Senator Coons statement on Mahmoud v. Taylor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which decided that parents with religious objections can opt their children out of public school instruction that references same-sex marriage and gender identity:

“The Supreme Court’s decision today will put an additional burden on our schools and teachers at a time when they are already underfunded and strained to the breaking point. 

“This decision will be weaponized by the loudest voices in school districts across the country, forcing schools to appease them at the risk of silencing all other voices. Respecting one family’s religious liberty should not mean denying another family the freedom to learn.

“The world around us will not simply disappear because we ban schools from teaching how it works. This decision tells Americans that certain families and certain kids don’t deserve the same respect as others. Instead of supporting those who most need it, the Court’s opinion pushes them further away. I will keep fighting for all Delawareans’ access to an education that prepares them to thrive.”

Senator Coons statement on Trump v. CASA, Inc.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. CASA, Inc., which sided with the Trump administration’s request to limit universal injunctions issued by federal courts:

“The Constitution created three branches of government with equal power: the courts, Congress, and the president. Today, the Supreme Court made clear that one branch – the executive – has free rein to do what it wishes without meaningful checks or review.

“The Court’s ruling will only embolden President Trump and his illegal, dangerous dismantling of our federal government. It will create an unworkable patchwork of laws that shift depending on who you are or what state you’re in. It means courts will be flooded with case after case about the exact same thing – slowing our legal system and delaying justice for everyone. How will that work for those too poor to hire a lawyer? For children? For working parents? 

“Barring further intervention by the Court, next month there will be children who will be citizens if they are born in Delaware, but if born in another state, might not be. This is as wrong as it is cruel. The Court has unleashed chaos and confusion. Children, their families, and our nation will pay the price.”

Senators Coons, Shaheen, Booker Statement on the Ministerial Signing of the Peace Deal Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), released the following statement on the peace deal brokered by the United States and witnessed by the Secretary of State Marco Rubio between the Foreign Ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda: 

“A peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda is a vital step towards bringing an end to over 30 years of conflict in eastern DRC. We recognize the representatives from the DRC, Rwanda, and the United States, who, since the signing of a Declaration of Principles on April 25, 2025, have worked tirelessly to solidify the parameters of this agreement to build the foundation for stability and prosperity in the region.     

“While signing an agreement is important, implementation will be essential, and we urge both parties and all international partners to ensure its enforcement.  This includes swiftly increasing access to life-saving humanitarian assistance for people in need throughout eastern DRC, where over 4 million people are internally displaced and more than 100,000 have fled to neighboring countries since January 1, 2025.  Furthermore, as the deal hinges on respect for territorial integrity, Rwandan troops must withdraw from eastern DRC and stop support for the M23. The government of the DRC must end their support for militias such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and ensure their complete disarmament and reintegration. At the time of signing, we must recognize that conflict continues in eastern DRC and that women and children bear the brunt of the violence. Mechanisms for justice and accountability are essential to address the root causes of violence and create an operable environment for peace. 

“We also look forward to engaging with the Administration on plans for U.S. bilateral economic investment agreements with the DRC and Rwanda, including understanding how these will improve transparency, resource governance, and the well-being and prosperity of local communities. 

“We are keenly watching how today’s agreement shapes the future of eastern DRC. This is where the hard work begins, and following through on each component of the deal will be essential to its success.” 

Senator Coons announces support for War Powers Resolution

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement announcing he would vote for the War Powers Resolution offered by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.):

“A week after President Trump’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, it is too early to conclude how far Iran’s dangerous nuclear program has been set back and whether it will continue to pursue nuclear weapons. American forces being called back into action for an extended period of time, unfortunately, remains a possibility. Congress, not the president, has the sole power to commit our troops to action. If President Trump chooses to do so, he must consult with Congress and seek our approval. This is why I will vote for Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution. We cannot afford risky military measures against an unpredictable adversary without a clear understanding of the costs and a plan for what comes next.”

