Sen. Coons on markup of Graham asylum proposal: “This committee should be the bipartisan place where we hammer out solutions” not tear each other apart

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered remarks on Senator Graham’s asylum proposal, which was forced through the Senate Judiciary Committee in violation of committee rules. 

“Clearly this bill, that’s been forced out of this committee in an inappropriate way, will not see the light of day, will not see the President’s desk. And I’m left asking, why are we here? Why are we doing this today?” said Senator Coons.

“As both of you held up the picture of Óscar Martinez-Ramirez and his daughter Valeria, we have to be reminded that there is a humanitarian tragedy at our border. And we all should be willing to work together to demonstrate that we support border security, that we support our customs and border patrol, and that we support a humane system that allows for asylum and allows for refugees, and does not detain kids and put them in cages for longer periods as a path towards solving this,” Senator Coons said.

Video and audio available here. 

Senator Coons’ full remarks are below:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am deeply disappointed and upset that we have reached this point today.

As some of you know, this is not my first time working for this committee. I was actually a summer law clerk for then-Chairman Biden back in the early 1990s. And I remember watching the ways in which this committee then and over the decades since and now, as I’ve served on it, has been a place even in deeply divided and bitter partisan times where folks have been able to work together.

Our rules exist for a reason. We adopted them unanimously six months ago. They are difficult. They create a framework. They force us to work together. And I’m struck by why we’re here, given a point that’s been raised several times: Clearly this bill, that’s been forced out of this committee in an inappropriate way, will not see the light of day, will not see the President’s desk. And I’m left asking, why are we here? Why are we doing this today?

I think it is sadly just the latest step down a destructive path of partisan escalation that we have found ourselves on by actions taken by both parties over several Congresses. But I think as both of you held up the picture of Óscar Martinez-Ramirez and his daughter Valeria, we have to be reminded that there is a humanitarian tragedy at our border. And we all should be willing to work together to demonstrate that we support border security, that we support our customs and border patrol, and that we support a humane system that allows for asylum and allows for refugees, and does not detain kids and put them in cages for longer periods as a path towards solving this. 

I don’t see how today’s actions will move us any further down the field. The 2013 process we followed in this committee was literally my proudest moment and experience in this Senate and, I think I quote you in saying, Mr. Chairman, on the floor after the final markup, after the final vote, that it was a day that made you proud to serve in the Senate.

My concern is that we didn’t take up or debate a number of points of order raised by members of the minority. We didn’t take up and debate amendments. It’s not for lack of ideas. We’ve got amendments that could strengthen this bill. We’ve got ways that we can deal with these issues.

My core concern is that our problem is a counter-party with whom you are eagerly and earnestly trying to negotiate who is utterly unreliable on this. I’ll just mention a previous strong bipartisan negotiating effort where on a Tuesday a proposal was accepted and, on a Thursday, rejected.

Without being too pointed, we all went to the floor to take four different votes on immigration policy. And an important, bipartisan effort that I was blessed to be able to take to the floor with our friend, Senator McCain, got only fifty-two votes, despite having sixty bipartisan co-sponsors in the House – a responsible bill that would invest in border security, strengthen immigration judges, deal with the Northern Triangle, a bill that should have passed. 

We are in a very difficult place. This committee should be the bipartisan place where we hammer out solutions and then help the House and help the Executive branch find their way forward. Not the place where we further tear into each other and tear each other apart. I hope that we will find our way back towards each other after this break. But frankly, after this breaking of the rules, I think it will be harder, not easier.

I will commit to working with any member of this committee, Mr. Chairman, who is willing to reach across the aisle and keep trying to find solutions to what is a genuine crisis at our border.

Sens. Coons, McSally introduce legislation to improve the long-term sustainability, safety, and economic viability of U.S. nuclear power

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Martha McSally (R- Ariz.) today introduced legislation that would help curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the economic viability of the current U.S. nuclear fleet by helping nuclear power plants operate longer and more efficiently.

The Nuclear Energy Renewal Act directs the Secretary of the Department of Energy to establish and enhance programs to help reduce the operation and maintenance costs of U.S. nuclear power plants, expand advanced modeling and simulation tools, and bolster research and development. The bill also addresses the shrinking nuclear energy workforce by creating an apprenticeship program to educate the next generation of workers and equip them with the skills necessary for this critical industry.

