Key Takeaways
- • Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) announced $1.15 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funding to the Memphis-based Mid-South Development District under the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program Round Four to support local transportation infrastructure projects.
- • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital secured $6.75 million in National Cancer Institute funding as part of a broader $7.62 million NIH grant package to three Memphis-based medical research centers, designated as a Cancer Center Support grant for pediatric cancer research advancement.
- • Cohen welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice decision to reschedule state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III, reflecting a shift in federal drug policy restrictions and aligning with his long-standing advocacy for marijuana decriminalization.
Summary
On April 23, 2026, Congressman Steve Cohen announced three separate funding initiatives directed toward his Tennessee 9th Congressional District, concentrating federal resources on infrastructure development, medical research, and cannabis policy reform.
The Transportation Department allocated $1.15 million to the Mid-South Development District through the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program's fourth funding round. This capital is earmarked for a portfolio of local transportation infrastructure projects, representing continued federal investment in the Memphis region's mobility and economic connectivity infrastructure.
In the biomedical sector, Cohen announced $7.62 million in National Institutes of Health grants distributed across three Memphis-based medical research institutions. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital emerged as the primary beneficiary, receiving $6.75 million from the National Cancer Institute under a Cancer Center Support designation. This funding directly supports the hospital's pediatric cancer research and cure development initiatives, positioning the institution for expanded research capacity and clinical advancement in childhood oncology.
Separately, Cohen announced his support for the Department of Justice's decision to reschedule state-licensed medical marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. As a leading Congressional advocate for marijuana decriminalization, Cohen's statement reflects alignment with the federal government's loosening of restrictions on medical cannabis, a significant policy shift that reduces federal enforcement barriers and acknowledges the therapeutic applications of state-regulated medical marijuana programs.
The Transportation Department allocated $1.15 million to the Mid-South Development District through the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program's fourth funding round. This capital is earmarked for a portfolio of local transportation infrastructure projects, representing continued federal investment in the Memphis region's mobility and economic connectivity infrastructure.
In the biomedical sector, Cohen announced $7.62 million in National Institutes of Health grants distributed across three Memphis-based medical research institutions. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital emerged as the primary beneficiary, receiving $6.75 million from the National Cancer Institute under a Cancer Center Support designation. This funding directly supports the hospital's pediatric cancer research and cure development initiatives, positioning the institution for expanded research capacity and clinical advancement in childhood oncology.
Separately, Cohen announced his support for the Department of Justice's decision to reschedule state-licensed medical marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. As a leading Congressional advocate for marijuana decriminalization, Cohen's statement reflects alignment with the federal government's loosening of restrictions on medical cannabis, a significant policy shift that reduces federal enforcement barriers and acknowledges the therapeutic applications of state-regulated medical marijuana programs.
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