[VIDEO] Sen. Coons pushes Trump official on tariffs hurting Delaware farmers, port workers: “President Trump has launched a trade war.”

Sen. Coons: “I’m hearing from folks in Delaware, from port workers at the docks… I’m hearing from soybean farmers in the southern part of my state that they’re facing the lowest price for their crops in a decade”

Sen. Coons: “President Trump has launched a trade war without a strategy, and these Trump tariffs are imposing consumer taxes.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today questioned Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Manisha Singh, in a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the consequences of the Trump administration’s tariffs on U.S. foreign policy. 

“Madam Assistant Secretary, you have launched a war. President Trump has launched a trade war without a strategy, and these Trump tariffs are imposing consumer taxes,” said Senator Coons. “I’m hearing from folks in Delaware, from port workers at the docks who are concerned that shiploads of steel that come to my state in the wintertime, from Sweden and from Finland, will not be coming, that the costs will be raised, that their jobs will be harmed. I’m hearing from soybean farmers in the southern part of my state that they’re facing the lowest price for their crops in a decade. Folks are confused, they are anxious, and they have a concern. And you’ve just heard it from us on a bipartisan basis: that president Trump has launched a trade war without a strategy and without a plan for how to get through this.” 

“I hope you will take back the message that while the president may be acting within his statutory authority he is acting recklessly, he is acting dangerously, in a way that is dividing us from our allies, and that is imposing consumer taxes on the folks in our country who we most wanted to help. If we don’t see a strategy that lines up, I think Congress will act to restrain his reckless use of this authority,” said Senator Coons. 

Full audio and video available here.  

Excerpts from Senator Coons’ questioning is below:

Chris Coons: Thank you, Chairman Corker. Thank you for calling this hearing, and thank you for what you and the ranking member have done to lead us in what is a united effort to say that, Madam Assistant Secretary, you have launched a war. President Trump has launched a trade war without a strategy, and these Trump tariffs are imposing consumer taxes. I’m hearing from folks in Delaware, from port workers at the docks who are concerned that shiploads of steel that come to my state in the wintertime, from Sweden and from Finland, will not be coming, that the costs will be raised, that their jobs will be harmed. I’m hearing from soybean farmers in the southern part of my state that they’re facing the lowest price for their crops in a decade. Folks are confused, they are anxious, and they have a concern. And you’ve just heard it from us on a bipartisan basis: that President Trump has launched a trade war without a strategy and without a plan for how to get through this.

In your prepared remarks, which you repeated, you said, “Allies and partners share our frustration in responding to the challenge of China’s economic aggression. We are building an international coalition to address China’s state-led policies which distort markets, discriminate against international competition, force technology transfer, and permit theft of sensitive intellectual property.” Madam Assistant Secretary, if that’s what you were doing, I’d be cheering. I’d be saying ‘what a terrific plan.’ I only wish this were true, but it’s not. In a trip that I just took with the chairman we visited four of our vital allies in northern Europe. That included Sweden. And in our meetings with national leaders in those four countries, countries that are fighting alongside us in Afghanistan, they are puzzled, they are offended, and they are distanced from us by these tariffs. Swedish steel that should be being imported to Wilmington, Delaware may soon be turned away by tariffs that are dividing us from a country that should be an ally in an appropriate trade contest with China.

I just had a meeting yesterday with Senator Isakson, my good friend from Georgia, where we met with the trade minister of South Africa, a country that has finally opened their markets to our poultry, after years of effort that we undertook. And it’s clear they’re going to slap reciprocal tariffs on us that will harm the poultry farmers of Eastern Shore Maryland, Eastern Shore Virginia, southern Delaware. This is a trade war with real consequences but without a strategy. And frankly, I couldn’t agree more with the point that Republican Senator Young just made; the Section 232 authority has in the past been used against the real enemies of the United States, against Libya and Iran, not against Canada, Germany, Sweden, South Africa.