“Climate change poses an existential threat to our economy, our environment, and our national security,” said Senator Coons. “To address this threat, we need an innovative strategy to reduce emissions and enhance our ability to generate clean and consistent power. In 2017, the U.S. nuclear power fleet produced enough emissions-free energy to prevent the release of 547 million metric tons of CO₂ into our atmosphere. I’m proud that this legislation will allow the Department of Energy to provide nuclear power plants with the requisite tools and research to increase their cost-competitiveness and develop the new technologies they require to operate efficiently.” 

“If we’re serious about reducing our carbon emissions, we need to get serious about nuclear energy,” said Senator McSally. “Arizona’s Palo Verde nuclear plant is the largest in the United States and delivers a substantial amount of carbon-free energy to Americans across the region. A combination of fuels—including nuclear, renewable and fossil—will ensure the U.S. can continue to lead the world in a true all-of-the-above energy strategy.”

“As the nation’s top producer of clean energy, Exelon commends Senators Coons and McSally for their leadership on legislation that supports the largest source of always available, zero-emission energy in the country – nuclear power. We look forward to working with members of Congress on legislation to help advance the future of nuclear energy,”said Kathleen Barrón, Senior Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy, Exelon Corporation. 

“Nuclear carbon-free energy is our nation’s largest source of clean energy. The research conducted under NERA will help us get more out of today’s nuclear reactors and will support America’s innovators in delivering the next generation of nuclear energy technology,” said Maria Korsnick, CEO and President of the Nuclear Energy Institute. 

“Breakthroughs are critical to maintaining American leadership in nuclear energy technology and realizing the enhanced economic, environmental and security benefits nuclear energy can offer,” said Michele Stockwell, BPC Action Executive Director. “This legislation helps to support innovation for existing nuclear reactor designs and the creation of our next generation advanced nuclear reactors. Innovation for both the existing fleet and future technologies are necessary to support the long-term trajectory of our carbon-free nuclear industry.”

“The future of advanced nuclear is really exciting but preserving the existing fleet is also essential to a clean and reliable grid. This legislation will help sustain the existing fleet in a safe and affordable way, while bolstering the domestic supply chain,” said ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell.

A one-pager on the bill is here.

The bill text is available here. 

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Sens. Coons, Gardner introduce legislation to support research on opioid addiction

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) introduced the Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment (EFFORT) Act to support research on opioid addiction. The legislation would direct the National Science Foundation, in consultation with the National Institutes of Health, to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the science of opioid addiction, allowing for further understanding of how to more effectively treat the multiple aspects of opioid addiction. A companion bill was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) and Jim Baird (R-Ind.).

“Opioid-related deaths have reached epidemic levels in Delaware and across the country. It is a crisis that demands we pull every lever at our disposal. That’s why I have been proud to combat the importation of fentanyl, work to ensure better reporting of opioid shipments domestically, and support last year’s bipartisan bill to strengthen the federal response. It is also why I am excited today to introduce this bill that will ensure ongoing investments in critical research and deepen our understanding of the many facets of opioid addiction,” said Senator Coons.

“The opioid epidemic is devastating communities across the nation and has ruined too many lives in Colorado,” said Senator Gardner. “There’s no one solution to ending this crisis, but promoting research to better understand the epidemic and encouraging the development of new tools and treatments for opioid addiction and abuse are meaningful steps. This bipartisan legislation will support research efforts at the National Science Foundation so we can base policy on evidence and work to stop the cycle of opioid addiction.”

Previous research by the NSF on opioid addiction has increased understanding of the neuroscience of addiction, substance abuse intervention, the secondary effects on families, and more. Last year, Senator Coons supported the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act that will provide critical tools to help combat the opioid epidemic. Senators Coons and Gardner also introduced the DEA Clearinghouse Act, which guards against prescription drug diversion.

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Sens. Coons, Graham introduce legislation to hold Saudi government accountable for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced legislation to hold the Saudi government accountable for the murder of U.S. legal resident and Washington Post editorial writer Jamal Khashoggi.  The Saudi Arabia Human Rights and Accountability Act of 2019 requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report identifying Saudi officials responsible for or complicit in the murder of Khashoggi on October 2, 2018, while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.  Anyone identified in that report will be subject to U.S. visa sanctions and unable to travel or visit the United States until the Saudi government improves its human rights record.  The legislation will also require the Secretary of State to report on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, including its treatment of journalists, those who defend religious freedom, and advocates for women’s rights.  The bill is a companion to an effort in the House led by U.S. Representative Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), H.R. 2037, which was passed by the House 405-7 in July.

