In light of the recent violence both against and by the police, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, is calling for legislation that would require states to appoint independent prosecutors to examine law enforcement shootings. Cohen argues that because state prosecutors have to work closely with law enforcement to do their jobs, they should not be responsible for investigating and prosecuting instances of deadly force. WPLN has the story.

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee approved legislation that would provide key protections to innocent persons whose property is seized under federal civil asset forfeiture laws, the ABA Journal reports. The legislation represents the most significant reform of the forfeiture laws since 2000, according to the ABA, which backed the measure. Among its provisions, the bill raises the government’s standard of proof to “clear and convincing” evidence, provides counsel for indigent property owners, institutes a new early hearing process, and allows for easier recovery of legal fees for property owners who prevail in their cases.

In successive votes yesterday, a divided U.S. Senate defeated four gun control measures, two proposed by Democrats and two put forward by Republicans. The votes fell mostly along party lines. Tennessee’s two Republican senators were no exception, the Nashville Post reports. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker both voted against a measure from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to expand background checks as well as a measure from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to block gun sales to those on a federal watch list. But they both voted for a plan by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to deny gun sales to those on the watch list if a prosecutor shows probable cause within three days, and another proposal by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, that would have increased funding for background checks.

Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen has introduced a bill that would remove J. Edgar Hoover’s name from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s building, WREG reports. “The civil rights we enjoy today are in spite of J. Edgar Hoover, not because of him," Cohen said. "Yet, his name adorns one of the most prominent buildings in our nation’s capital."

In an op-ed for the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-NY, calls for placing U.S. Supreme Court justices under a code of ethical conduct. Slaughter argues that “many Americans would be surprised to learn that the nine justices on the Supreme Court are the only federal judges in the nation not bound by a code of ethical conduct.” Slaughter has introduced the Supreme Court Ethics Act to apply to the justices the same code of conduct that applies to other federal judges. 

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators unveiled a major criminal justice reform bill today that would reduce mandatory minimum sentences for certain non-violent drug offenses; make crack-cocaine sentencing reductions retroactive; give judges more discretion in sentencing for gun-related crimes; eliminate the so-called "three strikes" law; enhance prisoner rehabilitation and anti-recidivism programs; and largely ban solitary confinement of juveniles. The measure would also create two new mandatory minimums for crimes involving interstate domestic violence and providing weapons to terrorists. The Washington Post reports on the outlook for the bill.

Tennessee’s two Republican senators, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, introduced Memphis lawyer Edward Stanton III to the Senate Judiciary Committee today and expressed support for his confirmation, the Commercial Appeal reports. President Obama nominated Stanton in May to serve as U.S. district judge for the Western District of Tennessee. He is currently serving as the U.S. attorney for the Western district. At the hour-long hearing, Stanton promised to be fair and impartial from the bench, endorsed alternatives to incarceration and argued that mandatory minimum sentences can be effective in certain cases. 

Sen. Lamar Alexander has introduced legislation to limit graduate student borrowing to $30,000 a year in government-backed loans, The Commercial Appeal reports. The legislation, supported by Democratic colleagues Michael Bennet of Colorado and Cory Booker of New Jersey, permits programs with especially high costs to appeal to the U.S. Department of Education to let their students borrow up to $15,000 more each year. College lobbyists are attempting to modify or block Alexander’s proposal and argue low-income students will not be able to afford expensive programs if the government decreases its lending limits.

The Crossville Chronicle reports Congress is moving toward an overhaul of the country’s foster-care system and bi-partisan legislation could be presented this fall. Advocates say foster care funds should be going to help biological parents learn to care for children properly, including paying for psychotherapy or treatment for a parent’s addiction issues. "When you ask a child who has been in foster care how we can best improve the current foster-care system, often the answer will be: You could have helped my mom so that I did not have to go into foster care in the first place," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said.

Antcipating an overcapacity crowd, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner is cracking down on access to the House chamber for Pope Francis' speech to a joint meeting of Congress in September, CNN reports. Retired and/or former members of Congress -- many of whom work as lobbyists in Washington -- may not enter the chamber for the event. Only current members of Congress, delegates, the president and vice president, Supreme Court justices, cabinet heads, congressional officials, officers of the House and those specially designated by Boehner will be allowed inside the chamber or in rooms around the House floor. WCYB has the story.