So, Madam Assistant Secretary, with all due respect, the administration should be on notice that 88 senators yesterday voted to send a strong and clear signal to President Trump that he is misusing his Section 232 authority. And that if you believe what you are accomplishing with these tariffs is supporting our national security, in recent meetings, with ministers of foreign affairs, from Sweden to South Africa to Canada, you are in fact harming our national security. If you believe we are going to negotiate better trade deals by picking fights with all of our best allies, that is not in fact the case. And if you think the outcome will be a reformed WTO, I think instead it will be chaos. I wish the articulated strategy you delivered in your prepared statement was in fact what was happening, but I see the exact opposite. Please, Madam Secretary, in a minute or two, if you could give us some reassurance that President Trump sees as clearly as you do that our goal should be to unite our allies against China’s mercantilist policy, and is not in fact what I see happening, which is a wildly swung bat that is hitting our closest allies that harms our national security, harms our chances at better trade deals, and harms folks in my home state who work at our port and work in our farms.

Manisha Singh: Well thank you, Senator. I can tell you, President Trump is committed to working with our allies. Secretary Pompeo, under the leadership of President Trump, as you know, has been travelling the world, seeking support from our allies in order to achieve our goal of a complete, irreversible, verifiable, denuclearized North Korea. We, at all levels of the State Department, are discussing all of these issues of shared interest with our allies, including the China threat. I’ve had many personal conversations in the Western Hemisphere and South America, in the European Union, in North Asia, all over the world. Everyone agrees that China is a big threat. We are working to combat that threat. Turning back to the 232 issue, I would disagree with you, Senator, that a weakened national economy, weakened steel and aluminum industries, they are a national security threat. I understand Senator Young’s point about 232 being used against Iran, who clearly — which is still a problem. You know, Iran is still an issue that we need to deal with, but at the end of the day, 232 is designed to also protect our domestic economic production. It’s laid our clearly in the statute. President Trump is acting within his statutory authority, there is a strategy, I laid out for you the five pillars of our economic strategy. As you’ve indicated, in my opening statement I’ve laid out for you the State Department’s role and the strategy in President Trump’s agenda. The president is committed —

Sen. Coons: Thank you, Ms. Singh, I’m out of time and I appreciate your response, but Ms. Singh, as assistant secretary, I hope you will take back the message that while the president may be acting within his statutory authority he is acting recklessly, he is acting dangerously, in a way that is dividing us from our allies, and that is imposing consumer taxes on the folks in our country who we most wanted to help. If we don’t see a strategy that lines up, I think Congress will act to restrain his reckless use of this authority. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[AUDIO] Sen. Coons: Trump should “lock arms with our NATO allies and say let’s work together against our real adversary, Russia.”

Sen. Coons: “The allies that I recently visited on this bipartisan CODEL said that they are really concerned that they can no longer depend on the United States.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined NPR Morning Edition to discuss NATO and the Supreme Court.

“I think all of us have a graver concern that President Trump has an uncomfortably close relationship with Russia. We passed a resolution on the floor of the Senate last night to instruct the conferees on our defense authorization bill, to reinforce the centrality of NATO. The Foreign Relations Committee I serve on is taking another vote later today to reinforce that the president should not recognize Russian annexation of Crimea or do anything to weaken the NATO alliance. That is a strongly bipartisan resolution that will get near unanimous support,” said Senator Coons.

Audio available here.

Excerpts from the interview below:

Sen. Coons on NATO: It is only fair to the extent that of the NATO alliance, many of them are still below the two-percent-of-GDP target for defense spending that they’re supposed to reach by 2024. But let me remind you what they have done. NATO is a collective security alliance, and for the very first time, Article V of the NATO treaty was invoked when the United States was attacked. And more than 1,000 NATO soldiers have died fighting in Afghanistan alongside Americans. No other NATO country was attacked on 9/11, the United States was attacked. And it’s not a country club, where you get in arrears on your dues and where you’re supposed to pay your dues back. It is a collective security agreement. I would have hoped that President Trump would say ‘you’re all actually increasing your defense spending.’ It’s actually gone up by more than $14 billion since he started haranguing them. He should declare victory and then lock arms with our NATO allies and say ‘let’s work together against our real adversary, Russia.’

More on NATO: He has successfully gotten many of our vital NATO allies to increase their defense spending, their interoperability, their training, but frankly he’s also scaring the daylights out of them. I was recently on a bipartisan trip, we went to visit northern Europe, to several of our key NATO allies, and they are gravely concerned.

