Congressman Steve Cohen is a fourth-generation Memphian who has dedicated his life to public service. Congressman Cohen was first elected to Congress in 2006 after serving as a private-practice attorney in Memphis, a Memphis Police Legal Advisor, a Shelby County Commissioner, and a Tennessee State Senator for 24 years. He was appointed to serve on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, or the Helsinki Commission, during the 112th Congress. 
He also serves as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on Ethics.
Congressman Cohen is a leader in Congress in promoting civil rights and civil liberties for all Americans, serving as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. He brings this same passion to the promotion of human rights and democracy around the world as a member of the Helsinki Commission. Congressman Cohen believes that these shared values enhance security and cooperation among members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and are a vital part of the relationship between these member-nations.
Congressman Cohen has been an active participant in the Helsinki Commission’s hearings and briefings with expert witnesses on OSCE-related issues, including urging a peaceful de-escalation in Crimea, chairing a briefing on the Tunisian elections following the Arab Spring, and serving as an international election monitor in the Georgian Parliamentary elections. Congressman Cohen has also traveled with United States delegations to meet with governments of other OSCE nations.
