Biographical Information
Congressman Steve Cohen is a fourth-generation Memphian who has served the 9th District of Tennessee since 2006 and dedicated his life to public service. As a child, the challenges of living with polio taught him how to overcome obstacles through persistence and determination, values which would shape his career as a legislator. Filing to run for office on the same day he first registered to vote – just after his 21st birthday – Congressman Cohen stepped onto the path of public service that has defined his life and shaped the lives of people in Memphis, Tennessee, and across the country throughout his career in local, state and national politics.
During his 24 years in the Tennessee State Senate, Congressman Cohen amassed a strong record of passionate, honest and unselfish service. He consistently spurned special interests to stand up for the people’s interests. In 1984, he drafted and passed a resolution creating one of the first state Holocaust Commissions in America to educate others about and commemorate the Holocaust. On issues ranging from civil rights and gender equality to funding for the arts and animal welfare, Congressman Cohen was a relentless advocate in the Tennessee State Senate even in the face of overwhelming opposition.
His determination might be best exemplified by his success in founding the Tennessee State Lottery after fighting for it for nearly twenty years. His leadership in the referendum effort that instituted arguably the most successful education initiative in Tennessee history earned him his title as the “Father of the Tennessee Lottery.” Since the inception of the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program in 2004, more than $6.5 billion has gone to students continuing their education in technical schools, colleges and universities across the state. Hundreds of thousands of students have benefited from Congressman Cohen's tireless efforts to provide Tennesseans with access to affordable, high-quality post-secondary education.
Public Office
U.S. House of Representatives, 110th through Current Congress, 2007 to Present
Tennessee General Assembly, State Senator, 93rd through 104th Sessions, 1982 to 2006
Shelby County Commissioner, 1978 to 1980
Delegate and Vice-President of the Tennessee Constitutional Convention, 1977
Community Involvement
Memphis College of Art, Board of Trustees, 1988 - 2002
Memphis Zoological Council, 2001 - 2006
Memphis Zoological Society, Board of Directors, 1988 - 2000
Circuit Playhouse, Inc., Board of Directors, 1977 - Present
Memphis Redbirds Foundation, 1998 - 2003
Memphis/Shelby County Center City Commission
NAACP, Lifetime Member
Tennessee Holocaust Commission, 1984 - 2006
Honors
2025: Named one of Congress's Most Effective Lawmakers by the Center for Effective Lawmaking—ranked #5 most effective House Democrat
2025: Received the April 4th Foundation's Open Door Award for expanding opportunity and advancing justice in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2022: United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Legislative Award; Humane Society's Horseman of the Year
2021: Recognized as a Defender of Children by the Campaign for Children
2019: Received a 100+% voting rating on the Humane Society Legislative Fund's annual Legislative Scorecard
2018: Perfect Voting Record on the "Progressive Public Health and Environmental Scorecard" sponsored by National Nurses United, Food & Water Watch, and Progressive Democrats of America
2017: 2017 TAA Public Policy Award from the Tourette Association of America; Distinguished Service Award from the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA); 2017 Appreciation Award for Contribution to U.S.-Azerbaijani Diplomatic Relations; 2017 AOPA Freedom to Fly Award; Named the 35th most effective Democratic lawmaker by the Center for Effective Lawmaking at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University
2016: Received the 2016 Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society; Received the 2016 Easter Seals Outstanding Advocate Award; Received the 2016 Inaugural GBTA Navigator Award; Named 2016 Drug Policy Reform Champion by Drug Policy Action;
2015: Received the 2015 Champion for Children Award from the First Focus Campaign for Children; Received the 2015 Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society; Nominated as a Caregiving Champion by the National Alliance for Caregiving; Friend of the National Parks Award from the National Parks Conservation Association; Most Outstanding Politician Award at the 20th Annual Stone Awards
2014: Outstanding Legislator Award from the Tennessee Nurses Association; Excellence in Public Service Award from Wiley College; Named "Champion of Reform" by the Drug Policy Alliance; Perfect Voting Record from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Perfect Voting Record on the Humane Society's Legislative Scorecard; Perfect Voting Record on Food Policy Action's National Food Policy Scorecard.
2013: Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Memphis Alumni Association; Perfect Voting Record from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society; Award of Appreciation for Outstanding Achievement in recognition of continued environmental advocacy from the Chickasaw Group of the Sierra Club; Public Policy Award from The Tourette Syndrome Association; Perfect Voting Record from NARAL Pro-Choice America; Legislator of the Year Award from The Institute of Real Estate Management and the CCIM Institute; Friend of the National Parks Award from the National Parks Conservation Association.
