Senators Coons, Wicker introduce bill to better financially protect poultry growers against avian flu outbreaks

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) yesterday introduced the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act (HPAI ACT) to ensure that all poultry growers and laying operations in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) control areas whose operations are affected receive compensation. This bill was

“As avian flu cases rise in Delaware, it’s vital that we have smart policies in place that protect Delaware’s independent family farmers and poultry growers both medically and financially. As it stands, blind spots in our HPAI compensation program punish growers for culling flu-free flocks,” said Senator Coons. “As co-Chair of the Senate Chicken Caucus, I hope that including this bipartisan solution in the next Farm Bill will provide a lifeline to all hardworking farmers who do their part in helping us contain disease outbreaks by offering them fair and immediate financial relief, allowing them to recover quickly and assisting them in maintaining the strength of our essential poultry supply chains.”

“Farmers play a significant role in providing our nation with food and protecting our national security,” said Senator Wicker. “Unexpected avian flu outbreaks harm the poultry industry, put farmers at risk for financial hardship, and drive up the cost of chicken and eggs at the grocery store. Since the initial outbreak in 2022, HPAI has led to the loss of a record 156 million birds across the United States. This bipartisan legislation would ensure farmers are compensated for their work to contain these outbreaks.”

“The current wave of Bird Flu outbreaks is leaving our farming communities twisting in the wind,” said Congressman Mark Alford. “When poultry operations test positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, the federal government makes growers whole for lost revenue. The Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act will level the playing field by ensuring poultry growers and layer operations—who are impacted by USDA control zones put in place even though their own birds never tested positive—also qualify for indemnity payments. I’m proud to once again co-lead this critical bipartisan legislation to support Missouri’s agriculture community.”

“The San Joaquin Valley is the heart of California agriculture, and our poultry farmers are on the front lines of the avian flu crisis. When they face challenges, we all pay the price—from farms to grocery stores. That’s why I’m leading the charge with the HPAI Act to provide real relief, protect our food supply, and ensure the farmers who feed America get the support they deserve,” said Congressman Jim Costa.

Under the current policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), when an HPAI case is discovered, all poultry farms located within a 10-kilometer radius of the case are banned from placing flocks until the virus is contained. Afterward, all growers who have positive tests in their flocks receive compensation from the USDA, but not those within the control area whose flocks don’t contract HPAI. This creates a perverse incentive: once a control area is established, it is preferable for poultry operations within the area to have HPAI cases, as otherwise they will not receive compensation afterward despite undergoing many of the same financial struggles. This bill would rectify that so all growers in the control area are duly compensated. 

Since the start of the HPAI outbreak in 2022, bird flu has affected 153 million birds in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. This has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to poultry growers and layer operations, driving food inflation even higher for Americans’ most cost-effective animal protein sources. 

In addition to Senators Coons and Wicker, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Specifically, the HPAI Act would:

• Expand USDA-APHIS compensation to all poultry farmers in an HPAI control area. The program currently only compensates farmers whose flocks test positive, not those in the control area who are disallowed from placing flocks until the virus is contained, which sometimes takes months. 
• Simplify the calculation of indemnity. The payments to farmers will be calculated based on the average income they earned from the last five flocks. This method is more transparent and ensures that farmers will not face a cash shortfall in the face of an HPAI outbreak in their area.

This legislation is endorsed by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, the Delmarva Chicken Association, the National Chicken Council, the United Egg Producers, the Delta Council, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Turkey Federation.

The full bill text is available here.

A one-pager is available here. 

Senator Coons and Senator Wicker are the co-Chairs of the Senate Chicken Caucus.

Senator Coons statement on Atlantic story

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement today in response to today’s article in The Atlantic entitled “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans:”

“Jeffrey Goldberg’s reporting in The Atlantic calls for a prompt and thorough investigation. If senior advisors to President Trump in fact used non-secure, non-government systems to discuss and convey detailed war plans, it’s a shocking breach of the standards for sharing classified information that could have put American servicemembers at risk. There needs to be an oversight hearing and accountability for these actions.”

Senators Coons, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen medical supply chains

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) introduced the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act, bipartisan legislation to jump start trade negotiations to ensure that hospitals, doctors, and patients have access to critical medical goods. U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) introduced companion legislation in the House. 

“Life-threatening shortages of testing kits, drugs, and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how fragile our medical supply chains are. If we are caught off-guard like we were during COVID once again, more Americans will die,” said Senator Coons. “Working with our most trusted trading partners to make our supply chains more resilient will strengthen our response to future public health emergencies while ensuring that health care providers have access to essential medical products and patients have access to life-saving care.”

“The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is a critical step toward ensuring that America’s healthcare providers have reliable access to the essential supplies they need,” said Senator Tillis. “By strengthening trade partnerships with our allies and expanding domestic manufacturing, we can enhance our nation’s preparedness for future health challenges. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to reinforce our medical supply chains and protect public health.” 

“America’s medical supply chains rely heavily on China, posing risks to U.S. national security and public health,” said Senator Bennet. “Our bipartisan bill will address this vulnerability by authorizing the president to deepen relationships with our trading partners.”

“During the pandemic, the U.S. faced severe shortages of medical supplies due to overreliance on foreign adversaries like China,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would allow the U.S. to engage in trade negotiations with trusted allies for medical goods and services, helping ensure we’re better prepared to respond to future global health crises.”

“The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is the type of positive approach to trade America must embrace to deepen its economic partnerships with key allies,” said Brad Wood, Senior Director for Trade and Innovation Policy, National Foreign Trade Council.“By empowering the United States Trade Representative to negotiate new agreements with trusted trade partners, the United States has the opportunity to strengthen supply chain security, support U.S. innovation and jobs, and, ultimately, improve health outcomes. It is critically important that the United States collaborate with its allies to support the public health demands of our populations and prepare to meet the challenges of the next global health emergency. NFTC applauds Senators Tillis, Coons, Cornyn, and Bennet for championing this legislation, and urges Congress to support its swift passage.”

“Premier commends Senators Thom Tillis, Chris Coons, John Cornyn and Michael Bennet and Representatives Brad Schneider and Nicole Malliotakis for their bipartisan leadership in reinforcing the resilience of our nation’s healthcare supply chain,” said Soumi Saha, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Premier Inc. “Building a stronger, more sustainable, and secure supply chain demands a balanced approach – expanding domestic manufacturing while fostering strategic trade partnerships. The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is a critical step toward this goal by enabling the designation of trusted trade partners to diversify sourcing for medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Ensuring providers have reliable access to the essential supplies needed to deliver quality patient care is a paramount priority for our nation.”

“The Chamber strongly supports the Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act, which will strengthen supply chains for medical goods and services while bolstering manufacturing in the U.S. and among our close allies and partners,” said John Murphy, Senior Vice President for International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Enhancing the resilience of medical supply chains is important to both our public health and our national security. The bill would direct the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate trade agreements with trusted allies to eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers that weaken the U.S. medical goods manufacturing base and that of our allies. These agreements would also support intellectual property protection, regulatory cooperation, and collaboration on public and private R&D efforts. Only close allies and partners would qualify for such agreements. Close consultation with the legislative branch would be essential, and Congress would retain a right to disapprove any agreements. This is practical legislation that, if enacted, will apply lessons learned in the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen America’s health preparedness. The Chamber urges Congress to pass it into law.”

“Authorizing the administration to negotiate meaningful trade agreements with trusted partners, including the European Union, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, would reduce trade barriers and strengthen medical supply chains. The biopharmaceutical industry, whose exports exceeded $101 billion in 2023, welcomes the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act and encourages the administration to embrace this pathway to expand trade with allies,” said PhRMA. 

The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges for supply chains around the world, disproportionately hampering health care providers’ access to medical devices, treatments, and equipment at a time when these products were desperately needed. By expanding U.S. engagement with our allies across the globe, this legislation would combat shortages of medical products and supplies by strengthening supply chain resiliency and safeguarding against future health crises. 

You can read the full text of the bill here.

Senators Coons, McCormick introduce bipartisan, bicameral bill to combat the flow of fentanyl

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) introduced the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025 to combat the flow of fentanyl coming into American communities that is killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. This legislation would improve federal coordination to?combat this crisis, with a particular focus of responding to China’s central role in producing fentanyl precursors and laundering drug money.

In addition to Senators Coons and McCormick, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) cosponsored the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Fentanyl?continues to claim lives every day and?devastate?communities in Delaware and across the country,” said Senator Coons. “We know China is contributing to this crisis, and I’m proud to support the introduction of this bipartisan bill to determine how agencies can best coordinate to eliminate redundancies, maintain safeguards, and make our law enforcement efforts to address China’s role as effective as possible.”

