saving investment.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohens-veterans-day-statement,Congressman Cohen’s Veterans Day Statement,2024-11-08,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) will observe Veterans Day on Monday’s November 11 national holiday. He made the following statement: “Every Veterans Day, we pause to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country in uniform and to thank them for their service. On this 106th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War 1, we honor that tradition. For our veterans, we must also keep our promises to them by providing the best medical care at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, including at the Lieutenant Colonel Luke Weathers Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, so they receive the state-of-the-art treatment they deserve. For those transitioning from the active-duty armed services to civilian life, we need to ensure they have good-paying jobs, strong educational opportunities, and access to student loan relief when applicable. I am always proud to work on legislation to ensure veterans receive the benefits they have been promised. “Although we are not at war, we have thousands of sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines at home and abroad, including thousands serving in and near active conflicts or providing aid to people in need. For those who are deployed, I look forward to their safe return home to families and friends. “On this Veterans Day, I thank all who have served for their sacrifice. I hope everyone will take the time to thank a veteran or active-duty service member and appreciate the sacrifices that they and their families have made.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-praises-ousted-israeli-defense-minister-yoav-gallant,Congressman Cohen Praises Ousted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant,2024-11-05,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) expressed his appreciation for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to fire him today over their differences on the conduct of the war and on domestic political issues, and made the following statement: “I commend Yoav Gallant on his work as Defense Minister and his service to Israel at this important time. I have met with the now-former Defense Minister several times, including on my last trip to Israel in June. He was always well-versed on the issues and a credit to the government and his nation. I wish him well in his future pursuits.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-538352-grant-st-jude,"Congressman Cohen Announces $538,352 Grant to St. Jude",2024-11-04,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $538,352 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study regulation of T cell memory in tissue immunity. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am pleased to see this substantial investment by one of our National Institutes of Health in research being done at our premier children’s research hospital. Insights gained will lead to potential therapies and best-practices, and ultimately will save lives.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-expresses-concern-suggestion-jeffrey-epstein-had,Congressman Cohen Expresses Concern at Suggestion Jeffrey Epstein had Compromising Photographs of Trump,2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today expressed concern that the pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein reportedly had compromising photographs of Donald Trump with topless young women and showed them to book author Michael Wolff. News of the photographs was reported Thursday evening in The Daily Beast, along with Trump campaign denunciations of the story. At the July 24, 2024, Federal Bureau of Investigation Oversight Hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Cohen asked FBI Director Christopher Wray about the FBI’s search of Jeffrey Epstein’s home and what was found. After the hearing, Congressman followed up with Director Wray on this issue and submitted written questions for him about the Epstein case and evidence seized in searches of Epstein’s homes. Among those questions: “Did the FBI retrieve any evidence that prompted the agency to open a new criminal investigation with a target other than Epstein for alleged sexual abuse? “Did the FBI recover any evidence that the FBI suspects Mr. Epstein held to blackmail others? “Will you open up the FBI’s records about your interactions with, and investigations of, Jeffrey Epstein?” The FBI has not yet responded to those questions. See Congressman Cohen’s questions to Wray at the July hearing here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-212-million-usda-regional-conservation,Congressman Cohen Announces $21.2 Million in USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Funding,2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Memphis-based MidSouth Development District will receive $21,250,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program for a project providing sustainable improvements to agricultural land with its partners in Shelby, Tipton, Fayette and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee; Crittenden County in Arkansas; and DeSoto County in Mississippi. The project aims to enhance ecosystem health by establishing diverse habitats on the edges of production sites across the six counties, supporting ecosystem services that reduce synthetic inputs and improve water and soil quality. This approach will increase biodiversity, providing natural pest control and pollination, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Mid-South agriculture and the livelihoods it supports are a critical foundation of our regional economy and promoting biodiversity is an important goal. Applying best practices for sustainable and environmentally protective farmland use with the help of this substantial funding will be an economic boon to our region, its workers, and its plants and animals.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-262-million-federal-railroad-administration,Congressman Cohen Announces $26.2 Million in Federal Railroad Administration Grants,2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today announced two Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program grants from the Federal Railroad Administration totaling $26,269,987. The first, for $19,843,062, is for the conversion of eight Watco Company diesel locomotives to battery-electric, zero-emission locomotives. Watco operates the Memphis Dock Street Marine Terminal on Presidents Island. Congressman Cohen submitted a letter of support for the project. The second grant, for $6,426,925, is for Montana State University’s initiative to create multidisciplinary rail workforce capacity. The 20 percent non-federal match will come from Caltrans, the University of Memphis, Montana State University, and the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, among others. The federal funding for both grants comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congressman Cohen alone among current members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation supported. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Lowering air-polluting emissions while modernizing rail operations is a forward-thinking approach to moving freight. Those operations will require a workforce of the future, trained in modern rail technologies. These grants will propel our region and the nation into a smarter and cleaner rail industry. I’m pleased to see more IIJA funding coming to the district.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-86-million-grant-vanderbilt-university,Congressman Cohen Announces $8.6 Million Grant to Vanderbilt University Intermodal Mobility Consortium,2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today announced that a project he supported at Vanderbilt University will receive a grant of $8,666,053 from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to accelerate integrated multimodal mobility operations in Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga. The consortium will foster collaborative efforts in tracking intermodal transportation issues, enabling efficient data sharing and pooling statewide resources to develop models and strategies. The funding came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congressman Cohen voted for. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Multimodal freight transportation is the future and investments in its efficiencies across Tennessee makes sense. I was pleased to endorse Vanderbilt’s use of advanced technologies and innovation to improve the transportation of goods across our state.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-applauds-transportation-department-response,Congressman Cohen Applauds Transportation Department Response to Mistreatment of Air Travelers with Disabilities,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) $50 million fine against American Airlines for its mistreatment of air travelers who use wheelchairs. Congressman Cohen introduced the Mobility Aids on Board Improve Lives and Empower All (MOBILE) Act in 2023 and was pleased to see parts of the legislation included in a proposed DOT rule in February and codified in the FAA Reauthorization Act in May. Congressman Cohen joined members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last December in writing a letter to Airlines for America (A4A) expressing their dismay over the continued mistreatment of passenger wheelchairs and scooters that had come to light after video of such misuse at Miami International Airport surfaced in the news media. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I applaud DOT’s and Secretary Buttigieg’s righteous stand against the senseless mistreatment of mobility devices by airline and airport personnel. Today’s serious penalty shows that federal officials are aware of and taking seriously the damage done to what are often the only means for some air passengers to get around. This is yet another example of the DOT listening to Congress and looking out for the vulnerable as we attempt to make air travel safer and more convenient for all.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-3-million-grant-memphis-international,Congressman Cohen Announces $3 Million Grant for Memphis International Airport,2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Ranking Member of its Aviation Subcommittee, today announced that the Memphis International Airport will receive $3 million for the reconstruction of a portion of the Terminal Access Road which will allow for the expansion of the terminal building. The work will provide easier access to the front of the airport, including for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passengers, where four lanes will be curb-less. The funding came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congressman Cohen alone among the current Tennessee Congressional Delegation voted for. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This Airport Terminal Program funding will enhance Americans with Disabilities Act access and allow for the expansion of the terminal building at our airport. Memphis International Airport is an economic engine for our entire region. This investment strengthens its ability to attract and serve the flying public.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-school-bus-safety-act,Congressman Cohen Reintroduces the School Bus Safety Act,2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today reintroduced the School Bus Safety Act to implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), including installation of seat belts for every seat and safety measures such as stability control and automatic braking systems. The measure, being introduced during National School Bus Safety Week, would also create a grant program to help school districts modify their school buses to implement the safety specifications. Congressman Cohen first introduced a version of the bill in 2018. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio have introduced a companion measure in the Senate. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “There is no more precious cargo than school-aged children entrusted by their parents for a ride to school. The commonsense measures recommended by the NTSB and called for in this legislation will save young lives. I am pleased to reintroduce this legislation with Senators Duckworth and Brown to make school buses across the country safer while helping financially strapped school districts modify their school bus fleets to meet the new specifications. We’ve seen too many deaths and serious injuries in school bus accidents in Tennessee and elsewhere, and it is past time we act to save young lives.” “Congressman Cohen is a champion for transportation safety, and I applaud his sponsorship of the School Bus Safety Act,” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said. “School buses are often touted as the safest vehicles on our roads, and yet the NTSB continues to investigate crashes that result in preventable fatalities and injuries involving children, adults who accompany them, and other road users. I’m pleased that the legislation introduced by Rep. Cohen would advance longstanding NTSB safety recommendations, such as requiring school buses to have three-point safety belts and collision-avoidance technology, among other vital safety enhancements. Every school bus crash serves as a painful reminder of the cost of inaction. I thank Rep. Cohen for his leadership and look forward to working with Congress to ensure U.S. school buses are as safe as possible. The NTSB will not rest until the number of lives lost to school bus tragedies is ZERO.” The School Bus Safety Act would require the Department of Transportation issue rules requiring all school buses include: A three-point safety belt, which includes a seat belt across a lap as well as a shoulder harness to help protect passengers by restraining them in case of a collision; An Automatic Emergency Braking System, which helps prevent accidents and crashes by detecting objects or vehicles ahead of the bus and braking automatically; An Event Data Recorder (EDR) that can record pre- and post-crash data, driver inputs, and restraint usage when a collision does occur; An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) System that will use automatic computer-controlled braking of individual wheels to assist the driver to remain in control of the vehicle; A Fire Suppression System, which addresses engine fires; and A Firewall that prohibits hazardous quantities of gas or flame to from passing from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2013 to 2022, there were 976 fatal school-transportation-related crashes, and 1,082 people of all ages were killed in those crashes — an average of 108 fatalities per year. Congressman Cohen has been a strong advocate of increasing school bus safety, originally introducing this legislation in September of 2018. The School Bus Safety Act is supported by the National Safety Council, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Center for Auto Safety, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Consumer Reports. Endorsing organization statements: “Every child deserves to get to and from school safely,” said Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “This critical legislation will ensure school buses are equipped with the latest in life-saving technology, including seat belts -- a common-sense solution that keeps kids safe. We commend Rep. Cohen for his leadership and look forward to working with him and his Congressional colleagues to advance this measure and protect our country’s youngest travelers.” “Every child deserves a safe journey to and from school, and no family should endure the heartbreak of losing a child in a preventable crash. Essential protections like three-point seat belts and automatic emergency braking (AEB) should be standard on all school buses to help prevent and reduce the impact of crashes. We are grateful to Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) for championing the School Bus Safety Act in the House of Representatives to ensure vulnerable child passengers are secure.” said Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) “When children are traveling on a school bus, it is imperative that there are commonsense safeguards in place to protect and keep them safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long advocated for needed improvements to school bus safety that can save lives and prevent serious injuries, including seat belts and other safety measures. We applaud Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) for introducing the School Bus Safety Act and call for its swift passage. It is time we enact these long overdue safety measures,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP. “Child safety is the chief concern for parents—during the school day and while traveling to and from school,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association. “PTA supports standards, regulations and features to help keep children safe while they board, exit and ride on school buses, and our association applauds Representative Cohen for introducing the School Bus Safety Act.” “America’s school buses lack much of the essential safety equipment protecting us in our cars every day, which is why the Center for Auto Safety commends Representative Cohen for the reintroduction of the School Bus Safety Act. The School Bus Safety Act would protect schoolchildren with effective seat belts and fire prevention, modernize the school bus fleet with automatic emergency braking and electronic stability control, and put in place better data collection on school bus crashes.” -- Michael Brooks, Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-endorses-oversight-committee-conclusion-trump,Congressman Cohen Endorses Oversight Committee Conclusion that Trump Violated Constitutional Prohibitions with Hotel Payments,2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who led early efforts to find President Trump in violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clauses when Trump was in office, today welcomed the House Oversight Committee’s conclusion that Trump accepted “ethically suspect payments” through his lease of the Trump International Hotel. As early as November 2017, Congressman Cohen cited violations of the Constitution’s emoluments clauses in his H.Res. 621 Articles of Impeachment against Trump. In April 2019, Congressman Cohen led a letter with 40 House members asking Appropriations Committee members to include language prohibiting the use of federal funds at businesses owned by President Trump. In January 2020, Congressman Cohen questioned General Services Administration Administrator Emily Murphy at a hearing on the GSA lease of the “Trump Old Post Office Hotel,” then known as the Trump International Hotel, and questioned other witnesses at a follow-up hearing. Legislatively, starting in 2017 and continuing throughout Donald Trump’s term, Congressman Cohen offered amendments to appropriations bills, expressly blocking federal funds from being used to support Trump Organization properties. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Today’s House Oversight Committee report confirms what we all knew about the grifter-in-chief and his corrupt misuse of office. Trump’s undisguised, brazen and unethical behavior was on display through all four years of his presidency, and was so overt I sought Articles of Impeachment against him soon after he took office. People need to know the character of the man who seeks to return to the Oval Office. The Oversight Committee report is a damning indictment of a corrupt and unqualified fraud.” See Congressman Cohen’s 2019 questioning of hearing witnesses about Trump’s lease of the Old U.S. Post Office Building here and here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-home-lead-safety-tax-credit-act,Congressman Cohen Reintroduces the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act,2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today reintroduced the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act, legislation to help American families cover the cost of eliminating lead from their homes. The Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act would significantly broaden the national response to this public health challenge by providing refundable tax credits for homeowners, landlords, and tenants to remove lead from homes. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The safest place for a child should be his or her own home, but many homes built before 1978, including thousands in Memphis, have lead paint and other potential hazards. Children deserve to grow up free from the permanent harm, including neurological problems, that exposure to lead can cause. This legislation would create a tax credit to provide homeowners the resources they need to address and remove hazards within their homes, and lead to better long term health outcomes.” The legislation, which Congressman Cohen first introduced in 2020, would create tax credits worth up to $4,000 to cover half the cost of abating lead hazards in paint, pipes, or soil. The new tax credits would supplement state and local lead control programs and would be available to offset costs for removing lead from houses built before lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978. Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that can severely compromise the behavioral and cognitive development of children. Despite the widespread contamination of housing stock in the United States, funding for lead abatement programs, such as the Lead Hazard Control Grant Program, have only put a dent in the problem. The Biden-Harris Administration issued a final rule earlier this month requiring the replacement of all lead pipes associated with drinking water systems within 10 years and requiring more rigorous testing of drinking water to prevent lead exposure.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-509000-grant-aglaunch,"Congressman Cohen Announces $509,000 Grant to AgLaunch",2024-10-16,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Memphis-based AgLaunch, a non-profit organization building a national network of diverse farmers, will receive a grant of $509,000 from the Delta Regional Authority’s (DRA’) States Economic Development Assistance Program for an entrepreneurial initiative to foster agricultural innovation. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This DRA investment will modernize agriculture in our region and strengthen the entrepreneurial farmers transitioning to alternative crops and food systems while creating job opportunities in the Delta region where they are so very much needed.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-800000-community-economic-development-grant,"Congressman Cohen Announces $800,000 Community Economic Development Grant",2024-10-16,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the South Memphis Renewal Community Development Corporation (SMRCDC) will receive an $800,000 grant to complete the construction of the 38126 Innovation and Technology Center from the Community Economic Development (CED) Program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services CED program expands employment for low-income communities facing persistent poverty and high unemployment by investing in community development corporations. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This funding for the SMRCDC promises to create new businesses and more than 30 jobs in the area of South Memphis it serves. I look forward to seeing the completion of the Innovation and Technology Center, and the continued success of its efforts.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-ethel-kennedy,Congressman Cohen Remembers Ethel Kennedy,2024-10-10,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) was saddened to learn of the passing of Ethel Kennedy earlier today at the age of 96 and made the following statement: “Ethel Kennedy was the embodiment of grace and purpose. After her husband’s assassination, she carried the Kennedy torch with her daughter Kerry after Teddy passed in 2009. A huge part of our nation’s past has left us, and she will be missed.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-and-senator-ossoff-reintroduce-fresh-food-act,Congressman Cohen and Senator Ossoff Reintroduce the Fresh Food Act,2024-10-04,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today introduced the Fresh Food Act that Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia introduced in the Senate last week. The measure would increase the rehabilitation tax credit for establishing supermarkets in urban and rural food deserts and increase the work opportunity tax credit for these supermarkets to hire local residents, veterans, disadvantaged youth and other workers facing barriers to employment. The bill would also create a tax credit for sales of fresh fruit and vegetables. The bill has the support of food justice and anti-hunger organizations. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “For more than 20 million Americans living in underserved communities such as parts of my district in Memphis and Tipton County, living in a food desert without access to affordable fresh food and vegetables is an unhealthy reality. A lack of healthy food options can contribute to declining health and well-being and may contribute to diet-related illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. The Fresh Food Act addresses this problem with a comprehensive set of credits to incentivize companies to establish grocery stores in underserved urban and rural areas, hire local residents and workers who traditionally face barriers to employment, and sell affordable fresh fruits and vegetables.” Senator Ossoff made the following statement: “No Georgia family should lack access to fresh, healthy food, but too many communities lack grocery stores. That’s why I’m joining Congressman Cohen in introducing the Fresh Food Act, which will support local grocers and farmers in Georgia and nationwide.” Endorsement: “Many Americans live in communities with little or no access to fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and other nutritious staples. The Fresh Food Act will help bring independent grocers into these our nation’s underserved communities and provide them with greater fresh food options and employment opportunities,” said National Grocers Association Chief Government Relations Officer and Counsel Chris Jones. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-statement-after-verdicts-tyre-nichols-case,Congressman Cohen Statement After Verdicts in Tyre Nichols Case,2024-10-04,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) took note of the verdicts in the trial of three Memphis police officers after a they were rendered by a federal court jury Thursday, and made the following statement: “I am pleased that the jury found the officers guilty but was surprised that they weren’t found guilty of the charges that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-114-million-mlgw-july-2023-storm-damage,Congressman Cohen Announces $11.4 Million to MLGW for July 2023 Storm Damage,2024-10-03,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) will receive $11,423,844 for the permanent repair of the electrical distribution system damaged by the straight-line wind storms of July 18-21, 2023. The figure represents the 75 percent federal share of the $15,231,792 in actual damage. Congressman Cohen successfully sought a declaration of Major Disaster from President Biden in the days after the storms that did major damage to Shelby, Tipton, and Henry counties, triggering emergency federal assistance. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Our region has been repeatedly ravaged by severe storms in recent years, and we’re unfortunately seeing it again in a catastrophic way in the wake of Hurricane Helene. I am pleased to know that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is always ready to address these situations. Today’s announcement shows that FEMA is also a reliable partner in reimbursing local entities for the damage done in these storms. With this assistance, MLGW will be prepared to meet local electric power needs.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-expresses-concerns-over-matas-financial-challenges,Congressman Cohen Expresses Concerns Over MATA’s Financial Challenges and Urges Federal Action,2024-10-02,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen, a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, today wrote to Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Polly Trottenberg, and the Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, Veronica Vanterpool, expressing his deep concerns regarding the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s (MATA) severe financial challenges. The Congressman highlighted the urgent need for federal assistance to help stabilize MATA and ensure that it continues to provide reliable transportation services to the residents of Memphis. Congressman Cohen cited MATA’s $60 million deficit, massive layoffs, route reductions and suspension of the trolley service, despite his success in securing historic levels of investment in recent years in major capital upgrades, including electrification of buses and a new bus rapid transit service. The letter reads in part: “The operational and fiscal crisis MATA faces, including a $60 million deficit in the prior fiscal year and persistent deficits over several years, paints a troubling picture of an underfunded and overstretched transit system. This funding gap has already led to dire consequences: layoffs of more than 200 employees and a reduction in fixed routes. These cuts will disproportionately impact low-income and vulnerable populations who rely on MATA as their primary means of transportation. Without immediate intervention, further service reductions could devastate the mobility and economic security of many in the Memphis community… “I am eager to explore how the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) can assist MATA and other similarly challenged transit systems in cities like Memphis. I would appreciate any recommendations on how we can strengthen MATA’s funding sources through existing federal programs or new initiatives. Given your extensive experience as the former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg, I would also greatly value your insights on innovative solutions and best practices that could help improve the sustainability and efficiency of MATA’s operations. “It is particularly disheartening to learn of MATA’s financial struggles after helping secure the most significant federal investment in its nearly 50-year history. This includes $54 million for a new operations and maintenance facility, $22 million for clean electric buses and charging stations, and nearly $64 million for the Memphis Innovation Corridor Bus Rapid Transit project.” See the entire letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-999101-smart-reentry-grant-shelby-county,"Congressman Cohen Announces $999,101 “Smart Reentry” Grant to Shelby County",2024-10-01,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today announced that Shelby County’s Office of Re-Entry will receive a grant of $999,101 from the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide safe, affordable housing and comprehensive services to individuals upon their release from prison. The program is intended to reduce recidivism rates in Memphis and Shelby County by mitigating barriers to housing and employment. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Easing the transition for those previously incarcerated is a proven means to reduce criminality and recidivism. Funding re-entry programs addresses real needs that often go unnoticed or ignored. They lead to better life outcomes for those enrolled in them and lower crime rates for local communities. I am pleased to see the Justice Department investing in this critical, often missing element of true criminal justice reform, and will continue to work toward increased and sustained funding for re-entry programs.” The Justice Department grant follows an investment of $500,000 that Congressman Cohen secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations bill for Lifeline to Success Inc.’s reentry program group house in Frayser.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-enhanced-air-quality-monitoring-south,Congressman Cohen Announces Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring in South Memphis,2024-10-01,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide a $411,000 grant to Shelby County to establish 27 carbon monoxide monitors at five sites in South Memphis. The automated monitors will provide 24/7 real-time reporting of air quality and pollutant concentrations. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Enhancing the monitoring of air quality in South Memphis, where much of our potentially polluting industries reside, makes sense. This EPA investment will provide the kind of transparency residents of the area need to assure they are breathing clean air. Our recent history with a now-closed polluter is evidence enough that we need to be vigilant. I look forward to the swift deployment of these monitors and the peace of mind they will bring.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-commends-biden-harris-emergency-response-hurricane,Congressman Cohen Commends Biden-Harris Emergency Response to Hurricane Helene,2024-09-30,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today commended the Biden-Harris Administration for its immediate and comprehensive response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Virginia. On September 27, shortly after Governor Lee submitted a request for a major disaster declaration, Congressman Cohen joined the Tennessee delegation in urging President Biden to swiftly approve the designation. The Biden Administration responded within hours with an emergency declaration, triggering necessary resources for the affected communities. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA provides direct federal support to states for life saving activities and other emergency protective measures, such as evacuation, sheltering, and search and rescue. On Monday, Congressman assessed the response with this statement: “The President and the Biden-Harris Administration are doing all they can to address the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and its trail of destruction through five southeastern states. The Administration has made states eligible for immediate disaster assistance, which allows FEMA to provide support for urgent disaster response activities. I am saddened by the images from the affected areas and feel for those who have lost their loved ones, homes, businesses, and pets. At a time like this, the country should come together and rally behind a concerted bipartisan response to a national emergency, not find fallacious fault and absurdly cast blame over temporary delays for cynical and petty partisan score-keeping. I joined my Republican Tennessee Congressional colleagues Friday in seeking a disaster declaration. Although the disaster was not in my District, these were Tennesseans and Americans who needed help. Let’s work together and cooperate in our response to this national disaster and forgo the opportunity to divide and mislead people for fleeting partisan gain.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-619000-community-development-institutions,"Congressman Cohen Announces $619,000 Community Development Institutions Fund Award to Memphis-Based River City Capital Investment Corporation",2024-09-27,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Memphis-based River City Capital Investment Corporation will receive $619,000 from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program. The CDFI Program provides monetary awards to invest in and build the capacity of specialized financial institutions called Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), empowering them to grow, achieve organizational sustainability, and contribute to the revitalization of low-income and distressed communities nationwide. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I congratulate the River City Capital Investment Corporation for this recognition of its ongoing community-development potential. Creating a stronger local community development financial institution should result in targeted and tangible investment results.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-33-million-national-park-service-grant,Congressman Cohen Announces $3.3 Million National Park Service Grant to Gooch Park,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Gooch Park, a 10.2-acre greenspace with an outdoor pool, pavilion, and playing fields, will receive a National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy grant of $3,339,000 to make major improvements. The park, one of the first in Memphis designated for African Americans and named for philanthropists Cecil Milton and Boyce Alexander Gooch, who were known for providing scholarships and educational support to West Tennessee colleges, including Rhodes, was dedicated in 1957. In 2022, artist Jamond Bullock painted a mural for the neighborhood pool. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This major investment in Gooch Park will invigorate an already-vibrant North Memphis neighborhood and bring upgrades encouraging recreational activities for the entire neighborhood. I’m pleased to see this federal investment in a historically important neighborhood park.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-bill-lucy,Congressman Cohen Remembers Bill Lucy,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today noted the passing of Memphis native and longtime civil rights and labor leader Bill Lucy, who passed Tuesday at the age of 90. Bill Lucy served for 38 years as the international Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME and co-founded the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Bill Lucy was a hugely influential trade unionist and leader of the civil rights movement, beginning with his critical role in leadership during the Memphis Sanitation Workers strike in 1968, where he was part of the group that came up with the iconic placard message ‘I AM A MAN.’ I have valued his friendship and good counsel over my decades in public life and particularly cherish the William Lucy Award I received for my work on labor issues in Tennessee. Bill Lucy was on the right side of so many issues and will be remembered for his historic efforts advancing labor victories and helping end apartheid. The nation and the world have lost a great leader, and he will be missed.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-votes-continuing-budget-resolution-keep-federal,Congressman Cohen Votes for Continuing Budget Resolution to Keep the Federal Government Operating,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today voted for a continuing appropriations resolution (known as a CR) to keep the government operating beyond the September 30 fiscal year deadline and until December 20. The measure was stripped of Republican poison pill provisions that caused him to vote against last week’s CR. The measure passed this afternoon would not have passed without Democratic member votes. The vote on passage was 341 to 82. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Our job in Congress is to appropriate money and to see that the federal government operates. The threat of a government shutdown was once unheard of but has become a regular occurrence under the Republican majority’s haphazard control of the House. Without the votes of Democrats, Speaker Johnson could not have passed this measure which now assures the continuation of necessary services at appropriate levels without the partisan poison pill provisions Donald Trump was pushing. I look forward to a return to a more disciplined and thoughtful appropriations process after the November elections.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-29-million-assistance-firefighters-grants,Congressman Cohen Announces $2.9 Million Assistance to Firefighters Grants to City of Memphis,2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the City of Memphis will receive two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighter grants totaling $2,945,907. One for $1,460,144, will go for its operations and safety programs. The other, for $1,485,763, will be used to acquire vehicles. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “These grants to the Memphis Fire Department will provide the resources necessary to meet our critical health and safety needs. Upgrading our firefighting equipment will assure our firefighters are working with the modern tools they need.