2012: Defender of Children Award from the First Focus Campaign for Children; Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society; Most Valuable Policymaker Award from the Sports Fans Coalition; Tribute of Hope Award from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization; Named Public Official of the Year by the Tennessee Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; National Urban League award for cosponsoring the Urban Jobs Act of 2011; Named a Defender of Children by the First Focus Campaign for Children.
2011: Friend of the National Parks Award from the National Parks Conservation Association.
2010: NFL Gridiron Greats Award for his work on reducing head injuries in football; Tennessee Equal Justice 2010 Legislative Leadership Award from Memphis Area Legal Services for his work to increase funding for the Legal Services Corporation and for working to address racial and ethnic disparities in the federal criminal justice system; American Bar Association Day Award for his work to promote equal access to justice; Trinity Community Coalition Outreach Appreciation Award for his work to help combat drug and alcohol abuse, recidivism and homelessness.
2009: America Hero Award from ProtectingAmerica.org; 14th Annual Stone Award Politician of the Year; Exhoodus Council's first annual Urban Peace and Courage Award; "Candle on the Bluff Award" presented by the Memphis Chapter of Morehouse College Alumni and New Olivet Baptist Church; Humane Society "Humane Champion" award.
2008: The Vida Foundation's D. Emelio Castelar Work Recognition Award (International Humanitarian Award presented in Madrid, Spain); Memphis Flyer "Best of Memphis" Reader's Poll: Best Memphian; Selected as one of the Forward 50 by The Forward, America's largest Jewish newspaper, recognizing the most influential Jewish Americans of the year; 13th Annual Stone Awards Recipient: Most Outstanding Politician; Tennessee Communication Association's Communicator of the Year; Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Award of Excellence for Public Service; Tennessee Principals Association "Friend of Education Award;" Alpha Kappa Alpha Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter AKAward For Outstanding Public Service in the Area of the Economic Keys to Success; Honorary Degree from LeMoyne-Owen College
2007: Planned Parenthood "Bob James Award"; Memphis Gridiron Show Headliner Award – Mid-South Newsmaker of the Year; Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Region IV Political Award; Business Tennessee 2007 Power 100: Top 100 Most Powerful People in Tennessee; U.S. Humane Society 2007 Humane Champion Award
2006: Tennessee Humane Association Legislative Achievement Award - In Recognition and Appreciation of Continued Support of Animal Related Legislation.
2004: Shelby County Democratic Party "William W. (Bill) Farris Political Leadership Award"; Business Tennessee Magazine "Power 100"; University of Memphis Society "Walter Barret Distinguished Service Award"; University of Memphis "Eye of the Tiger Award"
2003: National College Board "Excellence in Education" award, presented at NCSL Convention; Boys and Girls Clubs of Tennessee "Legislator of the Year Award"; Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist's "Legislator of the Year"
2002: Tennessee Human Rights Campaign "Public Leadership Award"
2001: Governor's Awards in the Arts "Leadership Award"; Executive Seminar for Legislative Leaders; University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
2000: AAA Legislator of the Year Award; Holocaust Commission award; AutoZone Park Opening Day First Pitch
1999: TN Pediatrics Society Friend of Children Award
1998: Memphis Arts Council/"Memphis Theatre Award"
1997: Common Cause of Tennessee "Bird Dog Award" for ethics
1996: University of Tennessee-Memphis Faculty Senate's Presidential Citation; Memphis Magazine Reader's Poll "Best Local Politician"
1995: Lorin Hollander Arts Award from the Tennessee Arts Academy; Memphis Women's Political Caucus Good Guys Award
1994: Unitarian Fellowship Dr. Peter Cooper Award
1992: Tennesseans for the Arts Advocate Award; Tennessee Bill of Rights Award; Tennessee Association of County Election Officials Award; Common Cause of Tennessee "Bird Dog Award" for ethics; Sierra Club "green list" top rating in Senate
1991: Community Mental Retardation Agencies of Tennessee Legislator of the Year Award; The Blues Foundation Keeping the Blues Alive Award
1988: Save Shelby Farms Award
1987: Memphis Arts Council Commendation
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives write and vote on federal laws, including the federal budget. Each represents one district and serves a two-year term. Tax bills must start in the House, only the House can impeach federal officials, and members oversee federal agencies through their committees.