“We cannot let our foreign policy be dictated solely by narrow economic and security concerns.  Our values are equally if not more important than our interests,” Senator Coons said. “We have a long history with Saudi Arabia but the President has failed to hold the country’s senior leadership to account for the horrendous murder of Jamal Khashoggi.  This legislation will ensure the United States doesn’t turn a blind eye to egregious violations of human rights.”

“This bill is another important message to the Saudis that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi will not go unpunished,” said Senator Graham. “If you played a role in the murder you have no business traveling to the United States.  This bill accomplishes that goal.”

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Carper, Coons Join Colleagues to Reiterate Concerns about Trump Administration’s Lack of Strategy for Central America

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 21 senators to send a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterating their concern about the Trump Administration’s lack of a coherent strategy to address the root causes forcing people from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to flee their homes for the United States. As the Administration continues restricting access to the U.S. asylum system and tries to choke off migration from the Northern Triangle, the actions it has taken thus far are expected to exacerbate the very conditions driving individuals to migrate in the first place.

“We are deeply concerned that, by suspending at least $370 million in foreign assistance toward Central America without an effective strategy to replace the efforts supported by this funding, President Trump is undermining our national security and curtailing efforts to stop drug trafficking, fight criminal organizations, and keep American citizens safe,” wrote the Senators. “At a time when we are witnessing an increasing number of parents and children risking and losing their lives to seek safety, it is imperative that the Trump administration acts swiftly and responsibly.”

U.S. foreign assistance to Central American is not charity; it advances U.S. strategic interests and funds initiatives that protect American citizens by helping lessen violence and instability in Central America, and by strengthening judicial systems, defending human rights, and promoting accountability in the region. In May, Senator Carper joined 30 Democratic colleagues to reintroduce the Central America Reform and Enforcement Act – a major legislative proposal to address the root causes of the Central American migrant crisis.

Joining Senators Carper, Coons and Menendez in sending the letter were Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.),  Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

A copy of the letter can be found here and below.

The Honorable Mike Pompeo

Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State

2201 C Street NW

Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Pompeo:

We write to express our continued concern about the lack of a coherent strategy from the Trump Administration to address the root causes forcing citizens from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to flee their homelands and migrate to the United States. At a time when we are witnessing an increasing number of parents and children risking and losing their lives to seek safety, it is imperative that the Trump Administration act swiftly and responsibly. Additionally, nearly four months after President Trump announced the suspension of United States foreign assistance to these three countries, we have yet to receive information on how the Administration intends to tackle the high levels of violence, instability, and hardship that force these individuals to embark on the dangerous journey to the United States.

As you know, the purpose of U.S. national security funding for El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala is to protect the United States and its citizens and advance American interests, including supporting efforts to mitigate the factors driving irregular migration. This assistance supports joint law enforcement programs between the U.S. State Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to combat drug trafficking, as well as State Department-supported efforts by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and police forces in these three countries to combat violent gangs.[1] In this context, we are deeply concerned that, by suspending at least $370 million in foreign assistance to Central America without an effective strategy to replace the efforts supported by this funding, President Trump is undermining our national security and curtailing efforts to stop drug trafficking, fight criminal organizations, and keep American citizens safe.

U.S. foreign assistance to Central America also plays an important role in supporting communities affected by violence, strengthening judicial systems, defending human rights, promoting accountability, improving governance, reducing corruption, and advancing economic reforms. These initiatives have enjoyed bipartisan consensus since their inception because they work to improve conditions in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, empowering citizens of those countries to find safety and economic opportunities at home, rather than being pressured to migrate to the United States. In fact, the Trump Administration had acknowledged the effectiveness of these programs and in nine different reports sent to Congress, the State Department certified that certain benchmarks were being met. To that end, we remain deeply troubled by the President’s actions, which will likely exacerbate conditions in Central America and increase irregular migration from these countries to the United States.

In May of this year, a group of 35 Democratic Senators reintroduced the Central America Reform and Enforcement Act[2], which supports smart, effective, and humane border security approaches, provides a fair and legal process for children and families seeking asylum, and continues funding to address the root causes of violence and poverty in Central America. It is undeniable that, instead of using threats and forceful tactics against our neighbors, any effective plan to address irregular migration must include a strategy to tackle the root causes that are forcing individuals to flee in the first place.