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-delta-region-maternal-care-grant,Congressman Cohen Announces Delta Region Maternal Care Grant,2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a longtime advocate for maternal and prenatal care initiatives, today announced that Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being’s Delta Region Maternal Care Coordination Program will receive a $450,000 grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Our region has the unfortunate distinction of having high infant mortality and maternal mortality rates. Every effort focused on reversing that situation is welcome. I commend Le Bonheur for taking on this important initiative which will improve access to care before and after pregnancy using best practices in delivering services and will, in some cases, save lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-calls-allowing-ukrainian-use-nato-supplied-weapons,Congressman Cohen Calls for Allowing Ukrainian Use of NATO-Supplied Weapons in Russia,2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the House Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today called for allowing NATO-supplied weapons to be used by Ukraine within Russia during a commission hearing on “Russia’s Shadow War on NATO.” In his opening remarks, Congressman Cohen said that, now more than ever, Vladimir Putin “wants to weaken and destabilize the West,” including through the use of disinformation campaigns aimed at interfering in our elections to help Donald Trump. Congressman Cohen also noted that Ukraine is asking to use offensive weapons inside Russia, adding: “and I support their request.” He continued: “I think they need to go forward with offensive weapons and strike into Russia and bring the war home to the Russian people. This is ludicrous – to allow Russia to attack and kill Ukrainians, destroy cultural objects, destroy cities with reckless disregard for life. Hit schools, hit hospitals and senior facilities – and Ukraine is not supposed to go into Russia? That’s crazy. I mean both your arms are tied behind your back and tied behind it, unfortunately, by my government, our government, which is supporting Ukraine -- and we’ve done a lot -- but we’ve been slow in doing it…This war would have been much closer to ending – on Ukraine’s terms, but ending – if we’d have given them those weapons earlier.” See his entire opening statement here. See his questions to the witnesses here. Witnesses at today’s hearing were: Mr. Erkki Tori, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Estonia; Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt, Senior Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania; and Mr. Michael Weiss, Investigative Journalist and Author",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-celebrates-placement-statue-johnny-cash-us-capitol,Congressman Cohen Celebrates Placement of Statue of Johnny Cash in the U.S. Capitol,2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today delivered remarks from the House floor after attending a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center where a statue of Johnny Cash was unveiled. The statue, commissioned by the State of Arkansas, has been placed in the Capitol, along with the statue of Arkansas civil rights activist and journalist Daisy Bates which was unveiled in May. In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said: “Today I attended a marvelous program in Emancipation Hall where the statue of Johnny Cash was placed for time immemorial. Johnny Cash was put in there by the State of Arkansas who earlier placed Daisy Bates in the Capitol. I commend the State of Arkansas for doing that and the outstanding addresses by Arkansas legislators, the governor, and by Roseanne Cash, the daughter of Johnny Cash. “Johnny Cash was born in Arkansas but he came to Memphis to start his musical career. He went to Sun Records and Sam Phillips got him started. He was at Sun Records on the day when Elvis was there, Jerry Lee Lewis was there, and Carl Perkins was there. They put together songs that day that Sam Phillips recorded that was called ‘The Million-Dollar Quartet.’ Johnny Cash was a great singer, a great humanitarian worthy of this honor, and someone we should all remember. A life well-lived and memorialized in the Capitol.” See those remarks here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-urges-faa-vigilance-oversight-boeing,Congressman Cohen Urges FAA Vigilance in Oversight of Boeing,2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, today questioned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker at a hearing on Boeing’s Comprehensive Action Plan. Addressing Boeing and its recent history of accidents and crashes, Congressman Cohen said: “Now that Boeing has begun implementing its Safety and Quality Plan and the FAA has begun conducting its additional oversight, it is time to examine whether promised changes are being made and whether promised improvements are being attained… “For America’s interests, Boeing needs to get its act together.” See the entire opening statement here. In his questions to Whitaker, Congressman Cohen focused on new Boeing management, developments with its reacquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, supply chain challenges, and lessons the company might learn from the experience of competitors Airbus and Embraer. See that line of questions here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-national-statistics-deadly-force,Congressman Cohen Reintroduces the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act,2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today reintroduced the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, requiring the collection of pertinent information in these cases. The 1994 Crime Bill requires the Attorney General to collect information on instances of “excessive” force but the term is difficult to define. Congressman Cohen’s bill would be limited to cases of deadly force. The record of the incidents would include the relevant law enforcement agency, if appropriate; the nature of the deadly force used, including whether a firearm was involved; and a description of non-lethal efforts made before deadly force was used, if any, among other details. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “We know some of their names: Tyre Nichols, George Floyd, Philando Castille, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice and Alton Sterling. Too often, we learn of law enforcement encounters that become deadly, yet there are still no official statistics on these incidents. We are left questioning what happened and what other non-lethal measures should have been taken. And most importantly, why again? “Congress and the American people need to know both how often deadly force is used as well as against whom. Police officers welcome this kind of transparency since it resolves any disputed facts. This information is crucial to know how to help best address the problem. My bill, the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, removes the mystery and will lead to evidence-based solutions to this too-frequent problem.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-13-million-community-oriented-policing,Congressman Cohen Announces $1.3 Million in Community Oriented Policing Services Grants to Memphis and Covington,2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHNGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today announced that the City of Memphis and the City of Covington will receive grants totaling $1,338,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The City of Memphis will receive $963,000 from the COPS Office of Technology and Equipment and the City of Covington will receive $375,000 from the COPS Hiring Program. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Investments in law enforcement technology and personnel make sense when our efforts to fight crime and ensure justice are daily concerns. I’m pleased to see both Memphis and Covington making good use of the progressive programs COPS is known for, and I anticipate good results.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-16-million-grant-uthsc,Congressman Cohen Announces $1.6 Million Grant to UTHSC,2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a grant of $1,645,076 from the National Human Genome Research Institute to build tools for making pangenomes accessible. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am pleased to see the National Institutes of Health investing in this revolutionary medical research on the human genome at our Memphis medical school. The discoveries made with the support of this funding will truly affect our futures in ways we can only just begin to imagine.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-usda-rural-development-grant-9th,Congressman Cohen Announces USDA Rural Development Grant to the 9th Congressional District,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced a $50,000 Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to the MidSouth Development District, based in Shelby County. This funding will be used by the MidSouth Development District to hire a Community Development Specialist to deliver technical assistance in Tipton County, in addition to Fayette and Lauderdale Counties. The Community Development Specialist will provide support by connecting small business owners to available resources and working with local government to identify business needs in the community. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The rural parts of the 9th Congressional District, including parts of Tipton County, are benefitting from substantial investments by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. This grant will provide needed expertise to farmers and businesses. I am pleased to see this funding directed at my constituents in Tipton County.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-applauds-committee-passage-article-one-act,Congressman Cohen Applauds Committee Passage of ARTICLE ONE Act,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today spoke in favor of the Assuring Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act -- and voted to pass it favorably out of committee. The bill is now eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives. The ARTICLE ONE Act rebalances the power of Congress and the Executive branch to permit the President to unilaterally declare a national emergency for up to 30 days. Congress could then extend the emergency declaration for a year. Further extensions would require Congress to act yearly. Congressman Cohen chaired a hearing in the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties on national emergencies in 2019. “If an ‘emergency’ goes on for years and years, it isn’t an emergency; it’s the new normal,” Congressman Cohen said at today’s markup. See his remarks at the bill markup here. The measure passed the Committee by voice vote.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-camera-act,Congressman Cohen Reintroduces the CAMERA Act,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today reintroduced the Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Act (CAMERA). The measure establishes a grant program to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies purchase body-worn cameras, implement body-worn camera programs, and report to Congress on the impact and effectiveness of the use of body-worn cameras. A version of this bill was included in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Over the past several years, the wider availability of video has shined a much-needed light on deadly encounters with law enforcement. Body-worn cameras help provide often critical evidence and can help restore some much-needed trust between police and the communities they serve.” Congressman Cohen first introduced a version of the CAMERA bill in 2017 and it was incorporated into the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in 2021 which passed the House in March of that year.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-singer-songwriter-jd-souther,Congressman Cohen Remembers Singer-Songwriter J.D. Souther,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor today remembering singer-songwriter J.D. Souther, who passed Tuesday at 78. Souther wrote songs covered by the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt and others. In his remarks, Congressman Cohen recalled a living room concert Souther and Jackson Browne held during the Congressman’s first election to Congress in 2006 when they played “New Kid in Town” in his honor. In those remarks, Congressman said in part: “This morning, I woke up to bad news. One of my friends, J.D. Souther…, a great singer-songwriter and an actor to boot, passed away yesterday in New Mexico at the age of 78. J.D. wrote a lot of songs that the Eagles did, Linda Ronstadt did, covered, and performed some of them, too…When I was elected to Congress, he came to Memphis with Jackson Browne to do what I consider probably the greatest fundraiser in history. It was a small house…and the two of them did an hour concert for the few people who could cram into that living room. And J.D. sang ‘New Kid in Town’ about me, saying I’m going to be ‘the new kid in town’ in the Congress…I think about that a lot. “When I got elected, J.D. called me and said, ‘Steve, you’re going to The Show.’ Well, ‘The Show” is major leagues parlance for going to the major leagues, and we were both baseball fans. He was just a great guy. He was smart as hell. In the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He had a great voice…I kind of got him from Warren Zevon who was my pal and Warren kind of willed him to me. Warren was dying and he said, ‘Steve, I’ve got a friend who’s moving to Nashville and you-all should be friends.’ When I met him in Nashville, he said ‘I need to get something out of this and I want to get married. Can you marry me?’ And I could do marriages and I married him at Burt Stein’s house and Rodney Crowell was the only witness. The marriage didn’t take but I did the best job I could. J.D. was my friend. A great American songwriter. He will be missed.” See the entire floor speech here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-915604-grant-uthsc,"Congressman Cohen Announces $915,604 Grant to UTHSC",2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a grant of $915,604 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for research on “Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.” Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I’m always pleased to see one of our prestigious National Institutes of Health investing in research at our Memphis medical school. I’m confident the research this grant supports will lead to important insights, potential therapies and a better outcome for future patients.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-congratulates-kevin-ritz-senate-confirmation-his,Congressman Cohen Congratulates Kevin Ritz on Senate Confirmation of His Appointment to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals,2024-09-16,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) applauded the Senate confirmation of U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and made the following statement: “I have not known of an individual for judicial appointment that has had more superlatives brought to my attention from both Democrats and Republicans. He was president of his high school class. He was a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia and was honored as a student at Georgetown, where he studied for the Foreign Service, and at the University of Virginia’s School of Law, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and won the prestigious James C. Slaughter Honor Award and the Ritter Prize. His conduct as an attorney before the Sixth Circuit has drawn praise from the judges on that Court, one of whose Republican members told me he would be a ‘perfect fit’ for the circuit. I was proud to recommend him to President Biden. I was also proud to recommend Andre Mathis for the Court last year. We now have two outstanding Memphis lawyers on the Sixth Circuit, two outstanding citizens, and two outstanding representatives of our community. “Tennessee having been in a unique situation of not having a Democratic senator during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, I have had the opportunity to recommend judicial nominees from West Tennessee. I pride myself on having submitted only the finest nominees for U.S. Attorney, Federal District Judge, and for the Sixth Circuit. And with Kevin Ritz, I can proudly say I’ve continued that path and have improved our federal judiciary.” Before his tenure in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ritz clerked for Judge Julia S. Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Between college and law school, Mr. Ritz worked for the United States Department of State. Ritz received his J.D. from the University of Virginia, his M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and his B.A. with High Distinction from the University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. He is a graduate of White Station High School.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-mike-cody,Congressman Cohen Remembers Mike Cody,2024-09-16,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) learned of the death of former U.S. Attorney, Tennessee Attorney General and Memphis City Council Member Mike Cody on Monday and made the following statement: “I knew Mike Cody all of my adult life. He was a highly respected attorney and public official, and was scrupulously honest. He did admirable service for Memphis, Tennessee and the United States. As Mr. Burch would say, ‘the hair of the hypocrite was not seen about him.’ I extend my sincere condolences to his wife Suzanna; his children Jane, Mia and Michael; his extended family, and his many friends. His was a life well-lived.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-cohen-and-mast-lead-30-members-letter-regarding-taiwan,Congressmen Cohen and Mast Lead 30 Members on Letter Regarding Taiwan Strait,2024-09-16,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, and Brian Mast, a Member of the Subcommittee, today led 30 bipartisan Members of Congress in a letter to Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, expressing concern over the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) recent unilateral alteration of flight routes near Taiwan. The Members urged the ICAO to encourage the PRC to engage in immediate consultation with Taiwan in an effort to prevent a catastrophe. The letter reads in part: “We write to express our concern regarding recent actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to unilaterally alter the M503 flight route and expand operations on related flight paths without prior consultation with the Civil Aviation Administration of Taiwan. Such irresponsible action not only violates established international civil aviation protocols but also poses significant risks to the safety and stability of the region's airspace… “Given recent tensions in Cross-Strait Relations, these changes by the CAAC are irresponsible and introduce unnecessary risk in the airspace over the Taiwan Strait. Because civilian air routes and military movements occur in similar regions, and because civilian aircraft may need to deviate from the nominal M503 flight path to reroute around weather or for other reasons, poor communication or misidentification of aircraft could have tragic consequences… “We request that ICAO urge the PRC to immediately cease any unilateral actions that may jeopardize the safety and stability of the airspace in the Taiwan Strait region and to promptly engage in constructive consultation with Taiwan before tragedy strikes.” See the entire letter here. The letter was cosigned by Representatives Allred, Armstrong, Brownley, Carson, Cherfilus-McCormick, Collins, Costa, Fry, Gimenez, Gottheimer, Green (TN), Houlahan, Kiggans, Lieu, Molinaro, Moore (UT), Moylan, Owens, Palmer, Rose, Salazar, Sánchez, Smith (NJ), Titus, Van Drew, Wagner, Waltz, Williams (NY), Wilson (FL), and Yakym.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-21-million-national-science-foundation,Congressman Cohen Announces $2.1 Million in National Science Foundation Grants to the University of Memphis and St. Jude,2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Memphis and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive grants from the National Science Foundation for a project focused on “Racial Equity in STEM Education.” St. Jude will receive $1,510,106 for its work on the project under the direction of Katherine Ayers, manager of the Cancer Education Center, and Dedric McGhee, a clinical project manager. The University of Memphis will receive $659,341 for its part of the project under the direction of Assistant Professor of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership Olayinka Mohorn-Mintah. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am pleased to see St. Jude and the University of Memphis working together to address equity in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). This project supports research on projects investigating how considerations of racial equity factor into improvements in STEM education and the development of a technically proficient workforce. I congratulate St. Jude and the University, and the research grant recipients, for this prestigious recognition.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-remembers-senator-jim-sasser,Congressman Cohen Remembers Senator Jim Sasser,2024-09-11,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) learned of the passing of former Tennessee Senator Jim Sasser today and made the following statement: “Jim Sasser, a Memphis native, was a great three-term Tennessee Senator and, as Chairman of the Budget Committee, helped direct significant federal funding to Tennessee. As Ambassador to China, he was largely responsible for the introduction of Chinese pandas to the Memphis Zoo, one of the few zoos in the U.S. honored with that distinction. Jim and Mary were a wonderful couple who provided invaluable service to our state. I extend my sincere condolences to Mary, his son Gray, his daughter Elizabeth, his extended family and his many friends. He led a remarkable life, served Tennessee with distinction, and will be missed.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-cancer-research-grant-st-jude-9,Congressman Cohen Announces Cancer Research Grant to St. Jude,2024-09-06,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a $601,250 grant from the National Cancer Institute for a project entitled “Discovering the mechanisms underlying oncogenesis by ZFTA-RELA and pinpointing therapeutic targets.” Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am always pleased to see the National Cancer Institute supporting St. Jude’s ongoing mission to improve therapies and save lives. St. Jude’s record is world-renown and this grant will help contribute to future successes.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-expresses-concern-about-russian-disinformation,Congressman Cohen Expresses Concern about Russian Disinformation Efforts to Again Influence U.S. Presidential Campaign,2024-09-05,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today expressed concern at a Department of Justice finding that a Russian disinformation campaign is again seeking to boost Donald Trump’s prospects in the presidential race this year and has used a Tennessee-based company to spread its pro-Russian English-language propaganda videos on YouTube, X, Instagram, and TikTok. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Putin said today he favors Kamala Harris, clearly a false and misleading statement designed to confuse American voters. Putin said he was not going to invade Ukraine the day before he invaded Ukraine. He said he was still friends with Wagner Group leader Vevgeny Prigozhin the day before his plane fell out of the sky. He is as untrustworthy as Trump.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-131-million-safe-streets-all-program,Congressman Cohen Announces $13.1 Million from the Safe Streets for All Program,2024-09-03,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today announced that the City of Memphis will receive $13,188,000 from the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program to redesign the intersection at Lamar Avenue, Kimball Avenue, and Pendleton Street, identified as the most dangerous crossroads in the city. The funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that he alone among the current members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation voted for. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This project and all the Complete Streets initiatives we undertake in our region, should be named for city planner Tommy Pacello, who attended my first Complete Streets roundtable and was totally committed to Complete Streets and a new way of looking at infrastructure based on the safety for all using our roadways. I am pleased to see that this dangerous intersection will be ‘completely’ redesigned. Tommy would have welcomed this significant improvement in public safety.” Congressman Cohen was an ardent supporter of this project and lent his support through both a letter of support and through advocacy with the Department of Transportation. Congressman Cohen introduced a new version of his Complete Streets Act with Senator Ed Markey in January. The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund regional, local, and Tribal planning, demonstration, and construction projects to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. In the current round of SS4A funding, DOT is providing $1 billion for 354 projects nationwide. The City of Memphis is receiving its award to make significant improvements on a high-injury corridor at a six-way intersection that is the number-one location for crash frequency in the City. This complex intersection at Lamar Avenue, Kimball Avenue, and Pendleton Street has a confusing array of signals, fading and disjointed pedestrian connectivity, and little guidance on appropriate movements. To address these safety issues, the City will close one of the three intersecting roads, which will improve safety while simplifying intersection geometry and operations, and install a new traffic signal and pedestrian facilities. The intersection enhancements will increase the safety of drivers and of vulnerable road users who access nearby Cherokee Park, a 15-acre park with a playground, ball field, basketball court, pavilion, and fitness trail. The project also includes supplemental planning and demonstration activities to deploy quick-build projects, develop a public education campaign with local schools, conduct a near-miss camera pilot program, and implement crash data analysis technology. In 2023, the City of Memphis received a SS4A grant of $640,000 for preparation of a comprehensive “Safe Streets for All” plan. See that release here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-seeks-revision-irs-policy-eligibility-employer,Congressman Cohen Seeks Revision of IRS Policy on Eligibility for Employer-Provided Health Insurance for Variable Hour Employees,2024-09-03,2024,2024-09,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today led 17 Congressional colleagues in a letter to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Daniel Werfel seeking revision of a rule regarding employer-provided health insurance. The current rule provides more than a year for employers to assess if new employees are considered full-time, depriving many who would otherwise be eligible for coverage. “Some companies are scheduling workers for full-time work, but classifying them as ‘variable hour employees’ to avoid providing them benefits,” said Congressman Cohen. “The IRS should update this rule to ensure that workers are not being undervalued and exploited.” The letter reads in part: “As the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) employer health insurance mandate has been in place for more than ten years, we are writing to express concerns with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Rule 4980H that is allowing employers to avoid providing health insurance for employees that would normally be considered full-time workers for more than a year. We request that you revisit this rule and urge that you implement a system to track the number of employers using Rule 4980H and the number of employees who are subsequently being affected.” See the entire letter here. The letter was co-signed by Representatives Lloyd Doggett, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette Clarke, Donald Davis, Dwight Evans, Raúl Grijalva, Hank Johnson, Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Dean Phillips, Terri Sewell, Shri Thanedar, Rashida Tlaib, Nydia Velazquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Maxine Waters.