Senator Coons is Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Senator Coons statement on Medina v. Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood, which permitted states to bar people on Medicaid from going to doctor’s offices that perform abortions regardless of the kind of care they’re seeking:
 
“Today, the Supreme Court decided that people in our country do not have the right to choose the medical care they want despite a longstanding law saying just the opposite.
 
“This case was not about abortion. It was about South Carolina cutting off poor women’s access to health care and consigning them to disease and death. This ruling will mean millions of women may be forced to go without basic and lifesaving preventive care: mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and prenatal visits that ensure pregnancies are healthy and successful.
 
“This comes as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are trying to strip away even more health coverage through their harmful and unpopular tax bill. In Delaware alone, as many as 1 in 5 people on Medicaid could lose coverage so that Republicans can give tax breaks to some of the richest people on Earth. 
 
“Women should not have to fear being pregnant in America. Women should not have to miss doctor’s appointments because they can’t afford to go. Women should not have to drive hours to find a doctor who accepts their insurance. The Supreme Court may feel otherwise, but I will never stop fighting to restore every woman’s right to see her chosen doctor and make the decisions that are best for her and her family.” 

ICYMI: In Delaware Bar Journal, Senator Coons urges First State lawyers to uphold rule of law in the face of administration attacks

WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, The Journal of the Delaware State Bar Association published a piece from U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) where he thanked Delaware lawyers for upholding their commitment to the rule of law and urged them to continue fighting for their clients and our judicial system. Senator Coons is a member of the Delaware Bar and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

As Senator Coons noted, the Trump administration has launched a series of attacks on the rule of law since returning to the White House in January. President Trump has signed executive orders against law firms who have taken cases and hired lawyers he opposes. He has launched broadsides against judges who have ruled against him. His Justice Department has fired lawyers for adhering to their duty of candor to the court. 

Senator Coons outlined steps he’s taking in Washington to push back on this assault by ensuring judicial nominees will uphold the law and demanding answers from the administration when they overstep their legal authority. He also reminded lawyers in Delaware and across the country, however, that they too have a part to play: “When a client comes to you, think about the merits of their case, not their political opinions,” he wrote. “If your client is targeted because of their political beliefs, stand with them.”

From The Delaware Bar Journal: In response to “The Rally for the Rule of Law” article

As members of the Delaware Bar, we swore an oath to “support the Constitution of the United States” and to behave with “all good fidelity” to the courts and our clients. Today, the Constitution, the courts, and the rule of law on which our clients depend are under attack. Upholding our oath means doing whatever we can to come to their defense.

…

There are people reading this right now, members of the Delaware Bar, colleagues, who are part of those firms or work at companies they represent. Maybe it will be a Wilmington judge who next issues an order with which the president disagrees. Maybe it will be a Newark company who hopes to fight against a new Executive Order or enters into a contract the government won’t enforce.

I ask that you think about your own practices.

My job in Washington is to advocate for you and try to protect you in the face of these challenges. It’s to confirm judges who will look to the law to make their decisions rather than the president, to reassure lawyers and non-lawyers alike that they can have confidence in our system of ordered liberty.

…

I ask that you join in whatever ways you can.

When a client comes to you, think about the merits of their case, not their political opinions. If your client is targeted because of their political beliefs, stand with them. If your company or firm finds itself on the wrong side of the next executive order, don’t give in to the threats.

The arc of history does not bend itself. It bends through the work of our hands.

READ MORE HERE

Senator Coons, Ranking Member Shaheen statement on Iranian missile strikes

THE HAGUE – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Coons (D-DE) issued the following statement after reports that Iran had launched missiles at U.S. military bases in Qatar and across the Middle East in response to American military operations in Iran this weekend. Ranking Member Shaheen and Senator Coons are leading a congressional delegation to the NATO Summit in the Netherlands this week:

“The conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated to now include active U.S. involvement. We continue to urge the Administration to take immediate action to protect U.S. forces and diplomats, their family members and all Americans abroad. There should be no higher priority. President Trump also needs to contain this conflict before more Americans are endangered. 