Sen. Coons on Germany and Russia: Germany has long-had close ties to Russia in terms of its energy reliance. This has been accentuated because Germany’s committed to reducing its nuclear energy fleet as part of its base load. And so, they’re increasing their reliance on Russian gas. I think it misses the core point, which is that NATO is a security alliance. And just because they are paying for Russian gas doesn’t mean they are somehow beholden to Russia. In fact, I think all of us have a graver concern that President Trump has an uncomfortably close relationship with Russia. We passed a resolution on the floor of the Senate last night to instruct the conferees on our defense authorization bill, to reinforce the centrality of NATO. The Foreign Relations Committee I serve on is taking another vote later today to reinforce that the president should not recognize Russian annexation of Crimea or do anything to weaken the NATO alliance. That is a strongly bipartisan resolution that will get near unanimous support.

More on NATO: Because President Trump is such an outlier, even in his own party, in continuing to say things that suggest that we aren’t fully committed to the NATO alliance. I commend him for getting our allies to increase their defense spending, but that’s not all he’s doing. He’s saying other things, such as this attack on Germany.

More on NATO: He is. I’m concerned about that. The allies that I recently visited on this bipartisan CODEL said that they are really concerned that they can no longer depend on the United States.

Sen. Coons on Judge Kavanaugh: Our job on the Judiciary Committee is to consider a nominee carefully and thoughtfully, to read into their background. We don’t have the information on Judge Kavanaugh yet. We should be getting all the information about what he did in the Bush administration, what he did on the Starr independent counsel team that he served on, and review his decisions on the D.C. Circuit, and then reach a conclusion. That’s our job. That’s how we should approach it. 

More on the Supreme Court: I will tell you that I am leaning against Judge Kavanaugh given what I know so far about his decisional record, but I’ve known Brett nearly 30 years. I met him in law school. And I’ve followed his career. He is very smart, he is very capable. He is very conservative. But I couldn’t yet articulate to you, in like three sentences, ‘here’s why I’m convinced his jurisprudence will take us far too far to the right,’ but I am concerned across a wide range of important topics.

More on the Supreme Court: We need Republicans to recognize that this is important, that courts matter, that it will impact people’s lives. And so, if you’re listening, and if you’re concerned, call your senator. Don’t presume that because of the numbers this is a foregone conclusion.

###

FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ADVANCES RUBIO-COONS BILL TO ENHANCE SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL

Washington, D.C. — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today approved the U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) to authorize at least $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel.  

“As the Jewish state of Israel faces volatile threats from Iran, Syria’s Assad regime, Hizballah, Hamas and other malign actors, I commend my colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for passing this bipartisan bill to further strengthen our critical and strategic alliance with Israel,” Rubio said. “It is in America’s national security interest to ensure that Israel, a fellow democracy and most important ally in the Middle East, always has the capabilities to defend itself amid the region’s growing dangers.” 

“The passage of this bipartisan legislation represents the continuation of America’s unshakable, seven-decade commitment to Israel’s security,” Coons said. “The security assistance included in this bill will help Israel protect itself in the midst of regional instability; deter – and if necessary defend against – Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas; and deepen bilateral ties for the next decade and beyond.” 

BACKGROUND 

The U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act:

·         Authorizes the State Department to extend no less than $3.3 billion annually in foreign military financing (FMF) to Israel over the next 10 years through 2028.  This is consistent with the new U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. 

·         Extends war reserve stockpile authority in Israel for five years (2018-2023).  While the United States stores missiles, armored vehicles, artillery ammunition, and other materiel in Israel, the Israeli government can request permission to pay to use some of this equipment in the event of a conflict or emergency. 

·         Extends loan guarantees to Israel for five years (2018-2023).  Israel has never defaulted on a U.S.-backed loan guarantee, and this program helps to provide “rainy day” insurance for Israel’s stability given the many threats that it faces in the Middle East. 

·         Reiterates that it is U.S. policy to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME) in the Middle East.

·         Authorizes the transfer of precision guided munitions (PGMs) and related defense articles and services to the reserve stocks in Israel for self-defense purposes.