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-11-million-cancer-research-grant-st-jude,Congressman Cohen Announces $1.1 Million Cancer Research Grant to St. Jude,2024-08-30,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive an “Outstanding Investigator” grant of $1,110,000 from the National Cancer Institute for research into the mechanism of regulated cell death under the direction of Dr. Douglas R. Green, who holds the Peter C. Doherty Endowed Chair of Immunology at the hospital. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I congratulate St. Jude and Dr. Green on this significant grant award and for the work they are doing improving outcomes and saving lives. I am always pleased to see one of our National Institutes of Health investing in the ongoing work of our premier children’s research hospital.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-23-million-early-head-start-grant-porter-0,Congressman Cohen Announces $2.3 Million Early Head Start Grant to Porter-Leath,2024-08-29,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Porter-Leath Inc. will receive a grant of $2,384,972 from the Administration for Children and Families Office of Head Start to operate its Early Head Start programs in Shelby County. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I’m pleased that Porter-Leath will be receiving this Head Start funding to help ensure children in our community will be ready for the classroom and the future. Head Start provides essential preparation and needed skills for Shelby County children so that they are academically and socially ready to succeed in an increasingly complex world. Early Head Start programs provide these essential skills to our younger children, making sure they are ready for kindergarten and elementary school. This continued funding is an investment in our community, its children and our future.” Porter-Leath has served the Memphis community for more than 160 years, offering resources to at-risk children and their families. The Administration of Children and Families partners with local providers to address and respond to the needs of vulnerable families, while the Office of Head Start allocates grant funding to nonprofit and for-profit agencies that offer Head Start services. Both organizations emphasize inclusive and holistic early development programs to better communities across the United States.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-462500-grant-st-jude,"Congressman Cohen Announces $462,500 Grant to St. Jude",2024-08-29,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $462,500 for research targeting ribonucleoprotein assemblies from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am always pleased to see one of our National Institutes of Health investing in critical research at our premier children’s research hospital with the goal of improving therapies and saving lives. This work on cellular-level research on gene expression will advance our understanding in this important field.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-national-endowment-humanities-grant,Congressman Cohen Announces National Endowment for the Humanities Grant Supporting Sports History Research,2024-08-27,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Aram Goudsouzian, the Bizot Family Professor of History at the University of Memphis, will receive a $60,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant underwriting research for his new book, The Sports Page: Writers, Athletes and the Challenges of the Sixties. The book will look at how American sports writers and sports culture were affected by the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of televised sports from the 1950s to the 1970s. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I congratulate Professor Goudsouzian on being awarded this prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities grant to pursue his book on sports and sports coverage during the Civil Rights era. I also look forward to reading it once it is completed.” Professor Goudsouzian, a specialist in 20th century American history, is the author of five previous books, including, most recently, The Men and the Moment: The Election of 1968 and the Rise of Partisan Politics in America (2019).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-1-million-epa-grant-address-chronic-dumping,Congressman Cohen Announces $1 Million EPA Grant to Address Chronic Dumping,2024-08-23,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the City of Memphis will receive a $1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program to develop a model program to address chronic dumping in distressed neighborhoods. The funding is intended to address dumping in the North Memphis neighborhoods of Klondike, Binghampton and Frayser and the South Memphis neighborhood of Whitehaven. The program funding comes from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that only Congressman Cohen in the current Tennessee Congressional delegation voted for. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Chronic dumping in the Klondike, Binghampton, Frayser and Whitehaven neighborhoods has been a public health and aesthetic issue for some time. Cleanups are expensive, so I’m pleased this EPA investment will begin to reverse the problem and lead to a better quality of life for residents.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-lung-research-grant-uthsc,Congressman Cohen Announces Lung Research Grant to UTHSC,2024-08-22,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will receive a grant of $615,455 to study eosinophils – a type of white blood cell – and antibacterial immunity in the lungs. The funding comes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am always pleased to see one of the National Institutes of Health underwriting medical research at our medical school. The work supported by this grant is sure to result in insights and understandings that will improve patient outcomes and save lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-211-million-us-navy-contract-university,Congressman Cohen Announces $21.1 Million U.S. Navy Contract with the University of Memphis to Develop an Unmanned Systems Degraded Environment Facility,2024-08-19,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Memphis will receive U.S. Navy funding of $21,184,191 over 48 months to develop an Unmanned Systems Degraded Environment Facility for testing drones in complex and controllable airflow patterns. The funding was awarded based on competitive bids solicited in 2022 and will produce a facility for testing unmanned vehicles and Naval simulators under degraded visual conditions. Most of the work on the project (82 percent) will be conducted in Memphis; other parts of the project will be performed in Tucson, Arizona; Orlando, Florida; and Columbia, Missouri. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “As the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation, I have long supported the University of Memphis’ headlong leap into the unmanned aerial technologies of the future. This Navy contract will demonstrate the University’s critical national role in developing and testing these technologies, while helping create the cutting-edge aviation workforce of the mid- and late-21st century. I congratulate the University on this prestigious contract award.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-notes-passing-phil-donahue,Congressman Cohen Notes the Passing of Phil Donahue,2024-08-19,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) noted the passing of television talk show host and civic activist Phil Donahue on Sunday at the age of 88, and made the following statement: “Phil Donahue did so much for St. Jude. The husband of Marlo Thomas and son-in-law of Danny Thomas, he was a strong advocate for St. Jude’s mission. I extend my condolences to Marlo, his extended family, and his many friends and fans. He will be missed.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-university-memphis-grant-study,Congressman Cohen Announces University of Memphis Grant to Study the Transportation Challenges of Future Blue Oval City Workers,2024-08-14,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the University of Memphis and Professor of Civil Engineering Dr. Sabya Mishra will receive a $75,000 grant to study the transportation challenges facing Ford’s future Blue Oval City employees from the National Science Foundation. The Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) Stage One project will look at the need for efficient public transit systems, including fixed-line buses and on-demand micro-transit services, meeting strict arrival times. Congressman Cohen submitted a letter of support for this project earlier this year. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Understanding the transportation needs of the future Blue Oval City workforce is a critical element of the project’s success. I congratulate the University and Dr. Mishra for being awarded this prestigious grant award for such forward-thinking and innovative research benefitting our entire region. I’m pleased to have supported such an important endeavor for our region.” The project is a response to the Civic Innovation Challenge Program and is a collaboration between the National Science Foundation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Energy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-515504-grant-st-jude,"Congressman Cohen Announces $515,504 Grant to St. Jude",2024-08-13,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a $515,504 grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to study yeast transcription. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “St. Jude research scientists are always making discoveries that lead to better therapies and, often, cures. I am pleased to see this investment in research at our premier children’s research hospital.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-seeks-fairness-jordan-chiles-olympic-bronze-medal,Congressman Cohen Seeks Fairness for Jordan Chiles in Olympic Bronze Medal Dispute,2024-08-13,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Li Li Leung, President and CEO of USA Gymnastics, expressing his support and appreciation for their efforts to have Jordan Chiles’ Bronze Medal restored for her performance in the Women’s Floor Exercise. The letter reads in part: “I write to express my support and appreciation for your effort to restore Jordan Chiles’ Olympic Bronze Medal for the Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise. I have been watching the Olympics closely since 1960, and these games were some of the most inspiring and heartwarming ever. After such a successful games, it is deeply disappointing for this injustice to be the last, sour taste of Paris. “When weighing the equities at stake, the miscalculation of Ms. Chiles’ score and when an inquiry about this issue was raised on her behalf, the conclusion seems obvious. The rules and procedures should be structured to promote fair play, not to protect against judging mistakes. Further, it is preposterous that an arbitrator could refuse to reconsider a very recent wrongfully decided case in the face of ‘conclusive evidence.’ The Paris Olympics was a wonderful event, and I am disheartened that, in its closing, we are discussing this injustice rather than Tom Cruise, as Ethan Hunt, racing off to Los Angeles for the Games in 2028. “I fully support and commend you on your vigorous advocacy on behalf of Ms. Chiles and all those who strive and compete. If I can be helpful in this endeavor, please do not hesitate to reach out.” See the entire letter here. Congressman wrote on Monday to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) raising the same issues. See that letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-135-million-memphis-international-airport,Congressman Cohen Announces $13.5 Million for Memphis International Airport,2024-08-12,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will invest $13,526,378 in the de-icing facility at Memphis International Airport (MEM) completed in December of 2022 with a dedication ceremony attended by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for MEM will reimburse costs for the deicing facility and pay for airfield signage and the reconstruction of the apron and a terminal. This fourth round of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, totaling $363 million nationwide, will fund a variety of projects such as planning, airport safety improvements, airport development, and airport noise compatibility grants. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The Memphis International Airport is an economic engine for our region and investments in its improvement are critical to our continuing to be a regional transportation crossroads and major international freight hub. This further investment in making MEM reliable during all seasons of the year ensures our success.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-250000-grant-memphis-brooks-museum-art,"Congressman Cohen Announces $250,000 Grant to Memphis Brooks Museum of Art",2024-08-08,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will receive a $250,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to accommodate its move to a new facility on the Memphis riverfront. The grant is being matched with $429,469 from other supporters. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Our Memphis riverfront is becoming a showcase attraction and a highlight for visitors. The new Brooks on the bluff will contribute to that in a significant manner. The Brooks has been a cultural attraction in Memphis for generations. The decision has been made to build a new, modern museum with views of the river and it’s good that the Institute of Museum and Library Services is making the transition affordable.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-epa-grant-shelby-county-air-quality-sensors,Congressman Cohen Announces EPA Grant to Shelby County for Air Quality Sensors in Low-Income Communities,2024-08-08,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Shelby County will receive a $7,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for air quality sensors in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The funding for the grant came from the Inflation Reduction Act that Congressman Cohen voted for. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Shelby County has a well-known history of air pollution in its low-income neighborhoods, illustrated recently by the threat caused by ethylene oxide at a plant that has now been closed. This funding will address specific neighborhood concerns and is a smart investment in the health of our people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-cohen-and-kustoff-announce-major-expansion-west-tennessee,Congressmen Cohen and Kustoff Announce Major Expansion of the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery,2024-08-08,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9) and David Kustoff (TN-8) today announced that the state of Tennessee will receive a grant of $5,896,203 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expand the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on Forest Hill Irene Road. The state will also be reimbursed for the $4,095,510 cost of fabricating and delivering burial receptacles used for the project. The grant will fund 6,470 pre-placed crypts, 880 columbarium niches, landscaping and irrigation. Congressmen Cohen and Kustoff voted for the appropriations law that funded the grant. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Expanding the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery with federal funds is the right thing to do considering the needs and expectations of our veterans and their families. It will help to ensure that veterans who want their final resting place to be with their brothers and sisters in arms have that wish honored.” Congressman Kustoff made the following statement: “Our service members sacrifice so much to protect our nation and defend our freedom. We have an obligation to take care of our veterans in life and in death. I am pleased to see this funding go towards honoring our nation’s heroes.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-three-national-science-foundation-grants-0,Congressman Cohen Announces Three National Science Foundation Grants to the University of Memphis,2024-08-02,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that two University of Memphis professors will receive $525,000 in grants from the National Science Foundation. Thomas Goebel, an assistant professor at the University’s Center for Earthquake Research and Information, will receive grants of $425,000 and $50,000 for seismic research projects. Jessica Jennings, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, will receive $50,000 to study improved tissue regeneration. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I congratulate Professors Goebel and Jennings, and the University, on being awarded these prestigious National Science Foundation grants. The University of Memphis is known as a research center and these investments in research on earthquakes and tissue regeneration will bolster that reputation while increasing our understanding and improving lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-police-training-and-independent-review,Congressman Cohen Reintroduces Police Training and Independent Review Act,2024-08-02,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today reintroduced the Police Training and Independent Review Act. The measure would require enrollees at law enforcement academies to receive sensitivity training on ethics and racial bias, cultural diversity, and police interaction with the people with disabilities, those in a mental health crisis, and new immigrants. It would also require independent investigations and prosecutions of law enforcement officers in cases where one or more of the alleged offenses involves an officer’s use of deadly force in the course of carrying out his or her official duties. A companion measure is being introduced in the Senate by Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The recent killing of Sonya Massey inside her home near Springfield, Illinois, has brought renewed attention to how too many police encounters turn deadly. In my community, the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of the Memphis police prompted protests and prosecutions. The names of Sonya Massey and Tyre Nichols have been added to the infamous injustice perpetrated against Philando Castille, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice and Alton Sterling: all individuals who were killed during interactions with law enforcement. And those are just the cases that made national news. Further, we know a disproportionate number of those killed are African Americans. To regain the trust of the people, we must ensure that our law enforcement officers have the proper training and the justice system treats all equally.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-475020-grant-st-jude,"Congressman Cohen Announces $475,020 Grant for St. Jude",2024-08-01,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a $475,020 grant to study aspects of red blood cell production from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “This important research underwritten by one of our National Institutes of Health will make important discoveries critical in improving outcomes and saving lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-celebrates-release-journalists-and-paul-whelan,Congressman Cohen Celebrates Release of Journalists and Paul Whelan Unjustly Imprisoned in Russia,2024-08-01,2024,2024-08,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s 56-nation Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners, today welcomed news that three journalists and Paul Whelan, wrongly detained and imprisoned by Russian authorities on trumped-up charges, have been released in a prisoner exchange. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I have been working for the release of Vladimir Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan since they were first falsely accused and detained for doing their jobs. I applaud the efforts of President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and all those who have worked tirelessly for today’s result. “Vladimir Kara-Murza has testified before our Helsinki Commission and recommended me for the post of OSCE-PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners when I was appointed by then-President of the OSCE-PA Margareta Cederfelt in July 2022. He said he had to return to Russia, despite having been twice poisoned in assassination attempts, because he is a Russia politician working to end Putin’s despotic regime. In every opportunity I have, I mention what he told me: that the worst fear of a political prisoner is to be forgotten. I am pleased to see that he will be returned to his wife Evgenia and their children and to his critical work to restore freedom and democracy in his country. “Evan and Alsu, also falsely detained for doing their work as journalists, will now be restored to their families and colleagues. I commend their bravery and welcome them home.” “Paul Whelan, an American Marine, was falsely accused of spying and has been in custody since December of 2018. I welcome his release.” Background: Vladimir Kara-Murza, a dual British-Russian national and a harsh critic of Vladimir Putin’s corrupt regime and the war in Ukraine, has been serving a 25-year sentence for treason after he was detained in April of 2022. A regular political columnist for The Washington Post and other news organizations, he is a leader of opposition to Putin and his oligarchs. Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has been serving a 16-year sentence after a false conviction for spying for the United States. He was detained in March of 2023. Alsu Kurmasheva, a Prague-based journalist for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, was serving six and a half years after being detained while visiting her Russian mother in October of 2023. In addition to Gershkovich, Kara-Murza, Whelan, and Kurmasheva, Ilya Yashin, Andrei Pivovarov, Oleg Orlov, Alexandra Skochilenko, Lilia Chanysheva, Ksenia Fadeeva, Rico Krieger, Kevin Lik, Demuri Voronin, Vadim Ostanin, Patrick Schobel, and Herman Moyzhes were released today. They include five Germans and eight Russians, some associated with martyred dissident Alexei Navalny’s movement. In exchange, Russia received eight prisoners held by the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Norway. The U.S. Helsinki Commission held a hearing on June 13, 2024 exploring steps that can be taken to stop the practice of taking political prisoners and calling for the release of all unjustly detained individuals. The hearing was chaired by Ranking Member Cohen and attended by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya whose husband is being unjustly detained.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-367500-grant-shelby-county-board-education,"Congressman Cohen Announces $367,500 Grant to the Shelby County Board of Education",2024-07-29,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Shelby County Board of Education will receive a $367,500 grant to improve adolescent health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “Students who stay healthy in school perform better and live more fulfilling and successful lives. I am pleased to see the CDC investing in the health of our adolescents.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-endorses-president-bidens-us-supreme-court-reforms,Congressman Cohen Endorses President Biden’s U.S. Supreme Court Reforms,2024-07-29,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today endorsed President Biden’s proposed U.S. Supreme Court reforms. The proposal includes an 18-year term limit for members, a binding code of ethics like the one established for all other federal judges, and a reversal of the disastrous presidential immunity doctrine adopted earlier this month by the conservative supermajority. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I wholeheartedly endorse President Biden’s proposed reforms for the U.S. Supreme Court and his proposed ‘No One is Above the Law’ Constitutional Amendment. I have been advocating these ideas for a long time as the Supreme Court has lost its legitimacy and the public’s trust, especially with the ‘president is a king’ decision. This ultra-conservative court does not represent mainstream opinion on many matters, especially fundamental rights as demonstrated in the Dobbs ruling. The Supreme Court must be a creature of its time. Term limits will keep it current. No president should be above the law and this month’s ruling granting presidents immunity from prosecution was a sharp divergence from historical precedent and common sense. Finally, as the outrageous conduct of Justices Alito and Thomas has demonstrated, some meaningful brake on unethical behavior must be imposed. I look forward to working with the Judiciary Committee to advance these reforms.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-honors-late-congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee,"Congressman Cohen Honors the Late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Questions BOP Director in Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing",2024-07-25,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — This week, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, questioned Director of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Colette Peters about the Bureau’s operations and the process of reentry for incarcerated individuals. In his statement before questioning the witness, Congressman Cohen paid tribute to the work of late Subcommittee Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee: “She was a dynamic figure that was one-of-a-kind. She was a force that soaked up enough information to help her people, and she did a marvelous job in Congress . . . She will be missed.” Click here to watch Rep. Cohen’s remarks regarding former Subcommittee Chair Sheila Jackson Lee. Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, who passed away last Friday, was the Representative for the 18th district of Texas, and was the first female and first African American Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime and Federal Government Surveillance. During the hearing, Congressman Cohen inquired about how the BOP supports incarcerated individuals' reentry into the community. Specifically, he asked Director Peters about the importance of transportation assistance and access to government-issued identification. They also discussed how to establish new reentry programs and the expansion of compassionate release. Throughout his remarks, Congressman Cohen expressed the importance of support for individuals within the prison system to reduce recidivism saying, “They need something. They need help, so they do not recommit crimes when they are released.” Click here to watch Rep. Cohen’s full questioning of BOP Director Colette Peters",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-members-cohen-larsen-introduce-bill-make-airlines-more,"Ranking Members Cohen, Larsen Introduce Bill to Make Airlines More Resilient Against Disruptions",2024-07-25,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, and Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-01), Ranking Member of the full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement after introducing the Ensuring Airline Resiliency to Reduce Delays and Cancellations Act. The new bill would require airlines to develop operational resiliency plans that ensure adequate preparedness for future flight disruptions, like those stemming from the CrowdStrike global outage experienced last week. ""Commercial air travel is vital for working people and middle-class families who rely on it for their livelihoods and personal lives,” Ranking Member Cohen said. “The recent wave of Delta flight cancellations underscores the urgent need for better operational resiliency in our airlines. Our bill will ensure that airlines have robust strategies in place to prevent and limit future disruptions and protect passengers from schedule changes that can cost time and money. We are committed to holding airlines accountable, safeguarding the interests of travelers across the nation, and ensuring an incident of this magnitude does not affect flying passengers in the future."" “Last week’s technology meltdown left thousands of flights cancelled and thousands more families and travelers stranded at airports across the country,” Ranking Member Larsen said. “The flying public deserves a safe, smooth, and worry-free travel experience, and the airlines were unable to provide that. By requiring airlines to enhance their operational resiliency plans, this legislation ensures airlines will be thinking ahead and better prepared for future large-scale disruptions like last week’s outage. The airlines can and must do better.” Click here to read the bill text. Click here for a fact sheet on the bill.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cohen-larsen-stanton-and-ti-democrats-send-letter-delta-air-lines,"Reps. Cohen, Larsen, Stanton and T&I Democrats Send Letter to Delta Air Lines Regarding Handling of Mass Flight Disruptions",2024-07-25,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation Steve Cohen (D-TN), Vice Ranking Member of the Committee Greg Stanton (D-AZ) and 18 Democratic Committee Members sent a letter to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian expressing concerns over the airline’s handling of the extensive flight disruptions caused by the recent CrowdStrike global technology outage. “Families and travelers were unexpectedly stranded at airports across the country and Delta Air Lines’ insufficient customer response and ongoing operational failures—including more than 6,700 cancelled flights—are unacceptable,” the Members wrote. “We recognize that the cascading impacts of the global outage were not exclusive to your airline, but Delta continued to experience such significant system challenges after other air carriers mostly recovered. The traveling public expects and deserves better.” “Decisive actions must be taken to recover Delta’s operations and restore Americans’ confidence in the reliability of our aviation system,” the Members continued. “We expect Delta to fully comply with any federal investigations or audits into the airlines’ handling of the disruption to flights resulting from the recent global technology outage.” The members also highlighted provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that require any passengers experiencing these kinds of extreme flight delays or cancellations to be made whole and requested a detailed response describing Delta’s operational and customer service challenges. To read the full letter, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-secures-authorizations-tn-9-infrastructure-and,Congressman Cohen Secures Authorizations for TN-9 Infrastructure and Environmental Projects in the 2025 Water Resources Development Act,2024-07-24,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday night, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) voted to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (H.R. 8812) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would authorize and fund U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program projects to improve ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and more across the United States These projects are essential to preserving and growing local economies, protecting our environment, and maintaining quality of life. WRDA was passed in the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 359-13, and it included provisions Representative Cohen secured that will benefit our growing economy and natural habitats in Memphis and TN-9. ""I'm proud to have secured key authorizations in the Water Resources Development Act that will boost our economy and protect our natural habitats,"" said Congressman Cohen. ""From ensuring regular dredging at Pidgeon Harbor that will support local jobs and growing economic opportunity to advancing the Hatchie-Loosahatchie Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, these projects are vital for the future of Memphis and TN-9. This funding will strengthen our infrastructure, safeguard our environment, and enhance the quality of life for our communities.” The House-passed WRDA bill includes support Representative Cohen secured for several important projects that will benefit economic activity and environmental protection in TN-9, including: The Dredging of Pidgeon Harbor at Pidgeon Industrial Park — The bill includes Congressman Cohen’s provision to include Pidgeon Harbor in the Army Corps’ Operation and Maintenance General Budget for regular dredging maintenance. This update to WRDA is essential to the harbor’s ongoing operation and vital for the manufacturing, logistics, and other companies that rely on the harbor to move and receive goods. Dredging at Pidgeon Harbor will help support 500 local jobs—including at Nucor Steel, the nation’s largest steel producer—and is projected to have an economic impact of $1.2 billion. Protecting Natural Habitats Along the Lower Mississippi River — The bill also includes Congressman Cohen’s provision to authorize the Hatchie-Loosahatchie Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, which will showcase a comprehensive approach to managing Lower Mississippi River habitats and implementing restoration on a systemic scale. Covering a 39-mile stretch of the Mississippi River near Memphis and approximately 146,000 acres, these restoration measures will provide important ecosystem services for surrounding communities, including clean air and water, invasive species control, flood control, pollination, and recreation. The bill also included various policy requests authored by Congressman Cohen such as provisions related to preventing the U.S. Army Corps from using remote operation activities at a navigation or hydroelectric power generating facility unless under specified conditions, offsetting costs to the Mississippi River, and making permanent a 2020 provision that directed the Secretary to implement a pilot program for carrying out continuing authority projects in small or disadvantaged communities at 100% federal costs. Now that the bill has been passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, it will await further consideration by the U.S. Senate. Click here to learn more about the FY 2025 Water Resources Development Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/114-million-disaster-relief-headed-memphis-thanks-congressman-cohens,$11.4 Million in Disaster Relief Headed to Memphis Thanks to Congressman Cohen’s Efforts,2024-07-22,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $11,423,826 to Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) to support the repair and restoration of the city’s electrical power distribution facilities that sustained damages following a severe band of storms in June 2023. The new federal grant award represents 75% of the anticipated total cost of the project. ""I encouraged Governor Lee to seek a Federal Disaster Declaration from President Biden immediately following the severe storms that hit Memphis in late June of 2023, and I’m pleased to see that effort continuing to pay off for Memphis and TN-9,"" said Congressman Cohen. ""This disaster relief will ensure that thousands of people and families in our district have a reliable power supply and will bolster our infrastructure, so we’re better prepared for future emergencies and disruptions."" Congressman Cohen requested federal assistance from FEMA to address MLGW’s issues that were created by the multi-day storm in late June of 2023, which left thousands of residents without electrical power and caused structural damages to various MLGW facilities. According to MLGW, it was the 6th worst storm in Memphis history. This significant investment underscores the federal commitment to enhancing infrastructure resilience and ensuring reliable power supply to the citizens of Memphis. The funds will be instrumental in repairing damage and upgrading the electrical grid, strengthening the community’s ability to withstand future emergencies and disruptions. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-statement-president-bidens-decision-bow-out,Congressman Cohen Statement on President Biden’s Decision to Bow Out of Presidential Race,2024-07-21,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MEMPHIS, TN — Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced his decision to bow out of the Presidential race. “I supported Joe Biden in his Presidential bid in 2020 and I’ve supported him ever since,” said Congressman Cohen. “He did what he said he would do, and he defeated an incumbent President who flouts our laws. Joe Biden has served our nation with purpose, skill, and grace. His presidency has been the most impactful since that of President Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society.” “President Biden has used his great legislative skills to deliver phenomenal policy to benefit the American people: the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the PACT Act for veterans, the first major gun safety bill in decades, and the American Rescue Plan, to name just a few,” Congressman Cohen continued. “He ushered our country out of a terrible pandemic and made the United States a leader again on the world stage with his strong support of NATO, funding for Ukraine, and negotiating peace in the Middle East with a cease fire agreement that looks very promising. President Biden has always chosen those of impeccable character to serve our nation, and he made diversity a priority with the first minority and female Vice President, the first Black female Supreme Court Justice, the first Black Secretary of Defense, and the first Black female United Nations Ambassador from the U.S., as well as making a huge impact via judicial appointments. “Tennessee’s Ninth District has felt the great impact of President Biden’s work. Memphis will have a new bridge as was just announced last week, there have been major investments in MATA, the Memphis International Airport has undergone a generational transformation with even more upgrades on the way, and we’ve been able to secure funding for important community projects in TN-9 — like housing, support for the homeless, healthcare, criminal justice, post-incarceration counseling, and education.” “President Biden has been one of our finest presidents, and we have been lucky to have him move us forward and protect our democracy.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:32:29Z https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-mourns-loss-congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee,Congressman Cohen Mourns the Loss of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee,2024-07-20,2024,2024-07,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,cohen,https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) mourns the loss of his long-serving colleague Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away on the evening of July 19th, 2024. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “I am saddened to learn of the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. We worked together for 18 years in the House Judiciary Committee, fighting for civil rights, women’s rights, and democracy. I cosponsored her landmark Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which established Juneteenth as a federal holiday. I recall presiding over a hearing to consider another of her historic bills, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act. I also cosponsored this legislation which supported the creation of a commission to recommend remedies to slavery. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is the second coming of Barbara Jordan— another titan in American politics. I was fortunate to share time with this legendary lady. May she rest in peace.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:32:29Z