Steve (Steve) Cohen (D-09)

US Representative Steve Cohen

Steve (Steve) Cohen (D-09)
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Capitol: 202.225.3265
FAX: 202.225.5663
District: 901.544.4131
Representative
Room 2268 RHOB- Rayburn House Office Building 50 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20515-4209
167 North Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103-1822
Residence:Memphis, TN

Committee Assignments

RM MemberHouse Subcommittee on Aviation
RM MemberJoint Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
FC MemberTennessee Valley Authority Congressional Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Biomedical Research Caucus
Co-ChairFriends of Scotland Caucus
FC MemberCongressional African Partnership for Economic Growth Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Azerbaijan Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Caucus on Global Road Safety
Co-ChairIran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus
Co-ChairInterstate 69 Congressional Caucus (I-69)
FC MemberCongressional Anti-Bullying Caucus
Co-ChairMississippi River Valley and Tributaries Caucus
FC MemberEmpowering Young Men of Color Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional State Medicaid Expansion Caucus
FC MemberPassenger Rail Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkiye Relations and Turkish Americans
Co-ChairCongressional Documentary Film and Book Caucus
FC MemberSocial Determinants of Health Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Caucus Against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy (CAFCAK)
Co-ChairCongressional Tourette Syndrome Caucus
FC MemberAir Cargo Caucus
FC MemberPostal Preservation Caucus
Co-ChairWhite Oak Caucus
FC MemberVehicle Data Access Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Victims' Rights Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Uyghur Caucus
FC MemberAccess to Legal Aid Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Clean Water Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Collegiate Sports Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government
FC MemberNational Heritage Area Caucus
FC MemberLyme Disease Caucus
FC MemberPopulist Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Navy and Marine Corps Caucus
FC MemberCongressional JOBS NOW! Caucus
FC MemberHouse Algae Energy Caucus
FC MemberCrohn's and Colitis Caucus
FC MemberEMS Caucus (Emergency Medical Services)
FC MemberGreen Schools Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Caucus on Human Trafficking
MemberHouse Committee on the Judiciary
FC MemberCongressional Stop DUI Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Caucus on Infant Health and Safety
FC MemberCannabis Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Epilepsy Caucus
FC MemberBipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence
FC MemberCongressional Multicultural Media Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Trademark Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Full Employment Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Pre-K Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Children's Health Care Caucus
FC MemberCommission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Skin Cancer Caucus
MemberHouse Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
FC MemberOut of Poverty Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance
FC MemberBipartisan Disabilities Caucus (BDC)
FC Member21st Century Health Care Caucus
FC MemberHouse Cancer Caucus
FC MemberPublic Broadcasting Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Caucus (COPD)
FC MemberAmericans Abroad Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Kidney Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Caucus on Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention (IP)
FC MemberCongressional Steel Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Chemistry Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Down Syndrome Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Task Force
FC MemberCommunity College Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Peace Corps Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Medical Technology Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls
FC MemberFriends of Australia Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Urban Caucus
FC MemberHouse Baltic Caucus
FC MemberLatino-Jewish Congressional Caucus
FC MemberMilitary Sexual Assault and Prevention Caucus
FC MemberCongressional STEAM Caucus
FC MemberTom Lantos Human Rights Commission
FC MemberCongressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus
FC MemberHouse General Aviation Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Labor and Working Families Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Caucus on the Mississippi River
FC MemberNational Guard and Reserve Components Caucus
FC MemberMilitary Veterans Caucus
FC MemberUnexploded Ordnance (UXO)/Demining Caucus
FC MemberInternational Conservation Caucus (ICC)
FC MemberCongressional TRIO Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Nursing Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
FC MemberCongressional Bike Caucus
FC MemberCongressional French Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus (HBCU)
FC MemberCongressional Ukraine Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus
FC MemberEndangered Species Act (ESA) Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Primary Care Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
FC MemberCongressional HIV/AIDS Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust
FC MemberCongressional Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Caucus
FC MemberCoalition for Autism Research and Education (CARE)
FC MemberCongressional Historic Preservation Caucus
FC MemberBipartisan Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism
FC MemberCongressional Rare Disease Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Medicare for All Caucus
FC MemberExpand Social Security Caucus (House)
FC MemberHouse Small Brewers Caucus
FC MemberBicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease
FC MemberCongressional Heart and Stroke Coalition
FC MemberBipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease
FC MemberCongressional Arts Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Caucus on Foster Youth
FC MemberCongressional Mental Health Caucus
FC MemberBlack Maternal Health Caucus
FC MemberIndia Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Animal Protection Caucus
FC MemberSustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC)
FC MemberCongressional Diabetes Caucus
FC MemberBipartisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Progressive Caucus

Bio

On May 24, 1949, pediatrician Morris Cohen and his wife Genevieve welcomed Stephen Ira Cohen into the world, the fourth generation of their family to live in the city of Memphis. Steve took an early interest in politics at the age of five when stricken with polio. When he was eleven years old, John Fitzgerald Kennedy came to Memphis on a campaign stop, and Steve took a picture of him that still hangs in his office to this day. After graduating from the Cecil Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, Steve became a legal advisor for the Memphis Police Department, while simultaneously serving as vice president of the 1977 Tennessee Constitutional Convention. From 1978-80, he served as Shelby County Commissioner. While a commissioner, he was a key player behind the establishment of The Med. And in 1982, he was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly as State Senator from District 30. As a Tennessee State Senator, he fought for eighteen years to overturn the state's ban on lotteries so he could establish a scholarship fund for the children of Tennessee. In 2002, his efforts came to fruition, and the following year, the Hope Scholarship became a reality. Thousands of students from across Tennessee are attending college because of his hard work. He also championed bills granting greater access to medical care, the protection of animal welfare, the reinstatement of voting rights, funding for the arts, and graduated drivers licenses throughout his tenure in the state senate. In 2006, Steve announced that he would seek the 9th Congressional District seat in the House of Representatives previously held by Harold Ford, Jr. He won a hotly contested primary in August of that year before going on to win the general election in November. Since being sworn in on January 4, 2007, Steve has played an active role in the House of Representatives. He voted for each portion of the Democratic Party's "Six for '06" which raised the Federal Minimum Wage for the first time in a decade, enacted the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, broke the ties between lawmakers and lobbyists, halved the interest rates on student loans, ended tax subsidies to the oil companies, and granted federal funding for stem cell research. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, he grilled then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over his attempt to pressure US Attorneys into partisan prosecutions. He has used his role as a congressman to champion greater access to medical care for children, lower Medicare drug prices, lower interest rates on student loans, and an official apology for slavery and the system of segregation-era laws that restricted the rights of African-Americans and to consistently stand up to President George W. Bush over his failed policies in Iraq. Because of his work ethic, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi referred to Cohen as "the conscience of the freshman class" in 2008. In August 2008, Cohen won the Democratic Congressional Primary by a huge margin, all but guaranteeing another term in Congress. In November of 2008, he won the General Election overwhelmingly In December 2008, Cohen was elected Regional Whip for the 111th Congress. He also traveled to Madrid, Spain to accept an award from The Vida Foundation honoring his bill that called upon the House of Representatives to apologize for its role in allowing slavery and the segregation era. In January 2009, He became Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. He has since introduced legislation calling for an examination of racial disparity in the criminal justice system, as well as a bill to prohibit the use of credit checks in pre-employment screening.

Election / Personal Info

First Elected: 2006    Next Election: 2024
DOB: 5/24/1949
Counties Representing
Shelby