·         The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a similar version of the Rubio-Coons legislation on May 9.

[VIDEO] Sen. Coons outside the Supreme Court: “Courts have consequences.”

Sen. Coons: “We have a job to do, as members of the Judiciary Committee, to dig into his record, to go through it thoroughly, to demand the release of every single record that might be relevant.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in front of the Supreme Court to discuss what’s at stake following President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court.

“It is my hope that Americans won’t just look at the numbers of our two caucuses, but that they’ll realize that courts matter, that this nominee will have an impact on your life, and as we dig into his record, you’ll take up your role as citizens and speak out,” said Senator Coons. “And communicate to your senator and to this Congress, your passion for our making sure that the freedoms hard-won over decades by key decisions of this Court will not be rolled back in the event this man is confirmed. And the way to know that is to know his record, and to hold him accountable. I look forward to your voice, and to your role in making sure we win this fight for freedom.”

Full audio and video available here.

Senator Coons’ remarks are below:

Thank you, Senator Klobuchar, and thank you for reminding us with very compelling personal stories about how courts matter, about how the decisions of the Supreme Court matter more than any other court’s decisions in ways that have impacted you as a mother and as a daughter. The Supreme Court, the beautiful marble building behind us, is not a temple. It’s not an academic institution. It is the place where nine justices apply the Constitution to our society, to our lives, to our families. And courts have consequences.

It didn’t have to be this way. President Trump could have nominated someone last night not off the narrow list of those pre-cleared, pre-approved by far-right organizations like the Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society. We could be here today discussing a nominee who was potentially someone with a wide-open record. Someone who might command a bipartisan majority. Instead we have someone who we know has a long record of being at the most conservative end of jurisprudence in our country.

But we don’t really know his full record. He was at the center of the Bush administration. He’s written hundreds of opinions on the D.C. Circuit Court. And so the president, having now taken his constitutional step of nominating a Supreme Court justice, we have a job to do, as members of the Judiciary Committee, to dig into his record, to go through it thoroughly, to demand the release of every single record that might be relevant, so that you, the American people, might know what this next justice, if confirmed, might do with your rights, your liberties, and your freedoms.

And then, and only then, should we have a hearing and take a vote. We must know this man’s record. Because where he’s going with our Court and our freedoms and our rights can best be predicted by how he’s behaved and where he’s been. At the center of so many issues in the Bush Administration, in conversations and in decisions of the Federalist Society, and in his seat on the D.C. Circuit. Many said that because of the number we in the Democratic minority had no chance of defeating a determined Republican majority in repealing the Affordable Care Act. That, in fact, turned out to not be true. Because millions of Americans recognized their health care was at stake and they called, they acted, they got engaged, they spoke out, they came here to our Capitol. 

It is my hope that Americans won’t just look at the numbers of our two caucuses, but that they’ll realize that courts matter, that this nominee will have an impact on your life, and as we dig into his record, you’ll take up your role as citizens and speak out. And communicate to your senator and to this Congress, your passion for our making sure that the freedoms hard-won over decades by key decisions of this Court will not be rolled back in the event this man is confirmed. And the way to know that is to know his record, and to hold him accountable. I look forward to your voice, and to your role in making sure we win this fight for freedom. 

Let me now yield to a seasoned senior litigator,  former state attorney general, and member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut.

###

Sen. Coons joins bipartisan group of Senators to reiterate importance of penalizing Russia for invading Crimea in advance of NATO and Trump-Putin Summits

Wilmington, DE – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined a group of eight of his Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring a Senate Resolution condemning Russia’s ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea. The bipartisan resolution comes as President Trump visits Europe to attend the NATO Summit in Brussels, as well as meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.

Affirming the Senate’s full support for the sanctions the United States and the European Union have imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the Senators’ resolution calls on the Trump Administration to formalize a policy of non-recognition of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. The United States adopted a firm non-recognition policy during the Cold War with the Welles Declaration, which condemned the forced annexation of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union.

The resolution, led by U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rob Portman (R-Ohio.), co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, was also co-sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.); Pat Toomey (R-Pa.); Marco Rubio (R-Fla.); Ed Markey (D-Mass.); Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio.)

