Steve Cohen

Wants the state to accept federal funding for supplemental nutritional assistance program (SNAP).

“He continues to advocate and push for the state to accept all federal opportunities to receive more funding for critical family programs like the supplemental nutritional assistance program (SNAP) and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (or Summer EBT).”⁷

Supports economic growth driven by the arts, which creates jobs and draws visitors to Memphis.

“The arts are not just part of Memphis’ identity; they are an essential part of its economy, supporting thousands of local jobs and drawing millions of visitors each year.”⁸

Supports prioritizing job creation and financing public investments.

“In contrast to this GOP budget bill, Congressman Cohen is proud to have supported budgets that prioritize job creation, financing public investments, strengthening the middle and working classes, and raising adequate revenue to meet budgetary needs while simultaneously restoring fairness to the tax code, protecting social insurance programs, and ensuring fiscal sustainability for years to come.”⁹

Supports ensuring large corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share.

“Lowering the deficit by ensuring large corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share: Fully funded and reduced the deficit by $300 billion by instituting a 15 percent minimum tax rate on the largest corporations, enacting a 1 percent tax on tax-evading stock buybacks used to enrich wealthy shareholders, funding the IRS to go after wealthy tax evaders and corporations, and cracking down on Big Pharma price gouging.”⁹

Wants to address the high infant mortality rate in the district through pilot programs.

“He has introduced legislation such as the NEWBORN Act, which would establish pilot programs in high-risk areas, funding community-specific care for leading causes like preterm birth, SIDS, and maternal issues, and promoting research to understand and prevent infant deaths.”⁷

Supports expanding support for foster youth care.

“Congressman Cohen has championed legislation that makes it easier for Americans to balance work and family responsibilities, expands support for foster youth care, and serves the needs of children with special behavioral health needs and/or medical disabilities.”⁷

Supports creating a national paid family and medical leave program.

“Congressman Cohen has pushed for paid family leave and has continuously cosponsored the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which would create a permanent, national paid family and medical leave program.”⁷

Shares a concern for access to health care for ourselves and our families.

“Regardless of personal background or political leanings, we all share a concern for access to health care for ourselves and our families.”²⁰

Supports protecting Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“He prioritizes ensuring economic security for hard-working American families, small businesses, seniors, and the most vulnerable people in our communities by investing in and protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nutrition assistance like SNAP and WIC, medical research, and other critical programs.”⁹

Supports lowering prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices.

“Lowering prescription drug costs: Reined in the soaring cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with pharmaceuticals, preventing excessive price hikes, and capping seniors' out-of-pocket costs at $2000 per year.”⁹

Supports extending enhanced ACA subsidies to lower premiums.

“Lowering health care costs: Extended the American Rescue Plan's enhanced ACA subsidies for three more years, locking in lower premiums that save 13 million people an average of $800 a year through 2025.”⁹

Supports strengthening enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and holding violators accountable for horse soring abuse.

“Congressman Cohen has led efforts to end this abuse by sponsoring the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which would strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and hold violators accountable.”³³

Believes we have a moral responsibility to preserve our planet.

“We have a moral responsibility to preserve our planet for generations to come.”²⁰

Believes protecting wildlife is essential to maintaining the balance of our natural environment.

“Congressman Cohen believes protecting wildlife is essential to maintaining the balance of our natural environment.”³³

Supports strengthening anti-poaching laws and combating illegal wildlife trafficking.

“He has supported efforts to strengthen anti-poaching laws, combat illegal wildlife trafficking, and ensure that our public lands remain safe for the species that call them home.”³³

Supports making the largest-ever American investment in climate, clean energy, and environmental justice.

“Taking historic climate action and lower energy costs: Made the largest-ever American investment in climate, clean energy, environmental justice and domestic energy production and manufacturing. It will reduce our carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030 to put us on track to meet our climate goals, while also creating new clean jobs, enhancing our energy security and lowering energy costs for American families.”⁹

Believes assisting families in pursuing higher education is critical for national growth and success.

“As evidenced by his years-long efforts to create the Tennessee Lottery to fund college scholarships, Congressman Cohen also firmly believes that assisting families in their pursuit of higher education is critical for our nation’s growth and success.”⁷

Believes everyone should have access to a quality education.

“Education has been one of the focal points of his career, and he believe everyone should have access to a quality education.”²⁰

Supports expanding access to arts education in public schools as a cornerstone of a complete education.

“The arts are not an “add-on” to core education, they are a cornerstone of a complete education.”⁸

Supports creative learning receiving the same level of support as STEM subjects.

“Arts education fosters critical thinking, confidence, and creativity — skills that prepare our students for success in the modern workforce.”⁸

Supports legislation to combat animal cruelty.

“In Congress, he has cosponsored several pieces of legislation to combat animal cruelty including the Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) for Animals Act, the Puppy Protection Act, and the Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act.”³³

Supports restoring the Voting Rights Act by establishing a new nationwide coverage formula.

“the John Lewis Voting Rights Amendment Act, which would restore the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court struck down portions of it in Shelby County v. Holder by establishing a new, nationwide coverage formula for preclearance.”⁶³

Supports overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

“a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission decision.”⁶³

Supports requiring disclosure of campaign-related spending by corporations and outside groups.

“the Disclosure of Information on Spending Campaigns Leads to Open and Secure Elections (DISCLOSE) Act which requires disclosure of campaign-related spending by corporations, Super PACs and other outside groups.”⁶³

Supports requiring sponsors of political advertisements to disclose information online.

“the Campaign Sunlight Act, which requires sponsors of political advertisements to make the contents and sources of information used in their ads available for public inspection online.”⁶³

Supports advancing human-based simulation technologies for medical and military training.

“This includes cosponsoring the Humane Cosmetics Act, which would end cosmetic testing on animals, and supporting measures to advance human-based simulation technologies for medical and military training.”³³

Believes the government has a responsibility to ensure veterans receive earned benefits.

“Congressman Cohen strongly believes the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that veterans receive all of the benefits they have earned, and continues to work with the Memphis VA Medical Center (VAMC) to ensure that our veterans are receiving both appropriate and excellent care at the Memphis VA.”²⁰

Advocates for increased funding for women, infants, and children (WIC).

“Congressman Cohen continues to fight for food equity and increased funding for women, infants and children (WIC).”⁷