“Fentanyl killed nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year and over 200 Americans each day,” said Senator McCormick. “This legislation would empower our federal government to coordinate all the tools at its disposal to combat the trafficking of lethal fentanyl that is ruining American families. I’ve heard from too many families who have lost their loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, I refuse to allow it to continue.”

“The CCP is the leading force behind the fentanyl crisis, and the United States is failing to respond while they profit from the loss of American lives. This Joint Task Force will pool resources across the federal government and respond to this crisis with everything from sanctions to joint drug raids to keep this deadly substance out of our communities,” said Representative Newhouse. “This task force will help President Trump and his administration accomplish his goal of stopping the flow of fentanyl from China across our northern and southern borders.”

“The U.S. government must take decisive action at every link of the illegal synthetic narcotic supply chain, beginning with China,” said Representative Auchincloss. “This Task Force would provide a coordinated framework to hold bad actors accountable for the state-sanctioned poisoning of Americans.”

Improving federal coordination is critical to combatting fentanyl. This legislation establishes a Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics, which will be composed of representatives from the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and any other agency deemed appropriate. Together, these agencies can conduct joint operations, enforce sanctions, disrupt trafficking networks, and address the central role of the People’s Republic of China in the opioid crisis.

As Co-Chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, Senator Coons has worked across the aisle in the Senate to address America’s fentanyl crisis. He introduced the bipartisan Fentanyl Safe Testing and Overdose Prevention Act with Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) in 2023, which aims to prevent deaths from fentanyl poisoning by increasing access to fentanyl test strips. Senator Coons also hosted a Senate Law Enforcement Caucus roundtable last year with Senator Cornyn to hear on-the-ground perspectives on the fentanyl and xylazine crises from Delaware and Texas and discuss ways to support law enforcement and public health officials. He also introduced a resolution designating May 7, 2024, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to raise awareness and educate the public regarding the dangers posed by counterfeit fentanyl pills.

Senator Coons statement on funding bill vote

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement after voting against cloture on the Republican continuing resolution:

“Today, we went to the Senate floor needing to choose between two awful options. We could move forward on a disastrous funding bill that enables Elon Musk’s and President Trump’s ongoing teardown of the government and cuts billions of dollars from defense spending, or we could shut down the government, furloughing hundreds of thousands of federal employees who are already concerned about their job security, and potentially even the courts that are currently the sole check on their power.

“This was a false choice. There was always a third option: letting the appropriators do their jobs, finish the nearly completed FY25 spending process, and give the American people a bipartisan solution that would allow them to feel confidence in their government. This is the option that we should have taken, and the option that I have spent weeks pushing for. Republican leadership refused to entertain this idea.

“Given the two choices before us this afternoon, I voted to block the Republican funding bill that enables Musk’s and Trump’s piecemeal government shutdown. Some of my Democratic colleagues chose differently, and I respect their decision. Blame doesn’t lie with Democrats who were forced to choose between two terrible outcomes. It belongs to Trump and his allies in Congress who rammed through a partisan, hardline spending bill so they can move on to their priority of cutting Medicaid to pass more tax cuts for billionaires, and my Republican colleagues who would rather consign themselves to irrelevance than protect their constitutional appropriations responsibility from executive overreach. 

“Our nation deserves better than flawed processes that lead to terrible outcomes like we’re seeing today. We need to empower appropriators, work together in a bipartisan way to negotiate our spending bills, and complete the FY26 appropriations process smoothly and swiftly.”

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

Senators Coons, Tillis introduce legislation to increase use of low-emissions concrete and asphalt

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) today introduced the Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act of 2025 to accelerate the use of low-emissions concrete and asphalt. The bill would direct federal resources to encourage research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of low-emission concrete and asphalt technologies. It would also require the executive branch to establish a strategic plan for government agency coordination. A House version of this bill is led by U.S. Representatives Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and Max Miller (R-Ohio). In addition to Senators Coons and Tillis, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.).

Concrete is the most used building material on earth. Globally, 18 billion tons of concrete are produced each year, accounting for 8% of worldwide emissions. Increasing the use of concrete and asphalt that produces fewer emissions will slow the impact of climate change and enhance America’s economic competitiveness.

“Reducing emissions and the energy used to produce the world’s most plentiful building material will improve the environment and promote American leadership in manufacturing. Now is the time to cement our gains in production technology and to deliver the concrete benefits that will result in cleaner construction,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to re-introduce this legislation with Senator Tillis that will create jobs and help us meet our climate goals.” 

