Sen. Coons’ op-ed in The News Journal: ‘Here’s how we can honor John McCain’s legacy’

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) authored an op-ed in The News Journalon the life and legacy of Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.).  

The News Journal: Sen. Coons: Here’s how we can honor John McCain’s legacy

By Chris Coons

John McCain was a rare breed. He was humble and passionate, determined and unyielding, a man deeply in love with his country and its promise. He was optimistic that tomorrow would be better than today and he was always grateful for the chance to serve a cause greater than himself. 

I was privileged to have John as a colleague for eight years, to get to know him as a traveling companion and mentor, and in recent years, to count him as a friend. We didn’t always or even often agree on a wide range of policy issues, but when it came to standing up for America’s values, I deeply admired him and followed his lead as best I could.

John was convinced that what makes America great and what has always made America great is its values and principles.  He believed that what defines us apart from other powerful nations is that we’re willing to fight not just for our interests but for our values, for the things that make us a democracy: human rights, freedom of speech and religious expression, a free press, an independent judiciary, open and fair elections, and a deep commitment to human liberty. 

John also challenged his colleagues to be our better selves, to put country above party, put down the tools of petty partisanship and work together to fashion better solutions to the problems of our day. I worked with John on many issues in recent years, but it was an honor to be his lead cosponsor on his last immigration reform bill earlier this year, which offered a bipartisan way forward for our long-broken immigration system. 

Indeed, from immigration to health care, national security to foreign relations, John pushed us to act in ways more worthy of the Senate and its history as the “greatest deliberative body on Earth.”

I also had the honor of traveling with John, where I truly saw him at his best. Visiting a refugee camp in Jordan, where hundreds of Syrians had just arrived fleeing the butchery of Assad’s troops, he wept with compassion and promised to fight for them and their cause. On a visit to Afghanistan and Egypt, I witnessed how he could challenge foreign leaders and encourage our own troops in harm’s way with equal passion.

Just after President Trump’s inauguration last year, at a security conference in Halifax, Canada, I saw how he commanded respect from political and military leaders from across more than a dozen countries and I heard him reassure European allies and partners that we would keep our commitments, defend our shared values, and stand by their young democracies in the face of Russian aggression. 

Finally, on an unforgettable trip to Vietnam last June, I got to visit the “Hanoi Hilton” with John and hear his description of the deprivations of his long captivity.  Then, I saw the high regard the people and leaders of Vietnam have for him as a warrior and peacemaker, a statesman and a healer of the wounds of war.

Working with John, I admired him for all these things, but I also admired his ability to fight passionately without making things personal, for the kindness he showed my family, and for pushing me relentlessly to defend and explain my positions and votes.  

Most importantly, John was genuinely humble. He didn’t have the false modesty of a popular politician. John had the kind of real humility of someone who knows he is flawed — as all of us are — and sets about being open and accountable for his shortcomings.   

John also used his hardest personal experiences to make some of his most important contributions. Having himself survived imprisonment and torture at the hands of his Vietnamese captors, John could have easily returned home to serve out his time in the Navy and retire in comfort and honor. Instead, he continued his service to our nation, working tirelessly to champion the cause of those unjustly imprisoned around the world. Dissidents and activists who spoke up for freedom and against dictators knew no more dedicated friend than Senator McCain.  

So how can we honor this man who loved and fought for freedom? 

First, we should fight the dreaded, cruel disease that took him from us — as with Senator Ted Kennedy and our own Beau Biden, who was taken too soon —and discover and develop a cure for brain cancer.

We should rename the Senate office building where John McCain served in his honor and keep his memory alive for generations.

We should also strengthen and invest in national service. I can think of no better way to honor the spirit of service in which John lived his life than by making it possible for all young Americans to serve their country in some way – whether through military or civilian service – to develop their skills, learn about their nation, and earn tuition funds for college.

Lastly, we should continue John’s way of reaching across the aisle, listening to each other, working together, and pushing one another to be better.

I won’t soon meet another man like John McCain. I only hope to someday deserve the friendship he extended to a young and inexperienced Senator and to follow his example of humility, dedication, and passion in tirelessly serving the greatest nation on Earth and the best hope of freedom in our world. 

Joe Biden, John’s close friend of forty years, said it best at his Phoenix memorial: John lived by a timeless code of honor, duty, and character, and “we shall not see his like again.”

Rest well, my friend. May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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In public letter, Sen. Coons urges Judge Kavanaugh to be prepared to answer questions on executive power at confirmation hearing next week

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, ahead of his confirmation hearing next week. 