“Congress is now on Day 10 of not receiving any formal briefing from the Administration or having any information to provide Americans who are in harm’s way. We must be informed immediately of any further planning. As we represent Congress at the NATO Summit in the Netherlands, our allies in Europe and partners in the Middle East who have extensive experience with Iran continue to urge for restraint. Now is the time for de-escalation and diplomacy.”

Senator Coons statement on United States v. Skrmetti

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld the State of Tennessee’s ban on youth gender-affirming care: 

“Today, the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee state statute banning minors from accessing the gender-affirming hormone therapy that they, their parents, and their doctors all agree they need. These kids and their parents should have the same rights as anyone else – to make their own informed medical decisions and be treated equally under the law. Trans youth are some of the most vulnerable people in our country, more likely to commit suicide, to be depressed, to be bullied. Like all children, they deserve to live, to find a purpose, and to pursue happiness.

“This comes as the Trump administration attacks trans Americans through executive orders, and Republicans in Congress try to use their tax bill to make changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act that will make it harder for vulnerable Americans to access healthcare. I’m proud to come from a state that trusts doctors and patients more than politicians and the government to make their own decisions about what’s best for their families.” 

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senators Coons, Schumer, Murray, Reed, Warner statement on President Trump’s actions in the Middle East

WASHINGTON – Ranking Senate Defense Appropriator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Senate Armed Services Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) today released the following statement as President Trump considers taking additional action in the Middle East:

“Intensifying military actions between Israel and Iran represent a dangerous escalation that risks igniting a broader regional war. Iran poses a risk to the United States and our allies and must not be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon. The United States stands firm in our support for the continued defense of Israel, our partner and ally. Our commitment to Israel remains ironclad and we urge the administration to defend Israel against the barrage of Iranian airstrikes, including through the provision of additional air defense capabilities. We urge President Trump to prioritize diplomacy and pursue a binding agreement that can prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and reduce the risk to our diplomats, our service members, and the hundreds of thousands of Americans living in the Middle East.

“As President Trump reportedly considers expanding U.S. engagement in the war, we are deeply concerned about a lack of preparation, strategy, and clearly defined objectives, and the enormous risk to Americans and civilians in the region. Iran has signaled that it would retaliate against American personnel if the United States participates in military strikes. More than 40,000 U.S. servicemembers are stationed in more than a dozen countries around the Middle East, all within striking distance of Iran and its proxies.

“We are alarmed by the Trump administration’s failure to provide answers to fundamental questions. By law, the president must consult Congress and seek authorization if he is considering taking the country to war. He owes Congress and the American people a strategy for U.S. engagement in the region. We need a clear, detailed plan outlining the goals, risks, cost, and timeline for any proposed mission, as well as how he will ensure the safe evacuation of Americans in harm’s way all across the region. We demand immediate, detailed answers on these and other urgent matters to determine the way forward, including:

1. What more needs to be done to resupply and bolster the defense of Israel and our interests in the region? What additional resources are required to maintain and supplement those defenses? 
2. What is the Intelligence Community’s current assessment of Iran’s nuclear program, its leaders’ intent, and its capabilities? Following nearly a week of Israeli strikes, what remains of Iran’s conventional military capabilities and nuclear enrichment?
3. What would be the objective of U.S. military intervention against Iran? President Trump has called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” – what does that mean?
4. If there was a military intervention, what would be the estimated scope and duration of any such campaign? How many U.S. servicemembers would be involved? What resources and munitions would be required? What would such an operation cost?
5. What would be the risk to U.S. forces across our bases in the region, both today and in the long term, and what steps is the administration prepared to take to protect our servicemembers?
6. How many American citizens reside in Israel and surrounding countries, and what is the U.S. plan to facilitate evacuations?
7. What constitutional or statutory authority would underpin this intervention?

“Congress is an equal partner in preserving and defending U.S. national security around the world, and Congress has not provided authorization for military action against Iran – we will not rubberstamp military intervention that puts the United States at risk. Our foremost duty is to safeguard American citizens wherever they reside and to protect our troops serving on the front lines. The United States cannot sleepwalk into a third war in as many decades. Congress has a critical role to play in this moment.” 

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Joint statement from Delaware’s elected leaders on the violence in Minnesota