It is critical that the Trump administration adopt a responsible and humane approach toward addressing this crisis. We urge you to work with Congress to present a real plan that addresses this situation in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

CC:

The Honorable Kimberly Breier

Assistant Secretary of State

Western Hemisphere Affairs

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ICYMI: Sen. Coons in the Cape Gazette: “Let’s work together to fix our health care system, not sabotage it”

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published an op-ed in the Cape Gazette on the importance of working together to fix our health care system. Senator Coons’ op-ed can be found here.

Cape Gazette: Let’s work together to fix our health care system, not sabotage it

By U.S. Senator Chris Coons

Over the past few months, I’ve spoken with Delawareans at town hall events up and down our state, and whether I’m in Georgetown, Delaware City or Newark, I hear the same thing time and time again: Put politics aside, work together, and get things done.  

To every Delawarean who feels that way: I hear you, loud and clear, and I couldn’t agree more, because if we do work together, we can actually make changes that will benefit all American families. That’s particularly true when it comes to improving our health care system. 

I wasn’t in the Senate when the Affordable Care Act was passed, and I know it’s not perfect, but I firmly believe that instead of scrapping the progress we’ve made to strengthen the quality of health insurance and give more people access to coverage, we should work together to keep improving it.

For the full column, click here.

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Following visit to southern border, Sen. Coons demands Trump Administration immediately address inadequate care for children, health and safety standards, and more

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and additional colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan outlining serious concerns regarding the conditions at the southern border that the Trump Administration’s policies have exacerbated, and demand the administration immediately answer and remedy several issues that the Senators observed on their recent trip to the Rio Grande Valley.

In the letter, the Senators note that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently found that the detention conditions in CBP facilities are not in compliance with the Flores agreement or Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search (TEDS) standards, and “represent an immediate risk to the health and safety of DHS agents and officers, and to those detained.” The letter outlines the Senators’ expectations, specifically the responsibility to ensure that all women, men, and children in the custody of the United States government are treated humanely. 

The Senators requested for the administration to provide immediate answers to issues that have been reported and witnessed firsthand at the Donna Holding Facility, McAllen Border Patrol Station, and Ursula Centralized Processing Center, including migrants not being able to communicate with family members while in custody, migrants not being able to engage in basic hygiene, migrants reporting sexual abuse or mistreatment, migrant children not getting enough food to eat, and migrants receiving Notices to Appear that were only in English and lacking any address. The Senators also demanded answers to the lack of child care and child welfare professionals at the detention facilities they visited, as well as details regarding the medical screening process for detained children. Importantly, the Senators highlighted the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center’s model for working with migrant children and families. 

The letter was signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD). 

Senate Democrats’ letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan can be found here and below: 

July 25, 2019

The Honorable Kevin K. McAleenan

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

245 Murray Lane, S.W.

Washington, DC 20528

Mark Morgan

Acting Commissioner

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20229

Dear Acting Secretary McAleenan and Acting Commissioner Morgan:

We write to express our serious concerns regarding the humanitarian crisis at the southern border that this administration’s policies have exacerbated, to call your attention to several issues that we observed on our recent visit to the Rio Grande Valley, and to confirm that you will address and remedy these issues promptly.

On July 19, 2019, we traveled to the southern border to observe for ourselves the conditions detained migrants are experiencing at the Donna Holding Facility, McAllen Border Patrol Station, and Ursula Centralized Processing Center.  We appreciate that you joined us on this trip and afforded us broad access at the facilities we visited, and we appreciate the CBP personnel who facilitated our visit and understand the current situation on the border is challenging.  Our visit followed the July 2, 2019 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General’s report, which called on DHS “to take immediate steps to alleviate dangerous overcrowding and prolonged detention of children and adults in the Rio Grande Valley.”^[1]  The Office of Inspector General found that the detention conditions in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities are not in compliance with the Flores agreement or TEDS standards, and “represent an immediate risk to the health and safety of DHS agents and officers, and to those detained.”^[2]  In fact, the Office of Inspector General noted that a senior manager at one of the facilities called the situation “a ticking time bomb.”^[3]

We have a responsibility to ensure that all women, men, and children in the custody of the United States government are treated humanely.  They should not be characterized as criminals when, as you recognized, only a small percentage of individuals in detention have any documented criminal background.  Our nation can and must do better.