“As we discussed in our private meeting, I have significant concerns about several of your judicial opinions, and I remain troubled by your view of executive power,” Senator Coons wrote. “I am not satisfied with your responses to me during our private meeting, and I believe that you owe the Committee and the American people more thorough, candid answers during your hearing next week.”

The full letter is available here and is copied below.

The Honorable Brett Kavanaugh

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse

333 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Dear Judge Kavanaugh,            

                As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I am tasked with evaluating your nomination to the United States Supreme Court.  To fulfill my constitutional responsibility, I have been reviewing your background, credentials, experience, speeches, writings, documents, and judicial opinions.  I have also received input from Delawareans and the legal community.  Even though the Judiciary Committee and, in turn, the American people, will have access to only a small percentage of your extensive record before your nomination is considered by the Senate, your confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin next week.  As we discussed in our private meeting, I have significant concerns about several of your judicial opinions, and I remain troubled by your view of executive power.  I am not satisfied with your responses to me during our private meeting, and I believe that you owe the Committee and the American people more thorough, candid answers during your hearing next week.

            Americans, irrespective of party, understand the genius of our democracy and the importance of checks and balances in our constitutional system.  It is imperative that you, as a nominee for the Supreme Court, accept mainstream constitutional interpretations that cabin executive power and support presidential accountability.  No one, including the President, is above the law.  I am very concerned that your record suggests you may not hold that belief.  For example, you have strongly criticized Morrison v. Olson, a seminal 1988 decision establishing the principle that Congress can prevent an independent counsel from being fired by the President without cause.  Despite the Supreme Court’s 7-1 decision that it was fully within Congress’s power to pass such legislation, you have publicly stated on numerous occasions that you disagree with the majority’s decision and would overrule it.  Given those statements, and given your frequent invocation of the lone dissent in Morrison, I want to know why you subscribe to an interpretation of executive power that courts have repeatedly rejected.

              I am similarly concerned by your critical comments about another landmark Supreme Court decision, United States v. Nixon, which also upholds the foundational principle that the President is not above the law.  As you know, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that the President had to comply with a grand jury subpoena.  You have suggested that this case was wrongly decided.  The American people have a right to know whether you believe that Nixon should remain the law of the land and whether you believe that a President must comply with a subpoena to produce evidence for a criminal investigation or trial.  Your previous statements give me serious pause:  an expansive view of presidential power held by a Supreme Court Justice occupying Justice Kennedy’s seat would undoubtedly mark a significant shift from our historical understandings and Supreme Court jurisprudence recognizing constitutional limits on the executive. 

            As a United States Senator, I believe that the American people deserve full transparency as we are considering a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.  Though I remain deeply troubled by the decision to rush through this process without providing the Senate—or the American people—the necessary information to complete a comprehensive review of your record, I will nonetheless be prepared to question you extensively, and I request that you be prepared to give me complete and accurate responses.  The American people deserve no less.  If confirmed, the decisions that you will make alongside the other Justices on the Court will impact how the Constitution is applied to our society, our lives, and our families for generations to come.

Sincerely,

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Sen. Coons on President Trump’s decision to freeze pay for federal workers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to zero-out a pay raise for civilian federal employees, including thousands of federal workers in Delaware. 

“It is unacceptable that after last year signing a Republican tax bill that gave away tens of billions in corporate tax cuts and added more than $1 trillion to the national debt, President Trump cites the need for government belt-tightening in his decision to slash a planned pay increase for federal employees. These are hardworking, honorable public servants who protect our communities and serve fellow Americans – from leading game-changing medical research to keeping our water clean and rushing to our aid during hurricanes and other natural disasters.

“As ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, I worked on a bipartisan basis to include a well-deserved 1.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment for federal employees in the 2019 funding bill. I won’t stop fighting for this much-needed raise in next year’s budget.”

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Carper, Coons urge DeVos to abandon proposal to use taxpayer dollars to arm teachers

Last week, the New York Times reported that Secretary DeVos is proposing allowing states and school districts to purchase firearms and firearm training with federal funds

Senators: “This plan runs counter to the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act and will make our schools more dangerous, and our students less safe”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-DE) joined 42 Senate Democrats, led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), in sending a letter to Secretary DeVos condemning her reported plans to allow states and school districts to use federal funds to purchase firearms and firearm trainings for teachers and other school staff. The grants Secretary DeVos is considering using were created in the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and are intended to keep students safe and healthy, provide a well-rounded education, and help school districts more effectively use education technology. 

“This plan runs counter to the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act and will make our schools more dangerous, and our students less safe,” wrote the Senators. “We urge you to abandon this proposal immediately, deny state and school district requests to use federal funds for this purpose, and instead work with us and other stakeholders to focus on other efforts that enhance student safety and prevent violence.” 