“The Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act is a smart, bipartisan investment in America’s industrial future, and it will strengthen domestic manufacturing, create jobs, and reduce emissions,” said Senator Tillis. “I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation that ensures American-made materials remain at the forefront of innovation.”

“The U.S. is leading the way in innovation of cement, concrete, and asphalt production, and we have a critical opportunity to reinvigorate our nation’s transportation infrastructure while making significant strides to reduce global emissions,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “The IMPACT Act 2.0, alongside the IMPACT Act and the Senate’s Concrete & Asphalt Innovation Act, will bolster efforts to modernize and deploy clean technologies in the industrial sector while enhancing the competitiveness of American-made innovation. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan, first-of-its-kind legislation alongside Congressman Max Miller, and with bicameral support from Senator Coons and Senator Tillis, to take us one step closer to achieving our goals for a more sustainable planet while creating good-paying jobs here at home. As a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I also invite my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in supporting these bipartisan efforts to innovate our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure during the upcoming reauthorization process.”

“America has become over-reliant on foreign imports of materials like concrete, cement, and asphalt—the building blocks of much of our society,” said Congressman Miller. “I’m proud to support this legislation to reinvigorate and expand American industry and production capacity, and of course, create jobs. America makes things cleaner and better than anywhere else in the word, and this legislation will help us to do more of that.”

The Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act of 2025 would:

• Create a low-emissions concrete and asphalt research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) program. 
• Leverage Manufacturing USA institutes to support development and testing of low-emissions concrete and asphalt. 
• Provide performance-based, low-emissions transportation materials grants through the Federal Highway Administration.
• Authorize state departments of transportation to make advance purchase commitments for low-emissions concrete and asphalt. 
• Form an interagency task force for concrete and asphalt innovation. 

“The reintroduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act (CAIA) in the Senate, and IMPACT 2.0 in the House highlights a clear consensus on the need to support American manufacturing by unlocking investments and accelerating innovation in the U.S. cement, concrete, and asphalt sectors. CAIA, IMPACT and IMPACT 2.0 will support producers by streamlining regulation and providing clear market signals to bring cutting-edge technologies to market faster. This will enable the U.S. to remain a dominant leader in manufacturing and meet growing global demand for these materials. We commend Senators Coons and Tillis, and Representatives Miller and Foushee for their bipartisan leadership,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action.

“The Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act provides critical tools needed to decarbonize concrete, cement, and asphalt while ensuring continued U.S. leadership in the production of materials that are vital to the buildings and infrastructure that supports our economy. Importantly, the legislation recognizes the role that the federal and state governments play in unlocking innovation and addressing regulatory barriers to low-carbon materials as the largest buyers of concrete, cement, and asphalt.” said Brad Townsend, Vice President, Policy and Outreach, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

“Brimstone, a leader in industrial innovation, is thrilled to endorse the Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act, a comprehensive U.S. strategy for leveling up the cement and other materials at the foundation of modern infrastructure. Most significantly, this bipartisan legislation would empower states, for the first time, to use advance market commitments to invest federal funds directly in the next generation of sustainable, high-performance construction materials. We are extraordinarily grateful to Senators Coons and Tillis for their leadership, and look forward to the bill’s passage,” said Simon Brandler, VP of Policy & Public Affairs at Brimstone.

As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, Senator Coons is a leader in bipartisan climate legislation. Last Congress, he previously introduced the bipartisan Hydrogen Infrastructure Initiative alongside Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), a package of four bills to support the adoption of hydrogen in energy-intensive sectors. He also introduced the PROVE IT Act alongside Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) to study global emissions intensity.

The text of the bill is available here.

A one-pager is available here.

A section-by-section is available here. 

A list of supportive quotes is here.

Senators Coons, Kaine, colleagues formally file legislation to undo President Trump’s senseless taxes on Canadian goods

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced a new resolution to reverse President Trump’s wildly unpopular tariffs on Canadian goods, which amount to a 25 percent tax on goods imported from one of America’s top trading partners and closest allies. The legislation is privileged, which means the U.S. Senate will be required to vote on the resolution in the coming weeks. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Angus King (I-Maine).

“By slapping tariffs on Canada—one of our closest allies—President Trump is driving up grocery bills for American families already struggling to get by,” said Senator Coons. “This reckless trade policy could shrink growth and push us into a recession this year. We must reverse these tariffs that’ll hurt hardworking families on both sides of the border who have been burdened by rising costs in every aspect of their daily lives at the hands of Trump.”