Specifically, we request that you address and remedy the following issues as soon as possible:

1.         The quality of the water at the McAllen Border Patrol Station is poor and was described as excessively chlorinated by detained migrants.  Bottled water was not available to detained migrants.  Please indicate how you will improve the quality of the water that is currently available. 

2.         Migrants informed us that they were not given access to telephones to make any calls.  Many single adult women had been detained for over a month and wanted to call family to inform them of their wellbeing.  You specifically committed to remedy this issue.  Please describe what access to phone calls migrants will have going forward.  Will migrants be given a schedule indicating when they will have an opportunity to place phone calls?

3.         Migrants repeatedly expressed to us that they were unable to communicate with family members while in custody.  One woman told us that a relative had been taken for medical care and had not returned, and she did not know her whereabouts.  Another woman’s husband was detained in the same facility, and she said she had not been provided any communication with him.  Please describe what communication between family members at the same detention facility is facilitated by CBP.  What communication between family members at different detention centers is facilitated by CBP?  What type of update is provided to detainees whose family members have been transported for medical care?

4.         Migrant children continue to report not getting enough food to eat or receiving food late at night.  Please confirm that migrant children are receiving meals that comply with child nutrition guidelines and provide the meal schedule and plan for CBP detention facilities.  Please include if the meals are hot and if children have regular access to snacks, milk, and juice.

5.         We saw and heard that the lights are on in CBP detention facilities 24-hours a day, including in rooms where migrants sleep.  Would you be willing to darken rooms in CBP detention facilities that house children so that migrant children are able to sleep? 

6.         Some migrants, including migrant children, indicated that they were not able to engage in basic hygiene while in CBP custody.  Please explain whether migrants in detention are provided a schedule indicating when they will have opportunities to shower and brush their teeth.

7.         We are especially concerned about female migrants’ detention conditions.  Single women detainees indicated that they were not provided undergarments and regular access to feminine hygiene items.  Please indicate what undergarments and hygiene products adult women in detention are provided while detained.  Please also indicate if female detainees have access to a private place to change clothes and go to the bathroom. 

8.         According to news reports, a disturbing number of migrants have asserted that they experienced harassment, sexual abuse, or mistreatment while in CBP custody.  Is there a safe, confidential way for migrants to report harassment, sexual abuse, or mistreatment by CBP personnel or other migrants?  Please include information regarding the process to report such claims. 

9.         Given that serious detention conditions issues came to light as a result of reports by the Office of Inspector General and Flores monitors, we believe that more frequent independent monitoring of CBP facilities is required to rebuild confidence that migrants in the care of the government will be treated humanely.  Will you support more frequent independent monitoring of CBP facilities?  If not, please state the reasons for denying access.

10.       There were no child care or child welfare professionals at the detention facilities we visited, even though Donna Holding Facility and Ursula Centralized Processing Center house migrant children (including infants and toddlers) for days or weeks at a time.  Research cited by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that migrant children in these facilities may be at increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and other behavioral problems, as well as long term psychological trauma as a result of this detention. CBP officers are currently tasked with responsibilities that they are not best trained or equipped to handle, and we share the goal of returning officers to their original mission of securing the border.  You indicated that you would like to contract with child care and child welfare professionals.  How will you make pediatric and adolescent mental and behavioral health professionals, including bilingual professionals, available to migrant children in order to mitigate these risks?  In addition, are migrant children with existing mental or behavioral health conditions being treated by health care professionals, including for trauma experienced prior to their arrival at a detention facility?  Please outline what steps are being taken to prevent migrant children from developing the psychological conditions listed above by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

11.       We appreciate that CBP has increased the number of medical professionals working in detention facilities, and we understand that all migrants are afforded a medical screening as part of the CBP intake process.  Please describe in detail what is encompassed in this medical screening, who conducts the screening, how many individuals conduct the screening, and how medical records are preserved. 

12.       Given the preventable illnesses that have spread among children in detention facilities, we are particularly concerned about the medical screening of detained children.  When a child is given a medical screening, does the person performing the screening speak with both the child and the child’s accompanying family member?  Are border patrol agents or other staff trained to look for signs of medical distress in children?  Are pediatric medical professionals on site at all facilities holding children for any length of time? If so, what is the ratio of pediatric medical professionals to migrant children at CBP facilities?

