Steve Cohen · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Honoring Dolly Parton

2026-09-02

“I want to praise Dolly Parton too. She was the best person from Tennessee. She helped many people and had a beautiful voice. People in my state will always remember her.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, this is my first opportunity to serve as the dean of the Tennessee delegation, and it didn't come too soon. Time is running out. Dolly Parton was a phenomenal Tennessean, probably the best representative we ever had. She never looked down on anybody. She had a big heart. Whenever there was a tragedy or somebody in need, she came forward and wanted it to be anonymous. She was a good human being, and she had a beautiful voice. I had a friend who was involved in the music business in the early seventies in Laurel Canyon when the Eagles and others were getting together. He told me about Dolly being out there, and that is where she got to know Linda Ronstadt and others. He said she had such a beautiful voice, and she did. She will be remembered forever for all she did for humanity. Tennessee is proud to have her and will always love her.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗

House of Representatives

Celebrating 901 Day

2026-09-01

“It's 901 Day, a day about Memphis. Memphians stand up and demand better. In 1968, sanitation workers in Memphis marched for fair wages and respect. Dr. King came to Memphis to stand with those workers and tragically lost his life. This history reminds us that progress has never been given to Memphis. We have fought for it. We must fight harder with gerrymandered redistricting and ICE raids. We celebrate the people, the generation of Memphians who refused to accept things the way they were.”

Official Congressional Record

Today, we celebrate 901 Day--a day to celebrate Memphis, Tennessee, and the people who make the city the great city that it is. Mr. Speaker, 901 is more than an area code. It represents people who have never been afraid to stand up and demand better. In 1968, AFSCME sanitation workers in Memphis marched for dignity, fair wages, and the basic right to be treated with respect. Dr. King came to Memphis to stand with those workers and tragically lost his life at that time. This history reminds us that progress has never simply been given to Memphis. We have fought for it. Now with the gerrymandered redistricting effort that took away the votes of Black voters and the large-scale ICE raid that was carried out this past weekend, we must fight harder. Yes, today we celebrate the history, music, culture, and barbecue; but, most importantly, we celebrate the people, the generation of Memphians who refused to accept that things had to stay the way they were. We carry that spirit forward. Happy 901 Day, Memphis.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗

House of Representatives

Bring Your Chips to the Table

2026-07-22

“I don't like the war in Iran. It costs a lot of money. I won't vote for more money for it unless Trump pays more taxes first. I want him to pay his share. Then I will pay my share and vote for it.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hegseth said we have spent $37 billion on an unnecessary--he didn't say an ``unnecessary'' war, but it is an unnecessary and failed war in Iran--$37 billion and lost 17 soldiers. He says he is going to ask for another $70 billion to fight this unnecessary and failing war. We have resolved the fact that we can stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon when Barack Obama was President and negotiated a treaty. Right now, we don't know if they have moved the enriched uranium outside of the place where it was buried underneath a mountain or not. It is suspected they might have. It is a failed war. Mr. Speaker, I will be willing to vote for a bill that has $70 billion in it when President Trump pays his share by paying his taxes on the $2.2 billion he earned last year, mostly in crypto, which cost the people that bought crypto a billion dollars. That is what they lost. When Trump pays his share, I will pay my share and vote for it. I won't vote for it otherwise. President Trump, bring your chips to the table.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗

House of Representatives

Negative Consequences of President Trump's Tax Cuts

2026-07-14

“I want to make you scared of the President. I say he is out of control. I say he made a deal to avoid taxes. I say he is scamming you. His war and his ICE agency fail and kill people. I want you to be scared.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, my friend, Mr. Wilson, made some remarks about how everybody benefited from the big, beautiful bill. What he didn't tell you is that President Trump made a deal with himself when he sued the IRS for $1 billion for releasing his tax returns, along with thousands and thousands of other Americans. He settled the case with himself and the man he wants to make Attorney General with a clause, an agreement, that the IRS would not prosecute or even look at his tax returns, his family's tax returns, or any businesses they are involved with. That means that the $2.2 billion they made this year off of crypto and other questionable companies will be tax free. That means he is stealing from you and me, the American public. He doesn't want to spend money on his failed war in Iran or his failure with ICE, who are killing Americans every day. Our country is in trouble. We have a man who is out of control as our President. It scares me tremendously, and it should scare you, as well.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