Sen. Coons’ statement on Trump’s nominee for Assistant Attorney General, Brian Benczkowski

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Brian Benczkowski, who has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Senate Republicans have scheduled a vote on Mr. Benczkowski’s nomination for this week. 

“In the midst of an ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, I’m deeply concerned by the nomination of Brian Benczkowski to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Given his lack of relevant experience and ties to a Russian bank, I’m confident that Mr. Benczkowski is not the nominee our country needs at this critical moment.

“Every American should expect that the person nominated for this important position is qualified to meet the weighty demands of the job, and every American is entitled to the assurance that the Department of Justice is entirely independent and impartial. Mr. Benczkowski does not pass this test. I encourage the administration to send us qualified, capable nominees without concerning Russia connections.”

###

Sen. Coons: ‘If you don’t like the ways that this new justice will impact everything … speak up, get active, and vote.’

Sen. Coons: “This is an unprecedented level of hypocrisy where the Republicans are playing by different rules when if there’s a different president in the White House”

Sen. Coons: “For us to be facing a trade war with China and at the same time have President Trump be picking fights with our key allies in Europe and North America, strikes me as just nonsensical and many Republican senators feel the same”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Morning Joe to discuss the upcoming Supreme Court nomination and foreign policy.

“As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I’ll do my job and review the nominee closely before reaching a conclusion,” said Senator Coons. “We shouldn’t be having a discussion. This is an unprecedented level of hypocrisy where the Republicans are playing by different rules when if there’s a different president in the White House. For ten months, they refused to even hold a hearing on the vacant seats that previously had been held by Justice Scalia after President Obama nominated an imminently confirmable moderate judge. We’re just four months before an election and the conversation is about rushing this through. I don’t think we should be rushing. I frankly don’t think we should be considering this nominee.”

Video and audio available here.

Excerpts from interview here:

Sen. Coons on SCOTUS: Well, as you know, one of the things that Senator Schumer has been particularly skilled at is keeping our caucus together, as we have dealt with an onslaught of issues from President Trump that might have divided any other caucus at any other time. We’re in the minority. So, our ability to challenge this nominee is going to be difficult and Senator Schumer will work hard to hold us together. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I’ll do my job and review the nominee closely before reaching a conclusion. We shouldn’t be having a discussion. This is an unprecedented level of hypocrisy where the Republicans are playing by different rules when if there’s a different president in the White House. For ten months, they refused to even hold a hearing on the vacant seats that previously had been held by Justice Scalia after President Obama nominated an imminently confirmable moderate judge. We’re just four months before an election and the conversation is about rushing this through. I don’t think we should be rushing. I frankly don’t think we should be considering this nominee. 

Sen. Coons on President Trump’s upcoming summits with NATO and Putin: Richard, as you know I returned from a bipartisan, bicameral delegation trip. We visited four countries in northern Europe. We visited two vital NATO allies. In every meeting, they raised those issues. Tariffs and divisions between the United States and our key European allies. Their sacrifice alongside us in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their improvement in their defense spending. And their grave concerns about what President Trump might give away to Putin in Helsinki a week from today. I do think there are things we can do. Senator Corker and Senator Flake were on the decision. Senator Flake was leading it. Senator Corker has made a strong stand for to us pull back some of the power that the Senate should have to review any attempt by the President to impose tariffs, especially on close security allies. I’ll remind you last month in Quebec at the G7, President Trump picked a whole lot of fights particularly with Canada and for us to be facing a trade war with China and at the same time have President Trump be picking fights with our key allies in Europe and North America, strikes me as just nonsensical and many Republican senators feel the same. 

More on SCOTUS: There’s little we procedurally can do. If Republicans are willing to change the rules of the Senate, which they demonstrated they are in changing the majority threshold required at the fight over now Justice Gorsuch, they changed the rules on filibuster margins, we could pull something that would last a day or two. But if they are willing to change the rules there’s very little we can do with just 49 members that would prevent them from moving ahead with a confirmation. So, what I’m doing and what I expect my colleagues to do is to remind our viewers and constituents just how important this is, to ask them to speak up and express their points to their senators and to remind folks that elections have consequences. If you don’t like the ways that this new justice will impact everything from reproductive rights to health care to pre-existing conditions, to labor rights and voting rights, speak up, get active, and vote. That’s our best tool. 