13.       We are concerned about the prolonged detention of migrants and the inability of CBP to tell us how many children have been in custody longer than 72 hours.  Please describe how CBP maintains this data, tell us how long the migrants currently in custody have been in detention, and provide the number of children who have been in CBP custody for longer than 72 hours.  Are migrants given periodic updates about their status and timeline for release?

14.       We observed that when processed, several migrants were given Notices to Appear that were only in English and did not contain a date, time, or address where the recipient was instructed to appear for judicial proceedings.  Please confirm that all Notices to Appear issued at the southern border will include Spanish versions and complete information going forward.

15.       When in place before it was terminated in 2017, the Family Case Management Program achieved a compliance rate of 99 percent for ICE check-ins and 100 percent attendance at court hearings, at an estimated cost of approximately $36 per person per day, versus approximately $319 for an ICE family detention bed.  In the FY19 Omnibus signed into law in February, Congress directed ICE to prioritize the use of Alternatives To Detention (ATD) programs for families.  Congress increased funding for ATD and provided $30.5 million in funding for Family Case Management.  How are you using those funds and what is the status of the Family Case Management Program?

16.       We visited the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center, where migrants get clean clothes, a hygiene kit, a hot shower, and a hot meal.  Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center often learns that migrants will be released to their facility with little time to prepare for their arrival, and the number of migrants varies significantly from day to day; it can range from a few hundred to over one thousand migrants.  Will you work with Catholic Charities and other nonprofits serving this population to provide more notice on the timing of release and coordinate with them to the greatest extent possible?  Will you work on improved coordination between Border Patrol and ICE for transportation and/or release of migrants from CBP custody?

17.       Do you anticipate that nonprofits like Catholic Charities will be eligible and approved for grants from the $30 million allocated to FEMA grants in the border supplemental that Congress passed?

18.       Given that major NGOs with experience responding to the needs of children during humanitarian crises stand ready to assist, have they been allowed to provide direct services to children in CBP custody? If not, what is the timeline for allowing such access? 

We look forward to your response to these inquiries by August 1, 2019.  In addition to responding in writing, we ask that you provide a telephonic briefing for Members no later than August 10, 2019, that outlines the administration’s plan for addressing the remaining concerns laid out in this letter. 

Sincerely,

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Sen. Coons introduces new, bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank for 10 years

WILMINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-W.A.), Roy Blunt (R-M.O.), Patty Murray (D-W.A.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in introducing a new a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank for 10 years. The bank is set to expire on September 30th.    

“Delaware businesses rely on the Export-Import Bank to access foreign markets, boost sales, and create good jobs here at home,”said Senator Coons. “The Ex-Im Bank is exactly the kind of tool that American businesses need to compete in an increasingly global economy, and I’m proud to work with both Republican and Democratic colleagues to ensure that Ex-Im can help American businesses for years to come.”

Background:

Unless Congress takes action, the Export-Import Bank will expire on September 30th. This bipartisan bill includes a 10-year extension of the Export-Import Bank’s authority, which would be the longest ever enacted. The legislation provides for a quorum fix to ensure American exporters do not lose out on job-creating deals due to Congressional gridlock. The Bank lost its quorum in mid-2015, rendering it unable to consider major deals or implement necessary reforms to protect taxpayers and modernize its operations. The Senate finally restored a quorum last May. The bipartisan plan also increases the Export-Import Bank’s exposure cap over 7 years to $175 billion, ensuring the Bank can help close our trade deficit and compete with countries like China.

Click here to read the text of the bill.

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Sens. Coons and Feinstein, Rep. Panetta introduce bill to price carbon pollution, invest in infrastructure, R&D, and working families

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Cal.) today introduced legislation to address climate change while paying a monthly dividend to American families, rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, investing in research and development, and providing transition assistance to workers and communities.

The Climate Action Rebate Act places an increasing price on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, designed to drive down pollution and encourage market-driven innovation in clean energy technologies.

“Climate change poses an existential threat to our economy, our environment, and our national security,” said Senator Coons. “To address this threat, we need an innovative strategy that can reduce emissions and generate economic growth, not hinder it. I’m proud that this legislation will create a cleaner environment, while investing revenue directly into workers, families, and communities – helping to spur innovation, create new jobs, and ease the transition to a cleaner energy future. I am hopeful that we will continue to have bipartisan conversations about addressing this issue.”

