Government Reform
In Congress, I have taken numerous steps to begin to change the way we do business in Washington and to restore accountability and transparency to government. I have voted for and passed legislation that banned gifts from lobbyists, prohibited the use of corporate jets, and required full disclosure of earmarks. Also I have passed legislation banning pensions for Members of Congress convicted of certain crimes; and strengthening the Freedom of Information Act to increase government transparency.
More on Government Reform
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Congressman Tony Cardenas (D-CA) and Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) praised final passage of the Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Training Program (H.R. 767) today on a 386 to 6 vote, a measure to provide training to health care professionals on identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted for the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that passed the House today on a 358 to 36 vote after clearing the Senate late Tuesday night.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, announced today his intention to reintroduce his constitutional amendment to limit the President’s pardon power when the new Congress convenes in January.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), along with dozens of his Congressional colleagues, today wrote to President Trump and to multiple state attorneys general -- including Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III – who are suing the federal government in Texas v.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today praised the use of DNA evidence to win a conviction against the perpetrator of an 18-year-old rape that occurred in southwest Memphis.
WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Lamar Smith (R-TX) today introduced legislation to protect consumers from unfair taxes on digital goods and services like those purchased over the internet or on smartphones. The Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act ensures that digital goods and services are not taxed at a higher rate than their tangible counterparts.
“Digital goods and services have become a driving force in our national economy,” said Congressman Cohen. “We should make sure consumers are treated fairly and not double-taxed.”
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, hailed passage of the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act, the Planes Ensuring Total Safety (PETS) Act and three other measures he introduced that were made a part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that passed the House on a vote of 398 to 23 and is expected to be considered in the Senate soon. See his remarks on the House floor here.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) applauded today’s Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee passage of his bill to rename the facility at 1325 Autumn Avenue as “The Judge Russell B. Sugarmon Post Office.” The Senate committee’s action clears the way for consideration by the full Senate.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) received a 100 percent score from the government watchdog group Common Cause on Wednesday after it assessed 15 measures involving money in politics, voting rights, Net Neutrality, overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, presidential conflicts of interest and abuse of power, and redistricting reform. See the scorecard here. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: