Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) has signed on as a cosponsor of the HEADACHE Act, H.R. 5536, as of October 1, 2026. That brings total House support to 55 members.
What this means for TN-9
An estimated 113,546 people in TN-9 live with a headache disorder, out of roughly 756,975 residents. Every one of them stands to benefit from the coordinated federal response the HEADACHE Act would create: better epidemiological data, a larger trained clinical workforce, and headache disorders finally treated as the public health priority their prevalence warrants.
Specialist access in Tennessee
Tennessee has 6 UCNS-certified headache specialists serving an estimated 1,057,701 residents living with a headache disorder. That ranks 45th of 50 states for specialist access. Nationally there are fewer than 900 certified specialists for more than 40 million patients.
Veterans in TN-9
There is no VA Headache Center of Excellence in TN-9. The nearest site is in Little Rock, AR, about 132 miles from the district office. With only 29 such centers nationwide, most veterans living with post-traumatic headache have no specialized VA care within reach.
Rep. Cohen is the first member of the Tennessee delegation to cosponsor H.R. 5536.
Say thank you
A short note from a constituent carries real weight with a congressional office, and members who have already signed on are the ones best positioned to recruit their colleagues. Send Rep. Cohen a message, or check where your own representatives stand.