“Americans want more options to purchase clean, affordable energy. By placing a price on carbon, our bill encourages energy companies to take climate change seriously and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. It also provides families with a monthly dividend to offset price increases as we transition to cleaner alternatives,” said Senator Feinstein. This is a commonsense approach to cut carbon emissions by 100 percent by 2050, and I’m proud to join with Senator Coons and Representative Panetta to introduce it.”

“Climate change is a severe and serious threat to our coastal communities, agricultural economies, public health, and national security.  It’s beyond time for our government to do its part to respond to this crisis by reducing carbon emissions and promoting a financially feasible transition to a clean energy economy,” said Congressman Panetta. “The Climate Action Rebate Act will allow us to set and meet long-term goals to combat climate change while investing in infrastructure, inventing efficient green technologies, furthering sustainable agriculture, and advancing American families and communities.”

Leading economists agree that placing a price on carbon is the most effective and efficient policy to reduce emissions and address climate change. The Climate Action Rebate Act is designed to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 55 percent over the first 10 years, while achieving additional reductions through forward-looking investments in cleaner infrastructure and energy research and development.

The majority of revenues received from the legislation will be returned directly to the American people in the form of a monthly dividend to households with incomes below $150,000, protecting energy consumers and low- and middle-income Americans. The remainder of the revenue will be directed toward programs that support climate-resilient infrastructure, energy innovation, and assistance for vulnerable workers and communities.

The Climate Action Rebate Act is supported by a wide range of groups including Ceres, the Environmental Defense Fund, American Council on Renewable Energy, DuPont, PG&E, Exelon, and the National Wildlife Federation.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

A section-by-section is available here.

Support for the Climate Action Rebate Act:

“We applaud Sen. Coons, Sen. Feinstein, and Rep. Panetta for their thoughtful leadership on common-sense solutions to climate change,” said Anne Kelly, Vice President of Government Relations at Ceres. “Investors and companies across all sectors of the economy recognize the need for ambitious, market-based policies to drive down emissions. A meaningful and well-designed price on carbon is an essential element of an overall policy response from Congress. The Climate Action Rebate Act shows a real understanding of the need to decarbonize our economy by midcentury to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Its emphasis on returning most of the money raised to all Americans and investing in infrastructure and communities is a balanced approach that deserves serious consideration in Congress.”

“Every day we see new examples of the serious damage that climate change is doing across the country, and new evidence that we have to move quickly to protect Americans families and communities,” said Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President of Political Affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Sadly, we are also seeing the continuing disregard the President and his Administration have for the current and future health of Americans.  Fortunately, we’re seeing renewed momentum to find climate change solutions – on Capitol Hill and around the country. We appreciate the leadership of Senators Coons and Feinstein on this critical issue.”

“We congratulate Senator Coons, Senator Feinstein and Representative Panetta on the introduction of The Climate Action Rebate Act,” said Gregory Wetstone, President and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). “By ensuring power prices reflect the true social and environmental costs of greenhouse gas pollution, this legislation would go a long way toward leveling the playing field for renewable energy in the electricity marketplace. ACORE welcomes the opportunity to work with Senator Coons, Senator Feinstein, Representative Panetta and others in Congress as the Climate Action Rebate Act advances through the legislative process.”

“DuPont fully supports the development of federal policy on climate change,” said Marc Doyle, Chief Executive Officer for DuPont. “At DuPont, our science and innovation are inextricably linked with sustainability practices that deliver specialized materials that contribute to a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. We believe strong, consistent policy measures and a cohesive regulatory environment are needed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and foster innovation, investment and economic growth. Sen. Coons’ introduction of the Climate Action Rebate Act is an important step forward in the climate policy debate.”

“The Friends Committee on National Legislation applauds the introduction of the Senator Coons’ Climate Action Rebate Act. Congress has a moral obligation to advance bipartisan climate solutions. We appreciate the thoughtful approach with which this legislation was crafted, and are grateful that it prioritizes low and middle-income families while protecting vulnerable communities and workers,” explained Emily Wirzba, FCNL’s Sustainable Energy and Environment Legislative Manager. “We look forward to advancing carbon pricing legislation as one serious tool Congress can use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, finance energy innovation, and secure transition assistance for those most impacted.”