If Secretary DeVos goes through with this plan, the New York Times reports this would be the first time a federal agency authorized the purchase of weapons without a Congressional mandate. Just a few months ago, Congress once again reiterated this position by preventing federal funds from being used to purchase firearms or firearms training in the bipartisan Stop School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training program.

“Students across the country deserve to learn in an environment that is safe and free of weapons. Introducing more guns into schools and classrooms is likely to lead to more, not less, violence. Reports of an unintentional firing in a classroom and even a gun being left in an elementary school bathroom illustrate the very real dangers to our children of arming teachers and other school staff,” continued the Senators. 

In addition to Senators Murray, Carper, and Coons, the letter was signed by Senators Feinstein (D-CA), Nelson (D-FL), Schumer (D-NY), Murphy (D-CT), Blumenthal (D-CT), Durbin (D-IL), Markey (D-MA), Baldwin (D-WI), Bennet (D-CO), Booker (D-NJ), Brown (D-OH), Cardin (D-MD), Casey (D-PA), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Duckworth (D-IL), Gillibrand (D-NY), Harris (D-CA), Hassan (D-NH), Heinrich (D-NM), Hirono (D-HI), Jones (D-AL), Kaine (D-VA), King (I-ME), Klobuchar (D-MN), Leahy (D-VT), McCaskill (D-MO), Menendez (D-NJ), Merkley (D-OR), Peters (D-MI), Reed (D-RI), Sanders (I-VT), Schatz (D-HI), Shaheen (D-NH), Smith (D-MN), Stabenow (D-MI), Udall (D-NM), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warner (D-VA), Warren (D-MA), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR). 

Full text of the letter is below and PDF is HERE.

August 30, 2018 

The Honorable Betsy DeVos

Secretary of Education

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20202

Dear Secretary DeVos:

We write to express our strong opposition to the Department’s reported plans to allow States and school districts to purchase firearms or firearms training for teachers and other school staff with federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds.^[1] This plan runs counter to the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and will make our schools more dangerous, and our students less safe. We urge you to abandon this proposal immediately, deny state and school district requests to use federal funds for this purpose, and instead work with us and other stakeholders to focus on other efforts that enhance student safety and prevent violence.  

The Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant program, authorized under Title IV-A of ESSA in 2015, provides funds to States and school districts for a range of activities intended to keep students safe and healthy, provide a well-rounded education, and help school districts more effectively use education technology. Congress never intended for these funds to be used to purchase weapons, or train teachers in how to use weapons in schools. In fact, Congress denounced the presence of firearms in schools in ESEA section 4102(5)(B), when it defined the term “drug and violence prevention” as a program that fosters “the creation and maintenance of a school environment free of weapons.”^[2]

Within the realm of education, it is the Federal government’s longstanding position to prohibit federal funds from being used to purchase weapons. Just a few months ago, Congress reiterated that position with the bipartisan Stop School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training program, which ensures “No amounts provided as a grant under this part may be used for the provision to any person of a firearm or training in the use of a firearm.”^[3]  According to the New York Times, your Department acknowledges that moving forward with this plan would be the first time a federal agency has authorized the purchase of weapons without Congressional mandate.^[4] Establishing such a precedent would be dangerous and clearly against Congressional intent. 

Educators already face the daunting task of educating our next generation. Teachers and other school staff should be focused on providing instruction, engaging families, and providing students with the skills and supports they need to succeed in the workforce and in life, not on managing and potentially responding to threats with deadly force. In fact, a recent poll showed that the overwhelming majority of educators do not want to be armed, and instead many believe social emotional learning, mental health supports, and increased wraparound services and funding are a more effective way to keep students safe.^[5]

Students across the country deserve to learn in an environment that is safe and free of weapons. Introducing more guns into schools and classrooms is likely to lead to more, not less, violence. Reports of an unintentional firing in a classroom^[6] and even a gun being left in an elementary school bathroom^[7] illustrate the very real dangers to our children of arming teachers and other school staff. 

Title IV-A provides the opportunity for states and school districts to tailor their programming to local needs and improve school safety and student learning. The Administration’s proposal to allow States and school districts to use federal ESEA funds to arm teachers and other school staff not only runs counter to Congressional intent and established federal precedent, but would take schools and communities backwards in pursuit of these goals. We urge you to disallow any State or local educational agency from using ESEA funds for these purchases and to work with Congress to ensure our students are healthy, safe, and well-supported.