“Since we announced our intention to file legislation to challenge President Trump’s senseless taxes on Canadian goods, I have received an outpouring of support from constituents who are outraged by this administration playing fast and loose with our economy,” said Senator Kaine. “Virginians and Americans across the country have been loud and clear: they want lower prices, not higher ones. They want economic growth, not a recession—which even Trump admits could result from his misguided economic policies. I look forward to this legislation coming to the floor for a vote so every senator can publicly answer this question: are you willing to put your constituents and our economy above Trump’s worst impulses?”

“This administration is igniting a reckless trade war and regular Americans are paying the price,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Costs for everyone will go up and our farmers and businesses will suffer. Canada is Minnesota’s top trading partner and is a key U.S. ally. We must reverse these damaging tariffs before it’s too late.”

“President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods will hurt Virginians and hurt the American people. When he ran for office, he promised the American people lower costs. This baseless trade war with one of our closest allies has the exact opposite impact, raising prices on everything from groceries to houses and cars,” said Senator Warner. “It’s time for Congress to step in.”

The new legislation would terminate the February 1 emergency that Trump used to launch his trade war with Canada, and thus eliminate the unilateral tariffs imposed on Canadian imports. Trump’s order cites the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), an unprecedented use of IEEPA in its nearly half-century history. After an initial one-month delay, President Trump moved forward with the tariffs, with the import taxes starting to be collected on March 4, 2025. In total, President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs will cost the average American household up to $2,000 a year, with the tariffs on Canadian imports making up a significant portion of that. These IEEPA tariffs represent the largest tax increase on American families in recent history.

Polls have overwhelmingly demonstrated that the American people do not support Trump’s trade wars. According to a recent survey by Public First, just 28 percent of American adults supported specifically applying tariffs to Canada, while 43 percent opposed them.

Data regarding goods traded with Canada, by state, in 2023 is available here. Delaware exports $856 million and imports $861 million in goods with Canada annually.

You can read the full text of the legislation here.

Senators Coons, Tillis Introduce Resolution to Establish Bipartisan Senate Human Rights Commission

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, introduced a resolution to establish a bipartisan Senate Human Rights Commission to investigate human rights violations and hold regular hearings and briefings on the promotion of human rights worldwide. 

“As a co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, I’m proud to continue to stand up for those who are denied their most basic freedoms all around the world, and I’ll continue to work on their behalf,” said Senator Coons. “An established, bipartisan Senate Human Rights Commission will further that goal and strengthen our ability to advocate for millions of people globally facing violence, abuse, oppression, and wrongful imprisonment. It’s far past time for the Senate to join the House and establish this commission.”

“I’m honored to join Senator Coons as co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus and to introduce this resolution establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission,” said Senator Tillis. “By working to formalize our efforts in the Senate Human Rights Caucus, we are strengthening our commitment to defending human dignity and freedom across the globe. This commission will serve as a crucial platform to elevate awareness, hear from experts, and champion fundamental human rights across the globe.”

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

Senator Coons statement on retirement of Senator Shaheen

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement after Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced she would not run for re-election next year:

“For the past 15 years, I’ve worked closely with Senator Shaheen, traveled with her widely and served with her on the Appropriations, Ethics, and Foreign Relations Committees. I have greatly enjoyed serving with her, and deeply respect her values and leadership. She began her Senate tenure as a trailblazer – the first woman to serve as both governor and senator in American history – and has used her platform to fiercely advocate for New Hampshire, for reproductive freedom and energy efficiency, and, as Ranking Member on the Foreign Relations Committee, for America’s role in the world. She will leave behind a huge hole in the Senate not just as one of the strongest voices of reason we have, but as a kind, thoughtful and caring friend and colleague. I look forward to continuing to work closely with her over the next 20 months, and Annie and I wish her and Billy and their family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

With bipartisan group of colleagues, Senator Coons calls for ‘just and lasting peace’ in Ukraine during speech on Senate floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined a bipartisan group of Senators to speak on the Senate floor in support of Ukraine and call for the United States to fully stand behind and support Ukraine as it pursues a just and lasting peace. The speech came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement that the U.S. will resume intelligence sharing and security assistance to Ukraine after delegates from Kyiv agreed to accept a potential 30-day temporary ceasefire with Russia. Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Senator Coons spoke yesterday in favor of a bipartisan resolution in support of Ukraine alongside a group of three other Democrats and four Republicans, including Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Senator Coons described witnessing the devastation of war and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. He emphasized the importance of pursuing a just and lasting peace that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, strengthens transatlantic security, and deters Russia and other would-be aggressors.