###

In northern Europe, Sen. Coons reaffirms U.S. commitment to EU, NATO

WILMINGTON, DE – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees, returned yesterday from a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, and Finland. Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit and meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Senator Coons reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to NATO and to the transatlantic alliance on trade and security. 

Senator Coons was joined by U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“At a time when the United States faces no shortage of international challenges, from North Korea and Iran to the growing influence of China and increased Russian aggression, we cannot afford to turn our backs on the transatlantic alliance that has advanced American interests and values for 70 years.

“In four countries – two NATO allies and two close security partners – we spoke with presidents, prime ministers, speakers of parliament, and senior ministers. We toured a military base enhanced by NATO troops and heard from experts on Russian information warfare at centers of excellence designed to build resilience against attempts to undermine democracy.

“Across all these meetings, there was a clear and consistent theme. Our European allies take the threats posed by Russia very seriously and they are concerned about the Trump administration’s commitment to NATO, the EU, and the transatlantic alliance. Our delegation delivered a consistent message of support for these institutions that have advanced U.S. interests and values while helping to keep Europe free and at peace. It was an important opportunity to reassure our friends in Europe – who are fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and standing firm against Russia’s efforts to undermine democracy or redraw the continent’s borders – of the United States’ commitment.

“As the United States and its allies prepare for a NATO summit and the summit between Presidents Trump and Putin in Helsinki, the United States should be clear that it supports its NATO allies and European partners. Ahead of his meeting with Putin, President Trump must be firm that the United States will not recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea or allow Putin to undermine our democracy without consequence. The door to NATO must remain open for any nation seeking to join the alliance, and the United States commitment to NATO must remain strong.

“Russia only responds to strength and resolve, and if President Trump fails to address Crimea or Russia’s election meddling in his meeting, President Putin will see it as weakness and lack of resolve on the part of the United States.  President Trump should stand up for America’s interests and values and clearly define expectations that Russia must meet before we begin working together on important international issues.”

###

In Latvia, Sen. Coons responds to Trump criticism of the EU, NATO, potential removal of U.S. troops in Germany

Sen. Coons: “A strong European Union is the best possible partner to the United States.”

Sen. Coons: “I am strongly opposed to the withdrawal of American troops or reduction of American troops in Germany or in Europe.” 

RIGA, LATVIA – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke with Latvijas Neatkar?g? Telev?zija (LTN) at Adazi Military Base in Latvia yesterday about the United States’ commitment to the European Union, NATO, and our European allies. 

“I am strongly opposed to the withdrawal of American troops or reduction of American troops in Germany or in Europe. I think Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions over recent years makes it essential we sustain and reinforce our troop presence and military capability,” said Senator Coons. “The best way to do this is in partnership with our NATO allies, so that we are all sharing the investment and the responsibility, and I think that is the path that I’m hopeful that the NATO summit will take.” 

Senator Coons is currently participating in a bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Latvia with U.S. Senators Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.). 

Excerpts from Senator Coons’ interview with Latvijas Neatkar?g? Telev?zija yesterday:

“Part of why we are here as a delegation from the American Congress is to provide reassurance that there is very strong support within the American Congress for NATO, for our relationship with our three Baltic NATO allies, for the enhanced foreign presence that is here at the base that we are visiting, and for our continued investment in this partnership. 

“We understand why there may be some concerns about the possibility of tension at the NATO summit. One of the things that I think is important for us to see is the significant investments Latvia has made in its security in partnership with the United States and other NATO allies. You have exceeded the two percent GDP goal, you have fought alongside us in conflicts around the world, you have deployed Latvians from Africa to Southwest Asia, and you are here hosting a very significant forward presence by NATO, so I think part of why we are here is to learn about Latvia’s very strong partnership with the United States and NATO.” 

On President Trump’s recent statements criticizing the European Union:

“Well these are very concerning statements; the European Union absolutely was not formed to compete with the United States. In fact, it was formed in many ways with the encouragement and support of the United States. As we know well the history of the 20th century in Europe was one of terrible conflict and great human losses and needless human suffering as the result of two world wars and the advance of communism and fascism in different places and different times. And the European Union was principally created in order to find a way for Europe to be peaceful and prosperous and whole. 