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Sens. Carper, Coons join resolution condemning “junk insurance” plans pushed by the Trump Administration

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined 29 of their colleagues in introducing a resolution that seeks to repeal the Trump administration’s rule expanding “junk insurance” plans that don’t have to provide health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions or cover essential health care services.

“Republicans have repeatedly worked to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and undermine Medicaid and Medicare,” said Senator Carper. “This administration’s rule expanding short-term plans is just another deeply flawed effort that would force Delawareans to have to pay more for lower quality health care. There are nearly 400,000 Delawareans living with pre-existing conditions that depend on the Affordable Care Act to ensure that they have access to life-saving healthcare. I certainly won’t be letting the Administration jeopardize that care without a fight.”

“Rather than focusing on how to give more Americans access to quality, affordable health insurance, the Trump Administration is focused solely on destroying the Affordable Care Act,” said Senator Coons. “While the ACA is not perfect, the Trump administration’s continued efforts to strip away protections for those who need health care the most is not how we fix our health care system.  Instead, we should be working across the aisle to improve our health care system.”

According to an analysis by the LA Times, “more than 98% — or 335 of 340 — of the healthcare groups that commented on the proposal to loosen restrictions on short-term health plans criticized it, in many cases warning that the rule could gravely hurt sick patients.” This included patient and consumer advocates, physician groups, nursing associations, hospital groups, medical providers, insurance companies, and more.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN) said it “poses a serious threat to cancer patients’ ability to access quality, affordable health coverage.” ACSCAN also said the Trump administration’s rule “will likely leave older and sicker Americans in the individual insurance marketplace with few, if any, affordable health coverage choices” and that “patients living with serious conditions will be left paying more for the coverage they need if they can afford coverage at all.”

In addition to Senators Carper and Coons, the resolution is co-sponsored by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI),  Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Doug Jones (D-AL), Angus King (I-ME), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Text of the resolution is available here.

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Sens. Carper, Coons celebrate critical funding for local organizations to prevent youth substance abuse in Delaware

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) announced the continuation of key grants for Duffy’s Hope ($125,000) and Open Door ($125,000) from the federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.

“Unfortunately no community is immune to the threat of substance abuse and the deadly disease of addiction,” said Senator Carper. “Far too often these days as I talk to Delawareans up and down the First State, I hear tragic stories of promising young lives cut short by the scourge of addition. This is a crisis that requires an all hands on deck approach and this federal funding is an important part of that effort. I know that the programs offered at Duffy’s Hope and Open Door will save lives by focusing on the root causes of addiction and teaching vulnerable at-risk youth the best ways to succeed in life.”

“I’ve seen the amazing impact that both Open Door and Duffy’s Hope have in our communities, and they could not be more deserving of these important grants” said Senator Coons. “We all need to work together to combat the opioid crisis, and I’m very glad that these two organization are receiving the federal support they need to protect, heal, and guide young people in Delaware.”

“Since our first grant awards were made in 1998, the DFC Program has continued to expand its reach in communities across the country.  It is a testament to the great work DFC coalitions are doing, together with community partners that include parent groups, schools, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, businesses, and others to prevent drug use and improve the health of communities,” said James Carroll, Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Our local DFC coalitions are a key part of this effort because they are relentless in their coordinated and focused work to prevent youth from initiating drug use and ultimately, saving more lives.”           

Prescription drug abuse prevention is one of the core measures of effectiveness for local DFC coalitions, and coalitions nationwide have led innovative opioid prevention initiatives. DFC’s 2017 National Evaluation End-of-Year Report found that at least 97% of middle school and 94% of high school youth report that they have not misused prescription drugs in the past 30-days in DFC communities.

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Sens. Carper, Coons, Congresswoman Blunt Rochester celebrate Kent, Sussex County USDA grants

WILMINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D – Del.) celebrated United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grants to Delaware Technical and Community College, Polytech School District’s Adult Learning Program, and CHEER, Inc.

DTCC will receive USDA and Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education grants totaling $99,550 to equip their soon-to-be-built Automotive Center of Excellence. The grant funds will help purchase the educational shop tools needed to begin a new Diesel Mechanic Training Program. Scheduled to begin in August 2019, this new program is the only diesel mechanic training program located on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Polytech’s Adult Education was awarded a $30,000 grant to purchase specialized low voltage training devices for their Electronic Systems Technician Program. Students will use this educational equipment during hands-on portions of the training program that prepares students for employment. Polytech Adult Education is a division of the Polytech School District located in Kent County, Delaware.