Senator Coons also briefly addressed the ceasefire announcement, calling the news that intelligence sharing and security cooperation had restarted “encouraging” but imploring the United States to continue standing behind Ukraine fully.

A video and transcript of Senator Coons’ comments are available below.

WATCH HERE.

Senator Coons: ‘Putin will only stop when we stop him.’ That piece of wisdom was shared with me on a trip to Europe by a former colleague, Senator McCain, and it seemed to me to predict what has now unfolded over the last three years. Three years ago, I was in Europe with colleagues visiting American troops training with NATO allies and partners in Poland, in Lithuania, on the day that the Russians began their illegal, unjustified, full-spectrum invasion of Ukraine. As more than 100,000 combat troops poured over the border, missiles flew in the air, jets bombed, the world recoiled in horror and watched, expecting that the Ukrainians would be overrun in just three days. Instead, President Zelenskyy, the elected president of a democracy, stood firm and steadfast and defended his country. When offered a last-minute evacuation by America, he said, ‘I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition.’

And I am thrilled to be on the floor today with a bipartisan group of my colleagues. Thank you to my colleague from New Hampshire for organizing this, to my colleague from Maine, for her words, which I will agree with from beginning to end. We must deter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. If you look at who has joined the fight alongside Russia – Iran, North Korea – this is not a team America should be on, and if we look at who has come to the defense in aid of Ukraine, it is democracies from throughout Europe and the world: more than 50 countries who, in combination, have done more than we have, significantly, to welcome Ukrainian refugees; to support the recovery of their economy; and to arm them in this ongoing, desperate, and critical fight for freedom in Ukraine.

Who is Vladimir Putin? He is a brutal and aggressive dictator. He is a war criminal. He is someone who has used every ounce of power and resource at his grasp to shatter the peace of Europe that has lasted decades since the second World War, and to attempt to drive a wedge between the United States and our European partners and allies. The bravery, the determination, the skill, and the capacity of the Ukrainian people to stand and fight is breathtaking. And all of us who’ve had the honor of visiting Kyiv, of visiting Ukraine, of spending time with those who behind the front lines support their troops and those who have served and sacrificed have been forever changed.

I had the opportunity, with our former colleague and friend Senator Portman, to go to Kyiv and to present the Liberty Medal from our National Constitution Center to President Zelenskyy. To travel through a city shattered by war, and to visit with people determined to continue their fight, was as inspiring to me as I know it’s been to many of my colleagues who’ve made that same trip.

We are here today to ask: ‘Who are we, and what will we do?’ We’re Americans. We have stood alongside and fought alongside those who have pursued democracy, those who’ve stood up for liberty for decades around the world, and we should not shrink from this fight. We can and should insist on a just and lasting peace. We would all like to see this brutal war come to an end. We would all like to see the suffering stop. But to force on Ukraine a ceasefire that is really a surrender masked as a ceasefire would be to betray the sacrifice and service of so many. Asking Ukraine to willingly give up conquered territory and recognize Russian sovereignty, asking Ukraine to give up its desire for security and for integration into the West, to ask Ukraine to agree to limits on its military and its capacity to be prepared for what is a likely renewed Russian assault on the future; all of these would lead to not a neutral Ukraine, but a neutered Ukraine.

We know what happens next. What happens next is that the world will look at whatever peace we can secure for Ukraine and ask, ‘are we reliable?’ Is the United States a reliable ally and partner? Putin has already suffered a strategic defeat. NATO has already been expanded, the border between NATO and Russia has doubled. Our partners throughout the world have come to this fight, and they are committing even more in recent weeks as Europe has stepped up to pledge hundreds of billions of dollars more.

If we are to restore deterrence, if we are to sustain the peace, if we are to be the indispensable nation that we have worked and fought so long to be, we must finish the job. We must deter Putin from future aggression by demanding that Ukraine be secured by a just and lasting peace. The news today that intelligence and security cooperation has restarted is encouraging, but we have a resolution cosponsored by all the members on the floor today that makes clear where we stand. We stand with Ukraine. We stand with democracy. We insist on a just and lasting peace in this instance. And we stand for Ukraine.