“NATO has also served in the last decades as a way to provide for European common defense and neither of these are in any way a threat to or a competition with the United States. In fact, my view very strongly it is the alternative, that a strong European Union is the best possible partner to the United States. I have real concerns about how China has conducted itself in trade internationally and in conversations we have had with leaders in several nations in this region I think we see clearly that there is real potential for a U.S.-EU cooperation on trade matters in order to promote mutual prosperity, and having a trade conflict or tariff fight with the EU runs counter to that goal.” 

On American troops in Germany:

“I am strongly opposed to the withdrawal of American troops or reduction of American troops in Germany or in Europe. I think Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions over recent years makes it essential we sustain and reinforce our troop presence and military capability. The best way to do this is in partnership with our NATO allies, so that we are all sharing the investment and the responsibility, and I think that is the path that I’m hopeful that the NATO summit will take.” 

###

Carper, Coons Highlight First State Wins in the 2018 Senate Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) applauded the key provisions included in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – more commonly known as the Farm Bill – that will help provide much-needed certainty to Delaware farmers, while also protecting the environment.

The bill, which passed the Senate yesterday 86-11, also includes an amendment introduced by Senators Carper and Coons that would allow farmers in the beginning stages of farming to apply for conservation funds through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which helps agricultural producers improve operations on their farms – all while protecting the land, as well as air and water quality. Previously, Delaware poultry farmers have been prevented from qualifying for conservation improvements, such as manure storage or composting facilities, until a resource concern is raised or until after birds have been placed on the farm, squandering their ability to access these funds through EQIP.

“In Delaware, and across the nation, our farmers face considerable and unique challenges. Low commodity prices combined with significant uncertainty surrounding this administration’s trade policies have made it very hard for farmers to plan for the future. This bill goes a long way to ensure farmers have the certainty they need to keep producing for this country and driving our economy,” said Senator Carper. “Too often, people say we have to choose between having a strong economy and having a healthy environment. This bill proves that is a false choice with clear wins for producers along with strong provisions to maintain a clean and safe environment for all Delawareans. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Coons, and our colleagues across the aisle, to get a comprehensive and thoughtful piece of legislation over the finish line in the Senate.”

“I was proud to support passage of the Senate Farm Bill, legislation that supports Delaware’s farmers who feed us and drive our economy. In a year when our farmers have already faced increased challenges from unpredictable weather, it is critical that we advance this legislation to provide them with the certainty of a strong farm safety net and the resources they need to continue being good stewards of their land,” said Senator Coons. “I applaud Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow for working in a bipartisan manner to avoid harmful cuts to nutrition and conservation programs that support Delaware’s families and our environment. I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Carper and our colleagues to pass a strong Farm Bill into law.” 

Specifically, the 2018 Farm Bill:

• Maintains support for agricultural conservation programs important to Delaware, such as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) – programs that offer crucial tools to help farmers in Delaware and around the country protect water quality, preserve the land and enhance wildlife habitats
• Includes improvements included in the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act (S.2039) that double funding for the RCPP programs and create additional opportunities for farmers on Delmarva, and throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, to benefit from the program  
• Expands crop insurance to help cover crops that are not covered by insurance, while also improving access for veterans, beginning farmers and fruit and vegetable growers
• Preserves critical food access for millions of families, including thousands of families in Delaware
• Makes key improvements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that affirm existing regulations on SNAP work requirements, while avoiding harmful eligibility changes that would take away benefits and create unnecessary obstacles for states and working families
• Creates new initiatives to make fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable
• Fights the opioid crisis through expanded telemedicine and community facility investments to provide critical treatment options for those who suffer from opioid addiction
• Contains zero controversial provisions that weaken critical environmental protections and, as a result, is supported by all major environmental and sportsmen groups, including Defenders of Wildlife, The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, and Trout Unlimited
• Provides funding for farmers markets and organic research
• Develops a new “Harvesting Health” produce prescription program to allow healthcare providers to help low-income patients build healthier diets and access more fruits and vegetables

The text of the bill is available here.                    

###