CHEER, Inc. will receive $19,000 to fund an architectural and engineering study of their commercial kitchen renovation and expansion project. CHEER, Inc. produces more than 1,700 meals per day for distribution to rural seniors throughout Sussex County. Their commercial kitchen space is over 40 years old with limited capacity to support the volume of nutritional/meals-on-wheels services necessary to serve the area’s seniors. CHEER, Inc. is a non-profit providing services to help seniors maintain their independence and a high quality of life.

“All three grant recipients enrich their communities and make Delaware stronger,” said Senator Carper. “The Delaware Tech and the Polytech School District grants will help equip Delawareans with the skills they need for well-paying jobs, and the investment in CHEER Inc. will bolster critical efforts to give First State seniors additional peace of mind and financial security.  I want to thank USDA for its commitment to Delaware rural communities.”

“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked hard to secure funding for USDA Rural Development grants because they allow organizations like CHEER, DelTech, and Polytech expand and reach more people in Kent and Sussex Countries,” said Senator Coons. “From preparing our students for technical careers to providing food to seniors, these federal programs are making a real difference for Delawareans up and down our state.”

“Through my work on the House Agriculture Committee and in my travels up and down the state, I see firsthand the pressing need to provide rural communities with the tools needed to prepare for good-paying jobs and help non-profits serve under-resourced communities,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “These USDA Rural Development grants will do just that. I look forward to the positive impact Delaware Tech, the Polytech School District, and CHEER, Inc. will be able to make in Kent and Sussex with these funds.”

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Senators Coons, Wicker introduce bipartisan bill to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced the Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement (Maritime SAFE) Act today to promote a whole-of-government approach to counter IUU fishing and associated threats to maritime security. IUU fishing, which produces an estimated tens of billions of dollars annually in unlawful or undocumented revenue, poses a threat to the national security of the United States, particularly in key regions such as West Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.  Actors involved in IUU fishing have been known to conduct other illicit activities such as weapons, drugs, and human trafficking.

“IUU fishing is an issue that not only poses a serious threat to our own national security, but also contributes to instability in regions important to United States interests,” said Senator Coons. “This legislation allows the United States to combat a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that undercuts the economic livelihoods of legitimate fishermen and threatens food security for communities around the world. By establishing an interagency working group and allowing federal agencies to improve law enforcement, develop a system for sharing information, and coordinate regional, national, and local action in countries affected by IUU fishing, this bill provides the United States with the requisite tools to address this important issue.”

“The United States faces a host of threats to maritime security, including those from foreign actors who fund their activities with revenue derived from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing,” Senator Wicker said. “This illegal fishing harms U.S. interests by undermining lawful fishing activities at home and abroad, and provides an opening for lower-quality, fraudulent products to enter the global seafood supply chain. I am glad to work with Senator Coons to introduce this legislation, which would help the United States address this complex threat with a coordinated government approach.”

The bipartisan Maritime SAFE Act establishes an interagency working group to provide federal agencies with a coordinated framework to effectively combat IUU fishing and authorizes a range of agency activities, including capacity building for law enforcement and port security, improving transparency and traceability in the seafood supply chain, promoting the use of technology to combat IUU fishing, and better information sharing among agencies and other organizations. 

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons honors the life and legacy of Sen. John McCain

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) honored the life and legacy of the late Senator John McCain on the Senate floor.

“I was so honored to have [John] first as a colleague, then as a traveling companion and mentor, and in recent years to count him as a friend.  We didn’t agree always, or even often, on a wide range of policy issues, but on one thing in particular, I admired and followed his lead as best I could,” said Senator Coons. “John was convinced that what makes America great, what has always made America great, is its values and principles, that we stand for something in the world, not the example of our power but the power of our example, that only when we fight for those values that define us apart from other powerful nations – for human rights, freedom of speech and religious expression, a free press, an independent judiciary, open and fair elections, for the foundations of democracy as guarantors of human liberty – only then do we best use our power to act in the world.” 

“John also used his hardest personal experiences to make some of his most important contributions.  Having himself survived imprisonment and torture at the hands of his Vietnamese captors, McCain could easily have returned home after more than five harrowing years in captivity to serve out his time in the Navy and retired in comfort and honor,” said Senator Coons. “Instead, he continued his cause of serving our nation, and while here, worked tirelessly to champion the cause of those unjustly imprisoned around the world. Dissidents and activists who spoke up for freedom and against dictators knew no more dedicated friend than Senator McCain.”   

Audio and video of the Senator’s full remarks are available here. 

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Sen. Coons debuts webpage where Delawareans can share questions and concerns re: Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today published a new page on his website where Delawareans can submit their own concerns and questions about Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court.

Click here or visit coons-staging.creativengine.com/kavanaugh to submit questions, comments, or concerns.

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