“Senators Coons’ and Feinstein’s and Representative Panetta’s legislation to create a national system of emissions pricing is an important step to drive clean energy innovation,” said ITIF President Robert D. Atkinson. “The bill establishes a strong linkage between the “pull” exerted on innovation by putting a price on carbon emissions and the “push” required to improve clean energy technologies by dedicating part of the revenue raised to federal energy innovation programs.”

“Putting a price on dirty fossil fuels is essential to protecting all Americans from toxic air pollution and the growing threat of climate-related disasters. This bill promotes health equity by investing in resilient health care infrastructure, ensuring hospitals in every community are prepared for the impacts of climate change and ready to serve their communities,” said Gary Cohen, President and Co-Founder, Health Care Without Harm.

“Clean Air Task Force applauds Senator Coons for introducing the Climate Action Rebate Act,” said Armond Cohen, Executive Director of Clean Air Task Force. “In order to decarbonize our global energy system, the US must lead in setting reduction targets that will get us to zero carbon emissions and in developing and deploying the technologies that will form the new system. If enacted, the Climate Action Rebate Act will help prompt innovation by funding technology development and provide the certainty investors need to drive more private capital into zero carbon technologies.”

 “As the nation’s largest producer of emissions-free energy, Exelon has long supported action on climate change because we firmly believe it is essential to protect the well-being of our customers and all Americans,” said Kathleen Barron, Exelon Corporation’s Senior Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy. “A carbon dividends policy that returns proceeds to consumers will unleash innovation and investment in new and existing technologies and put us on course to reduce emissions in the fastest and most economical way possible, while also protecting American jobs and the security of our energy supply.”

“Meeting the challenge of climate change while providing affordable energy for all customers is central to PG&E’s mission,” said John Simon, Executive Vice President, Law, Strategy and Policy, PG&E Corporation. “PG&E is a proud partner with California in its leadership and pursuit of aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals, proving that we can put an economy-wide, well-designed price on carbon in place and grow the economy at the same time. Yet California represents just 1 percent of global emissions, making a comprehensive federal solution necessary to mitigate the severity of climate change and its impacts, and drive innovation and investment in new technologies. To that end, PG&E applauds the leadership of Senator Feinstein, Senator Coons and Representative Panetta on the important issue of climate change through the introduction of the “Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019.” We appreciate their efforts and look forward to our continued engagement on policies that reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in the most cost-effective, efficient way possible, while recognizing the valuable contributions and lessons learned in California.”

“Addressing the climate crisis and the increasingly devastating fires, floods, storms and heatwaves it fuels will require ambitious and creative solutions,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Senators Coons and Feinstein’s new Climate Action Rebate Act is an innovative, market-based and equitable approach to reducing carbon emissions. The bill supports the revitalization of frontline communities and incentivizes the technologies and strategies necessary in all sectors to comprehensively address climate change. We encourage the Senate to begin debating bills like the Climate Action Rebate Act as part of a comprehensive effort to reduce emissions and bolster resilience to stave off escalating health, safety, and security climate impacts.”

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Sen. Coons Opposes Trump Admin Proposal to Shut Down U.S. Refugee Program

Wilmington, DE – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Judiciary Committees, released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration is considering blocking all refugee admissions to the U.S. next year.

“I’m gravely concerned by reports that the Trump Administration is seriously considering completely shutting down our nation’s refugee resettlement program after sharply cutting it last year to fewer than 30,000 per year.  We have a proud history of welcoming refugees from around the world which has helped us earn our global reputation as a beacon of freedom for those fleeing persecution and oppression.  

“The main refugee resettlement agencies in our country are faith-based non-profits that support refugees as an expression of how welcoming the stranger in distress is a core part of many faiths and of our national history.  Shutting down all refugee admissions will do lasting harm to these vital agencies and their long legacies of charitable service.   

“In recent years, America has also welcomed thousands of brave Iraqi translators who risked their lives to help U.S. forces fighting in their home country through the refugee resettlement program, and they and many others who have waited years for admission to our country will be harmed by this abrupt change in policy.

“Turning away refugees will not make us safer, but will weaken our standing in the world.  The United States has in place thorough protocols to vet refugees, and the Administration should focus on real threats to our national security instead of turning away innocent men, women, and children fleeing persecution. I strongly urge the Administration to reconsider this decision and act to ensure our refugee program remains intact.”

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